Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-08-25

day than any other boy in college"
Rather a remarkable statement for college
president to make concerning a college student,
yet hardly more remarkable than the institution
which the student is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. col
lege at Carnville, Ill.
Blackburn, matter of fact, occupies posi-
ton unique among institutions of learning in this
country No other college. perhaps, is conducted %
along exactly the same lines Its aim is to train
young men to be not only scientific. but practical
farmers, intoxicating in them at the same time
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 1t is
conducted upon plan of self-hep, whereby young
men and women of the most limited means are af-
forded an opportunity to avail themselves of a
standard college education.
The plan has been tried only year, but during
this period it 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 placed at 500. and three hours work per
day at some sort of manual labor. This pays for
furnished room with steam heat and electric
light, board and tuition.
The first thing Is likely to say on hearing
this is, Its too cheap; 1t can't be DONE" That
was exactly what the college trustees said when,
after calling DIR. William nj. Hudson to the presi-
dency, they listened to his revolutionary scheme
for rejuvenating Blackburn.
But Doctor Hudson had some convincing figures
out of his past experience. He was optimistic and
persistent. So finally the trustees agreed they
might well try 1t for year. ut may blow us
up" they said. but better that than rotting down.
At any rate an explosion will attract more atten-
ton" -
1t was nearing the noon hour when l reached
the little group of college buildings nesting in
of Rpa old L Onf
of Carlinville 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 goodly 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, a dozen
of them, in school dresses covered with long
white aprons, busily engaged in preparing menu
which had been written on blackboard In the
kitchen-a kitchen, by the way, as immaculate as
the most exactng housewife could desire.
This combination of earning and learning is one
of the unique features of Doctor HudsOns 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 a certain amount Of help from
some of the young men students. That they also
do it scientifically and well was attested by the
meal that followed little later. This meal con-
sisted of cream of tomato soup, roast Deer. Daked
potatoes creamed celery, bread and butter. tapi-
oca and cake, and there was an abundance of each.
l made bold to ask If dinners like that were
served every day.
Certainly" replied Doctor Hudson. ITS not
visitors menu by any means. We didn't know you
were coming and If we had We would have gone
along just the same"
"And the cost?" inquired
For answer Doctor Hudson beckoned to Miss
Sparks the capable head of the domestic science
department. who not only teaches the subject, but
| plans the various meals and figures down the cost
to quarter of cent not even 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 the materials" said
| Miss Sparks. "was fraction under eight cents"
By way of making the lesson more impressive. she
added that the only other expense. since the stu
dents do all the cooking and serving. was for the
! fuel consumed in the range an amount so small
that it could hardly be figured out as so much per