The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1909-05-28

The first session of the Hadley night
school came to a close last Friday
night. Long before the exercises be-
gan the second story of the building
was crowded with citizens from every
section of the city to witness the clos
ing exercises of the first night school
opened in this city for Negroes. No
more representative gathering of
Nashville's Afro-American citizenship
has ever been seen than that assem-
bled on this occasion. Everyone
seemed to be deeply interested in the
night school closing Some, no doubt
were there for mere curiosity, but it
was evident that the majority of those
present were anxious to see if those
who have been attending this school
could show any signs of progress, and
the talks of those who volunteered to
say something in an impromptu way
would convince the most pessimistic
mind that every dollar spent for the
fostering of this has been we'll spent.
striking feature Of the occasion was
the age of some of the scholars. There
is no limit to age in the night school,
and the citizens have taken advantage
of that. Prof. Benton in his remarks
stated one of his pupils was seventy
two years old
The exercises were opened by sing
ing and prayer Principal Benton
then told of the workings of the school.
He stated how the idea of having
night school sessions was worked out
by the Board of Education. He said
that at one time there were over three
hundred pupils in the school, and at
the time of closing they had over one
hundred. He stated that they had not
prepared any special program but
would ask for volunteers to represent
the different grades He began with
the fifth. and one and two from each
grade made talks. They were all very
interesting in that they brought out
the present thoughts of the pupils.
1t was clearly evidenced that the
scholars are awake to the needs of an
education, and furthermore that there
are hundreds in this city who either
have not had the opportunity to ac-
quire a common education or who have
abused their privileges of early life and
desire to correct their mistakes as far
as they can. The pupils were allowed
to continue their talks until nine
o'clock when Prof Benton informed
them that their time was out He
then introduced Dr. R. B. Lees, presi.
dent Of the Board of Education, who
was to address the class. He said in
part:
1T is a great pleasure for me to be
here with you tonight, | have not
prepared any set speech, because they
are usually long and tiresome. am
going to talk TO you tonight from my
; heart He said when the idea OF
having a night school was mentioned
to him he thought it was good one
and he told the board what he thought
about it, and the school was estab
lished. That it had succeeded was be
yond doubt, and the school will rur
+ next term and probably others will
I be established. DR.. Lees then tool
e the obligations attached 10 good citi
+ zenship, and cover every phase of life
T. and all present were benefited by wha
: he said, He was very optimistic in hi
views, and his expressions were sucl
as to broaden the minds of his hearers
At times he was witty and prove
S himself to be philosopher of no mea,
e ability. He said none of us are yer
e good, but it is every ones duty to b
It the very best citizen he can. He sale
e "You are all republicans I know, bu
o am democrat. You are republican
n. l suppose because your fathers wer
but the time is coming when you wi