The colored American., 1900-09-15
Negro Boys Junior Republic.
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,aers ar more. He Is an enthusiast IN
iis devotion to mis- alma mater, 10
those call he is always ready to re :
snond. 1t was in his study Of the sub
fsct If the university extension that his
ynrasent project began to take shape.
He saw hundreds Of cOlOred boys,
8to 19 years Of age, in the streets OF
Washington. They were Idle, unem-
Moved likely to become criminals
W6st could Howard Univ ersity do for
+hamo The trustees saw no way in
which they could reach the difficulty.
Meantime Mr. Hart, whose anxiety was
Urgent. laid the subject before the board
Of Ofchildren's guardians, especially be
fore the perlntendent OF harities of
the District OF Columbia. Offering bis
farm aud his Sc vices to them, as they
had been offered TO the university.
Here he was successful"
Mr. Hart's farm is down on the
Mar, land shore OF the Potomac,
some II miles below Washington City.
Side by side with this farm is one
owned by William VI Evarts, to whom
Mr.. Hart was three years private secre'
tsry Or this second farm, making in
all tract of land extending q mile up
d
half into the state of NJ aFyland. Mr..
Hart secured from Mr.. Evarts gratul-
tOus grant 80 long as used for the pur-
pose then Contem plated. There were
but two dwellings on the place; one
which had been used by the farmer
and the other an elegant cabin used by
Mr. Evarts and household for summer
outings. In this latter the school was
Opene d in 1897. Mr. Hart has solicited
money enough since to erect wooden
structure, two stOrits high, which is
used for ChOOl room and sleeping room.
Mr.. Hart has great fOndness for horses
snd cattle, OF which he has several
notable representatives. on the farm
Tho pupils are superintendent by Robert
J. Evans, q graduate OF Hampton In
shtute, who has four or more assis-
tants. Among the pupils is Korean;
a's0 a Porto Rican, who followed the
United States troops home from that
island to Cleveland, Ohio, and there
met President Rankin There are now
42 boys on the farm. All OF them are
happy, healthy and we'll, and easily
g verned Indeed, the personality of
Mr.. Hart seems TO act as a restraining
influence To show this, last Christmas,
Mr. Hart gave them a holiday, TO be
spent in Washington, the understand
ing being that they should report at
the steamboat dock at a given hour. At
the time specified all were there.
For 8lS5 per year, which is appropri
ated by Congress, Mr.. Hart boards and
clothes them and gives item instruc-
lions in agriculture, blacksmith1Dg and
!. WheeIwrightiug. This is less than it
s costs to care for the inmates OF the re
!. form school Hundreds of thousands OF
8 dollars are contributed by the beDevO
lent for other branches of education and
8 sociological work. Here is branch
that combines both. 1t prevents crimI-
nality; il Cures it. 1t iS we'll worth solid
. encouragement. Mr.. Hart needs gifts OF
8 money, clothing, books. new buildings
and q cheering word from all Gods
people who are anxious to hear the
. word, "Inasmuch as ye did unto Inc
least Of one of these ye did unto me. "
8 Mr. II B. Nacfarland, one Of the com
mEslonsrs of the District of C0lum bla,
g who takes u great interest in the enter
g prise, said of the Hart farm sch0Oi:
The boys live in an unpretenttOus
s. frame building Of ger erOus proportions,
90 feeting by about so feet wide, and
two stories high The fret floor con
taus the school room q large, comfort
able and honey apart ment- dining
tOOm pantry and two large bed rooms
one OF them used IS hospital for
TIE sick, but as It seldom has an oc
. Clpaut, sickness being almost IN
krown. 1t is Crdinsr rily used as q BED
Room, The second floor. which is llght
and airy is filed with iron beds and
c1tsi one for each boy, and each Kept