We needed these for use in connection with the erection of our own buildings; but there was also another reason for establishing this industry.

There was no brickyard in the town, and in addition to our own needs there was a demand for bricks in the general market.
I had always sympathized with the "Children of Israel," in their task of "making bricks without straw," but ours was the task of making bricks with no money and no experience.
In the first place, the work was hard and dirty, and it was difficult to get the students to help.

When it came to brickmaking, their distaste for manual labour in connection with book education became especially manifest.

It was not a pleasant task for one to stand in the mud-pit for hours, with the mud up to his knees.

More than one man became disgusted and left the school.
We tried several locations before we opened up a pit that furnished brick clay.