The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-28
LEARN
PRACTICAL THuIG
Young Men Graduated from Mo.'
chanics Institute Equipped n
Make Their Own Way.
THEORY AND CLASSICS
NOT THEIR ASSETS
Instructors Guide AmbitiOu1|
Youths Through Various Shop
and Turn Them Out Comp0 N
tent TO Earn Their Living.

Probably no more Valuable or pkMGsaES
teal instruction will be carried fte4lH
the CHASE rooms OF the various inekes
buttons throughout the state n4E@
closing their doors for the sunnn
than that impaired to the 611 st1-zz
dents AT the Virginia Mechanics IH-ss
stitute Of Richmond. M
This institute is One of the 03d0MtN
In Richmond. IL II liz not the Oldest. AM
wae founded by halls dozen N5c5F
mend men In 1854, and begen Na@0
one instructor. who received no satAkX.
Two years later IL WAS inccfpofa4N
as State institution b the Gel1Nr1
Assembly which voted II 41.000.
1855, when Richmond was evacaAt94S
the Institute. located in building IL 10
Ninth street between Main and FtaMse
lin streets was burned to the gro0N4
all the records md models being Co.
stroyed. together with the Confe4ef11es
War and Navy Department -
Patent office documents which wenAS
kept in the building. @
Rose From lts Ashes. q
II was not until 1854. that the inSef-
tute rose pheo,,ix- like from the aalseeR
of it's predecessor. With the aa13o
aims and purposes and the same c3aeM
Of practical men behind the deA. tn
Institute started life anew. II -
grown TO be one of the most valU4-
BILE institutions OF instruction In thoa
State. Instead of the paltry 11se9A
which tho Legislature was wont "
appropriate to the Institute. u n00e
receives $4,000. The Institute u ~.
Gated ut Broad and Eleventh streN<1s
The building is OF white stone With
commanding columns and Of attractive
architecture. Both the physical 80
pearance Of the building and the w0f1k
Of the Institute make II an inat1txl-
ton which II q credit to Richmon4
and the State.
While due time and consideEA4i1a
are given TO language. history. ~ ~
sizes, chemistry, mathematics and NJ
thology, the main object Of the inU(J~
tute is to train the young man fOGssa
trade. Few sons OF the predatory sr1ce
attend the institute and realfxiug thmGE
the students intend becoming Arti1npo
and to make their own way IN ~
world. the score or more cosnpetoN1s
instructors teach close application IL.
study seir reliance and denial and -
the standards an high a. posaihls, yokI
within reach Of all who peraevere ~
are In earnest about becoming exDol<
craftsmen. Out OF the 5;3 studGsj
who attended the sessions brcug1& ~
a close with commencement ex<xeon!
Thursday night, only ave were awn91 "
cd diplomas. This 10 a low per cqf
age. but shows the high standnR16|
OF the institution, which does Tnk1,
award diploma unless the farua<1l
members believe they can conae1s6l<~s
oucly say that the man who raeaty&
the sheepskin has the ability 70 80
his daily bread N an siectr1O16 n
draughtsraan. designer. meShAUf1
oookkeeper. engineer or whatever s1Se
ctsl subject he elected % takA Ni{|
he entered the institution. Two 70 M
dred or more .'frst honor ceftl1 4
Gates were awarded, allowing the eG)s
her of the students who ATTENDED ~
sessions. In one instance. tho eloUf8
ca class three students were - p1
ncient In their studies and praaSf1
work that no one OF tina trio cOv36 ~
seiected for first honors. 20 al thN1
received certificates 81 ss MN
spseimsnts ~ Their Wort. ss
Around the institute many axtf
of furniture and wood ornnr 337
made by the students are shoNn
exhibits Of what they can al.
desks. tables. parlor pieces, ntu1l -
frames, drssse-s and other astic1S1
furniture cannot Be didneon1 ~
ly are they constructed, patnteA Ill., a.
nished and finished. The scroll S4I
on tho walls looks almost poFfook
have been carved by human 49, H
Besides cabinet making clay -
ing Is also taught. The studNn14Hl
this class Of aTtictis endeAv0R
made exceedingly rapid stridoe N
some Of the designs appear u
worthy Of places in galleries ~ 62
One particular piece which has &&%
tracted widespread favorable C y
ment In that Of Throwing Steer. 's d
Is Wen Equipped. 88
Dxx& a. IA.