Fisk University has opened this year with unusual prosperity. There are at this early date in the year 285 pupils in the entire school. There are in Jubilee Hall 121 boarders, which is within 30 as many as have ever boarded in the hall. Judging from applications which have been made, there will be by the middle of January next 75 more. Last night, at the faculty meeting, the question was earnestly discussed, “What shall we do with those who apply, when the hall is full?” as it is likely to be within a very few weeks. It is felt by all of the faculty that if the crops had not been cut short by the drought we should have had a rush of students altogether unprecedented in the history of the University.
It is felt by those who have known the students for a number of years that those of this year are a superior class. The quality of the students improves with every year, showing that others are at work elsewhere. We have received already this year several students of advanced grade, who have come prepared to enter the college classes. At this time we are negotiating with one who desires to enter the senior college class and graduate next commencement. We expect him in a few days.
The past years of schooling are beginning to tell upon the higher training of the colored youth, and those who come to Fisk for the first time take much higher grades than new students were wont to do a few years ago. Most of the old students have been engaged in teaching during the summer vacation. It is estimated that of 85 in the collegiate department, 60 or 65 taught school during the summer. Wherever these teachers go, they secure a good name for industry, conscientiousness, ability and energy. We are constantly getting good words from white people, directors, superintendents and private citizens in regard to the faithfulness and acceptance with which our students discharge their duties. Almost all those who teach are Christians and engage in Christian work, as a matter of course, when they begin their day schools. As a general thing, they enter at once into the Sabbath-school if there is one, and start one if there is not, and generally get the entire neighborhood enlisted.
There are two interesting features in relation to the students, the like of which we have never had before. During the past few years the trustees of the Peabody fund have sustained a Normal school for white pupils. The effort has been made to secure an appropriation from the State for this school in the years that are past. At the last session of the Legislature an appropriation of $10,000 was made for Normal schools, $2,500 for the colored children of the State, that being their relative share. The Board of Education for the State, to whom the disbursement of this fund was left, decided that the fund for the colored students should be divided among 50 pupils, and that they should have the privilege of choosing between five schools to which they should go. Each pupil would thus be entitled to $50, and each school would receive on an average 10 students. Up to the present time Fisk has received 18 out of the 50, and it is well known that many of the Senators who had the power of appointment had not taken action. We have no doubt that others will come as the year passes by.
The other feature is this. Several colored men were elected to the last Legislature, and as members had the right to appoint cadets to the East Tennessee University, of course they all appointed colored cadets. Some other republican members also appointed colored cadets. This threw the trustees of the East Tennessee University into great perplexity. It is against the law of the State to educate white and colored pupils in the same institution: it is also very much against the traditional prejudices not only of the trustees of the University, but also of the people of the State. The trustees met, and after a thorough discussion determined to make arrangements with Fisk University if possible, to take their colored cadets at $30 apiece. Fisk University was not averse to the arrangement, and so the question was settled. We have now in the University seven cadets, students of the East Tennessee University.
It is accepted by all here as an important truth, that the longer we can keep a student the better it will be for him and the institution and the work. The students in the collegiate department give tone to the whole institution. Every department is lifted to a higher standard by the high standard of the college department. As the college graduates go out into the world, they have, without an exception, taken advanced positions as teachers or other professional men.
Livingstone Hall is now having its roof put on, and all are watching its progress with the greatest interest, as promising a time when the facilities of the institution will be almost doubled. What we shall next need will be an ample endowment. Who will provide this for us?