The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-08-08
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

have recently been over to Jackson
vile to see the Normal school and to talk
with DR.. Daugette.
1 found Jacksonville well worth a visit
To begin with, it's one of the oldest
towns in northeast Alabama, and has
furnished the state with some of its most
distinguished sons.
If you have never been to Jacksonville,
you have a treat in store. 1 do not see
how ? school could have a more beauti-
full setting than has the Normal for it is
situated on hill and has an elevation
of 80 feet above the sea-
AS l sat in Daugettes study and looked
out the windows, the beauty of what L
saw almost took my breath away. Flow
ers, growing gardens, and the most gor-
geous crepe myrtle l ever saw was in
full bloom. Ali these were nearby, while
in the distance the Blue Ridge mountains
were tapering down into rolling hills and
sheltered valleys, and yet one towering
peak was left lifting its head over 100
feet skyward
l walked through the grounds to the
foot of the hill where the great town
spring bursts forth with a flow of over
100000 gallons per day of sparkling,
cool water, one of the largest and purest
limestone springs in the state, making a
clear branch in which cattle were shaking
their thirst as from time to time they
left the lush grass on its sides.
went all through the buildings.
Daugette is justly proud of the hand
some new woman's dormitory, and took
me through the kitchen, and the pan
tries, and showed me how they not only
made things in the garden, but how they
put them up.
1 happened to be there on a day when
an expert was giving a demonstration out
under the great oaks of the new way of
drying out and putting up vegetables. 1t
was all Dutch to me, but the demonstra-
tor was pretty and kept up a stream Of
pleasant talk, and SO l looked on for
quite bit There was all about me
sprinkling of townspeople. 1t made a
pretty tableau.
The state normal at Jacksonville differs
from the others in the larger per cent
of men who attend. | don't blame them
signs of the good feeling existing be-
tween them and the young women.
couldn't see bit of harm in their ming
ling. They sat together in classes and
at table in the dining hall. 1t all seemed
natural. 1t might not work at some
places, but Daugette has the situation
well in hand and has never had any
trouble.
! dare say, however, that the true rea-
son for the number of young men who
attend the Jacksonville Normal comes
from the fact that a great deal of atten-
ton is paid to athletics. / was glad to
getting ready to go out and be leaders of
men. Say what you please, but the man
who knows boys, and takes a part in
their sports, is the one who can best IN
fluence them. Even the great DIR. Ar
mold of Rugby never felt it below him
to have a part in the recreations of his
pupils.
Every man has hobby Daugette kept
talking to me about his faculty. This
seemed to be the thing uppermost in his
mind-to surround himself with capable
men and women, who not merely knew
books, but human nature. He has had
a great success at Jacksonville, and he
attributes it to the pains he has taken
to choose his co-workers.
| spent a night in Daugettes home.
Some years back he bought the famous
old Walker mansion, with it's magnificent
grove of oaks, and u acres of ground,
and modernized it, not in the sense Of
spelling it by putting in lot of gim-
cracky furniture, but in the way of bath
lOOlllo dllu dkIdA6 SiiCItS ~
was privilege to meet his charming
wife and daughters, and fine young sons,
but they will forgive me- 1 know, when
l say that it was my greatest joy to sit
and talk with the dear old mother of the
Daugette boys, for to me she was the
mistress of the manse, and the home
grounds were but the frame to hold her
lovely, motherly face
Daugette has spoken much and writ
ten well against the ciamor that awhile
back was raised looking to the consolida-
ton of the normal schools. If, you are
still worried over the problem. or, if you
have never even SO much as thought
about it. and care to know something Of
its merits or dement's, write and ask
him to send you a little pamphlet, Ala
bama's Normal School Problem 1t will
give you something to think about.
e3sxlba3 MlAau1R