NEW ORLEANS EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT. As announced in my last Annual Report, I appointed Prof. Frank Goodman, of Nashville, as Commissioner for Tennessee, to take charge of the work of getting up and supervising our Educational Exhibit at the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition at New Orleans. This work he has well and faithfully done, and it is but simple justice to him to state that without his presence, his self-denying efforts, his tact and energy, the State would have been placed in a position of humiliating contrast with the great, well organized and ably conducted representations made by the States of the Northwest, placed, as they were, immediately alongside our own exhibit. As a result of the persistent efforts of Prof. Goodman, the visitors who thronged the Exposition had before them a very creditable exhibition of school work, from the primary grades to the college and university, offered as an evidence of what Tennessee has accomplished, and an earnest of still greater results in the near future. Prof. Goodman very justly acknowledges the personal service and wise counsel of Dr. Geo. W. F. Price, President of the Nashville College for Young Ladies; and the great interest in the success of the exhibit shown by Capt. Wm. Stockell, of Nashville. PROF. GOODMAN'S REPORT. Hon. Thos. H. Paine, State Superintendent of Public Instruction of Tennessee: MY DEAR SIR-I have the honor to herewith submit to you my report as Educational Commissioner of the State of Tennessee for the World's Industrial Exposition at New Orleans. Upon receiving my appointment from you, I at once entered into correspondence with every County Superintendent, together with the representative of every school, academy, seminary, college and university in the State whose name and address I could obtain, and mailed them circulars containing full information as to the nature of the exhibit desired, together with such well-defined rules and conditions as would assist them in preparing their exhibits. These circulars were furnished me by United States Educational Commissioner Hon. John Eaton. At first but few educators seemed to be interested in an exhibit, and few responses to the circular and letter were re-. ceived, but in the meantime I was being assisted by yourself and Capt. W. R. Garrett, of Montgomery Bell Academy, in trying to get the representatives of the private schools, academies, seminaries, colleges and universities of Nashville to unite and make an exhibit that would be creditable to Nashville, the Athens of the South, and after a number of meetings, all of which I attended, it was decided to make a grand Nashville exhibit. This was the turning point, and a number of schools in different parts of the State commenced to arrange to make an exhibit, though some of the schools waited until the Exposition had opened, when, seeing the creditable exhibit of the Tennessee Educational Department, at once arranged to join in and share the success, and some large exhibits were received four months after the Exposition opened, and from schools that at first positively refused to exhibit. This, I consider, a gratifying evidence of the success of the exhibit. One of the greatest obstacles was the lack of funds, but having received from the Hon. John Eaton, through you, three hundred dollars, with the instruction to use it for the public schools of the State, which I did, also Mr. Eaton's guarantee of free transportation for all educational exhibits; and that counters, shelving, wall-space, etc., would be furnished free by the Government, and the officers of the private schools, seminaries, colleges and universities of Nashville and elsewhere agreeing to share their part of any financial burden that might be incurred by me in the arrangement and care of their exhibits, caused me to feel that all would be well henceforth. Having secured the requisite materials to make an exhibit upon a respectable scale, I repaired to New Orleans about ten days before the opening of the Exposition, that I might superintend and assist in the proper arrangement of the exhibit. On my arrival in New Orleans I found no arrangements whatever for the proper exhibition of the materials that had been so laboriously gathered together. After two days' earnest solicitation for the space that had been previously promised, it was finally granted, but this was nothing but the bare floor and back wall space. There was one of two things to be done, either give up the idea of trying to make an exhibit, or advance the money. I did the latter. As soon as our space was allotted, I availed myself of the valuable services of Rev. Geo. W. F. Price, D. D., President of the Nashville College for Young Ladies, who had accompanied me, and without his valuable counsel and untiring efforts, day and night, the Tennessee Educational Department would not have been the thing of beauty and convenience it was. His assistance was for the general good of all, and at his own expense, and quite heavy it was-and I here return him my own thanks, and those of all exhibitors who know or appreciate the circumstances. He also assisted me very materially in hiring workmen, buying lumber, making counters, shelving, tables, screens, partitions and painting, also decorating with paper, bunting and other devices, until by the opening day the Department had emerged from its chaotic condition into order, beauty and symmetry. That the exhibit might be properly cared for, and visitors receive such information as they might desire concerning any of the public or private school exhibits, I employed Miss Nannie R. Lyle, a French scholar, and a young lady of intelligence and cultivation, who took oversight and charge of the exhibit during the entire time of its stay in New Orleans. Her services were cheerfully paid for by all the schools represented. She did her work well, very well. In this connection it is proper to refer to the generous and intelligent interest manifested by our patriotic fellow-citizen, Capt. Wm. Stockell. As it was impossible for me to remain in New Orleans all the time, Capt. Stockell gave his kind personal attention to aid Miss Lyle in opening, arranging and placing |