bought the pig for $3. On the way home the pig got out of the cart and returned promptly to Uncle Zeke's house and about noon a second white man came to Uncle Zeke's cabin in search of a pig, and Uncle Zeke, overcome by the temptation to make double money on his pig, sold it again for $3. On his way home the second man met the first and the first white man said to the second white man, That is my pig. I bought it from Uncle Zeke this morning at eight o'clock for $3.' 'And the second white man said, 'No, sir, it is mine, for I bought it from him to-day at twelve o'clock for $3.' So they argued the question and could not decide whose pig it was, and they decided finally to put the question before Uncle Zeke. They rode up and called him out and the first white man said, ' Uncle Zeke, did you not sell me this pig this morning for $3?' 'I surely did, boss.' Then the second white man exclaimed, 'Uncle Zeke, did you not sell me that pig to-day at twelve o'clock for $3?' 'I surely did, boss.' 'What do you mean by treating us this way?' cried both the white men at once. 'Before God, boss, can't you white people go off and settle this thing yourselves without troubling a poor niggah?"

Roars of laughter greeted the story of Uncle Zeke, and then the story teller quietly said that there were lots of questions which troubled white men about the negroes which the colored man ought to let them settle among themselves. "This is why I have not given myself to politics as much as some of my friends would like to see me," he said.

When the supper was over it was soon time to leave for the Academy of Music, where the far-famed black man was to speak.

Dr. Furber, accompanied by Hon. W. H. Fleming, of Augusta, Ga., called for Booker T. Washington and he

was driven in the carriage with them to the place of meeting. Rose Atkinson had succeeded in persuading Mr. Fleming to come to Dothan to introduce Dr. Washington, and with his presence she was confident of a successful meeting. The great building was already crowded when Dr. Furber and his guests arrived. Quite a few of the whites were anxious to hear the negro and had sympathy with him, but the majority came from curiosity, many of them thinking they would hear the speaker make a fool of himself and hurt instead of help Harbison Institute. The colored people, of course, to a man were enthusiastic and expectant. When they took their seats on the platform Dr. Furber, glancing through the audience, saw Rev. William Durham in a prominent place, with Deacon Leavitt, one of his chief members, by his side. The Waynors were out in force, accompanied by Dothan's best society. Donald Shelby and Jefferson Lilly were seated together near the front. The Ashleys were absent, but Dr. Furber had heard that they were out of town. Legree was not in sight anywhere, although a few of his well-known henchmen were scattered here and there in the audience, with no good purpose in their minds, Dr. Furber felt sure.

When Booker T. Washington ascended the platform the colored part of the audience gave a loud cheer, but most of the whites were silent.

In a few minutes Hon. W. H. Fleming arose and walking to the front of the platform began with these memorable words:

“I am pleased to preside at this meeting to-night, for I am confident that it will mean much both to the whites and the blacks of this community. We often hear the epigrammatic dictum that there are but three solutions of our race problem - deportation, assimilation and annihi

lation. When we bring our sober senses to bear all three of these so-called possibilities appear to be practical impossibilities. Not one of these three presents a working hypothesis.

"Physical facts alone prevent deportation. Physical facts, stressed by an ineradicable race pride, bar the way against assimilation. Physical facts, backed by our religion, our civilization, our very selves, forbid annihilation. We cannot imitate Herod. Over against that trinity of impossibilities - deportation, assimilation, annihilation let us offer the simple plan of justice."

A loud cheer and applause from all over the mighty audience greeted this last sentence, for the word "justice" is a talisman to every heart, white, black, red or copper-colored though the skin may be.

When quiet was restored Mr. Fleming concluded: “I take pleasure in introducing to you to-night a man who has worked out the question of how to solve our race problem by the principles of justice and Christianity."

Mr. Fleming sat down and all eyes turned on Booker T. Washington.

CHAPTER IX

A NEGRO ORATOR

WHEN the Hon. W. H. Fleming had finished his introductory speech Booker T. Washington rose to his feet, stretched himself to his full height and strode to the front of the platform. It was a thrilling moment. The air was quivering with excitement. The few words which Mr. Fleming had spoken had enthused the entire audience, and the personal magnetism of the great president of Tuskegee held all enthralled. The colored people rose to their feet as one man; then, here and there, the whites began to stand, until practically the entire audience was on its feet, and cheer after cheer resounded through the entire building.

"We have won! We have won!" said Rose Atkinson to herself. She was seated with the Waynors, and all around her the cheering was exuberant and spontaneous. In spite of his color the whites were not able to forbid the tribute which men always give to their fellows when a noble lifework has been achieved.

'As soon as he could make himself heard the negro orator lifted up his voice like a trumpet and his first sentence struck home. "One-third of the population of the South is of the negro race," he shouted, and a tense silence pervaded the audience. All were watching that strong, commanding figure on the platform. His black face beamed with intelligence. His piercing eyes surveyed the crowded arena before him without a blink of

the eyelids. His look of strength and his noble bearing made their impression on all, but on none more than on Rev. William Durham. Ever since the visit Rose Atkinson made to his study, following his annual missionary sermon, Mr. Durham had been pondering over her words. They made an abiding impression on him. He could never forget her look of energy of soul as she denounced him as a false representative of Christ toward the negroes in Alabama. He watched the black educator intently, never taking his eyes off his shining face. At last he said to himself: "He is a complete man, God's image cut in ebony. Other negroes may fall below the human level, but Booker T. Washington is a man."

"To reach the highest success any enterprise of the South must have the coöperation of my race," continued the speaker. "Sixteen million hands cannot be ignored. They will either aid the South in pulling upward or they will help in pulling downward. We must either be an essential factor in the business and industrial prosperity of the South or we shall prove a veritable body of death, stagnating and depressing, dragging all down in common ruin."

The orator now had the attention of every man and woman in the vast throng. Men were leaning forward to hear. There was boldness, a directness and a ring of truth and sincerity in the black man's speech that was startling.

"The wisest among my race," he continued after he had enlivened his address with a humorous story, "understand the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremest folly." (As he uttered these words the whites began to listen more eagerly than ever.) “We are all well aware that progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that come to us must be the result of severe