| great romancer, Victor Hugo, are related, and interesting sketches are | | given of many prominent men of all parties with whom Brown came in | | contact. | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. WANTED: A MAN--THE MAN FOUND 1 II. THE ERA OF FREEDOM--REALISING THAT KNOWLEDGE IS POWER 16 III. OFF TO HAMPTON--WAS HE A LIKELY CANDIDATE? 32 IV. GENERAL ARMSTRONG--HIS PREDECESSORS AND COLLABORATORS--PIONEERS OF THE NEW ERA 41 V. UPS AND DOWNS--PROGRESS AS A STUDENT--BEGINNING TO TEACH 49 VI. AMERICAN INDIANS--WORK AT HAMPTON 60 VII. THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE WORK 71 VIII. SOME ACTUAL RESULTS--POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS 85 IX. CONTINUED PROGRESS--POPULARITY AS A SPEAKER 94 X. VISIT TO EUROPE--RETURN TO TUSKEGEE 104 FROM SLAVE TO COLLEGE PRESIDENT CHAPTER I WANTED: A MAN--THE MAN FOUND Just at the most severe crisis of the war between France and Germany, over thirty years ago, a London newspaper, in describing the situation, remarked that France wanted not men, but a Man. During a whole generation which followed after the close of the gigantic and sanguinary conflict between the Northern and Southern States of the American Republic, a similar remark would have applied to the millions of slaves who, though nominally free, were drifting hither and thither, now groping in the wrong direction altogether, or missing opportunities they might have embraced, had there but been one commanding personality in their midst to give the word and lead the way. There seemed to be too many negroes, while they were still increasing with a rapidity which inspired misgiving. The race seemed to be "at sea" for want of a Man. At length the much-needed chief or leader was found in Booker T. Washington, whose distinguished work on behalf of the race at the great institution which he has founded at Tuskegee has given him a world-wide reputation. As a negro, his mission is to the men and women of his own nation.