FOLLOWING BIOGRAPHY ON BACK OF PLATE:

W. H. Councill was born in Fayetteville, N. C., in 1848, and was carried to Alabama by the traders in 1857, through the famous Richmond Slave Pen. In Alabama he worked in the fields with the other slaves. He is a self-made man, having had only few school advantages. He attended one of the first schools opened kind Northern friends at Stevenson, Ala., In 1865. Here he remained about three years, and this is the basis of his education. He has been a close and earnest student ever since, often spending much of the night In study. He has accumulated quite an excellent library, and the best books of the best masters are his constant companions, as well as a large supply of the best current literature. By private instruction and almost incessant study, he gained a fair knowledge of some of the languages, higher mathematics, and the sciences. He was Enrolling Clerk of the Alabama House of Representatives in 1872-4. He was appointed by President Grant Receiver of the Land Office for the Northern District of Alabama in 1875. He was founder and editor of the "Huntsville Herald" from 1877 to 1884. He founded the great educational institution, Normal, of which he is president, and has been for a quarter of a century. He read law and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Alabama in 1883. But he has never left the profession of teaching, although flattering political positions have been held out to him. He has occupied high positions In church and other religious, temperance, and charitable organizations, and has no mean standing as a public speaker. Prof. Councill has traveled quite extensively In Europe, and was warmly received and entertained by the Hon. W. E. Gladstone and His Majesty, King Leopold, of Belgium. And thus by earnest toil, denial, hard study,he has made himself, built up one of the largest institutions in the South, and educated scores of young people at his own expense. Prof. Councill is proud to be known as a friend to Africa. He is co-operating with Bishop Turner in the redemption and civilization of that continent. Normal, under Prof. Councill, is educating native Africans for this purpose. He has received the degree of Ph. D. from Morris Brown College. Prof. Councill is author of "The Lamp of Wisdom." Re writes extensively for the leading magazines and newspapers of the country.