The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-06
MARTHA BERRY. (Exclusive Service The Survey Press
 Bureau)

MARTHA BERRY.
 GExclusive Service The Survey Press
 Bureau)
 Miss Berry is the founder and di- rector of one of the most unique edu- cational institutions in the South which she describes in this article-an i institution which is meeting one of the little thought of southern problems the poor boys of the mountainsl.
 Ten years ago in little log-cabin at my home I began teaching a few poor boys and girls in a little Sunday school. Seeing their lack of education, and visiting their homes in the differ ent parts of the country, I discovered that the great and real need of these people was an Industrial school on their own ground, where they could be taught some farming and carpen- ter's work, the value of time and the dignity of labor. After working for four years and establishing five Sum- day and day schools in the most needy parts of the county, I founded an In .dustrial school for the poor white boys of the South. I tried to get people in- terested\ to help me in this work, and while they sympathized with me in my efforts and recognized the great need of such school, still they did not seem inclined to giEe actual money, which was needed badly to start the school The only thing left for me to do to carry out this enterprise was to deed a tract of land of 100 acres of land given to me when a little girl by my father, and build upon it a ten limited I found it necessary to have this building put up by day laborers, ma king the cost as small as possible. When this building was finished I had no money to buy furniture, but l felt that was a, minor point.
 I decided to start the school with few boys and get them interested in making tables and benches out of box eS, and determined that we would buy only such things we were obliged to have. I bought few cots and chairs and a friend gave me a small kitchen stove. With this meagre out fit the Berry School began it's exist ence January 13. 1902. A friend vol unteered to give her services as a teacher. Our industrial department consisted of four hoes, one spade, two horse, 'fRony,'' which we called our Sunday school horse. because he had done such faithful service throughout the country. We kept him busy through the week going into the near est town bringing out needed supplies. and then he also did all the hauling.
 On our opening. day we, had five boys, and within a few weeks we had eight cen. Then the problem arose how we were going to feed them; teach them to cook, scrub, wash their clothes, care for their roomsy etc. Also a regular course of study had to be mapped out, and we had to look after their physi- cal and mental as well as their spir- itual welfare. q charged these boys $5 a month, but some were too poor to pay even that amount, and we had to give them extra work to make up the. sum. Two hours work each day was required from each boy as his reg ular apportionment of work, aside from the extra work. vi &&
 Three out of the first eighteen boys we had have graduated from our school and are holding positions of trust. One of them is leading his classes at the University of Georgia, and is president of the Y. M. c. A. Am other is teaching and helping to up- lift poor and ignorant country boys,