A SANITARY VIEW OF INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
From the time when it was made manifest that man by the sweat of his brow must provide his bread, there has been occasion for industrial education. Its ameliorating consequences is a good reason for it. Indirectly, at least, it has the example of the Carpenter's Son for its authority; His mighty works were for the most part in relief of physical wants. An industrial education serving such ends has an unquestionable warrant.
In the August number of The American Missionary we gave statistics of mortality of colored people in several Southern cities. For the last week in May the number of deaths per 1,000 among the blacks in Atlanta was 49, in Charleston 39, and in Richmond 50; while the death rate among the whites in those cities was 19, 18 and 19, respectively—less than one-half. This showing was not on account of the negro's inaptitude for the climate; that is especially favorable for him. It was in consequence of his ignorance of hygienic laws on the one hand, and his inability or indisposition to observe them on the other.
On several occasions, a few years since, colored missionaries for Africa were submitted to a thorough medical examination, when it was found that among the females but few were sound in body. Different physicians informed us repeatedly that most negro women in this country were in like unhealthy condition, for which ignorance, poverty, neglect and wrong were chargeable. To avert such evils from the coming generation is a part of the work of this Association. The negro will never be at his best either for this country or Africa until his physical condition is improved.
Looking at an industrial education simply from this point, much will be found to emphasize its urgency. The colored people have been limited to a very meagre variety of food. Pork with corn-bread improperly prepared has been the chief staple of a majority of them. In our different boarding institutions and in our schools for cookery we teach that suitable food should be used and how it should be prepared. The blacks are apt students in this department; they have ability as cooks. The Southern country is capable of producing a large variety of crops, and we seek to encourage such agricultural industries as will be most helpful. At Berea a fruit-canning establishment has been put in operation. At Tougaloo, truck is raised for the Northern market. At Atlanta, experiments with a variety of crops have been abundant and successful, so that by these simple household and agricultural industries a good variety for invalids, young children and others is being furnished. We are rendering great service also by teaching our students to have care for the protection of their persons. They need good houses; we teach them carpentry. Their clothing has been limited and unsuitable. They are often ignorant of what is required for health, and when and how to wear their garments. We instruct them in their proper use, and how clothing should be made. Exposure to wet and cold, over-exertion and improper indulgences—these account largely for the diseases among the females to which we have referred. We aim to remedy these evils. Lady missionaries, lady physicians, ladies in charge of industrial schools, one and all are mindful for the health of those to whom they minister, and not a little of their work consists in urging the observance of sanitary laws; and we believe that however weighty other considerations for an industrial education are, none appeal more powerfully to the Christian heart than those mentioned, and that the death-rate to which we have alluded indicates that human pity, as well as Christianity, renders such work not only timely but imperative.
BENEFACTIONS.
Hon. S. A. Smith has given $50,000 to McGill University, Montreal, for separate higher instruction for women.
Dr. Taylor, late President, has presented to Wooster, O., University an additional gift of property, valued at $5,000.
E. A. Goodnow, of Worcester, has pledged the sum of $10,000 to the Huguenot Seminary of South Africa, on the same terms as his recent gift to Iowa College.