The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-06-16
IN Experience at Winthrop.
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Dear Advertiser Readers:
| wish it had been possible for every
farmers wife and daughter in Laurens
county to have heard the speech of
the Hon. A. f. Lever before the gradu-
ating class of Winthrop College on the
night Of June lst. | had thought but
little of what his speech would be
about--possibly the usual platitudes
that go with a commencement address
maybe along the order of Beyond
the Alps lies Italy," When the speak
er Of the evening was introduced by
President Johnson and he announced
his subject THE Economic Needs of
the Rural Woman" | sat up and took
notice and ardently longed for a piece
of paper that | might take notes for
those of my sisters who were not SO
fortunate as to be there. could at
least have gotten an outline for you as
it memory will have to be called on.
He told Of what had been done to
help the mantle farmer. He COM
pared the home as the heart Of the
farm, but the vital part-the heart of
! that hOmc-the woman had been long
class" he asserted has been neglected
in 4 degree almost criminal by the
Federal government" He explained
what the Smith Lever bill recently
IN, Il - Il,
rural woman. He pictured in words
realistic and true, the homes--not
homes however-merely places to exist
of the $4,000 white tenant farmers
fact that the agricultural interests OF
South Carolina, of the South, were
surely passing into the hands Of an
inferior race.
of the average tenant farmer stood be-
fore ones mental eye in all it's ugliness
nakedneSs and barenesS-no conve-
niences, no comforts, only base neces-
saries. mo wonder, he exclaimed
that the average farmers wife shows
the marks Of the hard life and is an
old and broken woman at fifty years!
Four things the country woman
Ipany and money. The first and most
vital need was watcl-.pure, free run
ming water. Experts had said and tru-
Ily so, that ninc-tenthS Of the drudg-
nr nf fo no n Ia l.
cd by running water in the home" and
from an experience OF a life time ] CRY
heartily, amen! Just now while
write it would give me new lease OF
life if only there was plenty of water
at hand without the cver-costing
back-brcaking rope and pnlly. -Four
luSty, dirty. simon pure future Amcri-
can citizens are now yelling and kick
ing up dirt 1t is going to be hard
! Job for somebody to get that quartcttc
clean. More water, less pills" slo-
gan for farm women.
Two of the most important factors
in securing money and that includes
conveniences and comfort will be found
in good roads and gasoline. In these
two lies the agency whereby the bank
accounts of the farm women, will
grow. Ile urged that the prayer OF
the rural women should be unceasing-
| ly-good roads and gasoline. He gave
as concrete examples of this the cream
; routes that go out from Rock Hill
and Clemson. The money that flows
into the pockctbooks Of the farm wo-
men along these routes are from pro-
ducts hitherto gone to waste.
His closing words to the graduating
class Of 1915 were full OF earnest and
wholesome advicc-to find the sphere
in rural schools to bring cheer and
| hope to farm fothers. If any OF my
readers ever have the opportunity go
hear Lever speak. | notice that he is
to be one OF the speakers at Ware
Shoals July 3rd. If YOU possibly can
get there. 90. He has message for
the rural woman-he is earnestly
striving for her bcttermcnt shall
always be glad was one OF his audi
encc that heard his forccful, helpful,
eloquent speech at Winthrop College.