Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-05-21
RANDOLPH BOOK CLUB.
Educational Views Inspired by Work
at Hampton Institute,

Miss NJ. Lucina Saxton very pleasant,
entertained the Randolph Book club sat
urday afternoon at her home on Randolph
avenue, twenty-seven members and eigh
invited guests being in attendance. Tn,
subject of the meeting was Virginia anC
West Virginia, and patriotic quotations
were given in response to the roll call.
Mrs. E. o. Blanchard, under the head Of
club notes, gave much valuable informa-
ton, particularly interesting to her hear
ers. concerning women's clubs all over
the country, and Miss Bertha Manney
treated the subject of "Historical Vir-
ginia' in paper that was so clever con-
densatiOn OF data as to seem a tale most
charmingly told. Mrs. f. F. Emerson,
with the double topic OF "Luray Cavern
and Natural Bridge developed descrip-
tive powers Of a high order, making the
ladies feel that under her direction they had
been enjoying a delightful club outing
without stirring from their seats.
champion Institute" had been assigned
TO the vice president, Mrs. G. F. Moulton,
who prevailed upon Mrs. G. +. Ladd to
take her place, the latter having been for
/ ten years a teacher in Hampton Institute
and consequently thoroughly conversant
with its methods and aims.
Mrs. Ladd's paper was extremely inter
/ esting, writing as she did from personal
knowledge Of her subject, and she was
followed with the closest attention. For
the benefit OF readers interested in educa-
tional matters the following excerpts are
made from the article, which ii was pro-
nouneed a privilege to hear
champion Institute is one of the great
est successes in Christian civilization and
the upbuilding of sterling character that
the world has ever seen. Founded in 1863,
started in the old, barn-like barracks, a
relic OF the war, with thirty scholars and
two teachers, the school has expanded to
sixty buildings, 1850 students and teach
ing force Of more than one hundred
instructors, officers. matrons, etc. No
mention OF the school would be complete
without a reference to its founder, Gen. S.
c. Armstrong, one of the greatest men
who ever lived. He has been described as
a locomotive with a coat on. He certainly
was the essence Of condensed energy. An
ineXtlnguishable impulse 10 help some
one, getting nothing in return, was the
electricity that drove bis engines.
" Put the whole man to school, educate
the head, the hand and the heart, were
the maXims which were and are the corner
stone Of this great educational movement.
The plan briefly is this Each student
receives free tuition, but is charged 80
month for board and lodging; books and
clothing must also be paid for. The more
advanced students went TO Rotations
during the usual school hours for four
days but worked at some trade or manual
labor for the other two days. Such work
as dishwashing, sweeping, the care OF
school and teachers rooms, milking the
cows, general repairing and keeping neat
OF the buildings and grounds afforded
jobs for odd minutes to the enterprising
workers, who often managed to earn the
l4.s.Ia 1T . ka ArA han.
class of students worked all day at some
OF the many trades and were paid go a
month. These students went to night !
school from to 9 p. m. The 80 above /
expenses was credited to them and used to |
defray expenses when they entered the
day school.
"In every detail there is provision for
the special needs OF the negroes and the |
$50 Indians, who were added to the school
in Is.
snow have few conclusions to offer. |
After life at Hampton, where all instruc- |
tion was a definite means to definite end, |
must confess to feeling that our ideas |
here in the north on education are much /
in the wrong. Here in Randolph, for in
stance-and you must not understand me
as finding fault with the schools, but with
as citizens for not demanding
and enforcing better things-how much
does the child receive at
school that will help him in any way to
better his home life. i have seen numer-
ous boys and girls in Vermont, and in
New England towns, for that matter, who
we're fairly bright scholars, perhaps even
through the High school, but whose ecu
alton was useless so far as character and
results were concerned. They could not
Zig, hoe, spade, sew or cook; they could
OUNCE the streets, drive, spend money
ind the like.
THAT is the fault, you say, OF the home.
iranted. But here in the South are
Instances Of what the proper training can
10 for boys and girls taken from condi- =
ions worse than any found here. We see
low these youths are turned into useful
men and women, eager TO help Others as
veil as themselves. Now, why in our
Few England villages can not we have
he same kind of influence emanating
rom our schools? Why not insist on the
raining of hand and heart as well as of
lead
"Can not the members Of this club do
in this respect TO help this
own2 Ii is not simply matter OF con-
enience in results, but the doing all that
se can to establish in our young people
he right kind of character that | plead
or. When our girls feel that doing
well shows even higher type
4 brain than solving problems in arith-
rompt and industrious is even better
han being bright, the present domestic
ervice muddle will cease, and we shall all
i've more comfortably. There is no more
1st criterion of character than the way in
fhich one does his work. Words are
heap, but by what do from day TO day
m both judged and made for the future.
earning by doing-there is no better
ray: there is no way so good"
The president Of The Club. Mrs, William
lass. appointed a committee, consisting OF
frs. G. +. Abbott, Mrs. w. T.. Lamson,
Irs. J. p. Cleveland, Mrs. ID. F. Lewis, TO
ispose Of the magazines, books and
apers constituting the travelling library
fhich the club had some years ago. A Z
usiness meeting was called for $3.50 !
clock Thursday afternoon, the 18th, at
irs. William Bass to hear the constitu-
ion and bylaws read aud to act upon the
anne.
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