The various departments designated by the name Talladega College, are so closely interwoven that any distinct mention of the workings of one must contain facts closely related to the others. For convenience I will speak of (1) the Literary Department; (2) the Industrial Department; (3) the Theological Department; (4) the Church Work.
The Literary Department.
This includes the various grades, from the elementary to the higher Normal course, the latter requiring three years for its completion. The studies pursued include in mathematics, University Algebra and Geometry; in science, Physical Geography, Physiology, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, English Literature, Mental and Moral Philosophy, etc., with the theory and practice of teaching. Its students have accomplished much in teaching throughout the State. In seven years, according to their reports to the principal, these students have taught about five hundred day-schools, with fifteen thousand scholars. At the same time they have organized Sabbath-schools, and taught in them over twenty thousand scholars. These numbers fairly represent the power these young people have exerted for the moral and intellectual elevation of their people in this and other States. There are in the department seventy pupils. Next year a large number will be admitted from the intermediate grade, which now numbers one hundred, though, in our present poverty, it has had but one teacher the greater part of the year.
There are in attendance this year two hundred and fifty students, a much larger number than ever before, and there is every indication of an increase the coming year. During the last vacation the principal and the music teacher, with a company of students, visited many of the larger places of the State, lecturing, giving concerts, and stirring up the people generally on the subject of education. The Christian zeal and deportment of the students, and the information diffused, awakened a desire for education, and a public sentiment in favor of Talladega College never before known. The last commencement exhibited and also increased the new love and enthusiasm for the college. They gathered from the country for twenty miles around, on foot, on mules, in ox-carts and wagons. All the examinations were largely attended; many who could not read taking the liveliest interest in “two unknown quantities,” and experiments in philosophy. An instructive address by Rev. Dr. Brown, of Newark, N. J., the prize declamations and essays by fourteen of the Normal students, the graduating exercises of three young men from the Theological Department, the concert by the Musical Union, and other interesting exercises, furnished the only means for comprehending a liberal education, which hundreds of the great crowds in attendance had ever enjoyed.
The students, also, are taking a personal pride in bringing back the best scholars from their summer schools. One young man, having failed to collect any funds from his summer school in Georgia, started with his most advanced pupil on foot, their satchels upon their backs. Walking, riding in chance carts, and helped on by railroad conductors, who were evidently influenced to surprising kindness by the spirit of the Master, they reached this place. Incited by the enthusiasm of this young man, three more have followed him from his distant field of labor. From Mississippi, another young man brought back two. They walked about one hundred miles, and are now paying their way in school by labor on the college farm.
Both have begun earnest Christian lives, and are soon to unite with the church.
All the young men of the college are organized into a battalion of cadets for physical culture. Their government is conducted by means of this organization, its officers being held responsible for the conduct of the members, and being expected to set an example of manliness and courteous deportment. We find this to be one of the most potent factors of their moral as well as physical development.
Industrial Department.
At the close of the last school year, the Industrial Department was decided upon. One of the professors, with the approval of the Association, immediately proceeded to lay the matter before friends in the North; and the teachers gathered from all sources whatever they could secure, with which to begin the work. About three thousand dollars have already been received, and work in the following branches begun:
A printing press was secured, with which to bring our wants before the people of the North, and our influence to bear upon the intelligent colored people. Six students have learned a useful trade, and by its means are paying their way in school. In August they began the publication of the Southern Sentinel, a small eight-page paper, of which five hundred copies are issued monthly. Should any one doubt its usefulness, a year’s subscription (one dollar) would be an excellent test. Six hundred copies of the Sabbath-school Lesson papers, prepared with reference to the peculiar needs of our Sabbath-schools, are also printed, together with a large quantity of other matter.