The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-07-15

day than any other boy in college
Rather IA remarkable statement for a college
president TO make concerning college student
yet hardly more rcmarkabl" than the institution
which the student is attcnding-Blac coll
Iegc ar Carlinvillc. III.
Blackburn, matter of fact occupies posi-
ton unique among institutions of learning IN TINS
country. No other college perhaps is conducted
along exactly the same lines. Its aim Is To tram
young men to be not only scientific. but practical
farmers, intoxicating in them at the same time IA
love of the soil, and to make of girls and young
women practical housewives, who will be able to
cook and sew, and to take care of home. Also,
and this is where the unique feature comes in, it is
conducted upon plan of sclfhelp. whereby young
men and women of the most limited means are af-
fOrded opportunity to avail themselves OF
standard college education.
The plan has been tried only year, hut during
this period 1t has proved successful, literally
knocking the high cost of living all to pieces. that
the great problem next fall will be what to do with
the students
The charges for the year at blackburn have
been placei at 500, and three hours work per
day ut some sort of manual labor. This pays for
Il furnished room with steam heat and electric
light, board and tuition.
The first thing one is likely to say on hearing
this is, ITS too cheap; ii can't be done" That
was exactly what the college trustees said when,
after calling Dir. William NJ Hudson to the prrSi-
dency. they listened To his revolutionary scheme
for reuvenating blackburn.
But Doctor Hudson had some convincing figures
out Of his past experience He was optimistic ana
persistent. So finally the trustees agreed they
might as well try it for year. ut may blow Us
up" they said but better that than rottinG down.
At any rate explosion will attract more htteh-
ton
Ii was nearing the noon hour when reached
the little group of college buildings nesting in a
grove of fine old elm and oak trees the outskirts
of Carlinvillc. and the president suggested that
would better go down and see the girls getting
dinner.
Here was something new. In the present age.
when the average college girl spends goodIy por-
ton of her time in social amenities and athletics.
the idea of students preparing their own meals
was decidedly novel. Yet there they were, dozen
of them In school dresses covered with long
white aprons. busily engaged in preparing Il menu
which had been written blackboard in the
ktchen-a Kitchen. by the way. rs immaculate a.
the most exacting housewife could desire.
This combination of earning and learning is one
of the unique features of Doctor IudSnn'S plan
The young women get the theory of domestic
science in the classroom and then put 1t into prac
tice in the kitchen. They do all the cooking, with
the exception of Il certain amount of help from
some of the young men students. That they also
do il scientifically and well atteSt"d 10y the
meal that followed Il little later. This meal con-
sisted Of cream of tomato soup. roast beef baked
potatoes. creamed celery, bread and butter, tapi'
oca and cake and there abundance of each.
| made bold to ask if dinners like that were
served every day.
Certainly" replied Doctor Hudson. ITS not Il
visitors menu by any means. We didn't know you
were coming and If We had would have gone
along just the same
And the cost" ! inquired.
For answer Doctor Hudson bcckoncd to Miss
Sparks the capable head Of the domestic science
department. who not only teaches IN" subject, but
plans the various meals aud figures down the cost
to quarter Of cent, not emitting such small
things as the -four in the gravy and the salt In the
potatoes. and repeated my query.
The cost per capita for o." Materials" said
Miss Sparks, "was q Fraction under eight cents.
BY way Of making the lesson NOR" impressive. sh"
added that the only other expense. sine" the stu
dents do all the coobln, aat s"rsIHr. was for "a"
fuel consumed IN The rnu-r aD rruprIut SO ,rnulI
that it cou! hardly b" figured ".' rs so wurn per