Mexico Missouri message., 1915-09-23

crowd present and the biggest and
best dinner ever seen by Mr.. .Emberson
in the evening they had a big meet
ing at Cant and another the next
morning there were three or four
schools present with their teachers.
l shall have to report their names
later. they had interesting meetings.
Thursday morning Mr.. Reavis, Miss
Root and myself visited the fine new
high school at Sturgeon. o. F. River
combe is the superintendent. The sto-
ry of this new high school building is
as wonderful as a fairy tale. Here is
part of it. Two years ago they were
doing three years of high school work
with two teachers, their equipment
was very poor, their building was in
adequate. At first the board thought
that it would take the peoples breath
to ask for $4,000, but they found it
would take at least $4,000, they went
after it and got it. But that meant an
inadequate addition, it would take
another $4,000 more to make it sat
isfactory. The negroes then decided
that they must have a new building;
$1,000 was voted for them, $4,000
more was voted for the white school.
Even that did not provide the equip
ment. Mr.. Rivercombe and the board
borrowed on their note $3.50 and put
in a first class heating system. Then
there were chairs and scenery for the
auditorium. The board would do no
more. Mr.. Rivercombe borrowed on
his personal note, $3.50 and they were
bought and practically all of the notes
paid off by the district and by enter
tainments. Now the levy has been
increased from soc to $1.SO, the
school has been raised from a poor
second class to first class in every
respect and the building is roomy,
modern and source of pride to town
and community, Mr.. Riverscombe,
may his tribe increase.
In the afternoon in company with
Mr.. Riverscombe, we drove to Pine
where we were met by five schools
and about 20 persons. 1t was a fine
meeting and much good will come of
it. Miss May Hofriehter, Pisgah,
was there with her pupils, Miss Mar
guerite Wright of Macedonia with
hers, Miss Vivian Littrell of Sames
with hers, Miss Fannie Formis with
hers, and Miss Elsie Cottingham of
Pine with hers. Banner p. Smoot.
lecturer for the State Board of Agri-
culture was also present and made an
interesting talk offering his assistance
l see no reason why these schools
should fail to carry off the premiums.
Teacher and pupils have nicely dec
GRATED the building with banner and
pictures. Shingles are on the ground
for recovering the house Extensive
improvements will be made soon.
Friday afternoon we all met at
Mexico for our final meeting. And it
was an exceptionally good one. Mr..
Emberson expected no more than 25,
but here were three times that many
or more. There were nine teachers
and eight schools represented. Miss
Lillian Flynt of Ringo came about 20
miles and roundabout way. None
of her pupils could come. Miss Ruth
Cook of Fisher came with her pupils,
Miss Edna McMurtry of Beaver Dam
with hers; Miss Abbie Sullivan, Prai-
rie Lea, with hers, Miss Percie Fuhrer
of Carter with hers, Miss Bessie Hick-
man OF Liberty with hers, Miss Bessie
Day of Duly with hers and Miss Ruth
Rouse of Sims with hers. 1t was a
fitting close for glorious weeks
campaign.
Mr. Reavis was at Martinsburg
Tuesday afternoon. All the pupils
took great interest in the club work,
and several large clubs were organ
lzed l predict that the Martinsburg
elut win be heard from in the county
Contest, and will carry home some
substantial prizes and honors.