Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-12
YOUNG MEN TAUGHT.
What the Virginia Mechanics Institute
Has Done for Them.
A PRACTICAL SCHOOL OF ARTS.
An Able Corps of Instructors Teach
the Youth of the City When the
Learn Mt This Greut Institution.

No association or society in the city has
State, and especially those OF Richmond.
than the Virginia Mechanics Institute.
Hundreds of young men All over the state
are row making their daily living By fol-
lowing some calling, the knowledge Of
which was acquired while attending the
| night school of technology.
The tuition in the school is practically
free, only a membership fee OF Sc being
required on entering. or course, the
students are required TO furnish their
own books. instruments. materials, etc.
The past session was most successful
one at the institute, and the coming
one promises even greater results
There has always been a difference OF
opinion as TO just who founded the in
stituto. SO great has been its success,
that like the seven cities of Greece
which claimed the birthplace of Homer,
several Of our distinguished citizens have
claimed to be the author OF its being.
BE this as it may, however, the names OF
Thomas Nelson Page, Lyon G. Tyler, and
Overton Howard should always be borne
in mind when the Virginia Mechanics
Institute is mentioned, as it was to these
three gentlemen that its foundation was
largely due.
THE FIRST SESSION.
The first session Of the institute was
held in 1884 I'm the second story of the
building on Eleventh and Main streets.
now occupied by Mr. George Schoen. in
1856 the school was removed to No. 3 north
Ninth street. where the sessions We're
conducted for three years. The present
building on Main street, between Sixth
and Seventh, In which the school is now
being conducted, was then secured, and
has since been used as the home of the
institute II is expected that before
many years have passed the institute
will own a well-equipped building Of its
own. Quite a fund was promised at one
time for this purpose, conditional upon
the friends OF the institute raising large
amount 10 supplement IT, II IS thought
that on the revival OF business this move
ment will be again pushed. and that one
Of the next large buildings 10 be erected
in this city will be the proposed new
home of the Mechanics institute.
OFFICERS AND INSTRUCTORS.
The present officers OF the association
are as follows: President, W. J. White
hurst; Vice-Presldent, j. j. Montague;
Treasurer, William +. Slmons; Secretary,
Thomas Elicit. The Board Of Directors
are Messrs. L. II. Archer, Joseph i.
Welsh, William G. Ammons, Richard II.
Frayser, Joseph w. Laube, l.. I. Chris
tian. John Chamblin, Peter f. Green
wood. David A. Ainslie, y. Bargamin,
Henry u. Holms. Z. J. Bosher, Marx
Gunst II. NJ. Starke, J. T. Jobson, Il. j.
Jeffress. Robert b. Munford, Edward f.
Seal. William s. Morris, William f.
Dunkel. and Mann s. Quarles.
The annual meeting Of the officers ana
Board of Directors viii be held next
Tuesday.
The present instructors OF the institu-
ton are as follows:
c. Il. T.. Burgwyn. a. B., G. f. Harry;
NJ. Am. Soc c. E.-Principal and instruc-
tor of applied mechanics.
Howard L. Whitlock. Virginia Mechan-
les Institute-Instructor of architectural
drawing, Glass a.
Gwynn 4 Lyell-Instructor OF architec-
tural drawing. Class Is.
w. II. Williams. Virginia Mechanics In
stltute-Instructor of mechanical draw
ing, Class a.
Arthur Observation-Disclosures of me-
chanical drawing. Glass b.
William l.. Sheppard-Instructor Of free
hand drawing.
ID. w. eSylvia-Assistant instructor of
free-hand drawing.
a w. MISUNDERSTANDING OF arith-
metic.
James c. MISUNDERSTANDING Of arith-
metic.
A. H. Fltzgerald-Instructor Of arith-
metic.
George F. Merrill, a. NJ, Dartmouth
Instructor of algebra, Glass a, and ge-
ometry. plain.
John 5. Fleming. NJ. and c. E.-Instruc-
tor of algebra. Class b; trigonometry.
solid and descriptive geometry.
II. i. Boudar-Insructor of book-keep-
ing.
c. II Urner Virginia Mechancs'sIn
OF bookkeeping, Class
4.
r. NJ. BEDFORD, Virginia Mechanics In
stitute-Instructor Of bookkeeping, Class
b
Charles II. Chalkley NJ D.-Instructor
of chemistry. Glasses \ and b.
w. w. Observation-Disclosures OF electricity,
Classes a and Il.
NJ. u. Hoge. Jr.. NJ. D.-Instructor OF
natural philosophy, elementary and adj
yanced classes.
William Sievers-Instructor of modelling
ana wood-carving.
ITS OBJECTS.
The objects of the institute are the pro-
motion and encouragement Of manuiac-
lures the mechanic and useful arts. and
the mental and social Improvement Of the
industrial classes. At present the night
school embraces a thorough course in
mathematics. bookkeeping, drawing,
science. and mechanical man 'pulation. Inc
course in mathematics begins with the
first rudiments in arithmetic. and goes
through algebra. plain. solid. and descrip-
tive geometry, trigonometry, ana applied
mechanics.
The course in book keeping requires a
two years attendance, and when complet-
ed thoroughly equps a young man to take
charge of the books OF any ordinary com
mercial concern.
The course in drawing comprises ele-
,nentary and advanced architectural
drawing, elementary and advanced me- |
frce-hand drawing, and sketch
ing.
The course IN science comprises studies |
in electricity chemistry, and physics.
The course in mechanical manipulation /
at present consists Of modelling and wood |
carving.
To properly demonstrate these studies |
requires an extensive equipment Of IN |
struments, fixtures. etc. and the institute
has been slowly accommodating these APP |
ollancos each year until now 1t has one Of
The most practical equipments in the
South.
The next session of the school begins
Tuesday, October lst.
Married IL Reading Lady.
A Reading Pa) paper says:
William NJ. Evans. OF Richmond. Va.