The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-25
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

Miss Martha Berry's famous school for country lads, situated within two miles of Rome Ga, has attracted the atten- ton of men and women from the north east, south and west. It's popularity is not a question of geography, just as its religion is not denominational, and while many have written of it's merits and the wonderful work Miss Berry has accom- plshed, very few have heard the story from one of her constituents-one who has labored and worked with this great and good woman in her efforts to place within the reach of poor boys an educa- ton that will fit them to cope with the battles of life and produce, as 1t were, victorious manhood.
 short time ago I had the pleasure of meeting Miss A. Churchill Jones, the affable and agreeable secretary of the Berry Industrial school, who Is visiting friends here, having just returned from her field of labor after year of hard but very satisfactory work, and of course the natural drift of our conversation at once found its way into the channels of education and principally Miss Berry 8 SCHOOL ana US OD1ect and ann. Miss Jones is most ardent admirer of Miss Berry and has followed her in her career with untold pleasure and pride, and as she very sweetly said, Miss Berry has accomplished her great success through two mediums-faith and prayer" l felt that her belief in her was genuine and sincere.
 You know the idea prevails in many
 
 Berry was left a large fortune, with which she started this school, but it Is entirely erroneous. She did have several thousand dollars left her some years ago. and the large tract of land, but long be- fore she had either, this idea was in her heart and mind"
 And when did she start the work? ?' I asked.
 Ten years ago. was the quick reply, Sitting out on the verandah- of her parents home one Sunday afternoon she decided to take little walk, and in doing so stopped at little log cabin on the quarters. While in there three little girls came by and shyly peeped in the door, and upon being invited to enter they ac- cepted the invitation. Miss Berry began to talk to them about the Bible, and these little illiterate children had no idea what she meant. She talked on and on, and finally told them to come back the next Sunday. When that day arrived she., with her family, again occupied the verandah, and as she saw a great troup of children (they had augmented their number by many) coming up the broad, old fashioned walk that led to the house. she exclaimed: Mercy here comes my Sunday school class From that little episode came her inspiration to do some thing for the poor and indigent classes. ana she soon afterward started her now famous school"
 q believe that I have read somewhere that the charge for years schooling is only $50, which seemed almost in- credible" I remarked.
 "Yes, and frequently even that is not paid" said Miss Jones, "and sometimes Miss Berry takes the pupil for absolutely nothing. I wish you could see our boys in their overalls at work. They are a splendid looking set of youngsters and you know they do all the work-cooking, cleaning, gardening and everything, and everybody who visits the school remarks upon It's beauty and cleanliness
 And how many pupils are there in the school?" I inquired.
 About 150." said Miss Jones, 'but the coming year will bring about 175. Miss Berry's idea is to keep the school as much like country school as possible. Lne of the most attractive buildings we have-besides the new dormitory-is Miss Berry's own little four-room log cabin. where the boys are invited every Sunday for twilight prayer meeting, and it is wonderful sight to see them sitting around on the floor and in the chairs and in every available space, listening attentive ly to every word Miss Berry says
 "She must be wonderful woman" I exclaimed, ito have accomplished so muchl How did she do it?"
 'I will answer you as she did one of the boys one day." said Miss Jones. "She said, Sometimes I feel almost like being a quitter instead of a sticker; the re- sponsibility is so great put when I see