The colored people are born natural musicians; but the time, harmony and smooth rendering of the “part-songs” last night gave indubitable evidence of thorough culture and faithful practice. The declamation by the young scholars displayed good powers of memory and hard study. Their enunciation was distinct and perfect. The selections were excellent. With the single exception of an interruption by a few disagreeable, unmannerly boys, who evidently had as little respect for themselves as for propriety, the affair went off without a break. Quite a number of white persons were present. Just before closing the exercises, Mr. Morse made a short and pertinent address, stating the numerous difficulties under which he had labored, but offering “the fruits of his labors” as the test of his fidelity and capacity for filling the position he proudly claimed, of “teacher.” The Honorable President of the Board of Education and Mr. Kenrick, the county-school commissioner, were called upon for speeches, and expressed their hearty gratification at the degree of proficiency and the evidence of faithful study on the part of the school, and their satisfaction at the marked improvement in order, manner, and the advance in education, as clearly shown by their present exhibition.
We have to congratulate ourselves upon possessing a most quiet, respectable and law-abiding colored element. Their comfortable homes, with well-stocked gardens; their numerous churches, some quite pretentious in architecture, and, above all, their large and substantial free school, give proof that there is no question of their enjoyment of all “the rights, titles and emoluments” of a “free and independent citizen” in Brunswick.
ALABAMA.
Wanted—a Barn.
REV. E. P. LORD, TALLADEGA COLLEGE.
Meeting a lady recently who has long been interested in our work, she remarked: “Talladega does not seem to have so many wants as most new institutions—at least, we do not hear so much of them.” Imagine my surprise, when I had feared that the Association and all of our friends were wearied by our continual importunities.
What a list we have of not merely wants, but actual and pressing necessities, for which some of us pray as continually and earnestly as for daily bread. A dormitory, for the physical and moral good of the young men, now crowded six and more in a room, in a building intended and much needed for other purposes; a library, as necessary in a college as steam in a factory; money, without which none of the means of elevating a race or individuals can be made effective.
But I want now especially to urge one vital necessity, even to the continuance of one of our most important means of helping this people. Last year good friends in the North gave us $3,566.52, and some of the instructors advanced $2,000. With this amount property valued now at about $5,000 has been purchased, and an Industrial Department, including farming, carpentering, printing, and house-work of all kinds, has been carried on one year. By this outlay sixty scholars have earned a large sum in payment of their school expenses. They have also learned to do these various kinds of work in a systematic and intelligent manner. But in the growth of character the good has been greatest. The young people have acquired earnestness, self-dependence and enterprise. During the vacation they are disseminating this practical knowledge and their spirit through the whole State. The Southern Educational Society, composed of some of the foremost educators of the South, recently pronounced “industrial education the hope of the South.” It is certainly more necessary and more promising among the colored people than among the whites. Already we can see the benefits of the department in the improving material condition of the people in the country about, in better and larger crops, cultivated more skilfully with better implements, etc.
The Agricultural Department is one of the most useful, and it is, also, one of the most remunerative parts of our work. At present we are obliged to go three-fourths of a mile by the road to reach the farm; $1,000 would buy a piece of land connecting the farm directly with the college buildings. This would save annually a large percentage of the cost in time required to reach the farm, to say nothing of the use of the land. Who will make this very essential addition to “Winsted Farm”?