The Monticellonian., 1916-07-13


CZll and can pillow more acres of land in
day than any other boy in college,
Rather a remarkable statement for college
president to make concerning a college student,
yet hardly remarkable than the institution
which the student is neutrality-suspicious. col
lege at Garlinyille Ill.
Blackburn. a matter of fact, occupies posi-
tion 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 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 In. ii is
conducted upon plan of sef-help, 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 but during
this period 1t has proved successful, literally
knocking the high 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 Mt 500, and three hours work per
day at some sort of manual labor. This pays for
a 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; 1t can't be DONE" That
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. explosion will attract more atten-
ton
1t was nearing the hour when | reached
the little group of college buildings nesting in
grove of fine old elm and oak trees the outskirts
of Carnville, and the president suggested that
we would better go down and see the girls getting
dinner
Here 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
decidedly novel. Yet there they We're, 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 az
the most eXactng housewife could desire.
This combination of earning and learning Is one
of the unique features of Doctor Hudson's plan.
The young get the theory of domestic
science in the classroom and then put II into prac
tce in the kitchen. They do all the cooking, with
the exception of certain amount of help from
some of the young men students That they also
do it scientifically and well attested by the
meal that followed 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 was abundance of each
l made bold to ask if dinners like that We're
served every day.
Certainly" replied Doctor Hudson It's not
visitors menu by any means. We didn't know you
We're coming. and if we had 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, bur
plans the various meals and figures down the cost
to a quarter of a cent, not emitting such small
things the flour in the gravy and the salt in the
potatoes, aud 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, for the
fuel consumed in the range, amount small
that it could hardly be figured out as so much per