The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1898-11-13

III Is UMMELtnnaAl AR.f ~
methods Of instruction or class
room de ails. Those questions will
receive attention in due season. The
subject, that which most concerns
us at this season, is the policy to be
pursued under the new order OF
things. In view Of the very pro-
nouuced determination Of the legis-
la5ure as TO the future government
of the college, an expression from
me seems superAuous, but the Oft
repeated assertions Of certain high
critics that the action of the legis-
lative aud judicial departments oil
the state would not accomplish the
ends desired, renders a declaration
from me imperative. I do not be-
iieve 10 coquetting w.h law,
whether sacred, secular or scholas-
tic. Gratitude forbids that the gem
erosity OF benefactor should be
forgotten. Honor never excuses
the violation of a covenant. As
nresident of the Industrial Institute
and College I shall exercise all OF
the powers granted to that official,
and in the discharge of his duties !
shall favor those only who manifest
a jealous willingness to rightly adj
vance the educational welfare OF
the young women who come here
for training. But l have not come
TO do the work of an iconoclast. My
efforts shall be to build and broad
en- not to tear down and destroy;
to accomplish with the cooperation
Of the faculty the grand purpose
for which this institution vas es-
tablished. What indeed are the
purposes of this SCHOOL, Why
does It exist? What does it mean
for the young women of MISSISSIPPI
nip In the language Of another, 1t
saws to the poor girls Of the state,
that although you are deprived OF
the comforts and opportunities OF
wealth. YOU may put your brain in
10 your hands and thus add to your
native graces, that glorious inde-
psndence which fits you for the
business Of bread winning, and that
though you may eat coarser food
and wear shabbier dress and dwell
in a smaller house and work earlier
and later and harder than your rich
companion, still you may have your
ewes trained to behold the same
glory in the Heavens and the same
beauty on earth; you may have
mind developed to appreciate the
same sweetness in music aud the
same loneliness in art; you may
have your hearts opened to enjoy
the same literary treasures and the
same philosophic truths; you may
have your soul stirred by the same
social influence and by the same.
spiritual IDEAS as the daughters Of
your Weather neighbors. And
how pray, are these things to be
attained? In seeking the correct
answer to this inquiry the safest
Guide is the law. The act establish
ing this institution says: The
purpose aud aim of this College is
the moral and intellectual advance
ment Of the white girls Of the state
bv the maintenance Of a first class
institution for their education in the
arts and sciences, and their training
in normal school methods and Kin
dergarten, and their instruction in
book keeping, photograpy, stenog-
raphy, biography and typewriHng,
and in designing, drawing, engrav-
ipc ard painting, and their indus
trial application; and also in fancy,
general aud practical needlework,
and in such other industrial BRAN
ches as experience from time to
time shall suggest as necessary or
proper to fit them for the practical
affairs of life There seems little
doubt as to the Legislative will re-
garding the end of the college. As
/ interpret the statue the industrial
and normal departments must be
magnifed and emphasized. The
wise men who founded this institu-
ton saw with prophetic eye the
dawn Of a new era for women. They
had no model, but they built wisely
and we'll. Realizing that women
might become independent, sacri-
ficing her womanliness and know
ing that she possessed inherent quail
tiles, which, if rightly developed,
would raise her above the sphere of
a dependent, and which would at
Il.