The mirror., 1920-01-22

nineteen per cent of the white women of the
city are engaged in work outside tue home.
The people of Winchester all speak the
same language; all have the same ancestry;
all work; all are comfortable from the econ
omic point of view, and all represent high
level of culture and morals.
In 1854 there arrived in America from
Enniscorthy, County Wexford, ireland, an
immigrant lad of nineteen. Like his father,
he was a carpenter by trade. His name was
John Handley.
The young Irishman found America to
be in reality the land of opportunity. While
working at his trade in Washington, he
studied law in one of the law schools of that
city. In 1861 Mr.. Handley removed to
Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he spent the
rest of his life and where he died in Febru-
ary, 1895.
Mr.. Handley is described as man of
unusual appearance; six feet, four inches tall
and very stately in manner. In 1875 he was
elected Judge in Scranton, which high Office
he filled with honor and distinction for many
years. By wise investment of his earnings he
became wealthy, and it is the distribution
of this wealth which joins his name with that
of Winchester, Virginia.
Judge Handley had a friend, Mr..
James Jifkins, who in 1869 purchased farm
near Winchester. 1t was during various
visits which Judge Handley made to his
friend, Mr.. Jifkins, that he formed an at
tachment for the city of Winchester. In the
historical resources of the region, Judge
Handley found much of interest. Especially
did he seek and find opportunity for study
of the life of Stonewall Jackson, for whom
he had an immense admiration. Perhaps as
a result of these visits and to associate his
fortune with a real American community,
Mr.. Handley left in his will princely be-
quest to be used for and by the people of the
city of Winchester.
The first bequest in the Handley will
was of $25O,0O0 for public library for the
free use of the people of Winchester forever.
This library has been built and is an archi-
tectural gem. In 1918, the Handley IL
brary reported over $500 books on its
shelves; $1,000 books were borrowed from
the library during 3O4 days of the year-an
average of thousand week, or 17O day.
1t is remarkable record, when one-seventh
of the entire population of community
visits its public library every week.
But it is not the library which forms
the chief contribution of Judge Handley to
the future of Winchester. By second pro-
vision of his will fund which now amounts
to over $1,700,O00 is to be devoted to the
Education of the poor
Since there are no "poor" in Winchester
there was here presented fine opportunity
for foolish differences of opinion and the
prostitution of the trust to selfish ends.
Public opinion in Wincheter, however,
proved itself worthy. The whole matter
was placed in the hands of group of pub
lic-spirited citizens organized as "The Hand
ley Board of Trustees"
The president of this board is an emi-
nent lawyer, Mr.. R. Gray Williams. He
and those associated with him saw an op-
portunity for valuable service to their city
and country and they have handled the situa-
ton with remarkable tact and wisdom
The General Education Board made
careful survey of the city and furnished ex-
pert grounds upon which to found an edu-
cational program for the whole community.
The city government joined with the Hand
ley Board in working out plan whereby the
resources of the Board could be applied in
accordance with the laws of the State to pub
lie education. The plan in its main fea-
lures is as follows:
A fine property, beautifully located on
the edge of the town and comprising seventy
acres, has been purchased. Here will be
built one of the most complete school build
ings in the world. Fairgrounds will be laid
out and full provision made for training in
agriculture, horticulture and mechanical in
dustry.
The entire white population of school
age in the town and environs will attend
these schools, which will carry them from
the kindergarten through the high school,
Similar arrangements are planned to meet
the needs of the small colored population