The farmer and mechanic., 1915-06-01

one visit to the White OAK,
Proximity and Revolution cotton mills
in Greensboro, usually fills the VISITOR
with wonder at so many things done
for the people and you go away won
dering what else could be done, but a
second or third visit a year or so later
uncovers many new things with more
ideas advancing. These mills have
natural reputation for the extensive
welfare they are doing, and it is al
Inost like repeating an Oft-told-tale TO
tell of the things there, but perhaps
there is some mill man in another
section of the State who would like
to adopt some form Of welfare work,
and for this reason, l will give hur-
ried sketch of the work.
About IL years ago Mr.. Caesar Cone,
who is the moulding factor of this
work, employed a young woman of
suitable ability to take charge of the
welfare work Of his mills, and since
that time the mills have grown and
the work has progressed until many
revolutions have been made in the
living conditions of the people.
Education.
Perhaps the greatest work of all
done at these mills is the splendid
system Of education. Not only have
they surpassed all the other mills in
not know of high school or graded
school in the State where the children
are receiving as full course Of training
and care as the children of the opera
tives of these mills. Well equipped
buildings accommodate more than 500
pupils where the best of teachers
carry on a nine months school. The
major part of the expenses of these
schools is supported by the mills The
wards the support, but it is SO small
that it might well be said that the
mill runs it entirely There are sew
ing classes for the children of all
ages, and they are taught practical
sewing lessons. One of the greatest
photographs, to my mind, that l have
ever seen is the picture illustrating
shown who made the dress she is
wearing. One can look at this pict-
ure for some time and have strange
thoughts when these little children
are compared to numbers and numb
ers of girls that the spectator knows
who cannot even make a garment OF
any description. The girls are also
taught to cook, and lessons of sanitary
and tidy kitchens and homes are laid
before them. There are kindergarten
classes for the smaller children, and
night classes for the girls and boys
who work at night. In addition tC
the cooking and sewing classes fol-
the children, the mothers are also
Siven instruction in both of these
branches and there are several clubs
among the women where they are
doing some very good work
About two years ago kinder.
garten building was erected in the
Proximity village which also provide:
room for the cooking and sewing de.
partment of the school and the clubs
and a welfare building was erected a.
White Oak which serves for the same
purpose. On the second floor of tn,
welfare building the two distric
nurses live who have charge of tn,
two villages.
Nurses and Sanitation.
The two nurses visit daily thos
who are sick and teach sanitation
throughout the village. Weekly re
ports are made out of all illness an,
turned into the office, so that the mil
company is directly in touch witt
every case of sickness and indisposi
tion in the village Sanitation and tn
prevention of diseases are emphasiZ