The Ocala evening star., 1911-04-11
WHAT FESsENDEN HAS DONE
TO HELP THE PEOPLE
(Addfe Ward)

(Addie Ward) a
Fessenden Academy and industrlai .
school has done much for the upilff- g
ing Of coIored youth in Central Flor
ida. Here il stands. surrounded oy
stretch after stretch Of land, some c
decorated with tall pines. farm LANDS i:
and the horoes of needy people. On ]
Iy few years ago the school was pc n
gun with one teacher. neglected stu c
dents. ten acres or lana anu Two "0itN
ings
The school has already prepared g
number of young men and women
who are out in the busy world COM
mandfng and helping others who are /
struggling for higher ideals II
Fessenden Academy has helped
many other persons who did not re- Ec
main until graduation. but VINO are
out in life making the best use OF
their advantages The doors are stii
standing open, ready to help all boys !
and girls who are anxious 10 become
useful and win distinction
| A number of the best teachers Of
| this county are products Of this school
| and their work is successfully accom-
pIished wherever they cast their lot
IFessenden Academy has ofttime made
glad hearts in the students VINO De
gan here in ignorance and renamed
Iuntil they had completed the course OF
study.
Many of them, through great diff
iculties never gave up their long strug-
gle for education. and today many OF |
Them are among Marion county's |
imost successful men and women, WhiIe
Others are employed as bank assist /
ANTS. clerks and in government service.
I refer especially to one of the young
eentlemen graduates, who used 10
walk fourteen miles a day TO this
same school, and he is now carrying
: on a business of his own in the city or
4 Jacksonville.
Fessenden Academy has taught its
] students to live in better homes, to
s be good citizens and to help build up
e and maintain every good cause
:, To fight manfully against ignor-
e ance. disIoyalty and immortality, which
e are great hindranees in the way of the
e progress of the colored race. Training
d received at Fessenden has made many
5 more independent and self-supporting
e in the communities in which they live
: and thus made lives more worth while
I that possibly might have drifted for
g the lack of proper encouragement ana
S training.
a 1t has helped them to see that
e person of ability may become useful
IT through energy, industry and applied
It ability And to love liberty more than
: life 1t has stamped them as worthy
Lr to rank with the leaders of the negro
n race.
% Fessenden Academy has taught in
s, dustry. scholarship and character. 1t
Is has taught that the Independent
l. scholar was most important. 1t has
is encouraged all to strive to get an edu-
% cation, for education was the best GIT.
er 1t has made the lives of those at
e. tending a positive contrast with those
u who had no patient teachers. 1t mas
VI. helped the poor widow to educate her
at children 1t has lent friendly hand
e. to the poor man, who was unable to
70 pay high tuition fees.
3. II has taught industry in the shops
or and industrial rooms, and many are
Mt the good workmen and good women
IL that have received their impulse and
At tinspiratfon here. 1t has stood fol
re character and truth, has always had
'f hearing F'irmness and kindness as tc
er right things were ever manifest The
ce school has taught the colored youtf
as that labor has it's reward, and the
W more efficient the labor the greater
It the reward. 1t has helped the boy:
gs and girls by precept and example o.
X educated teachers. -
Ii 1t taught from the beginning th'
lis friendliness of race to race. No pois
he tonous words of hate are taught on thl
of sacred soil We venture to say tina
the students are as friendly and kinC
e here as any other school of the world
'e- Then peace and charity and sympa
at thy and friendliness are taught tina
of can not fail the youth who have beel
at trained here and who have mastere'
Ir. the lessons. 1 could name graduate
he who care for their parents, who haV
ew builded new houses for the old folk
ed at home. who are educating the l1ttl
a brothers and sisters with money earn
as ed in the positions this school mas fitte'
or them to fill in life.
lat Pardon personal reference, but | re
ou member as little girl the founder
n how he visited the school, advised u
MS to be good and useful men and women
mt 7 remember well the day on which h
ite died Our hearts were heavy. 70
to we could not think of giving up one s
of kind who gave US toys at Christina
sro and kind words and pleasant look
at when we saw him. His kindness mad
ire me want to graduate from Fessende
and then from a great university NJ
he Idesires have beene partly realized, bu
he next fall if God spares my life L sha
Id begin a college course and shall no
res give up till I have finished. So yo
ice see that the school does much lot u
est Not only have I learned to reaso
pre- some, and think some, but l am inspir
in ed to go on and on. Whatever 1 am
the owe to Fessenden Academy. 1t has in
,er tellectually set me free. I can rea
and understand and find my pat
arv growing brighter each day. because
rro was trained in such a school. Hun
Iry dreds nave oeen helpeo as l.
de, thank slncereIy ali agencies 'hat Cd
ca ry out the plans oh tue great ah
ant grand Mr.. Fessenden.
of
h. Bob: Nv wife is the dearest gil