The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-23
.saleoNI1a1sEv sqpaoI4s.
Started by Mrs. Cora w.
Stewart in Kcntuoky Has Spread to
Many Other States.

s. ~ " p art.. 4. 80 -
Many Other states.
(Mrs. Cora Wilson stewart, founder
OF the Kentucky Moonlight Schools, in
the Survey Press service.l
Amusing. indeed, have been the va
rious impressions that have prevailed
throughout the country in regard to
moonlight schools. Some have imas-
insd them to be schools whore children
studied and played and seampered on
the green like fairies in the MOON
likht. others have believed them to
be Ideal courting schools. where lovers
stolled arm in arm, quoted poetry,
and told the old. old story by the light
OF the bewitchins moon. Others have
speculated upon their being schools
where moonshinera. youthful ana aged
were instructed In the most scientific
methods Of extracting the juice from
the corn. and, at the same time, the
most secretive to prevent government
interference. fi'
When ! was superintendent OF Row
an county schools served as secre-
tary to q number Of illiterate folk
a mistaken Kindness. ought to have
been teaching them 20 read and write.
Among these folk was woman whose
children had grown UP without. edu-
cation. except one daughter, who had
had q. limited schooling. sho had
gone to Chicago and there had ,profit-
cd by that one advantage at least
which the city possesses over the ru-
raj district-the night school. Her
letters were the only source of Joy that
came into that aged mothers life. and
the drafts which they contained were
the only means Of relieving her ,eces-
stiles. 1s
Often che brought the daughters
letters over the hill. seven miles. to
the county seat. for me to read and
answer for her. After an abser.ce of
some six weeks. she came in one
morning fondlins a letter. / antici-
pAted, her mission. and said: "A letter
from YOUR daughter? shall reaa and
answer 1t for your"
With dignity and pride. she replied |:
II kia answer It fer myself---I've
larned to read and write"
( In anaxement questioned her. and
this IL the story she told: Some.
times I couldn't get over here to sec
you, and the 'cricks' would be up be-
tween me and the neishbors, or the
neishbors would be away from home.
and would not get letter read and
answered for three or four days; and.
anyway. 1t jist seemed like like thar
wus q wall twixt Jane and me all the
time. and I wanted to real with MY
own eyes what hsahad Writ with her
own hand. So went tocSsSft and /
bought me spelier. and sot up at
night till midnight. and som metimes till
dayiisht-and learned to read and
wtite." 80 4;,f%N 3ses ~;
Incidents like this led directly to
the establishment OF the moonlight
schools The public school teachers Of
thu county were called together. The
fact that there wefs 1852 mon and
women whom the schools OF the pas.
had lett behind was dwelt upon. s.rhe
teachers were asked 10 voluntssr f6r
night school service. to open their
schools on inooniit eysninss4--to give
these people = chance This they
chserfuliy agreed 70 do, and on Labor
Day, September 4. 1911. th,se teach
era cslebrated' by visiting every farm
house and every howell inviting people
OF. all classes TO attend the moonlight
schools which were to open their ses-
isions the next evening. s.
These country folk; had. all the, o.
cuses that any toilworn people eyer
had, There were rugged roads 10
travel. high hills 10 climb, streams
without. bridges, to cross. children 70
lead and babes to carry. but they were
not seeking exeusss. they were sec,-ins
knowiedss. And 80 they. came rhsy
came. some singlS and alone. they
cams hurrying In groups: they came
travelling for miles: they, came carry
Ing babes in their arms; they came
bent with age ana leaning on canes:
they came 1900 strong. ~,
GOOD GAME FOR THURSDAY.