The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-13

r'"ii'cc oS'een had to buy black
board and it was not enough, but the
trustees refused for a long lin,e to nay
lor mat Bethel has blackboards
rolled up which have never been
used. The Reid school has no pumn
Mss Edith Wells and her nuniIs
nave to sil with their wraps ON to
keep from freezing on cold days for
lack OF repairs TO the building. How
can any teacher, no matter how good
she may be, her best work without
olackboards, maps, a comfortabI4
mouse, fire, and not even a good
'r'hk OF water? All of these things
were called To- the trustees attention
by the teachers and patrons of these
schools, Yet Mr.. Wells wants to make
1t appear that these are little local
reports and opinions" and are moi
the sentiments of the whole district "
Or in other words, he wants 70 maka
II appear that the patrons of The
Bethel school know and approve of
all OF these and many more acts of
the trustees toward the small schools
Mr. wells says that Bethel took
at field day-more prizes-and won
ilrst honors etc. Let's see how one
was took \ man made an axe
hadle Tor his son and one for his
nephew. When the children went up
IS nephew carried in both the
handles and kept the numbers till
'he prize was awarded and went
up and claimed it and then gave the
other boy his number. But when the
ndleS were returned, this mans
81 n found that his handle was the
che that won the prize and he com
mcnced to kick about it SO the
etween them and made peace. This
is Madam Rumor's version. and this
will reach far away into the history
OF PriNateer.' The results can easily
be seen. the child will not likely de-
part from these things that are train
ed in him while he is a boy
Mr.. Wells says that the public had
no land or building-Bethel church
donated beautiful lot" right in the
edge of the grave yard-a good
place 10 bury the school. The trustees
bought lot from Messrs. Willie and
Waiter lyman and another from Mr..
+. II. Barkley which have never
been used and for the information OF
the Bethel patrons, as we'll as the 9th
ers. | will say that | have been in
formed that the land on which the
church is built was given by Col. Mil
Ter and Mr. Nettles to be used for
church purposes only. 50 in the event
that the church should cease to use
original tracts which are now owned
by Mr.. J. NJ. Kolb and Mr. w. F..
koib. y title given by the church in
this case would only be good as long
as the church uses the land. ii then
fut the worst of it is, that the church
has given no title. the church had a
ed to give the lot and appointed a
committee to see about il. but moth
ing more has been done. do not
know what share Mr. Wells had i'm
the church having this meeting but
some of the members are talking now
that the trustees. nor any one else
can use the building without the
church'S consent ana q title from the
church would not he good unless it
was agreed to by a majority Of the
members. This is the situation. which
| merely Incntion for information
but would it not he in keeping with
MIR. Wells record to tear up the
school and church both and let tho
land go back To the former tracts, if
he could do it? This is of course
only possibility. but one can never
tell what will happen.
would not have written this but
Mir. Wells says that he docs not
'lcc"gnizc me or my friends" and
"pokes little fun at us' and wishes
for some power t" see himself as
others see him. which cannot give.
but | have cndeaVorcd to furnish 4
few peep holes through which some
things can he seen. and have done
the best | could with the materials
which he has furnished, which
hope will suit him, as ne says that
knocks should he taken as well as
given. SO with this manner of give
and take and no hard feelings toward
lanNpnp. | am