The farmer and mechanic., 1910-08-30
Editorial Correspond ence)

with a meeting Of the Woman's Bet
+arment Association of Wake county,
and three notable address by three
notable men. and a dozen notable ad-
dresses Of deeds performed by that
many notable women. Not only were
all the teachers here who have attend
ed the two weeks Teachers Institute,
but there were a number or school
committeeman, women who are dong
great things for the Improvement OIL
the public schools, and residents OIL
this charming and hospitable village,
including the thirty odd law stud ents
who were preparing to go to Raleigh
on Monday to stand their eXan1lna-
tions to practice law. These later
gave evidence Of nervousness, but
that fact didn't interfere with their
appetite for the delicious barbecue
and picnic feast spread under the
towering oaks on the campus for all
dinner was better than the speeches.
for that would not be true, but
will say that it was very good and
the barbecue and brunswick stew
gave much more inward satisfaction
The three notable addresses were
College: Mr.. w. A. Simpkins, whose
success in the growing of cotton has
given him a national reputation; and
Rev A D. Wilcox, Of Raleigh, who
spoke eloquently and interestingly, on
the work Of the Junior Order for pub
lie education. Mr. Simpkins spoke
on, Back to the Farm and with
m odesty told the story Of his own life
and showed that under present cor di
tions, men who had a talent for farm
ing, could do better financially at
farming than in any other calling.
Som ething like like ten years ago,
Mr.. Simpkins bought farm in ST.
Matthew's township for $4,000. 1t
was regarded as one OF the poorest
in that section. He worked hard en-
riched it. made enough money on the
farm in four years to pay for it. and
today that farm is worth $4,000. In
what business could a man make
such large returns? 1t was well to
have a successful farmer to detail his
own experience and give weighty
counsel to teachers and farmers
The address by President Poteat
was able and full of power
| would like to print all the ad-
dresses, but my purpose is rather to
give some idea of the great work the
public schools through their Better
lnent ASSOciatiOn--a work that last
year raised s6,O22 to be spent in i'm
proving the pubic school buildings
and grounds, lengthening the school
terms, and In other ways promoting
the usefulness Of the public schools
Of the county. This s6,022 does not
include the products grown on Fl
school farms, which would make a
much larger fund. This big item is
not includ ed because the men do most
Of the work, and while these school
gardens are the outcome Of the inspi-
ration of the Woman's Betterment
the conscientious women
do not include the large receipts from
the rural schools. One result Of the
work of these women was to add 1872
days to the school terms in districts
where the women are at work in
Wake county.
Stop a minute reader! Think of the
pra ctical and inspirational value Of
the splendid work of making the
money to add 1872 days Of teaching
in the rural schools of Wake County.
That fact and the $500 are only the
concrete expressions Of these mighty
and they are Of smaller
importance than the increased inter
est created in the parents. the chill
dren and the teachers. This money
was not raised without cooperative
effort Whenever YOU have secured
e61r9tjOn in a npiph-