The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-09
M E N /, w o M E N
 A ND T HIN C $

wrote story about the community fair held by the colored people. I thought it was a practical step in the right direction. 1 1 I am great believer in community fairs. was converted by my visit a couple of seasons back to one in Blount county, which was held under the wing of a progressive country school; and lit was with regret that I missed the one held few months back.
 I went awhile back to the one held at the Lewisburg grammar school, and was pleased with the start made by a people who, living in and around a mining camp. had the spirit to raise things and went to work with a will to take their toll from the soil. The school garden won the blue ribbon for Jefferson county. The other exhibits were also fine. So Friday when friend Shillito came by to take me out to the collored peoples fair at the Lewisburg school I availed my self of the opportunity, and was well re- paid for the visit. In the first place the Oe'N A' lAC DCol III JclltTSOA COuliIJ, dhd it used to be among the worst. It made me wish that such highways threaded themselves all over the state. It was a joy to travel on the firm, well-graded roadbed The only thing about the drive I did not like was the accidental fact that both go- ing and ret11rniuey ua traiIad ona If the Dupont Powder company's trucks. There may not have been the least danger but somehow my active imagination got to working, and I pictured all kinds of dreadful things which might happen if we bumped into it or it hit some one else ones coming out with shovel to get my remains.
 When I talk about Lewisburg a great many do not know just what part of the county it is in, but when say the old Mary Lee mines the oldtimers know at once. Lewisburg is a transformed and redeemed settlement The old reproach has been removed and ought to be forgot ten, for now it's a community of forward looking, hard-working, God-fearing men and women, and a credit to the county and the state.
 Whoever located the colored school at Lewisburg had an eye to beauty if they One thing is sure, and that is only healthy teachers and sturdy children can make the steep climb, but once on top there opens a panorama which well re- pays all who have been put to it to ar rive on the crest. \ I am good hill climb CT, but it nearly winded me. I may be ! in error, but I believe it's the highest | perched school in the district.
 1 Like the white school it is we'll built and furnished, and is in every way a credit to the district in which it is To- cated. Long before we reached the foot of the incline, where we had to park cur car, sthe building was in sight. and the people going up and coming down looked almost dwarfish. I was amused to see an ambitious colored brother pulling on the halter while a half dozen boys were be hind trying to push a heifer to the tor to be put in the cattle show ring. =
 start had been made. for there were cows, calves, heifers, bulls, hogs, chick ems, rabbits and a colt on exhibition. Mov- ing about among the crowd I heard or all sides Just wait till next time and we will be here with something worth showing" We were met by Principal Car ter, Ovho with his teachers are doing a good work for their race.Acting as judges we found Mesdames B. B. Waller and prizes in the domestic arts section. Prof w. c. Petty. supervisor of county lschools, also was busy judging the scnoo lexhibits
 I I saw some really beautiful handwori
 in the crochet quilts exhibited. Int fancy work was attractive, but the thing:
 which attracted me most were the shirts
 pants and dresses made from cement flour and even grain sacks It was sur
 prising to see just what could be done
 by those with the eye and the skill tt
 execute. The plain sewing was pro-
 nounced by Mrs. B. B. Walker to be ex
 cellent- I was sorry that Mrs. John B
 Reid failed to arrive. Mrs. c. P. Orr
 was also expected
 Among the relics was shown a cut
 away coat, evidently worn for some tim,
 by the late Col, R. H. Pearson and giver
 to colored coal miner as present fol
 getting out large lump of coal to b, lexhibited at the Atlanta exposition abou
 8 years ago. He used it for a weddins
 garment, and I looked it over. and it i.
 in good order to this day His bride,
 dress was also we'll preserved. He alst
 had a chest which had come down tt
 him through generations. being over 20
 years old. I was glad to find a colore(
 man who had such sentiment.
 
 The farm exhibit was rather small Tn, usual fall vegetables were shown m
 school work was good. I was interested
 in the articles of doll furniture made OH
 of cigar boxes, and in the washboards
 churn splashers and butter patters. Tn
 domestic exhibit of preserved fruits jellies, pickles, etc, was creditable, a.
 were the cakes, pies, biscuits and othe
 served to the white guests in the donesti
 science room. I was in a bad fix for en toying it, as I had eaten before leavinl town.
 The patrons, scholars and visitors wer !. invited into the assembly room, wher
 Professor Petty was called upon to pre-
 side. He made a brief but pointed talk and then introduced Mir Shllito, wh cheered them by offering his co-operatiol in getting them a place for a jschoc ofh nd iren onfS