African Wastes Reclaimed; Illustrated in the Story of the Lovedale Mission (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... XV THE BOARDING-HOUSE A NOTEWORTHY feature of Lovedale is the fact that the great majority of the pupils in both Institutions are boarders. Belonging as they do also to so many different races, this, while it invests the establishment with an additional element of interest, necessarily increases the burden of care and anxiety inseparable from its efficient management. So long as the numbers were limited, the work of supervision was comparatively easy. It was so in the earlier years of the Institutions. Even in 1863, and for some years thereafter, when under charge of the Rev. Robert Templeton, that missionary was able to combine with the duties of superintendence the teaching of arithmetic and mathematics. In course of time, and more particularly since 1870, when the numbers began steadily to rise, such an arrangement was simply impossible. The boarding-house demanded the undivided attention of those in charge. From the time of Mr Templeton's resignation in 1864 until 1877, when Mr and Mrs Alex. Geddes were appointed, this department was under the efficient superintendence of Mr and Mrs John A. Bennie, both of whom stood towards the boarders in loco parentis, acting the part of friends, and enjoying in consequence in a marked degree their confidence and affection. The arrangements, it is said, under their regime were managed with wonderful quietness and success. For the last twenty-five years the boarding-house has been under the care of Mr and Mrs Geddes, whose eminently wise and kindly treatment of the natives has been the admiration of all who have any knowledge of Lovedale. There is indeed a concensus of opinion that they are both in quite a peculiar manner suited for the post. The words of the poet Cowper are in their case specially...