The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-31

manned as pastor. My people consented TO
decided to send to Augusta, Ga; but the
plan was changed, and in 1867 came to
Washington.
'My first school was soon gathered in Lou
isiana Avenue in small room. from which
we were soon obliged to remove to q larger
place in Judiciary Square. Increasing num-
bers OF scholars soon compelled us to seek
better accommodations, and new building
was erected in street near 10th, where our
growing, school soon found quarters.
to its privileges soon caused the
school to become crowded again, and / felt
that another move must be made for still
more room.
81 sat one Easter morning in my room,
dreaming and trying to think how 1 should
move In the emergency found pressing me.
was about used up with incessant teach
ing and talking 10 crowded. sitting atmo-
spere.
Uncle Haines, good old colored friend,
entered the room with half-dozen Easter
eggs in basket and wished me to accept
them as present. What to do with them
did not occur to me at the moment, but /
knew they were salable, and | soon found
chance dispose Of them for small sum of
money. What shall do with the money?
then came to the query Let it help build
new school house, some answering spirit
instantly replied. That was the first
money laid by for building Wayland Semi
Il felt new inspiration and hope. l put
students at work soliciting aid for the fund,
and was astoniShed at the amounts of mon
ey which flowed into the treasury for the
projected buildings. We secured site out
settled limits of the city, which is now
thickly crowding its palation dwellings
and business marts right under the caves
OF our Home, and countrywards beyond
eve prUgrcssed Slowly for want of suffi-
cient funds to complete the building at once.
But in 1876 we witnessed our labor on the
first building finished-three stories, beside
basement and mansard roof, 50 feet by AZ
feet on the. ground, and costing $4,000.
Every brick had been laid by negro masOns,
and the work superintended by colored
foreman. But 1t was empty. We had not a
desk. chair or bookcase; neither bedstead
nor other furniture for the chambers, and
only $50 left of our hard-saved fund. We
needed $500. Scores Of students were wait
ing for admission to the new school.
Il went to one of the largest furniture
dealers in the city, and after telling him of
our success in the completion of our building
put in it. When will you pay?' he asked.
1 guess l can pay you by the next Centen-
nial, l half loosely replied. He delivered
the furniture wanted; our school was put
IN running order, and | paid the bill in
thirty days, with the contributions of
friends.
"The first man who came into the school
room and approached me was 45 years old.
he was fireman in the furnace room of a
hotel, where the Clarendon now stands. He
was a very unprepossessing person. and in
consequence OF a serious deformity, caused
by an accident to one of his legs years be-
fore, he walked with painful awkwardness.
As | extended my hand of welcome greeting
experienced an involuntary revulsion Of
feeling; but he looked right into my face and
with open book asked me to show him the
c0njugation of a verb. Immediately COM
piled, and in one minute / was free from all
unpleasant emotions, and have never expe-
rlenced any similar feelings from that day to
this. That man was very bright. He came
from Middlesex county, Virginia, and be-
longed to the great colored colony which set
tied here after the war.
Several Of our best teachers have been
from Maine. The first was Miss Mary A.
Howe of Skowhegan, a relative of Gov. Co
Durn and member of his family. Her death
occurred here and her remains were carried
TO Skowhegan for burial. A more efficient
teacher never entered a school room. Another
excellent and beloved teacher was Miss
Wood of Camden, Me-, whose successor was
Miss 5. A, Curtis, graduate of Colby Uni
versity, class of 'S3. The present principal
OF the Normal department, English branches
and Latin, is Miss Lillian Fletcher of New
port, n. H., graduate Of Colby, class of 'SS.
Miss Lillian G. Roberts, a graduate of Bridge
water Normal school, Mass, is also teacher
in the English department.
Ihree OF my male teachers have been
graduates of Colby: E. f. King of Portland
Benz. Fish of Freeport and A. NJ. Richardson
of Hebron. Names contributions Of teach
ers have made the school.
Our library of over two thousand vol
nmes is named in honor of Rev. c. b. Davis,
long pastor of the Baptist church, of Paris.
for muniicent gift of money from Mrs
Davis after the death of her husband.
Gov. Coburn gave $4,000 to the seminary,
$4,000 of which is permanent endowment
We have had other generous gifts of 81, 600
and $500. One of our good friends who has
Sontrioutcd a in many substantial ways to our
ington, formerly the beloved pastorl.of High
street church, Portland, whose death in
Brooklyn, n. Y, last Sunday, at 80 years, is
Just reported. We have many devoted
friends and contributors in Boston, New
York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Washington, Chicago and many other
places.
One of the venerated friends of the insti-
tuition, who supported DR.. King during the
most trying period of his school work, was
the late Hon. Ginery Twitchell of Massa
chusetts.