The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-19

south has a better hotel than the Hotel
St George In Montevallo, which is now
under the management of sMisses A. E.
and d. Creagh. 1t Is a comparatively
new brick structure and contains twenty
rooms. The house is Clearly, the beds
comfortable and the cuisine all that the
most fastidious could desire.
Girls Industrial School.
A letter from MonteVallo without refer
ence to the Alabama Girls Industrial
School for white girls, which is located
here, would be much like the play of
Hamlet" with Hamlet left out The brief
history of the institution is well known to
most readers. of newspapers in this state.
1t will be remembered that by act of the
general assembly of Alabama, approved
March 4. 1901, this school, which was es-
tablished under the inference and diree-
ton of Capt H c. Reynolds in January,
1896, was declared to be a body corporate.
In said act the purposes of the school are
set forth to be "the giving of instruction
in the liberal arts and sciences; English
language and literature; the science and
art of teaching as a profession; music.
drawing, painting, decorative art botany,
horticulture, scientific dairying, cooking,
sewing, stenography, type-writing teleg-
raphy and any and every other branch of
human knowledge or industry by which
women may live"
This school is the first of the kind ever
established in Alabama for girls, and
while the state has been late in entering
upon such noble work, the wisdom of
the founders and promoters of the enter
prise is source of rejoicing and con-
graduation by all patriotic men and wom-
en-, especially those who are thoughtful
of the care of girls-and there are no
patriots, really, who are not
For years the states and the national
government have been paying all atten-
ton to the education of the boys and
many of us have been amazed at the neg
lect of the girls by those who control pub
'ic funds-especially when we remembered
the oft-repeated axim "She who rocks
the cradle rules the world" So at last
Alabama, following Unfortunately not
leading) other states, has made a Begin
ming. Beginning" did I write? Well tina
is what 1t Is, for this promising school
presents but a beginning. With buildings
inadequate to afford proper shelter AMI
comforts to the 46S Alabama girls here
enrolled, and with the meagre appropria-
ton of $25,000 per annum from the state
we who hope for much more liberal an.
preparations can only look upon the in
stitution today as the beginning of
great work.
MontevaIlo Gives Foundation.
This community gave to the state as
foundation, or beginning, the old Cum
berland Presbyterian school building
here, and about $50 acres of LANDS of
which constitutes the campus Up to
date the state has expended only about
$4,000 in improvements. To the credit
OF those In charge be 1t said the money
has been judiciously expended The main
building is an imposing structure. SUBJ
stantially built and handsomely arranged
The only trouble is that there is not
enough of 1t. 1t should be completed.
Then could the state boast of her girls
industrial school.
1t will be remembered that by act of
congress the United States government
donated not long ago 25,0O0 acres of
coal lands to this school, the proceeds
of the sale of which are to go Into the
state treasury as an endowment fund.-
and the interest therefrom is to be used
for the support of the school. Only about
5000 worth of these lands have been
sold
BY act of the legislature $4,000 of the
money arising from the sale may be used
for more buildings and equipment.
With this improvement and an appropria-
ton of about $4,000 per annum by the
state, one thousand Alabama girls Will
rush to this fountain of knowledge" and
the state will have an institution of which
she can truly boast.
DR.. Peterson President
The Rev, Francis M. Peterson, A. M,
D. D., is president of the faculty, and
Mrs Mary Morrison Babb is the lady
| principal They are assisted by about
| forty faithful teachers All branches pro-
| vided for In the act establishing the
school are faithfully taught; and the
girls are undergoing a thorough course of
training. While the literary department
Is not neglected, the industrial depart
ment receives particular attention.
Work is the watchword at this school;
and work means life and SUCCESS
beauty of mind heart, soul and body;
and is the strength of such school.
If the sledge- hammer of Omnpotence
would drive one fatal falacy far under
the sea of oblivion the force could direct
It no better than to sink forever the
presumptuous assertion that anything
great or grand can never be achieved
without payment for it in the sound coin
of honest toll. Upon this idea the girls
at Industrial school are trained from the
day of their entrance to their graduation;
and they are to become women, strong
and useful.
The 7Age-Herald is a faithful morning
visitor to the homes and business places
Of Montevallo, reaching here about two
and a half hours after it leaves the press
room There are only a few houses
here where the Age-H Herald does not find