The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-01
GREAT WORK DON
BY night SCHOOL |: !:
The Institution on Brook Avenue
Achieves Great Results.
MAY HAVE II. BE. ABANDONED
Woman's Christian Association, Which
Has Been Taking Care Of it, Can
No Longer 90 So-Fine Open
ing for Charitably Inclined.

Out on Brooke Avenue, in a part or
the city almost totally unknown to many
of the citizens of Richmond and by
majority of others seen only passingly
when driving through it on their way
to the green ways beyond, there has
been going on for some time past, quietly
and unostentatiously, a work that IS OF
inestimable advantage not only to those
who are directly benefited by it, but to
the city and State as Well This IS the
kindergarten and night school Of the
Woman's Christian School, the latter
feature of which has been especially sue
cessful in the results achieved.
Unfortunately there is a grave danger
that the work that has begun so aus
piciously may have to be abandoned for
the lack Of funds with which to pay for
the hall in which the school meets ana
the necessary expenses such as nght
heat and janitor's attendance. The Wo-
mans Christian Association which IN
augurated the work finds itself embar-
raised for funds, partly because a pc
quest made the association cannot pc hao
simply because it is not chartered in
stitution, and of a.necessity must dis
continue the expenditure that has been
devoted to this really estimable4 charity.
The teachers who have devoted their
time and energy to the work gratultous-
ly are willing and anxious to keep It up
and the young men and young women
whose interest has been aroused in learn
ing of better things will be cast down
into dependency if their one chance of
learning is taken from them. Yet this
seems inevitable unless some one who
has the means will come forward and
take up the charity and make it the sue
cess that it deserves to be.
PUPILS ENTHUSIASTIC.
The night school meets three times
week and the attendance which was. of
course, small at first has grown wonder
fully and the interest taken by the
scholars car, be described as nothing short,
of enthusiasm. The desire for knowledge
inherent in this class OF people when once
it has been awakened and given chance
to expand is astonishing. These boys
and girls, after working Throughout the
long hours Of the day at their various
avocations come two and three nights in
the week to learn. The attention paid
to their teachers is remarkable and their
quickness to grasp ideas and their sus-
ceptibility to good influences is astounding!
One Of the teachers who gives her time!
to these classes, but who has taught and
does teach in the families of the most
intelligent people in the city says that no
where has she seen the desire to learn
so marked as at the night school. These
pupils though tired with the toll of the
day in many instances. are alert OF
mind. They. pay the strictest attention
and lose nothing of what is said.
Many will be interested in the kind of
Instruction that is given that so interests
these young people. The instruction is in
the first place practical but the aesthetic
side is not forgotten. Grammar, book
", cf1, will ne hIa
those learning them to rise in their en-
;loyment are taught, but at the same
time it is endeavored to give such in
struction as to enable the pupils to take
a higher view of life and gain greater
capability of enjoying it.. In many in
stances the influences with which the
pupils are surrounded, in which they live
and move ard have their being, are if
rot actually malign, at least far from
being good. The instruction received and
the association with the noble men and
women who give it counterfeit these bad
in1uences-which are ho1ne-influences-
ana inspire in the pupils higher aspira-
tons and noble sentiments which other
wise they would not only not understand,
but which they would never hear Of.
GENTLENESS AND GRACE.
Physical culture and elocution are
among the instruction given. and on
Monday night, when these classes are
| held. the enthusiasm and interest are at
| their height. Of course it must not be
| understood that these courses are car
ried to the height that they are in a
school for rich peoples sons and daugh-
| ters It is rot the object to make orators
but to cultivate a grace Of movement
and a gentleness of voice. which lend so
| much to the pleasure of this life.
| Those who are born under influences
L = = L ~.
and refinement with every breath do not
| sufficiently realize the part which 1t
| plays in their lives and i'm the lives of
those with. whom they come in contact.
Nor do they realize sufficiently why
! these things are so often lacking. and
! wha. different world this vii! be when
| they are widely disseminated.
Tho idea of the Brook Avenue School
| is in line with the College Settlement
! that has done so much for the uplift OF
| the poorer classes in the larger cities
particularly IL London. where the idea
1 Originated and in New YORK, where ii
1Shas worked so successfully. 1t was
! hoped, and is still hoped by many, that
| the work begun at the Brook Avenue
/ School, was only the beginning of the
college settlement in Richmond and that
other schools :of the same sort would DC
/ started in other parts of the city, and
| that the work would result in the up
I lifting Of a great part of the population
| the making of good citizens out of chill
| aren whose home surroundings, unless
counteracted would promise no such
| outlook for them.
! BRIGHT FACES.
! To The Times reporter. who made
4 visit to the neiEhborhood of the. school
/ the attendants on the school spoke en-
/ Enthusiastically of the school and OF: the
i teachers. One OF the latter was de:
scribed. as an angel; no other word was
considered good enough, for her in tbs
! opinion of one of those whom she hat
/ helped to a realization of the things thai
! are higher 1Aere is nothing gloomy
! about the work that is done. and while
i there is a pathos in the realization thai
i so many Of the young of the city arf
without the influences that should di
rect them in the way they should go, YET
1 there is not lacking humor in the
scenes enacted at the night school. The
4 bright young faces. fairly aglow wit
i the eagerness to be told and the intelll
/ gence to grasp when told, make pretty
j picture. and the delight and ,interes1