Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-31
TENNESSEE.
LETTER FROM NASHVILLE.

legislative Educational; What the Va
rieus Institutions or Learning Are Doing
sam. Jones and the Revival.
Correspondence ofthe Richmond DIspatch.l
NASHVILLE, May %, 1885.
The Legislature Of this State Is now
In extra session, Governor Bate, by
proclamation, having convened it to con-
slider certain matters which were de-
feated at the late regular session by
the refractory conduct Of portion of
the Senate. The State was left unpro-
vided with the requisite legislation to
raise revenue, and the appropriation
bills having failed, the current expenses
Of the government and the obligations
of the State demand immediate at
tention. The settlement Of the State
debt under the funding act Of 1883 is
no longer questioned, but the Governor
suggests remedial and protective mea-
sures, as the bonds, with unpaid cou-
pons, may come so rapidly and heavily
as TO absorb the funds in the treasury
and thus produce serious embarrass-
ment. Pleuro-pneumonia, school-laws,
judicial districts, and Observation-Disclosures
will demand the attention of the Gene
raj Assembly.
Nashville is called the Athens of the
South, and her efficient city public
schools and her famous institutions Of
learning entitle her to the honorable
appellation. Vanderbilt University, by
location and endowment, stands pre-
eminent. DR.. Garland, the chancellor,
and otha Virginians, are members Of
the faculty. The University has theo-
logical, law, and medical departments.
Vanderbilt reflects much credit on the
Methodists for founding and sustaining
such a noble institution.
Fisk University, begun by the Freed
mems Bureau, is now under manage
ment Of the CongregatiOnalists, who
have taken the lead Of all religious de-
nominations in the education Of the ne
groes. The Jubilee Singers gave
the Fisk a national reputation, and now
no college for colored people has, per-
haps, so high and so thorough curri-
culum of studies. The examinations
now in progress show that the students
of both sexes have done creditable work
in Greek, Latin, Mathematics, Geology,
Botany, English, and in normal instruc-
ton. Roger Williams, under the Bap-
fists, and Central College, under North
ern Methodists, are riyalling the Fisk in
the efforts they are successfully making
to solve the negro problem.
Nashville Normal College was estab-
lished in 1874 by the trustees of the
Peabody Education Fund, in coopera-
ton with the University Of Nashville.
The State of Tennessee has adopted it
as State normal college, and makes
an annual appropriation Of $4,000 for
it's support. The general agent of the
Peabody Educational Fund apportions
scholars from the southern States,
who are selected and appointed after
competitive examination by State SUI
perintendents Of education. These
scholarships, supported from the
Peabody Fund, are much sought
after, and the graduates are found in
our best schools as principals or teach
ers. Yesterday was the ninth annual
commencement, and the address was
made by the Hon. j. L. VI. Curry,
Of your city. Among the fifty-three
graduates were three from Virginia
Miss Mary Rohleder, Of Petersburg !;
Miss Annie c. Thacker, Of Carter's
Bridge and William l.. Andrews, of
Scottsville. Cities and towns will make
a mistake not to secure the services of
these well-trained graduates for their
schools.
Sam. Jones, the evangelist, is turn
ing this city upside down. 1t would
be difficult to exaggerate the stir " he
has created and the influence Of his
sermons. a ''gospel-tent," well floored
and seated, capable Of accommodating
1900 people, has been erected on a va
cant lot near the cuStom-house. Three
services are held daily-at 6 A. NJ, 10
! A. NJ, and at ! p. VI. At each SER
vice the tent is filled, and at night hun
dreds border the enclosure. The best
as well as the worst people at
tend, and Mr.. Jones has the cordial
cooperation of the Methodist, Bap-
fist, and Presbyterian ministers.
As in the case of Mr.. Moody, the
constant injury is, What is the secret
Of his power? Born in Chambers
county, Ala; after his conversion he
became a preacher in the Georgia
Methodist Conference. He is thin.
wiry, tireless. He speaks slowly, and
his words reach easily the outer circle
; of his hearers. lie has none of the
graces Of an orator, and is, really or
afectedly, illiterate. His illustrations
are homely and his language often
coarse. lie is terribly in earnest, and
bis denunciations Of sin, in grosser
forms and in plausible fascinating ex-
terror, are bold and powerful, Tue
police say that his SERMONS are work
ing wonderful change, and they are
good judges. 1t is absurd to deny
power to a man whose success is so
marvellous in so many places.
GRUMPY.