New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-20
HAMPTON TELLS ITS STORY
Institute Issues Book Tracing
Progress of A Years.

The press OF the Hampton Normal and
Agricultural Institute, of Hampton, va,
has Issued an illustrated booklet, calieu
''Hampton's Story" 1t tells how, with
two teachers and fifteen students, General
Samuel Chapman Armstrong opened
Hampton Institute in 1868 and began his
work of retaining the destitute ana IL
norant negroes who had focked 10 VIZ
Rlnia before and after the proclamation
Of emancipation.
Ten years later Indians, who had beer
held os United states prisoners OF war at
ST. Augustine, Fla, were admitted. Dur
Ing the forty-fOur years Of its existence
the institute has not changed the policy
General Armstrong adopted for ii In the
beginning, which was stated an followsJ
To train selected youth, who
shall go out and teach and lead their
people Grst BY example. by getting lands
and homes: to give them not dollar that
they can earn tor themselves; 10 team
Tespect for iaGor 10 replace lace 70 s tSssa
ends TO build up an industrial system for
the sake not only OF self-suppOrt and In
tclllceut labor tut also for tho sake OF
. character.
To quote from the booklet. Hampton
has 50 far succeeded IN IT, aim as 10
demonstrate:
That different races can live together In
harmony and mutual helpfulness.
That an organization can be built up In
which the Indian and tho negro. as well
a. the white race. have an active part
That the Indian and negro races are
cal able Of producing good mechanics.
good farmers and high grade Of teach
ers and academic students. and % en-
Toying the best kind OF domestic life.
That Indian and negro youth can be 30
trained as To develop strong character and
purity OF lie.
That close relations may be sustained
between a school and the world Outside
10 the advantage OF both.
That single institution may be OF
value in the educational work OF the
whole country and or the word.
The number OF students studying agr!-
culture At Hampton Is 3oJ. Particular at
tertion 80 given TO business methods. On
the farm not only IS the yield an acre
considered, but also the cost OF produc-
ton. Very careful records are kept In
order that the cost may be determined.
Each student nils out a blank. stating
what work ne has done during the day,
how many hours he spent on It. the num-
Der OF the field IN which he worked and
the number and names OF horses used.
In addition TO the regular courses IN
agriculture there is a SIX weeks course
intended for farmers who cannot spare
moro time for such study. Hampton also
sends out agricultural missionaries 10
uDlift rural communities.
Thirteen trades are taught in tho trade
school. and much actual practice IS given
the students.
The booklet says:
An earnest endeavor has always been
made by Hampton Institute 10 bring the
school into vital relations with the com
munity. with the South and with the
whole country. a large number or stu
dents and teachers are engaged IN neisn-
borhood improvement work ana varlous
clubs have been organized, resulting IN
better housing and greater cleanliness.
In cooperation with the Negro Rural
School Fund Board. eighteen counties IN
Virginia have been taken up by the school
for the purpose OF studying their condi-
lions and fitting tho teachers In the no
gro schools TO meet the needs OF those
particular communities. The chlldreh
have been taught to sew. TO plant gar
dens to grow foodstuffs, 10 make benches.
mattresses, beds and chairs, and to Keep
themselves and their homes clean. super
Nislng teachers have been sent out from
Hampton and other institutions into these
eighteen counties, who have done much 20
improve the instruction In the negro
schools Not only have these supervising
teachers Influenced the schools, but they
have aided the children TO apply In their
homes the lessons In cooking. sewing and
hygiene which they have learned IN
school These supervisors. moreover, nav"
cO-operated with the farm demonstrator'
sent out ty the Department OF hgricult-
IRE In washington. and have been IN
structed by government experts IN gar
den work and In proper methods OF pant
iocaiitIes Corn clubs have been started
among the negro boys and canning clubs
Ia, srtr