The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1921-12-17
Ar BRAxToN, MISSISSIPPI
Laenas q. Weld, B. S. 'e9, M. S. 'o2
(The late former head of mathematics
department and dean Of "The
Liberal Arts College ~

The writer was recently sitting at
the lunch counter in an Iowa railway
junction when he was greeted by a
German cab driver formerly living in
Iowa City. Just getting home from
the South9'' he inquired. 81 read
in the paper that you visited Laurence
Jones Is school. I knew him when he
was night clerk in the 0 Reilly Hotel
at Iowa City, working his way
through the State University. He
used to put in most Of his spare time
studying and whenever I was hang,
ing around waiting for the night
trains he would practice his German
on me. He was a slive one all right.
/ always knew that co1ored boy would
show UP somewhere. =
The cab driver was right. Jones has
shown up & somewhere He has taken
hold upon about the most difficult prop
osition that confronts the American
people-the industrial, moral and intel
lectual emancipation Of the Negro. He
has looked forward to this work ever
since he was a student in the Marshall
town High School. He studied the
Negro problem thoroughly in connec-
tion with his course in the University
with the purpose Of devoting himself
to its solution.
Only three years ago after taking
his degree, Jones went with his pur'
pose Immediately to Braxton, Missis-
sippi, in the very heart of the black
belt.;, His capita for starting the
Piney Woods Industrial Institute was
$1.65. He met Edward Nelson lay
lor, an ex-slave who had acquired prop
erty and who had been vaguely long.
ing to do something for the uplift OF
his people. It was Taylor who FUR
nished the original endowment for the
institution-forty acres of land ana
fifty dollars in money!
On the land was an old log cabin
used as sheep shed. Jones 'cnlnkeo NJ, u
up'' the cabin, put in a floor, bullt !,
stick chimney and fire place at one ono
and opened school. Negroes from tne
surrounding country sent in their con
tributions in the form OF I'VE STOCK:
tools and implements. Of pupils there
were more than could be cared for, but
y quarters were soon provided in Taylor
Hall. This is a school building Wlth
five rooms, erected by the students
themselves. the first lumber being Pur
chased with the money donated by MI
Tavlor and the remainder contributed
by the owners Of nearby saw mill. "A
barn, poultry house, carpenter shop
blacksmith shop and a Laundry Were
Z successfully added, all built by the
students with such materials as they
were able to secure. Their croWnlns y
achievement. thus far, is Braxton Hall
only recently occupied. This is a wo
mems dormitory and furnishes accom-
modations, such as they are, for th1rt1
or forty girls. The lumber for this wa
furnished by Mr.. w. P. Mangum,
banker, and other citizens OF Braxtoh
all Of whom seem to have the creates
sympathy with the school and IT'S Puf
poses.
Jones is taking his people as he hnd
them and is teaching them how to ne nelI
themselves, with the resources whlcl
they have. to rise to higher standar,
of living. It is a country Life schco,
Colored bows are taught to farm VIII
such impl ements as they have or ca
afford to get, to cut timber and to max
the best use Of it, to plant fruit tree
and protect them from the usual pes':
to raise better stock and to care TOT !,
properly. to repair old houses and pun
new ones, to use whitewash it not pam
and along with all this, to read, VIII
and stcipher.' &, The Negro girl ieaIh 3,
how to prepare wholesome food Win q, .h :,
crude facilities of the apiney Woods
cabin and from the limited materials q
hand; how to make the simple gafmt:n, ge:,.
needed by herself and her prosPee11iv -,
family from such goods. as she can Du
with the proceeds Of poultry yars11 ar
dairy and garden; how to set her tapl =
make beds, dress her own ana ~
children g hair in a civilized manne