Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-06-04

The name Manassas conjures up in
the minds of most people In this coun-
try the great struggle between the
North and the South on the battlefield
OF Bull Run fifty years ago. in that
brother-against-bro strife for the
freedom for the Negro. 1t seems,
therefore. peculiarly fitting that on
this battlefield which witnessed such
havoc and biSodshed for the enamel
patton OF these people. there should
spring up school where they might
learn the value and usefulness OF the
liberty won for them at SO great
cost. Such q school--a school OF ev-
eryGay commoH-senss training with In
dustrial work supplemented BY practi-
cal academic studies-came into exist
enee there twenty years ago. under
the guiding hand Of colored woman.
Jennie Dean.
The founding of the Manassas In
dustrial School for Coiored Youth Is
really the llfe-story OF Jennie Dean.
Her parents were slaves, but OF the
most intelligent class of Negroes. her
father having been taught to read and
write early in life. He was ambitious
after the war, to own hts farm. but
died before he had finished paying for
IT, Jennie Dean. then a young girl.
left home and went into service In
Washington, her wages going to pay
the balance on the farm, as we'll as
TO pay her younger sisters tuition at
college.
Jennie Deans life In Washington
brought TO her full realization OF the
danger her people run in migrating
TO the cities. and she made up her
mind 10 try TO do something to keep
them at home. Her first work toward
this was the starting OF a Sunday
school one summer while on Walt
home. which later developed, through
her efforts. into the founding OF
church In Manassas. During the time
that she was conducting these sun
day school classes and working for the
church, Jennie Dean was also hold
ing Saturday afternoon classes in
cooking and sewing. and through this
work she realized the possibilities
which might develop out OF training OF
this sort for young eolored people.
She spent twelve years In this mis-.
sion work before she determined to
devote herself to the Industrial edu.
cation Of the Negroes OF northern Yir-
ginia and 70 found school for that
purpose. She knew the danger that
lurked in the cities for these young
people. but she also realized the dis.
couragtng situation which confronted
them II they remained at home. She
was mindful OF the skilled labor OF
slavery days. and bemoaned the fact
that nothing had come 10 replace that
industrial side. BY this time. Jennie
Deaa's influence had become very
strong In the community. so that they
were all ready 10 help her when she
called the people together and said:
Keep your children al home. Don't
send them 10 the cities. You must
buy your land. become taxpayers.
Make all you can and save all you
can. Meanwhile. ] win go out and
raise the money to build a school
where your children may be educated
TO trades. You do your part here.
and ! viii do mine In the world"
While Negroes have progressed. pow
erty still shows It's handicap. The
death rate of Negroes In thirty-three
northern cities. each having Negro
population OF at least $500 In 1910.
was 25.1 per thousand This was a
decrease OF per thousand In de-
cade. but IL was still very high In
comparison with the white death rate
OF 1871 per thousand. incidentally a