The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-02-20

toll. I recall one visit to the great
structure last spring, when hundreds
of men were working like bees toward
its completion. l know practically
everybody in the capital city, but q
complete circuit of the building show
ed only one Mississippi man at work
whose salary amounted to anything
more than laborer's wages. This was
the supervising architect, Mr.. Barnes.
The other men were negroes whose
strong arms were useful in polishing
the scaglish, and a few white youths
engaged in some minor work connect
ed with wiring the place. And | could
Artists were needed in every depart
ment and artists must be had. We
had not trained our boys along these
lines, so could not make complaint.
We sent abroad for artists, and lined
their purses well, while they were
with us. And all the time our own
brave boys-willing to do, and having
the natural, but unframed. ability
plowed and hoed and harvested their
Crops" which helped to pay the
taxes" and thus the skilled workers
who got as much per day as our own
boys get in a week, sometimes. Five
and tea dollars day looks mighty big
when seen through the distance, from
the handles of pillow on hot sum-
mer day, to a boy who, deep in his
inner consciousness, recognizes the
power within him, but lacks knowl-
edge for its expression.
God speed the day when these same
boys-though laborers still (for so are
all who make aught of this life) will
| be unskilled no longer-but because
of the right training, commenced In
the rural school of his childhood and
continued through college and train
his home and for his family, all COM
forts a1d Injuries.
| But we must go beyond this and
furnish the fine materials with which
our trained workers may achieve sue
cess at home. Returning, once more,
to the capitol. Why was 1t that all
of the materials used in its construc-
| ton were brought over many miles OF
space, when we know that our State
is rich in just such thilgs as were
/ needed most? OF course the reason
is manifest in the fact that all these
riches are close-locked by wise old
Mother Nature and we, for lack Of
knowledge, cannot apply the key
which, rightly turned, would open up
undreamed of fields of wealth. We
know that we are richer than almost
any of our sister States in beautiful
and valuable woods, and yet because
we lacked the Knowledge some other
State sent her woods to do the fine
| finishing in the building Tor, 1t is more
likely, sent our own woods back to us,
dressed beyond recognition). We
know that we have marble, but we
don't know how much nor how fac.
We can't tell anything about our gold,
our clays our oil or anything else ex-
cept the crops" for which we toll
year after year. just as we did before
anybody knew any better.
But brighter time Is coming! A
fairer day is at hand, because the peo-
pie of the State are willing Row, to
do their very best toward opening up
the way, a1d making it attractive and
desirable for the boys and girls who
are growing so rapidly into our men
and women. Mississippi has done
much for her children and is going to
do so much more that strangers Will
never come from distant lands to build
another capitol Of marbles from every
known region save ours, and of South
American woodsi
County Superintendent.
To one who has read attentively
the legislative proceedings it must be
manifest that there is widespread
feeling of dissatisfaction with the
present system of school supervision
in the counties. There are some men
now serving as county superintend-
ents of education who are thoroughly
equipped for their work, and whose
schools are up to the mark. There are
others who are equipped with the edu-
cation but who lack the executive
powers requisite to the successful dis
charge of the duties. There are some
who have the ability. but lack suf-
ficient time-and, l regret to say
there are some who have the time, but
lack the other needful OF course
! since school cannot be better than