The Elbert County tribune., 1907-12-12

of the rural school, at once accepted
the suggestion and pledged the requi-
site sum.
The school was to be a part Of the
county system, its location to be de-
cided by competition among the
county superintendents of the state,
the school to be awarded to the high
est bidder and the federation pledging
itself to supply the difference be-
tween this highest bid and the neces-
sary $1,000. All the money was to
be placed in the hands of the Geor-
gia federation. and the school was
to be inaugurated by the federation,
and remain under its control. Mr..
Branson, on his part. pledged to un-
dertake the technical direction OF the
school.
So much interest was aroused, and
the bids of the counties ran so high,
that 1t was found possible to supple
ment the efforts of two communities,
instead of cHe, with the sum raised
by the federation. Hence, while
Danielsville. Madison county. with q
bid of 800. secured the first school,
Waters district, Floyd county, was
able, with $3.50, to secure a second.
The tragedy of the situation lay in
two splendid bids of $500 from Bar
tow county and $3.50 from Rabun
county. the latter the most mountain
Gus county in Georgia To those who
understand the meaning of these
guarantees from such sections there
is infinite pathos in the thought of
such sums as these having been gath
cred for such a cause and in vain!
One thousand dollars more would
have done noble service.
The two sections securing the
schools furnished contrasting but ex-
cellent fields for the social expert
ment. Danielsville, the county seat
of Madison county. is typical village
of the best character. Its people are,
many of them, educated and refined,
but the county is essentially rural.
since only one edge of it is crossed by
a railroad, Danielsville itself being
six miles distant from it. About 500
people center at Danielsville. The best
of them threw themselves heart and
soul into the effort not only to secure
the first model school, but to guaran-
tee its perpetuation. The president
of the county board of education, a
well-known lawyer, besides his other
efforts, threw his home open to the
teachers, who were thus assured the
comforts Of daily life.
Waters district, Floyd county, is a
crossing" of the Southern railroad,
just out of the little city of Rome
It's people are rougher than the coun-
try folk, and the life led there by the
three young teachers was hard enough
to furnish missionary. conditions.
Both schools thrived surprisingly.
The people. who looked upon it at
first as a sort of vagary of their su-
perintendent and the clubwomen.
soon became deeply interested in the
plan. The school at Danielsville,
opening with SO pupils. very soon had
125, a great number of children COM
ing in from the county to board At
Waters about 80 remained in at
tendance.
At both places a kitchen and work
shop were added to the schoolhouse,
which belonged to the county, and
about 5000 was spent in permanent
improvements. The success of the ex-
pertinent may be gathered from the
fact that the five-month schools, main
tanned as an experiment, were re-
placed by eight months sessions in
both counties the succeeding year.
The children are taught in the
simplest and most effective manner
plain cooking, plain sewing, nature
studies, the raising of vegetables,
herbs aud flowers leach school has
three acres of ground) the making
of baskets and other articles in
cluded in fireside industries, for the
girls, with carpentry, wood carving
and the general use of tools and
drawing implements for the boys. All
this in addition to the regular academ-
ic studies taught in the shortest and
most vital way.
By plain cooking is meant the sim
pie, wholesome preparation of that
which is-or should be-found in
every Georgia garden.
By plain sewing is meant the max
ing of articles needed in the homes
of Georgia.
By fireside industries is meant the
making of articles with a marketable
value. as baskets. hats, fans, hand
carved articles. home-woven spreads
and rugs, or. indeed, anything which
will be profitable or will help to make
the rural home more attractive or
comfortable
In domestic science is taught, be-