In fevers, I have known milk to be strictly forbidden, but ham and biscuit recommended by the physician.

Quite a number of people, and even those of whom you would expect better things, employ “charm” doctors.  They make passes and say over a lingo, and it will cure cancers, toothache, or any other disease.  I have never heard what their magic words are.  In fact, if a woman tells a woman, they lose all their curative properties.  But these are the words they use to charm away the botts in horses.  I think they ought to be given to the public for the benefit of stock growers generally.  Putting the fingers on the animal’s nose, they pass the hand along the head and spine, repeating, “King Solomon plows with a golden plow.  He plows deep and he plows shallow, and he kills all the worms.”

* * * * *

TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY.

The year thus far at Tougaloo University has been one of great success.  The enrollment, three hundred and thirty-five, has already surpassed that of any previous full year, and many more have signified their intention of attending next term, when a special Teacher’s Training Course is to be held.  The necessity under which many labor, of teaching school in order to pay their own school bills, makes attendance somewhat irregular.  The grade of the school is being steadily advanced, and under efficient teachers and Principal, the pupils are making solid advancement.  The upward grading process will prevent the graduation of any pupils from the normal department this year, but that is of slight moment compared with the substantial gain of more thorough scholarship.

The industrial work of the school has this year been more thoroughly systematized and made more efficient than before.  There has been special improvement in the girls’ industrial work.  Even the younger pupils enter into the sewing and cooking classes with zest.  The boys’ industries include blacksmithing, carpentry, tinning, wagon making, painting, steam sawing, turning, scroll sawing, and farm-work in its various branches, the care of stock, etc.  It would be difficult to estimate the value that this combined school and industrial work is destined to have on the Negroes of this State of Mississippi.  Not in legislative enactments, but in the gradual process of education along this line, will the main problems connected with the Negro race be solved.

The Biblical department of the school, recently established, designed to train preachers, has as yet but one class, of three members.  These are making good progress, and they take turns in preaching at Clinton, at the Mt.  Hermon School, fourteen miles away.  The training in this department under the President, is especially directed towards knowledge of the Bible and of human nature, earnest and practical preaching, and the development in the preacher of sterling character.  If preachers can be sent forth who are well grounded in these things, much may be expected of them.  Says Dr. Haygood, “The hope of the black race lies mainly in the pulpit.”