cfhe institute monthly

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Cfhe INSTITUTEMONTHLY

West Virginia State C 'I,L ld~g~. .. IBRARY "

J1-~d2) ~v.~, k~

APRIL 1920Published By The

West Virginia Collegiate InstituteInstitute, West Va..

,

~ The Institute MonthlyVol. 12 No.6

Entered as second-class matter. January 29, 1914, at the post-office at Institute, West Vir-ginia, under the act of March 3, 1879.

APRIL 1920

EDITORIALS

"Sweet are the uses of adversity,Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,Wears yet a precious jewel in its head;And this our life, exempt from public haunt,Finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks,

Sermons in stones and good in everything."-Shakespear's As you like if.

Spauling's official Base BallBook is not or ordinarily a sourcebook for moral intellectual preach-ments; yet to the thoughtful star-tling truths are enmeshed in thephotogravure data et cetera thatmake up its pages.

The only part of the above quo-tation from the Bard of Avon thatwe desire to emphasize as applica-ble to the conclusions we are try-ing to draw, is a thot in the lastline-"Good in everything."

In the manual referred to, avery excellent cut of the ChampionBase Ball Squad of the West Vir-ginia Collegiate Institute. Thesquad consisted of only ten men,

and the reminiscences that thefaces of these men revive, disclosea very powerful argument, in fact,an indisputable argument in de-fense of the necessity of an educa-tion to properly equip one for life.

All but three of this squad com-pleted courses, and graduated fromthis Institution. Four graduatedfrom higher Institutions of learn-ing, and one attended a greaterschool for a while. A word as tothe present status of these may beinteresting in view of the claim weare making.

Three are principals of threeWest Virginia's leading Schools;one is a professor in a first grade

.1

2 THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY

West Virginia High School; one isa practicing pharmacist; two arehigh grade journey-man workmenin skilled trades; and tho three whodid not complete their courses, twoare itinerant drifters in the ranksof labor, and one is a ward of thestate in its penal institution.Seven are dynamicfactors in moral,social and educational uplift; sevenare using their talents to helphumanity; seven are giving morethan they are receiving.

To those young men and womenwho contemplate becoming work-ers in various vocations, it oughtto be evident that a good educationincreases the capacity for efficen-cy in commonest vocations,and de-mands greater remuneration. Itputs its possessor not only in closertouch with his neighbor, but re-veals a source of sympathies andmeans of cooperation that is lostto the less fortunate.

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In this issue of The Monthly,we desire to arouse anew, amongthe graduates and quo n damstudents of the School, a responseto the several home coming callsthat your Alma Mater has sentabroad. Let this reminder serveto decide your coming, if you havebeen in doubt, or to keep yourdeicsion to come before you.

Some of you, who have hadtheir children return here, anddrink from the self same fountainof knowledge as their parents did,

have not visited your school sinceyou graduated.

That your interest is not dead isevidenced by the fact that youdeem it a place worthy to moldthe life and character of yourchildren. Let us entreat you tobe one of the number to be wel-comed to the scenes, of your earlylife; to revisit familiar places, tomeet the friends of long ago; toshow the world that you believe inin YOUR SCHOOL.

Your School needs the moraleinfused by a big bunch of loyalrooters, you will feel the content-ment and pride of the ideal opti-mist in your School, if you butrealize what a wonderful influencefor greater accomplishments yourpresence and cheery words carry.Come!!

MC-DOWELL COUNTYSECURES HOME SERVICE

WORK EXTENSION

The executive committee of Me-Dowell Chapter, American RedCross met, the first Wednesday inMarch. The attendance was large.It was decided to extend the HomeService Work to include civilianrelief. Community nurses forwhite and colored were agreedupon, and it was agreed to securea Colored Nurse at once. A sec-retary will also be employed, andthe headquarters of both will be atWelch.

3THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY

THE PRINCIPALS'CONFERENCE

Held In Garnett High SchoolApril 2 and 3, 1920.

The second Convocation of theNegro Principal's Conference inGarnett High, April second, andthird was perhaps the most signi-fiicant educational assembly ofNegro men that have ever cometogether in West Virginia. Outof the twenty-nine largest high,junior high and graded schoolsamong the Negroes of the state,twenty principals or their proxies,representing fifteen of the biggestand best schools, were present.

The results arising from thismeeting judging from the abilityof the men, and the quality of thesubjects discussed, will probablybe of more for reaching influencetowards hastening the day of astate wide system of standardizedNegro schools, than any singlemovement that has heretoforebeen started.

The principals, with rare ex-ception, were men of culture andexperience and held Masters andBachelors Degrees from the lead-ing Universities and Colleges ofthe land.

The chief subject for discussion:"measurements and Tests andtheir specific applications" was.intelligently discussed by thepersons assigned. Most of the

papers were of high merit.From this movement for its

personnel virtually touches everyNegro School of the Stale, will beevolved a sentiment that will con-trol the educational condition thatis most desired to make the publicschools, not only thoro and effici-ent but will make them functionproperly with the social, moral andeconomic life of a nation.

Professor J. W. Scott was chosento succeed himself as chairman,and Clarksburg was chosen as thenext place of meeting.

Space forbids a more minuteaccount.

NEGRO EDUCATORLECTURES IN FAIRMONT

Fairmont, W. Va., March 24,-President John W. Davis, of theWest Virginia Collegiate Institute,was the honored guest of theGreater Fairmont West VirginiaCollegiate Institute's Club, thenight of March 24.

This club, composed of Alumniand Alumnse of that School is butanother of the organizations thatare being formed thru out thestate by the graduates and formerstudents of the Collegiate Institute.

The large auditorium of the Mil-ler School was packed to listen toProfessor Davis, and seldom has aspeaker been accorded more wraptattention by any audience.

He took for his subject "The


Growing Child," and likened devel-oping America to a child in itsadolescent stage. He declared thatinjustice, prejudice, and the othercauses of turbulent unrest couldonly be worked out by a programof law and order, and called uponhis race to help America success-fully solve the problem that con-fronts it.

"The day is gone," he said,"when people must go to school,""and the era is at hand when theNew School must come to thepeople."

Thru this and other Clubs, thruthe teachers we are sending outon the field, we are bringing theWest Virginia Collegiate Instituteto the people with all the bestmeans of securing a higher educa-tion for service.

Principal W. O. Armstrong ofDunbar High School introducedthe speaker. Skinner's Orchestragave a musical program, and afterthe lecture refreshments wereserved by the Domestic Science de-partment of Dunbar High.

One friend of the School gave$15.00 as a prize for excellence ina vocational project; another gavea scholarship of $50.00 to help de-fray the expenses of some graduateof Dunbar High School, who mayattend the West Virginia CollegiateInstitute.-Contributed.

LOCALS AND PERSONALS

Miss Marion Hepworth of the

state University, and Professor W.W. Sanders, state Supervisor, wereofficial visitors March 31.

Both made chapel addresses ofan inspiring nature.

Easter was celebrated with im-pressive services. The sermon ofReverend C. H. Woody, of theCharleston Metropolitan BaptistChurch was applicable, and forci-bly delivered. The choir selec-tions were of more than usual de-serving for the day's needs.

Their rendition was a fitting aidto the program to lift, exalt, andattune the soul in harmony withthe day.

And at the conclusion of thesermon the choir marched fromthe chapel sweetly singing "0mother dear Jerusalem;" it tookno wide stretch of the imaginationto visualize a well trained choir ofsome large cathedral.

Quite a large number ofstudents attended the inter-schoolDeclamatory Contest in Charlestonthe night of April 2. The follow-ing schools were represented:Sumner High, Parkersburg;Lincoln High, Wheeling; GarnettHigh, Charleston; Douglass High,Huntington; Kelly Miller High,Clarksburg; Dunbar High, Fair-mount; and Simmons High Hinton.

Miss Ethel Dodd of SumnerHigh, rendering "The Progress ofMadness" won with a largemargin. Miss Thelma Gains ofLincoln High, and Miss LeomaHumbles of Garnett, respectively

THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY 5

Chicago, one of the race's leadingpianists.

LITERARY ACTIVITIES

The last days of the school yearof 1919--20 are so much fraughtwith matters of pressing Import-ance and class room interests to thestudents, that they have foundthemselves unable to devote timeand attention to the activities ofliterary societies. The Philoma-theon society met Saturday even-ing, March 27 and presented itslast program of the year. At thistime, Mr. Christopher Scott madean interesting and instructivetalk upon the subject, "the chall-enge to our school and college forthe development of ChristianLeadership". Following this dis-cussion, Miss Cora McDaniel ren-dered a vocal selection entitled"Sunshine of Your Smile."

The society proceeded then toelect officers for the next schoolyear. Failing in this effort, themeeting was adjourned with theunderstanding that a reorganiza-tion would be effected subsequentto the beginning of the next schoolterm.

SPECIAL CONFERENCE OFVOCATIONAL TEACHERS

AT THE CAPITOL

The vocational instructors ofagricult ure in southern West Vir-

received second and third men-tion.

This is the second consecutivewinning of the cup by Parkers-burg.

On the afternoon of April 3t thefaculty and students of the schoolwere at home to the High Schoolcontestants in Glass cockHall.Accompanying the various con-testants were a number of visitingeducators among whom ProfessorsHarry Rainbow, Wheeling; MissLu Gee, J. Rupert Jefferson, H. D.Hazlewood, Parkersburg; H. Kyle,Charksburg; J. L. Hill, Bluefield;E. L. Morton, Beckley; J. W. Scott,Huntington; Miss Rhoda Wilson,Charleston, and). W. Scott ofHuntington were prominent.

•Doctor McBryan field agent of

the United States Educational De-partment was an official visitorThursday morning April 15. Hischapel address was a forceful ap-peal for a square deal educationallyfor "All the children of all thePeople". Statistics given by himto disclose the inadequate provi-sions of the government to justlyeducate the masses, caused hisaudience to listen and think.

We shall gladly welcome Dr..McBryan's return.

Mr. George Johnson one timeleading tenor of the Famous Wil-liams' Singers will appear hereMay 7 in Concert. Mr. Williams isattended by Theodore T. Taylor of


ginia met in conference in thecapitol March 13. Fifteen werepresent, all of whom received por-tions of their salary from the fede-ral government.

Among these instructors wasMr. A. W. Curtis, director of Agri-:culture of the West Virginia Col-legiate Institute. Mr. Curtis wasassigned to discuss "our farmer'sFair."

The motif of Mr. Curtis's paperwas, the utility and benefit of suchobservances to a community, andhe used as a concrete illustrationthe local fair put over in January,which was highly spoken of bymen of ability and experience.

A STATE UNIVERSITYFOR COLORED

YOUTH

One would have to search faramong the forty-eight states tofind one whose citizens hold amore favorable attitude towardthe education of its colored popu-lation than West Virginia. Mem-bers of the Race have zround forbut little complaint in this respect.

Although our state constitutionmakes separate schools forthe racesmandatory there is also a provisioncompelling the authorities to pro-vide educational facilities wher-ever there are as many as Tencolored children of school age.The whites have no such specificclause. The result of this is that

every village and hamlet has itsschool, and no child of the Race isdeprived of opportunity to securean education.

With one standard of certificate,equal salaries, and liberal appropri-ations from the legislative body,there are two matters needing im-mediate consideration: better payfor teachers, a state university forcolored youth.

While the salaries of teachers inWest Virginia compare favorablywith other states, our teachers arestill making a financial sacrifice.Our teachers should be remunerat-ed commensurate with their re-sponsibility. We pay the' work-men who build our houses a fairwage, but the artisan, upon whomwe largely depend to build thecharacter of our children, we re-quire to be content with a niggard-lyallowance. Then, when his daysof usefullness are over we cast himaside for young victms of sacrifice.

Unless our authorities wake upon this matter, they will find theirbest talent lost to the profession byteachers, not because of desire, butthrough dire necessity, obtainingmore lucrative employment in thecommercial field.

A Negro University in this State!Let us have it by all means. Eachyear an creasingly large numberof our boys and girls must leavethe state for the higher educationthey desire. West Virginia is tooproud a commonwealth too con-tinually compel its colored youth


to become parasites upon the edu-cational system of her sister states.

As a location for our prospectiveuni versity, the West Virginia Col-legiate Institute, in our opinion,comes nearer meeting the necessa-ry requirements. Nor is this anyreflection on the other schools ofhigher learning in the state.

The W. V. C. I. with its newcollege department has already thenucleus of a university. It is 10-'cated more favorably than thewhite university at Morgantown,being more centrally situated nearthe capital city. Two railroads, anavigable river, two car lines andhard roads make it easily accessi-ble. .

The W. V. C. I. has already the"university spirit". It needs butthe physical unity, the parallel ofwhich is difficult to find. Theland around the school for nearlytwo miles square is owned bymembers of the Race. The num-ber of renters is less than five percent. This will provide the prop-er moral atmosphere for a coloreduniversity and add much to itseffectiveness.

The W. V. C. L has already the"university spirit". It needs butthe physical plant to make it areality. With all educationalforces in the state actively unitedin purpose, the "vision of a greatNegro university on the banks ofthe Kanawha," will soon become aconcrete accomplishment of brickand stone.

WHITE AND NEGROEXTENSION WORKERS

MEET IN CONFERENCE ATHAMPTON INSTITUTE

The White Black workers onNegro extension work, met inConference at Hampton InstituteVirginia, April 8 and 9 and dis-cussed questions designed tobenefit greatly this work it Ne-gro rural communities.

The essence of the work doneby the conference is contained inthe following resolutions.It is the sense if this meeting:

1 That the present Conferencehas been very valuable in bringingout the value, status and needs ofNegro extension work.

2 That extension work for Ne-groes should be conducted in co-operation with the Negro landgrant colleges of the states, by ar-rangement perfected by the whiteland grant colleges wherever prac-ticable.

3 That the work should be ex-tended and developed as rapidly asfunds and local conditions willpermit.

'.4 That boys and girls club

work is regarded as an integralpart of County Agent Work.

S That all reports of Negroboys and girls club work shouldbe sent to the Washington Officethrough the State Agents in chargeof Club Work in the state.


6 That Negro District Agentsco-operate with white CountyAgents in Counties where thereare no Negro Agents to make con-tact points with Negro farmers.

7 That a program of educationbe conducted for the purpose of in-forming both whites and Negroesas to the real value and needs ofNegro extension work.

8 That the Negro SpecialAgents appointed during the waremergency be continued in theirpresent capacity.

9 That County and localAgents be urged to show specifi-cally in their weekly reports allwork done with whites and Ne-groes,

10 That we deprecate thespirit of unrest existing amongwhites and Negroes and we pledgethe efforts of all extension workersin bringing about satisfactory con-ditions which will adjust such un-rest.

Committee:Henry S. Johnson

John W. DavisJ. B. Pierce

1. W. Hill

ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES

A Historical Survey of Athleticsat the West Virginia Collegiate

Institute

The history of athletics at Insti-tute has consisted of a series of

varied happenings and events.The records show that prior to theyear of 1901, the school's athleticrivals comprised club teams fromthe neighboring cities of Charles-ton and St. Albans and from dis-tant Parkersburg. Football andbaseball were played in season, andmany are the memories of hair-raising contests staged betweenthese friendly rivals.

The year 1901, marked the en-trance of Institute into interscholastic a thletic activities. Inthis year a game of football wasplayed in Charleston with thestrong team from Storer College.The Institute eleven was returnedthe victor in a battle that pleasedimmensely the large crowd pres-ent. With Storer College as anucleus, the Institute arranged arather imposing atheletic schedule,united, from year to year, its foot-ball teams met those of TuskegeeInstitute, Kentucky Normal andIndustrial Institute of Frankfort,Lincoln Institute of Kentucky,State University at Louisville, FiskUniversity, Bluefield Institute,Lynchburg Theological Seminaryand College, Virginia Normal andIndustrial Institute Petersburg,Wilberforce TTniversity and theHoward University of Washing-ton, D. C. Many memorial battlesare recorded among the abovementioned. Every one conversantof Institute athletics remembersthe contest with Fisk. Stories ofthe many battles with Wilberforce

incurred in our athletic relation-ships. Beginning with no financialaid from the Board of Regents, thestruggle to support athletics hasalways bee n a try i n gone.Students and faculty alike gave oftheir money, time and talents topromote the cause; refreshmentshave been sold, entertainmentshave been given, plays have beenproduced, all, to the end that ath-letics might have their just andproper place in the life of theschool. Too much credit cannotbe given to Mrs. Elizabeth M.Mitchell for her cooperation in allefforts to raise money for thesupport of at hie tic endeavor.Thanks to the magnificent cooper-ation of all concerned, the StateBoard of Control of which Mr.James Lakin was president, gavethe first financial aid from theState to Institute athletics.

Lakin Field is the exclusiveproperty of the school set aside forathletic activities, and it contains agood new grandstand which lendsbeauty and appearance to itsimmediate surroundings. Muchmore financial aid is needed to con-tinue the good work already be-gun, and it is fervently hoped bythe Alumni and friends of theschool that success will meet theefforts of those engaged in the taskof obtaining finance for athletics atInstitute.

THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY

Class Basket Ball

The interclass basketball series

will be always faught with inter-est; but by far the most interest-ing and imposing reminiscencesmay be told about the gruellingcontests with Howard. The twoschools are mighty rivals on thegridiron, thus any contest betweenthem insures a football classic.Three times they have met; twiceat Institute and once in Washing-ton. Both games at Institute re-sulted in tie score; in 1917, 7-7;in 1919, 0-0. The Washingtongame resulted in a 7-6 victory forInstitute. Our football team hasthe unique record of never havingbeen defeated on the homegrounds.

Baseball teams representing theInstitute have played games withteams from many of the schoolsthat are our football competitors.The games with the KentuckyInstitute of Frankfort and Wilber-force University are annual affairs.Another baseball feature to beadded this year will be the alumnivarsity game scheduled for com-mencement week.

Basket-ball was introduced as avarsity sport this year. Goodmaterial was available in con-sequence of the annual interclassgames, thus Institute was repre-sented on the court by a quintthat acquitted itself with greatglory.

Indeed, the playing end of Insti-tute athletics has been scarcelymore spectacular than the methodsemployed to finance the expenses

James Knapper-Substitute Up, arise and come to day,O'er the hills and far away.


closed early in March after a seasonof spectacular and exciting play.Interest was kept at fever heatthroughout the whole period be-cause of the keen rivalry betweenthe leading teams. The third yearteam showed the way to the cham-pionship, winning every gameplayed. The members of thisteam, with two exceptions, haveplayed together since the 1917season-these the addition of astrong center and a good guardmade the team well nigh invincible.Every regular on the team had thedistinction of being a member ofthe varsity squad, which consistedfo ten players. The line up fol-lows:

Petris Higginbotham-GuardGranville Smith (C)-ForwardJames Payne-CenterClarence Bowles-GuardWilliam Drewery-Forward


William Drewery's work as for-ward was spectacular and timely.He has the distinction of being oneof the best and fastest playersever developed at Institute.

Higginbotham and Bowles both,did excellent work at the guardpositions. Each one of them ac-counted for many of the pointsscored by the team.

Smith did consistently goodwork as foward. He was especi-ally good at making long shots.

Payne's work at center was ex-cellent. He also had the distinctionof being the third highest point-maker of all the players partici-pating in the interclass series.

Knapper was able to get into thegame but seldom; he was faithfuland ever ready to give his bestwhen called upon.

. Pan is piping in the woodlands, filled withSpring time's merry throng,Birds are echoing in the meadows, as theyAnswer with a song;Sunset skies, with snowy fleeces,Like the sails of wind blown shipsDraw and hold me with their beauty,Force a sigh from heart and lips.What to me is all the music, skies withHeavenly beauty blest,If not here on sward beside me,You and I together rest?Come, obey Pan's roundelay,

O'er the hills, and far away.

Yonder, in the leafy shadows PyramusAnd Thisbe stand,Now they vanish, ghostly comrades deathlessLovers, hand in hand.Nymph and Dryad both invite us,Pan is piping, let us roam,Soul to soul is loudly calling,Somewhere out there, we'll find home,Wealth of fragrant gardlands wait thee,Living springs neath pleasant shadeWill quench thy thirst reflect theShimmering, witching smile of thee-my maid.Come with me, and let us stray,

O'er the hills and far away.

A CALL

Pan is piping in the woodlands. on theHill sides, in the grove,Birds are flitting, joyous pouring from eachThroat, their songs of love.Voices calling, sensed not heard, fills andThrills me with their power,I await your coming girl, from blushingDawn, to sunset hour.Dryads romp in flowery grovesAnd wildly wave their hands to you,See, the whole earth's filled with joyLife and love are born anew. '

Ten Reasons Why You ShouldAttend Summer School

1. You will come in contact with the leaders of mental andmoral thought.

2. You will become acquainted with recent advancements thathave been made in the profession of teaching.

3. You will secure training that will increase your chances ofsuccess in life.

4. You will enjoy a pleasant and profitable vacation.5. You may start on a higher course of professional preparation.6. You will 'have a chance to prepare to make that No.1

Certificate.7. You will have an opportunity to do the extra work required

for renewal of your certificate.8. You will come in contact with capable fellow teachers, and

thus broaden your experience, and enrich the cultural side of your life.9. Your vision on the world outlook will be broadened; you may

dedicate yourself anew to a noble service.10. You may start your preparation for a bigger job.

For Further Information Write ToJohn W. Davis, President, or S. H. Guss, Director Summer School

Institute, W. Va.

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