EMERSON INSTITUTE, MOBILE, ALA.
INDUSTRIAL WORK AT ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.
MR. H. M. SESSIONS.
Having been connected with this institution more than a year, we have learned from the boys in school from all parts of the South, as well as from our own observation in the State, of the limited scope of the agricultural products in this section. Most of the boys have been accustomed to farm work, and in answer to the question, “What kind of crops have you been used to raising?” they reply invariably, “corn and cotton.” It has been the custom of the planters here to use their means, men, teams and credit to raise cotton. While they are raising crops they run in debt for provisions, and at the end of the year frequently fail to realize enough from the crops to pay the bills. Some are learning the better way of raising a variety of crops for the family, and a few acres of cotton for a money crop. The great want of successful farming is fertilizers. The land is so impoverished that there is no use in trying to raise a crop without. With plenty of manure, we can secure as good crops as can be raised anywhere. Our tables were supplied last summer with a great variety of vegetables and our barns filled with fodder. Twelve acres only out of the sixty owned by the Institution have been under cultivation, our own table with 240 boarders making a market. The advantages of climate enable us to raise two or three crops a year on the same land. The soil is capable of producing any and every variety of crops that can be raised elsewhere in the United States.
Whatever possibilities may be attained in literary pursuits for generations to come, most of the manual labor at the South will be performed by the colored man. The great want at the present time is skilled laborers. The abundant resources are awaiting men as well as means for their development—men skilled in all the useful trades, educated in both muscle and brain, such as can plan as well as execute. There is a surplus of ignorant laborers South who cannot set themselves to work at anything but the most menial service. If the present generation can be instructed by skilled labor how to get a good living and earn money to educate their children, then the next generation can take a step higher. The opportunities offered the boys here to learn the useful arts will be enlarged. At the present time we are only developing the agricultural department in a small way for want of means. We are trying to utilize the labor of the boys for their advantage, as well as profit to the Institution. With a fair supply of mulberry trees, we propose to commence the culture of silk. This spring we have twenty-five boys competing for the premiums offered for the largest product of early garden vegetables grown on the square rod. The work is to be done during play hours and the crop harvested before the close of the term, the 15th of June. Monthly lectures on important farm topics are given to the students. We need an endowment of $30,000 for a school of agriculture, and the same amount for the mechanic arts.
AFRICA AT ATLANTA.
In a private letter Mrs. Chase writes about a young man from the west coast of Africa as follows: I must tell you about Philip. We had very interesting meetings last week. Thursday the topic was for the church. Philip who had not had courage to speak in meetings before this year, got up and said he was ashamed of having been so afraid of being laughed at by the boys; he expected in a few years to teach about Jesus in his own country—and it is your country, too. He then went on with his intense earnestness and broken English to tell of his home—how dear it was to him and how dear his people were—how sad it was that they did not know about Jesus, till I do not think there was a dry eye in the room. The meeting the next night was a larger one, as we have no study hours Friday night. We saw the effect of Philip’s thrilling words. More than one referred to them. A young woman who decided to be a missionary to Africa last year, said every word Philip spoke seemed meant for her. “To think that boy, who was a heathen such a little while ago, could justly say such things to us with our privileges, made me feel condemned. I want to preach the gospel to the heathen. I pray that I may be fitted for the blessed work. I don’t want money, I don’t want fame, but I do want such a spirit that it shall be my meat and drink to do my Father’s will.” Philip’s Bible, which he brought with him, is very fine print, and has no references. He wanted a new one, so as he had earned some money in summer, one of the teachers purchased him one. He is so pleased with it he takes it to bed with him. One day he asked his teacher if he could not buy some silk to cover it with. When she suggested covering it with paper, he did not like it at all. I am so glad he is with us, he is a great power.