up from slavery-第43节
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h was so near his heart。 I said that if a man in his condition was willing to think； work； and act； I should not be wanting in furthering in every possible way the wish of his heart。
The death of General Armstrong； a few weeks later； gave me the privilege of getting acquainted with one of the finest； most unselfish； and most attractive men that I have ever come in contact with。 I refer to the Rev。 Dr。 Hollis B。 Frissell； now the Principal of the Hampton Institute； and General Armstrong's successor。 Under the clear； strong； and almost perfect leadership of Dr。 Frissell； Hampton has had a career of prosperity and usefulness that is all that the General could have wished for。 It seems to be the constant effort of Dr。 Frissell to hide his own great personality behind that of General Armstrongto make himself of 〃no reputation〃 for the sake of the cause。
More than once I have been asked what was the greatest surprise that ever came to me。 I have little hesitation in answering that question。 It was the following letter； which came to me one Sunday morning when I was sitting on the veranda of my home at Tuskegee； surrounded by my wife and three children：
Harvard University； Cambridge； May 28； 1896。
President Booker T。 Washington；
My Dear Sir： Harvard University desired to confer on you at the approaching Commencement an honorary degree； but it is our custom to confer degrees only on gentlemen who are present。 Our Commencement occurs this year on June 24； and your presence would be desirable from about noon till about five o'clock in the afternoon。 Would it be possible for you to be in Cambridge on that day？
Believe me； with great regard；
Very truly yours；
Charles W。 Eliot。
This was a recognition that had never in the slightest manner entered into my mind； and it was hard for me to realize that I was to be honoured by a degree from the oldest and most renowned university in America。 As I sat upon my veranda； with this letter in my hand； tears came into my eyes。 My whole former lifemy life as a slave on the plantation； my work in the coal…mine； the times when I was without food and clothing； when I made my bed under a sidewalk； my struggles for an education； the trying days I had had at Tuskegee； days when I did not know where to turn for a dollar to continue the work there； the ostracism and sometimes oppression of my race；all this passed before me and nearly overcame me。
I had never sought or cared for what the world calls fame。 I have always looked upon fame as something to be used in accomplishing good。 I have often said to my friends that if I can use whatever prominence may have come to me as an instrument with which to do good； I am content to have it。 I care for it only as a means to be used for doing good； just as wealth may be used。 The more I come into contact with wealthy people； the more I believe that they are growing in the direction of looking upon their money simply as an instrument which God has placed in their hand for doing good with。 I never go to the office of Mr。 John D。 Rockefeller； who more than once has been generous to Tuskegee； without being reminded of this。 The close； careful； and minute investigation that he always makes in order to be sure that every dollar that he gives will do the most goodan investigation that is just as searching as if he were investing money in a business enterpriseconvinces me that the growth in this direction is most encouraging。
At nine o'clock； on the morning of June 24； I met President Eliot； the Board of Overseers of Harvard University； and the other guests； at the designated place on the university grounds； for the purpose of being escorted to Sanders Theatre； where the Commencement exercises were to be held and degrees conferred。 Among others invited to be present for the purpose of receiving a degree at this time were General Nelson A。 Miles； Dr。 Bell； the inventor of the Bell telephone； Bishop Vincent； and the Rev。 Minot J。 Savage。 We were placed in line immediately behind the President and the Board of Overseers； and directly afterward the Governor of Massachusetts； escorted by the Lancers； arrived and took his place in the line of march by the side of President Eliot。 In the line there were also various other officers and professors； clad in cap and gown。 In this order we marched to Sanders Theatre； where； after the usual Commencement exercises； came the conferring of the honorary degrees。 This； it seems； is always considered the most interesting feature at Harvard。 It is not known； until the individuals appear； upon whom the honorary degrees are to be conferred； and those receiving these honours are cheered by the students and others in proportion to their popularity。 During the conferring of the degrees excitement and enthusiasm are at the highest pitch。
When my name was called； I rose； and President Eliot； in beautiful and strong English； conferred upon me the degree of Master of Arts。 After these exercises were over； those who had received honorary degrees were invited to lunch with the President。 After the lunch we were formed in line again； and were escorted by the Marshal of the day； who that year happened to be Bishop William Lawrence； through the grounds； where； at different points； those who had been honoured were called by name and received the Harvard yell。 This march ended at Memorial Hall； where the alumni dinner was served。 To see over a thousand strong men； representing all that is best in State； Church； business； and education； with the glow and enthusiasm of college loyalty and college pride；which has； I think； a peculiar Harvard flavour；is a sight that does not easily fade from memory。
Among the speakers after dinner were President Eliot； Governor Roger Wolcott； General Miles； Dr。 Minot J。 Savage； the Hon。 Henry Cabot Lodge； and myself。 When I was called upon； I said； among other things：
It would in some measure relieve my embarrassment if I could； even in a slight degree； feel myself worthy of the great honour which you do me to…day。 Why you have called me from the Black Belt of the South； from among my humble people； to share in the honours of this occasion； is not for me to explain； and yet it may not be inappropriate for me to suggest that it seems to me that one of the most vital questions that touch our American life is how to bring the strong； wealthy； and learned into helpful touch with the poorest； most ignorant； and humblest； and at the same time make one appreciate the vitalizing； strengthening influence of the other。 How shall we make the mansion on yon Beacon Street feel and see the need of the spirits in the lowliest cabin in Alabama cotton…fields or Louisiana sugar…bottoms？ This problem Harvard University is solving； not by bringing itself down； but by bringing the masses up。
* * * * * * *
If my life in the past has meant anything in the lifting up of my people and the bringing about of better relations between your race and mine； I assure you from this day it will mean doubly more。 In the economy of God there is but one standard by which an individual can succeedthere is but one for a race。 This country demands that every race shall measure itself by the American standard。 By it a race must rise or fall； succeed or fail； and in the last analysis mere sentiment counts for little。
During the next half…century and more； my race must continue passing through the severe American crucible。 We are to be tested in our patience； our forbearance； our perseverance； our power to endure wrong； to withstand temptations； to economize； to acquire and use skill； in our ability to compete； to succeed in commerce； to disregard the superficial for the real； the appearance for the substance； to be great and yet small； learned and yet simple； high and yet the servant of all。
As this was the first time that a New England university had conferred an honorary degree upon a Negro； it was the occasion of much newspaper comment throughout the country。 A correspondent of a New York Paper said：
When the name of Booker T。 Washington was called； and he arose to acknowledge and accept； there was such an outburst of applause as greeted no other name except that of the popular soldier patriot； General Miles。 The applause was not studied and stiff； sympathetic and condoling； it was enthusiasm and admiration。 Every part of the audience from pit to gallery joined in； and a glow covered the cheeks of those around me； proving sincere appreciation of the rising struggle of an ex…slave and the work he has accomplished for his race。
A Boston paper said； editorially：
In conferring the honorary degree of Master of Arts upon the Principal of Tuskegee Institute； Harvard University has honoured itself as well as the object of this distinction。 The work which Professor Booker T。 Washington has accomplished for the education； good citizenship； and popular enlightenment in his chosen field of labour in the South entitles him to rank with our national benefactors。 The university which can claim him on its list of sons； whether in regular course or honoris causa； may be proud。
It has been mentioned that Mr。 Washington is the first of his race to receive an honorary degree from a New England university。 This； in itsel
