Page:Boys Life of Booker T. Washington.djvu/137

Rh when there was so much to be done, and when other people were at work, seemed wrong to him. But he realized finally that a reasonable amount of rest, when one is tired, means more and better work in the long run.

So it came about that, on May 10, 1899, Washington and his wife went aboard the ship Friesland in New York harbor and sailed for Europe. It was a wonderful experience for Washington. In the first place, as he went aboard the ship, he received a message from two of his friends telling him that they had decided to give him the money to build a magnificent new building at Tuskegee. That was a good "send-off." Washington was a bit uneasy about how people would treat him aboard ship. He knew what unfortunate experiences some members of his race had had in times past. But the captain received him cordially, and everybody on board was exceedingly courteous to him and to his wife in every way.

Washington on his way to Europe! It seemed to him like a dream. Again and again he had thought of Europe,—much as he did of heaven,—a goodly place, but far away. It had never even occurred to him that he would ever go to Europe. And now he was on his way! He was like a schoolboy; he was happy over the prospect of a wonderful trip.

He did not get seasick on the voyage, as most of the passengers did. The weather was fine, and