PURE FOUNTAIN COLLEGE

A High Grade Normal School for both Sexes,

SMITHVILLE, DEKALB COUNTY, TENN.

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First Annual Catalogue 1883-84,

And,

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 1884-85

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NEXT SESSION TO BEGIN AUGUST 4th, 1884

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CINCINNATI:
Elm Street Printing Co., Nos. 176 & 178 Elm St.
1884

Pure Fountain College

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INTRODUCTORY

In presenting to the public our first annual catalogue, we wish to
lay down, as one of our cardinal principles, the unalterable determination
to publish nothing in the way of claims and promises for which any
candid investigator will not find good reason in our actual school work.

We do not claim to be the "first Normal School in this entire
section," nor "in this or adjoining counties," although such a claim might
be better substantiated than some claims that others make; for if this were
true, the merits of younger schools, with which we have never had any
connection, could not be the basis of any claim of merit in ourselves. It is
a deplorable fact that some schools, having no other claim to the public
patronage, can only say (justly or unjustly), "We are the oldest, there fore
patronize us, even though our younger brothers are ahead."

Our strength is not simply the weakness of others. There are other
good schools besides ours, and if there were none, this would not make
ours better.

What ever claim is found in these pages is based on our own work
and not that of others, and we aim to have our claims fall below what will
be the realization of the honest investigator who may visit us, rather than
have the visitor disappointed in finding that there was a big blow about a
real sham.

So, once and for all, we are calling your attention to Pure Fountain
College alone, and asking you to consider its true merits.

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