Splendid Benefactions.
Mr. Rossiter Johnson has recently compiled a list of bequests to benevolent objects during the last year in the United States. This is a remarkable showing. The grand total is nearly sixty-three million dollars. The year previous it reached the good sum of thirty-eight million, and in 1897, forty-five million. In three years, therefore, over one hundred and forty million dollars have been bestowed by generous men and women for charitable and educational objects. There never has been a time in the history of the world when generosity and riches were so often held in possession of the same person as to-day.
Important.
Mr. R. H. Learell, of the Class of 1901, at Harvard University, was awarded the first prize in the Harvard Bowdoin Series. His subject was "The Race Problems in the South."
An interesting and valuable lecture was delivered before the students of Western Reserve University, Ohio, by Prof. O. H. Tower, Ph.D. His subject was "The Food of the Alabama Negro and its Relation to His Mental and Moral Development."
A Useful Record.
LeMoyne Normal Institute, at Memphis, Tenn., has just completed the twenty-ninth year of its history. It was founded by the American Missionary Association in October, 1871. The work of the school has grown into large proportions. The enrollment of students for the year has numbered 725 in all grades. More than 200 of these have studied in the normal department. They are thus fitting themselves for teaching among their people in the public and private schools of the state.
The graduating class of 1900 consisted of twenty. Dr. LeMoyne, of Washington, Pa., after whom the institute is named, gave the ground and the buildings and the original outlay. The American Missionary Association has maintained the work during these twenty-nine years. The Alumni Association of the institute has contributed generously in proportion to their means to the work at the school. The Alumni have been much interested in the development of the industrial department, and have contributed for that purpose. Woodworking, cooking and nursing classes will be conducted in the school next year, offering still larger opportunities for the training of these young people for a larger and more useful life-work.