1892

The plans of industrial work embrace training for both the young men and the young women of the school in the different lines which will be most useful to them. The young women assist in the housework and laundry, and are to receive instruction in cooking. They are organized for class work in sewing also, throughout all the grades of the school.

A two-story building has been erected, fitted up with sets of tools for bench work in carpentry, in which regular instruction is given to classes. The students worked on the erection of Porter Chapel, which has just been finished and dedicated. The second story of the industrial building is for printing, tin work and cobbling. The institution is in great need of additional appliances for industrial work, which will be developed in the most useful directions so far as the means at command will admit.

We present herewith three illustrations from Tillotson Institute, Austin, Texas. The first is a view of a sewing-class busily engaged, under the supervision of their teacher, in making plain garments. The second is taken from the dining-hall, in which, as in the kitchen, girls do nearly all the work. In the third we have the interior of the carpenter shop, with young men learning the use of wood-working tools.

Mr. Edwin J. Pond.—We learn with sorrow of the death of Mr. Pond. He held two responsible positions under the Association, first at Tillotson and later at Straight University. All who knew him esteemed him highly. He died of fever very suddenly at Washington, D. C.

The three things that attract the most attention at the close of our school year are Tillotson day, the entertainment the evening before commencement day, and the graduating exercises. They may not be the most important. To many of the pupils the written final examinations are the events around which are centered the greatest interest; and they are in reality the thing of the year. The intention is to have the grades stand for something, and no pupil is promoted unless the term-work and the examination show he has earned the promotion. It does not cause much annoyance to know that each year pupils go off to other schools where they claim they can be in a higher grade than here. They are not wanted here simply to fill out the catalogue. The oral examinations, Monday and Tuesday of commencement week, are little more than the every-day recitations, but are held in the chapel so that all interested may attend.

Tillotson day this year was May 28. The exercises took place in the chapel, and though not elaborate were very interesting. Rev. R. B. Garrett, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Austin, was the one chosen to deliver the address. The close attention given by the audience, composed mostly of pupils and instructors, was proof enough that the speaker had chosen a timely theme, and knew well how to present it. Nothing better than Mr. Garrett's statement of ''The Kind of Men and Women the World Needs" has been given at Tillotson for the past three years at least. Full of apt illustrations and striking similes, the address, on a common subject, never dropped down into the commonplace, nor did it stride along high above the comprehension of the listeners. The unanimous verdict is that all who heard it were favored and ought to have a nobler conception of life. Prof. Kealing, the Assistant Superintendent of City Schools in Austin and Principal of the Colored High School, made some very entertaining remarks. Rev. Stanley E. Lathrop added his word of cheer and courage to what had been said.

After the speaking a long-anticipated ceremony was performed by Mr. Jerry Hamilton, a colored citizen of Austin. It was the presentation to the institute of the portrait of the late Rev. George J. Tillotson. whose name the school bears. The gift was accepted in some brief remarks by the president. As the faithful work of a careful artist, and as a likeness of Mr. Tillotson, the painting leaves nothing to be desired. It is a most fitting adornment in its massive gilt frame to the chapel of Tillotson Institute.

Sunday morning the President preached the baccalaureate sermon, taking for his subject '' Triumph over Hindrances." with his text from Rev. iii: 12.

The chapel was crowded Tuesday evening to its utmost capacity to witness the rendering of a cantata, a dumb-bell drill, and the Demorest Gold Medal contest. The musical part was one of Gilbert and Sullivan's bright and catching pieces, "Trial by Jury." The dumb-bell drill came as a sort of interlude between the cantata and the medal contest. By many it was the most thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated part of the entertainment, and the appearance on the platform was certainly very pleasing. The class as it filed off the stage was greeted with the heartiest applause.

In the gold medal contest seven pupils, who have already won silver medals, took part. The speaking was uniformly good. Any one of six might have received the prize without dissent from the majority of the audience. The judges, who were Rev. Mack Henson, Presiding Elder of the Austin District, Prof. E. L. Blackshear, principal of the colored public schools in Austin, and Rev. Stanley E. Lathrop, found themselves embarrassed in the marking. But the medal could not be divided, and so was finally awarded to Miss Mamie J. Moore, whose recitation, " Noble Christian Womanhood," was most intelligently given.

Quite a large audience was attracted to the school Wednesday morning to listen to the graduating exercises. These, it must be confessed, were much like those of every other institution. The three graduates were from the elementary normal course, and are expecting to return to continue their studies another year. When remarks had been indulged in to a greater or less extent by visitors, and the benediction pronounced, one of the schoolrooms containing the industrial exhibit was thrown open, and for some time there was a continued murmur of admiration and surprise from those who thronged into it.

The year, of which Wednesday, June 1, was the closing day, has been in no way remarkable; the usual lights and shadows have been present. We have been grateful for the measure of health granted to both teachers and students. Not an instructor has been obliged to leave, and for the most part each has been able to fulfill the duties through the entire year. This is surely a confirmation of the wisdom in choosing this locality for the school.