The commonwealth., 1913-12-26
SUBSCRIPTION. $1.50 PER YEAR

they can't, they are absorbed in the big
things.
Who can make $lO0 go as far as
$2. 90 best. man or woman? Who has
been trained in cconom2jng in little
things in order 10 do this. men or WON
en-? 1t would save the State many
dollar if there were few women on
the boards Of trustees. Won't you help
up with this?
! 9TH Compulsory Education. To my
mind this is one of the most important
| objects, for several reasons First, no
man or woman who hasn't n common
school education. that is who has not
leon through high school course, has
u falr chance in life. After that if
they are capable Of using more. or the
higher education, they will get it for
themselves. The average age of grad
uuto IN our high school is, | should
think, about IS or l9. What child un-
der that age Is wise enough to decide
for himself or herself the most import
ant thing in life? And how can parents
who are in many instances too ignorant
to know what a handicap ignorance il,
be entrusted with the duty Of being the
sole Judge of whether their children
shall grow up in the same ignorance, or
shall take advantage Of the education
the State offers them? is it not the
duty Of the State to step in and say.
my destiny lies in the hands of
these my future citizens, and they shall
not grow up in ignorance, for ignorance
CANNOT do the best for any country
We are feeling safe under our present
Constitution. but heard the father Of
that Constitution say that years would
do nWHy with the protection from
ignorance given us by the understand
ing clause" for the negro would learn
to read it. And the danger, was that
feeling safe under it, the white man
might overlook the fact that it is nee,
essary for his children to advance In
knowledge Of everything it takes for
the safety of State, in order that
they might evolve other methods as
as they are needed. Can ignorance
evolve any good thing? know it is 30
in some counties, and dare to say to
each Of you ask the Supt of Education
in your county which race has the lar
gest per cent. of it's children failing
to take advantage of the schools fur
nshed by the State, the white or the
black? and the answer would be the
white! Nearly every negro child goes
to school nearest him all the time it is
open, And all of US know Of numbers
of white children who 60 to school or
not, just as it suits them or the
selfish convenience Of their families.
The whole world Is taking ignorance
by the throat and throttlng the life
out Of it, are we going to be willing to
have our children more ignorant than
the children of the rest of the world!
Some comparative statistics on the
percentage Of ignorance in the State of
this union place Mississippi about az in
the line. Are we proud Of that show
ing? Won't you help US have the State
to see 20 it that every child within her
borders takes an education? The men
will do these things for our children If
WE but awaken to our duty and point
it out TO them.
The Central Commit tee believing in
an ll,wise, all powerful. ALLOWING and
God, who WILL do all that He
has promised TO do, help HIS children
in their efforts for the furtherance Of
His Kingdom, are asking the women
all over the State to meet in one place In
each town or neighborhood at O'Clock
on the afternoon of Sunday, the elev-
cntb Of January, 1914, and pray for the
success of these objects. viii you do
this? And let US remember that God
does not promise US any but the land
upon which the sole Of our foot
presses. We are to do ALL we can and
THEN He help us TO accomplish.
MRS. r. r. HENDERSON,
nIZZIE GEORGE HENDERSON,
Chairman Central Committee Woman's
0roaniyafiops