The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-01-13


4 most imPort:Gnt event. Some have
saiG, Nothing vas done t. Snow how
the evils of the times can be re-
NEEDED 1ae pioneers in everything
never put full blown flowers forth,
never are given credit for the fruit of
their work But the conference was
needed and what IS needed thoughtful
humanitarians work out. They lay
the foundation, mind acts with mind,
the wave is started irchore-and if
each one rides it wisely, they land
somewhere somehow, on solid
ground. Cooperation is. the power
that will accomplish educating the
white children, as it does in every
thing, and this is what that con-
ference did in organizing the earnest
workers of the State for developing
the better plan to bring about un-
iversal education of the whites.
have lived in the country, l have
mingled with the poorest people, and
think l can see the rock against
which they bruise their own feelings.
l sympathize with them because
understand them better than many
of the men and women who ARE so
actively, so enthusiastically working
for compulsory educationP
'Somtime3 the greater the en-
thusiasm the greater the E1is takes.
What applies TO factory and to mill
children, all congregated together,
does not apply to segregated homes,
in fact is simply impossible A law
that can not be enforced is worse than
not having it. A law that in the eyes
Of many of the mothers seems harsh
and jDhuman will never work out this
important end ,e are striving after.
Now l know of my personal know
ledge that there are children in the
remote country who can never
comply with the compulsory bill,
whose parents are just as anxious
for the advancement of their child
as the rich man is for his; but It is
simply a physical impossibility to do
one cent more than keep the wolf
from the door,. It all sounds beauti-
ful in the assembly halls, in the news
papers, from the platforrl-'com-
pulsory education, compulsory educa-
tion!'-but in some homes it can not
be done under the Gill as It now
reads. we can cage the bird, but
We can not make him sing
$50 let the thinking men and wo-
men work out the problem Of supply
ing books, decent clothes, strong
shoes to walk to the SCHOOLS in and
the compulsory part, of this bill Will
soon be unnecessary. In one Of the
States the books are supplied. If the
State is the good parent it must not
r2y to tie children, You shall do
thus and so, witaout knowing that
the, child can carry oct the command.
If paren1 lays down law that can
not in reason be obeyed why that
parent only arouses rebellious feel
ing awakens unfortunate friction be-
tween mother and child The State
is more obligated to look out for her
unfortunate children than for her
prosperous ones.
'It has occurred to me that if the
women of each neighborhood, work
ing for the betterment of humanity, |
united their efforts and supplied prop
er clothes for even one girl, and the
State supplied the books, then we
might achieve Statewide education
without friction. The missionary
societies and our federation of clubs |
supply the whereWithal for education,
scholarships are offered, money is
sent across the ocean for the heather !
Chinese, and here, right in each !
State, our boys and girls are ordered
to attend school and have nothing to
wear, some of them. Several of the
speakers at the conference touched
upon the social element in rural
schools. This is absolutely necessary !
if we wish to educate the country
child. For some years I have been
interested in sending literature to
country schools and am more than
repaid by the influence my books and
have had, as indicated by
letters to me from teachers and pup
lis.
f'If the women right in this city
realize the amount Of pleasure and
sunshine magazines carry into remote
homes they would select one school
anu MAKE ludI L1S11 OUJSSL4FS pO1AI
for all castaway literature. Once be-
gun it becomes "nat pleasure as
we'll as duty"
The Institution for the Deaf, the
Dumb and the Blind.
l am informed that this institution
was founded in 1S49 by n P. Walker,
the father of the present superinten-
dent, and for many, many years the
present superintendent, assisted by
his good wife with her loving aid and
encouragement, has devoted all his
time and all his energies to this
school. L'r. ard Mrs. Walker have
now both grown to an age where they
need some rest and care, and l think
the devotion which they have shown
to their State through their love for
these little blind, deaf and dumb child
rem, entities them to the lasting
gratitude of every man and woman
in South Carolina This institution
is wonderful. l saw things there at
the commencement exercises last year