The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.2, page 232, 11 June 1883, U. of Illinois Press

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The BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Papers dents and friends brought baskets, dinner was partaken of in picnic style and was made quite a pleasant social event. At 2 o'clock we reassembled for the rhetoricals and the other of the two main events of the day- Dr. Calloway's address. It was with a feeling akin to reverence somewhat mingled with awe that I listened to him. I think the latter feeling was awakened by the expression of his face. No one can look into it without the feeling that there is a powerful mind under the most complete subjection to the will of the man behind it. As ~ thought of what his resignation of an honored position among his own race, his acceptance of a work among us, his being here on such an occasion, meant for him—as I thought these things in connection with what he is- a man of southern birth, training and sympathies, a feeling of deepest respect for the one who for the sake of a conviction, could forego so much that was brightest, and in many respects, pleasantest, and assume so much that is hard and unpleasant, arose within me. Carlyle says, truly, I think, that we are all, more or less hero-worshipers. As I listened to his strong, earnest plea for the elevation of the Negro on the basis of his humanity, I felt that Georgia had given us another hero. Rev. Mr. Owen,2 pastor of a large colored Baptist Congregation in Mobile, followed Dr. Calloway. His earnest entreaty to those present to make the aspiration of the Greek Slave, quoted by Mr. Chaney in the morning, ''Not, Oh, that I had this or that, but, Oh, that I were this or that,'' theirs, was most forcible. The students who took part in the rhetorical exercises of the afternoon—three young women and three young men acquitted themselves well. They were of the Junior and Middle classes. We shall have no graduating class till year after next. The singing throughout the day was good. Mr. Parrott's3 success in his department deserves special mention. The result of his work was praised by all present. By-the-way, I presume he is now making his first acquaintance with Hampton's— industrial—shades. He expected to go to H. very soon after leaving here. In the evening all the students and many of their friends came together in the chapel for an informal social entertainment. The evening was spent pleasantly with a few well-rendered duets and solos, recitations, conversation, music, and marches. Towards the close of the evening ''Judgment Day'' they used to call it at Hampton, arrived. Amid the most profound stillness the names of the students constituting the different classes for next year were read. There were many happy 232