The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-16
BEFORE A. & M. STUDENTS
DELIVERED BY MIR. TOMPKINS.
OF CHARLOTTE.
THE VALUE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
The Mistake Of Our Forefathers, He Says, Was
the Institution of Slavery. He Traced
the Rise and Fall of the Ante
beIlum South.

Last night, at the Agricultural and
Mechanical College, "a large audience
composed of the student body and many
ladies and gentlemen from this city,
heard Mr.. d. A. Tompkins, of Charlotte,
deliver an address ON Technical Educa-
ton and the Future of the South"
Mr.. TonplSins was introduced to the
audience by President Winston, who
briefly told of Mr.. Tompkirs' high posi-
ton in the cotton milling world, and Of
his relation to the Agricultural and Me-
chanical College as one of its most faith
full directors.
Mr.. Tonlpkins, by way of introduction
stated that he had travelled nearly one
thousand miles in order to address these
students and that he did so with a full
appreciation of the responsibility that it
places on any man to appear before rep
resentatiye body of young men to give adj
vice and counsel. He spoke frankly and
with his first words gained the undivided
attention of his audience.
The speaker made a scant reference
to his own work, doing so, he explain
ed, that the young men might know that
he had conscentiously praeticed what he
would recommend and urge upon them az
necessary for the best interests of South
ern progress and for their individual fu-
ttre welfare and success in life. He
stated that after his graduation from the
Rensselaer, Polytechnic Institute he
assumed to undertake any comprehensive
engineering work ON his own reponsi-
bility This ten years was a period OF
practice and artluous training. Then he
served an apprenticeship ut the machin-
list trade, had a long experience as drafts
man, as master mechanic of a ananufac-
turing plant, and this he considers the
most important feature of his education.
Speaking Of the Importance of practi-
cal experience, Mr. Tompkins said:
Enough has been said and written
about the value of Technical Education
to create great expectations on the part
of those who have been its promoters
and patrons, and in some instances there
have been disappointment. Sometimes
mothers and sisters have kept boarders
and washed dishes to keep n bright son
and brother in school with the fond eX-
pectation that when he graduated he
would get a position at a good salary,
set up house for them to keep, and
with nothing else to do. 1t has some
times happened that the young grad
uaite has returned home with d fine edu-
cation only to add an Improbable mem-
Der to the household. His mother and
sisters could observe that he had learned
much, that his conduct was gentleman
" and honorable, that he industriously
sought employment, that he was perfect
" willing to work, vet he found moth
ing to do. Under these circumstances
there is naturally disappointment. For
the time being it would naturally seem
to them that technical education had
not all the advantage claimed for It.
The trouble in such cases, is that the
young man had been amply equipped in
the matter of teaching but he was def
Gent in training or skill. He knew the
theories but had served no apprentice
ship.
There have been absolutely no cases
where knowledge and skill have been
combined where easy success has not fol-
lowed
! His audience was captivated by this IL
lilstration. There was marked attention
on the part of many young men who
are now receiving the advantages refer
red to, by the self-denial OF mothers and
sisters at home.
Engineering is a science and an art"
said Mr. Tompkins. For the science
careful study is necessary. For the
art, arduous practice is necessary. 1t
may be compared to music, which Is
also science and art. Let us suppose
ii had been the sister who was to have
been educated, and music was to have
been her career. If she had gone to Il
conservatory and studied to the utmost
limit all the science of music but had
never practiced it, what could she have
done in giving a concert. lf she had
come home thoroughly equipped in the
science of music but without practice,
she, too, would have been compelled TO
become one more of the household to
be supported.
There was a time when for an ordi-
nary community the musical require
ngants were simple. Whoever could
turn a tune on violin, or thump a
tune on piano by ear was musi-
clan.
$50 also there was q time when the
man having practice but no education,
the self-made man of the former gen
Grafton, was the great boast of his
day. With the more exacting conditions
of these modern times-with advancing
civilization, we hear not about the self
made man, about the man whose college
was canal boat, whose campus was
the tow path of the canal
He spoke at length ON the value of
technical education. He cited instances
where the men who are presidents of
railroads today, as Mr.. Cassatt, of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, started at the
bottom and rose by faithful work He
pointed to the distinctly American sys-
tenn of railways and the improvements
and new customs originated by practical
men in the service of the great systems
iii this country-men who have had prac-
teal as well as technical education. He
spoke Of the cost of labor, Of the unskill-
Cd and the skilled workmen; of the value
Of raw products and its uses when man
ufactnred.
After telling of the increase in value
from raw to manufactured product, Mr..
TomplSins said:
LET us look into one of orr own