“No smoking anywhere on the school-grounds; no changing of seats during any exercise; no selling of liquors or even ice cream, lemonade, or other refreshments—­not because these latter were not good in themselves, but because of the temptation to spend money which they could not afford in these hard times, and while complaining that they could not raise money for the schooling of their children, they must not spend their nickels in such ways.  Take care of their nickels and they would soon count up to dollars.”

Several hucksters and peddlers, who had come with their wares, the principal succeeded in driving off, and in a region where whisky has flowed freely and smoking is almost their vital breath, she that day had an orderly assemblage of nearly a thousand, on uncomfortable seats, quiet and interested for four and a half hours without any intermission!

It was a very carefully prepared program; speeches, essays, recitals, dialogues, and such splendid singing as only these trained voices of colored students can give.  It was no easy matter to speak so as to be heard by such a crowd in the open air, but every girl as well as boy succeeded admirably, and all showed most careful training and drill.  The themes chosen were very practical and fitted to the occasion.

Tobacco got rough and fearless handling, and liquor-drinking was rebuked in almost every conceivable way and rubbed in repeatedly.  The old and the modern ways of teaching were compared and illustrated; indeed, every recitation was evidently selected with reference to its moral effect.

Certainly these huge commencement gatherings are themselves educators for the fathers and mothers and kinsfolk of these young people, whom they are proud to see doing so well.  The words of all the songs were thoroughly learned, so they will do service in many another gathering wherever these students may be.  It was the writer’s privilege to give the commencement address on “Making the best use of life as God’s plan for our highest good.”

Thursday night we held a parting communion service with the Congregational Church, which is mainly composed of students.  The maps shown me and many of their examination papers were exceptionally good.  Last winter mumps and measles successively swept through the school, and at one time made the home almost a hospital, but the brave teachers went through all, kept up recitations with the well ones, and nursed the sick and brought them all safely through without the expense of a doctor.  Now all were well and evidently thriving on good food, though it is marvel to me how good board can be afforded with tuition, and all expenses covered for $4.50 per month, and yet work be furnished to most of them for one-third of that, bringing the cash outlay to ten cents a day! but they do it, and a happier household I have never seen than those who gather at Lincoln Academy.

A white man with whom I was talking at the station said, “Those lady teachers are doing a great work for this whole region.”