The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1919-06-19
A REPLY 10 asuBscRTBER..

A REPLY TO SUBSCRIBER.
The public has a right to demand
faithful service at the hands Of all
officials. 1t is not at all improper to
criticise the official acts Of a public
servant, if done in a proper spirit and
for the purpose Of improving con-
ditions. But it is unjust, to say the
least, to rush into print under cover
and make charges indiscriminately
without first ascertaining the real
facts in the case.
We shall take time to reply to a
few Of the statements made by the
displeased mother, writing in last
weeks issue of the Reveille under the
headlines, "The Poorest Commence
ment Ever Held in Claiborne Coun-
W" This statement may, or may
not be, correct. There were visitors
present, however, who were kind e.
nough to speak words Of commenda-
tion before leaving the grounds. This
could have been merely acts Of court
esy, but we choose to consider them
as expressions of appreciation.
The baroness of the stage was, in
deed appalling. That may be charged
to me. It occurred through mis-
understanding and not neglect We
are sorry, indeed sorry, that these
bright and promising girls and boys
had to end their common school
course amid such unattractive sur
roundings We hoped to forget the
appearance of the stage and remem-
Der only the intelligent and hopeful
young faces Of that graduating class.
Vain hopel
We are glad the graduates did the
best they could, and that Brother
Burton's address was enjoyed-tgo
approved numbers. "That is not so
bad but that it might have been
worse"
We should have gotten more out Of
that excellent address, however, than
mere enjoyment.
A real effort was made to have
music for Commencement. We fail
ed in getting the Clinton band. The
band in Nachez was recommended as
one of the best in the state. We en-
gagged that. 1t failed to come and
failed to give notice that it was not
coming Yet we are held RESPONSE
bic.
Last year, the two pupils from the
Tillman school were late in getting
to the examination, because Of rain
on the first morning. They were al
lowed to take the examination. No
objection was raised to this, that VIC
ever heard Of. This year boy miss
ed the train and came in late, He
was allowed to take the examination
just as the belated pupils were the
wear before. 1t is assumed that one
pupil viii not deliberately give away
his opportunity to win a medal by Civ
ing to another information. Every
pupil who took the examination at
the court house got square deal
Notwithstanding any statement by
any one to the contrary. We are abb
solutely certain Of being able to verl-
fy the above statement by the pupils
themselves. / Indignantly resent the
insinuation that any pupil received
a medal because of undue assistance
given by myself or any one else. To
give such assistance would be a mean
low and contemplate act.
On the first day of the examina-
ton, a mother came with her son
and spent almost the entire time IN
the examination room. am glad
she did SO, and sincerely wish some
mother or father had been present
all the time each day Of the examina-
ton.
Because Of weather, road and health
conditions, during the term, il has
been difficult to visit the schools and
10 the extra work that has fallen
to our lot. We were glad to do the
extra work, however.
There was no desire on my part 70
evade Tillman in making my rounds,
for it is an interesting school, pre-
sided over by an excellent teacher,
good friend Of mine The school has
won a number Of medals and came
very near the physiology medal TINS
We are unable to see that we made
a mistake in giving a place on the
program for welcoming our soialef
boys. Many Of those young men were
graduates Of the county schools.
Nothing it seems to me, could pc
more appropriate than welcome az
that time and place
We have no regrets TO oner 1or
any number on the program ~
Now in conclusion, we JON ouD-
scribern in hoping that the voters
will select man who can ana vii
do great things for the schools ~
is broad field full OF opportunity.
Very respectfully,
S. j. RUSSELL.
IN defense Of Mr. Russell in the
matter Of the scarcity Of badges, VIII
aav that the order was taken over
fhe telephone, and because the SER
vice was poor the order was misun-
derstood. Therefore, he was not
resoonsible for the failure TO have. a
badre for each pupil.-Ed. keveliie-
NOTICE.
An -,--,1,.,-s ~ the Modern Wood