The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-06-08
SCHOOL SEEMS TO
BE A SUCCESS

The Star cOnfesses that it was not
very optimistic about the location of
the state industrial school for girls
in Ocala. Judging by what we had
heard of such institutions in other
states, and of the school for boys in
this state, we were inclined to regard
said school as more of liability than
an asset.
This impression was not removed
by the first few months of the ex-
istence of the school here. 1t was
evidently not running properly-the
bearings kept heating up. Time after
and finally one night about four
fifths of them took French leave.
They were recaptured; of course, but
deliberately elected to go to jail
rather than return TO the school as
long as the superintendent then In
charge remained there.
Said superintendent doesn't seem
to have been the right person for the
job. With great deal of energy, and
a natural disposition to be kind to
those she liked, she was possessed of
temper that gave way under provo
cation. No doubt that she sometimes
had provocation. But any person
who can't control his or her temper
has no business in charge of a re-
formatory institution.
Up to the time the girls went on
this strike, they had been, so to
speak, rather herded off from people
with the disposition and the influence
to make things easier for them. They
were denounced as little toughs who
far preferred to remain tough than
become tender. They were aware of
this feeling toward them, and of
course, resented it; and some of them,
feeling they might as well have the
game as the name acted accordingly.
The fact, however, that they had
chosen the Jail in preference to their
new and comfortable home woke the
people up to a realization that they
might have been misjudged, and when
they were sized up they were found
to be bunch of little girls in hard
luck, making plucky fight for what
rights they had, but very responsive
to kindness. Popular sympathy in the
town went over to them with rush,
and began stirring that way in the
state The officials, who should never
have allowed such a condition to ex-
list, sat up and took notice. They
found to their surprise that this lit
tie band of girl kids virtually had the
state government where the wool was
short. They took the wisest course,
they let the obnoxious superintendent
resign; whereupon the girls went
back to the school and have given
no trouble since.
1t was the Stars privilege to cham
pion the cause of the children, and it
is one of the things it will never be
sorry for. None of the many whom
it has stood up for have been more ap-
preciative.
The other day we had the pleasure
of visiting the girls and their teach
ers for the first time since they re-
moved into their new home. AS all
our people know, it is one of the best
situated residences in this section. A
big brick building, two stories and a
basement, stands on the hill where a
number of years ago was located the
fine mansion which for some time was
headquarters of the Marion Farms.
This was burned a dozen years or
more ago. It is in full view of the
Silver Springs boulevard and COM
mands a wide sweep of the best farm
ing land in the state. It is reached
from Ocala by the Fort King road,
running along the ridge from the
city TO the site of the old fortress of
Seminole war fame. This road is not
in good condition, and the city and
county should get together on it as
soon as possible, for it would be not
only an useful highway but very
pretty drive.
We went out to the school with Fire
Chief Chambers, who had to look
after theSfre plugs 1.-THE school uses
city watel and arrived about 4:30
p. m. Driving thru the grounds, we
found about a dozen of the girls out
under the trees, reading, studying or
sewing. In front of the school is a
big liveoak. the spread of its boughs
making a perfect arbor. It is a fav-
orite place for the inmates of the
school on hot days. Perhaps they
don't know it, but it was in direct
line from the village of 0sceola to
Fort King, and it is very likely that
the Seminole chieftain and his war
riors have rested beneath it many
times.
We found the superintendent, Miss
Lumie B. Davis, in the Office of the
school. Miss Davis was virtually
elected superintendent by the girls.
| She came here as teacher about five
months ago. She was a witness of
much of the trouble between the then
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