The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-20
HIGH TESTIMONIAL TO ALABAMA CENTRAL
 FEMALE COLLEGE
THE UNITED STATES HEALTH BULLETIN SAYS IT Is SCHOOL THAT MET WITH GENERAL AP. PRoVAL OF ITS EXPERTS.

During the month of September seven hundred thousand of young Americans will leave their homes to attend some in stitution of learning. How many parents realize just what that phrase-'1eaving home" - means? Few, we fear really grasp the idea embodied-the fact that not only are the moral influences of the home life no longer to surround the child, but that the careful supervision of their physical welfare with which the parents have guarded their sons and daughters Is to give place to anotherti daughters is to give place to another
 Even the most careful parents will neg lect to make sure that the hygienic sur roundings of their children In the school are all that should be. If the curriculum of the school Is satisfactory, the corps of teachers made up of well known educa- tors. and the Social atmosphere" of the place of a sort that seems desirable for the young man or woman. it Is the habit of parents to congratulate themselves upon having found just the place" for Jack or Alice" If an additional query is made 1t possibly has to do with the general healthfulness of the locality. How, often is there any inquiry made into the sanitary and hygienic status Of the school? If 1t Is a boarding school, who asks anything about the kitchen except as to the abundance of food? Who asks about the plumbing, the ventilation, the disposition of sewage? Who asks about the water supply.
 It seems almost beyond belief, in these days when health Is concededly depen- dent upon proper sanitary and hygienic surroundings, that the head of a family could for a minute lose sight of these matters and send his dear ones to place about which he knows nothing concern ing the care taken to preserve the health of the residents, when reflections will as- sure him that the most sedulous care is necessary.
 The United States Health Bulletin had occasion to examine into this subject quite extensively during the past few months, and if some of the facts that have come to our notice during these in- vestigations were generally known, We believe that prospective patrons would be shocked at the unsanitary and disease breeding conditions existing at some of the high-priced and most fashionable schools.
 These investigations have been made without the instigation of the proprie- tors and generally without their knowl- edge, consequently they are absolutely unbiased and unprejudiced.
 Among the schools that met with the general approval of the experts investi- gating these matters for us, and which we have no hesitation in recommending to our readers Is the Alabama Central Female college, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
 We know nothing about the course of study at this school for it is of no inter est to us, but If the same care Is taken with the mental welfare of the pupil as Is shown and plainly shown to be taken with the physical. we feel that it deserves the support of parents and the encourage ment of the public.
 Are the days of Dctheboys Hall so long mast that parents can trust their child ren's future to the care of strangers without the most searching investiga- tons?