Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-05-17
improvements in Shepherd College.

During the year IS99-I9oo much mas
been done to add to the equipment ana 10
the usefulness of Shepherd College. Inc
room in which the library has been kept
has been enlarged, reprinted and repa-
pered. Two good and handsome lamps
have been hung in the room, so that 1t IS
we'll lighted when it is necessary to use
it at night. The old cases which formerly
held the books have been removed ana
in their places are neat and durable
wall and floor stacks of steel. These III
cleanliness and convenience are oe-
cideG advantage over the old ones.
large table for the use of those who con-
suit the books has been placed IN the
centre of the room. A desk for the use
Of the librarian is found to fill long felt
want. Strong and pretty chairs have
displaced the old ones. The hoor was
neatly stained and in the. centre was
covered with a large drugget. The sys-
tenn of marking the books by pastlng IN
them a card is now done away with ana
an enclosing stamp neatly and quickly
does the work. This room IS now one OF
the prettiest and most comfortable IN the
college. New books are being added as
rapidly as they can be selected and prop
erly arranged upon the shelves. The
placing of books upon the shelves OF
the library means great deal of labor
for the teachers. The greatest care IS
used in selecting them. Care must be
taken that they are what the students
need, for the library is primarily for the
students. After the selection has been
made it is not a light task to prepare
them for the shelves. They are all classi-
fed according to the Dewey Decimal
| SYSTEM" This enables one to readily
| find an author and his works. Subjects
are easily found. All this work is done
by teachers. The friends of the college
can we'll feel proud of the library. The
books are not put on the shelves for show
but for use, and the worn condition OF
many ofthe older volumes attest to their
use. We sincerely hope that the Legs
la ture next winter will be asliberal to
ward us as the last one was. The money
cannot be spent i'll 4 better way than to
give our young people something to read
The number of music pupils demanded
another piano for practice. One was
bought and placed in the foom above
the music room. New chairs, a hanging
amp and metrouome were added to
the music department.
The society halls were furnished with
new chairs and desks for the speakers
and secretaries. We hope that i'll ano!h-
err wear the halls may be made more
comiortablca and attractive than they now
are. The wallsnccd paint and the floors
are worn out. These societies are pro-
ductive ofmuch good i'll the school. The
students as a body take much interest
! in their societies and they should receive
/ every encouragement. The societies are
doing good work.
The department of physics a"d chem
istrv have received cases in which to
keep the instruments and material need
ed for their proper working. These
cases all have glass fronts so that the
contents can be readily seen. To care
for these instruments is necessity.
They are generally expensive and the
students should be taught the proper
care of them. Among those placed III
this department are a balance for accu-
rate weighing, platform trip scales, Bur
retts, Bunsen vapor lamp, micrometer,
Yernier Calipers, weights for expert
ments, and many article for constant
use in the class. This department is
we'll equipped to teach the elements Of
these branches. Daily experiments are
given the students. 1t is being arranged
that in the near future the students will
be given a greater part in the making
of the experiments. To commit to mem-
DRY textbooks will not fit the student for
more advanced study in physics or chem
istry. He must see the work done, must
handle the necessary instruments and
become familiar with them
The departments Of zoology and phys
iology were not forgotten. Through the
kindness of Senator Elkins and Repre-
sentative Dayton, a set theological spec
linens was secured from the Smithsonian
| Institute This consists of marine verte-
brates, representing eight of the nine
branches of the animal kingdom. For
the student TO see the real animal which
is pictured or referred to in his book is to
awaken the interest Of that student. We
hope that many more will be added.
The students of this department are in
terested in gathering specimens.
a skeleton Of the human body was
purchased. microtome for preparing
! specimens for examination under the
microscope, dissecting knives and other
instruments were placed in this depart
ment In the pursuit of these studies stu
dents must be taught to investigate for
themselves. Then the terrible bug be-
comes thing of interest.
Since elementary astronomy has been
added to the course Of study it became
necessary to purchase a celestial sphere
and telescope sufficiently large to aid
/ in the study