Cp3l 
 
 :.Z, r 
 
 THE WOMAN'S ASSOCIATION 
 
 BETTERMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSES 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 pi 
 
 'A GOOD SCHOOL-HOUSE IN A DISTRICT BEGETS A SPIRIT OF SELF-RELIANCE 
 THAT WILL HAVE AN ELEVATING INFLUENCE ON INTELLECTUAL AND 
 
 social life." — Joseph E. Robinson-. 
 
 ISSUED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE 
 
 STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 
 Raleigh, 1905 
 
Library 
 
 OF TEE 
 
 University of NortK Carolina 
 This book was presented by 
 
THE WOMAN'S ASSOCIATION 
 
 BETTERMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSES 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 R. D.W.CONNOR 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
 
 'The public free schools are the colleges of the people ; they 
 are the nurseries of freedom ; their establishment and effi- 
 ciency are the paramount duty of a republic. the education 
 of children is the most legitimate object of taxation." ./. l. m. 
 
 Curry, 
 
 OFFICE OF THE 
 
 STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 
 
 RALEIGH 
 
"Ignorance is either a good thing for a community or it is a 
 had thing. The means with which to banish ignorance can be 
 voted into a community or they can be voted out. A good school- 
 house, a good teacher, and a good library are the deadliest foes 
 ignorance has : thei' can be voted into any community in north 
 Carolina.*' — Charles L. Coon. 
 
AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 
 
 In the preparation of this bulletin I have been greatly aided by 
 the interest displayed, and the information furnished, by the officers 
 of the Woman's Association for the Betterment of Public School 
 Houses in North Carolina, especially by Miss Mary Taylor Moore, 
 corresponding secretary, and by Miss Mary K. Applewhite, record- 
 ing secretary. 
 
 The officers of the association will be glad to answer any questions, 
 or furnish any information, with regard to the work, plans and pur- 
 poses of the association. 
 
 R. D. W. Connor. 
 
"Verily 1 say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one 
 
 of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." 
 
 Jesus. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Recognizing improvement of public school bouses and grounds as 
 one of tbe first steps in the direction of improving tbe public schools 
 and inspiring the confidence and pride of the people in these schools, 
 I have, during my administration, beginning February, 1902, endeav- 
 ored to foster and use every possible means for the accomplishment 
 of this desirable end. A ceaseless campaign has been carried on by 
 county superintendents and other school officers, by campaign speak- 
 ers and other patriotic citizens, by the press of the state and by 
 bulletins issued from time to time from my office for better public 
 school houses and equipment and for beautifying the school-rooms 
 and improving the school grounds. In 1903 a pamphlet containing 
 plans, cuts, bills of material and specifications for improved school- 
 houses, prepared by competent architects in accordance with well 
 established principles of modern school architecture, was prepared, 
 printed and distributed from the office of the superintendent of public- 
 instruction. The school law was amended so as to require all new 
 school-houses to be constructed in accordance with the plans con- 
 tained in this pamphlet or with some plan approved by the state 
 superintendent of public instruction and the county board of educa- 
 tion. In 1903 the loan fund was established by act of the general 
 assembly creating a permanent loan fund, amounting now to $254,065 
 and increasing each year by four per cent, interest on the entire 
 amount loaned and by the proceeds of the sale of swamp lands belong- 
 ing to the state board of education. One-tenth of this fund, together 
 with the annual interest on the entire fund, and the annual proceeds 
 from the sale of swamp lands is available every year as a loan for 
 building and improving public school houses. The loans are repay- 
 able in ten annual installments, with four per cent, annual interest. 
 This loan fund has proved one of the most serviceable agencies in 
 stimulating and aiding the erection and improvement of public school 
 houses. In March, 1902, at the State Normal and Industrial College 
 at Greensboro, the Woman's Association for the Betterment of Public 
 School Houses in North Carolina was organized, and it has proved 
 one of the most practical and powerful agencies in promoting the 
 work of improving public school houses and grounds in the state. 
 
 Since June 30, 1902, 1,133 rural public school houses have been built 
 at an aggregate cost of $490,272.44. The value of the entire public 
 school property of the state has been increased from $1,466,770.00 to 
 $2,632,659.00; the average value of rural white public school houses 
 has been increased to $295.00 ; 1,267* rural public school libra- 
 
 * January 1, 1906. 
 
6 
 
 ries, containing 100,000 volumes, valued at $40,000, have been 
 established. The number of districts without houses of any descrip- 
 tion has been reduced from 840 to 553. The number of log school- 
 houses has been reduced from 829 to 549. For the year ending June 
 30, 1905, 440 new houses were built, the average cost of which was 
 about $400.00. As before stated, all new houses erected since March, 
 1903, have been built in accordance with plans approved by the state 
 superintendent and the county board of education, and have, there- 
 fore, been built in accordance with the established principles of mod- 
 ern school architecture. 
 
 Since 1902 much valuable work has also been done in furnishing 
 and beautifying school-rooms, in painting school-houses and in im- 
 proving school grounds, of which there are no complete and accurate 
 statistics. 
 
 Recognizing the Woman's Association for the Betterment of Public 
 School Houses as one of the most helpful agencies in the accomplish- 
 ment of all this work, and as one of the most practical and effective 
 means of carrying it on, I have requested Mr. Connor, of my office, 
 to prepare, with the assistance of its officers, this bulletin about the 
 history, the plans and purposes, and the work of the association. 
 
 For myself and my co-laborers, for the public school children of the 
 state and for all friends of the public schools, I desire to express to 
 the members of this association grateful appreciation of their valua- 
 ble and unselfish service, and to express the earnest hope that the 
 association may extend its organization and its work to every county 
 in the state, and to every school district in every county. 
 
 J. Y. JOYNEK, 
 
 Superintendent of Public Instruction. 
 Raleigh, N. C, January 2, 1906. 
 
PART I. 
 
 THE ORGANIZATION. 
 
 State Association. 
 County Associations. 
 Local Associations. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://archive.org/details/womansassociatioOOconn 
 
OFFICERS 
 
 THE WOMAN'S ASSOCIATION 
 
 BETTERMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSES 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 President Mrs. W. R. Holloweil Goldsboro, X. C. 
 
 Vice-President Mrs. E. E. Moffitt Raleigh, X. C. 
 
 Treasurer Mrs. L. E. Powell Whiteville, X. C. 
 
 Corresponding Sec. ..Miss Mary Taylor Moore. .Greensboro, X. C. 
 
 Recording Sec Miss Mary K. Applewhite. .Greensboro, X. C. 
 
 Field Workers Miss Leah Jones Xew Bern, X. C. 
 
 Miss Viola Boddie Xashville, X. C. 
 
 Miss Edith Royster Raleigh, X. C. 
 
 Mrs. W. R. Holloweil Goldsboro, X. C. 
 
 Miss Mary T. Moore Mt. Airy, X. C. 
 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 THE WOMAN'S ASSOCIATION 
 
 BETTERMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSES 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Article I. 
 
 Section 1. The name of this organization shall be "The Woman's 
 Association for the Betterment of Public School Houses in North 
 Carolina." 
 
 Article II. 
 
 Section 1. The object of this association shall be to unite the 
 women citizens of North Carolina, for tbe purpose of awakening 
 their interest in the improvement of public school houses in our 
 state. It will undertake to have local associations in every county. 
 Through these it will endeavor to interest a volunteer association in 
 the neighborhood of every public school house, which will help to 
 beautify the premises by planting trees and flowers, placing pictures 
 on tbe walls, or otherwise improving the school environment of our 
 future citizens ; to furnish entertaining and instructive amusements 
 and to encourage the establishment of local public libraries. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 Section 1. Any white woman interested in the betterment of public 
 school houses in North Carolina shall be eligible to active member- 
 ship in this association. 
 
 Sec 2. Those who cannot give their time to active work and who 
 wish to become associate members, may do so by paying an annual 
 fee of one dollar. 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 Section 1. The officers of this association shall be : a president, a 
 vice-president, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a 
 treasurer, all of whom shall be elected at each annual meeting. 
 
11 
 
 Sec. 2. The duties of the president shall be to preside over all 
 meetings, to appoint committees, see that all officers and committee 
 members are notified of their elections, or appointments, and to see 
 that all committees are organized and set to work as soon as possible 
 after their appointment. She shall hold the district vice-presidents 
 responsible for the work of their respective districts. On retiring 
 from duty she shall present a written report covering her term of 
 service, with recommendations concerning the future work of the 
 association. 
 
 Sec. 3. The duties of the vice-president shall be to share the 
 responsibility of the president, and in the absence of the latter she 
 shall assume the duties of both offices. The president, treasurer, 
 recording secretary, together with six other members of the associa- 
 tion, not residents of the State Normal and Industrial College, shall 
 constitute the executive committee. These six members shall be 
 appointed by the president, the treasurer, and the recording secretary. 
 
 Sec. 4. The duties of the recording secretary shall be to keep full 
 minutes of all business meetings of the association and of the execu- 
 tive committee. She shall call the roll at annual meetings and keep 
 on file all reports read there, and also a list of all members of the 
 association. 
 
 Sec. 5. The corresponding secretary shall conduct all correspond- 
 ence of the association, and serve as a medium of communication 
 between the central association and the county associations, to whose 
 correspondence she shall give prompt attention. She shall notify 
 all officers of the association and all county presidents concerning 
 the date and place of meeting two weeks before the annual meeting. 
 
 Sec 6. The treasurer shall have charge of all the funds of the 
 association, under the direction of the executive committee. She 
 shall collect all dues and keep an account of receipts and disburse- 
 ments, which shall be made with proper vouchers. 
 
 Sec 7. If any vacancy occur in the offices it shall be filled by the 
 executive committee of the association. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 Section 1. The annual meeting of the association shall be held 
 during the annual session of the North Carolina Teachers' Assembly, 
 unless the executive committee shall decide in some particular year 
 to hold the meeting at some other place. 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 Section 1. This constitution may be amended at any annual meet- 
 ing by the votes of two-thirds of the members present. 
 
HISTORY. 
 
 During the year ending June 30, 1902, there were in North Caro- 
 lina 8,094 public school districts. Of these 840 were without school- 
 houses of any description ; 829 had log huts. The total value of all 
 the rural public school property in the state was $1,466,770, and aver- 
 age value for each house of $202.20. As these estimates include the 
 value of tbe sites as well as of the buildings, it will be seen that the 
 value of the average public school house for that year was consid- 
 erably less than $200. This average house is accurately and faith- 
 fully described by Mr. Charles L. Coon. He says : "The scbool-house 
 is a shabbily built board structure, one story high. Tbe overhead 
 ceiling is not more tban nine feet from tbe floor. There is one door 
 in tbe end of tbe house ; there are six small windows, three on either 
 side. There are no blinds and no curtains. The desks are home-made, 
 witb perpendicular backs and seats, all the same size. There is a 
 dilapidated wood stove, but no wood-box, tbe wood for the fire being 
 piled on tbe floor about the stove. The stove is red with rust and 
 dirt, never having been polisbed and cleaned since it was placed in 
 position for use. The floor of the house is covered with red dirt and 
 litter from the wood. There are several broom-sedge brooms lying in 
 one corner of the room. The occupied blackboard space in this house 
 is just eighteen square feet. The blackboard is, however, too 
 higb for the children to use well and it is too small for anything but 
 a bulletin-board. There is no teacher's desk, or table. There is one 
 chair. The children's hats and cloaks are hung on nails around the 
 room. The walls and windows are covered with dust, and seem 
 never to have been washed. All the children's books are soiled and 
 look very much like their surroundings. There are no steps to this 
 school-house. An inclined plane of dirt answers that purpose. The 
 yard is very muddy during the winter, and the general appearance 
 of the place anything but attractive." 
 
 Evidently here lay a field in which a great and patriotic service 
 could be rendered to the state. The initial movement, looking to the 
 improvement of this condition, came from the young women of the 
 State Normal and Industrial College at Greensboro. On March 
 20, 1902, at the call of President Charles D. Mclver, more than 200 
 of them met in the college chapel to formulate plans for undertaking 
 the necessary reforms. From this meeting resulted the organization 
 of The Woman's Association for the Betterment of Public School 
 Houses in North Carolina. On April 3d the first public meeting of 
 the association was held at Greensboro. Governor Charles B. Aycock 
 and State Superintendent J. Y. Joyner were present and gave their 
 hearty endorsement to the plans and purposes of the organization. 
 
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13 
 
 The members were also assured of the cordial and active support of 
 the Southern Education Board. 
 
 The significance of the organization was promptly recognized. Let- 
 ters and messages of endorsement came from all parts of the state. 
 Public-spirited women hastened to enroll themselves as members ; the 
 association, which at first included only school girls of one institu- 
 tion in its membership, soon counted on its roll hundreds of women in 
 every part of North Carolina. Teachers and county superintendents 
 eagerly welcomed an organization the object of which was to uphold 
 their hands and give assistance in an important part of their work, 
 which they had not been able to do individually. A leading news- 
 paper which has long been in the forefront of the fight for improved 
 school conditions in North Carolina expressed the feelings of the 
 public in the following words : "The recent organization of the 
 women of North Carolina into an association to promote the building 
 and improvement of school-houses in the rural districts is an event 
 of deep satisfaction. If that organization can be extended into every 
 school district in the state, it will revolutionize the public schools of 
 the state. * * * The poor school-house is a lion in the path of 
 rapid progress." 
 
 The constitution of the association provides that, unless otherwise 
 ordered by the executive committee, the annual meeting of the asso- 
 ciation shall be held during the annual session of the North Carolina 
 Teachers' Assembly. In accordance with this provision, the first 
 annual meeting was held in June, 1902, at Morehead City. At this 
 session plans were formulated for the first summer's campaign. Ten 
 young women offered their services as field workers to canvass cer- 
 tain counties for the purpose of arousing general interest in the 
 work and of organizing branch associations. The Southern Edu- 
 cation Board generously paid their expenses. The reports of two of 
 these field workers — one in the east and one in the west — will be 
 found in another part of this bulletin. 
 
 The second annual meeting was held iu Greensboro in May, 1903. 
 The large number of men and women in attendance is the best evi- 
 dence of the interest which had been aroused in the state by the pre- 
 vious year's work. "From the mountains to the sea, from New Han- 
 over to our sister state on the north, came women with the wisdom 
 of experience, women with the widened view that comes from travel 
 and a knowledge of the outside world, women whose youth, while 
 lacking the caution of experience, furnished the enthusiasm and 
 courage which are the life-blood of any new enterprise. Here met 
 the young mother with the consecrated old maid, the wife of the 
 politician with the busy helpmeet of the farmer, the woman of society 
 with the country teacher whose busy life and small salary permit, 
 few diversions during the long, busy evenings other than the solu- 
 tion of partial payments to prove her fitness in the eyes of her criti- 
 cal patrons." It may not be out of place to say here that this inter- 
 
14 
 
 mingling of women from all sections of the state, women who move 
 in different classes of society, women whose lives touch and are 
 colored by the various phases of our complex civilization, in a com- 
 mon, patriotic, public service, is one of the most important results of 
 the work of the association. It means for them all, regardless of 
 their position or condition in life, a widening of views and a broaden- 
 ing of sympathies that must prove helpful to them and beneficial to 
 the state. A number of county superintendents also were present at 
 this May meeting, all of whom entered heartily into the spirit and 
 work of the organization. Several interesting reports were read, 
 which revealed the important and significant results of the year's 
 work, and showed the great possibilities of the association. "Some 
 of the reports of the work done read like fairy stories, and yet they 
 were true,'' says the efficient corresponding secretary of the associa- 
 tion. A few of these reports will be found in another part of this 
 bulletin. 
 
 Two other annual sessions have been held — one at Raleigh in the 
 summer of 1904, during the summer school at the North Carolina 
 Agricultural and Mechanical College ; the other at Greensboro in 
 June, 1905, during the annual session of the North Carolina Teachers' 
 Assembly. The reports read at these meetings revealed a constantly 
 increasing membership and a continuously growing field of labor 
 with proportionate results. The Woman's Betterment Association 
 within the three years of its life has become one of the permanent 
 educational forces of the state. 
 
 PURPOSES AND PLANS. 
 
 The motives which actuated the students of the State Normal and 
 Industrial College in organizing the Woman's Betterment Association 
 are well expressed in one of their bulletins : "Realizing that under 
 present conditions, and with the present surroundings of the average 
 school-house, it is impossible to train the youth of the state properly, 
 and realizing further, that unless the women of the state take hold 
 of this very important matter it will remain neglected, the students 
 of the college have organized themselves and call upon the other 
 women of the state to join them in making attractive and habita- 
 ble the houses in which our children spend five days of each school 
 week." 
 
 The purposes and plans of the association are tersely stated in 
 Article II of the constitution : "The object of this association shall 
 be to unite the women citizens of North Carolina for the purpose 
 of awakening their interest in the improvement of public school 
 houses in our state. It will undertake to have local associations in 
 every county. Through these it will endeavor to interest a volunteer 
 association in the neighborhood of every public school house, which 
 will help to beautify the premises by planting trees and flowers, 
 placing pictures on the walls, or otherwise improving the school 
 
15 
 
 environment of our future citizens ; to furnish entertaining and 
 instructive amusements, and to encourage the establishment of local 
 public libraries." 
 
 As summarized by the president of the state association, this clause 
 requires the members to hold the following objects constantly in 
 view : 1. To interest the patrons of the public schools in the condi- 
 tion of the houses in which their children spend so much of their 
 time ; 2. To make the school-house the center of the social life in the 
 community in which it is located ; 3. To make the school-house the 
 model of cleanliness and beauty for each home therein represented ; 
 4. To cultivate a love for the beautiful in the children of the 
 state. 
 
 The plan of organization contemplates three branches : 1. The 
 state association ; 2. The county association ; 3. The local associa- 
 tion. The state association has its headquarters in Greensboro. Its 
 membership includes the members of all county and local associations. 
 All white women in the state are eligible for membership. They pay 
 no dues ; service only is required. Men who are interested in this 
 work and desire to help, may become honorary members upon the 
 payment of a fee of one dollar. The state association, as Miss Moore 
 says, "attempts little of the real work of improvement. Its principal 
 work is to organize branch associations and to ( help them carry on the 
 work. It necessarily deals largely with theory. It gives suggestions 
 and depends upon the branch associations to prove their practica- 
 bility. It gets reports of the work from the different parts of the 
 state and tries to keep the branch associations in touch with each 
 other. * * * The county associations are composed of the public- 
 spirited women in the counties in which there are organizations. 
 * * * It is the county association that has to do the real work of 
 improvement. The plans for work differ in different counties. Some 
 work by means of the local or voluntary associations organized at the 
 school-houses, while others depend upon each teacher to interest the 
 people of the community so that they will assist her in improving her 
 school and grounds. The local or voluntary associations * * * 
 are those organized at the separate school-houses. They are com- 
 posed of the teacher, the children and the parents. The members of 
 the county and local associations are the ones who clear off the 
 grounds, plant trees and flowers, paint the house, wash the windows, 
 get new furniture, and put books and pictures into the room." 
 
 RESULTS. 
 
 The results of the work of the association reveal the great need 
 there was, and is, for such an organization in North Carolina. It is 
 exceedingly unfortunate that no accurate and complete reports of 
 this work have been obtained. While many people are overly zealous 
 to advertise their work, others seem to be equally as eager to keep a 
 knowledge of theirs from the public. For the student of conditions 
 
16 
 
 the latter type is the harder of the two to forgive. Work has been 
 done in North Carolina through the influence of the Woman's Better- 
 ment Association, by hundreds of people who have never taken the 
 trouble to give an account of it to the officers of the association. 
 The necessity for making accurate and complete reports can scarcely 
 be too strongly emphasized ; the members and officers of the associa- 
 tions do but part of their duty if they leave this important part un- 
 done. Every person who does any work for the association should 
 file a report of that work with the secretary of tbe county associa- 
 tion, if there is one ; if not, then with the secretary of the state 
 association, before the first day of May of each year. The secretary 
 of tbe county association should file with the secretary of the state 
 association a summary of the reports received from the local asso- 
 ciation. In another place in this bulletin will be found a suggestion 
 as to the kind of report that ought to be made. 
 
 Perhaps, however, enough reports have been received to enable the 
 importance of the work which the association has done to be clearly 
 understood. One of the most important results of this work has been 
 the bringing into the field other co-operative forces working toward 
 the same end as the association. The State Normal Magazine, pub- 
 lished at tbe State Normal and Industrial College at Greensboro, has 
 offered its pages for the publication of the reports of the work of 
 county associations. Miss Moore well says : "If possible, each county 
 should send at least one report each year to this magazine. In this 
 way those interested in the work may have one source to which they 
 may go for information in regard to the work and progress of the 
 association." The subscription price to this magazine is only fifty 
 cents a year, and so is within reach of every association. The fol- 
 lowing paragraph from the report of Miss Moore shows the value of 
 this co-operative work : "Since the organization of the association 
 many hundred letters have been written to county superintendents, 
 officers of local associations, and teachers. Literature has been dis- 
 tributed over most of the counties of the state. Through Mr. J. B. 
 Upham, who has charge of that department of the paper, The Youth'' s 
 Companion has very kindly given us a large number of pamphlets on 
 'Ideal Public Schools,' 'How to Set Out Shrubbery,' etc. ; also three 
 thousand copies of 'Free Public Education,' a little pamphlet set- 
 ting forth the need for free public education and having the name 
 of tbe Woman's Association printed on the back. The Youth's Com- 
 panion also gave pictures, which many of our, schools have been for- 
 tunate enough to secure. Mr. O. J. ' Kern, superintendent of public 
 instruction, Winnebago, 111., sent many valuable suggestions on the 
 improvement of houses and grounds. The Perry Picture Company 
 furnished us with a large number of mounted pictures suitable for 
 school-room decoration, and many sample pictures to be distributed 
 among the teachers. Mr. L. H. Bailey of Cornell University sent one 
 hundred and fifty copies of 'Agriculture Bulletin No. 160,' which 
 
17 
 
 have been distributed. Mr. Clarence H. Poe, editor of The Progres- 
 sive Farmer, offered to publish any article on our work that we 
 would send. Letters bare been received from many county superin- 
 tendents which show that they are in hearty sympathy with our 
 work. On all sides the association receives expressions of hearty 
 sympathy and co-operation." 
 
 During the first three years of its existence the association sent 
 representatives into forty-five counties in the state. In fifty-four 
 counties, county associations have been organized — twenty during 
 1902, fifteen during 1903, and nineteen during 1904. The exact num- 
 ber of local associations in the state is not known, as many have been 
 formed which have not been reported to the state association, but 
 the reports that have been received show an average of three for 
 each county reporting. If this average holds for all the counties 
 which have county associations, the number of local associations in 
 the state is something more than one hundred and fifty. The mem- 
 bership has grown, of course, in the same proportion as the number 
 of associations. The estimate of the number of houses improved 
 through the work of the Woman's Betterment Association is based 
 upon the average number improved in those counties which have 
 reported. These reports show an average of six to each county asso- 
 ciation. The average increase in the value of these houses in the 
 fifty -four counties having county associations is $150 (not including 
 new houses), making a total increase in the value of school-houses 
 through the influence of the association of no less than .$48,600. 
 
 Perhaps the best way in which to give an adequate idea of the 
 work done by the association during the first three years of its exist- 
 ence is to present a condensed account of its work in a few of the 
 counties from which reports have been received. In Caldwell county 
 eight schools obtained libraries. Cleveland county organized an asso- 
 ciation which affected all the public schools in the county. During 
 1903 the county association raised $150 for improvements. There 
 were twelve libraries established and twelve houses improved through 
 the influence of the association, the value of which was increased 
 from $1,800 to $5,000. In Columbus county the association improved 
 thirty schools. Two of these schools raised $50 for pictures. Cum- 
 berland county reported that every school in the county was reached 
 by the association, and that $75 was raised during the year for im- 
 provements. In Dare county a large number of pictures were placed 
 in the schools, $150 raised for libraries and $50 for other improve- 
 ments. An "enthusiastic branch" was reported from Greene county 
 affecting twenty-three. schools. The association raised $50 for libra- 
 ries and $115 for other improvements. In Henderson county every 
 woman teacher in' the county was a member of the association, all 
 the schools of the county were reached, and $60 was raised for libra- 
 ries. Madison county association reported $11.45 for pictures, $55 
 
18 
 
 for libraries, and $250 for other improvements. In Rockingham 
 county there was a large association, affecting seventy-two schools. 
 They raised $50 for pictures, $165 for libraries, and $25 for other 
 improvements. During the year five hundred pictures were hung on 
 the walls of the public school houses and twelve libraries were estab- 
 lished. Two houses, valued at $2,300, were built through the influ- 
 ence of the association. Sampson county reported that sixty schools 
 were affected by the association, $10 raised for pictures, $275 for 
 libraries, and $1,500 for other improvements. Libraries were placed 
 in twelve schools and two hundred pictures were hung. In Surry 
 county an association was organized with seventy-five members. 
 Every school in the county was reached. Through the influence of 
 the association twenty-three new houses were built, increasing the 
 valuation from $1,200 to $5,750. Wake county reported an active 
 association, affecting fifty per cent, of the schools. In Wayne county 
 an association was organized with 230 active members and fifteen 
 associate members. During the year forty-three schools were reached. 
 The association raised $75 for pictures, $464 for libraries, $120 for 
 other improvements, hung 206 framed pictures, and helped to estab- 
 lish forty-one libraries. 
 
 The following brief report from Mrs. Hollowed, president of the 
 state association, will give an idea of how these results have been 
 accomplished, and the kind of labor that is necessary. She says : 
 
 "I represented the work to the county superintendents when they 
 were in Raleigh. I attended the teachers' institute in Beaufort 
 county. This was held at Washington, and here I organized an 
 association. Money was raised for two scholarships. I went to 
 Clinton in Sampson county to speak to the teachers' institute. I rep- 
 resented the work of the woman's association at the state meeting of 
 the Woman's Federation of Clubs at Concord. Then I went to Char- 
 lotte and spoke to the woman's club ; then, at Fayetteville, I re- 
 organized an association. I spoke in Tarboro to the teachers' insti- 
 tute, and formed an association of thirty-two members. I attended 
 the Randolph teachers' institute. At the institute held at Whiteville, 
 Columbus county, I organized an association. Here money was 
 pledged for two scholarships to some summer school. I had one meet- 
 ing at Chadbourne. I attended the Teachers' Assembly at Wrights- 
 ville and spoke on the association work. Much interest was mani- 
 fested, both by the teachers and by the county superintendents. I 
 attended an institute in Wayne county. Here money was pledged for 
 a scholarship to some summer school. I attended the summer school 
 at Raleigh and spoke to the teachers on the association's work." 
 
 Miss Jones, another very efficient worker, gives the following sum- 
 mary of her work for the association : "Since the organization of the 
 Woman's Association for the Betterment of Public School Houses in 
 North Carolina I have represented the association, during my vaca- 
 tions, in fourteen counties, organized five county associations and 
 
19 
 
 thirty-seven local associations, spoken to seven county teachers' insti- 
 tutes, reaching teachers from eighteen counties ; spoken to people at 
 five summer resorts, visited thirty-nine different places, and have 
 met in all fifty-seven appointments, speaking to audiences that varied 
 from sis to two hundred and fifty in number." 
 
 Other reports, in more detail than these, will be found in another 
 part of this bulletin. 
 
THE COUNTY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 The best time to organize a county branch of the Woman's Better- 
 ment Association is at some meeting of the county teachers, either at 
 the county teachers' institute or at a regular meeting of the teachers' 
 association. All white women of the county, whether they are teach- 
 ers or not, should be invited to become members of the association, 
 the only condition being that they shall be willing to contribute to the 
 work of the organization. But it must not be forgotten that the 
 teachers must take the lead in this work, as in all other school work. 
 It will be impossible to interest others unless the teachers them- 
 selves are actively interested. Any one who is willing to do so may 
 organize a county association. She should first communicate with the 
 officers of the state association, who will be glad to give suggestions 
 and aid, and, perhaps, to send a representative to help in getting the 
 association under way. The purpose, plans and work of the associa- 
 tion should be explained to those who expect to become members. 
 School-house architecture, school-room decoration, the proper care of 
 school-rooms and school-yards — these and other similar subjects re- 
 lating to the well-kept school should be carefully and fully discussed 
 before the members by those who have made themselves familiar 
 with these things. The value of co-operation as contrasted with un- 
 organized efforts should be strongly impressed upon the members. 
 Although an individual teacher, by her unaided efforts, may improve 
 her school-house and grounds without belonging to an association, 
 yet her work will not mean as much to the community as it will 
 mean if it is done by the co-operation of the patrons of the schools 
 and other public-spirited citizens of the county. The uniting of the 
 people of the county in a common effort to promote a public enter- 
 prise is not the least important phase of this woman's movement. 
 
 After these discussions are closed, all who desire to do so should 
 enroll their names for membership. Those so enrolled should then 
 adopt a constitution, a model of which appears below. This constitu- 
 tion will enumerate the officers to be elected, and an election should 
 be held at once. Great care should be taken in the selection of these 
 officers. They should not only be interested in the work, but also 
 should have time to give their attention to it. The success of the 
 association will depend largely upon the enthusiasm and ability of 
 its officers. They should visit the schools, attend the sessions of local 
 associations, give suggestions and encouragement to the teachers and 
 officers, siiggest courses of reading, and outline programs for the 
 meetings. Much good can be accomplished if they will secure per- 
 mission from the editors of local newspapers to discuss in their 
 columns the plans, purpose and work of the association. Most edi- 
 tors will be glad to help in the work in this way. At the annual 
 
North Wilkesboro, Wilkes County (Old). 
 
 North Wilkesboro, Wilkes County (New). 
 
21 
 
 meetings of the county association reports from all the local associa- 
 tions in the county should be read. It is a good plan to have certain 
 of the teachers who have done the best work to read papers telling 
 how they accomplished their results. A report of all the work 
 done in the county during the year should be sent to the correspond- 
 ing secretary of the state association. The importance of this can 
 scarcely be overestimated. 
 
 The following is suggested as a model for the constitution of county 
 associations ; it can be changed to suit local conditions : 
 
 CONSTITUTION 
 
 COUNTY ASSOCIATION 
 
 BETTERMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSES. 
 
 Aeticle I. 
 
 Section 1. The name of this organization shall be The 
 
 County Association for the Betterment of Public School Houses. 
 
 Aeticle II. 
 
 Section 1. The purposes of this association shall be : 
 
 I. To arouse interest in the educational conditions, problems and 
 work in county. 
 
 II. To interest the people of the county in the improvement of their 
 schools. 
 
 III. To establish a local association in every school district in the 
 county. 
 
 Aeticle III. 
 
 Section 1. Any white woman interested in this work may become 
 an active member without the payment of any fee ; any white man 
 may become an associate member upon the payment of a fee of fifty 
 cents. 
 
 Aeticle IV. 
 
 Section 1. The officers of this association shall be : a president, a 
 vice-president, a secretary and treasurer. There shall be an execu- 
 tive committee, composed of the officers and four other members. All 
 officers shall be chosen by ballot at each annual meeting. 
 
 Aeticle V. 
 
 Section 1. This association shall hold an annual meeting at such 
 time and place as shall be designated by the president. 
 
22 
 
 Aeticle VI. 
 
 Section 1. This association shall send, through its secretary, a full 
 report of the year's work to the corresponding secretary of the State 
 Association for the Betterment of Public School Houses, on or before 
 the first day of May in each year. 
 
 Akticxe VII. 
 
 Section 1. This constitution may be amended at any annual meet- 
 ing by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. 
 
THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION. 
 
 The third clause of Article II of the suggested constitution for 
 county associations says that one of the purposes of the county 
 organization shall be "to establish a local association in every school 
 district in the county." This is the real end for which the state and 
 county associations exist. It has been well said : "Whatever method 
 the county association may pursue to reach its end — letters, visits, 
 leaflets, scholarships — the end is the organization of an active, aggres- 
 sive, progressive and untiring local association in each district for 
 the betterment of its own school-house." This local association 
 should be composed of the teacher, the pupils of the school and the 
 parents of the pupils. The teacher must never lose sight of the fact 
 that he or she must be the real leader in this work. There are few 
 communities in which the people are not willing to follow the intelli- 
 gent leadership of an active, interested and interesting teacher ; 
 there are still fewer communities in which the people will do any- 
 thing if the teacher is inactive, uninterested and uninteresting. The 
 responsibility rests on the teacher, and there is where it ought to 
 rest. 
 
 What can the local association do? To paraphrase the language of 
 Mrs. Hollowell, it can have a new school-house built, or the old one 
 repaired and painted ; it can have rough and comfortless benches 
 exchanged for good desks ; it can have blackboards multiplied ; it can 
 have the floor scrubbed, the stove polished, the windows washed; it 
 can have shades or curtains added to the windows ; it can have pic- 
 tures placed on the walls ; it can secure a library and keep it grow- 
 ing ; it can bring into the school good magazines and papers ; it can 
 give interesting and profitable entertainments, which will be of no 
 less value to the community than to the school ; it can beautify the 
 school grounds by having stumps removed, grass and flowers planted 
 and play-grounds laid off ; finally, it can uphold the hands of the 
 teacher, help her, encourage her, and stimulate her in her difficult 
 and trying work. This work will interest the community in the com- 
 munity's school and the conirnunity's children ; it will teach the few 
 to subordinate personal advantages to the welfare of the whole ; it 
 will discourage those two most bitter and most fatal foes to educa- 
 tional progress — local prejudices and neighborhood misunderstand- 
 ings. This is the work that the local association, and only the local 
 association, can do. 
 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LOCAL ASSOCIATION 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 BETTERMENT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL. 
 
 Article I. 
 
 Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Association 
 for the Betterment of the Public School. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 Section 1. The purposes of this organization shall be : 
 
 I. To arouse interest in education and to insist upon the impor- 
 tance of every child being in school every day of the school term. 
 
 II. To unite all the people of this community for the improvement 
 of our public school (1) by placing in the school facilities for health, 
 comfort and education, together with objects of beauty; (2) by 
 planting trees, shrubs and flowers in the school grounds; (3) by en- 
 couraging the establishment of a public library in connection with 
 the school ; (4) by making the school the center of the community by 
 furnishing wholesome and instructive amusements ; in a word, to 
 improve the physical and intellectual environments of our future 
 citizens. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 Section 1. Anybody interested in the objects of this association 
 may become an active member by the payment of an annual fee of 
 .... cents for adults, .... cents for children. Any one unable to 
 give active service may become an honorary member of this associa- 
 tion by the payment of an annual fee of .... cents.* 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 Section 1. The officers of this association shall be: a president, 
 a vice-president, a secretary and treasurer, and a librarian, who shall 
 be elected at each annual meeting. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 Section 1. This association shall meet regularly once a month, or 
 oftener at the call of the president. 
 
 *Each local association must decide for itself on the advisability of including- Article III. 
 
25 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 Section 1. That this association may be in touch with the general 
 work for the betterment of public schools throughout the state and 
 county, it shall enroll itself with the secretary of the county associa- 
 tion for the betterment of public schools and. send to her a formal 
 report of its progress at least twice a year. 
 
 Article VII. 
 
 Section 1. This constitution may be amended at any annual meet- 
 ing by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. 
 
ANNUAL REPORT OF LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 Each local association should file with the county association a 
 report of the work done during the year. If there is no county 
 association, then the report should be sent direct to the corresponding 
 secretary of the state association. The report should show the fol- 
 lowing items : 
 
 I. Organization. 
 
 Year beginning , 190 . . ; ending , 190 . . 
 
 1. Name of county. 
 
 2. Name of township and district. 
 
 3. Name of school (every school ought to be named). 
 
 4. Name and post-office address of teacher. 
 
 5. Names and post-office addresses of committeemen. 
 
 6. Names and post-office addresses of officers of the association. 
 
 7. Enrollment in school. 
 
 8. Average daily attendance in school. 
 
 9. Number of members of association : pupils, parents, associate. 
 
 II. Interior Improvements. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Amount 
 Spent. 
 
 9. 
 10. 
 11. 
 12. 
 13. 
 14. 
 15. 
 10. 
 17. 
 
 Library books 
 
 Book-cases 
 
 Papers and magazines 
 
 Untrained pictures 
 
 Framed pictures 
 
 Pupils' desks 
 
 Teachers' desks 
 
 Square feet of blackboard. 
 
 Maps and globes 
 
 Curtains and shades - 
 
 Stoves 
 
 Wash-basins 
 
 Towels 
 
 Door-mats 
 
 Brooms 
 
 Square feet of kalsomining '. . . 
 Square feet of interior paintim 
 
 III. Exterior Improvements. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Amount 
 Spent. 
 
 1. Building 
 
 2. Square feet of exterior painting 
 
 3. Windows washed 
 
 4. Window-panes put in 
 
27 
 
 Number. 
 
 Amount. 
 Spent. 
 
 5. Window-blinds bung 
 
 6. Wells dug or cleaned out. 
 
 7. Buckets 
 
 8. Water-stands 
 
 9. Wasb-stands 
 
 10. Closets 
 
 11. Stumps removed 
 
 12. Rubbisb removed 
 
 13. Walks laid out 
 
 14. Ditcbes or drains made. . 
 
 15. Grass-plots laid off 
 
 16. Trees planted 
 
 17. Shrubs planted 
 
 18. Flowers planted 
 
 IV. Funds Raised. 
 
 1. By associate membersbip fees 
 
 2. By contributions 
 
 3. By entertainments 
 
 4. By otber methods (itemize methods) 
 
 REPORT OF COUNTY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 The report of the county association to the state association should 
 be a summary of the reports of the local associations to it. The best 
 report which any association can make is a photograph of the house 
 and grounds before improvement and a photograph after improve- 
 ments. 
 
PART 
 
 REPORTS FROM THE FIELD. 
 
"I SEE A DAY, AND GOD GRANT IT MAY NOT BE FAB DISTANT. WHEN WE 
 CAN DOT OTJB NOBLE STATE, BEGIA T NLNG WITH ROWAN COUNTY. WITH 
 THESE MODEL LOG SCHOOL-HOUSES. THEN THE OPPROBRIUM OF "THE LOG 
 CABIN AND THE PINE TREE' WILL BE DONE AWAY WITH. AND WOMEN 
 WILL COUNT IT AN HONOR TO BE OF THIS 'LOG-HOUSE WORK.' WHEN WE 
 REALIZE WHAT SUCH THINGS MEAN. OUR BOYS AND GIRLS WILL LOVE THE 
 COUNTRY SCHOOL; THEY WILL BE CONTENTED WITH 1HE COUNTRY NEIGH- 
 BORHOODS WHERE SUCH 'LOG SCHOOL-HOUSES." WHICH BREAK THE 
 WEARY MONOTONY, ARE MAINTAINED ; THEY WILL LOVE THE LAND THAT 
 CALLS FOR THEM TO STAY AND YEARNS IN UNCULTIVATED LONELINESS FOR 
 
 them to return." — Mrs. Charles Price. 
 
Williamsburg. No. 2, Rockingham County (Old). 
 
 Williamsburg, No. 3, Rockingham County (Old). 
 
Williamsburg, Nos. 2 and 3, Consolidated, Rockingham County (New). 
 
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Report of Work Done by Miss Mary Taylor Moore in Western 
 North. Carolina During 1902. 
 
 Last summer, at the meeting of the Woman's Association for the 
 Betterment of Public School Houses held at Morehead City, there 
 were ten women who promised to do all in their power during the 
 summer to accomplish the objects of this association. They resolved 
 to arouse the interest of the people in the matter and to form branch 
 associations to carry on the work. It was my privilege to be one of 
 the ten. 
 
 My district lay in the western part of the state, a mountainous sec- 
 tion. But, before beginning work there, I happened to be in an east- 
 ern county while a teachers' institute was being held. Feeling that 
 such an opportunity of laying the matter before the people should not 
 be missed, I arranged an hour at which I could speak informally to 
 the women present. While I felt that it would be much easier to 
 speak to the women alone, the men who were interested in the matter 
 were invited to stay. A good many of them did so. As briefly as 
 possible the objects of the association were laid before them, their 
 attention being called to the need for better school-houses and the 
 ways in which the houses that now exist may be improved. Finally, 
 I urged them to form a branch association, so that the work of im- 
 provement might be carried on systematically in their county. They 
 seemed much interested and readily organized, with thirty-three mem- 
 bers. This was in a cultured section, where the work was taken up 
 by women of prominence. The wife of a justice of the supreme court 
 and many other well-known women joined in the work with the pub- 
 lic school teachers, all being drawn together by a common interest, 
 the welfare of the children of the state. 
 
 Turning toward the west, I knew not where to begin. That section 
 is sparsely populated, so a house-to-house visitation, such as was 
 being carried on by some of the other women, was impossible ; nor 
 could I hear of any school-closings or big picnics to attend. So there 
 was nothing to be done but to confine my work to the teachers' insti- 
 tutes and place the matter in the hands of the teachers, thus getting 
 them interested and trusting in them to interest the parents of the 
 children. 
 
 In going to the first of these institutes I rode many miles, finally 
 reaching a little town perched right up on the side of the mountain 
 where the institute was to be held. In this county the school-houses 
 were in a deplorable condition. I believe it was here that the county 
 superintendent said the cracks in the sides of some of the houses were 
 large enough to throw a dog through. But the superintendent was 
 
32 
 
 progressive and the teachers seemed interested and willing to improve 
 conditions. To this place I took with me some good cheap pictures 
 and other things necessary in a school-room, to show that they were 
 cheap enough to be procured even by the poorest communities. Here 
 again I spoke informally to the entire institute, and a large and 
 enthusiastic branch of fifty-three members was formed. A good many 
 of the men became associate members by paying the one-dollar fee 
 that is charged a man before he can become a member. It was said 
 that the young woman elected president of this branch was the only 
 teacher in the county who had made any attempt at improving the 
 appearance of her school-room during the previous year. This asso- 
 ciation held a second meeting the next day to decide on a plan of 
 work for the year. The school districts were apportioned to different 
 members, who were to have personal supervision of them. As it is 
 impossible for them to meet oftener, these members will report on the 
 work that they have done at annual meetings of the institute. 
 
 In the next county that I visited conditions were better. Several 
 new school-houses were being built, and some of the teachers had 
 already taken special interest in the cleanliness and pleasing appear- 
 ance of their school-rooms and grounds. In this county is situated 
 the handsomest rural public school house in the state. It is built of 
 solid granite, the wood-work being of hard-oak. At this place we had 
 a more general meeting, the teachers giving each other and me many 
 valuable suggestions and experiences. After having organized, a plan 
 of work was laid out that can hardly fail to produce good results. 
 
 The last place that I visited was the most discouraging of all. 
 Here I spoke not only to the teachers but to the people from the sur- 
 rounding country who had assembled to hear an educational address 
 by an ex-superintendent of public instruction. These people not only 
 were not especially interested, but declined to become so. A few, 
 however, organized, and it is to be hoped that they can at least do 
 something to create a sentiment that will call for better and cleaner 
 school-houses. 
 
 As yet, not very many practical results have been reported from 
 that section of the state, but I trust that since the matter has been 
 laid before them the teachers will take up the work to such an extent 
 that the dirty and worthless school-houses that exist to-day may soon 
 become things of the past. Maey Tayxok Mooee, 
 
 Secretary of the Woman's Association. 
 
 August 1, 1903. 
 
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 The Work of Miss Leah D. Jones in Several North Carolina 
 Counties During- the Summer of 1902. 
 
 The following is a condensed account of the work of Miss Leah D. 
 Jones of Craven county, one of the supervising teachers in the prac- 
 tice school of the North Carolina State Normal College, in promoting 
 better educational conditions in several North Carolina counties dur- 
 ing the summer of 1902 : 
 
 THE BEGINNING. 
 
 My aim was to reach as many communities as possible and to 
 interest as many individuals as possible in the work of the better- 
 ment of the public school houses. 
 
 My first step was to see the superintendent of Craven, my own 
 county, and to write to the superintendents of Jones and Onslow. I 
 found that there was to be no teachers' institute in any of these three 
 counties, and the lack of interest in education made it impossible to 
 get a gathering of people by simply calling a meeting to talk about 
 school-houses ; so I made up my mind to attend picnics and church 
 meetings wherever I could hear of them and could reach them, and 
 there talk to the people, gathered for other purposes, on this all- 
 important subject. 
 
 From the superintendent I got a list and a map of the townships 
 of Craven county, the school committeemen of each township, the 
 county board of education, and the teachers of the county. I then 
 sent one of our little pamphlets to each of these, and wrote a letter 
 to each committeeman asking him to notify me of any gatherings of 
 any kind to be held in his neighborhood, and also asked if there would 
 be any chance of my getting a meeting of the ladies to discuss the 
 school-house question. I wrote similar letters to the superintendents 
 of Joues and Onslow. I received replies from only six out of the 
 thirty letters to committeemen and superintendents. 
 
 Then I determined to find out the meetings myself and to hunt up 
 the school-houses and go into the very homes of the people and talk 
 to them there. Our superintendent had been in office only a short 
 time and was not able to tell me names. 
 
 My youngest brother was at home for a vacation ; so I pressed him 
 into service as driver, hired a horse and buggy, and on Friday, June 
 27th, we crossed the river and "took to the woods," not knowing a 
 mile of the road. This district had been inaccessible to New Bern 
 until within the last two years, except by small sail-boats. 
 
 We knew of a Mr. Latham, a very intelligent, well-informed and 
 public-spirited man who lived across the river ; so we inquired the 
 
34 
 
 way to bis house and. went there for dinner. He and his family were 
 intensely interested in our proposed work, and, besides some valuable 
 suggestions and information concerning the conditions and disposi- 
 tions of the people of that secfion, he gave us the names of all the 
 school-houses in that and the adjoining townships, also the names of 
 some of the most prominent people in each neighborhood. He drew 
 us a rough map of the county and neighborhood roads, with the 
 school-houses in their respective places. 
 
 Immediately after dinner we started for the Sheffield school-house, 
 and found it three and a half miles from New Bern. It is an 
 average country school-house, twenty by twenty-five feet. It is ceiled 
 overhead and has six windows, also a rostrum about one-third the 
 size of the room. Immediately behind the stove, which stood in the 
 center of the room, stood a post, from which the bark had not been 
 peeled, supporting one of the rafters. The furniture consisted of 
 rough benches, all of the same height, with no backs except a narrow 
 strip five inches wide at the top, the stove and a four-by-three-foot 
 blackboard that had once been black, but was now sleek and shiny. 
 This house was in the woods, near the road. The road was the only 
 play-ground. 
 
 From the school-house we went to eight of the homes in the neigh- 
 borhood. I went in and talked to the ladies, told them that I wanted 
 to get every woman in the neighborhood interested in the Sheffield 
 school, and that I wanted to get them together and talk with them 
 about it, and asked if they would not meet me at the school-house 
 Saturday a week. I told them that I had pictures to show them and 
 that I needed their help. The first one suggested 2 :30 o'clock as the 
 hour for the meeting, and each of the others agreed to it and prom- 
 ised to get word of the meeting to as many others as possible. I told 
 them that the women must come and that the men and the larger 
 girls and boys might come if they desired. After stopping every one 
 I met on the road and talking to them, we reached home at dusk, 
 having finished my first day's work. 
 
 AT MAYSVILLE. 
 
 On July 1st I went by rail to a school commencement at Maysville, 
 Jones county. There was an address in the morning, but no chance 
 for me to talk to the people or even meet them. It was very warm, 
 and all hurried home, as most of them lived seA _ eral miles in the 
 country. In the afternoon I went up to the church, where they were 
 preparing for the entertainment to come off that night, and there I 
 met a number of the students — girls and boys about grown. 
 
 At night the people came from all the surrounding districts and 
 from several of the adjoining counties. The little church was full, 
 even to the aisles, and people were standing around the windows on 
 the outside. About three hundred people were there. 
 
35 
 
 The children did well, but the entertainment lasted until 12 o'clock. 
 At the close I told those tired people about our association, said a few 
 words about the necessity of the work, and asked the ladies to meet 
 me at the school-house the next morning at 10 o'clock. Five ladies, 
 three school committeemen and half a dozen young men, students of 
 the school, met me. The school-room was located in a dwelling-house. 
 It is sixteen by twenty-four feet, is newly ceiled and has seven win- 
 dows. The stove was a borrowed one, the desks rough, home-made 
 and all the same size, and the one sleek blackboard was only one yard 
 square. Those present seemed interested and promised to work for 
 the school. The committeemen said that they would see that better 
 seats and a good long blackboard were in place before the fall. 
 
 There was no play-ground, and so I went with a committee of the 
 students to see the agent of the Maysville Land Company, and a 
 large adjoining lot owned by the company was loaned for the pur- 
 pose. The young men said that they would put it in good shape and 
 plant some trees. 
 
 After the meeting I went to the homes of those who had not come 
 out. Maysville is a small village. The people are good and of average 
 intelligence, and there were forty children of school age, but I was 
 told that it was the first time they had had a good school to run three 
 months in the history of the village, which is not very ancient. They 
 had engaged the same teacher to return for the fall term. 
 
 The two great mountains in my way were utter indifference and 
 lack of unity. The little petty jealousies, one wanting the school- 
 house in one place and another in another ; one wanting a certain 
 teacher and some one else wanting his daughter, or his cousin, or his 
 aunt, made unity of effort almost impossible. 
 
 The struggle usually ended by all who were not pleased keeping 
 their children at home. Such were conditions that I found in most 
 communities. So I usually had to convince the people of the positive 
 necessity of education, and the responsibility, not only of the parents, 
 but of all citizens, before I reached the point where the house came 
 in. But I visited only two places where I did not leave an Associa- 
 tion for the Betterment of the School House and promises to stir up 
 interest in the school and the teacher. 
 
 AT HAVELOCK. 
 
 July 3d I went to Havelock, twelve miles from New Bern, on the 
 A. & N. C. railroad. I reached there at half-past ten in the morning. 
 Marie Buys, a uormal graduate,' met me, and together we went from 
 house to house, visiting every home in the district except one, which 
 was three miles away. 
 
 The school-house was about like that at Sheffield, unfurnished, 
 save with rude benches. It was situated in a pretty bit of woods, 
 back some distance from the road, and if the underbrush had been 
 cut away and walks made, would have furnished very attractive 
 
36 
 
 grounds. We planned the walks while I was there. On my first visit 
 we interested a young girl who went with us to that school-house and 
 to the homes in the district. There were only about eighteen children 
 in the district. One of the committeemen of the school said there 
 was no use talking education or beautifying school-houses to those 
 people ; that they were blockheads and that the committeemen should 
 fix things to suit themselves. 
 
 Miss Buys' father invited the Havelock Sunday-school to have its 
 picnic in his yard. He had also invited people from other villages 
 and neighborhoods, so that I had a chance to talk to forty or fifty 
 people from Croatan, Havelock, Harlowe, North Harlowe, Adams' 
 Creek and Hancock's Creek. After dinner was over the yard was 
 strewn with paper, box-tops, etc. I gave an object lesson by suggest- 
 ing that we should not leave our friend's yard in such a condition, 
 and the litter was soon collected and burned. 
 
 One gentleman from Croatan went home from this meeting and 
 stirred up the neighborhood by cleaning up the school-yard, the 
 church-yard and the grave-yard. Miss Mamie Hill of Havelock, the 
 young woman who went around with us there, got the people together 
 and cleaned up the Havelock school-grounds, scoured the floors and 
 washed the windows of the school-house, and planned for a basket 
 party to raise money to whitewash the house. The whitewashing 
 was postponed on account of the breaking out of smallpox in the 
 village. A second attempt was made, but another case of smallpox 
 prevented it, and I have heard nothing from there since. 
 
 SHEFFIELD SCHOOL-HOUSE. 
 
 Saturday morning, July 5th, I left Havelock. It was the day 
 appointed for the meeting at the Sheffield school-house. It was so 
 warm that I was ashamed to ask any one to drive me over to the 
 school-house in the middle of the day, but I had made the appoint- 
 ment, and I felt that I must go, so I asked my brother to let me have 
 his office boy, a colored boy who had been a servant in our family 
 since he was a child. We started at half-past one. The road all the 
 way was about four inches deep in sand. I really did not suffer 
 myself, as I was so busy thinking of the horse and wondering whether 
 anybody would be out to meet me. But when I finally reached the 
 school-house the sight of men, women and children fully repaid me 
 for having come in a walk every step of the way. There were twenty 
 people there, with some children, and some of the children brought 
 messages from their mothers which showed interest. They brought 
 benches out, and we talked and argued very informally about the 
 school, its conditions, its troubles and the causes of them all. In this 
 district there were sixty children of school age and only twenty were 
 enrolled last term. Some were in favor of compulsory education, and 
 some thought that the fault lay in the teacher. 
 
37 
 
 We discussed the best plan to adopt to get compulsory education, 
 and finally decided that we would first have to get most of the people 
 to want it ; we discussed the best way to get better teachers and to get 
 the best work out of a teacher, whether she be good or poor, and 
 decided that the people must stand by the teacher and help her and 
 encourage her ; we discussed the best way to enable the children to 
 get the greatest benefit from the school, and decided that we must 
 have them attend regularly and that we must make them comfortable 
 at school. 
 
 Then we looked at the house and the grounds, to see what we could 
 do just with our hands. The men, or several of them, said that they 
 would ceil the sides of the house if they could get the lumber, and 
 that they would saw off some of tbe seats for the little ones, so that 
 their feet would not swing all day. Other men and the large boys' 
 said that they would cut out the underbrush and fix a walk so that 
 the grounds would be better ; and the women said that they would 
 see that the floor and windows were cleaned and that they would put 
 a basin and towel in place ; they said they would make a little flower- 
 bed just the width of the steps on each side, get woodbine and blue- 
 bell vine from the woods and plant at the corners of the house. They 
 said they would plant ferns where the droppings of the eaves would 
 keep them damp. One man said he would give a dollar for any 
 needed expense. It came unsolicited, and I added one to it. 
 
 We then organized an association ; we called it the Woman's Associ- 
 ation, but the men all joined. They had no idea how to conduct a 
 meeting, but I acted as secretary and chairman too, until the presi- 
 dent was elected. Then I read the minutes of the meeting and the 
 enrollment of the members and left them with their minute book 
 started. I usually take with me a blank-book for that purpose. Since 
 that meeting the house has been ceiled and the outside whitewashed, 
 and the seats have been made more comfortable. 
 
 ORIENTAL SCHOOL-HOUSE. 
 
 Wednesday night, the 15th of July, I went by boat to Oriental, in 
 Pamlico county. Thursday morning I started out and went from 
 house to house. That night about fifty ladies and a few men came 
 out to the Methodist church for a meeting. We formed a good strong 
 association. Oriental is a thriving little village, with about ninety 
 children of school age. The homes are attractive, and there are four 
 very pretty little churches. About five years ago a stock company 
 was formed to build an academy. The shareholders soon lost interest 
 and wanted their money back, so it was sold to one man. He con- 
 tinued the work on it for awhile, and then stopped, and it has been 
 at a standstill for three years. 
 
 For the past two years the school has been taught by two teachers 
 in uncomfortable rooms over a store. When the public school is 
 over, most of the people pay tuition and thus retain the teachers for 
 
38 
 
 four months longer. I tried to impress them, not only with the neces- 
 sity of their having a good school in Oriental, but with their responsi- 
 bility to the children of the surrounding country.* 
 
 SMALLPOX INTERFERES. 
 
 On the Saturday before going to Oriental. Mr. Brinson, the county 
 superintendent, had asked me to meet the county board and the com- 
 mitteemen of No. 2 township, who were to hold a meeting in his office 
 on that day. I told them of the work I had undertaken, a little more 
 fully than I had been able to write them, and found them ready to 
 assist me in every way possible. They said that they would inform 
 me of any gatherings to be held, and would try to interest the people. 
 They said that the work was sadly needed, and told me of some 
 districts in which the conditions were even worse than those I have 
 mentioned. In one district the goats had had possession of the 
 school-house all the summer. In one, the people were so divided as 
 to where to locate the school-house that they would not have any. 
 They insisted upon my going to those two districts and said they 
 would meet me at the station and take me where I could be enter- 
 tained comfortably. Mr. Brinson said that he would go with me. 
 They insisted that we go in time to be in the neighborhood the 
 Sunday before, when they had preaching. We agreed, and appoint- 
 ments were made for meetings at three places. The meetings were 
 advertised thoroughly and I suppose we should have met most of 
 the people, but the smallpox broke out in the neighborhood and pre- 
 vented our going. Those people are aroused, however, and Mr. Brin- 
 son will go down this fall, and I hope for some good to come, even 
 from the attempt. 
 
 BEECH GROVE AXD LIMA. 
 
 At the same meeting of the board, Mr. Lane, another member and 
 a very efficient one. insisted that I should try to meet the people of 
 Beech Grove and Lima. He knew of no gathering but a quarterly 
 meeting on the ISth and 19th, and he feared we would not get the 
 people together even though he saw the people and sent messages, 
 which he was willing to do. The quarterly meeting meant preaching 
 on Saturday morning, Saturday night, and Sunday. The school-house 
 is just beside the church, so I asked Mr. Lane to announce at the 
 close of morning seiwice that I would like to talk to the ladies at the 
 school-house a short time that night. He asked them to come a half 
 hour before church time. Mr. Lane lived near the church, and as it 
 was six miles from my home I was to go to his house for an early 
 supper and return home after services. 
 
 Saturday supper found both my brother and myself at Mr. Lane's. 
 Dr. Swindell, the presiding elder, was there, and I found that, fearing 
 
 "Oriental has since voted a local tax and now has a good public school house which cost 
 .500.-R. D. W. C. 
 
Alliance, Pamlico County (Old). 
 
 Alliance, Pamlico County (New). 
 
39 
 
 the people would not come in time and I would not get a good meet- 
 ing, those two had decided to let me talk to the whole congregation 
 in the church at the beginning of the services. This embarrassed me, 
 but the minister assured me that it was his suggestion ; that my work 
 was important, that he wanted as many people as possible to hear 
 about it, that he wanted to hear about it himself, and that he would 
 "divide time" with me. 
 
 It was somewhat of an ordeal for me, for I had not made any set 
 speech before ; I had just talked to the people, oftenest sitting down 
 among them, sometimes standing in their midst and letting them talk 
 back. And this was a different audience and Dr. Swindell thrown 
 in. But I began and told them about our Woman's Association, and 
 I kept on. I told them of the Southern Education Board, of the 
 increased interest in education all over the country, and of the stand 
 our state was taking for it. I spoke of the condition of the school- 
 house and grounds and of the effect they had upon the children in 
 their work. I kept on until I had shown my pictures, organized an 
 association, written and read the minutes of the meeting, which took 
 nearly all of the preacher's time. But he then talked to them awhile 
 on the same subject, emphasizing and bringing out beautifully the 
 points I had tried to make. 
 
 The school-house is situated in a beautiful grove. It is nicely 
 ceiled, and the seats, though home-made and all the same size, looked 
 more comfortable than any I had yet seen. There is a chart and a 
 very small blackboard. A pay school is carried on after the public 
 school closes. 
 
 Monday morning, the 20th, I went to Lima, took dinner at the home 
 of one of the committeemen, an intelligent, well-to-do farmer, who has 
 had fair advantages and who intends to give the same to his children. 
 Lima is a small district and has only eighteen children. The school 
 house was new and neat, but there was no play-ground and the house 
 was neither painted nor ornamented in any way. It was the property 
 of three men — the committeeman spoken of, and two others. They 
 supplement the school money and get a good teacher, one who can 
 teach music being required, and keep the school open for nine months, 
 but it is only their children who go more than four months. I formed 
 no association there. 
 
 ROANOKE ISLAND. 
 
 On July 23d I went to Roanoke Island to the celebration of the 
 North Carolina Historical Society. I knew that at that time I would 
 be able to reach more people on the island than at any other time, 
 and I felt chat others hearing of the work might become interested 
 and do some work in other parts of the state. I went so as to be 
 there all of Wednesday before the celebration exercises, which came 
 off Thursday. Wednesday morning I met the Methodist minister. 
 The celebration was held at Manteo, the chief town of the island. 
 He took me to the hall, which the ladies were busy decorating and 
 
40 
 
 preparing for the next day. I met a number of them and found that 
 they were quite ready to talk school in the midst of their work. The 
 people of the island are very intelligent, and I found most of the 
 women intensely interested in the school question. They keep a good 
 school by subscription, employing three teachers. There are 120 
 children in the town, but only 90 are able to go during the pay term. 
 They have a large school-room, but the most miserable desks, the 
 dirtiest walls, and a big blank block gone to weeds and not a shade 
 tree in sight for a play-ground. The house belongs to the Odd Fel- 
 lows. The women want the town to build a good house, but they say 
 that the men are the trouble. 
 
 We tried to get a time when I could meet the women ; everybody 
 was busy and something appointed for every hour of the time, begin- 
 ning with church that night. A minister from Elizabeth was to 
 preach, and they said that everybody would be there, so we decided 
 to ask the ladies to remain a short time after church. When the min- 
 ister made the announcement he said that "the ladies must stay, and 
 the men may stay if they like." Not a soul left, so I made my second 
 speech to a church full of people. My aim was to make everybody see 
 that everybody must work together, and must work and think and 
 talk for the school, and must make the school not only inhabitable, 
 but attractive. I tried to meet as tactfully as I could the conditions 
 as I had learned them that day. The women were pleased ; they 
 told me that I had "hit the men right and left," and a number of men 
 came up and spoke very kindly, endorsing all that I had said. We 
 formed an association. The next morning, just after breakfast, two 
 of the ladies came to the hotel and said that the ladies wanted me 
 to come up to the hall and talk to them before the speaking began. 
 I went with them and found a large crowd gathered, for speaking 
 was to begin at ten and people were coming early to secure seats. 
 The thing that struck me most about these ladies was their mission- 
 ary spirit. They wanted the women of Sky Co and Wanchese and 
 North End to become interested and to work for their schools. 
 
 They watched the people come in and get seated, and wherever 
 they could find four or five, or five or six ladies together and it was 
 possible to get a seat among them for me, they would come and say : 
 "Now, we want you to talk to these ladies over here," and they 
 would have the subject introduced before I got there. So by quietly 
 moving my seat here and there I talked to a number of people while 
 the crowd was gathering, and arrangements were made for meetings 
 next day at Wanchese and Sky Co, the other two settlements on the 
 island. 
 
 WANCHESE AND SKY CO.* 
 
 Wanchese is a settlement spread over the south end of the island. 
 You could hardly call it a town. The homes are away off in the 
 
 *Wanehese and Sky Co now are both local tax districts and have good houses.— R. D. 
 W. C. 
 
41 
 
 woods, but I suppose that uone of the homes are more thau half a 
 mile apart. They have a good school there taught by a mau aud his 
 wife. The house consists of two large rooms, upper aud lower, aud 
 two one-story rooms, built as wings on each side of the main buildiug 
 and opening into the large hall on the lower floors. This hall has a 
 stage across the rear end and the two wings are also used for the 
 school. The upper hall is the Masonic meeting-place. These walls 
 were all prettily ceiled and painted ; mottoes were on the walls, and 
 the rooms had manufactured desks, the only ones I saw during the 
 summer. We organized a good association. I could not get a meeting 
 at North End. The school-house seemed to be new, but is very small. 
 There is uo school-house at Sky Co and only fifteen children. It is 
 a very small new settlement, but eveu there the people are divided. 
 I could not get them to organize, but they promised to build a house 
 and to organize later on. There are very few negroes on the island, 
 but the few I saw are well behaved and well thought of. 
 
 JACKSONVILLE.* 
 
 July 28 we went to Jacksonville, Onslow county. Jacksonville is 
 the county-seat and could support a good school. They have a large 
 house, 25x40 feet, and a large lot, but both were sadly out of repair; 
 miserable furniture, no blackboard worthy the name. The house had 
 been open all the summer ; not a tree on the grounds. There had been 
 no school in the place half the time. It was the story of disagree- 
 ment. A number sent their children away to neighborhoods where 
 there are well-established schools. I had written the county superin- 
 tendent of my coming, and asked him to appoint a meeting of the 
 ladies. He came to see me as soon as I arrived and told me that he 
 had planned a meeting in the church that uight. In the afternoon I 
 drove out to Cedar Lane, four miles off, but did not get any of the 
 people together on account of a beavy thunder-storm. That night a 
 good crowd met me at the church. We organized an association of 
 twenty-five members. The ladies seemed interested and began at 
 once to plan improvements on the school-house and grounds. A month 
 later a gentleman told me he was in the village and attended an 
 enthusiastic meeting of the association. 
 
 SUGAR MAPLE. 
 
 On July 29 I went out in the country six miles from Jacksonville 
 and visited the Sugar Maple school, which was then in progress. Mr. 
 Cooper, the county superintendent, met me there. The house, which 
 is weatherboarded and shingled, is set down in the woods by the side 
 of the road. An acre of ground belongs to it, but no use was made of 
 it, as the underbrush was thick. Inside the house was not only unat- 
 tractive, but dismal-looking. The walls were as black and weather- 
 
 *Jacksonville is now a local tax district and has recently expended $1,000 in repairs on 
 the school-house. — R. D. W. C. 
 
42 
 
 beaten as the outside and the rafters festooned with cobwebs. There 
 were twenty-six children at school the day I was there, and a sleepy- 
 looking young man in his shirt sleeves was teaching, or rather he was 
 hearing a lesson. The seats were of the rudest kind, and some of the 
 little ones could hardly get their chins above the desks. Only five or 
 six were about grown, and three of the young men were very 
 intelligent. I talked with them awhile in an easy way and tried to 
 draw them out, but when 1 asked if they had ever seen or heard of a 
 special thing or person most of them would look at me blankly, while 
 one bright-faced little fellow would call out, "I hain't!" I held up 
 the portraits of Washington and Lee, and only three knew them 
 or knew anything about tnem when told who they were. I talked 
 with them a good while, formed an association among the pupils, and 
 left a picture with them. 
 
 BRIER NECK. 
 
 That afternoon I went to the Brier Neck school-house, nine miles 
 in another direction, spent the night at the home of one of the com- 
 mitteemen. The school-house is comparatively new-looking, but they 
 are going to build a larger and a better one on the public road. But 
 it will not be in the center of the district. I gave some suggestions 
 as to the building of the new one. That committeeman is very much 
 interested in the school. I did not meet the people that afternoon. I 
 was on my way to the Alum Spring picnic, where I knew I would 
 meet people from all over the county and several of the adjoining 
 counties. I went to the picnic next day and, as I expected, found 
 quite a crowd. It is a good section of the country. The people are 
 intelligent, but most of those who are interested in their children 
 send them away to some small school instead of building up one in 
 their midst. I spent the morning going around meeting and talking 
 to the people. After dinner I asked some of the ladies to go up into 
 the pavilion with me. A good crowd started. People will follow a 
 crowd, so the pavilion was soon filled with women. I stood in the 
 midst of them and began telling them what the women of the state 
 had undertaken to do. Then the men began to gather around the 
 outside, a few at a time, and more came, and more, till I think about 
 every one on the grounds was listening to me, and I had to talk as 
 loud as I could. At first I had the ice shaver and the pink lemonade 
 shaker to talk against, but some one soon silenced those, and every- 
 thing was as quiet as if we had all been in a house. I talked a long 
 time, and after I had finished I formed associa tions for Catherine 
 Lake, Brier Neck, Lake View, Gum Branch. Richlands, and won the 
 promise of individuals to organize and work up associations at 
 Hubert, Sparkman and Half Moon. 
 
KIT SWAMP. 
 
 The cominitteenien bad sent word around that Mr. Brinson and I 
 would be at Kit Swamp school-house at half-past ten on the 
 morning of the first day of August, and at Forrest in the afternoon 
 of August the 13th. At the former place, which is in Craven county, 
 eleven miles from New Bern, we found only six people. It was in 
 tobacco time, and the women help prepare it for market. 
 
 We talked to them very informally for more than an hour and found 
 out the condition of the community and the troubles. And those 
 present seemed very much interested. Two of the number were a 
 committeeman and his wife, and one an earnest young man who 
 expected to teach at Truitt's next term. Those there decided to 
 organize, and we did so, and I left them with a book and the minutes 
 of the first meeting. I had filled the seat and foot of my buggy with 
 old magazines : Munsey, Cosmopolitan, McChire's, Youth's Companion, 
 St. Nicholas, Ladies' Home Journal and some teachers' journals. I 
 left some of these in the hands of the president and told her to have 
 a little shelf built for them and let the teacher use them as a little 
 library, giving them out Friday afternoons to be taken home. Even 
 if the children could not read them and understand them they would 
 enjoy the pictures, and some of the parents might enjoy them, and 
 the teachers' journals would be helpful to the teacher. I gave a 
 number to the young teacher, who said he was going to organize an 
 association at Truitt's. 
 
 ZORAH. 
 
 One of the committeemen wrote me that there was to be a big picnic 
 and baseball game at Zorah on the sixteenth. The ball game was to 
 be between the Zorah neighborhood and Reelsboro, Pamlico county. 
 There were about three hundred people present from the surrounding 
 country, counting men, women and children. And, as usual about 
 election times and before, we met several of the candidates for nomi- 
 nation for the various county offices. The school-house does not look 
 any better than the one at Kit Swamp, but the people seemed intelli- 
 gent and well-to-do. They had built a kind of arbor, or pavilion, 
 covered with branches, for dancing, and around this the people gath- 
 ered while Mr. Brinson talked to them of the importance and necessity 
 of education for every one, and 1 told them of the helpfulness of a 
 comfortable and attractive school-house and pictures, and how they 
 might improve and beautify the school-house by a little effort. We 
 then organized associations for Zorah, Reelsboro and Olympia. 
 
 RESULTS AND SUGGESTIONS. 
 
 I cannot give much in the way of direct results of my work. Mr. 
 Brinson, the county superintendent of Craven, is very much interested. 
 He is a man of ability and judgment and will work for the interest 
 of the schools and will not be biased or led by any political or other 
 
44 
 
 influence in his official acts. He and Mr. Nunn, one of the leading 
 young lawyers, and Professor Harding, superintendent of the New 
 Bern schools, have agreed to respond to invitations from the neigh- 
 boring schools to address them on stated occasions. 
 
 I have sent framed pictures to four schools. Three houses have 
 been ceiled inside and whitewashed outside. One of the committeemen 
 told me that after church in his township the men, instead of talking 
 politics, as usual, were now talking schools. A man told my father 
 that his son, who had been hard to get to school, had made up his 
 mind to go every day, and had already boxed some flowers for the 
 school-house. A few stray facts like these are all the direct results 
 that I know, but I believe the people of the country can be reached 
 and can be aroused. They need encouragement. They need teaching. 
 The work needs to be followed up. They need teachers most of all ; 
 good, strong teachers. The salaries paid the teachers are too small. 
 The people are opposed to taxes. The majority of them have little 
 to tax or to pay taxes with. If some good, strong teacher could go 
 into the country districts while the schools are in progress, spend a 
 day or two in each school, go back and forth with the teacher, talk 
 with and encourage her and direct her, and then meet the parents and 
 get down to them as a friend, wonders could be worked. It would be 
 as trying, in many instances, as work in foreign fields, but it could be 
 done. Or, if every county could have an enthusiastic working school 
 man for superintendent and let him have tbat for his only business, 
 the rural school problem could soon be solved. 
 
 But as we can get neither of these in many counties, my idea has 
 been to try to form strong associations in the towns that will divide 
 up and take especial interest in the schools nearest to the towns. For 
 instance, if there are six country schools within a radius of eight 
 miles around Greensboro and we could get thirty women in our 
 association, let it divide into groups of six, and each group become 
 interested in a particular school, visit it, etc. 
 
Library op Bobbitt's School, Vance County. 
 
Bobbitt School, Vance County. 
 
HOW A WAYNE COUNTY SCHOOL WAS IMPROVED. 
 
 By John S. Teagtje. 
 
 When I first came to Watery Branch, Wayne county, two years ago, 
 I found a house with not room enough for the children, situated in 
 the woods with a path in front leading to the door. The building was 
 surrounded by shrubbery of every description, from the tall oak to the 
 tiniest fern, intermingled with dead brush and decayed leaves that 
 could count their age by the decades. Dead stumps of all sizes 
 peeped up here and there with their snaggled teeth offering defiance to 
 the passer-by. A wash in front on the side of the road was slowly but 
 surely eating its way to the house. Many of the limbs of the trees 
 were kissing old mother earth. All of the trees needed an introduc- 
 tion to the pruner's knife and not a few were anxiously waiting in 
 old-maid fashion for a husband by the name of Mr. Ax who would 
 lift them from their sad state and dress them in costumes to be an 
 ornament to the people. 
 
 If an artist had by chance gone into the building he would not have 
 found anything to tickle his fancy or please his eye save the children, 
 and perhaps the teacher. Here were children hungering and thirsting 
 for books to read, but sadly waiting to be filled. Nothing there to 
 woo them to come to this sacred place save the whistle of the wind 
 and the song of the mocking-bird. With very few books to read, no 
 yard to play in. no flowers in the yard or the house to send forth 
 their fragrance for them, no pictures on the walls for them to look 
 at, no shades on the windows, not comfortable room enough in the 
 house — is it any wonder that so many of the boys and girls never 
 came to school? 
 
 To-day by the co-operative work of parents, pupils and teacher, we 
 have turned these dry bones into a living personage. Fifty stumps 
 have been taken up, thirty trees uprooted, logs cut and put into the 
 wash and dirt thrown over them and made level. There are flowers 
 of several kinds in the house on shelves made for the purpose, and 
 flowers in the yard. The limbs from the trees have ceased to kiss the 
 earth, but with tbe aid of the pruner's knife, those left are pointing 
 heavenward, inviting all to let their lives do likewise. 
 
 Twenty pictures are in the house, seven of them nicely framed. 
 Shades are over all the windows. We have a library of books neatly 
 cased. Our seating capacity has been enlarged one-third by taking 
 out an old rostrum. 
 
 *Mr. Teague won a scholarship to the A. & M. College summer school, offered by the 
 Wayne County Association to the teacher of the county who should make the greatest 
 improvement in his (or her) school-house and grounds during the year. 
 
46 
 
 We gave two nice entertainments and collected $42 with which to 
 pay for our library, pictures, shades, etc. We still have on hand 
 $14.25 with which to have planted two rows of shrubbery from the 
 front of the house to the road. 
 
 It is with pride that I point to the fact that the children were the 
 most anxious to help in this beautifying work. Instead of disliking 
 the old place, they are proud of their school. Their books are kept 
 neater, the faces and hands cleaner, and their hair is usually combed. 
 Somehow the boys do not mind building fires, sweeping the yard or 
 cleaning off their feet at the door. The girls are delighted to sweep 
 the floor and dust ihe desks. No spider has a chance of life on these 
 premise?, and last, but not least, our worthy county superintendent 
 enjoys visiting us. 
 
EAGLE ROCK SCHOOL, WAKE COUNTY. 
 
 By Miss Annie Abernathy. 
 
 When I took charge of the Eagle Rock school in September last 
 I found a house in the middle of a large yard grown up in briars, 
 weeds and broom-sedge. Just in front of the door was a road made 
 by drivers taking a short cut from one public road to another. 
 
 The interior of the house was no more inviting, containing only 
 desks and two small blackboards, the floors and walls being much dis- 
 colored. I had to begin with small things. I found two nice, large 
 calendars, and hung one in each room. I also told the trustees that 
 three more blackboards were needed, and these they willingly gave. 
 
 Then I learned that one of the trustees had a large map of the 
 United States. I went after this map and got it. Indeed, he lent it 
 with pleasure when I told how much it was needed. Shortly after 
 this the county superintendent visited the school, and I asked for a 
 globe to be paid for by the county. He replied that it would be a 
 pleasure to present the school with one, which he did. It has been of 
 great service. 
 
 But the yard gave me the horrors. I laid the case before the 
 children and called upon them for help toward a new order of things. 
 
 Then I appointed December 13 as work day on the yard, and sent 
 requests to several patrons to be there on that day, and in the notes 
 specified the tools each should bring. 
 
 When I drove up with my wagon-load of tools and workmen on the 
 13th there were waiting for me a strong force of hands and eight 
 horses and mules. They plowed, and chopped and dug, and harrowed, 
 and laid off walks, and when we left things were marvelously 
 changed. 
 
 The following Friday was appointed arbor day, and all the people 
 of the community, whether patrons or not, were invited to bring trees. 
 Nature recognized her friends, and gave a lovely day, and the people 
 came. The children rendered some appropriate selections. Miss 
 Royster followed with an address, and then we went out and planted 
 the trees. Tbere were forty-seven planted, mostly elms and maples. 
 
 One gentleman sent word that it was impossible for him to be 
 there then, but to have three places marked, and when I began the 
 new year his trees would be there. They were. Re named one for 
 me, one for my assistant, and one for the preacher. The preacher — 
 ungrateful one — has died, but the teachers, as was to be expected, are 
 holding their own. Out of the fifty trees forty-six lived. 
 
 The map trustee had some rye and he volunteered to sow it on the 
 ground and so prepare the soil for grass next fall. 
 
 A letter to our congressman telling about the work and asking for 
 trees brought seven choice varieties from Washington, which have 
 been tended with great care. 
 
48 
 
 I sent a little sketch of our arbor day to the Youth's Companion, 
 and by way of encouragement this paper sent the school a set of his- 
 torical pictures and a handsome United States flag. What a happy 
 time that was ! 
 
 The five pictures were neatly framed and glazed through the 
 efforts of five little girls, and do brighten the walls so much. Each 
 little tot was allowed to choose the picture she wanted to frame, and 
 her name and the date were written across the back. This gladdened 
 their little hearts and was, at the same time, an object-lesson showing 
 that efforts bring results. 
 
 About this time I interested the large girls in buying a carpet to 
 cover an unsightly rostrum. They were instructed not to take more 
 than five cents from any one, but that one might be visited by each of 
 them in turn. The money came right in, and the carpet was soon 
 down. 
 
 A crying need here was a well. Water for the school (eighty- 
 eight children) had to be brought a long distance. So I borrowed a 
 buggy and mule and drove round the country soliciting subscriptions 
 to dig a well. Some promised cash and others agreed to haul stones 
 for the wall. One man said that he would make up any deficit there 
 might be when the work was done. 
 
 The well had not been digged, however, because a digger could 
 not then be found, but one has now been secured, and the work will 
 commence. 
 
 The Ladies' Association organized by Miss Royster has planted 
 fourteen flowering shrubs, violets, lilies, chrysanthemums, honey- 
 suckle, clematis, Virginia creeper, and thirty-four rose-bushes, and 
 the congressman has remembered us again with packages of seeds. 
 
 When the rye was planted I had left a large square made by the 
 angle of two rooms, in part. Most of the flowers are set here. My 
 friendly trustee gave cedar posts for the two open sides, and this 
 square is wired in. I sent to a livery stable and asked for wire that 
 comes around bales of hay. This isn't very strong, but answers as a 
 protection now, and next year perhaps a better fence may be forth- 
 coming. 
 
 Plans for a library are now on foot, and eleven volumes have been 
 donated. This work is engaging my attention now, and by the close 
 of another year my school hopes to make a good library report. The 
 hope is also indulged that the ceilings may be painted white and the 
 walls tinted a soft color. 
 
 Things are looking pretty now. The rye is green, the violets have 
 bloomed, and the roses are budding. The trees are making a brave 
 show, and on Friday I tried to see how many made shade enough to 
 cover me. 
 
 It does me good to stand in the door and contrast the present with 
 the showing we made in December ; and, with the exception of the 
 well, it has cost almost nothing, for the carpet and frames came by 
 getting a nickel here and there, and no one is poorer. 
 
49 
 
 MISS ABERNATHY S SECOND YEAR S WORK AT EAGLE ROCK. 
 
 Some efforts were made last year to improve the Eagle Rock 
 Academy and grounds, but that was only a beginning and called for 
 more. The most pressing need that confronted us this year was water, 
 as our earlier plans in this direction failed to mature. So we sent a 
 petition to the board oi education and the board agreed to pay for 
 the well if our patrons would haul the rocks with which to wall it. 
 This was an easy matter and that well has been a blessing since 
 October. 
 
 When we planted our trees and flowers no place was found at which 
 to stop until we had covered the entire school ground. This left no 
 play-ground and our useful boys felt that they had been displaced to 
 make way for the purely ornamental. As a consequence the flowers 
 stood to them in the character of interlopers — a condition to be 
 remedied speedily. I called upon the owner of the adjoining grounds 
 and asked that tbe boys be allowed the use of a certain part if they 
 would clean it off. He consented to this and the boys chopped down 
 bushes, dragged off brush, and burned out broom-sedge, until they had 
 a beautiful ground, and all was again serene and calm. 
 
 Early in the fall a 'trustee promised to give me fertilizers for my 
 roses if I would get it carried to the school ground One Saturday 
 shortly after this, several little boys met near tbe school-house to 
 play ball. This was as it should be. I formed them into a bucket 
 brigade, armed them with hoes and marched them to the academy, 
 where they labored cheerfully until every bush had received attention. 
 Then they returned to their game, which had lost none of its zest 
 because they had stopped long enough to help beautify their little 
 world. 
 
 About this time a traveling nurseryman stopped a night with us. 
 He heard us speak of the improvements made and others contem- 
 plated, whereupon he, too, wanted to lend a hand ; he gave to us a nice 
 magnolia, which was received with a gratitude unfeigned.. 
 
 But I was anxious to have a carpet of green spread under the 
 trees and roses. So I went to see two of the trustees in regard to it 
 One promised to send his plows to break up the yard and also to give 
 enough rye to sow the ground ; the other said he would send his disc 
 harrow to break the clods and cover the seed. The work was there- 
 fore done promptly without much trouble to either. 
 
 In the meantime something was being done in the interior of the 
 house. Each room was provided with a neat waste-paper box. Our 
 merchant sent a large calendar — just the very thing for a school-room 
 — and also a case of maps which our congressman had sent to him. A 
 Raleigh friend sent a railroad map of the state. As this was on rather 
 thin paper it was carefully lined with a heavier paper pasted on and 
 the whole was tacked to the wall with plenty of brass-headed tacks. 
 A lady in the neighborhood gave two handsome art calendars of four 
 4 
 
50 
 
 sheets each, which were separated and trimmed and artistically 
 grouped on the wall, making a brilliant dash of color. Collier's 
 Weekly sent one of our boys a picture of Dan Patch. This was 
 fastened up and delighted our little boys, and possibly, too, some of 
 larger growth. The large girls undertook to raise money to buy 
 several pictures, but Ave knew that we could not spend much on these, 
 as there were several other things to buy. So we decided to invest in 
 the 10-cent gray cardboard mat picture. We have put up seventeen 
 of these with brass fasteners. By using some discrimination in the 
 selection of subjects and shapes of mats and by exercising our best 
 taste in grouping them, the effect is surprisingly good. 
 
 The doors and windows opening from the rostrum had never been 
 painted and looked terribly dingy. There was no need for them to 
 continue so. I bought two cans of paint and a little brush and soon 
 had them painted a soft pearl gray. It is well laid on, too. I also 
 bought a wash-pan, a thing not exactly ornamental, perhaps, though 
 it has its place with small boys. 
 
 But during all this time the great desire of my heart was for 
 books. Misses Womble and Royster of Raleigh had given one book 
 each, and with these for a nucleus we began to devise ways to add 
 others. A minister promised one, a teacher one. and a citizen of 
 Raleigh sent ten or twelve volumes. Although the number of libraries 
 due to Wake county had been taken, still I sent in an application. 
 After some weeks a statement that orders had been issued for supple- 
 mentary libraries, and lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. I 
 marked the day with a white stone. 
 
 To get the ten dollars from the community which would entitle us 
 to the thirty-dollar library was not easy, but finally the money was 
 in hand and now the books are here. I should like to tell just how 
 we have used these books and how the non-readers are induced to 
 become readers, but that is another story. But books alone are not 
 sufficient. Pupils need to read papers and magazines, and thus to 
 keep themselves posted on current events. So the reading-room 
 followed. Our miller gave the timber for a nice broad shelf and 
 dressed it, and one of my large boys nailed it up in the music-room. 
 Then the pupils were asked to bring their papers. One brought one 
 and another another, and the postmaster promised to give every day 
 whatever he could legitimately give away. Thus by a little neighbor- 
 hood co-operation we have the Youth's Companion, the Biblical 
 Recorder, The Progressive Farmer, Charity and Children, The Or- 
 phans' Friend, The News and Observer, The Morning Post, and others. 
 The old copies are removed every morning and fresh copies put in 
 their places. Our book-case was placed in this room, and the box of 
 magazines sent by the Raleigh Circle of Colonial Dames, a bench 
 and some chairs were added, our pretty piano wheeled into place, and 
 now the reading-room looks very inviting. Really, the array of fresh 
 papers would do credit to a more pretentious school than ours. The 
 
51 
 
 pupils derive much pleasure and profit from the reading-room, and by 
 contributing to it themselves have come to understand what a beauti- 
 ful thing is the spirit of helpfulness. 
 
 It happened that a large tree planted last year died, and instead of 
 removing it we thought it better to nail on some cross-pieces, thereby 
 converting it into a trellis over which to train a vine. A friend 
 planted a wisteria which, we think, will cover the trellis in a year 
 or two. 
 
 A flower garden has been made in the angle formed by one room 
 jutting out from another, and this was at first enclosed by scrap wire 
 taken from bales of hay. But this wire broke badly and afforded but 
 poor protection. I spoke of this to the gentleman with whom I board 
 and he volunteered to give enough timber to put a substantial fence 
 around it. The little boys dug the post-holes and the larger boys 
 made a good strong fence and hung a gate. This will protect our best 
 flowers during vacation. 
 
 After the library, the need which appealed to me most strongly 
 was the painting of the exterior of the house. The building is an old 
 one, remodeled, having had many additions made to the original. 
 Five sides showed from the front. The old paint was white, the 
 blinds green, the facings yellow, while two walls and a great tower 
 rose up iu front unpainted, weatherbeaten and just as nature made 
 them. That house — a patch of white, a patch of green, a patch of 
 yellow, three great gray blots — every time I went up the front walk I 
 said, with Bob Burdette : 
 
 "Until each staring, frenzied wall 
 Looks like a crazy-quilt gone mad." 
 
 It was a nightmare past enduring. I bought some paint, got 
 instructions about mixing it, borrowed a ladder, and my carpenter 
 boy and I laid it on. I covered the lower part aud he covered the 
 higher part, and between us we covered about S00 square feet of 
 weatherboarding with two coats. We did not reach the back of the 
 building, but we treated all that shows from the front and we made 
 a vast improvement. The door was hung four years ago with no 
 glass in it, although the glass was bought and two persons appointed 
 to put it in. But the door hung there four years without glass 
 because the men had never happened to meet there when they had 
 the glass with them. I ran around until I found where the glass was 
 and then put it in myself. 
 
 What has been done has cost very, very little money, but a visitor 
 who was here at commencement said that she could scarcely believe 
 it to be the same old place she had left two years ago. 
 
 The green yard, the growing young trees, the budding roses and 
 the white house makes a pleasing picture. Inside has kept up with 
 outside. Maps and pictures ornament the walls. For a center-piece 
 we have Washington and Lafayette, with Old Glory draped above 
 them. 
 
A GREENE COUNTY SCHOOL. 
 
 By Miss Susie Kibkpatrick. 
 
 Our school opened in November in the lower room of Mr. H. A. 
 Hooker's pack-house, this room having been used for a number of 
 years as a school-room, as there is no public school building in the 
 district. The pack-house is situated in a beautiful oak grove, but in 
 the rear of the building the undergrowth has quite taken possession. 
 The yard was carpeted with autumn leaves and grass and here and 
 there ungainly stumps were in evidence. 
 
 After getting acquainted with my pupils and their parents and 
 arranging my classes, I began wondering how we could secure a 
 library, for have one we must. Some one suggested a basket party. 
 Five of the largest girls in school, two or three young ladies in the 
 neighborhood and I took baskets with lunch for two, to be sold to the 
 highest bidder. From them we realized $15. 
 
 In the meantime the, president of the county branch of the 
 Woman's Betterment Association wrote to me about the scholarship 
 offered for improvement in school-houses and grounds. As soon as 
 the children heard of it they very enthusiastically joined in the 
 improvement movement. Before many weeks had passed the leaves 
 and grass had been removed and the boys had uprooted as many as 
 twenty stumps. 
 
 We then began to improve the interior of the building. We had a 
 new stove-pipe put up and twelve window-panes put in to replace those 
 which had been broken. A blackboard was given to us by the county 
 superintendent. We wanted pictures for our walls, so we gave an 
 entertainment, at which we raised a small amount with which we 
 purchased a map of North Carolina and pictures of John Alden and 
 Priscilla, the Stag at Bay, Longfellow and his Home, and three 
 pictures of fruits and flowers, the first two having pretty frames. 
 Hearing that tbe Youth's Companion would give pictures to the 
 schools interested in improvements, we wrote and received pictures of 
 Washington, Lafayette, the Signing of the Declaration of Independ- 
 ence and the surrender at Yorktown. I advanced the money with 
 which to buy a portrait of General Lee, which, together with the 
 pictures received from the Youth's Companion, I had framed. 
 
 Our desks were home-made, very rough and uncomfortable, and so 
 high that the smallest children had to stand while writing. We 
 turned our attention towards getting new ones. From Washington's 
 birthday celebration we realized ten dollars. I then offered a copy of 
 Longfellow's poems to the child raising the largest amount for the 
 purchase of desks. They went to work at once in the community and 
 at the end of two weeks had collected fifteen dollars. The county 
 
53 
 
 board of education then gave thirty more, so that we have now nine 
 patent desks and every child attending that school next year will 
 have a comfortable seat. 
 
 In the spring we returned to the yard, laid out flower-beds and 
 planted sweet-peas, pansies, cannas, violets, chrysanthemums and 
 other flowers. We also have hyacinth bulbs to set out in the fall. 
 
 A gentleman in the community interested in the work sent a man 
 who worked four days trimming trees and clearing the ground of 
 grape-vines and broom-sedge. Then he laid off a fine base-ball 
 diamond for the boys. 
 
 A Betterment Association was then organized. Besides all the 
 pupils, we have eA'ery mother and sister co-operating with us in this 
 work. We hope by another year to haye at least a few honorary 
 members. 
 
 The girls took great interest in keeping the room tidy, washed the 
 windows occasionally and kept flowers in the library most of the 
 time. A number of United States flags and one Confederate flag were 
 given to me. On appropriate days we decorate with them. 
 
 Altogether we have made about one hundred dollars worth of 
 improvements inside the school-room. One child remarked : "Our 
 room will look like a parlor when our desks are put up." I shall try 
 to impress upon them that it is to be their home and that they must 
 keep it as such. 
 
SNOW HILL SCHOOL, GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 By Miss Mattie L. Albkitton. 
 
 Last August when Miss Edith Royster organized the Greene county 
 branch of the Woman's Betterment Association, of which I was made 
 secretary, I realized what an opportunity we had for the improvement 
 of our surroundings. 
 
 In presenting the result of our work I would first give a short sketch 
 of the building that was in use in Snow Hill previous to the organiza- 
 tion of our association. This building was a disgrace, not only to the 
 town, but to the county and state as well. It had been built some 
 fifty or sixty years ago and very little had been done since to 
 improve it. Indeed, the hand of time had brought the house to a 
 most dreary and cheerless condition. The walls were broken, the 
 window-sashes so worn that putting in a new glass was a mere 
 expenditure of time and money without real benefit. The black- 
 boards were almost too bad for use. The desks had been carved and 
 abused by "Young Americans" for several generations. The cracks 
 in the floor, the sagging doors, the yawning weatherboards, entirely 
 relieved us from the study of ventilation. Indeed, my pen fails to 
 portray the desolate and bare appearances in and around the school- 
 room. We had a library, though, and many little brave hands and 
 hearts to help us to better the condition of things. 
 
 We accordingly began the work Our principal, Mr. J. E. Debnam, 
 drew the plans, and through his untiring energy and with the aid of 
 our friends and the good old county of Greene, we have now an elegant 
 and commodious building. In this building are three very large, well 
 ventilated and well lighted recitation-rooms. Two of the rooms are 
 separated by folding doors, enabling us to throw them into one when 
 needed for public entertainments. We also have in this new building 
 a cloak-room and a cozy little library finished in oiled wood, the 
 capacity of which is much greater than its contents, though we hope 
 to do a great deal to fill that later. Yet we have somewhere between 
 one hundred and fifty and two hundred dollars worth of well selected 
 books. 
 
 The interior of the recitation-room is beautifully finished with oiled 
 wood, which, with the white walls, is very pleasing. The black- 
 boards are good in quality and sufficient in quantity. There are a 
 number of pictures of our statesmen and other strong men of our 
 state and nation on the walls. I have the primary work, and the 
 pictures of birds which I have in colors and in black and white are 
 especially enjoyed by the little tots. Nor do they fail to enjoy and 
 appreciate the other pictures which have been hung in their room. 
 
 The pupils held a festival last year with our help and with the 
 receipts, together with a small sum they made later, bought an organ, 
 
Snow Hill, Greene County (Old). 
 
 Snow Hill, Greene County (New). 
 
55 
 
 thus enabling us to have good music and songs every morning along 
 with our devotional exercises. Our school bought aud uses an 
 unabridged dictionary, and our principal presented to the school a 
 book-rest for its accommodation, so that even the little tots can 
 handle Father "Webster. 
 
 In addition to the number of pictures that have been bought our 
 school has purchased a large number of library books and one dozen 
 and a half United States flags. I have had presented to me for my 
 room a North Carolina state flag and to the school a flag of the 
 Confederate States. These were the gifts of the president of our 
 Greene county branch of the Woman's Association for the Betterment 
 of Public School Houses in North Carolina. 
 
 We have framed and hanging in a conspicuous place a copy of 
 General Lee's farewell address to his army. Under the picture of 
 Washington and his cabinet we have two swords crossed under a 
 shield, making quite an effective picture, with two flags of the stars 
 and stripes above. 
 
 Sixty yards of red, white and blue bunting with which to decorate 
 on gala days are now the property of the school. 
 
 Indeed, with our new patent desks, pictures, flags, etc., our rooms 
 are very cozy and inviting. The books, organ, pictures and decora- 
 tions of all kinds with few exceptions were purchased by the children 
 with money made by them at entertainments and festivals. The 
 school children enjoy the work and have an "association" of their 
 very own, with officers of their own choosing. Many of their mothers 
 have given us their names and help and four gentlemen gave us the 
 one dollar each necessary for them to join. 
 
 The money that was made at an entertainment during our com- 
 mencement in May was used in painting the new school-house, which, 
 with its body of sandstone gray with white trimmings and terra-cotta 
 blinds, presents a neat and attractive exterior. 
 
 The belfry, open and imposing, contains a relic of the eighteenth 
 century, an old bell one hundred and eleven years old. It is the very 
 bell that was used to call our grandfathers and fathers to school at 
 the same old site. Its tone is as clear to-day as when it left the 
 foundry in old England. A tall flag-staff caps this belfry, from which 
 Old Glory, when the days are bright and breezy, floats over the 
 descendants of those who bade it wave for their country and her 
 freedom. The day on which we raised our flag, all giving it a loyal 
 salute, was a gala-day indeed. The children enjoy the sight of the 
 flag in a greater measure, I think, because they bought it themselves. 
 
 A closed fence has been built between us and the objectionable 
 view of the back-yard of a negro cabin, the entire cost of which was 
 paid out of the children's fund. The wood-pile had long (dis) graced 
 the front yard. That has been removed and the yard carefully 
 cleaned. A well of cool clear water is now on the yard, the water 
 
56 
 
 for the school having been supplied heretofore from wells of private 
 parties some distance from the school. 
 
 The old building, so long an eye-sore, has been removed and the 
 new building, with a charming background of tender green, situated 
 in a pretty, clean plot of grass, free from all debris, is, indeed, a 
 picture that fills our hearts with pleasure in our work well done, and 
 stimulates our minds and hearts for greater things in the future. 
 
A LOG SCHOOL-HOUSE. 
 
 A Dream of the Future Based on Present Conditions. 
 
 By Mrs. Charles Price.* 
 
 I wish not to try for effect, but simply to tell what happened at 
 our little Ellis school-house. Ellis is not only the name of a distin- 
 guished governor — our war governor — -Vance's immediate predecessor, 
 but the very place of his birth and rearing. He lies buried in the 
 quaint old churchyard in my town. 
 
 My attention was directed to this particular school, because I 
 passed it so often in going to and coming from a recently acquired 
 farm. This poor little school-house was so forlorn, so badlv built, 
 so rudely finished and altogether so different from my idea of a 
 country school, that I should have passed and repassed it without 
 interest or comment, but for meeting the two sisters — the dear little 
 faithful teachers — Minnie and Delia Swicegood. They were in the 
 toils of house-cleaning for the school that would open the next week. 
 I stopped to see whether- I could help the good work. I was most 
 hospitably received, and my suggestions for the comfort of the school 
 were gratefully observed. 
 
 New window-panes were put in, and Perry pictures, to make little 
 spots of interest on the bare walls, were added. My next visit was 
 when the school was in full swing, with a house jammed and packed 
 like sardines, with sixty-two unusually promising boys and girls. 
 They sat on uncomfortable benches, with the rudest of home-made 
 desks. The room was so full there was no set-aside place for the 
 teacher. She sat here, there and anywhere, so patient and uncom- 
 plaining, so astonished and pleased at my interest, that I was rebuked. 
 The average age of the children in that room was fourteen years, in 
 the primary room, ten. The attendance — here I pause to ask you to 
 consider the remarkable fact — the average attendance was sixty out 
 of a possible sixty-four. Many walked two miles to begin work at 
 8 :30 o'clock in the morning. They were never late, and oh ! such 
 obedient, good children, so zealously trying to learn. Four families 
 in the neighborhood did not patronize the school, for reasons we hope 
 to overcome. 
 
 There are two occasions that stand out : One at Christmas in the 
 Baptist church, just across the big road. The neighborhood was in 
 such a turmoil. Men, fathers and grandfathers could not get down 
 to work for some days afterward. They had never had a Christmas 
 
 *This paper was read at the annual meeting of the Woman's Association for the Bet- 
 terment of Public School Houses in North Carolina, May 5, 1903. 
 
58 
 
 tree, had indeed never seen one. One man said : "Why, it will be full 
 of presents. I heard from the committee that the presents would 
 cost fifteen cents apiece ! I reckon they will be mighty nice.*' The 
 children were wild with joy. 
 
 The other occasion was Washington's birthday. The little teachers 
 were very busy, and so little older than the oldest pupils that I had 
 to wait for a word before I could be certain which icas the teacher. 
 Many ready responses made me know the children were familiar with 
 our immortal hero. I said: "What was the best thing about him?" 
 A freckle-faced, bright-eyed boy answered : "He could not be got to 
 lie." 
 
 The teacher's method was to offer prizes. The children preferred 
 books to anything else. The school term was four months, but the 
 money held out for five months. I had never heard why, unless it 
 was like the oil and meal, by divine blessing. We did not know it 
 then, and we concluded to make it an additional month by popular 
 subscription. The teachers had no trouble in getting up the desired 
 sum. I headed the list, and my example was readily followed. All 
 gave willingly. I shall stop here to pay a merited tribute to the 
 woman who trained these teachers ; whose work has been faithful and 
 efficient ; who has equipped scores of girls in all our surrounding 
 country to be better, stronger women. Miss Eaton of Mocksville is 
 her name. Our next term will begin early in November, so that we 
 can have nearly, if not quite, six months. 
 
 The practical results of my efforts have been : 
 
 1st. The pupils were stimulated and the teachers very much 
 encouraged by my visits. 
 
 2d. The patrons were moved to more interest in the school, and 
 became keenly alive to the school interest when presented to them. 
 
 3d. The prizes stimulated many to increased efforts. 
 
 In view of the results obtained in this instance. I would respectfully 
 urge that each school be visited by one woman appointed by the 
 county superintendent. This duty need not be onerous, as due atten- 
 tion could be paid to appointees being convenient to the school-house. 
 
 I have determined to build a model log school-house. I shall use 
 my first money in employing a first-rate architect to give me a plan. 
 It will look like the pretty houses we have all admired in Asheville. 
 the shapely pine logs cemented with glowing red. I shall make a 
 canvass of the entire neighborhood, and I know my logs will be 
 cheerfully given. I want a goodly number, too, for I shall have 
 several rooms in the house. 
 
 It is indeed a poor subject that is not fertile enough for a dream. 
 Heaven help it to mean more. I see my log school-house in multiply- 
 ing numbers, with commodious rooms, convenient water, to keep little 
 hands tidy, for "a clean body goes a long way towards making a clean 
 soul." I see modern games for approved outdoor exercise, for "the 
 fun of it," not always the exercise that conies from hard labor. I see 
 
59 
 
 a library with the best books that men and women write, placed in 
 a room big enough to offer inducements for a lecture, with a platform 
 that might serve as a stage for plays : and if our Baptist brothers 
 across the way are willing, a country dance. Call it any name, so it 
 fulfills its object of "amusement for country children." 
 
 I see a higher and nobler entertainment ; we will call it an industrial 
 department. We will teach boys and girls that there is no nobler 
 industry than farming. We will teach by actual experience that 
 wheat to pay must not succeed wheat, but clover or peas. We will 
 show them that corn must produce more than one ear to the stalk, 
 that it takes less work and more thought to make farming pay better 
 than any other vocation ; and we shall do it as an object-lesson. 
 Land is cheap everywhere in North Carolina. 
 
 We will teach the girls chemistry by showing them how to make 
 good bread, teaching them to use soda sparingly, or not at all, and 
 always with sour buttermilk or cream of tartar. We will teach them 
 the properties of yeast, so that light-bread will delight the eye 
 and the taste, and incidentally restore the health of the family. We 
 will teach them to sew and fashion plain clothes and make them fit. 
 
 "Is this a dream V Then let me dream again." It must be a reality. 
 It must be an immediate reality. I think the house, with the logs 
 given, could be built for three or four hundred dollars, or even less, 
 for I mean to utilize my men and boys, and the girls, to make them 
 love what they help to create. If there be left a dollar we will pass 
 it on to the next district for their log school-house. 
 
 I see a day, and God grant it may not be far distant, when we can 
 dot our noble state, beginning with Rowan county, with these model 
 log school-houses. Then the opprobrium of "the log cabin and the 
 pine tree" will be done away with, and women will count it an honor 
 to be of this "log-house work." When we realize what such things 
 mean, our boys and girls will love the country school ; they will be 
 contented with the country neighborhoods where such "log school 
 houses," which break the weary monotony, are maintained : they will 
 love the land that calls for them to stay and yearns in uncultivated 
 loneliness for them to return. 
 
 Do you know that the statistics in New York, and I think here in 
 North Carolina, tell that by far the greatest number, of women 
 patients in the insane asylums are farming people? Cause: Loneli- 
 ness — laconic reason for so sorrowful an evil. I would try, as a help 
 or relief, my log school-house and its accessories. The architect will 
 tell us just how many trees to plant. Dr. Winston, that indomitable 
 educator, just how to begin our little experiment farm, and he will 
 furnish us a teacher to tell us how to make everything else plain. 
 Dr. Mclver can and will clear up the way to begin it all. for it will 
 only take his tongue to tell the story. The pockets will be open to 
 him, for his eloquence is convincing. Perhaps the echo will reach 
 Tulane, and the success, named Edwin A. Alderman, may give us 
 
60 
 
 his approval, which will sound through America, as all of his words 
 do, and our success can make a pathway. 
 
 Oh, I have counted the cost ! My library can be begun by editions 
 of Eliot and Scott, Dickens and Thackeray, Cooper, Encyclopedia 
 Britannica, all for $12. I saw the advertisement. There is the begin-j 
 ning of my $400, but if every other help fails, I shall turn to Bookei 
 Washington and reverse the situation and ask him to help me attaii 
 this object, and that will settle the question, and, perhaps, thf 
 mighty problem the world talks about. 
 
 In conclusion, whether we give time or talent, much or little 
 money, ourselves, or give influence : "Who gives himself with his 
 alms feeds three — himself, his hungering neighbor and Me."