Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-28
A NOBLE INSTITUTION
THE MECHANICS INSTITUTES
SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.
WHERE The BOYS STUDY At NlGHT.
Nearly Three Hundred Bread-wtn-
ners Work All Day and spend TIE
Work and How IL IL Done.

we IAElA3-- lL new A'Ifr iaE tll-
Virginia Mechanics Institute has directed
fresh attention to an insttItion that is
in several respects remarkable. and IN all
among the most commendabls IN the city.
or the entire country.
Il Is unique among the Institutions %
learning Of Richmond in more respects
than one II Is the only school 20 any
size in the city. probably in the state. 10
which every pupil is a bread-winuer. It
is not believed that there Is a single one
OF the 80 boys and young men now
taking the course I'm the night school Of
technology Of the insti.uts who does not
DO a days work before coming 20 his
classes az night
STUDENTS FARNESrNESS.
Perhaps at no school anywhere can
there Dee found an entire student body So
earnest ln the pursuit Of knowledge and
so determined 20 know things. and the
reason therefor. Fine. sturdy young fell
lows they are. with faces that DO one
good 20 study. and manners that attract
by reason of their Quietness and natural
ness. Two hundred boys come down the
stairs from the class-rooms and go out OK
the building when the bell sounds at half
past o'clock every night with less noise
than IS made hv half a dozen boys when
turned out at the end of days session
Of n school where their tgition is COST
ing their fathers ten times that paid at
the institute.
This air OF earncstness and intentness
which prevails everywhere at the instl-
tute must impress the visitor above every
thing else. d. hardly surprises. however.
for 10 is 20 be expected that boys who
work hard an day. and then devote ssve-
raj hours 20 study at night. must De
earnest and intent upon the thing Do
hand Instructors too. wear the same
afr ~ earnestness. as " they appreciate
the fact that they are not engaged ln
making the sons ~ rich men accom-
riIsncd. bat are teaching poor boys things
hv which they can the better earn I've
lih0od
Probably the most remarkable feature
OF Che school is the tuition free. People
are used to free schools tut they are
not used tO "a school where the tuition
fee Tor the term is only 50. That rs the
fne af Che school Of technology
WHAT THE BOYS MAY STUDY.
Three dollars invested ln this manner
may be made to bring in to the boy or
young man very large returns. He can
receive nine months instruction under a
corps OF teachers fully the equal off any
in the city in the following branches,
Arithmetic algebra geometry. trIg0n0m
try English. applied mechanics, book
keeping. architectural froe-hand. and
mechanical drawing. chemistry. electri-
cift ana modelling
The course ln mathematics comprises r.
very thorough dr.u hes.nning with the
multiplication ab'e. passing through nl-
gebra and plane. solid. and descriptive
geometry and applied mechanics The
course ln English covers ground begin
ming at tho elements OF grammar, runs
ming through di.ftuon. composition
analys'r. and rhetoric. The course in
bookkeeping begins with the rudimeuts.
and carries the student through double
entry and banking The course in draw
INK comprehcnds free-hand and iustrn
mental drawing and the designing of me-
chanical and architectural structure
The course in mechanical manipulation
embraces modelling Boo clay ana ah'na
piaatef-,asta. wood carving, china burn
inss. and textile dycIug ln the natural
philosophy course is c0mpr.-ed elahorai'
exercises in chemistry physics, and eler
tricity.
MONEY iS NEEDED
TO fully carry out such broadrc1oh
lng plan 0f instruction requires not oui
a local habltlti0n. but also the slneW8 ri
war TU puI tna institute 600 70 proper
financial basis its founders torefaw th'
necessity of making corporation, u
order that DO may have title t0 lands AND
I be a candidate for funds beq4t'fhcd b)
liberal IenrMcf0rf The Legislature of
/ Virginia conferred this charter and gave
/ tho institute broad privileges. The path
way 90 such 70 high plano is long but ha
many resting places and ONE 't tnea'
/ has already been reached by the uchaH'
0f . sIfr for lfs future building orr in.
northwest corner OF Eleventh aud Broad
streets.
Ius s.fc contains about 5000 square fee
OF area. upon which. by means on modern
methods VI construction Hni tne Nee OIL
the elevator. "a building wIIl one Gay pa
l constructed sufficient t0 rIffF our Ihrh'
provisions Al present tns FUNDS VI th.
institute lrs lu such i9W condition lht'
nothing but the occupation Oi th
buildings 0u the Dot 8 within tne reach
0f lfs purse HIt day wll come "het
taInes HIU ue very 1ifrrent
"It seems harl" said tn oflfer ot ihe
institute. "Illt ID rival Institute iIae iit
OF Maryland holl1 1e subsidized nf tn'
state VI Maryland and elfy Df baltimore
f0 tne extent pf 81 Ql0 year, and Win
as ir appropriation of s. 00 frim tha els
Should nx the .lbaraufy OF idehm0ni
nnanciers."
lhs objects of ths institute. as se
forth iu ih3 charter. are "tne education
ana training or students in tls heienuh'
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Which Winsr"