The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-09-09

the solicitation of prominent citizens OF
Cecil county, Maryland, and with the
hope that perusal will at least lead
to investigation on the part of the good
people of Cecil county and the State
of Maryland that will further the cause
of righteousness, and that the orphans
of Port Deposit, Cecil county, and
Maryland, and the children of Port De-
posit and Cecil county may recover their
birthright, and the cause of the poor
and helpless may triumph, and educa-
ton may enlighten and uplift the Com
monwealth.
Jacob Tome was born in 1870 and
died in 1858. Most of his life was
passed in the town of Port Deposit, Ce-
Gil county, Maryland, where he built up
fortune variously estimated at from
FIVE to seven millions. Several years
before his death, Mr.. Tome, desiring to
do something for the town, county and
State in which he had accumulated his
fortune, incorporated "The Jacob Tome
Institute of Port Deposit, Cecil county,
Maryland" In this act of noble bene-
faction he was joined by his wife Eva
lyn, who waived her dover rights to
one-third of his realty and one-half of
his personally, taking much smaller
portion, and thus became joint donor
with her husband in an institution in
tended to be on new lines. of an ele-
mentary educational character and for
the purpose of teaching the orphans of
Port Deposit, the children of Port De-
post, the orphans of Cecil county, the
children of Cecil county, and the or
phans of Maryland how to earn liv-
ing. (See extracts from the charter,
appended as Exhibit A.")
Accompanied by his wife, Mr.. Tome
visited many schools and consulted
many educators of national reputation,
and it was their decision that the scope
of the work to be done in the Institute
should be limited to the FIVE classes
named in the charter and should not
extend beyond the ordinary high school
course. Eighteen years was fixed as
the age limit. Books and supplies were
to be furnished free, and practical
education for the children of his neigh
bors in town, county and State, and
especially for the orphans, was the end
desired. He had come to Port De-
post a poor orphan boy and had felt
the need of practical education, such
as he desired to give to the bene-
ficiaries of the great trust which he es-
tablished. Mrs. Tome has often told
the writer of this study how Mr.. Tome
had spoken of the future and OF the eff
feet of the instruction to be given in
the Institute, how it would raise the
standard of education in Maryland and
fix a standard for the United States,
come better farmer as result OF the
teaching of the fundamental principles
of Agriculture in the Institute, of the
work in domestic economy for all the
girls, of the mechanical instruction thar
would aid the young mechanics son,
how the poor would learn the principles
conducive to thrift and industry, and all
would find unexcelled opportunities for
developing an American citizenship, for
finding individual aptitudes, and espe-
cially to learn those arts and sciences
necessary to a successful life of UMPIRE
tentious independence. He scorned the
college spirit of aristocratic learning.
He believed that lower schools for the
masses, with elementary teaching of a
superior kind were needed far more
than superior higher schools for the
classes who are able to buy the best
instruction anywhere. His views on
these points were known not only to
every one in Port Deposit, but to many
throughout the county and State. For
over eight years he drilled his board
of trustees in those principles, and the
outlook at his death was most promis-
ing for the development Of unique
in the United States or the world.
During the four years preceding Mr..
Tones death the Institute was open
and did the work that he had pre-
scribed. Prominent educators at that
time were deeply interested in the In
stitute, and it was recognized that no
section of the United States needed just
such school more than Maryland.
1t is therefore of interest to all who
believe in the sacredness of public
trust, made in the interest OF the weak
and helpless, to examine into the rec
ord OF the Institute during the first de-
cade of its existence, and especially
since the death of Mr.. Tome in 1893.
Here are few inquiries that might
properly be asked by a representative
citizen of Maryland, or by philanthro-
pist seeking for an opportunity to bene-
fit his fellow-men:
i. Have the Trustees of the Jacob
Tome Institute carried out the wishes
of the Founders?
2. Have the Trustees made any seri-
Gus attempt to procure the attendance
of the five classes named in the char
ter?
8. Has the instruction given in the
Institute been largely of high order,
and have the subjects of study been OF
the general character desired by the
Founders?
4. Has the Board of Trustees shown
itself to be DESTROYS of defeating the
designs of grafters who would make
of their positions sinecure for them
selves and friends?
S. Have the Trustees resisted juve-
nile temptation to display the wealth