Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-08
THE NEW SOUTH.
Rapid Development of Its General
Commercial interests.
EDUCATION AND ITS RAPID GROWTH
The Advanced Condition Of Colleges and
Private Schools, and the Thirst for
Knowledge-The Leaders
Well Known.

gress, and who has been making an ex-
tended tour OF the Southern States, has
this to say: AN extended tour which i
recently made through the Southern Staes,
in the interests OF education, has aforoed
me an insight into and an understanding
OF Southern educational work, causing at
once surprise and reflection. L am sure
that many of your readers will also be sur
prised at some of the revelations hereby
derived. My observations were in the
field occupied by private schools. do not
speak here OF the work OF common schools
in the South.
As connected with the growth OF educa-
tional work at the South | may premise
with a word in reference to the general
commercial outlook southwark. The posi-
tion of the
Southern People
in the new life taken up by them since the
war is one still subject 10 much comment,
frequently very adverse, by the North
The new South" since the unhappy days
of secession and reconstruction is vet too
new, doubtless, for realizing the changes
into which the Southern people have been
initiated AS Northern man, accustomed
TO the industry and vim with which our
section teens, | am forcibly struck with
the contrast seen in the less aggressive
spirit of our Southern neighbors. And
vet. on the other hand there are some re-
markable examples OF industry and deyel-
opmeDt in the South worthy of 4 Lead
vile, Col, or the typical Western town.
Nashville and Atlanta, and also Birmlng-
ham, Ala, are exceptional evidences Of an
astonishing growth and progress seldom
euualed anywhere. Nashville has doubled
in size siuCe the war; Atlanta has been
built up into
Large and FiourishipG city
IN the same time; Birmingham, Aiabama,
called THE Magic City started IN 1870
has now -, 100 or l3,uHO inhah.tants, and.Is
growing at the rate OF 600 or 700 per month.
1t is in the midst OF coal beds u immense
extent and enormous value. The little
'Magic City" has already many excellent
stores and other buildings, tine court
house, handsome opera house, etc. Nash
vile has had q remarkable boom IN the
last three or four years. 1t is new place
since the war. IL has some notably fine
public buildings, its Custom House being
at once magnificent and unique, one OF
the finest structures in the land. Bat to
the special matter OF this article.
SOufnern EUucat1On.
was etirely unprepared for q revelation
such As have had in the matter of South
ern education. l may premise that I'M
mediately before going South had an IN,
tended tour of observation of several
months among New England schools and
colleges, and then among some in
New York and Pennsylvania. Added to
this extended experience OF late months |
NAV say that during a professional life |
have for years had much interest III be-
coming Conyersaut with the work OF edu-
cation in general. My late observationsin in
the South covered many schools, private
and deromnational, in Maryland. Virgin
ia, North Carolina. South Carolina, Geor.
gia, Alabama, New Orleans, Tennessee and
kentucky.
Do Not Hesitate 10 Say
that have seen as good schools Il do not
say as MANY good ones! South rs | have
North. And in the matter OF female schol-
arShip | hardly Know whether ought to
except such famous Northern institutions
as Wellesley, Nassar, Smith College and
HolyOke. And | am inclined to believe
the Southern claim that for standard OF
scholarship the fine University OF Virginia
is at least as high as Harvard or Yale. The
number OF Southern schools much sur
prised me. In complete st Of colleges
and schools in the United States and
abroad which have consulted lind some
thirteen hundred colleges and private
schools in the States of Virginia, West Nir.
ginia. North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi, IouiSina,
Tennessee and Kentucky.
Fountains of Know ledge.
In this brief space cannot comment eX-
teudedlv upon such large subject ~
Southern education, with its remarkable
growth and improvement, its needs and its
difficulties. Nor can mention the various
centres OF education, nor many OF the
schools of which ! should ike to write.
The cities OF StauntOn and Norfolk, Va;
Charleston, S. c.. New Orleans, Nashville
and Louisville, all have fine, prominent
colleges snd schools. StaUntOn, Va, town
of some seven thousand people (Which all
visitors note for its Northern like. active
aspect, hsS no less than five prominent
boarding schools, four OF them for young
ladies. Two OF these schools have over
laOpUpils. Norfolk, Va, which city has
been gradually taking on new and much
more active business spirit in The last four
or five years, has two fine colleges Tor
young ladies. Among the very best school
work ever saw anywhere was that OF
female seminary al Charleston, s. &.
c. arleston has some desirable educational
institutions. among them
TwoVcry Fine Military Schools.
Louisville has i've or six fine, HVurishiug
boarding schools for young ladies and sew
eral superior Young ladies day schools.
and there are several excellent boys
schools. ho;h boarding and day. The Lou.
isville schools are among the best ! have
seen snyxrege. Nashville has aboGt
dozen tat colleges AMI Schools and that
city - recognized edUcai.O&a. centre n
the South. Here arr tAe line Vanderbilt
University, with its numerous noble
Juildi, = Fisk University, iColorei5 and
other institutions New Orleans has some
excellent s.LooIs. many ii taem a.:oTdins
>Wpe:.0r French advantages not 10 be found
elsewhere new enterprise has lately
been begun hy an accomplished lady IN
the form ui a Kindergarten, carrying oGt
the pure ;oebeiian ,ysIem. But It must
not be supposed that the notable schools
are only or chiefly n the large centres or
towns. In the South. as a, the North,
many o. the most important schools are IN
the country or n retired towns.
encouragement still Needed
In what have said above DO not want
to have your readers gain the impression
that th. South is so well provided for n
the matter OF education that there IS no
need OF a helping hand from the North.
There il much need OF Northern aid 10
help onward what is so worthy OF encoar-
acement and assistance. II would se dli'l'
cult for our philanthtopists and public
spirited men 10 direct their moneys into a
better channel than is offered IN many
places in the South TO advance education
already progressing. o. TO stimulate 1t
where il should be started. A generous
Brooklyn gentleman has lately given 10
the Wesleyan Female College. Macon, Ga,
Sl2j ,Oco. and 20 the Lucy Cobb Institute,
Athens la, Si5,00N, uoo.e gifts, well be
slowed. IL was my PRIV eye
Ia see the uses TO which these
Generous Donations
have been applied 1T these two Schools
While am surprised At the progress made
both by private sni denominstional
schools in the SOUTH, snd while rejoice at
the prosperity Of macy, through excellent
financial and scholastic management. yet
saw many instances where 4 helplng hand
from, those favored with this world gods
vos!d give NJ impetus and noon, TO
SSuhern eiuCss;on. The South : dong
yrCL N the matter Of higher edCcatlon,
for which ell hoaor 20 her tsaCnsFs snt
her peop.t. let O.. :, .ihs7a ''4'.ii OIL are
1 -. ,t,,a ri thair g-hat wealth Tor the