The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-09


shrined shall be preserved and los
tered by the chivalTous sons OF this
commonwealth. We desire you to
see the institution in all its depart
ments, in all its workings, to consider
its scope, its plans, and its mission.
We throw the doors wide open 10 your
examination and iDspection-we have
no secrets from you. AS stated in the
report which has been published FOL
your informft on, we are offering in
struction in c1llegia'e, a normal, an
industrial department aud de-
partment OF music aud fine art.
In the organization Of the collegiate
course we have had regard to the
highest educational needs OF the peo-
Pile; we have planned a course far
more thorough Than is usual in girls
colleges, adording instruction in math
ematica aud in literary and scientific
subjects abreast with the march OF
modern progress.
The advantages we are here Offering
will be found to compare favorably
in all respects with those afforded by
colleges Of eo1d grade for boys. And
we are doing this, as we think, for the
most satisfactory reasons. Many Of
our best citizens desire this thorough
and elegant culture for their daughters
here in the midst Of their own people.
Hitherto scores have sent their daugh-
tiers out Of the State, TO be educated
among strangers, and perhaps to be
educated out OF sympathy with the
people among whom their lives have
been cat. Thus, too, thousands oil
dollars are taken out Of the State an
nnally, depicting the volume Of circu-
lAtion circulating among us and swell
ing that in other States. This is bad
policy; but this is by no means
the worst feature Of 1t. II our
people feel that their inhtitutio as
OF learning are il ferior TO those in
other parts OF our country II they send
their daughters out OF the Site in Or
der to get that high Ria1e OF educa-
ton which they think is not Afforded
By home institutions; II girls who are
educated out of Mississippi come back
ID 1t with better h aiming and culture
than those who attend the home
schools, these ficts will surely discern
mate among the people influences
and impressions seriously damaging
10 our own civilization, destructive Of
a proper Site pride, and calculated to
excite feeling tf difquietude and
udrest which leads 10 depreciation OF
values and promotes the spirit OF
emigration TO other more favored
States.
Let us 1opt such measures as will
enable our people to see that Missis-
sippi provides the best gifts for her
children, and that the tone OF herso.
ciety is as pure, clear and strong as
any.
Then will our sons and our daugh-
terJ abide contentedly upon her soil,
aid in building up her waste places
and help to establish her prosperity.
/ am aware TIA, some int liRent citi-
Esns think that the State ought to pro.
vide elementary education only; but,
gentlemen, the most prosperous and
progressive States-those that have
made the mott rapid strides in wea tn
have fostered the common schc OILS
and the higher Learning also. BY those
states ample facilities have been made
for thorough collegiats training, and
provision for varied technical and in.
dus'rial instruction and practice !;
thereby skilled engineers, miners aud
mechanics arc furnished and men and
women qualified in all those branches
Of industry whereby tne resources OF n
country are developed.
II Mississippi had been provided
years ago vita such institutions for
the practical training OF her sons in
the skilled indutt-ies might che net
I )-day bod more advanced position
in the race OF progress
Justice" in the Clarion, uses the
great name OF Thomas Jefferson in
support of the policy that the STATE
should give it, citizens nothing
hey ond a common school education.
y No Gaze more unfortunate f)r his
argument could have been cited. Mr..
Jefferson was tho great friend of
popular education by the Safe; but
he did not stop there. He was the
patron OF higher learning, as he was
the apostle OF American liberty. In
behalf Of the great old mother Of
States and statesmen he crossed the
Atlantic, studied the highest intt'tu-
tons in England aud on the conti-
nent, and coming back laid the
foundation of the most magnificent
university America had ever seen.
He modelled the Rotunda building
upon the Pantheon at Rome, ald
adopted the plan Of the universities OF
German y. When no died his t,mb-
stone bore this description; Thomas
JeifersoR, Author of the Declaration
# Independence. Father of the
University of Virginia"
Our normal department aims to 90
pupils as thoroughly as time will
allow Tor the great work Of aching.
In all the States the far larger pant
Dt the teaching is being done by
and the crying need is for
Well-trained, efficient teachers. With
out skillful, earnest, honest teachers,
INV school system is Obliged TO be q
allure. You might as we'll expect an
sngine on track ID run without
team or any power applied as to look
or live and productive educational
Iystem with Indifferent teachers. In
Mississippi 100000 is spent annually
IN the common schools. Whether or
lot the people are to get the proper
'eturn for this vast annual outlay de
bends most largely upon the teachers
II those schools. 1t is our desire aud
lin TO do do our part to meet this i'm.
,erative need for earnest, progressive
and thus contribute to the !
General education Of the people. If we |
ucceed in this to any large degree
We will be amply compenss ting the |
Il ite for all her appropriations to this
ollege. We strongly and earnestly
Avor the maintenance Ct an efficient |
ommon school system. But the de.
'artment CT this int tjtution which
GEMS TO impress our people most pa
hetically, which attracts the largest
lotice and the highest commentator
or its conception and working, aud
which most strongly characteriz IS the
ollege, is the industrial. la the fact
hat our girls ARE learning the irdus-
rial arts, there Is something that
ouohes a tender chord in the hearts
i the generous. Times are so hard,
he pressure so severe, the exigencies