The students in these institutions are, of course, the flower of the colored race. Only those are likely to undertake so many years of study, with the self-denials involved, who have, to begin with, tolerably clear ideas of the privileges of an education, and in whom are unusual elements of character. They are procuring an education under great difficulties. There are few to encourage them or aid them. But they are eager to fit themselves for future usefulness, and burdened with a longing to help their race. They work, therefore, with an enthusiasm needing little urging or government. It is not strange, then, that when both teacher and scholar are fired with a religious fervor, the results should be unusually favorable.
Among these results in both institutions, the good order is specially noticeable. At the table, where teachers and scholars eat together, all stand quietly till the teacher in charge takes his seat. There is no loud talking or laughing, but, while no restraints are put on conversation, only a gentle murmur of voices, which does not prevent the slightest signal from being heard. The least tap of a bell suffices to dismiss the hundred or more boarders from the tables. In passing through the school-room at Fisk University, we noticed that no teacher was present, though perfect order was maintained. “Have you no instructor or monitor here,” we asked, “to secure good order?” “Why, no, sir,” one replied, wonderingly, “we do not wish to be disorderly.” We could but recall certain days of our own student life when, if our instructor chanced to step out of the room for a moment, there were instantly missiles flying about, and students darting here and there.
There is a striking degree of refinement among the students. They impress one at a glance as ladies and gentlemen. There is nothing about them, in dress, or manner or language, to offend the most fastidious. Never was there a better illustration than at these institutions of the power of a Christian education to change the whole character and appearance. A cultivated soul shines out from these dark faces, and, in our admiration for the soul, we totally forget the color of the skin.
The education of these students is rapidly progressing. We must remember that most of them were born in slavery, and have learned to read since the war. A generation or two must pass before we can see the results of life-long training in schools. What we now see, however, is sufficiently surprising. It would be hard to find at the North better teachers or better schools than the two Universities of which we speak; and their influence over the pupils is marvelous. Many of the recitations were very fine. The normal training of Fisk University seemed to deserve special commendation. We were also much pleased at a recitation in Xenophon’s Memorabilia, in which three young men were reciting to one of their own race, a graduate of the University—Miss Laura S. Cary. It would not be strange if this were the first instance of the kind in the history of the world. Perhaps a more valuable evidence of educational progress than recitations was the correctness of speech and richness of thought manifest in the conversations and remarks of the students. We were permitted to be present at a prayer-meeting, in which students of both sexes took part freely. There are few pastors in the North who would not be glad of such clear thought and apt expression in their meetings as we there heard.
The discipline of these institutions is evidently giving the pupils rare qualities of earnestness and self-reliance. Undoubtedly those who have these qualities inborn are the ones who are most likely to be in the schools. But once in the course of study, all the influences tend to develop a manly and persevering spirit. The students are accustomed every summer to scatter through the South, in search of schools. These, in most of the States, they do not find ready to their hand. There are few organized schools and few school-houses for the colored people outside the cities. The University students desirous of a school must first hunt up children who will agree to come; then secure the use of some little colored church at the cross-roads, or, perhaps, of a vacant log-cabin; then they must obtain permission of the county commissioner to teach the school. It evidently requires courage and resolution to succeed under such circumstances, and yet these students earn every summer, in from three to five months of teaching, about a hundred dollars apiece. Sometimes parents are willing and able to educate their children, without throwing them thus on their own resources. After Fisk University was established, a colored man bought land near by, built him a comfortable house, and made his home there, with the express purpose of educating his large family of children. But such cases are rare. The youth who desire an education generally are obliged to secure the means themselves. We were much touched with the story of one young lady (as truly so as any in our Northern seminaries), who, at the age of fourteen, determined to go to Fisk University, and went to teaching till she had earned the means. For five years she has been securing an education, paying her way by teaching every summer. Another student was pointed out to us, whose persistence under difficulties is still more remarkable. For the work of two successive summers, he has been unable to collect a dollar of the money due him; and for last summer’s work, when he was able to get a school that would pay only half the average sum, he has as yet received only a small portion of what he has earned. And yet he is not discouraged, but works on cheerfully. At Fisk University, Mrs. A. K. Spence is making efforts to secure gifts from Sabbath-schools in the North, to supplement the meagre sums earned by the students. One hundred and fifty dollars annually will carry a student through. (We heard a gentleman say that it cost his son a thousand dollars a year at a Northern college.) If any Sabbath-school desires to assume the additional fifty dollars for the support of one of these pupils, Mrs. Spence will be glad to receive a letter on the subject. The great trouble is to induce the students to receive aid. They are eager to do for themselves. Recently, some kind words were addressed them by a visitor, on the subject of self-reliance. “Oh,” said one of the teachers, “it is a pity he said that; it was natural he should, but he does not know them. It made them wince, and we shall have harder work than ever to persuade them to receive the help they need.”
We were greatly pleased at the piety of the students in both institutions. Most of them, particularly among the boarders, are earnest and consistent Christians. We were much moved at some of their prayers, they were so tender, earnest and child-like. The prayer of one of their number is still treasured up in the memory of the instructors. Jubilee Hall had just been completed. It seemed a paradise to the colored people. A farewell meeting was held in the old dingy barracks, in the centre of Nashville, where the school had hitherto met. It was then that one of the students prayed—“O Lord, Thou knowest how eager we are to enter this beautiful new building; but if Thou wilt not go with us, we do not wish to go. Unless Thou wilt go, also, let us stay here.” The Lord did go with them, and they have enjoyed frequent seasons of revival ever since.
The aims of these students are very high. They justly feel that the elevation of nearly five millions of people rests largely on them. They have a worthy ambition to be the leaders of their race in everything pure and noble. Conjoined with this, a new ambition has recently fired their hearts. The four students who have just gone from Fisk University to Africa have left behind them an enthusiasm for missionary work. The students are now praying and planning for the conversion of Africa by missionaries of their own color. There is nothing that so lifts up a people as a definite and high aim. These students justly feel that in this land, and abroad, there is work for them to do. A glorious future lies within their reach, and the fact stimulates them to faithful study and gives them Christian manliness, as could nothing else.
It was a grief to us to learn that a shadow of financial anxiety hung over Fisk University. Funds that were relied upon from Great Britain for current expenses had failed, and retrenchment, where expenses had already been cut down to the quick, was under consideration. Surely the friends of this noble Institution will not let it suffer.
Rev. Addison P. Foster.