The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-04-06

and colleges shows that
the people are going to higher educa-
ton. It also establishes the truth of
the oft-repeated assertion of the
friends Of higher education that a
liberal support of these institutions
would itself work out the education
of the masses; that this light from
the bill of knowledge would radiate
even into the darkest corners of the
State.
In 1889 the length of the school
session was 3.4 months; it is now
about months: and it is significant
fact that the county in which there is
neither graded school nor academy,
has the shortest school term, being
only 2 months for both white and
colored schools.
1t is also particularly gratifying to
note that the attendance at the in
stitutions for higher learning is
greater this year than ever before in
their history, except in one or two
individual cases-in the case of the
South Carolina College, the attend
ance one year previous to 1890 was
PIP, and that was when the expert
ment station and the mechanical de-
partments were in full bloom at that
institution, now transferred to Glenn
son; and Furman University, when
the Baptist Theological Seminary,
now located at Louisville, KY, was
in Greenville.
Clemson College has an average
attendance of over 800, Winthrop OF
400, the colered college Of nearly
1900. The South Carolina College,
which in the early years Of the prac-
tical struggle lost so severely, now
has an attendance OF nearly 200. All
other colleges, male and female. re-
port an equally gratifying attendance,
which is the best reply to the ques.
ton whether the public demand
these colleges or not.
Since 1890 there have been estao-
lished in South Carlina Clemson Col
leee, Winthrop Normal and Indus
trial College, the Colored State Col
lege, as State institutions; the Chicora
Female College and the Greenville
Collage for Women at Greenville;
Converse College at Spartanburg;
and the South Carolina College for
Women at Columbia, all literally pat
ronized. There are i'll South Caro-
lima today 9S academies, 81 for
whites; so graded schools, 4 State
colleges for whites and one for col
ored; 20 private colleges for whites
and 4 for colored.
There are several matters due di-
rectly to the Office OF superintendent
of education. One ofthese was The
suggestion of all extension Of the pol!
taxage; the exemption of school
bonds from taxation; provision fo1
the expenses of laying off new school
districts; an increase in the number
Of days allowed the county board for
examination of applicants for teachers
and scholarships; and a simpllfcation
of the law for the laying OF special
taxes in local districts, all of which
resulted in very much greater good
than one would think who does not
study the matter closely.
Again, Mr.. Mayfeld, has been sue
cessful in his effort to reduce the cost
of school books, and these tools OF
the trade now average 20 per cent.
less than they did in 1890. He was
also the means of increasing the term
of scholarship in Winthrop from one
to two years, and it was mainly
through his fight that the ideas of a
Normal school for woman and an IN
dustrial school were united and the
present school at Rock Hill is the re-
suit. The establishment of the Nor
NAL school at the South Carolina COL
lege is also an outgrowth of this same
fight of Mr.. Mayfeld's for educated
teachers.
Probably the crowning glory OF
Mr.. Mayfeld's regime is the develop
ment of the county institute, which
is now an established success, and its
influence is felt throughout the state
in the most beneficial ways. He has
plans for development this year, which
will still further increase the eficien-
cv of the county normal institute.
That school libraries have been
collected in many connties is due
greatly to his repeated efforts in this
direction.
As means of bringing higher ed
ucation to the masses, Mr.. May6eld
has urged, and it is regarded by
those in a position to express an
opinion as to the granting OF scholar
ships to the most deserving pupils
of the common schools. The devel-
opment of this idea is pregnant with
the richest possibilities for the State
and it will mark the dawning OF the
brightest era in South Carolina's
glorious history.
Ever alive to the interest of the
children, the coming men and women
of the State, the future voters, MIR.
Mayfeld has urged, in lieu OF the
establishment OF a reformatory, which
just now is impractical, the passage
of law prohibiting children on the
streets at night unless accompanied
by an adult, which, though partaking
somewhat of patriarchial government
is a move in the right direction, and
a means of prevention to save cure.
Ever jealous of his share of the
money and watchful MIR. Mayfeld
has been the means of saving no
small sum of money to the State as
uoll oe eecnrincr all II was entitled to