Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-18
MONTEVALLO.
Interesting Gossip About the Polytechnic
 School-Personal and Other

Montevallo. March 16-6Special Core spondence. .)=-Afr. Stephens, agent for the Georgia Central, at Birmingham, came down Sunday and placed his daughter in the Polytechnic school.
 Mrs Mims Walker and Miss SalAe Walker, of Faunsdale, who have been visiting their relatives heIe, returned to shedr home Monday.
 The Southern railway, realizing the i'm portance of this station. has made 1t coupon ticket office.
 Dr. A. B. Curry, pastor of the t11st Presbyterian church, of Birmingham, preached here Sunday morning and nlght. Every pew in the house was filled and chairs had to be placed In ehe aisles to accommodate the congregation. His ser mon was one of the ablest and most in teresting heard here in many day. This morning he attended the opening exer- ciSss of the school and made most im- pressive talk to..he girls His charming and elegant manners captlvated us all, and his visits will always be looked for ward to with genuine pleasure. One or the attractions was a vocal solo by sweet voiced Miss Carrie Linn.
 Miss Evans, the teacher of scientific cooking in The school here, gave a practi- cal illustration of the skill of her puplis in the department Saturday afternoon. A few friends were invited to be present and among the number was your lucky correspondent. 1lhe subject was oysters. On entering the dining rocm we found table set in the most beautiful ana modern style. After blessing by the IT, repressible and ever-present Rev. MT Abernathy, we were seated and the feast
 begun. First came creamed oyster soup, which was dellgh- -ful, then the handsomest dish of fried oysters that 1t was ever my good fortune to see was passed to the table by an equally hand some girl. Then came banned oysters
 and then we had escalloped oysters ard, last. coffee, rich and rare.
 Each and every dish was prepared by her class. It was not feas. fit for the gods, but the best one for mortals that 1 ever attended
 Mrs. Hudson, the teacher of telegraphy, has arrived and hendspartment has been fitted up in nice style. The entire plant was a present to the school from MT Robert Adams, of Gadsden. MT. W. P. Conaugtly will commence the erection of nice dwelling al an early date.
 Capt. Reynolds has received his new school register which was m'3 dc to order. It is a handsome book, and made to hold 10000 names. He intends it 10 be an heir loom for the school, to be used, of course, for many years to come. The first few pages are left blank for the names of the faculty for each year.
 Tho subdivisions of the register fol- Low the usual plan for such books, and the blanks to keep track of each pupil after she has left the school and entered the realities of hfe He has also a reg ister for visitors, who have been numer- ous since the school opened. New pupils continue to come in, even at this late day in the season. As they come the town expands, and, like a Philadalphi street car, there is always room for one more The girls are kept busy, and have no time to get hoTnesick. It is indeed a live school, and presided over by live, wide-awake, up-to- da te people. Capt Reynolds is in receipt of a most encouraging letter from Gov. Johnston, who is taking grea. interest in the sue cess of the institution. In 1t he says the great good that the large number of pu- pills attending this school can accomplish after they complete their course cannot be over-estimated.
 Capt Reynolds says nothing short of 400 pupils for next season will satisfy him. He already has applica tions on file for over fifty for the session of 1S97-'9s.
 One of the brightest pupils in the school, who is taking a course in stenog- raphy and typewriting, astonished the pastor of the First Baptist church last Sunday by taking down his entire ser mon in shorthand and typewriting it ;he next day and handing it to the preacher.
 Capt. Reynolds is prepared to take special class for the remainder of the ses- sion in telegraphy and typewrting and g:enogfuphy.
 The farmers in this section are not using as much fertilizer as usual. The continued rains are throwing them be- hind considerably.