Birmingham age-herald., 1894-10-07
OUR COLLEGES.
Dear Old Howard and the New Beauty, the Atheneum. Eulo- gized by One Able
 to Do So.

To the Age Herald:
 The people of Birmingham feel very proud of the success of those great institu- tions of learning at East, Lake-Howard college and the Atheneum; and the whole people of our state should rejoice with us that that beautiful suburban city has be- come one of the great centers of learning and culture in Alabama.
 True, Howard college has all the prestige which years and splendid past history could bring to her aid, but an institution watched over by the brilliant Dr. McGaha, whose hands are held up by a faculty of so much wisdom and great learning, needs none other help to make herself great of Birmingham and vicinity.
 What we need Is a college near our own homes, so that our sons may spend their nights within the family circle, and have g fathers watchful eye aud mother's ten der sympathy and prayers to guard them against temptation and to cheer them and mould a manly, Christian character.
 No one could look upon Rev. Dr. Dill and the venerable Professor Goodhue without being better man or boy from it, because the holiness of their lives is writ ten in every lineament of their faces; nor could one associate az pupil with Pro. fessors Waldrop: Smith and the other mem. bers of old Towards learned faculty with- out CaUCnluS SOm6WnHJ OI tnelr energy duu enthusiasm, and realizing his splendid op- portunity for becoming an excellent scholar.
 The faculty oi Howard college know how to impart Knowledge and implant the prin- ciples of purest morality; and the many eminent men in Alabama and elsewhere, who have achieved distinction in the min- istry and in public and private life, reflect honor upon those who did so much to fash- ion them for the realities of life.
 The Atheneum, however, is young-tn all the bloom and en thusiasm of youth-but there is not man in our city with one paris ticle of grit in his makeup who does not look upon that college for girls and young women as one fixes his eye upon thing of beauty, feeling a thrill of exquisite pleas.
 ure. The truth is, that everything about the Atheneum is lovely and inspiritingi The grounds are beautiful, the building is massive and imposing, supplied with all
 the appliances for comfort and convenlence
 known to our day, a, and the students
 witchery of their eyes and the melody of
 their voicesi Nevertheless, the fond mother wants her precious charge at home
 when school hours are over, for there is so much to learn, as we'll as to shun, in the full development of a splendid womanhood. President Palmer and his associates are learned, patient, painstaking teachers and exemplars, and no girl could be in the same atmosphere with them without catching an inspiration to be and to do good, and to seek untiriugly for the highest mental and moral culture. las t@ V. The writer fsals and believes every word he has uttered and is moved to inquire how happers it that with such facilities at our door we could think for moment of sending boy or girl away from home to seek an educa- tion? Unless we help one another we can- not prosper ourselves, and to have son or daughter returned to us, the former dissi- pated or dissolute young man, ths latter without the purity of thought or delicacy and refinement of manners of her dear mother, is something too painful for mo- ments contemplation. he
 The escape from the evil is certain and sure. Keep your sons and daughters at home and guard them yourselves from evil. l5.4i is-5 A.