The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1909-10-31
FREE NIGHT SCHOOL
To OPEN TOMORROW
WORK OF MRS. OSTRANOER
LARGE NUMBER OF BOYS AND GIRLS
WILL ATTEND ANO YOUNG LADIES
VOLUNTEER TO TEACH

/ fiOOr OF the court mouse, opposite
the main entrance, a free night
school will be opened. 1t will
be conducted every school night
from z to 9, and will receive
pupils of all ages, adults as
well as children, the only con-
/ dition being that when children
apply it must be shown that they
are unable to attend the day
public schools.
For the opening night there
will be thirty-five boys and girls
from the cotton factory alone,
besides number of others
whose day light hours are taken
up in different pursuits.
After the organization Of the
school is perfected tomorrow
night, some twenty-five or thirty
pupils will be sent each night
for instruction to President
Whitfield of the l. l. & c., who
himself will teach a class and
other classes will be apportioned
among teachers of the college
and senior students.
A number Of young ladies of
Columbus. it is said, have offer
ed their services as teachers at
the court house. Mr.. w. II.
Carter has volunteered to teach
three nights a week; Mr.. Bev-
erly Matthews has not only Of
fered to teach, but has furnished
chairs and tables for the ROOM.
Prof. Thornton Of the Columbus
Business College will probably
accept the position of head Of
the school. Several teachers
will be paid when the school is
started.
Mrs. Ostrander has been
working since last April to open
this school. She began single
handed and gradually enlisted
support. A few weeks ago two
young ladies from each church
were assigned to help her make
q house to house canvas,
seeking these in need of a
night school. And the more the
work of canvassing progress ed
the more deeply she was con-
vinced that a night school ought
to be established. Many clerks
in the stores, she says, are eager
for the the instruction it offers.
Back Of the formation of the
night school lies a little story.
MRS. Ostrander has lived for
number of years opposite the
Franklin academy. The chill
dren, at their games, and in
their goings and comings, hold
the deepest interest for her.
She frequently goes out to her
gate as they pass and talks to
them. One day last April she
saw boy of twelve standing
watching the other children go
back into the school after recess
and she asked him why he dida't
run on to school too. He told
her that he had to go back to
work. Finally in answer to her
questions he told her that he had
to support his mother who was
unable to earn a living. When
she suggested that he ought to
study at night and saw his
eagerness to learn. the idea of
the night school took shape and
the next day she went TO work.
That was in April and she has
been working hard on this idea
since then. Prof. Cook, she
says, greatly encouraged nef Ell
forts and offered a room at the
academy, wi h lights and heat,
but this. she says, the council
vetoed. Finally she went to
Sheriff Prewell who rendered the
room in the court house. And
so tomorrow night at z O'Clock
the free night school will open.
The following young ladies
will assist IN the school work:
Misses Maud Loeb, Florence
Solomon, Sue May Lincoln, Nam
cy Halbert, Emily Stinson, Laura
May Ramage, Miriam Wilkerson.
Fanny Maud Gunter, Fay Keat-
on, Lillian Cayce, Eula Eicho ty,
Allie Woods, Winifred Whitfield,
! vi Newly, Irine Robertson, Evie
Reynolds, Vera Sharp.