The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-22

Mr.. Calhoun ana Inc res1cS cOqneCteQ
with his memory being desecrated in q
manner that is unworthy of people to
whom he devoted the best energies OF Z
his life. The old homestead instead &
of being made a dwelling for q profes-
sor or attache of the college should be
converted into museum and restored
as near as practicable to the condition
in which it was left by the great ad-
vocate Of State sovereignty, principle
so dear to our people. The relics are
huddled in one small room with care &
lessness and lack of appreciation that
is appalling to the visitors aid admir
ers Of Mr.. Calhoun. .,'I5i 13Ss ~ gS5s
WINTHROP COLLEGE.
On the 18th OF October last the Win
throp Normal and Industrial college
for women was opened with appropr 4
ate ceremonies, with an enrolment OF
304 students. Since that time it has IN
creased to 80, the full capacity Of the
institution. About one hundred ap-
.plicants for admission have been re-
fused by reason of lack Of room in the
dormitories. Nothing has occurred TO
mar the harmony and good manage.
inent of the institution. The spirit
with which the young ladies entered
upon their duties and the facility with !
which the institution has been com
Quoted is q compliment to both stu
dents and faculty. s,
Through the managementand fnan-
cial ability of President johnson the
cost of maintaining student Is IS fol
lows:
Board, including furnished room,
lights and washing; $3.50 per month.
This, with all other expenses, not In
cluding tuition, which is remitted to
all who are unable to pay, makes the J
total cost $50. 80; the total cost with
tuition is $126.50. The students, are
required to be in uniform, which If
desired, is supplied by the manufsc-
turers at cost not exceeding $25 for !.
the entire year. This includes two
ordinary fatigue suits, one dress suit,
one gymnasium suit, one hat and enen
pair of gloves. I venture to assert
that the board and other expenses 4
necessary to obtain an education ct
this institution will compare fayorably
with that of any in our country Ths
State is now doing for our young
women asmuch as for the young men.
A chief aim of this institution is to
furnish teachers for the common
schools of the State, and is fortu-
nate that the ample provisions for the
support of these schools made by the
new constitution will afford better re-
ward and offer more inducements to
this class of students.
The young men of this generation
are to be congratulated upon having
such q class from which to obtain fu-
ture wives. The amount of the APP
preparation asked for by the board of
trustees is$55, ,O00,{ of which $23, 900
are for past Indebtedness and iabili-
ties incurred which were absolutely
necessary for the opening of the college
and $32, 900, are for support and main
tenance, equipment, repairs, insurance
etc. During the past year the strict
est economy has been practiced and
the salaries are lower than any other
institution in the State.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 80
The annual report of the superin-
tendent of education shows the public
schools of the State to be in as prosper
GUS q condition as the funds devoted
to this purpose would warrant. The
enrolment for the year was 103, ,729
whites, 1929 colored, aggregating
223, ,O3l, decrease from the previous
year of 3,745. Of this number, how
ever. 3,019 was in the county of Beau
fort, which leaves theiaverage atten-
dance in the other counties about the
same as it was for the previous year.
The past four years will be known as
the great educational era of our State.
There seems to be a general enthua-
asm among our people of all classes in
this great work. There has been q
gradual increase since 1890 in the
length of the school term and it is
confidently expected that when the
new constitutional provisions are put
into operation the school term will be
increased to at least six months. With
this accomplished the educational sys-
tenn of South Carolina will be a COM
plete and efficient as that OF any State
of the Union. The total amount ex.
pended during the last fiscal year upon
the common schools was 1858, 1856
which is three and one-third per cent.
of the entire taxable property OF the
State or as much as any State IN the
Union in proportion to wealth. The
average length of the session is four
and three-tenths months or nearly
twice as long as the average length
for 1883. Eighty-eight special school
districts have increased the tax levy
for school purposes and in most OF not
all of these the school term in over SIX
months.
THE MILITIA.
The militia of the State is in better
condition than it ever has been since
the war. This is due in large meas>
ure to the enlistment act passed by
your body at its last session. Under
the order of my predecessor severa!
commands of the State were suspended
for reasons fully sefforth to your body
have restored several Of these compa.
MES to their original status upon tirst
requiring, however, that no soldier
WHO refused to obey the orders OF his
captain or commanding officer during
the Darlington riots should be allowed
TO enlist. had occasion four times
CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR