The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-13

will be helpful to every taxpayer who contributes to the support of the school. There must be something offered that will respond somewhere to the needs of each individual pupil and it is in conformity with this view that the au- tn critics of the Bessemer schools are now directing their energies. The re- gently instituted departments of house. hold economy. embracing both sewing and cooking, are wholly responsive to this view. AS previously stated. I paid a visit to these new departEknts last Friday.
 My first impression, I presume, was that of any observant visitor viz: The careful preparation evinced on every hand for ptoperly accomplishing each variety of work undertaken. The mot to seems to have been: Anything worth doing at all, Is worth doing we'll" and the whole scheme of Improvement seems to have proceeded with this bit of wisdom ever in mind. The material equipment provided in both domestic art and science seem to impose every thing desirable in the present stage or development. Much of this equipment has been procured with out cost to the school authorities through the ener- getic efforts of the very wide awake and progressive sup perintendent Of schools. Below are listed a few dona- tions that have come to the school IS a result of his enterprise and others Of a substantial character are already in sight:
 The Bessemer Soil Pipe company s2oo; the Tennessee Coal Iron ana Railway company $250; the county board of education, 5000.
 In addition to the list of money dona- lions cited above, number of others have exhibited a similar spirit of lib erality. as exemplified in the following substantial offerings: The Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company gavs to the schools collection of cleo tric flat irons and a machine motor I to be employed in connection with the sewing department. The Long Lewis | Hardware company generously donated | modern coal range, and the Bessemer | Gas company handsome gas range. to be used in connection with the kitch- en. The Simmons Hardware company also remembered the school in allow
 ing substantial reductions on various
 articles of culinary ware. The Michigan Stove company generously furnished a
 Garland instantaneous water heater, and the Smith Manufacturing company | of BesseIer much useful hardware in- l dispensable in the kitchen. The sewing machine manufacturers also remem- bered the schools, much to the appre- | citation of the authorities, in very | substantial way, allowing material con
 sessions on the regular price of their
 products. The companies deserving of
 thanks in this respect are the Singer Wheeler & Wilson, and the Domestic
 sewing machine manufacturers The Bessemer merchants are likewise to be | commended for cordial cooperation | For example, the sewing tables and stools for the school kitchen were se- | oI, Ir L. Huey Furniture company without | profit to the firm; handsome side- board and kitchen safe were obtained | through the E. A. Little Furniture com.
 pany in a similar manner. The Hood
 G Wheeler Furniture company like
 wise responded with the necessary | chairs for the sewing room, and the | Chandler Brothers contributed their
 profits in paint material and labor. in cident to the installation of the two departments.
 In this way, through the active efforts
 of the superintendent of schools, the
 original appropriation for the establish
 ment of the departments has been large Ily supplemented, thus assuring more ample facilities, and, consequently, more thorough work. have very serious doubts if a better equipped school kitchen lis to be found in any public school than
 that which is now installed in connec- tion with the Bessemer4 High school. And now I am ready to venture an other assertion and that Is, that it will he impossible to find 24 merrier or more Interesting faces than the bevy of at tractiye and bright Bessemer girls that compose these new departments Those
 girls see no hardship in these new fields Of educational effort They engage IT the work with genuine enthusiasm and
 are sorry when the periodicals summon them to other duties.
 It ,s doubtful if any very large num- her of the school patrons of Bessemei realize what is being accomplished in their midst The writer modestly sug
 gests that Bessemer people pay more ire