New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16
HELP NEEDED FOR A SOL IHhhN - num-
MISS WILSON'S WORK AT MAYEsFiL''h' D. -
AMONG TIE NEGROES.

MISS WILSON'S WORK AT MAfESNii'' o. -
AMONG THE NEGROES.
To the Editor OF The Tribune ,
CIV. 4 nathetic story OF hard work ana sei-sac'.
eco Is told by Miss Emma j. Wilson, an e'".a'
cultured coored teacher. who Is no" III Ne"
She is one of the teachers OF an INSTITUTION a. ma
,me C. which is a humble attempt OF ie"
c,orod peop,e OF that State to give the chhaf am
voung people OF their race a sound pFac''ca 'Iu-
c,,on Misc Wilson and few other women VINO
have had the advantages OF good education ii ''''
Goodwill and other schools were cohoet"eH ~ NV
Ignorance OF the children Of that section ana SUI
coded with the help OF some white h'enHs OF 'le
go 6, onenlng a little school. !; was small AZ
60 ,o,1 IN n little Methodist church lent to them
an weekdays for the purpose They were sufpriseA
AT the result. There was an easefhoss Or '"' pa
Of the children and Their parents TO turn the oIp''
.unitv 70 account that beyond theT eNp'S'H''''
Az tho outset there 80 children as applicants
for admission The modest sum OF 10 cents mont"
was tho fee charged. and even that proved pro-
bibtory IN some instances
"You have no idea here" Miss Wilson says want
n dollar means down there In tho nome OF C''o'e-
man They have been getting only three ana iour
cont. for their cotton lately. and every cent they
bave has 10 be carefully husbanded. "heh inc
school was opened n.nety-three children aual"eu'
cd With n few worn books and second hand april
amos they set 10 work with energy. Some OF theh
came from long distances to avail themselves oil
the opportunty Many Of them walk three miles
averv morning and three miles back In the even
ing ard two of them. brother and sister. DO
nvernile walk each way that they may obtain their
r,,lo b, OF education \ better proof OF appreca-
ton thew could not give. and when to that IL added
| the spectacle of the father and mother schem.ng
| and contrlying to save the 10 cents month Tor
school fees out Of their poor little income the pc;-
ure has a pathos all its own. The teachers too
have had their share OF the hardshps. for 10 cents
| q month from $50 children cannot be stretched TO
| more than SIS a month TO cover all expenses
This humble effort in SO pra!scworthy Il cause has
enlIsed the sympathy OF few white friends. who
have rendered a little assistance now and again In
| emergencies They have helped In organizing l
board of trustees and have occasionally paid the
los Of some promising child whose parents were too
| moor to defray the cXpense. One dollar month
means all the difference between ten children grow
ing I'd IN ignorance and their having an education
| fl appears that an unexpected stroke OF good
| fortune has bcfallen this Mayesve Institution. one
| land on condition that suitable school building be
erected on IT, That explains Miss Wilson's visit TO
| New-York She thought that II New York people
| knew what they had done and what an opportunity
they had Of doing more. some kindly people IN ths
| mart OF the country who take an interest in the
colored race would help them to put up Their build
| Ing. They would Ike to raise Il building large
| enough to accommodate 800 children. More than
that number would be CAD to come ana II the
| building could be made to include dOrmitOric5 and
ARRANGEMENTS for board at about cost price 1t would
be public benefit to the whole colored community
| for many miles around. The people would gladly
help with the labor OF building. and lumber could be
says the cost would not exceed $500 including the
furniture. With such a building; useful trades. such
rs shocmaking, carpcntcring and blacksmith's work
| might be taught and the girls might be taught 10
| sew and cook. II Is n worthy ambition. and these
| realize 1t. They have done much themselves al
ready that they deserve this help In their effort to
| Miss Wilson has the hearty Endorsement Of the
| white population Of the district. The Presby-
terrain clergyman. the ex-Congrcssman ard other