Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-24
CROSSROADS TO EvERYwHREE.'
A Correspondent Tells of the Educa-
tional Progress OF Guthrie--other
Matters.
Correspondence Leaf. onroniole.l


When the acquaintance of town
is made the first question usually
asked is, "What of its schools and
churches ?" For it is living fact
that the moral and educational stan
dard of place inevitably stamps it.
self In its people. A mere clump of
dwellings and a few stores do not
mean development. Guthrie seems
to be arousing to this knowledge, for
preparations are now in progress to
build a first,class training school, fif-
teen thousand dollars having been |
subscribed by the best people in the
community, the half already collec-
ted to begin with. 1t is now expec-
ted by the end of six months to show
handsome building on an elevated
site to the traveller who passes the
"Cross roads to everywhere" as our
little town has so often been called.
To use trite expression, this has
been "long-felt want" as each year
from twenty to thirty pupils are sent
to attend schools at other points, not
counting the fair attendance at dis
drict and other neigbborhood
schools.
But Guthrie has not had more than
time to begin to take off its "swad
ding Clothes" as it has been only
something over two decades since
it was born in the dense woods, with
swamps and frog ponds as an out
look. For long time the junction
of the l.. & N. and Southeastern rail
roads, with all the rough elements
that make up such, it was regarded by
the surrounding well.to-do farming
community as merely a post
office and shipping point. But
in the course of events, as the trees
were felled and business improved,
more permanent class moved in,
while the old type gradually disap
peared, (speaking of course in the
general, there are always few good
grains among the chaff, that take
firm hold on the soiD. There has
become established social bonds be-
tween the farmer people and those
Of the burg, naturally turning to this
centre as where to educate the
neighborhood youth.
The first good school was pioneer
ed by Ryan Hall, Tennessean,
who taught the rural lads some ex-
cellent lessons in dicipline. Follow
ed by Mr.. Gus. johnson, that old
time, competent instructor the
most excellent A. P. Crutcher !;
Prof. ID. M. Quarles, of the
classic type; Mr.. Barnes, DR..
Harris all sowed good seed in young
minds, to say nothing of the several
lady teachers whose earnest efforts
through all kinds of difficulties ac-
complished more than they ever
dreamed of, said to their credit.
Old Todd Is moving up peg or
two in the educational interest. Our
county seat, Elkton, is to have the
Vanderbilt Annex, under the super
vision of the Methodist conference.
The Baptist church at Guthrie has
Rev. - Cheek for its pastor. The
old Graysville church, where Bros.
Holland, Carney and Crutcher held
forth some twenty years or more
ago, has been removed to this
place number OF years ago. The
Rev. Lockett was pastor when he
died, previous to him Rev. John
Kendall, who now is assistant pastor
to that large congregation in Waco,
Texas.
The Methodist church, the beauti-
full edifice just over the line, is in
charge of Rev. Jerome Duncan. who
spent his boyhood days in GAINESVILLE.
He Is regarded as very efficient
minister.
| Rev. G. p. ROdofer holds service
for Christ's mission, Episcopalian,
at the opera. house once a month.
Last fall Bishop Dudley spent one
day with them, and preached two
most popular sermons.
The Christians have preaching
twice a month also; they have a new
pastor, whose name we have not
learned. This is the Oldest church
at Guthrie.
| The clover-leaf tennis club gave
their annual picnic on the Goth.
Mr.. and Mrs. Winfred Bailey, of
Shelbyville, who have been visiting
C. M. Days family, have left for
home.
Miss Flossie Bib, of Russellville,
is visiting Miss Mimms, daughter OF
T. II. Mimms, in the neighborhood.
Mrs. VIM. Quarles has been at old
Meriville with her daughter, Mrs
W. ID. Merwether.
II. p. Williams is now shipping
straw berries from this point to Hen
derson, Evansville, Trenton, Russell
vile and GAINESVILLE.
b;o, limo of Srp,npr Underwear