The Twin City star., 1916-07-29
HAMPTON TRACE
SCHOOL RESULTS
Great Work Of Student: In
the Painting Section.
OPEN FIELD FOR BUSINESS.
Some Lessons In tho Use Of Paint 40 .
Direct Contribution to Social Service
In the Promotion Of HeaIth-Barriers
to the Trade Are Being Successfully
Removed.
BY w. ANTHONY AERY.

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BY w. ANTHONY AERY.
Hampton, Va.-There are literally
thousands upon thousands of dwellings
and outbuildings throughout the land
which are rotting for the lack of paint
Men and women have not yet fully
realized that when paint is thoroughly.
skillfully and tastefully applied to their
buildings they have made a real contri-
button to the economic and social vel
fare Of their community. Not only in
the south and west, but indeed through.
out the country, people need to realize
that the broom commonly used for
whitewashing and the kit of paint
brushes, which costs very little money
are hopeful instruments in obtaining
real public health protection.
The Negro and Indian youth have
wonderful opportunity to take up paint
ing not only as a commercially profit
able occupation, but also as a medium
for genuine social service. Too man.
Negroes and Indians still have to learli
that painting is relatively healthful
occupation and one which offers to
steady, sober, skilled mechanics work
during the whole year at good wage.
The dread of lead poisoning, so gen
eral few years ago, is fading away
With the decrease in the use Of pow
dered pigments and the increase in at
tention to clean habits of working and
living there is no longer a valid objec
ton to painting as risky occupation
Men have also come to realize that the
use Of liquor has more to do with de-
creasing their efficiency and their earn.
ing power than the natural hazards of
such trade as painting.
Painters, in short, like all other work
ers, regardless of any artificial class
distinction, are becoming as a group
more sober, more efficient and more re-
liable. Hampton institute offers four
year course in painting. 1t aims to
turn out practical painters who have
background Of useful knowledge and o
vision Of what good mechanic can do
as community leader.
Here Is q partial list of the work
done by the Hampton institute trade
school painters during a typical year
Twenty-eight buildings painted on the
outside, sixteen painted inside. thirteen
roofs, twenty-five porch floors and
eighty-six rooms painted; sevent,
floors waxed, vanished or painted:
ave gates and fences, nine boats and
launches, twenty screens. four fire sets
and 1873 signs painted; sixteen car
rtages, carts and wagons and thirteen
automobiles painted; forty eight trays
400 pieces Of furniture paint
I'd or vanished, twelve radiators
oronzed and fifty-three rooms papered
Were one skeptical of securing good
results from student tradesmen here
Is some first class evidence that Hamp-
'on Is attacking with system the prob.
em Of taking Negroes and Indians,
who are fresh from the country or the
,ity, and training them for useful citi-
,eDship. How are these excellent re.
'ults secured? The Hampton Trade
'chool work in painting includes three
main divisions-technica instruction.
arriage, wagon and automobile paint. |
ng, and house painting. The boys re-
'eive tasks Of graduated difficulty and |
It every turn combine theory with
,ractice.
In the technical training they are
aught the names and uses Of the tools
hat they use. They learn to match
olors. They study the quality of the
materials which they use. They are
hown clearly. for example. why lin.
eed oil is better than cottonseed oil
q painting. They receive practical
hop talks on the making of paints.
eads and other materials with which
he general painter must deal in bis
ally work
During the Saturday morning shop
alks the instructor tells the students
ONE Of the interesting facts about the
eople who produce the raw materials
used in the trade. The stu.
ents take notes and reproduce them
rally and in writing. When stu
ent, for example, knows that the
urning Of ship at sea, with its car
o Of 100000 cases of shellac from
ndia, causes a decided change in the
larket price Of shellac he is bound to
ave a greater interest in and sym.
athy for the people in q foreign land
'hO gather the raw material for use ip
,e United States