The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-02
From the Boston Advertiser, August 3O1
The, Hampton Normal and Agricultural In
--s stItute.


r--f W stItute. ~. t
No educational work at the South. has
excited more general interest in New Eng
land than the promising enterprise of Gen
Armstrong at Hampton, Va. The many
friends Of the school will be glad to learn
something of its present conditions and
prospects. The third year of its existence
has just closed, and most of the senior
class OF graduates, numbering fifteen young
men and five young women, are now en-
gagged as teachers Of colored schools in Vir-
ginia, having without exception, so far as
known, passed satisfactory examinations
before the school boards of the districts.
Letters from these young teachers of their
race, giving their. various experiences, are
interesting and suggestive. One of them
having refused to discontinue the school on
the threats of the Ku-Klux, had his school,
house burned down on the 4th of July.
An hour after, he was again at work with
his school in a neghboring church, and
heing fully sustained by the school board
and by the sentiment of the better class of
the white populations will doubtless be
able to maintain his ground. In
relation to the next term, Gen. Armstrong
writes, "The school will be full, crowded.;
all looks well there is great rush for adj
mission our hands land rooms) will be
full will have to put some of the BOYS
IN tents" The number of scholars next
term will probably be one hundred. Dou-
Die that number could be received if the
present resources of the school would war
rant their admission. 1t is very gratifying
to see how rapidly the school is gaining the
good will of the better class of Virginians, 4
a nd how surely it is conquering the preju-
dies OF the Southern people. DR.. Ruffner,
the superintendent of the State board Of
educat. ION AN ex-Confederate officer
writes 10 Gen. Armstrong as follows:
"From almost every quarter of our State
comes up a cry for teachers for colored
schools. To-day, probabably, thousands
of colored children are without schools be-
cause Of this unsupplied want. The money
is ready, the school-houses are ready,
but the teachers cannot be found.
Your best teachers must all he put to
work in the summer, but you ought to have
live times as many pupils as you have.
approve the plan of your institution highly.
Surely il the moneyed friends Of iDstruc-
ton knew the good you are doing, and |
might do, they would give your institution
a large endowment" The institute is an
applicant for share of the 300, 900 acres of
agricultural college scrip apportioned to
Virginia by Congress, and at the last ses-
sion Of the State Legislature General ARM
strong, who was summoned to present the !
claims of the school before the committee
on education, was courteously received by I
the heads of the various colleges of the |
State who were present, and his claims adj
united. The committee were unanimously /
pf L.. Al
Hampton school; and but for disagree
ment as to the claims of the white colleges
sor the other two-thirds, The bill would |
nave passed. 1t IS hoped that this land !
SSflp VIII be granted at the next session, \
mt that part of the resources necessary
or tie maintenance of the school will, be
hereby secured. The farm connected with
he sciool which offers to the young men
he means It earning their education. and
ne industrial department which does the
anne for the young W. nmen, both OF which |
re in themselves invala.' able educational
gencies, are not as yet S, disappearing, Z
hough it is believed they will l., scome SO N
lme. AT present the resources OF the
chool are uncertain, and much of tn, tme
nd strength of its energetic principal is ue-
essarlly devoted to the uncongenial daty o. /
olclIing FUNDS Tor Its support. 1t is to be \
oped that the efforts now making to Sc {.
ure sufficient endowment for the school 9
NIL be speedily successful, that its perma- :
ence may be assured, and its enthusiastic t,
cad be enabled to devote himself wholly g
the work for which he is so well fitted. =
The school farm has recently sustained a. L
eavy blow in the destruction of its barn, i =
lied with fodder, with all its tools and inn y
dement's and a valuable horse, by light 4
ing, involving loss of 49, 800. The Hamp- ii
IN school farm, under the management of ).
n energetic and competent New England
lrmer, is valuable educator not only ito IL
ne student but 10 the agricultural commu- 4
lty, and General A. hopes that the liber- 4 i
lty Of the friends and patrons Of the insti- = 3
lite viii enable him not only to make good
he loss but to build "a model barn that OF
1all be at the same time credit to the =
'hooi and its supporters, and stimulate the =,
luse of agriculture in that section of the Ese
tate. Contributions for the above purpose b
for the current expenses of the school. a. a,
re solicited, and may be sent to the I'M K
treasurer of the board of trus- Vi
es at Boston, until September Is, and at y
ampton, Va, after that date. . -iae.I IL
49,. ......,., j. L. B. MARSHALL. N
Rfe A 49, F'TI07f-f 10