Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-09-15

Her ranks are waning year by year on
southern hill and plain.
And whom the last black mammy's gone
she'll never come again:
Yet somewhere on the radiant hills be-
ss yond earth's Voc and vile,
Her dear old arms will fold again o Mis-
tus and ''her chile"
God bless her--till her weary feet shall
touch the shining shore;
Coo keep her with. his faithful ones At
rest forevermore!
Athens, Cain few days 1t is
hoped there will be begun the first
work OF actual building upon an in
stitution which Is unique In its nature
and original In its naming-the Black
Nanny Memorial institute. There
have been news notes and coarse al
lusions to the project in the public
press for the past several months.
but only recently has the institution
been really crystallized into what It
will actually be In its beginning. 4
AZ It IL the plans are for an expen-
diture three or four times what the
author Of the idea believed he could
raise to put in It year ago Be
ginning on hopes OF raising 8 thou
sand or twelve hundred dollars for
modest building, the plan became
known and from every section Of the
state. from Old Virginia and from the
southerners Ia the northern state ana
from as ardent northerners came sug-
gestions and advices which expanded
the plans to somewhat meet the rec.
ognized fitness and the appreciated
Offices which the racial peace monu-
ment" should mean.
Instead OF Ave acres Of land twenty
Ave have been bought on an eminence
in full sight Of the University Of Geor-
gia and with view out over the Inn.
mense tract embraced In the extern
sion territory of the university and
state college of agriculture all but In
sight Of the homes of Grady. the
Cobbs, and Toombs and Hills-in
sight Of the scenes frequented by hun
dreds who made the Old South the
paradise Of history and the elysium OF
romance. ;s
The charter of the association re-
veals the object OF the institution:
ITO maintain school to prepare col
ored boys and young men and colored
girls and young women for the prac-
tical duties Of life by training them
for domestic service and for service
In the arts and trades. and likewise
give them such academic training as
win best at them for carrying out
the main objects of this school,
There Us to be no capital stock and
there Is no pecuniary gain to be
made The teachers are to be paid
moderate salaries and the one who
has been instrumental IN bringing the
great plan OF the memorial institute
to a desired consummation has been
giving his nights and holidays and
vacation times to this labor Of love
while he made q living teaching IN the
city schools OF Athens.
The young negro teacher whose
work has brought to pass the prac-
teal memorial which shall not only
serve as monument Of stone but a
living remembrance in active hearts
and lives of newer sort Of trained
negro youth. Is himself grandson
OF the 'old black nanny" Of the days
that were. Mrs. John D. Moss. a
member OF one OF the wealthiest fam
lilies Of the state, has taken care to
find out something about this young
negro and she tells the story Of his
struggle and his success, Of his quiet
seven years Of effort and thought In
the interest Of the institution which
he is now to lead.
Sam F. Harris was born in Athens
thirty-six years ago and his grand
father, whose name he bears, was q
slave in a wealthy Georgia family,
who "hired out" his time as q skilled
shoe maker and made considerable
money at this vocation: Young Sam
Harris was educated at the Athens
city schools and In the Atlanta uni
versity. Coming back from college
he was In charge OF the colored
schools at Gainesville when that sys-
tenn was hrst organized, under Prof.
n. e. Park, now head Of the English
department at the university being
the first colored teacher ever paid q
salary In Gainesville. After year
there he was made principal Of the
colored high school IN Athens and
has had that position ever since.
Even In this place he soon added '''1n-
dustrial' to the high schools name.
"A meeting Of some Of the most
prominent educators and business
and professional men in Athens was
held at the once OF Judge John ].
Strickland In the interest Of the
project. Those present were: VII.
liam 7. Bryan, president Of the Athens
Electric railway and Industrial build
or OF this section; Billups PhiniEy,
president Of the Southern Mutual In
surance company and capitalist; T,
Y. Vincent Of the Georgia National
bank: John 3. Talmadge, ST., presi-
dent Of Talmadge Mills and head OF
the wholesale house OF Talmadge;i
John .. Moss, president Moss Cot
ton company; e. r. Hodgson. presi-
dent Empire State Chemical company;
EN- A l.ANxNEn,s &MAx n