The Denver star., 1916-03-04
BY W. ANTHONY AHRY.

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
whftewashing 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 a
wonderful opportunity to take up paint
ing not only as commercially profit
able occupation. but also as medium
for genuine social service. Too many
Negroes and Indians still have to learn
that painting is relatively beautiful
occupation and one which offers to
steady, sober. skilled mechanics work
during the whole year at a good wage.
lie VI iedu 80 gen
eral few years ago. Is fading away.
With the decrease in the use OF pow
aered pigments and the increase in at
tention to clean habits of working and
living there Is no longer a valid objec
tion to painting as Il 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 a four
year course In painting 1t aims to
turn out practical painters who have a
background of useful knowledge and Il
vision Of what good mechanic can do
as community leader.
Here is u partial list of the work
done by the Hampton institut1b,txade
school painters during typical year:
Twenty-eight buildings painted on the
outside; sixteen painted inside thirteen
roofs, twenty-five porch floors and
eishty-six rooms painted: seventy
floors waxed. vanished or painted;
five gates and fences. nine boats and
launches, twenty screens, four fire sets
and 1873 signs painted: sixteen car
riages, carts and wagons and thirteen
automobiles painted: forty-eight trays
enameled. 400 pieces of furniture paint
ed or vanished, twelve radiators
bronzed and fifty three rooms papered.
Were one skeptical of securing good
results from student tradesmen here
is some first class evidence that Hamp-
tOn is attacking with system the prob
lem Of taking Negroes and Indians,
who are fresh from the country or the
city, and training them for useful citi-
zenship. How are these excellent re-
suits secured? The Hampton Trade
school work In painting includes three
main divisions-technical instruction.
carriage. wagon and automobile paint
Ing. and house painting. The hoys re
ceive tasks of graduated difficulty and
at every turn combine theory with
practice.
In the technical training they are
taught the names and uses of the tools
that they use. They learn to match
colors. They study the quality Of the
materials which they use. They are
shown clearly. for example why lin
seed oil Is better than cottonseed oil
in painting. They receive practical
shop talks on the making of paints.
leads and other materials with which
the general painter must deal in his
daily work.
During the Saturday morning shop
talks the Instructor tells the students
some Of the interesting facts about the
people who produce the raw materials
commonly used In the trade. The stu
dents take notes and reproduce them
orally and in writing. When a stu
dent. for example. knows that the
burning of ship at sea. with its car
go of 100000 cases OF sheIlac from
India. causes n decided change In the
market price of shellac he is bound to
have II greater interest in and sym
pathy for the people in a foreign land
who gather the raw material for nse In
the United States.