Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-16
Farm Produce Helps
Pay for Education

| the heart of the region from
which Abraham Lincoln sprang. a univer-
sity named for MIN is bringing a mes
| sage of hope to 700 American white boys
and girls who are already enrolled as
students and 400 more who waiting
to be.
| The last of the great army commanders
| OF the civil war. Gen. o. 0. Howard. is re-
| sponsble for the existence of this school,
| and its origin is matter of sentiment,
| for in giving it life Gen. Howard. now
| only "a few months dead, merely carried
out the idea that the martyr President
had communicated to him during the
| stormy days of the civil war.
| 1t is education on a most liberal basis
! for which the Lincoln memorial stands.
for those who are it's students are so
poor that tuition fees of even one hun
dred dollars a year would be too great
for them to ray. and so a plan has been.
devised by which they can pay for their
instruction in farm products.
| Lincoln knew what the need of edu-
cation meant. He had gained his
sprawled on a floor in front of pine knot
blaze porting over borrowed books.
| When he came to his greatness and
power it was ever his desire to do some
thing for the boys OF his own native
region.
They are loyal. loyal. loyal" is what
he told Gen. Howard, then young man
in the early thrties But already on the
shoulders Of his blue uniform were the
stars of a major general. while at his side
hung his empty right sleeve.
They were in the south room Of the
| White House. 1t was during the crisis
of the civil war.
| Abraham Lincoln, who shortly before
| mis- death openly said that it was to a
worn set of Jacob Abbott's histories that
he was indebted for about all the histori-
na 1adO ha
President of the United States. He was
much older man than his companion. to
whom he was speaking Of the people of
the Appalachian mountain region of the
south.
Drawing down a map from the rolls
which hung on the wall the President
| showed him the large tract of terri
tory shut in there by natural obstacles.
For when the makers of beaten tracks
went north, south, east and west, instead
of going through it. they had gone
around it.
And there tile inhabitants were. de-
scendants of the Observation-Disclosures
stock, from which the Hankses and LIN
coins sprang-isolated. hemmed in and
out of step with the remainder of the
nation.
President Lincoln wanted them to have
books. schools and railroads. In word,
he wanted them to have the opportuni-
ties to prove themselves good citizens.
That is more than forty years ago.
!
who served his country in war and in
peace. When Abraham Lincoln was
struck down the white people OF the
southern mountains lost their best friend
Fortunately. however, his plans lived in
the minds of others. Gen. Howard him.
self either established or helped to es-
tablsh nearly one hundred schools and
colleges, some of them in that very re-
gion.
AS time went on experiments we're
formed for the sake of making money
through the lands and labor of the noun
tain people up there in the Appalachians,
but no offered them an uplifting
hand until a few years ago.
Gen. Howard. white of hair and beard,
but erect. was walking back and forth
past a group of four men and one wom-
an who sat a broad veranda OF one OF
the buildings which the northern boom
ers had now deserted and talked of the
mountaineer children.
DIR. Meyers, the head of the Harrow
school for these children, the prin-
cipal speaker. When these buildings
were occupied, the guests helped to keep
up the school. But they were vacant
| now, and, consequently, their substantial
support was withdrawn.
The old soldier and statesman became
convinced that here was an opportunity
| TO do what Abraham Lincoln had asked.
| And that night, from the wreck of the
| Harrow School, in Cumberland Gap, was
conceived Lincoln Memorial University.
1t was arranged that students ght
matriculate with either cash OF produce.
| and then work their way through by
labor of various sorts on the lands of the
school.
AS q. result. girls came with family
COW, and boys came with live stock
| loaded down with farm products. The
the dairy, paid all the bills of college
course, while the boys aternated be-
tween the plough and the classroom.
The people of the gulches soon saw a
change in the returning boys and girls.
| Young and old alike became eager for
| knowledge.
At the start, the first taught were paid
TO return to the remote mountain gulches
and teach the younger element.
| The location is ideal one. Situated
on the slopes of the mountains at Cum
| berland Gap, it commands view down
toward the fertile Powell's valley. the es-
tate including fertile lowland fields and
sloping pastures, which offers a field for
work to the students, and produces food
and supplies for their use.
Tending school, here, although the
young mountaineers are making such ef-
forts to secure an education is not sur
rounded by luxury and ease as the hand
book of the school. printed by the stu
dents themselves, will show, for the book
says:
.By careful economy-the tuition IS
free-no student pays anything for in
structions, but tto meet the expenses OF
rent. heat. library repairs, etc. students
do, however, pay a small Incidental Zee
of five or six dollars per term.
''rhese rooms lighted and heated
and furnished with a chair. bedsteads.
springs. mattresses, wardrobe, and the
larger ones with Uashstand and dresser
Other furnishings must be brought or
provided by the students Every student
should come provided with two sheets,
two pillow cases, two covers. towels. a
pillow, napkins. overshoes and an UNI
breila.
BOARD in Avery Hall costs the young
ladies about $3.50 per month. Board in
Grant-Lee Hall costs the Young men
about $40 per month. The food is of
good quality. we'll cooked and abundane,
but without Injuries.
And below those lines are other pro-
| visions for those who are not able to
enjoy the luxurious life. at % cents a
day in Avery or Grant-Iee.
IAN students who wish to pay a good
part of their expenses in manual labor
must come prepared to pay in cash or
in produce one terms incidentals. three
months room rent and one months board.
After this payment the students who are
Industrious and willing to work may be
able to pay all further schooi expenses
by labor.
M there in those hills to whom the mere
I chance to work for an education is
privilege. When they are educated they
will be worth something to the nation
too
! Who knows how many more Lincolns
there may be In those hills: