Among the excellent schools broken up at the opening of the war, was that of Mrs. Charlotte Gordon, Colored, on Eighth Street, in the northern section of the city. It was in successful operation several years, and the number in attendance sometimes reached one hundred and fifty. Mrs. Gordon was assisted by her daughter. In 1841, David Brown commenced teaching on D Street, south, between First and Second streets, island, and continued in the business till 1858, at which period he was placed in charge of the large Catholic free school in the Smothers house, as has been stated.[65] * * * * * Here is a picture that every Negro in the country may contemplate with satisfaction and pride. In the stronghold of slavery, under the shadow of the legalized institution of slavery, within earshot of the slave-auctioneer's hammer, amid distressing circumstances, poverty, and proscription, three unlettered ex-slaves, upon the threshold of the nineteenth century, sowed the seed of education for the Negro race in the District of Columbia, from which an abundant harvest has been gathered, and will be gathered till the end of time! What the Negro has done to educate himself, the trials and hateful laws that have hampered him during the long period anterior to 1860, cannot fail to awaken feelings of regret and admiration among the people of both sections and two continents. FOOTNOTES: [58] Recollections of the Anti-Slavery Conflict, by Rev. Samuel J. May. [59] Barnard, p. 337. [60] Barnard, p. 339. [61] Barnard, pp. 205, 206. [62] Barnard, p. 357. [63] Barnard, pp. 364-366. [64] Barnard, pp. 377, 378. [65] Report of the Commissioner of Education for 1871. CHAPTER XIII. JOHN BROWN--HERO AND MARTYR. JOHN BROWN'S APPEARANCE IN KANSAS.--HE DENOUNCES SLAVERY IN A POLITICAL MEETING AT OSAWATOMIE.--MRS. STEARNS'S PERSONAL RECOLLECTION OF JOHN BROWN.--KANSAS INFESTED BY BORDER RUFFIANS.--THE BATTLE OF HARPER'S FERRY.--THE DEFEAT AND CAPTURE OF CAPTAIN JOHN BROWN.--HIS LAST LETTER WRITTEN TO MRS. STEARNS.--HIS TRIAL AND EXECUTION.--HIS INFLUENCE UPON THE SLAVERY QUESTION AT THE NORTH.--HIS PLACE IN HISTORY. On the 9th of May, 1800, at Torrington, Connecticut, was born a man who lived for two generations, but accomplished the work of two centuries. That man was John Brown, who ranks among the world's greatest heroes. Greater than Peter the Hermit, who believed himself commissioned of God to redeem the Holy Sepulchre from the hands of infidels; greater than Joanna Southcote, who deemed herself big with the promised Shiloh; greater than Ignatius Loyola, who thought the Son of Man appeared to him, bearing His cross upon His shoulders, and bestowed upon him a Latin commission of wonderful significance; greater than Oliver Cromwell, the great Republican Protector; and greater than John Hampden,--he deserves to rank with William of Orange.