The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-04
A. and N. College Totes by Bishop
Green of a Recent Visit.

EDITORS CLARION: VIII you allow
me little space to tell you Of my recent
visit to our Agricultural and Mechani-
cal COLLEGE near Starkviile, under the
of Gen. 5. ID. Lee?
/ will begin by confessing that | was
among the many who very much doubted
the feasibility of the undertaking, when
it was first proposed and entered upon.
Not that | Disappeared the thing in
theory. or questioned the we'll known
ability of its president, but that feared
that neither our Southern parents or
their sons would take kindly to. an in
stitution that includes in its ''eurricu-
lum" a little toOrk in the field, stroke or
t,oo at the aacH, and an occasional turn
at the carpenter s bench. But my late and
brief visit too brief for my fui gFatlii
cation-has made me an entire convert
to the whole thing, and IA most hearty
we'll wisher as To the future that Is be-
fore it.
| found Gen. Lee alone; his accom-
plished lady being on visit to her
mother in Columbus. But this only
gave me the better opportunity of seeing
that the presiding spirit Of that instltu-
ton could do the honors of his house as
thoroughly as he once could set a
squadron in the field" or now teach
"young America" to work with hands
as we'll as brains. 4 stay of few hours
was sufficient to excite an agreeable sur
prise at the beauty Of the location and
| the size of the several buildings. ! was
| first taken to the Chemical Department,
where, in large room, well aired and
we'll lighted were number OF students
engaged in Practical Chemistry, and
among them lovely girl, who seemed
as deeply interested and as knowingly
| at work as the rest of them. And was
told that others of the same sort were
expected to keep her company at tn
next term. ] need not detail all that
was shown in the dining room, the
kitchen or the library, but it is due to
the Trustees of the Institution, to It's
Professors, and especially to its presiding
officer. to say that | was much surprised
! at the extent of accommodation, and the
many facilities for instruction there OF
! tered on such easy terms to the youth OF
orr State. did not visit the DOrmltory
buildings, but | could see that they pre-
sented accommodation for more than
twice the number now occupying them
This was to me a matter OF surprise
seeing that their tuition is paid by the
State, and that the necessary annual ex
pense for board, ETC., is mere tri1t
compared with that of many other col
leges. was glad to learn that some o.
the students, by little extra labor, hat
been able to earn as much as from So'
to $75 toward paying their way through
the year. y
r Standing in the piazza of the General
house, it was delightful to see in on
/ view the st .tely College Buildings il
front; on the right young orchard O
4 several thousand choice fruit trees
: gr.fted and planted by the hands OF tn
Students. and at distance on the left
: the College stables, stocked, as | wa
e told. with more than hundred cattle
among which are six varieties OF tn
!; finest breeds that Europe or our owl
country can produce. From this sourc
the State may year after year reap n
: small benefit. If there be anything Il
the future of this praiseworthy enter
, nrise TO check its progress 1T IS not nov
apparent. 1t surely needs not a NOR
auitable location, more comtortaDl
!. charters. more faithful instructors, or
! more qualified President If its man
advantages were appreciated as the
i: ought to be by the parents OF our state
: its halls would soon be crowded ia
# beyond their present power OF accom-
5. mediation. That that day may 500
e come is the hearty prayer of one who
e taking more and more pride in the Stat
of his adoption. w. III. ".