The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-26
The Wonder of 1t.


chlld' three years old, suffered an ac-
cldeht that rendered her a cripple and
invalid for life. What natb,.tic
sight 1t must have been in succeeding
years to see her hobbling on crutcbes
10 a distant school, a smile on her
wan face. Even more pathetic. ner-
haps was the way in which sba str,,.
sled 10 learn, subordinating suffering
10 thirst for knowledge. Here surely
was the beginning of a sad and drearv
life, begun in adversity and certain
70 end in grim disaster. Poor
child,' said the neghbor. What
chance is there for herr
But when on Monday. Sonbia p
Wright died, the newspapers of New
Orleans with one accord declared
that the first citizen of the municin-
atty and of the State had passed
away. From every commonwealth in
the Union came flowers and tele-
grams. A feeling of personal loss and
sorrow fell on the more than $4,000
persons whom she in her goodness
mad led from hopelessness into light
from darkness into dawn. For the
frall cripple of three had never SIR.
rendered to fate. The hours She was
forced to spend at home she used
splendidly. AT eighteen she was q
wonderfully well educated woman.
She opened "A school for girls. Her
Keen eye detected the need for a free
night school, a remarkable incident
showing her the necessity of begin
nlng 1t at once. How that school
came TO fill place in the communi-
", how 1T lifted young women out of
the depths, how it leavened the entire
system Of education in New Orleans.
or even in the country, is one of the
miracles of modern times. This Grip
pied invalied teaching all day and
cheerfully giving her services until
late in the night for those who couId
not attend school at any other time
was an inspiration to all who knew
OF it, and in her city there was none
so low and none SO high that Sophie
3. Wright was not almost a personal
friend to him.
The New Orleans Picayune gives
annually a loving-cup to the best
citizen of New Orleans" Never was
:hoice So emphatically approved as
when the Progressive Union, compos-
ed of the business men of the town,
voted a few years ago that the cup
should be given to Sophie b. Wright.
So inSistent were her boys" to be
present AT the presentation that two
celebrations Were necessary, a second
one at night when those who worked
by day could attend. Directly there
after, public gift of thousands of
dollars wherewith to meet a mort
gage on Miss Wright's school proper
ty was made. Cities all over the
country demanded her presence on
the lecture platform. One of the
great new public schools of New
Orleans was named in her honor. 1t
was she who made possible the Home
for Incurable, retreats in the country
for the needy sick, she who fed thou
sands on Thanksgiving Day and dis
tributed gifts by thousands at Christ
N IF har a.
ties would fill a volume, recital of
her deeds of kindness would tax our
printing facilities. Orphans. too,
came TO be her special care. How could
she do SO much? Providence seemed
to give her strength She never hesi-
tated TO overtaX herself.
For years Sophie B. Wright Strug-
gled without reward save such as
came from the gratitude OF her pu-
pills. often difficulties almost in
superable rose in her path over
them all she triumphed. If in her
last days she was wreathed in honors
they We're Of less significance To her
than To others. Her heart WAS in
her work. not in the plauditS of men.
Cntil four days before she died she
continued to teach. She passed as
gently into the other world as she
had lived in this. She will never be
forgotten. Poor ittle cripple of New
Orleans Fate is impotent in the
clear light of such life. She WAS
+ superior to conditions New Orleans
viii wait long before il sees her like
a.-ain. News ana Courier.