SEWING CLASS, TILLOTSON COLLEGE.
Twenty years is a short time for estimating the harvest from such sowing as this. The beginning was small. The annals are meagre. Here have labored earnest and consecrated men and women from the best institutions of the North. The citizens of Austin have always been sympathetic and helpful. Several of the most prominent of them have served on the board of trustees. Many of them have contributed towards the equipment of the industrial departments of the school.
A small blacksmith shop on the place was a gift of the business men of Austin. The colored patrons of the school, in all sections of the state, have always been most cordial and enthusiastic in their commendation and confidence. It is little wonder that, with the passing of the years, the school has grown steadily in the estimation and affection of all classes. In the early days, the hall at commencement was occupied largely by white people. In these later years the audiences are composed largely of intelligent and appreciative colored people.
When one considers the scanty equipment of the school he can but be surprised that it has accomplished so much.
CLASS GROUP, TILLOTSON COLLEGE.
Endowment, aside from land and buildings, it has none. For income it has always depended upon grants by the American Missionary Association from its own funds and the Daniel Hand estate, the direct contributions of individuals, and payments by the students for board and tuition. The intention is to make the expenses for students as light as possible. After the first session the charges for tuition were fixed for the grammar department at $2.00 per month; for the normal department at $2.50 per month; for board and tuition together $12.00 per month. In 1887 the tuition for the grammar department was dropped to $1.00 per month. The other charges remained in force for ten years, when the tuition was made the same for all, $1.00 per month. To meet the necessities of the case we are forced to allow our students to work out at least half of these very moderate charges. Nearly all the manual labor about the institution is done by students. Thus, in a very practical way, they help themselves pecuniarily and acquire knowledge of housekeeping in its manifold lines.
To train the hand as well as the head the boys receive instruction in carpentry and industrial draughting, and the girls have regular lessons in needlework, dress-making and kindred subjects.
