Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-09
AN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
Coiored People Of Virginia frepess Kss.
fishing One n Manassna


A movement started among eolored p>op,a
in Prince William county, Va, will be Watched
with interest The objec, IL 10 establish an In
dus,risl school 10 be situated at Manassas A
statement or address 20 the public issued by
the projectors and friends OF the entcrpriss
says the object is 10 give instruction in the o.
binary English branches and the industrial
arts TO the colored people living In . region Of
ton OF the late war.
The last census shows In the county Of Prince
William (in which Manassas 10 the largest
town. and the adjoining counties Of Stafford.
Fauquier. Loudoun aud Fairfax . total colored
populations OF 2S.s72. with . school populssaoe
q e. aged from fye 90 twenty years inclusivs)
OF l.2oO. while the latest statistics OF ths
bureau OF education state the percsntAes OF
average daily attendance m the colored sckoe,s
Aa This small percentage 10 sstribussd
mainly TO three causes:
L. Those who are looked TO 90 employers %
iaoor are so straitened financially that hey
cannot pay the colored isborers enough 70 ca
able them TO send their children 90 school and
buy books, clothing. &c for them 4 The
school year in Virginia is short and the schools
are frequently accessible only during months IN
which the older children are looking for en-
ployment or earning their scanty wages. 8.
There are no industrial schools in this sect,on
o. Virginia The Manassas Industrial School 4
this result OF an unseetarian effort on the part
OF the colored people in its vicinity 70 hslp
themselves and 60 meet the needs OF the sstusr
ton above outlined. The projectors have -
cured an advantageous site.
The address % the public h signed by Rev.
NJ ID. Williams OF Manassas, Rev. Henry wsr-
ring OF Alexandria, Rev. ID. q. Henderson II
Winchester. Jennie Dean OF Manassas. spa
Henry +. Montgomery, r. ID. Mussey, James 4.
Meriwether and Jane L. Thompson of this city.
A number in this ri IN has 49,.
interested IN the project. and among those whs
have written letters commencing it are Con-
missioner Harris Of the bureau OF education,
rev. Dr. >. 4. Rankin, president Of Howard
University, senator Hoar. Auditor Lynch Gen.
John Eaton. Bev. Rush II. shipper, Rev. Asx.
Crummen and Gen. H. ID. Mussey.
/ Inc leading spirlt IN tho movement 10 Nh
Jennie Dean OF Manassas, q young colorsl
woman, who has quite a remarksble history.
| Miss Dean was born slave, but has accom-
piished much notwithstanding the dissdvan-
| tages under which she began life.
Miss Jane l. Thompson OF this city, who
| Is interested in this proposed industrial
school, writing 10 THr srAR concerning
| the enterprise. SAYS; II am glad 20 unite
| my efforts with Miss Deans in fostering ths
spirit OF sef-help among the colored people of
| our community. During the past i've years
nave peen an observer OF her work and no
more earnest, Jealous. Intelligent woman can
De found Born a slave, yet of noble birth &C.
cepung her life n gift iron Tod, she counts
| no effort nor sacrifice great AZ she can uplift
her people. She strengthens the weak, inspires
the hopeless and awakens intelligence and the
spirit OF enterprise among the benighted.
| Miss Dean Is a good seamstress . first-clAss
| cook and an excellent housekeeper aud in the
management Of her mothers farm Of fifty acres
has proved herself no less competent IN farm
ing, the care Of stock and in general business
transactions. Uniting, AZ she has, industrial
work with her religious teaching no one can
doubt her fitness to teach in . school Of the
| kind proposed"
Miss Dean was graduated from the public
| schools IN this city, converted at the First
| Congregational Church and then going 70 the
mountains Of Virginia began mission work
among the colored people, prosecuting her
| iabors under great difficulties, and nov has
four large Sunday schools in the mountains
| IN connection with which she conducts
| sewing schools. She has raised money TO build
| churches and chapels and her success In the
| work Is what led the people of Manassas to CAL
upon her TO raise the money 20 build the indus
trial school. Several hundred dollars arc nov
due on the land chosen as the site Of The
| school Mr.. James II. Meriwether, ls22 18Th
| street, treasurer. and Mr.. BENJAMIN p. 6nydsx.
| president of the National Safe Deposit eavfnG6
and Trust Company, have been authorised -
receive the contributions Of those Who asaDs
| to aid the enterprise.