The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-04-16
SKETCHES FROM THE SOUTH.
What Education is Doing in the Black
 Belt,

mas reCelNGu IFOlil ptlS oh the corresponding secretaries, the Rev, A, F. Beard, D. D., New York, some Sketches from the South" based on an official visit among the educational in- stitutions and churches of the American association In every south ern state.
 Everywhere, says pr. Beard, I find the colored men and women who have been enlarged in mind and thought at work, uplifting others, up- lifting the race, often in remote places with poor pay and unfavorable condi- tions, but not shrinking duty or sac riflces. My first class was at rural school upon a plantation. When l ask ed the principal of the school, Are the people of the rural places retrograding? Are those who are still ignorant and H. literate going further down?" his reply was NO; the children even of cabin homes are an advance on their parents both in intelligence and character. and while you cannot do very much to change those who are no longer young, their living is in some degree improved,
 
 from the schools back to them"
 At Gregory institute, Wilmington, N. C., named after MT. J. J. H. Gregory of Marblehead, Mass, the principal in forms me that the influence of this normal school may be traced in many parts of the state. I heard a class of twenty in pedagogics, all of whom are preparing to be teachers. Not only the teachers in the public schools of Will mington are in large degree graduates of this school, but the rural communi- ties also depend upon 1t for teachers. When I saked, "Is the race as a race really advancing?" he smiled as if I were too innocent. Most assuredly." Certainly no one can look upon our church organization there without real izing the truth that the people have risen.
 Dorchester academy, in Mcintosh, Ga, has a historic name, which was handed down from the colony that founded the Old Midway church in 1752, which emigrated with their pastor from Dorchester, England to Dorchester, Mass, thence to Dorchester, $. C., and finally to Mcintosh, Ga. This school was opened in 1871 and became a grad ed school in 1884. When the pupils in the chapel were asked, How many started for school before sunrise and have walked not less than eight miles?" several rose. A large number were found to have walked six miles from their homes to school, and many who had walked more than four miles were not counted. It was a frosty morning for poorly clad pupils, but they were present and punctual The church which accommodates large congrega- tion is we'll filled on every Lords day with reverent people from the lowli- est ranks of life. They are all tillers of the ground, raising chiefly rice and corn.
 Near Ocala, Fla, is the Fessenden school at Martin. This came into being a few years ago through the benevo- lence of the gentleman whose name it bears. Residing in Boston, he has found it necessary for healths sake to spend his winters in this more genial climate on the western side of the state 
 of the colored people, he has erected the school building and furnished it with handsome school desks, maps, charts and all necessary appointments fer ifl7 struction. A choice organ of considera- ble power graces the assembly room, where the pupils gather for their devo- tions and public exercises. A well se- lected library is added for the cultiva- tion of the reading habit. The teach CTS home has lately been erected, like wise without expense to the associa- tion The teachers in this school from the beginning have received their edu- cation in the higher institutions of the | association, the present principal being a graduate of Fisk university. This school is to be numbered among our rural schools, but teachers educated in Nashville and Charleston are holding the torch there which they lighted in our colleges.
 The Lamson school at Marshalville, | Ga, is another rural school under the | care of teachers educated by the asso- | citation. Two of the present teachers are graduates of Atlanta university, one of Fisk one of Avery and one from Talladega. The colored people of this
 region are almost wholly engaged in | agriculture, and are, as a rule poor | The teachers home and dormitory for
 girls is largely the gift of a lady who
 resides in Boston, and from her the
 school takes its name.
 | The school at Cotton Valley, Ala, be- gan under the watch and care of the Woman's Home Missionary association l of Massachusetts. It was transferred
 to the association, the w. H. M. A. pro- viding for the support of the teachers. The building few years ago was en- | larged by the A. M. A. to meet the de-
 mands of growth in place where no school existed. A rural school remote from any town or village, it has had a history of great interest, growing large
 ly out of the personality of the princi- pal for the past ten years. The infiu- | ence which has streamed forth from
 this little center is incalculable.
 These schools in Marshalville and
 Cotton Valley are under the instruction
 of teachers of the colored race educated
 in our schools. They are samples of broad work of this kind and one
 which is constantly increasing. I met on the cars a resident of New Orleans who discussed this race problem with
 me, not knowing that I had made any
 special study of it. He assured me that 1 colored people could not take on what