The age-herald., 1899-04-09
NAME SMACKS OF s'
 A REFORMATORY
"GirlS' Industrial School" Dis
 tasteful to Pupils and acuIty
WORK OF THE INSTITUTION
Young Women Prepared for Practical Walks of Life-New Building to be Erected-Rev. A. B. Curry Will
 Preach at Commencement.


 Preach at Commencement.
 Montevallo, April S.-(Special. 1.-The name of the Girls Industrial School certainly in- dicates the character and spirit of this great institution. This name, however, is distasteful both to the pupils and faculty. It .smacks of a reformatory. If left to vote here today there would not be a pupil or teacher to favor the present legal name. Occasionally some speaker on the colleg4 rostrum unfortunately alludes to the White Girls Industrial School,s and the significant shrug of shoulders and the broad smiles indicate he has made a mis- take. Still the fact remains it is the most industrious industrial school ever establish ed in the southern country It is filled to overhowing with girls who have a purpose. Girls are here representing the entire state of Alabama in area and also representing all classes of its citizens. They are here from parents who walk the humble paths of life and from those who represent the wealth of the land. There has been an ef- fort made to create the impression that this school was for the "poor girls of the state. So it is It is also for the rich. It represents to the girls exactly what Auburn and the University represents to the boys. Side by side they pursue their studies and work here and no distinctions arc made. None can be made.
 The great and only drawback experienced here has been want of room. With but little means to erect buildings it has kept the management of the school thinking all the time how to accommodate the ever in- creasing demand for places. But a bright CT day is dawning The last legislature wisely appropriated 5000 for buildings. Immediately following this the national government donated p, ,0O0 acres of the pulp lie lands in the state.
 Free Transportation -4
 On Monday last President Reynolds, hearing that the president and vice-presI- dent of the Southern railway were in Bir- mingham went to that place and secured an interview with them. In his earnest and impressive manner he told these gentlemen what was being done here and asked them to make a donation in the way of free transportation of all building material used in the construction of additional buildings. Ills appeal did not fall on deaf ears, and the "soulless corporation" granted his request. This gift saves to the school at least. two thousand dollars.
 Yesterday the building committee, con- sisting of w. W. Wadsworth, T. $. Flow man, H. Austl F, S. Moody and H.HC. Reynolds, met here and decided to go i'm mediately to work to burn a million brick.
 Captain Plowman, the land commissioner has been diligently searching for valuable public lands and he made the most gratify- ing report that he had discovered over fifty thousand acres of mineral or coal land in IT,, acres in Walker county and considerable quantities in other counties. He feels sure that not less than one hundred and htty thousand dollars will be secured to this in stitution alone and a similar amount to the Booker Washington school.
 Work That is Being Done
 A resume of what has been done in the school is interesting. In the music depaft- ment 195 pupils have had instruction and some fine musicians have been deVelopeo' Five music teachers are employed and over thirty pianos are used. This department is practically self-sustaining, as small fee IS put on for instruction. In the art depart- ment over 300 pieces of china have been painted and fired in the kiln located on the grounds, 150 oil paintings and about l6O crayon, pastel and water colors have been done. -s-
 In the scientific cooking department 2lO girls have been enrolled and given instruc- ton of this most important art.
 The typewriting and stenography pupils number ninety-seven. The president is con- on the lookout for positions for those who are competent to fill them. Last month he sent the Jackson Lumber com pany a young lady who is giving entire sat isfaction. He also sent a young lady from the millinery department to East Alabama to take charge of that department in a large dry goods store
 Elocution and physical culture claims nearly the entire school. All who are physically able are required to take physl- cad culture.
 The teegraphy department surprises many visitors who come to the school This vocation so suited to woman can be easily learned here in one session. They are not only taught to work the wires" but work the books as we'll In fact, a girl is fitted to walk into any office and take charge and run it. The ease with which the average girl learns telegraphy is aston ishing.
 The Mil inery Department The millinery department under the su- pervision of one of the finest milliners from Baltimore is marvel. In order that one may have an idea of what is done it is only necessary to say that alredy nearly 400 hats have been trimmer and sent out all over Alabama from this department. That the hats are "creatons of beauty" goes without saying. No profit is charged on the goods, as it is simply for instruc- ton. The dress making and sewing depart ment seems to interest more pupils than | any other in the school For instance, the | average number taking lessons is 29O Three teachers are employed and their depart ments run every day in the week except | Sunday They are taught to cut and draft | patterns by regular systematic and up- | Lo-date course. One hundred and ninety | eight patterns have been made, 2,S69 gar | ments have been cut and made and over | $500 in actual cash has been earned by the | pupils. At nearly every female school the | girl sends home to have her clothes made | up. Here she not only makes her own | clothes, but in many instances has gar | ments sent here to be made up for the |