New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-08
EDUCiTION IN THE SOCTH.

WORK AIMS AND WANTS OF ROANOKE COLLEGE.
To the Edttor Of The TribuRe.
SIR: I'm his Birmingham address, Dean
stanley paid handsome tribute TO this country Tor the
extraordinary muDitcencc shown IN multiplication u
Institutions emanatng in large degree from the pley
and beray of ndivi dual founders and benefactois'
The Northern aud Eastern states have The aecuinn
lated wealth Of the country. In these many
large fortunes blvr been acquired by commerce an"
manufactures Early in the history of our country cre
were men OF large means In these States VINO naue "o
cral gifts To colleges This spirit now prevails l." snen
an xtent In the North and Last that II is subject OF
public comment when man Of wealth falls to make
bcourxis or educational charitable purposes. The
South being An agricultural REGION fortunes there were
fewer and Of slower growth. Before the war
some OF our colleges had small CndOwinentS. IheSr
endowments aud nearly all private fortunes were lost
IN tue general wreck of the recent civil struggle Ana
thus our people are not in condition to give thehelr
needed by colleges. This is the more to be regretted
because educational impulse has been greatly 4mckened
in The past years. The efficiency OF the pubic school
system depends great part Oh an adequate supp! Oh
cOmuetcut teachers and wherever such supply Is iouu
the pubic schools grow RAPIDLY in popular IaNor' A.
very few of the southern States have made provision for
normal schools we must look to the colleges for supply
of teachers as well rs for candidates for the other
learned professions But very few. comparatively, Of
mr. yos men are able TO ciov the advantages Of large
and expansive colleges and universities, ana hence 10
benefit any considerable number Of Southern youth
COLLEGIATE education must Dc made economical
Born aud educated IN the South. fllly realize from
persolal rxrerj"nce, well observation. the value
of economical colleges Called 70 responsible position
bv nv own alma mater ieel most kreny the dfcul-
tes Of orr sitraon and the need of help IN cOii the
great work before And tins is not question oil the
.ni a against the large co lces. take lust pride IN
our great educational institutions. The work at Roanoke
is TO provide the possible advantages AT the lowest
Of ffs do ,fN 10
men throughout our country. In NywYork and other
Northern cities there are millions OF capital seeking
profitable investment. Nav not call the attention o.
the fortunate OF these nions 10 educational
objects and ask the investment Of few thousand dol
lars not TO bear Scni-annua interest but the nober
rutagc Of eyeIincrcasng blessings to the youth OF our
country
Roanoke College was chartered by the Legislature or
virginia IN 1873 and placed under the control Of ascl-
perpctuatIng Board OF Trus"Cs 1t Is in Salem sixty
miles west OF Lynchburg in Virginia. and within thirty
miles " seven noted resorts for mineral wsters. Tn"
Roanoke Valley, IN which the town is situated, lies
600 feet above the level Of the sea, is surrounded
nv mountains rising from 800 to- POO icct higher,
and is d,servedly famed for It's beautiful scenery and
healthful climate The college owns twenty acres or
land and three brick buildings completed The library
of 600 volumes and cabinet Of minerals and curi0si-
ties Of over 600 specimens, arc among the most val
uabl4 collections of tner kind in the state The curr
is one Of the highest aud most comprehensive among
southern colleges The standard of scholarship is being
gradually elevated The average attendance OF students
SINCE The war has 16O representing twenty States
For several SESSIONS eight ChOctws from the Indian
Territory have been supported Roanoke by their
eminent The college has graduated nearly 200 young
men As evidence Of its usefulness II may be stated
that fplt half OF the graduates. we'll very many OF
the students are engaged teachers in schools and
COLLEGES or as ministers Of the GOSPEL five denomi-
nations
II has been the seadfas aim Of the authorities to give
good instruction. aud TO control the cost Of living
| 10 make collegiate education economical They have
succeeded so wei that the entire expenses Of session
Of ten months need exceed $500 exclusive Of books
and clothing Many young men board in clubs AZ Sc
pcr month and thus reduce the yearly expense 10 $500
In this respect the college meets The wapts of the
country aud has strong clam upon the public for aId
All who are acquainted with The early history OF our
great colleges not be told the story Of the hard
Labor The self-dcnias the peculiar difficulties Of RO-
anoke's first twenty-five wears The faculty lave been
sDsacTificing in their devotion to duty. They have
done double work very small salaries The authorities
are now hampeed for the want Of money to make even
library and cabne Is useful Many OF the books and
nearly the whole mineral cabinet inaccessible To
| the students. Additional facilities are needed
to Illustrate the natural sciences. The college IS con-
ductcd on safe and economical principles. IL IA dong
n Good and usrtIl work |, has the promise of "A bright
future Its i'll the midst OF difficulties, Is tle
best evidence that il deserves place IN our educational
systcm II j. clIcumscTihed IN ITS sphere OF usefulness
for want OF money. Itdcserves the help now asked
small amount will 20 far toward relieving our necess
| nes. Much sympathy has been felt for Roanoke and
considerable assistance rendered by cZenS OF BoStOn
The work has made friends IN NeWG YORK; II docs wher
ever il Is properly understood Fuller information bv
catalogue circulars and letters vii h. given appca
ton Very respectfully. julius d. DREHKR.
! President OF Roanoke COLLEGE.
No 50 EaSi Tce"tt"i"t-st. Ne"- Iorh, Jan 7, 1879.