The Washington critic., 1890-03-29
HIGH scuooL rp,soNs.
Interesting ana Ingenious Work of
COIoreh Puuils

NOlofeu fupiis.
Fairy fingers could not have been
more deft nor Jack Frost more artistic
with his silver frost designs than were
the young ladies and gentlemen Of the
Colored High School, Seventh aud
Eighth divisions, who are connected
with the department of physics. A
CHITIC reporter called at the school
building, corner of Seventeenth and q
streets, and was shown some of the re-
markable work these young people are
engaged in.
In an upper room, the interior of
which reminded him of Edison's
wizard shop in miniature, he found
Professor II. NJ. Brown, who is In
charge of the work, surrounded by
number of his male and female pupils.
They were engaged in electro. plating
with silver, nickel and copper and electro
etching, and the work they have accom-.
plished was displayed on q series of
long shelves and tables Professor
Brown is taking great interest in this
delicate work. He believes that the
colored youth should be instructed in
such matters in order to broaden heir
views and fit them to fight the battle of
life with O practical knowledge as well
as theoretical one.
The work of electro plating is done in
the same manner as is employed by
jewellers, and while the reporter was
there several articles of brass, etc, were
dipped into the baths and quickly sill.
vered, nickel. plated or given bright
copper hue. The form of little girl
etched in copper by electricity on o
background of silver by Miss Mabel
Ruby, attracted much attention, as did
copies of the original seal of the South
ern Confederacy. The molds of the
latter were made by the pupils from the
original in the possession of an official
of the War Department. Copies of the
Grand Army badge were scattered
about, while ON one of the shelves was
quaint little mule in copper, which
the pupils have christened "McGinty's s
mule" A copy of Locke, nodded in
metal from marble original, was GER
tainly an artistic piece Of work; also a
panel containing II German peasant
scene.
The difficult task of combining on a
piece of copper both silver and bronze
has been successfully accomplished by
the young electricians, and old brass
thimbes long since discarded by their
owners are exhibited, clad in shining
garb of silver. On another shelf was
an old daguerreotype picture of Mrs
Louisa Jacobs, who was famous col
ored help.meet among the soldiers
during the late war. The difficult and
scientific task of reproducing this by
electricity was accomplished by the
school.
The male scholars have constructed
a fire alarm station similar to those in
use in the city, which is in successful
operation. 1t is box mo. 123," and
when the crank is turned the numbers
one, two and three are struck on IL gong
in distant part of the room rhe
mechanism which operates mo. 123n
formerly did duty in an old clock
Another attachment to the alarm is in
a miniature two. story dwelling in one
corner of the school. broom II is in
geniously and scientifically arranged
so that should the temperature In the
house exceed a certain degree, the
alarm box sounds "123',. several times
In succession.
A railroad in miniature, operated by
electricity on an elevated track, with an
original turn-table, is another feature
of the exhibit as is a hydrostatic press,
a contribution from section a, second
year. Miss Laura Wilkes, one of the
advanced pupils, directs all the work Of
silver plating.
There are 400 scholars in the high
school, but as yet only seventeen of
them are engaged in the electrotyping
department. They spend three hours
each week on this work, and as it is the
first Of the kind ever attempted in the
schools Of the District, white or colored
1t is attracting much attention in educa.
tional circles. Professor Brown is re-
ceiving many congratulations upon his
efforts.