The Denver star., 1913-07-12

Normal. Ala. - The thirty-eighth an.
nual commencement of the Agricultur.
al and Mechanical college lin this town.
of which Walter s. Buchanan is presi.
dent, has closed what is to all In
tents and purposes the record breaking
year in the history of that famous In.
stitution After four years of his ad-
ministratfon young Walter S. Buchsn-
an is able to present Normal to the
public in much of its same glory and
popularity 1t enjoyed in the best days
of its founder. the well known william
H. Councill.
Although this young educator found
the plant in much run down condi.
ton after the death of his distinguish.
ed predecessor he has been able to add
many facilities and Improvements. to
erect four buildings in four years and
to reestablish the Institution on much
of its former basis
Fifteen young people received diplo-
mas from the normal or academic de-
partment and eighteen from the. vari-
GUS trade divisions. All of the gradu-
ating exercises centered in a discus.
sion OF the rural school, each speaker
from the salutatorian to the valedic-
tOrian taking part In the symposium of
the subject
Increased interest in rural school edu.
cation for Negroes was heightened by
the fact that every subject was Illus
trated by actual demonstration. .Plans
For the Rural School, was the subject
of the salutatory presented by Joseph
w. Falls. who exhibited ii model school
house containing a cooking room,
sewing room and two cloak rooms
Three other graduates, William Fen
noy, James II. Herbert and James H
Hunter. demonstrated Building
Sfhoolhouse." '.Plastering School
house" and Painting Schoolhouse"
respectively. each doing the actual
work before the audience.
Sewing In the Rural Schools" was
undertaken by Rosalyn V. Harris.
while Elias j. Murdock took for his
subject THE School Farm as a Means
of Extending the School Term" Rosa
Belle Black. in demonstrating Cook
ing In the Rural School," prepared an
appetizing lunch for six at an itemized
cost Of 20 cents.
On account of the inability of Rev.
Richard Carroll to be present and de-
liver the annual address. Rev. DIR. II. s.
Gavin. pastor of the First Baptist
church (white) of Huntsville. spoke 70 |
the graduates and emphasized the i'm
portance of loyalty to self. to others 4
and to their religious creeds. NO mat
ter what your life's calling may be-"
said Dr Gavin ..maka IN ynur mind
that you are going TO grasp every op-
portunity that comes your way"
He commented upon the advantages
of the kind of education given In a
school like Normal, where young peo-
pie are not only educated. but trained.
and declared among other things: THE
plan OF the work proposed in this
school is ideal. 1t Is not possible 10
overestimate the value OF an institu-
tion like this
The nurse training department of the
school offers superior advantages to
young women. 1t has comfortable
quarters in the new Virginia McCor-
mick hospital. of which DIR. w. l..
Councill is surgeon in chief. DIR. VIII
lis 4. Storrs delivered the annual ad-
dress to the students OF this depart
ment. The annual musicale was splen-
did success. Mrs. Ida c. Buchanan
presided. Editor o. w. Adams OF the
Birmingha m Reporter delivered the ad-
dress to the preparatory department
Prizes in the speaking contest were
awarded to Dorsey E. Payne and Armo-
liza Whitfield.