The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-28
MRS. M'COY TALKSOF
 H0ME MISSION WORK F OUND IN FLORIDA
Settlement Work Main. tained at Key West for
 Cubans - Secretary Tells of Missions
By HOPE HATHAWAY

| Yes" commented an adnirer, 'T've heard Mrs. James H. Mccoy talk when she moved large audiences to laughter and to tears.'' But indeed, I knew this friend knew not half the versatility of Mrs McCoys genius because she had never seen her when she moved things! I had. She stood in the midst of "a number of things" that unfortunately are not always conducive to making some of us as happy as kings" in the midst of barrels and boxes and books and bric- a. brac and smiled while she directed half dozen or more packers. This, as truly as the leading of an army with banners, is real test of general ship and Spartan courage.
 I'm moving, you see,' she beamed. "Oh, I do see,' I admitted, but you are surely not going to leave us so soon for your new homer"
 "Yes, Tuesday these goods and chat tels will be on their way to Nasnvliie, and we shall soon follow"
 "But I thought you had just come from your Florida trip, where you went in the interest of home mission workf "I have come, but I'm going terseiy informed the secretary of the board or missions, home department woman s work, M E. church, south. It's all told, e,1is long title, but it isn't needed to in troduce the lady herself, who, for 15 years served as president of one of the ! oldest colleges for women in the south, located at Athens, Ala. In the words or a north Alabama minister, Mary Nor man Moore lifted this school from deot to fame, and gave it place on the map of the educational world" "Yet. more than all" thought, as little James Mo Gov, Jr., cung close beside her. this woman so well beloved by hundreds who have left the halls of their alma mater, this woman so widely known throughout the south, first of all. she is mother and a home maker
 You say you are coming going, en route as it were? Perhaps q couldn't re- sist the slang across a box of English classics) you just blew in? Didn't some body say you were in that Florida storm?'
 Indeed I was" Mrs. Mccoy laughed, land though the wind was blowing ln another direction, I'm glad to get back wind blown or otherwise. l was strand ed at hotel in Key West with 75 ras- sengers who had started for Cuba on the steamer Miami. The rain was pour ing through the roof into buckets, While .he wind was blowing for 90 hours, It hours, at hurricane speed. Loss IS estl- mated at from one to two million doi- lars The Americans on the island are people of fine spirit independent, Kindly hospitable and courageous. Having de- 
 ida to aid, they began immediately the rebuilding of the city. The little island
 s just one and one-half miles wide and five miles long, but there are 2O,oo0 people living there, one-half of whom are >csubans. You know, Hope, the settlement ywork maintained at Key West by the
 womans missionary council is for Cuo' ans"
 "Ruth Hargrove institute was the tri- ,mphant response i've heard Of that
 wonderful school" ,,,
 "No," corrected Mrs Mccoy. we dio have Ruth Hargrove institute for years
 hut we made such success of the worH it ceased to be a missionary enterprise
 and we sold the property to the United
 states government. One hundred ane
 fifty thousand dollars, in addition to the purchase price, was expended to make
 what is now United States naval hos pital. When I say the institute ceased
 to he a missionary enterprise l mean the school became so widely recognized II
 was finally patronized by the wealthy
 classes from Cuba and Key West, Nwhf
 learned to appreciate the quality or its
 work. Of course our mission IS to tne
 poorer people, and to meet the presen'
 nressing need we have small mission
 day school
 I've teach the English language
 through the fifth grade, and give Cunar
 migrants the benefit of religious eau
 cation. We are housed in very humble
 building that was unroofed by the storm
 but from our centenary funds we are