The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-25
THE MILLER MANUAL SCHOOL.
Interesting Description ofs this Most
rraiscrorthy Institute.
IrnrresIondence of The IImes.l

MEcHUM $ RIVER. ALBEMAkfE COUN
IY. August 23.-Yesterday we made oul
much talked Of tfip to the MILLER
/ school - You know that this school
was built and endowed by money left
| by Mr.. Samuel Miller. who was himself
born In q small hut ON one of the
/ hills in sight Of the magnificent
building. which will be a lasting
memorial to his memory. His
boyhood was passed amid the humb-
lest surroundings His own education
was acquired in the common schools OF
Richmond. Then he taught in Bates
vile. IN this county. In "A short while,
however. he went with his brother into
business in Lynchburg. This brother,
upon his death, bcquCathed 10 Mr..
samuel Miller 500 600. and then. Is II
by magic. every thing hetOuched turned
into gold. and he was enabled 10 accom-
plish a long-cherished dream of estab-
fishing charitable institution for the
education of the poor white children of
Albemarle county. Consequently in
his will "a provision of a million and a
half dollars WAS made for the establish
ment of the Miller Manual Labor School.
Now something about
rHE SCHOOL FTsELF.
The buildings are beautiful. aud COM
pletely equipped 20 as 20 give To the
children "A thorough education. They
are built of PLAIN red brick with cap
ings Of white. The approach 10 the
main building is from either side, and
the main hail is entered through an
archway. This main building. which
was finished ia ISIS. was originally IN
the form Of a II. As however, the
needs of the school increased. two
wings were added. thus making an
II. Besides this main building there
are the houses of the principal and one
or two of the professors, the buildings
for the work shops. and the machinery
which supplies the buildings with heat
by steam aud light by electricity. They
have too. 0f course. stables, diaries, a
hospital ami greenhouse.
Captain Nawter. the principal, was
away. bat Mr.. Taylor. their book keep
ef, an extremely genial. pleasant gem
tleman. acted as host i'm his stead. First
we were introduced 10 Mrs. Means. who
is i'm charge of
THE BOYS DEPARTMENT,
and whose sweet. motherly ways have
won for her from the boys lhe familiar
name OF Mummy Jennie. From her
we gained many interesting facts. She
told a5 chat at first they took only boys,
but that about six years ago It was de-
tcrmined 90 take IN girls. too that Mr.
Miller s will stated the poor white chd
drsq of AlOemarle county. and there
fore why not girls as well az boysf
Last year they bad 2is pupil.--ll3 boys
and 80 girls.
While of course the children are
clothed. fed aud educated entirely at
the expense of the institution, 1t has
very little the air of charitable instr
stituli0n. The boys are taught and re-
quired 10 work on the farm and in the
workshops they are taught teleg
raphy. typo-wriling. bookkeeping and
everything 90 make them good, useful
citizens. They are, however, only fe
Quired to work six hours out of the
twenty four ard do but little of the
manual labor for the support of the
school The boys are admitted at from
eight to ten years Of age and allowed
60 stay until eighteen.
Miss Annie Carr, a bright, energetic
lifle lady. took as through
TIE GIRLS DEPARTMENT..
where We were shown their bright.
sunny sening.r0om. provided with nice
sewing machines. work tables ana nice
presses. here their clothes are kept.
next INTO ,he dOrmit0rits. with their
rows of comfortable. veil Kept beds,
aud them into the basement. where we
sass their bathing tabs. with hot and
cold water. aud comfortable play
room.
After Miss Carr bad done the honors
of hei department, Mr.. Taylor took us
through
IHE WORK SHOP,
where We saw their biack,mitb-room. /
where twelve boys can be- taught that /
trace at one time. Then up IN the
room. where the boys make |
from that as fine as that M
"a watch 20 a j-horse power engine. |
On the third floor was the wooden |
work. and most beautiful work it is |
Now we descended 10 the esgine-roOm, !
wnere the engineer informed Us that IN |
winter h. cOrsumed-Or rather the /
furnace did-thTee tons of coal day. /
These furnace. however. as / said be |
fore. generated The neat aud light for |
all these buildings.
HOUSEKEEPING DEPARTMENT.
AT last we were taken In hand By |
Mrs. Wallace. the hOuseheeper. and !
made "a most interesting survey Of her /
domain. through the long dining room
where they seat 32j people, with thesery-
ing-room beyond. where stood the inn /
mense tea and lee pots, which are
kept hot by steam. Then down into /
the kitchen where. in addition 10 the |
immense range, stool some SIX or seven |
immense boilers AN heated by steam /
One OF these she said would cook 70 I
pounds OF meat. Then imagine a baker b |
oven which must cook each day bar /
rel and a half Of hour, and. indeed. !
must not forget To mention the hun /
dreds of jars OF preserves that are an |
nually put up for tho consumption OF |
those fortunate children. There are
ONE THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND
surrounding the buildings, much OF
which is under cultivation for the bene
ht of the school. Unfortunately we
made our Sisit during the holiday time.
and thus missed much of interest, but
we saw sufficient 70 convince Us that
these children of Albemarle county
have much TO b. thankful for that God
raised up for them such beneiactor as
Mr.. Samuel Miller.
BOTETOURT COUNTY.
Democratic nomination Broke His Leg.