New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-11
A TEACHER OF HER RACE.
EMMA J. WILSON AND HER WORK AMONG
THE NEGROES.
SHE LEARNED TO READ WHEN SHE WAS A
LITTLE SLAVE. AND BRAvELY CON
TrNCED HER STUDIES.


rINUED HER STUDIES.
Highly Endorsed and recommended by the leading
people Of her section. Miss Emma J. Wilson. COL
ored woman OF Mayesville. S. c.. has come to this
city to try and raise money 10 erect permanent
school-buildng for the Mayesve Educational and
Industrial School This school. which was founded
by Miss Wilson is non-sectarian. although conduct
ed a Christian basis. II has passed the eX-
perlmental stage. and Is much appreciated by the
coored people
The story OF the Institution and OF Miss wilson
life are so closely interviewer that they can scarce
y be separated. IN detailing the causes leading UP
10 tho founding OF the school. Miss Wilson who IS
A pleaSant-faced. quiet woman. OF prepossess.ns
appearance. said:
When was a little slave-glrl living on the plan
tation where my mother the cook used to
play with my masters children. When 1t became
time for them to enter school got ready to go.
too. ! followed the children FAR rs the front
gate. where tho teacher met me and said. You
must 20 back / stood al the gate and 'hoered
ut the ton Of my voice. Ny young master ran 10
me and said Don't cry. Babe: III teach you when
I come back Then my mother called me In, and
asked what | crying for. told her wanted
10 go to school She said:
You canrot 60 to school with the Buckra chill
oren but the time Will como when you can go
Il asked when that time would be. ard she said
BY and by | watched al dag for the children
10 home. and when they returned In the
afternoon my young master called mo and said re
ready 10 give me my lesson. He brought
from school with him The southern Presbyterian
for my primer The letters which make Up tho
words Southern Presbyterian wcre the first letters
Of the alphabet which learned Ny liits master
taught ne. We would So down together and he
would make The letters IN the sand. and would
copy them with my finger or a stick.
"Arter 7 had learned IN this way 20 write the
letters would nrd tho old envelopes IN which
my masters letters had come. and practlsed on
/ these until could write ny masters nams per-
| foctlv
"One day whom mo family vero away cropt
! into tho dnlug--oom. whore tho walls vor" very
/ white. and vro'e M masters name an around 'h'
| room. When 'he family seated NJ supper.
while was sitting tho hearth. my mistress dis
/ covered this writing on the wall Sho said WHY
uro marked my WALL Nobody roniiod. and size
! proceeded 20 Investigate. and concluded r. was tho
! work ~ ny sister 50 sho had her taken out and
/ whipped While this was going on went away
and cried over g. for q hurt mo very much 10 ha, n
| my s.s;e- whipped .or what 7 had dorc. Soon
| came hack my mistress and owned up that had
! marked TO wall"
! II was 50 little' continued Mis. Wilson that
/ she could not believe e. and told mo - 50 down
/ md wrts the samo thing again. which did she
did not punish me-. hU; told Ma charlie 10 siop
/ teaching me-
by and by. after W. wors ,re.. 7 begged nv
mother 10 let 20 n school but she dd not
/ think ~ necessary FOR girs % learn aid refused
/ was determined not 80 lof tho boys know moro
! than did. 80 ! went 20 The woman on whose plan
! iaton -" were liWnc. and asked her 10 give mo n
! Webster hlu,-hach'c spelling book. and she ga
! ] would not l.' ny brothers know had the book
] Lut would hurry ana E'f through my task 10 ih,
/ h"ld. hoe!us corn. cotton. potatoes or rice. ana
/ IN the woods and 20 ont under m" tree and siuf,
/ my lesson. A. soon a. ! founl TINT was ahead
! The road and nee ~. ch.id-cr a.. fhcy ras.cJ
along from school. and i-y - max. them spell fh"
nara Tora Tho Is' %?'a savo h' , 10 g p
was no such word in the book. and whom had
How YOU Isrr. AIM soin' % ,chool-'
"'Neve- mind answered 'npp' ra-il. Your"
nAf'er M mad srca' ,,..r,,e n 'Ae road,
NJ Silia'"f n ll' in l''. ior my ser .i'
ing class 10 stand With fncIr toes or fhe rre -
me- sT'et ,lr..e an. ptt any "oId - m ihc.
/ ihoy called words 20 ne ana cvory f'ma speil,d
them J. would w. p ~ 19 ,o 'a , 'e ts,r ao4
How dld sou farm
one rlrhf -" lf'c studen's mother ,f~idol -
her importun e. ard proin't.d ner ''a' s'.' cou!i
60 - s,'1. ~. ., n,Et o., ' - j got.i
starting ~ daylight FOR t.e -.heol -'sen niles
away and running simo.t thc " 1oi' a.stan. Sc
and sleepy mat sl' 'oEIi rot Keep Der ewes open
missing day. "nd ~ On" emo ~ the riti YEAR
decided 70 60 70 Scotia S.mne-y. At 10 advice %
and began h"r work there. Afi"r graduation she
chu~c.fi n" - 90 Affct fs ID missionary. by
"rron returning 20 my homo ~ Maycsyiile and
my lifo-work lay right there" sho -aiG
hrrlten mono On ft.n'F ~ J.n.. -. Ani IN
grbn, 80 for tho cn,ored c.iii-en mi. echooi mas
always continued for eight months in inc year .ve-
sine hui has ben moved "noui rom one nli1inE
h,,idir MN fi 49,, ybcn n,Iseg u
Io,ise where NJ present mo school continue
THIS hous" Is nov Inadequate - the growing
VIZ. - ','u, me- p,i", -ir 49, 1, an
ins and cooking can nov, b. Taught In the indus
trial department but row building would make