Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

A PLEA FOR THE RURAL SCHOOLS. (By W. C. WHARTON.) Editor Tr.c Advertiser: Permit me to take up a little space In your most excellent paper. The subject upon which 1 have undertaken to write, appeals to me In a very definite way. The cut Which is exhibited In this article Is a kodak picture of the coun try school house where the writer received his youthful training. I will say too, by way of explanation, that l am not a Methuselah either. a log cabin with one room about is x 20 feet, with slab benches having dog wood legs. These benches, by the way, were so high that the small Children's feet were at least twelve inches from the floor. The academy, as you will notice, was well ventil ated. This was the mall) school house of my entire neighborhood, and was for over 20 years. You will know from what I have said and in looking at the cut, that l ought to have a very good reason to make an earnest plea for better country schools. Since the great number of small towns have grown up all ovt r our land and established good schools, the small districts have pone, in traveling through the country, one can see Signs of prosperity in the past. The <?ince elegant old building that was the home of some prosper ous farmer now stands Sentinel over decay and i'tilh. S' eihg the absolute necessity < .' ;.n <.;'. teat ion, the owners of such '. - mos were forced ib leave' their pleasant country sttri'oundlnns ;?';--. ? ? . . ntages Could be f ".r.d. Oi:l South Carolina I ; ? time in retard *o h< the edu < It . ai it'ho is beginning tu awake front her long Stupor now, however, and the f'ti/.ens o:' her commonwealth should goad i.<?:? c n ?.i'.l she will haVe cone be,- full and Just duty" toward the children who are Lorn back on the farms of he:* own domain. The High School Act has, and is loh.inf.- quite a number of special school districts in South Carolina. Any small town under 4(0 inhabit ants. Ls.vir.f-' J. special levy of 2 mills and having i". scholars above the 7th ??.i ade, can secure $550.00 the first year and $000.00 tor year thereafter II oui the high school department. Larger towns cannot receive this aid unless an adjoining country district goes in With them. 1; is weil nigh Impossible for a country district to get aid from the high school depart ment, unless it joins a town of some til2e, as has already been done in Laurens county. There being not onough towns to po In with all (he country districts, this High School Act has be. n of little or no value to the rural districts proper. as the Inst session of the general assembly, however. X r. C. w. (;;:::is Introduced a bill providing $20.000 to go to help schools (hat 1 >:n under 100 (Caching Hays. There being m teaching days in a month, all schools s; little und? r :> months and down Can secure aid from this source. This Is i move in the right direc tion; let's keep it Upd This Act |>t*0 vides that the state wili give $2.00 lor every $1.(j raised by t':." patrons of such schools, up to a given amount. !?<; J.il schools under 100 teaching days apply to the county superintendent ci education at once for this h< In, as '.:.)> money, so I am told, must be- used by J?ly 1st. if the schools s.'.l over South Carolina would make application for some of Ibis money, we feel quite sure that the gen':;.! assembly $;t their next session would double the S ?-'('.(?('('. Hut if (he schools <".<> not apply, and naturally concluding that they had made a mistake In ever making this appropriation, the general assembly would cut it out altogether. If Scitth Carolina had diamond fields, she would appropriate thousands' of dol lars to develop same. The people over the state would tiso up and de mand thai Appropriation be made to develop such a valuable idece of property, ?ui in the rural districts of South Carolina^ behind the plow handles, milking the cows and play ing in red gullies are hundreds of poor boys i.r.ti girls tvltttOUt any chance of ifv< t becoming educated, unless conditions change. Among these Individuals arc passible states men, lawyers, preachers, doctors, missionaries, leading business men and highly cultured and Christian women. Like Ihd rays of the dia mond which are forbidden by the rough to send forth their hist re. the Intellects of these <.. ar boys ai d girls ere shut out from the high aspira tions and works possible to (hem by the cruel and rugged grit of Igno rance. The poet hath beautifully nod truthfully said! "Many a gem of purest ray serene. The dark UbfathOmed Cftve? Of ocean Lear; Many a rower Is born to blush un seen, And waste i's Bweclhesfl on the desert air." "Won't the people cf this old Pal* motto state arise to the emergency call of these conditions and liberate the country children from the tyran Ical rule of ignorance? Let then: become the most valuable assets i os sible for a country to have, namely, educated Christian men and women, instead of being the greatest liabili ties possible, namely. Ignorant men and women. South Carolina could make no better nor more lasting in vestment than to invest her money in the educating of her boys and girls. Greater dividends will be de clared than have been paid before. Give to the country schools their quarter of the money appropriated for school pur.ioscs in South Carolina and then pass a compulsory education law, and South Carolina will have done honor to herself and citizens. This compulsory education suggestion may bring forth some hot shot from other people, but i: is our Idea and if others differ they have that right. We will t ot enter Into any contro versy with any one on this subject. three-years' course at Greenville Fe male college have been teaching; Misses Jessie Thompson and Tennle Madden who graduated in the Lau rens high echool this last session; Shaw Cunningham now a student at (Meinsen; .lohn Teague who graduates at Clemsotl this session: Toni Sliaw who attended school at Purman and at Clem8on; W'ashie .loncs who after taking a special course in the normal College tor two or three sessions has been successfully engaged in teach ing; .lames Sullivan who graduated at the South Carolina college ami is now engaged in teaching in Columbia and also in pursuing a law course in his alma mater: Smithe Martin who went to (he South Carolina college and afterwards taught in this county; Cr. C. F. Codfrey who graduated in the Chattanooga .Medical <o!leg?- and afterwards had an extensive practice In this county up to the time of Iiis death last summer; Gus. \V. Cunning ham Who took the M. A. degree at Purman and the Ph.D. degree at Cor nell and after filling the chair of Moral Philosophy at Howard college, at Purman and afterwards tin- Th. M. course at Middlebury college in Ver mont; A. Hi L?ngsten who look R. A. at Purman and afterwards the s.une degree in the Baptist seminary at Louisville. Ky? pursued his studies A Waterloo School Mouse. This article is written out of a heart full of love, pity and sympathy f^r the hoys and girls who are not In R position to get an education, l have no ax?- :o grind in writing, it, other than doing what little I can to eh I courage otir people to bestir them selves and Change conditions i:i car rural districts. Let them be what God intended tie;., to he; a place where the soul 6; can Wax grts.t and strong, communing with tat are and (Joe and doing uuto all men ; t ho would they should do unto him. 'Then, dear ptoi le, we Would lave a hap; y f.t:d prosperous land. W. c. Wharit n. Waterloo, s. C. :?; i ? ?? ?>?* v i i ; -t-i t <?> i . :?; THE NEW PROSPECT ACADEM>. * ? (Ey B. V. Cu.bertson, Principal.) * *??.*>;?; In the summer of IS03, the trustees and patrons of School district ,%'<? l'. 1 I.aureus township, decided upon the consolidation of two schools then h thai district. The site selected It i near Bbyd'S cross toads, tour miles from Lnuretls, 1; took Its r.;.::.? from the church, New Prospect, t>it unted near there. Mr. p.. v. Culbertson whc> (aught 'one of the sei.cols In that district the ' previous session was made principal. jit might not he out <: place io men tion here that With the CXCfl Won <?: iwo sessions during Which he ;t ! Signed to t ike Charge of school this same principal has beta at the head of t!il* school everj s.es siem since. Ja red l>. Pu'.llvan and T. a. Lang* step, tike the principal, have ;><? ! served this district as (rustics for many years. ' The minimum yearly < :.:?..< has been about 40 pupils; the maxi mum about 100. ' This sChObl has always maintained la standard sufliciently high and broad , to prepare boys and girls for COllCg< ; In fact freshman studies have i?e:: taught to several pUpil8. Those who hftve served as assist' ants In this schob! a.-e B. P. Godfrey. Misses Alma L?ngstem. Maggie Mar tin. Sarah Sullivan. May Cunningham, Mrs. Estelle Davenport, it. M. Logt n, J. L. Barnctt, Misses Alice Ferguson Lou Belle Martin, Hvls Cunningham. Mamie L?ngsten. V. ('. Bates served as principal two sessions. Among the students who hhve *!<-;.?? flirthCr school work afte r leaving this school are Misses Carrie L?ngsten, Mattle Flnley, Nannie Cunhinght in, Susie L?ngsten, Cm ma ('nnnii.t: teachers; Misses ftosabel Moore- and and Louiee Martin, who continued their ambles further at the Laurens graded school; M^se>s itthel and Lorle Teapue graduate vain* J nur? j-es; N'i-se-s Omega Madden end Junnltu Martin who after tailing a further in the latter named Institu tion from which he has received the degrt e ol Th. I?. Many other pupils have gone out I from this school into the battles of life and are taking a stand as best they can to wir: for themselves sue ! cess. MUST WAGE BATTLE AGAINST IGNORANCE The m.<:< of lllltcracbj tmonj; (he Mu*m'!> Is Now < ur tt'rcatcst Social Problem. : y It. J. I.. Ki hn? I.) For i-.auty. I. ;? progress; for glory, write but two words r.nd you comprise all: "The South.'" Scarcely a nation and yet With a national history. (>.ir heavens an .as blue, oar Heids as green, our scene ry as grand, our sons as loyal and devoted, ear daughtt rs as fair and virtuous as the p< n <>f genius is capa ble of picturing. There is h future for the South, of which we are scarcely capable of dreaming, If w< are to judge the fu (nre by the past, and that future can only fulfil our capability when crown ed ?Ith the olive branch, peace should reign and prosperity Will fol low. Ott?' immediate ancestors have plucked from the cannon's mouth such military glory as constitutes the his tory of heroes. When we borne t?? j review t! e bist?.:'J < i our proud old Palmetto state1, wc are Impressed with the heroic deeds of our forefathers atid to h great measure we feel that she has reached the highest point of development in statehood and in the halls of congress. Wo nli Know that lour public men of the oast Hampton. IMnckney antl Calhonn- had their trl ;.!s and tribulations in statecraft, hut is (here ho danger of our reaching that point In which wc think till such problems are matters of the past and that we only have to n ap the rewards of the labors of our ancestors? Such is i.ot the case, and if this is our be lief We t.re cruelly deceived ..s a peo ple. The state of Illiteracy so prevalent among the masses of our people the greatest problem thai ever con fronted the American tuition. South Carolina has always had lor share of ignorance- and Illiteracy, num bers ed natural been Illiterates North Carolina, Tennessee and South Caro lina have more (hart any e>f the It', states. These- three*, states stanel at the very bottom and hold in tin it hands the black flan of Ignorance a flag as black M the otcrnal regions of utter darkness. America h:ts been called the l-iph* rlam of modern nations; Gladstone called it the "base for the greatest continuous crhplro ever established by man." We have twenty times as CHILDREN WHO ARE SICKLY Mothers who value their own comfort and Uio xv< ifare of their children, Mich; It) nev? r b? Without ? i>os of Mother (.ray s Sweet I'owders for Children, for nee throughout the season. They ltr> uk up e'o.d*, Cure Pevcrinhnecii, Constipation, Teething in^ ordcra, Headache and stmuach Trouble*. THK8K I'OWIIRKS NKVRK KAIU Sold by all Drugstores, Ufte, /?oiri ii.-.-,i.i ,./..?/ ni/.?f(f-iv. A truil pin kiife will be sen! 1KKE to any nmllur who will address Allen s. oinisted, Lc Koy, N, Y. much coal as hi all Europe. All our resources seem Inexhaustible. Par above the noise of our Industrial cen ters we arc warned of this evil which has already shaken the principles of our republic, which foreshadows the decay of citizenship and which will finally bring upon us ruin and discord. Let us pause for a moment and con sider the educational conditions now existing In our state and we are sure all will agree that it is a battle against ignorance. Bring the mat ter closer home nod look at the rural schools in i.aureus county. The school houses are poorly built and ventilated: there are few, it any maps, globes, and patent desks; the teachers arc only half paid, and the schools are kept open about one fourth of the year. What a shame Oil South Carolina! SUrely there is ;; remedy for these conditions? We must legislate and have better country schools; longer terms, better paid teachers. We must curtail expenses elsewhere uhd build better school houses. The rural school houses in South Carolina are worth about two hundred dollars while those In Mnssaohu its lire Worth one thousand dollars. Wc must i .? then by I as . : :t ; llonal ? ? ? I .-el. di< an appeal ? . ! ii ; eh sei ? the ? ? ? ? give them the richest inheritance. Advance tic cause of > duci.tlon Uhd you advance the cause :?.:::?::. of humanity, of clVlliznth n. The building t.: the great Temple of Jerusalem was left i ;? the Creator to Solomon lather ;l ; n to David; because David's reign had i?1char acterized by bloody wars while that of Solomon, his son, was designedly peaceful. it is therefore left to the young students of today to Luild the Temple of Southern (Jlory upon the cornerstone laid by their fathers. There is glory in peace literary, M i I entitle, agricultural-?there Is glory in plenty. The coming g< r.< :;.:i< : i 1 (he South has to f"ij-1.? Its way in the battle Ol lifo?, and only through the education of the masses ehii this t ? tccess fully accomplished. Wiiui n wonder fill mission is yours! What <? pessi blllty for good lies before you! For ? ? v.! i ? . \ud this be cut . ? t ? And the star-spangled banner in in. ? ? ? O'er the land <?: the free ; :.?! e hi m< of il.i : . ? ? Philosophers and Matest?en cd America. 1. r 11 > us light this bat tit against Ignorance. Great Cod! 1iv< us im n In an hour like this. Let us Improve our opportunities and all working for the ii 6d Ol i common country forget that there ?> a South. a North, an Las; or a V7< ? t but, "One country, brethren, we :i rise or ft?ll j with the suj .?:.?? r? i ..i i lc w e ihust i e the mah? h i h< t immortality." Itrain?. Toon.as !.. Mc.SfO Magazin?. ihm ?? itil oil a fruitful t.':? :: < ! ''Drains ; re e< mm (he country, and ev.-n b' ( a di.-< o\ e:?< ? ft rent local Ith s. Mix? tl y, tl.e> beebn o \ < : y vi i in hie, spine (hey are a i.- < > ist jty household. "At OHO time they i;.f: - ? tore, but the discovery wn* i literature Could do < tin Sim??? then they have been a' cltisively devoted to advertb "Drains are emj lojed M ?>; lerprlses. They make brldi roads and other systems Ol iranspor lotion. Tiicy also create eap'.n I, ; tu are used exclusively In evading ti. law. They n.ix with water l:lid t a ollne, i ut are absorb* d I "Drains are bought at open mark? t. They ir.n in oil t!m exchange :.. and Albany or in Other tn s. The best quality. not traded Ith I they a re not ? von I after they have ? It is hist as Impcj colts regularly eve regularly In or i< r thrifty condition. Real Estate Offerings 132 acres of hind, bounded hy lauds of Mnnsol Owlugs, l-Jvn Jackson, and Wnridor Crock. Price $20 |?cr acre. 117 acres of land mar tiray Court, lioundcd by ia!>.is of ?:. T. shell, \V. K, (Iray; seven room cottage, tliu* barn and outbuildings and line past 111*0, I'rlcc *r';e per acre. 2 acres In town of Urny Court; nice building slti . Price $500.00. 200 acres of laud near llurbill Creek church, bounded by lands of \v. T. Parks and I.aureus While: .', tenant houses, well limbered, good stale of cultivation. Price $30.00 per acre. .".7 acres land, bounded by land - of .1. P. Wells. Thomas Purls, and others with live room dwelling, rood out buildings; near Kkom. Price ?;.'? per acre. Cm1 lot at Watts Mills, with seven room cottage, 200 feel from and 100 fei deep, with meat market, Price $1,200, Some valuable property In town of Clinton, Nine business lots on Proud street, ranging hi price from $500 to >'.l?mi per lot. Two lots fronting on Musgrovo street, >;"*?> ? ich. One beautiful building lot fronting XI its grove street, price $2.000, One !>" with beautiful residence fronting mi Musgrovc street, price $:!,iV0O. See mi early If yon wish to purchase, this is an exceptional o] poiiuuity. lad acres land, one-half IllllC of Dial church. With a handsome, dwelling, tenant limi-i' ? and good outbuildings. Come ipllOll i! >Oti ivhlit tili.-- p'.a'-e. "? ? i pel aci . ? ? e i Two no tie Court, With ( Price $."?o?. , One lot ai Wails Mills. 250 f< t frbnl by 7o feel deep, I loom cottage hud out bllibllngs, l': ice $ I ' I v. One lot at Walts Mills (Obtaining 2 acre.-. Price $250. SS at res of hind I ? III" P: amb it's church, hounded by lands oi W, P. Hai t is ami .Inn, Iturdette. S? v n room dwelling, 2 tenant houses, good barn ami out buildings. Price $20 per iu re. One -1 room cottage, with hall and 2 porches, on (Sarlington avenue. Price $1,150. 110 acres of land bounded by Will Marlin ami Cam it lands, seven room dwelling, 2 tenant houses, good barn ami out buildings. Price $25 per acre. MO aei, s bound-d by lands of V. c Heliums and Mit? In it 0v.< as, In :: miles of I.aureus; 2 dwellings and out buildings. Price >*:.'- per ticro. 1!' HC 108 laml HOttr OwtngS Station bounded by land of John Jones ami Tom llrtitnlett with dwelling and out buildings price $'i5.00 per ucre. 100 acres luild m ar Pun ford Still ion bounded by lands of Duff Patter son, Jr.mos Paterson and others with dwelling and '?'> Tenant houses Plic?. >..''>.00 per ucre. ?:.*> ncrcs of land, with dwelling, good barn and out buildings, near OwingS. Price $3,500; terms mude easy. l ; i acres hounded by lauds of Jefl Davis and llerberl .Martin; good leu anl houses, and good burn. 1*1*100 $5o per acre. L".' ncres land near the Incorporated limits of the Town of fountain Inn bounded by lauds of Itobt. Taylor, T. K. Nelson, Jhu Adams ami others; dwellings and out buildings. PrlCO $7*1.00 per ucre. 100 acres of land, wltlt Hvo room dwelling, ?-room tenant bouse, good out buildings, near Hickory Tavern, Sullivan township, Price $15.00 pet ac re. ."?:? r.< :-?'s of land In town of l.anford. with leniint hous, at $50.00 per acre. One loi at I .nitrons Mills, v\ Ith wel and i! brick chimneys. Price $.'?50. S ' acres of land in ore i. He of tho town of Gray Court, with two dwell ings. Price $ 10 per acre. 52 acres of land in town of flruy Court, dwelling and outbuildings. Prlou $50 per acre. :: IS acres of laud pear it ibu.fi t're ?!>' ; ? . n of Mary ! i ami I et own i net I place, on Ktinroe liver; six room dwelling, 2 good lehniit l.< is/s atid sto.<? I uilditig. Price $l|,i ? . i), 115 acreH of land Dial's township, known as the <.!d Wham's homestead, with dwelling and out-buildings. Prici $27.50 per acre. 127 acres land in Sullivan township, 1* room dwelling', good mil buildings, .'. tenant house. Price $1.0 per aero. 100 acres of laud in Votings township, 11 room dwelling, two tenant hou ea g< od barn. Price $2.250, r.',7 acres lai ?I 1 miles of l-i ur< ns bounded by lands Mrs. Ihirgess, Hol Brown, Jno. Madden and others; Glon ant Louses; 7 horse farm in iltiva'.ion Will be cut into lots of I'tO tt iron < ach J. N. Leak Real Estate, Stocks arid Bonds. Gray Court, S. ( INTEREST Is the greatest incentive t< wai Whctl ybit find y?nr feel more like ?-..\-:::_lt. Interest, like .. in itch ndv you slei p. " \Y< ; . . on certificates <?; uti it for I Enterprise Bank Laurens, S. C. kAjggHLJtWHIili M-t % Nothing Succeeds Like i J si ( x i :ss J For thirteen vears the % $ NICHOLS PHOTO ^ has never failed to make good, And we are still gK improving it.