The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-04-22
LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA, T
ALABAMA LETTER.
MIR. Davis Incredulous- Trip
to Montev a o-A w e | l.
Equipped ColIege-Uni q u e
Fire Escape.

Equipped college q e
Fire Escape.
To the Editor of The Robesonian:
In your issue of March 20 you
publish an excerpt from The
Leighton News which you at
tribute to me, but which was
written by a much older man.
He signed his initials by figures,
''7-8-9," which translated would
read, G. H. j., and the VEN
cradle author is a Mr.. Jones, a
judge, I think. l am nearly II,
he, about "a. But in 1886, when
Chief Colbert, after whom the
Shoals were named. was cross
ing the river, | was a toddling
three-year-old, playing in the
shade of the sycamores in my
fathers yard, near OldSt. Paul's.
| came to Alabama in September,
1856. AS to those swimming
babies, | could not have made
that statement. l have no doubt
that Indian children were taught
to swim when very young, but
Judge Jones could not have be-
lieved it, had he not seen it, and
and l did not see it and must be
excused.
| On the 10Th ult. boarded the
Southern at Ensley at 6:58 and
at 9:15 | was at the Saint George
Hotel, in Montevallo. For a half
hour after starting many smoke
stacks were visible, and there
were evident signs of prosperity.
Especially was this true neal
Ensley and Bessemer. The coun-
try en- route seemed poor; but
how much hidden wealth there
was is an unsolved problem. The
road does not run in a straight
| line, which makes the distance
IT miles. The main line of the
road leaves Montevallo a mile
away, but there is short line
from Wilton to this old town.
and trains back up to it for the
accommodation of travellers. Mon
tevallo is an ideal place for {
college. It is elevated, quiet,
healthful. 1t reminded me of q
country village. There were NJ
disturbing elements. The onl,
smoke stack | saw was that useC
by the laundry plant. There
were no street cars, no auto
mobiles. To reach the railroad
station, it was necessary to rid
half a mile in an old-fashionet
omnibus. So one can easily SCI
how secluded the town is. Tn
hotels, the churches and especial
ly the school buildings, CLAIM
admiration. The grand old cam
pus contains about 20 acres,
and the buildings cover yer.
large area. 1t was my goo
fortune to be the guest of tw
ladies, one an old acquaintance
the other the granddaughter o
F. M. Davis, deceased. It wa
Monday, the time used for
holiday instead of Saturday
This circumstance afforded US a
opportunity to visit all the publ
rooms. They are large, and we
ventilated and comfortably ful
nished. The auditorium wa
ideal. At this school the girl
are taught not only the fine ART
and the sciences, but how to /
home-makers the arts of dress
making, hat-trimming, cooking
etc. The gymnasium is lare
and we'll equipped, and it's effe'
war seen in the elastic step ar
roseate cheeks of the your
ladies. The enrolment is ..37
and pupils present 320. 1t w;
my good fortune to see abo1
$50 girls, and there was not
pale face among them.
The capacity of the dinir
room is 800. At dinner they {
stood with bowed heads while ;
OLD minister present return'
thanks. So much youth doll
reverence-it was beautiful.
Montevallo has had a gracio
revival recently, and fifty sol
were saved to the church. Be
= ter than that, there has been
Students Missionary Meeting,
7 which seven young ladies ls
y their lives upon the altar-hol
acceptable unto God-and aft
thorough preparation for t
great work, they hold themsely
ready to obey the call of tn
respective Boards, to go to a
foreign field. Three are Metl
dists and four are Baptists.
was my privilege to receive
introduction to them, and to a
Gods blessings upon them a
their future labors.
President Palmer, L. L. D.,
an elegant Baptist layman,
teemed for his scholarly alta
ments and Christian virtues.
The fire escapes are worthy