Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-11

eastern section of the city. The structure
was occupied for the first time at the be-
ginning of the present school season.
The exercises began at IL o'clock with
Mr.. j. w. Whelpley presiding. After the
invocation by Rev. G. E. Maydwell the
boys and girls Joined in singing Santa Lu-
Ella. Commissioner Henry 3. F.. Macfar-
land was next introduced to the children
and delivered a brief address He was
greeted with applause Mr.. Macfarland was
listened to with attention
He said:
I'VE open today with much satisfaction
manual training school for the grade
scholars of this section. 1t will improve
their opportunities for the training not only
of the hand but of the brain. 1t provides
for that kind of education which has uni
versal approval because of it's ascertained
good results. The Commissioners have
given this building the, name of public
spirited citizen of Washington, who in his
lifetime was identified with the old govern
ment of the city of Washington, and also
served the community in other honorable
ways. The name of B. B. French is es-
pecially connected with the eastern part of
the city of Washington, so that it seems
especially appropriate that=i should be
given to this school. His life furnished the
incentive of example to the boys and girls
who will pass through this building in all
the years to come
Mr.. Chamberlain Address,
'Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp
audience. and then the chairman intro
| duced Mr.. J. A. Chamberlain, director of
| manual training In the public schools of
the District. Mr.. Chamberlain began by
saying one Of the objects of the new
manual training school is to teach the
| dignity of labor. The children and teachers
of East Washington, he added, were to be
congratulated on securing such an institu-
| ton as that being dedicated.
Nv Shop LOFT
| the District twenty-five manual training
centers--a center meaning a building or
rooms to which pupils go from their neigh
borhoods for manual training. Each cen
| eight rented buildings for such uses, he
said, none approach the B. B. French
building In dignity and stability.
| We hope" he added. "this building is
are more deserving to have these accom-
modations than the boys of East Wash
| ington.''
In conclusion he stated that in the
| to sew and to cook, and the BOYS the Ese
| Of tools, these three branches representing
three great necessities of the human race
food. clothing and shelter
Features Of the dedication were the
| presence of DR.. and Mrs. W. B. French,
| descendants of B. B. French, after whom
the new building is named, and Mr.. N. w.
Barksdale, master of B. B. French Lodge
| of Masons, with several other members of
| the lodge. Mr.. Barksdale congratulated
| the boys and girls on being pupils of a
| school named to perpetuate the memory
and name Of such sterling man as B. B.
| French.
The Closing Address.
Mr. A. 7. Stuart, superintendent of pub
| lie schools of the District, made the closing
remarks. He said in 1910 the site of the
present B. B. French School was occupied
by small and unpretentious structure de-
signed to be the home of lodge of Odd
Fellows. and until 1858 the modest building
was known as Odd Fellows Hail. In 1858,
forty-six years ago. the site was bought by
the District Of Columbia and has been de-
voted to school purposes ever since.
Keys Delivered.
Mr.. Stuart then turned over the keys of
the new building to Mr.. James A. Degges,
principal. and the audience inspected the
structure and its cooking. hcarpentery and
sewing outfits. There are four large rooms
in the structure. They are used as cut
ting and sewing room 5 carpenter shop
cooking department andn demonstrating
room. About 500 pupils are said to receive
instructions in the building each week.