The Washington times., 1895-03-16
LAB0RED FOR EDUCATION
Portrait of the late Senator Patter-
son Presented TO the School.
His Widow Sent It Because His Interest in
the Schools of the District Had
Been Appreciated.

The ceremony of presenting the por-
trait of the late Senator James w. Pat
terson, of New Hampshire, to the Patter-
son School, of this city, took place yester-'
day afternoon in the pres ence of a large
audience at the high school building, on NJ
street, between First street and New
Jersey avenue northwest.
The exercises, which were pres ided
over by ex-senator B. X. Bruce, were
Grmke. On the stage were seated Gen.
John Eaton, Commissioner of Edu-
cation, Hon. j. O. Wilson, Hon. John R.
Lynch, Prof. w. S. Montgomery, and
sfr. w. B. Patterson, nephew of the late
Senator Patterson.
The opening address was made by Gen.
Eaton, VINO br.rfly review Ell tre Hfc-
work of Senator Patterson, especially that
bearing on the advancem ent and education
of the Colored people. lie then told OF the
Senator's political career, OF his election
10 Congress, and his return to the field of
education in the State University of New
Hampshire, where professorship was
especially created for him.
II was while he was a member of Con-
gress that he came In immediate touch
with the people of the District but it
was not here Hlone that his influence in
behalf of public school education was felt,
for in the establishment of the bureau
of education in which he was the princi
pal mover his reputation us a public ed
ucator became national. He was Il no.
Bile character, whose virtues should be
emulated by all, and whose teachings
and principles should guide us all in
the pursuit Of higher education.
Hon. j. @. wilson, who followed Gen.
Eaton, spoke principally of Senator Pat
terson's services in relation to the estab-
fishing of free schools for colored chill
dren in the District OF Columbia. Dur
ing his term in Congress he was inStIu-
mental in having enacted the ten per
cent. school tax" which compelled
the appropriation Of 10 per cent. of all
the taxes paid by the colored people Of
the District for theq maintenance OF free
schools for colored children.
Prof. w. S. Montgomery. supervising
principal of Patterson school, related the
circumstances which led to the presenta-
tion of the portraittotheschoolby blythe widow
OF the late Senator Patterson.
He also exhibited to the audience an eX-
ceilent framed photograph OF the Patter-
son school, which in the name OF the
trustees ofs the school he would send Mrs.
Patterson.
Ihc portrait Of Senator Patterson, which
was hidden with the national flag, was
then uncovered to the view of the audience.
Prof. w. B. Patterson then rose and said:
M Chairman: To you, representing,
as you do, the trustees of the Patterson, l
take great pleasure in presenting this por-
trait OF the late Senator Patterson on be-
hair OF Mrs Patterson.
Chairman Bruce, representing the trus
tees. said lie was glad OF the distinguished
honor to be the one to accept the beautiful
portrait of the beloved friend and patron
OF the people of the District. He had moth
ing to say I'D addition to what Prof. Wilson
and Gen. Eaton had said, but IN behalf of
those who had passed and of those who are
passing through this school, he returned
sincere thanks for the beautiful and
thoughtful gift.
The portrait is q free-hand crayoD, life
size and the work of a Concord artist. Dur
ing the exercises excellent vocal music was
rendered by q volunteer choir under the
direction of Prof. John T. Layton.