The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-16

IL was my privilege a week or more
ago 20 visit for the first time ferrun
Training school The immediate OBJ
iect Of my visit was to deliver the
comm sncement address to the GRADUATE
ing class. For some time I had been
Interested greatly ia the excellent
work that / had every right to believe
that Ferrum was doing. But had
not been there long before / was more
than interested, I was enthusiastic.
Ferfum Training school is on the
Norfolk and western railroad about
forty miles south of Roanoke. For a
tceuntafn school ~ has an ideal ioca-
flon. The school has purchased nearly
four hundred acres OF farm land, a
great deal Of which la today under
cultivation and which Is being worked
and proat 10 the school, and gradually
the open land on this farm Is being
brought to a higher degree Of prnduc-
tivity IT Viii be Of Increasing value
to the school and IN years TO come viii
prove to re a very fire endowment,
While there are a number Of buildings
on the place only two substantial
buildings have been erectsd-an ad-
mlntstrative building and dormitory
fer girls Both Of these buildings are
brick and reflect credit upon the work.
The school, however. 10 badly in need
Of boys dormitory Of the same type
as tho girls.
These buildings are well construct
ed and are being we'll equipped. DIR.
Reckham Informed me that they were
soon to have an electric plant TO sup
ply electricity for the school. Already
they have splendid and sufficient
water supply from a mountain spring,
and this Is guarded carefully Sc as to
prevent any possible infection. In ad-
dition TO this central training school,
there are at distances in the mountains
two other elementary schools as con-
trihuttng sources 20 Ferrur, and for
the instruction of those who need 1T
do not wish to dwell upon tho de-
tails Of the school. hut / wish to en-
rhastze several things with which I
was deeply impressed during my visit
there.
The first one OF these IL the excel
lent discipline which Is being main
talned at the school think ] have
never visited the riassroome and the
aorrnttortes OF ANY school whrre they
were kept In such splendid condition.
The usual marks and scars and
scratches evident In most schools and
classrooms, were absent from Ferrun.
There is really only one explanation
for the existence OF these unusual con-
dltions whore they would he least ex
nected. and that is the purpose and
personality OF DF. Fefhlafn. KS iplb
ms how he had banded soma kaattx
problems The gIst of all was, that in
all things through prayer he Is led to
SO live and SO direct and so teach that
the lower Yields 10 the higher in the
development Of character.
I noticed another thing and that Is
that the instruction Is thorough and
Christian. ] think 7 never attended
any commencement exercises at any
place where the graduating class pre-
scented a more ereditahle and inspiring
program. Not only we're the papers
and addresses well prepared in thought
and Tn dlctation. but the under current
of religious sentiment inspiring the
| life to duty and to service was espe-
cially noticeable. And as / looked
+ into the faces Of not only the gradual
ing class. but Of the boys and girls
! who sat before ma. feel certain
! that no school In Virginia handiina
! boys and girls of like ages, could boast
! Of more earnest and intelligent youths
I than these. I caught "A vision of this