The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-02-17

otsts W WI ana NOW WORN 70 6e-
ing Copied In Other states-Founder
Tells What Work Means To Back.
ward Thousands.
Lexington. Ky. Amusing indeed
have been the various impressions that
have prevailed throughout the country
IN regard to moonlight schools" writes
Cora Wilson Stewart, founder OF the
famous moonlight schools OF Kentucky.
Some have imagined them to be
schools where children studied and
played and scampered on the green
like fairies In the moonlight Others
have believed them TO be ideal court.
Ing schools"
II was In the obscure position Of
county superintendent OF Rowan coun
ty that Mrs. Stewart began four years
ago the work that has carried the al.
phabet and spelling book into the dark.
est corners OF her state. Today she IL
president OF the Kentucky illlteracy
commission. author OF Country Life
Readers" and has the satisfaction OF
seeing her work copied In many other
states. How that work began and
what II has meant 20 the back ward
thousands Of her state she herself tells:
when was superintendent Of
Rowan>county schools served as sec.
rotary to a number OF illiterate folk
q mistaken kindness. ! ought To have
been teaching them to read and write
Among these folk was woman whose
children had grown up without educa.
ton. except one daughter. who had
had limited schooling. She had gone
20 Chicago and there had profted by
that one advantage at least which the
city possesses over the rural 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 necessities.
often she brought the daughters
letters over the hill. seven miles. to the
county seat. for me 20 read and answer
for her. After an absence Of some SIX
weeks she came in one morning fon
ding a letter. ! anticipated her mis-
sion and said: "A letter from your
daughterf Shall ! read and answer II
for your
with dignity and pride. she replied.
I kin answer II fer myself-rve larned
to read and write
in amazement I questioned her, and
this u the story she told: Sometimes !
couldn't get over here TO see you, and
the "cricks" would be up between me
and the neighbors or the neighbors
would be away from home. and
would not get a letter read and an.
swered for three or four days. and
anyway II jist seemed like thar wuz a
wall 'twixt Jane and me all the time.
and ! wanted to read with my own
eyes what she had writ with her own
hnnd. So ] went 20 store. and
bought a speller. and I sot up at night
I'll midnight and sometimes TIL day.
light, and learned TO read and write
incidents like this led directly TO
the establishment OF the moonlight
The public school teachers OF
the county were called together. The
fact that there were l.152 men and
women whom the schools Of the past
had left behind was dwelt upon. The
teachers were asked to volunteer for !!
night school service. to open their
schoolsT on moonlit evenings-to give
these people chance. This they cheer.
fully agreed TO do. and on Labor day,
Sept. 4. 1911, these teachers celebrated
by visiting every farmhouse and every
howell. inviting people OF all classes to
attend the moonlight schools"