The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-08
SETTING sUPr. BAKER RIGHT.
Dr Chappeu Writes Letter Critics
incr Some Remarks of Bis Friend.

~
ing Some Remarks of Bis Friend.
M1ILEpGEvILLE, GA, Sept. 5.-Editor
Savannah Ne,Os: My attention has just
baan called to a paragraph IN a recent issue
NJ YOUR paper concerning the examination
If anplicants from Chatham county for ad-
-,ission to the Girls State Normal and
Industrial College, the examination having
been conducted by Supt. Baker of your
cirv After noting the fact that only one
en1licant appeared for examination the
article goes on to say:
"Severnl other young ladies stated their
desire to attend, but are unable 20 do so on
account of the expense, the pupils having
their board and other expenses to pay.
STUNT Baker says he does not think the
s sen AT large. y < Those In the
near neighborhood, who will be able
n live at their own home
ar with their friends or relatives, will re-
caye the benefit Of the school,"
Nothing could be further from the truth
than this ill-timed and ill-considered utter
spce OF Supk Baker. Tho following simple
statement Of facts will show how totally
wrong he is:
As soon as practicable, after the examina-
ton is held ia each county, the
CURED to send full report Of
the result to me. The examination has
been held in comparatively few counties
vet: most of them will come off during the
next week. Twenty-eight counties, now
ever. have already sent in their reports to
me and the following is the result: Tween
ty-four counties send delegations of from
one to seven pupils each. One county re-
ports two applicants examined, but neither
OF them came up to the required standard,
hence there were no appointees
Three counties only report mo appli~
cantsn Fifty-six regularly appointed pu-
pills, representing twenty-four counties in
Georgia, have already been entered on the
rolls Of the college. They come from near
" all parts Of the state, from Decatur
county in the far southwest to Ebert
county 10 the northeast. Not one OF them
lives within thirty miles of Mil
ledgeville Not one of them
has "lriends or relatives" here with whom
they expect to live to save paying board.
Nearly every one Of them will certainly be-
here at the opening Of the session in Octo>
Der, prepared ito pay their board and all
expenses"
More than 100 counties are yet TO hear
from. Most Of them will hold their exam
nations and send in their reports next week.
There is no reason to think bhat these coun-
ties will not patronize the school as literally
as those already heard from. Indeed, we have
good reason to expect that many of them
will be the schools most liberal patrons, and
that by the time they have all reported
nearly the full limit of $50 pupils will be
made up. Probably not a score Of girls
from Milledgeville and ''near neighbor-
hood" can be admitted into the school,
however much they may desire to attend.
These facts show beyond the possibility of
doubt that Supt. Baker erred egregiously
wnen be said that this institution would do
the state at large no great good, and that
the girls of Milledgeville and vicinity
would get all the benefit of it. l am sure
that he erred in igHorence and not in cum
ming, for cannot believe that he feels any
hl-will toward the institution; on the oon-
trarY, | believe, although l have never
heard him so express hinielf that he is at
heart its true and earnest friend, and, bs-
side, | know Of no man in the world that
would be farther than he from making a
wilful misstatement about anything,
whether he liked it or not. From his
observation IN Chatham county, 1 suppose
he had good reasons to think as he did; but
large cities like Savannah. for reasons
obvious on little reflection, take COM
paratlvely little interest in this institution,
and the state at large" should not be
judged by them. | wish Supt Baker had
thought Of this. l wish also that before
giving utterance to his brash opinion, he
had dropped me q postal card asking simply:
what are the prospects Of your schools |
want to say something to the newspapers
about it," Then be would have had the
pleasure Of saying words encouraging aud
helpful about this noble educational enter
4 prise, instead of the depressing and damag-
4 ing things he has uttered. When he reads
this, believe be will admit and regret his
mistake, and will DO glad have written to
set him right and the public right.
In conclusion lot me say that as the time
approaches for the opening OF the new insti-
tuition. the prospect for its success in every
way Is bright. think we shall have at
least NO pupils in attendance nearly, all OF
them from distance, representing majcr
Ivy OF the counties in the state. The superb
college building has just been finished at a
cost OF nearly $4,000. 1t is probably the
hsndsomest school building in the state. 1t
"lll De splendldly equipped, aud every one
VI us various departments will do excel
IeilV work from the beginning. On the
N Whole' 1t is going TO be the very best,
Tue most beneticent and noblest female
educational institution ever seen in the
southern states. Before the expiration of
one year my good and greatly honored
friend, Sup. Baker, will find that he never
mace d greater mistake in his life than
u S ~neu ne tod the newspaper folks that the
georgia Normal and Industrial College
woutd be only sort of local school and
& "Ou'o oe OF no benefit to the state at large.
D., J. HARRIS CHAPPBLL,
AIesiuenV Ge9rgla Normal and Industrial
College.