The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-30

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT WORK. The newest work of club women of Alabama is that of school improve
 ment and Mrs. ]. L.. McConaughy of Montevallo is at the head of it. The following from The Mobile Register this line will be of interest. Mrs. Craighead was for two terms pres
 ident of the Alabama Federation Of Women's Clubs and is now corre- spending secretary of the organiza- tion.
 The Register says:
 MrsN Erwin Craighead, who spent
 couple of days at China. Conecuh County Alabama, in the interest of
 improvement in the rural school hous- es. made a little talk. at Holly Grove Church on the twenty-first. and re- ports the meeting as a most success full one. In a letter home she says that the small church was well filled and the people seemed as if they were just waiting for some one from a distance to put Into words the thoughts they. have for some time been feeling. but have not expressed"
 Immediately after the talk. Mrs. Craighead organized what she be- lieves to be the first "schoo1 Improve ment Association" in Alabama. The officers selected for the School Im- provement Association of District No. 5s, Conecuh County, are Mrs. J. E. witherington. president; Mrs. Mar garet Peagler. first vice president; Mrs. c. E. Mills. second vice presi- dent; Miss Fannie Ellis. secretary, and MT J. s. Johnson, treasurer. The plan is to have the women serve as active members and the men as asso- ciate members. but MT. Johnson Is a man loved and much praised for good works and interest in education, and the ladies were not satisfied to leave him or their official roll. The la. dies selected are known as good work CTS and are full of enthusiasm. Com ing out of church at the close of tho exercises, Mrs. Craighead made a spe- cial little talk to the young men who were grouped outside the church. to enlist their interest in the cause to help the ladies, and they pledged themselves individually and collec- lively to give all the assistance pos~ sible. The ladies gave assurance that they would work hard and promised that in a years time great Improve ment will be found. There is . good foundation upon which to build, as the little, one-roomed school house is nicely located, new and good. Mrs. Craighead went to China upon invita- ton of Mrs. Witherington, who ap-
 pealed for help in improving the school work, and was the guest of MT. and Mrs. witherington while there.
 The new association will meet Fri
 day in the school house and plan for work.
 The Conecuh people are to vote in
 June the special tax for school sup
 port. Mrs. Craighead spoke in favor
 of the tax, MT. Gunnels, of tho edu-
 cation board, has spoken at Ever green on that subject. It is believed the tax will be voted.
 The country around China is beau tiful. Cotton is fairly well advanced
 and seems healthy. There are a
 number of strawberry farms and many pecan trees have been plant
 ed. The industry of gathering swamp ferns and smilax for Boston Is a good
 one There Is plenty of corn raised
 for home use; besides vegetables in abundance. Mir. Witherington has a fine, we'll stocked plantation. The
 people of the district are cultured and lhospitable. They want Mrs. Craighead to come back next year and see how
 they have profited by her encourage
 ment and advice.