The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-09
SNOW HILL INSTITUTE
COMMENCEMENT OF SCHOOL FOR
 NEGROES.
What Principal Edwards and His Corps of Assistants are Doing to Increase Progress of
 Their Race.

success in every way.
 Sunday. May 3rd: the baccalaureate ser mon wa. preached by Rev. R: c; Bed Bed his subject from the fifth chapter of St. Luke, and a part of the fourth verse, Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for draught." T.e sermon was full of thought and inspiration. . MT: sr: people of the negro race to get away from the shore. to have courage and faith.
 ss Ss tns sewing, Marina Mcs..i1an, Camden, Ala; i; Tina N. Ethr1dge, Camden. Ala. In car- pentry, c. W. Davis. Ackerville. Ala. {; Richard Winner. Fatama, Ala. In cook. Anna Carmichael, Snow Hill, Ala.
 Tuesday evening an oratorical contest was held. "The Peace of Nations" was discussed by the following students: A. W. Mitchell. Nettie Corbett, Koxie A. dent showed that he had made careful preparation and each deserved commenda- ton for the effort put forth. The judges, [. ". and w; c: simpson. Rev. R. e: c: Bedford, pr. ;..s TH.yertSn; tnns.. awarded the
 The oratorical contest for $15 establish ed by Dr. E. Winchester Donald, Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, was held Wednesday evening.
 "The Relative Advantages of Residence in the City and in the Country" Fannie
 .'The Place of Agriculture in a Manu- featuring Nation" Wayman steen.
 '"The Effect of Saving Money on Per-
 "The Relative Advantages of Residence in the City and the Country" Georgia
 The judges. s. W. and W. c. Samson. Dr. Turrenton and Professor R. c: Bruce. awarded the prize to John W. Buster.
 This work was begun nine years ago by William J. Edwards. a graduate of Tuskegee, with a half dollar in money, one teacher and three pupils. The first teaching was done In an old dilapidated been used as a dwelling house, subse~ Quently a barn and now that 1t could not be used for either. 1t was used as school house.
 gloomy. The people were poor. ignorant superstitous, immoral and greatly In debt. Religion was merely sentimental and practical only monthly. The ma. jority of the people ignorantly worked against Edwards; but by his heart of forgiveness, his love for the people, his desire to elevate them the spirit of att tention which he nurtured from childhood, he overcame many of these difficulties and succeeded in getting the people in-
 
 They now gave of their scanty earn ings toward the support of the school. The cotored people having been induced to help Themselves, their white neighbors became interested and gave their support also. Mir. R. O. Simpson. an ex-slave holder, and the man on whose plantation Edwards was reared, has clearly shown that he is the negro's friend Principal Edwards says: When all hope was lost, and our efforts seemed shrouded in 4 ,rlrt of land, and since that has been one of its most liberal supporters"
 The institution Is under the guidance of no church or society, and has no State appropriation. Through the efforts of the principal 1t Is supported by voluntary contributions. Last year the expenditures were $2o,00o.
 From the dilapidated log hut, three pu- pills, one teacher and 60 cents, the school has grown to the extent that 1t has four teen valuable buildings. counting large and small, 130 acres of land 90 students. twenty-five instructors, fourteen indus tries in constant operation, farming, blacksmithing, wheelwrighting. carpentry, printing, brickmaking. bricklaying. saw milling. sewing, laundering. painting. cooking and general housekeeping. The total property valuation is SS5.000, and is deeded to a Board of Trustees.
 Though the school puts much emphasis on industrial skill, the academic work is
 
 teaching the languages. but 1t aims to give all a thorough English education. This is coupled with industrial training. to make the hands it servants for the mind. the mind is trained to guide the hands in e skillful way, thus helping the people to be producers as well as con- sumers.
 The first building erected by the school Is the training building It Is two sto- ries high, three of the rooms on the first rnrfVaarv faaChln0 the others for a printing office. On the second floor are rooms for a library and men teachers. Simpson Hall'' is two-story building after the IL fashion; This building is occupied by the boarding girls
 Until recently 1t was the only building on the campus used as a dormitory for young women. Providence has given an- other hall, Messenger, which Is two sto- ries high. Washington Hall is the main building of the school, and Is 40x70 feet. It has three stories and spacious base ment being used as a kitchen and dining room On the first floor of this building are eight recitation rooms and the offices of the principal and treasurer The chapel and head teachers offices are on the second floor. The third floor is occu- pied by the boys.
 Since the establishment of this school quite a change has been brought about in this section. There now exists a more
  religion Is, in fact, becoming principle. The farmers are learning to economize and to leave off the mortgage system Occasionally is noted two and three room cottages taking the place of the one-room log cabin.
 This year there have been 145 boarders. More than haK of these are learning some trade, and not few of those who board on the outside are learning some useful industry. The fact that the col ored people are learning how to do skill ful work is creating a love for country life The drift from the country into the cities has been obstructed. and the in dications are that in few more years the mtgratio of the colored people will be countryward rather than cityward. The principal in his reports speaks en- recently visited by him. He says that they as a rule express a desire to send their children to a school that Is free from city life Of the seventeen gradu- ates of this institution, not one has nov ed to the city, and no one Is of suspi- cious character.
 Yesterday there were assembled in the chapel about 800 persons ana fully 1000 were on the outside. The plan to have the exercises in the pavilion could not be carried out because of the heavy rains.
 On the rostrum were the following guests: Messrs D. B. Palmer R. O.. Simpson, W. G. Simpson and wife. of Snow Hill, Ala; Rev. R. c. Bedford of Beloit. Wis: Mrs. Sallie M. Henderson of Millers Ferry. Ala.
 p VaIedictory, Some Defects of Our Pub lie School System" A. W. Mitchell. Roan- Oke Ala.