The farmer and mechanic., 1915-06-08

VI W. aAC SOuuty SClfOO1S.
pletely in hand pioneer had been
succeeded by kindred pioneer
spirit
A Fight the Women Won.
Eight years ago at Charlotte the
men teachers of the State were sud
denly awakened to new idea. AL
though the membership of the State
Teachers Assembly was largely of
women, they had been looked upon as
| wards of the lords of creation" Two
brilliant women brought about a rev.
olution, by demanding that the wom-
en- be permitted to pay two dollars
| as yearly dues, instead of half fare,
one dollar. They declared they were
| full grown human beings and that
| they were doing their share Of the
work and wanted to bear their share
of the burden. They won. Likewise
| they won the cause behind the fight.
Equal work should have equal ppay.
Ever since that day North Carolina
has been moving toward that good
day when women teachers Will be
paid salary prOpOrtiOnate with SER
vices rendered. The leaders of this
memorable cause were Miss Edith
Royster of Raleigh, and Miss Lea
Jones, of Charlotte, now Mrs. Stew
ems, of New Bern.
The subject of this sketch is the
former, now acting county superin
"
, a new idea there succeeded, SO she has
gone on advancing new ideals of up
life in Wake county. A visit to any
t public school in the county and a
glance at the little tots and the better
way in which their feet are being
r trained to, the paths Of progress
speaks for her organization Of the
? primary work. She has started
} something nobody can stop, to use ar
levery day expression. And not ever
|. the skeptic of five years ago could be
s persuaded to try to impede.
Some Eloquent Action.
Community spirit has been preached
in eloquent tones from a thousand
I and more platforms Of North Caro-
Z lima. Every orator has heard Of those
y magic words; and they are pleaSan
|, to roll from the tongue. Miss Roystel
l | never has said so much about com
ID munity spirit She simply knew it
= fullest meaning several years ago
= and she has been too busy stirring
y into action to waste her time doing tn
- sounding bell'' act. Scores of bet
= terment associations all over Wax
county are doing a work that can
not be measured except in terms o
an enlarged life. These have no
been organized and left to work Ou
their salvation while the organize
sat down to count noses" Result
was the thing Miss ROyster was look
ing for, and not meaningless figure
! | Results have come and all the tim
| the figures are mounting up. The
say not a word, yet after all here
loud argument, true eloquence.
Mothers and teachers are tOuchin
hand head and heart over the we
fare of the little fellows Both al
working to see the fullest side of tf
opportunity and develop it in the mo
effective way. More girls are learl
ing now to sew right, to cook rlSh
to can and preserve the fruits OF o
chard garden and field, to be MOI
independent than ever before. III
lessons of health are being apple
better than ever before, better
Wake county through the medium
the public school than in but fe
others probably in the whole South.
What part did Miss Edith Royst
have in all these things? If there
one among you who doubt, let him g
himself to the countryside and l
ouire at every farm home. of moth
and father, at every school house,
teacher and pupil, and find the
SWer.
She refused to allow the coun
board of education to elect her coun
Superintendent She is asslsta
county superintendent now, and s
lty is content for the time to let 1t go
that She is glad that pioneer ed