The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-09-24
THE PACIFIC
Commercial 40bertiser.
The Hampton Educational In
Stitute.

Since the conclusion of the late war Of rebel
lion in the United States, many of the military men
who were prominent while the conflict lasted,
have made themselves no less prominent in the
great work of educating the hitherto neglected
population of the South, both whites and blacks
and more particularly the latter. And it is a
matter of some little pride to us Hawaiians to
know that one Of our own number, 4" to the
manor born" has been one of the foremost in
This great work Of construction and reconstruc-
ton. We alIude to Samuel G. Armstrong, a
keI banat of these islands, one of the SONS of
the late Rev. DIR. r. Armstrong. DIR. A. was a
missionary of the 4. B. G. F.. NJ, and subse-
ouentlv first President of the hawaiian Board of
Education. He had probably more than any one
other man the leading hand in establishing a
thorough system of common schools in these
islands.
Young Armstrong-now General Armstrong
left these islands about the time of the outbreak
of the civil war, and shortly after arriving in the
land of his paternity, leaving the college which
he had entered in order to complete his education,
he Ioined the armies Of the North, where he
rapidly rose, and at the close of the war ranked
as a Brigadier General. He is now the super
intendant of the Hampton Institute, on the shore
of Hampton Roads, Virginia, which owing to
the marked ability displayed by him and his
associates in the school, appears to have been
remarkably successful in educating the freedmen.
General j. F. b. Marshal, formerly and for many
wears a resident merchant of these islands, writes
to a Boston paper a lengthy and interesting
account of a visit made by himself and others
from Massachusetts, to this school just previous
to the summer vacation, and he speaks in high
terms of the success which has been so far
attained towards the object in view-to prepare
the youth of the South without distinction of
color, for the work of organizing and becoming
teachers in the schools of the Southern States.
The aim is to give the students habits of industry
and selfreliance, and, while insisting that they
shall pay for their board, clothing and tuition,
employment is furnished by which they may earn
the necessary means to defray these expenses, and
Mt the same time receive valuable lessons in train
ing. The farm, under the management of a
gentleman Of liberal education and practical
knowledge, furnishes ample employment to the
male students, who during an allotted time out Of
each week, gain a knowledge of economic hus-
bandry, which they would never acquire from
the ordinary methods Of Southern farming.
For the female students, a separate Industrial
Department is provided. This is under the care
of Miss Jane 5. Woolsey, of New York. The
difficulty at first in providing employment for the
numerous young women, of no means, who were
anxious to avail themselves of the advantages of
the institution, was obviated by the generous
offer of Miss Woolsey to furnish the means to
open an Industrial Department, and to super
intend 1t In person. This she has done at her
OVID cost and with great efficiency and success.
The females have been learned to make up, under
her direction, all the clothing required by the
students, and have also made up garments of
good quality which have found a ready sale in
the neIghbOring towns and hamlets. This accom-
plished and philanthrOpic lady has thus practi-
cally demonstrated the success of the experiment,
and her example and teachings have been of
Inestimable advantage to these young women,
who are eager learners In every branch of female
education. Very strict attention is paid to the
habits and department of the students, the aim
being to fit them to 90 forth as teachers, not only
OF the ordinary branches of school education but
of good manners, habits of neatness and thrift,
and liberal and correct ideas.
There are seventy students in the institute, one
third of whom are females, and many have been
turned away for want of room. But a large
building is in process of erection which will
double the present number. The
Legislature of Virginia has recently taken the
institute under the care of the State, and while
It's independence on a firm basis is thus ensured,
its sphere of usefulness will be greatly enlarged.
The influence of an institution like this on the
future of the freedmen ofthe South is incalculable.
The North gave the negro his freedom-it is now
nObly working at the task of learning him how
to use the inestimable boon, and to fit him for
the duties and responsibilities of American citi-
zenship-