Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-07-30

need not long remain IN poverty or
obsctmity. There is always place for
such persons. When business man
wants assistance i'm amy OF his numerous
or arduous duties he always prefers Il
"A good penman and correct accountant,
even if the other qualifications come
up To the standard; for these two re-
uuisiteS alone. renders him or her (as
the case may he, desirable AID.
To the literati. an author of amy KIND. /
or the public man, good handwriting
is indispensable. While everybody adj
mres good handwriting rs well as a
neatly and correctly kept set of COM
mercal books. yet how few. compara-
lively attain proficiency in this branch.
And why is it? Simply because they
have been under the instruction of
teachers who had no conception of WIZ
ting i'm the true sense of the word. They
only instructed their pupils TO make let
tiers from being impressed upon them
rapidity, freedom. grace OF movement
and ease of execution were untauglt.
These articles referring To the adj
yancement and prosperity OF Alma,
would bc incomplete, indeed. without
mentioning the
CENTRAL MICHIGAN NORMAL SCHOOL
AND COMMERCIAL COLLEGE.
+. NJ. Harding. founder and proprietor.
for il forms one of our most important
business interests This institution
was established i'm 1Ss4. at Fcnton,
Michigan. with on attendance of only
II students. and its growth which has
been steady is worthy of note, taking
into consideration the fact that its
founder met with much opposition.
Obstacles seemed To bcSet him on every
side and his project was rldlclled as an
unsuccessful effort. But nothing daun-
ted Mr.. Harding madea bold start, and
TODAY his institution ranks among the
best of its kind i'm Michigan. and has
become noted for its thorough training
and good results accruing thereirOm.
Many students who have graduated
from this school are now holding re-
Sponsibe positions in business life.
which is the best recommend that can
be offered for the proficiency OF It's M
structiOn. This progress is due the ull-
firing energy and efforts OF Mr.. Hard
ing to procure the best teachers To take
charge of the various departments. and
10 make prominent those principles and
fundamental rules necessary IN acqul-
ing thorough business education.
\ few words i'm regard 20 the career
of Mr.. Harding may bC.ot interest TO our
readers: He is now - years old. and
/ from the age OF 9 years has cared FOR
himself. receiving assistance from no
person. From boyhoOd hc had thirst
after knowledge spending all the time
he could spare with his books. I'm lN71
1 hc commenced teaching. I'm connect
ion with his regular school work hc
f taught evening schools i'm peumanohp
and bookkeeping In ISL hc complet-
eel a scientific course. and m lNSj cN-
tabliShed the Milford Business, college.
conducting it till lSsi when he opened
the Normal school and Commercial
/ College at Fcnton. and from mere
handful of pupils at the start the school
grew rapidly till after two years. the
Feuton accommodation became made
quatc. and Mr.. Harding SAW that new
buildings would have to be erected.
About this time the citizens of Alma
offered S25.OOO To have the euterprl~,
located here After considering the
advantageous location. excellent rail
road facilities and numerous other aC-
commOdations afforded at Alma, II was
decided To remove the school here. ant
accordingly 3acres of land was purchas-
eel i'm close pOXlminity to the business,
part of the town, on superior street
and the erection of the buildings wa,
commenced at once. and by the forepar'
of September they Will be ready for oc
cupanCY.
We might add right here that a
present the union school building il
used. temporarily.
\ few DAYS since we took lool
through the new school buildings whicl
are the most substantial. cOnyenien
and complete of the kind in the state
THE MAIN COLLEGE BUILDING
is 5Sx72 feet. stories and basement
/ An addition iSX54 feet. 3 stories eX
! tends out from the main part. tn
f whole structure is built of brick and il
- system of ventilation and sewerage j
absolutely perfect. Commencing in TN
. basement we find several apartments
f. The first is the mailing room. and TIN
+ next the chemical laboratory which wi
h he complete i'm all its appointments an
conducted by a competent man. AS
cending to the first floor proper, We ar
i'm hall which extends through TN
centre of the building. To the left q
the hall is a chapel capable of accom-
u modating 800 persons. On one side {
this room there is a stage eXtendin
q back from the wall. with ante-roon
: adjoining. The seats i'm this ROOF
y will be raised i'm tiers 50 that all ca
S have fine view of the speaker. q
l. the opposite side of the main hall is
r. lecture room where natural sciences ar
=. taught. and adjoining this is Il phi
-" osOphical laboratory which viii |
p furnished with the best appurteuancc
If An alcove at one end is arranged fC
* the different appurtcnanccs and for Il
use of the teacher ur speaker. PassiI
o, upward to the second floor. here "
81 find another lecture room where histor
re- geology. geography and botany al
nj taught. The laboratory adjoining
:, provided with maps globes and q gcolo
~ zeal cabinet. and is arranged with alco'
~ the same as the room below. The uc
~ is "a library room and across the hall
g. tie business cecbauge which is 3SN.
feet. with ceiling 10 feet high. lie
commercial work is taught. Busne
a is done bet Heem two distant cities:
cash railroad system with line Of Ollie