The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-26
GIFTED WOMAN RANKS AS
A GREAT PHILANTHROPIST
BY EMMA TouLMlN REID.

Miss Sophia Wright has won the title
of THE Best Citizen of New Orleans"
and won 1t justly. She stands first among
the citizens of New Orleans, and I may,
say among the women of the south, for
her deeds of kindness, and her philan-
thropie spirit.
Born in the year of 1866, on plantation,
a home who once knew wealth, and who
later acquired fame by being the birth
place of such a woman. She came into
existence just as the south had begun to
realize the shock of our Civil war when
the rich had been made poor and the
struggle of the southland was realiza-
ton Of defeat, homes broken up new
made graves and tattered fortunes but
the historic people were not to be CON
quered. Dixie1and hoisted her banner and
has overcome the battle lost.
Miss Sophie Wright was reared in an at
mosphere of sacrifice, her father, like all
gentlemen in those days, had to begin life
anew, but the loss of wealth was naught'
compared with the sad accident that be-
fell their daughter; at the tender age OF
3 years. she fell and injured her back, so
as to be an invalid for six long years. The
greater part of the time, she was strapped
in her chair, unable to move While the
body racked with PAIN the mind and the
greatness of her nature grew with giant
strength She finally was enabled to at
tend school on crutches. where she TOOK
a high stand in her class and after sue
,cessfully completing the seventh grade
work she opened a primary school IN her
own home at the small cost of DO cents
per pupil for the month. She openn
with one pupil which gave her sufhclent
encouragement to preserve, until To-Day
when she employs forty teachers, and mas
erected school whose commerelal Vaiue
Is worth thousands of DOLLARS put whose
purpose is beyond the gold.
She commenced her school as A Day
School for Girls" and extended its pur-
pose when one day there was pennlless III
New Orleans a young acrobat VINO hai
been left so by stranded circus, MS age
was about 20, lad who had been tehlpteu
by the glitter of show life TO run from
home. and now deserted, wrecked in MS
purpose realized the need of an education
he wanted to take a civil service exainlla-
tion. and he applied to this school lot
Girls" for help-could she do 1t-he hau
no money, he needed, and Sophie Wrlsht
lRave that poor boy help, and she mas peeh
helping hundreds of poor boys ever slhce'
without money, but with earnest ehorts'
lehe struggled in crowded schooroom 10
MI the need of the poor for sell prepara-
zion. little by little, she gathered her mar
vest Of good deeds a ripened fruit from
barren fields. Soon the citizens on New
sOrleans. began to realize the greatness OF
the efforts of this noble woman, VINO hau
fought her hardshps alone, ana came "
her rescue. She had founded nome 10Y
the cripple had purchased school at ="
cost Of $4,000, furnished 1t ana as d re-
ward for her efforts, those who had peen
benefited, raised the entire amount from
ltbe citizens of New Orleans, and made
her very grateful and strengthened AeN
field. Justly she is the right hand OF the
CITY she is ready to serve In all phpah-
thropic institutions she is as New orleans
claims her "Our First Citizen She Is IN
feeble health, bereft of both parents yet
nhe IL surrounded by the gratitude OF
IoyaI neonle AT her post she has lived.
and there she will die, faithful and true
40 the interests Of humanity. She has
reared men and women from the darkness
of ignorance and they speak OF the power
of her greatness, New Orleaifs the World
is better for her living
Miss Wright will visit Birmingham IN
the early fall, the guest OF Mrs. Johh
White at her country place, they having
met at Monteagle for several summers
and she will be a welcome guest to Ala
bama.
Mrs. White, in speaking of Miss Wright
said:
ut is my privilege to know Miss Whight
quite well. hope that her beautllul me
will be an inspiration to us all TO help
in the educational work of our own state.
On Shades mountain. where | live, there
are fifty children, so I am told, without
any school facilities or Sunday schoo.
privileges We are trying to get school
mouse built where the children can go TO
lschool, and on the Sabbath have a sun
kIay school for old and young.
IF we can get building and part OF
the teracher's salary for one year, we
hcan get the legislature to make 1t a as
nrict school 1 appeal to the generous
citizens of our city to please help us III
hhis just work.
ANY contributions may be sent to Mrs.
Gohn White, r. f. d. No. 3.