The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-02
THE WORK OF THE G. 8. M. A.
Col. John j. Dargan Points out That
First Demonstration Farm In Con-
nectiOn with School was Operated
Thcre-TOmatO Clubs Organized
There.

'oi D"i hiiStoIi, tellS Ol the WORK De
ing done, in an adjoining county, to
build up the rural districts of that
county. To think that five demonstra-
ton farm attachments to consolidat-
ed schools are on the way to estab-
hshment in that one county! This
idea Of joint work Of farm and school
has for q long time been in my mind
as the very best method of giving
growth to country life. Indeed it
seems to me to be the only way to
mold superior population In the
country and to attract additions to
such population. Impelled by this
idea, after hearing great speech by
DR.. Knapp, at Pinehurst, n. c., in
L went to Washington in 1907, and
into DR.. Knapps office and told him
l had come to ask if some connection
between the national agricultural de-
partment and the country schools
could not be effected. This interview
resulted in a visit Of DR.. Knapp to
the school of two days and the estab-
lshm>at Of the first demonstration
farm in the South, in connection with
rural school. 1t was fortunate, in
deed, for this initiatory work tc com
mence under the egis of so widely
l read of this splendid work, now ad-
vancing so rapidly throughout the
South, recall with infinite gratifica-
ton the postscript to DR.. S. G. Mitch.
ellis Letter OF sympathy, at the burn
ing of the Academy on the 10th day
of March, 1911, How grateful should
all be that the good work which the
G. S. M. A. has done can't be lundone.
Fire cannot destroy that" were his
valued words. And today as we watch
the spread of the work, that the acad-
emy initiated, while it had life and
form and now as we stand amid the
ruins Of the old building, we find our
selves repeating 1T is better to have
loved and lost than never to have low
ed at ALL" The fact is honest and
earnest labor in any good cause is
never lost. mo life can be pure in
it's purpose and strong in it's strife and
all life not be purer and stronger
thereby" The life of the academy
was brief and soon the people OF
Sumter county will be able to buy the
site, on which it stood, at public auc-
tiOn, but thanks to our kindly stars
1T has precious memories that can't
be sold or annihilated. 1T was here"
said o. b. Martin, in Boston, that
the suggestion OF the tomato clubs
originated and it will never be forgot
ten that it was this academy that sue
ceeded in getting up monument on
the grave of Gen. Sumter, where the
NAMED unmarked for seventy-hve
years and that the circumstance of
the unveiling O. such d monument to
such q man, aroused the interest of
the American nation and the grand
and noble character, then presiding
at the White House, saw to it that the
nation should take proper notice of
such an interesting event and the at
tendance OF the soldiers and the
reading Of the presidents magnificent
letter and the presiding over the oc-
casiOn of the Governor of South Caro-
lima and the speech Of the Governor
of Virginia, are all here to stay as
memories for ages to come. Gov.
Montague has recently written to say
he has never attended exercises of
any kind that Interested him more
than the events of that day.
The purchaser of this property
whoever he be and from whatever
country he may come if he be a man
OF patriotism and intelligence, will
have it recorded somewhere, on this
sacred hill. that this was one time the
site of the General Sumter Me-
mortal Academy, erected in memory
of one of the most noted military
heroes OF the world, with the pseud-
onym Of "Gamecock" because of his
superb courage that dies game; but
never surrenders" and that this acad-
emy was instrumental in having the
legislature of South Carolina erect a
monument to Sumter'S memory and
formally dedicated it as closing
part of the splendid unveiling eXer-
cises. to the cause Of universal peace
and that the principles for federation
for which Gen. Sumter had striven.
SO successfully and gloriOusly, should
be preserved, not simply to the MAX
ing OF Il republic of republics in
America-a union of sovereign indies
tructible States--but that this fedcr-
alton should now be extended to the