The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-31
PROGRESS THE WATCHNORD.
Evolution Brought About by Changed
Conditions-DeveIopment Of the
Common Soho, System
Has Been Retarded
by the Negro.

The following address was delivered by
Hon. John w. Aberbrombie, superintend-
ent of education of Alabama before the
Southern Educational association at Mem
phis last Friday:
Ladies' and Observation-Disclosures in
the old and in the new south is theme
so full of Importance, and so replete with
interest, that anything like a thorough
discussion within the time allotted is not
possible
There are people who object to tho
terms old south and new SOUTH but
there was an old south, and there is a new
south There a south of aristocracy
and bondage That south, which was
bounded by sectional lines once traced In
fratricdal blood. no longer exists. 1t has
gone to come no more. We would not re-
call it if we could. We rejoice that it no
longer lives save on the page of history.
There is a south. free and loyal-indus-
trious, progressive, prosperous-a new
south, the fairest region on the globe. the.
idol of her people, the pride of all Ameri-
cans, and the admiration of the world.
''Of the educational conditions that exist
ed in the old south, few people have cor
that We have always occupied in educa-
tional matters conspicuously subordinate
position when compared with that section
of the country commonly termed the north,
but this is an erroneous notion: especially
is it untrue in reference to higher educa-
ton. AT the beginning of the war4between
the states in 1861, only one-thrd of the cit
izenship of the United States belonged to
the south. Then the south excellel the
north in the number of colleges and college
professors, equaled her in the number Of
students enrolled in academic; AMI colleges
and universities. and nrproxjma,od her in
the amount of money expended for higher
education
1.-The war between the states not only
devastated the south in the slaughter of
men and in the destruction of property,
but 1t greatly retarded her advancement
along the line of higher education. In
many instances, business were demolished
and institutions were destroyed. At the
close of that nomentous struggle, which
caused the very foundations of our
tonal governmental structure to tremble
in their places, it was necessary for the
people of the south to begin anew the
work of education in every department
Since that time rapid and wonderful pro-
gress has been made, the enrolment in
higher institutions has increased more
than four hundred per cent, and there are
today over forty thousand pupils in those
institutions.
1t Speaks for Itself
'sThe work of the higher institutions
speaks for itself. Since the beginning of
our national career men and women edu-
Gated in southern institutions have taken
equal rank with their fellows from other
sections in every vocation and avoca ton.
In war and in peace southern vaior and
southern thought have led the In each
of the states elf the south are found col
leges and universities supported in whole
or in part by state aid; and in the fields
of science, art, literature. education and
craftsmanship their pupils have not been
excelled.
1.-The Old South neglected technical skill,
but within the past two decades great adj
vancement has been made IN that drec-
tion. Industrial training Is given a place
ir many institutions. public, private and
UNCONVENTIONAL. Special state appropria-
lions are made for the purpose of establish
Ing and maintaining technical schools. The
history of such training in England. Ger
many, Switzerland and other countries fur
nishes conclusive proof that it is an Amer
lean necessity 1t Is especially. southern
necessity The south is naturally superior
to European countries in intelligence and
productveness; but along with culture