The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-12-07

Grafton for the tympanum of the new
Capitol. DR.. Riley, president of the
Historical Society, has already re-
ceived numerous suggestions. some
very creditable and a few artistic de-
signs. A Mississippi woman now re-
siding in Paris is at work on a design
which she hopes to see adjoining the
splendid new Capitol of her beloved
native State. The idea of having this
prominent ornament the work of home
artists is excellent, and we hope the
result of the contest will be in all re-
spects worthy the faith the commits
sion felt in their own young men and
women.
A most unique piece of work (stat-
uary), by the way, adorns and greatly
increases the beauty of the State in
sane hospital of Louisiana. And a
story of intense interest and deep pa
thos attaches to it. When the build
ing was nearing completion the ques-
ton of a design for the ornamentation
of the tympanum arose. The work If
properly done would entail consider
able expenditure of money and more
than that, the authorities knew not
where to turn to find the artist who
could and would do the work. Dur
ing a conference over the dilemma a
communication was brought to the
physician in charge from one of the
n,tiontg m Italian ac1inn fhaf ha
be allowed to make a design for the
entrance. His letter was regarded as
the vagary Of an insane man and re-
ceived scant courtesy. One of the
physicians, however, had long been in
terested in this patients peculiar
tastes and in his gentle demeanor, and,
more to entertain the man than be-
cause he hoped for results, he pro-
cured the needful materials, gave the
artist a workroom and told him to
do his best. That the poor fellow
needed the kindly admonition Is pat
ent to the world-or so much of it as
visits the Louisiana insane hospital
for there, in heroic proportions, beau
tifully executed, is the result of the
Italian artist-patient's design. 1t seems
that his artistic talent and skill were
left unimpaired in the fearful wreck
of his mental powers, and for years
he had begged to be given some such
work, but was always refused. We
are glad to add that his absorption
in the work he loved made a contented,
docile patient of a man who had hith-
erto given his attendants great care.
Whether he is still at the hospital We
do not know, but his beautiful work
is there and will live long after his
poor, clouded brain is made clear and
his restless hands find ease in a bet
ter land.
After thorough investigation Of the
laws governing the sale of State lands,
the Governor and the Land Commits
sioner have fixed the price for State
lands as follows: No State land shall
be sold at less than the minimum
statutory price of SIPS per acre; the
Chickasaw school lands, statutory
price, Sc per acre. Forfeited lands
shall be sold at their assessed value,
as shown by the assessment roll of
1892, except in cases where the as
sessed value was less than s1.25 per
acre, and except in cases where the
price has heretofore been specially
fixed by the Governor and Land Com
missioner.
Ihe executive committee of the Su-
pervisorS' Association will meet in
Jackson December IL to formulate
such recommendations as they have
determined to present for action by
the next Legislature. The chairman
of this committee is Hon. r. w. Stew
art of Madison county, and the mem
bers are W. F. Parsons, Lincoln; J. l..
Cobb, Calhoun; William Ainsworth,
Copiah; A. G. Lewis, Kinds; r. e.
Foster, Issaquena; ]. B. Clarke, Har-
rison; j.. F. Jeffries, Marshall; P. e.
Williams, Pearl River.
The Mississippi School Journal has
made its appearance and We hope has
entered upon a successful and useful
career. There is ample room for a
publication devoted exclusively to the
interests of education in Mississippi,
and it should merit and receive the
cordial support of the grand army of
teachers of Mississippi. The Journal
is backed by a stock company COM
posed of u leading educators, who
have promised it their active interest
as well as financial support. 1t is
edited by Supt. Whitfield and Profs.
]. c. FAINT and W. T. Thames, while
Mr.. Raiford, q writer and a teacher
Of experience, will assume the business
management. The venture is being
welcomed by the press, and we hope
the people will follow suit.
The fact that there is still q vast
deal OF cotton in the fields between
Jackson and Natchez excites
among the travellers over that busy
line. Last weeks issue o. the Holly