The discipline is mild, but resolute and excellent. We could detect, after seven years’ operation, not a stain upon the spotless floors, and no pencil defacement or knife-marks upon walls or furniture, while, on the contrary, everything was in print throughout the building.
There are now in attendance upon the Atlanta University 244 students in its various classes and departments, as follows: Regular College Students—Seniors 4, Juniors 10, Sophomores 3, Freshmen 7; total 24. In the Scientific School there are 6 students; in the Preparatory Department, 37. In the High Normal School, 72. In the Normal School proper, 104, and one post-graduate student. These sum up 244 pupils, as above stated.
Thirty-seven Alumni have gone forth from the University, thirty of whom are engaged in teaching, four are ministers or pastors of churches, two are mothers of young families, and one has deceased. It is a noteworthy fact, also, that every graduate is a professor of religion.
The resources of the University are derived from the annual appropriation of $8,000 made by the State, the donations of the American Missionary Association, amounting in the past year to $1,615.28, and one permanent scholarship of $300. Board per month, including tuition, room, fuel, lights and washing, is only twelve dollars, hardly sufficient to cover bare expenses, and certainly not affording one cent of revenue.
The students are required to sign a pledge to abstain from the use of liquor and tobacco; they enjoy the advantages of an excellent miscellaneous library, which contains some illustrated volumes and standard works very rare, and of great value. It was for the most part the gift of the late R. R. Graves, Esq., of New York, and contains 5,000 volumes.
On Tuesday, His Excellency, General A. H. Colquitt, was pleased to spend the morning in attendance upon the examinations of the University, and expressed himself highly gratified with the progress made by the pupils. At the close of the day’s exercises, President Ware invited him to address the assembled school. The Governor responded, in one of his emphatic, eloquent, sensible and touching talks, which was listened to with breathless attention, and repeatedly elicited unbounded applause. His advice to the pupils was paternal and faithful, while as a Christian he did not fail to point out to them the value and supreme necessity of the salvation of their immortal souls. It was an address that reflected more credit upon our worthy and popular chief magistrate than the grandest oration pronounced before the most august assemblage in the land. After he had concluded, several members of the Board of Visitors were invited to make remarks. Among those who responded were Judge W. D. Harden and Rev. T. G. Pond.
The exercises of the University of Atlanta closed June 27th with the usual commencement programme, and the delivery of diplomas and certificates to fifteen graduates.
The Lloyd Street Church was probably as closely jammed and artistically packed as ever were the contents of a sardine box. There were no vacant spaces, no possible squeezing in of another auditor, no interstice, window or aisle opening that did not have two occupants where one only could be comfortably accommodated. As a rule, too, the colored assemblage was well dressed and orderly, barring the occasional plaintive wails and impassioned screams of sundry pickaninnies who their mothers would insist should have a place in the picture.
The writer, unavoidably detained by other duties, did not arrive upon the scene until the exercises were considerably advanced. Then came the tug of war to reach his associates on the stage. He charged two or three times, but was ignominiously repulsed and hurled back, like chaff before the wind. But the bonhommie of those simple people was excellent, and tumbled and panting for breath, your correspondent at length reached the rostrum, and obtained a comfortable seat hard by.
It is sufficient to say that those it was our privilege to hear acquitted themselves with credit, and their enunciation and training as elocutionists evinced much care and skill on the part of the teachers of belles lettres in the University.