The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-04

which was left for the building of a man
ual labor school for poor white children In
Albemarle county.
A FORTUNE IMPERILED.
The wonderful story of the preservation
of his money reads like an impossibility.
When Gen. David Hunter raided Virginia
in 1864 great numbers of the bonds were
stolen, but, not being considered OF value,
were left. some of them near Salem, Va.
others scattered along the roadside or
through the wooded mountains, while a
block Of $4,000 of Indiana bonds were
conhscated by order of the United States
Circuit Court of Indiana and divided equal
ly between the government and the piifer-
ers. Nearly all were eventually recov-
cred. When the will of Mr.. Miller was
entered for probate in 1869 the birth state
of Washington had become. under martial
law, military district No. l." 1t would
require too much space to tell the story
of litigation. Suffice it to say that in 1874
$1,000 600 was turned over TO the trustees of
the Miller fund" and in 1878 Capt. c. b.
Vawter. a graduate of the University of
Virginia and a man of wonderful executive
ability, was elected superintendent OF the
annual income of $75,253.S0, while more than
SO0.00 has been expended in buildings n
equipments. The splendid management of
the finances from the beginning is worth
calling attention 10.
Few people can realize the difficulties UNI
der which Captain Vawter entered upon
his duties in this, the pioneer manual train
ing school of the South. Industrial train
ing was then wrestling in the North, and
in the South, especially where labor was
looked upon as the employment OF slaves,
there was a strong spirit of antagOnism
against it. 1t became necessary, then, to
dignity labor: so the handsOmest and most
attractive building erected on the grounds
was the work shop designated by the
ultra-cOnservattveS of the neighbOrhOOd as
"Vawter's folly" Teachers from New
England were imported, and in a short
while Southern boys were wearing ovcralls
and working with their hands. The school
opened with twenty pupils.
While il was at first difficult TO find chill
dren to attend. because of prejudice, Cap
tain Vawter tells with pardonable pride
that at the last meeting of the school truS-
tees there were $50 applicants for the eighty
places that were vacant. To watch these
refined and devoted students at their work
in the various departments makes one
realize the great distance between the pres
ent and the past. The aim of the school
is to give a broad, solid education. so that
the student, upon going out into the world,
can easily acquire the trade or profession
suitable to him. All pupils are required TO
a the complete ourse-industria and
academic-as far as they are capable. The
industrial curriculum includes drawing, six
years; four years in the machine shops,
which includes instruction in wood work.
forge work. foundry work and machine
work: a special course in steam engineering
and in electrical engineering; a course in
horticulture, Horticulture and arbOriculture;
a course in sewing, dressmaking. millinery
and cooking-bOth general and hygienic.
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
The regular work of the children in con-
nection with the home life Of the school
trains them well in the care of stock. gar
dens, fruits and general work of the farm;
the care of machinery. boilers. engines. mo-
tors. electric wiring, water and steam
piping: and in housekeeping includes the
care of sewing rooms, dining room and
everything connected with a well-regulated
home. The regular academic courses in
les. physics, mechanics, chemistry and BIZ
ology. The mornings are given up 10 the
literary classes. and the afternoons TO in
dustrial work, which by no means inter-
fere with the classroom work. An eSpe-
cially interesting novelty to the South
by the colored race. is the scene in the din
ing hall at meal time. Referring TO the
young men and women who as walters
were fitting about the room, Captain Yaw-
ter said: I'VE introduced our innovation
by asking the graduates TO wait upon the
table; after that there was no trouble in
getting the other students 10 take their
turn: labor had been stamped as honor
able"
While children from every class Of society
are admitted 10 the school. representatives
OF the best families OF Virginia were point
ed out: two children. respectively, one the
grandson OF a millionaire and the other Of
"a distinguished professor Of the University
of Virginia. Others sprang from the lower
classes and their ancestors had been poor
throughout generations. All alike have the
advantage OF refine surroundings and su-