Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-13

tions, and they now keep their school
Iopen nine months in the year and
pay the teacher $500 q month. All
the children Of school age attend and
the teacher Is the idol Of the commu-
nifty. When there is sickness in a
family she is sent for before the doc
tor, and on Saturdays she visits the
town to do shopping for the neigh
borhood. At the conclusion Of Mr..
Gasque's talk there was an adjourn
ment until 2.30 p. m.
The first speaker In the afternoon
was Hon. J. Wright Nash, Of Spar
| tanburg. Mr.. Nash was for several
terms a member of the legislature
and was recognized as one Of the most
progressive as well as aggressive
members Of that body, and was espec-
,, tally noted for his work in behalf Of
the free, common schools Of the state
and for good roads, and 1t Is said that
his defeat in the primary last August,
by small majority, was largely due
to his aggressive fight for good roads
in Spartanburg. Mr.. Nash expressed
himself as being heartily in favor of
compulsory education and devoted q
part of his time to answering the OBJ
jections Of those who oppose such a
law. To those who are opposed to 1t
because Of the possibility Of the negro
becoming educated and gaining po-
litical ascendency, he said that If ev-
cry negro in South Carolina should
acquire sufficient education to entitle
him to the degree Of L. L. D., they
would not cut any more figure in pol
far as getting an education was con-
cerned, they are now and would con-
tinue to get all that was placed in
their reach without any urging, much
less compulsion. Mr.. Nash vigorously
stressed the importance Of making
the courses in the public schools of
more practical value than at present.
He said that ali schools should teach
agriculture, carpentry, blacksmith
ing and various other useful trades, so
that when a boy finished school he
would be in position to earn an inde-
pendent living. He urged the import
ance Of developing the high schools
in the rural districts and showed how
York county could vote a 1 mill tax
for high schools, raising $4,000, two
thirds of which sum would be paid by
the railroads, cotton mills and incor-
porated towns, and $4,000 would be
added by the state, and with this fund
she could maintain six or seven high
schools-thus placing one within the
reach of every boy and girl in the
country, and giving them advantages
that would in a few years place York
in the lead in South Carolina
Rev. DR.. ]. H. Boldridge Of Lancas-
| ter, was the next speaker introduced.
DR.. Boldridge made a most excellent
talk. Among other things he referred
to the great work Winthrop college Is
doing in the matter Of developing and
building up the schools Of the state
and called attention to the fact that
there were 1900 girls who desired to
attend Winthrop during the next
term, while she was able to accom-
modate but 700, and said, II say dou-
BILE her capacity. We are able to do 1t,
and no better investment could be
made. I consider Winthrop the best
female college In the world. I have
lots Of experience with her graduates.
In no school Is the moral tone higher
and no pastor ever had more efficient
helpers in his own work than that
given by Winthrop girls, when he is
so fortunate as to have them"
The next and last speaker, was
Hon. John Porter Hollis Of Rock Hill.
AS the hour was late Mr.. Hollis stat
ed that he would not undertake to say
many things he would otherwise have
been glad to say. He deplored the
fact that Of all the states in the union
only one ranked below South Caro-
lima in illiteracy, stated that this con-
dition should not continue, as
there was no reason why the state
should not lead along educational
lines as 1t was doing along others, and
that he could be depended upon
either in or out Of the legislature to
do all in his power for the advance
ment and upbuilding Of the free, COM
mon schools Of the state. At the con-
clusion of Mr.. Hollis remarks the
meeting ended.