Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-11-08
PINEY WOODS SCHOOL
A Successful Negro Institution Which
is Accom- plishing Much Good.

DAILY Clarion, jackson, Miss
The tenth annual session of the
Piney Woods Country Life School,
located near Braxton, Mississippi, in
Rankin county, began most auspici-
ously on Oct. II, with three hundred
students in attendance, about equally
divided as to sex.
A number of white people were
present from different localities, to
whom special dinner was given by
President Laurence Jones and wife.
The spacious new brick buildings,
were thrown open to the visitors, and
proved revelat ons to those who had
not attended the Piney Woods School
for the last two or three years.
The old ramshackle frame build
ings have been torn down and in
their place handsome dormitories for
the students have been erected, with
administration, auditorium, school
and other buildings close at hand,
and of the most substantial charac-
ter, the handiwork of the male stu
dents.
Eleven years ago, Laurence Jones,
of Iowa, though born in Missouri,
feeling the necessity Of doing some
thing for the elevation of his race,
came south, and after looking over
several sites, selected piece of land
in Rankin county, three miles from
Braxton-the toughest and poorest
part Of the county, wild and pictur-
esque, but little adapted to farming
purposes, which was intended as the
backbone Of the proposition.
Jones had the backing of some
well-to-do Northern people, and he
and his industrious wife, set to work
to establish the Piney woods School,
which was begun in little UNI
slightly log cabin. They had hard
sailing for awhile, but as they accu-
INFLATED money they added frame
build ngs, plain and cheap, but am
pie to accommodate the students.
Most of the original buildings have
been removed and in their stead sub
stantial brick structures have been
erected, which would do credit to any
institution of learning in the state.
The rough hill tops have been
graded down, trees planned, and in
time the campus OF Piney Woods
School will be made both handsome
and attractive, for Jones and his
wife are people of broad vision, and
are bound to make a great success
of their institution, which is known
as the Booker Washington School OF
Mississippi.
This institution is under the fos-
ter care Of people of means in the
Northwest, who are willing to make
liberal contributions toward provid-
ing means for the education of the
| negro in the south.
Jones is a man of extraordinary ad-
ministrative ability; has accomplish
ed much and will do more, as the
means are secured.
Most of the students work their
way through school, the boys labor
ing on the farms, in the work shops
in the factories, making and laying
lbrisl ..-<loiner- earpsnter .-~ust othes
work that comes to hand. The girls
are taught domestic science, thus
saving the employment of female la
Dor at great expense.
A number of talks were made on
opening day, while the students re-
called their visitors with brief adj
dresses, choice music, both vocal and
instrumental, the singing of the Cot,
ton Blossom Sextette, four boys ant
girls, being especially fine. They
had just returned from a summer
tour in the western states, where the
net receipts of their concerts aggre.
gated over seven thousand Collars
which is to be applied to the support
and building fund of the school.
The people of Mississippi are GLAD
to have in their midst such progress.
sive and intelligent negro educator:
as Laurence Jones and wife, who are
doing so much for the uplift of theil
race. helping to make better men ant
women by educating both their heads
and hands.