to take hold of the work, instead of leaving it to Northern people with so many radical bees in their bonnets!
In 1868 he gave another and better concert; and in 1870 his now well-drilled classes rendered the beautiful cantata of "Esther" before a large and delighted assembly. Taking a part of his choir to Memphis, he gave a concert to an audience that filled the opera-house; and another trip southward to Chattanooga met with equal success.
About this time the National Teachers' Association of the United States held its annual convention in Nashville, and arrangements were made for the Fisk choir to sing in the opening exercises, to the great disgust of some who were profanely indignant that "the niggers could not be kept in their own places." Other musicians were to favour the convention with their services at the subsequent, meetings; but the singing of the "niggers" proved to be so popular that they were in demand for every session until the close of the convention.
All this while the thought had been taking firmer hold of Mr. White's mind that a student choir might be organised, which could travel through the North and sing out of the people's pocket the money that must soon be obtained in some way for the University. The plan was talked over and prayed over for a year or two. But, turn it to the light in any way they could, the risks seemed too great.
It was one thing to give a paying concert at home, or to make flying trips to points not far away; it was quite another to start out on a campaign that
