The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-11
St. Paul Normal and Industrial
School Has Made Notable
Record.
FOUNDED BY REV. J.S.RUSSELL
FROM Small Beginning 1t Has
Grown Into Great
Institution.

Southern Virginia, accompanied by his
young VIE a bride OF few months.
came to Lawrcnceville az missionary
Tor Brunswick and Mecklenburg couu-
tles. His nrst work after building
church was 70 open parish school
IA the vestfy room OF the church. with
himself and his wife as teacners In
Two years the building was found 10 be-
inadequate. and a new one. mainly
given through the generosity OF Dr.
saul. Of Philadelphia. was erected. In
three years this building too had be-
come too small f0r some years Dr.
russell had seen the necessity OF a
school that would provide instruction
~ the English branches aud also give
vocational training for the large negro
population surrounding the school.
something Ike 10000. After much
prayer and thought. lie decided to take
this step. JULY. isss what il known
as the School nm was offered for
sale for $1,000. without dollar IN
hand or a cent pledged. ne negotiated
for It's purchase giving his own note
therefor In payment Three DAYS later
the frst contribution OF s. came. Con-
tracts for building were let. and sep
i"mber q. lSss. the Normal School
was opened In the saul Building with
three teachers and eight boarIers
Tvcnty-Four Years Pro.rrsr
That Was tw.nty-foGr years ago.
To-day tho school has 80 officers and
teachers. 426 students from twenty odd
state-. Porto Rico and even Tar on
Africa, 500 graduates. 5000 nndt rgrad-
yates. 20 industrial and school divisions.
large and small Buildings the splen-
aid new Memorial Chapel. all nehteo
by the electricity from the schools
own plant which also supplies the
town The principal buildings. like
Maurice and Webster Halls. are steam
heated Nearly all the buildings on
me grounds we're pat UP BY the stu
dents OF brick and lumber manufac-
tired in the schools own brick yard
end own planning mill oy stGden, work
men
Location and .Advnntnges
The location Of the school on one OF
the highest OF range Of commanding
hi!ls overlooking the town O. lawrence
vile, ENSURES good draining ard i'm
niLnity from fever OF oil sorts water
is used from deep wells, cemented all
around. and also an artesian well. The
purity OF the water has been attesteG
by analysis ~ the state Chemist. The
saiuoF!ous air the plain. but whole
some and well cooked food, the beau
tltul natural surroundings. the absence
"' concentrating Influences. and The
CHRISTIAN and moral influences thrown
around the young people make the
senool an ideal place for the develop
".e"' OF character and the cultivation
OF the intellect The school !s not 50
ir'se mat the personal contact between
we teacher and pupll. so much desired
is destroyed. on the other hand tb,.
personal element enters largely into
'He Ike Of the school. Manl!uess and
"omanHness are encoura ged at the
fShool- Inc discipline though nrm. Is
not harsh.
only such rules as are necessary for
the proper conduct and regulation Of No
Achool are made and these r,,iss 40
expected TO be obcycd without ouca-
non. Young men and women who arc
not willing 10 conform TO reasonabie
.u'es and regulations are not urged
school Life.
Religious. missionary. and literary
societies are maintained for both
souhg men and women. The Y VI. c.
~ T. w {. a, Woman's Auxiliary.
Daniel Webster and Phyllis WheatIey,
provide for both religious and Ifterar'.
activities The affairs ADD conduct or
'hese societies are under the careful
supervision OF the faculty. The younp
men nave separate quarters about a
quarter OF mile apart from the
young women and all Intercourse or
non is properly regulated by
the commandant and the matron. Bows
ana girls are put upon their honor and
those who show the disposition to
abuse this confidence are dropped
Parents desiring to put their children
under good Christian and moral in
huences should not hesitate to send
them here.
Courses of Study and Faculty.
The course has this year been re-
Il k,-.,
copied standards. The school Offers
Instruction in normal. AGRICULTURAL.
and trade courses y boy has the
choice OF sixteen trades. besides apri.
culture. music. and business. Eigh,
courses offered girls exclusive %;
music, bookkeeping. and business. The
agricultural courses provide practical
as well as scientific instruction IN
farming.
The academic department offer.
thorough instruction in the normal and
English branches. including cooking
plain sewing. music and drawing. Our
faculty is a strong one. selected with
special reference to our needs and their
adapta bility to our work. Some of the
best academic and normal and indus
trial schools in the country are repre-
scented in our faculty.
Local Conditions.
The school has the sympathy OF the
best white people in the place. There
are no clashes between the town peo-
PIE and our students. They are proud
OF the school and the school is proud
OF them. The community work of the
school in transforming social. moral
and material conditions in this county
meets with their enthusiastic approval
The editor 4 the local paper declares
that the ~ sent pre-eminent position
Of Brunswic. county with respect to
ownership q land personal and real
property valuation, leadership in self
help in public schools (havlng taxed
themselves in n single year Sl.31i.l0 in
addition to their regular school taxes
md having actually paid this amount
to lengthen school term and get
better school houses) the decreas-
Ing criminal expenses and prosecu-