The leader., 1903-05-13
Lincoln County Teachers at the Mis-
Sissippi State Teachers Association.

SERVICES were needed.
Lincoln County Teachers at the Mis-
Sfssippi State Teachers Association.
Filled with the anticipations of
"a good time comm - a majority
of the Lincoln county teachers
left, as had been previously an
nounced, on the cannon ball on
April Both, to attend the State
Teachers Association at Vicks-
burg.
The railroaod ficials evidently
had not been keeping up with
our district meetings, as chron-
lcled IN our county papers, and so
there were not tickets enough to
go around. This was solved by
sixteen of the best looking ones
all going on one ticket. Of
course the writer was among the
number, and quietly tucking the
ticket away in an inside vest
pocket, he felt sure that for once
in life he would be very much
sought after. With the train
there came excitement, and the
part your humble servant played
would have appalled, profession
al baggage smasher. We were
hardly settled in our places before
we were passing through cabbage
patches and strawberry fields of
Mississippi's great vegetable
district. Then a curious thing
happened. A grim-visaged crea-
ture of some unknown cult, ap-
peared in the coach. and in a
voice sepulchral and solemn, in
formed us that we were receiving
''the last CALL" Owing to a gen
eral state of unpreparedness, Ga
briefs invitation was declined.
At Jackson we were Joined by
teachers from the northern and
eastern parts of the State and our
party went into Vicksburg fully
four hundred strong. The recep-
tion committee, aided by the Off
GERS of the association, quickly
assigned US our homes and we
were guests of the city.
Thursday evening the first ses-
sion of the association was held
at the theater; and it was, be-
yond doubt, the greatest meet
ing of the kind ever held in the
State. Every class of teachers
was represented from the col
lege president to the teachers of
the interior district of the piney
woods, and the spirit of earnest
ness and patriotic sacrifice that
peryaded every meeting was an
inspiration to all. 1t was, in
part a consummation of the work
begun at Oxford in 1898 under
the leadership of Supt. J. R.
Preston. After being in these
meetings and after critically ex-
amining the exercises of work
from all over the State shown in
the department of school exhibits,
no one could be surprised at the
great wave of educational en-
thusiasm that has swept all over
the State.
We were proud of the showing
that old Lincoln made. Prof. T.
P. Scott, as secretary of the asso-
citation, attended to all business
with dispatch that was pleasing
to all. Miss Sara Love, one Of
the youngest teachers present,
acted as assistant secretary. Miss
Florence Atkins presided over the
department of elementary schools
with grace and self-possession.
Miss Susie V. Powell read = a pa
per that showed skill and learn
in. In all, there were not less
than thirty-two teachers from
this county. Under the direc-
| ton of Prof. Kemper, superin-
tendent of the Vicksburg schools,
we were rendered a free trolley
ride over the entire city. We
visited the National Cemetery,
where more than $4,000 Federal
soldiers are buried. We saw the
battle fields where Grant and his
army of invasion were given a
sample of Southern valor, that
was surprise to them. And
then came the grand reception
Friday night; steamboat ride
on the historic Mississippi Sat
urday morning and we we're ready
to come home. But we feel more
than repaid for our trip; and we
know that every teacher will go
back to the school room better
equipped to do successful work
| than ever before. Xxx
Revelation.