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Rural School Condition
.Serious but not
Hopeless.
BY M. B. DENNIS, EATONTON, GA.
No, just as long as there are
any signs of life whatever, there
is ground for hope. The possi
bility of resuscitating yea, of res
urrecting the rural school to life
and ultimately to a state of activi
ty and usefulness,has not entirely
vanished. Thank heaven for this!
But the condition lis perilous.
The pulse is hardly detectable.
The teémperature is far from
normal; it is alarming. The con
stitution' has wasted until there is
scarcely any foundation to build
on. The patient is so weak, so
nearly exhausted, and so lifcless,
it is quite out of the question for
it to realize its true condition.
Very little nourishment can be
administered, and consequently
strength is regained slowly. In
several instances in the State
where the authorities, impatient
for an improvement, have admin
istered nourishment in too large
doses, or too frequently, nausea
has set in, and open rebellion on
the part of the patient has result
ed. But there is life, thank heav
en! and life encourages hope.
The most distressing and stub
born symptom of the patient is
the appalling apathy of the people
patrons of the schools. And this
is strange, too; for, if the children
of these people get any education
at all, these schools must be their
sole depeudence. They are in
efficient, it is true, but do away
with them, and you destroy the
children’s only chance. Abolish
them, and you deprive the masses
of the only means for the intel
lectual training and development
of their, children. Indifiergnt
though they be,they are neverthe
less the star of hope that,ever and
anon flickering through the rifted
clouds, must ultimately lead to
the desired haven. They are the
silver lining to the lowering clouds
that promises better things to
come. It is nothing short of sui
cidal for the people to feel indif
ferent towards that upon which so
much depends. Yet how prevalent
is this lack of interest. Could this
feature of the case be brought
under control, the road to recov
ery should be shortened fifty per
cent. Oh! the trouble that is
bred in the hotbed of inditference!‘
Oh! the loss of time, energy, mon
ey and patience that grows out of
a lack of interest, on the part of
the people, in that upon which
they must depend for the prepa
ration of their children for life's
work. |
For ten or more weeks have
we, in a general way, hammered
at the poor condition of the rural
schools, trying to impress the
people with the magnitude of the
infirmity that hampers them, and
to awaken to the importance of
speedy action; but from the re
sults so far, the medicine seems to
be acting slowly. |
Now, lest we be accused of be‘
ing affiicted with a chronic case of
pessimism, we would like to sub
stantiate our views by those of
others that cannot be gainsaid,
First of all, we quote from an able
address made by Ex-Gov, William
J. Northen before the University
Summer School at Athens, Gov.
Northern needs no introduction,
He is known to every one, and
his prominent and intimate con
nection with the educational in
terest of Georgia is familiar to all.
His ability to diagnose the most
complicated malady afflicting
schools or school systems, is un-
Guestioned. In speaking of the
importance of good schools, Gov. |
Northen said, among other thingsel
“If the highest ideal of the nation
is reached, we must attain, in
each individual instance, to the
highest ideal of citizenship. * *
No man can make an ideal citizen
of a republican government with
out sufficient education to under
stand and apply the fundamental
principles that ought 1o control a
free people.” The question, then
that concerns us, are our schools
turning out such citizens? What
!about the large per cent of child
lren that do not attend school?
‘What else did he say? Listen:
' There seems to be inefficiency in
|our system somewhere. My first
!criticism is that the general as
' sembly has not provided a thor
!ough system of common schools
|for the education of the children
|as required in the fundamental
llaw of the State. The system
| fails, first, in its organization, and
|second, in the lack of funds to
{maintain it.” And again: ‘lf
?the State carries forward success
| fully the great work it has under
!taken, we must have better teath-
Eers for the schools, longer terms
ifor instruction, and better pay for
\their service.” He criticised
|sharply the State’s delay in pay
|ing the teachers, and declared
ithat *‘the teachers..in .our public
|schools are the only servants of
|the State whose pay depends upon
'contingency and doubt. The hon
or of the State demands a change.”
I “The greatest evil of the system
is found in the large number- of
ipoorly prepared teachers. "This
luloue is serious enough to startle
an intelligent people. Yet they
seem unmoved. He stressed as a
grievous fault of the system the!
|::.mall salaries paid . teachers, and
|sa.id: **You can'get more talent
|to teach your boy when you pay a
|good price for it than when you
Ipay only as much as it takes to
feed a pauper, or maintain a
criminal in the county jail.” And,
as if he would suggest a remedy
for the prevailing evil he said: “I
am in position to pronounce our
system practically a failure unless
the people in the rural districts;
can be concentrated, or the
schools consolidated.” And final
ly: ¢lf the school system con-.
tinues in its present lack of appli-i
cation, the rural districts will
soon be abandoned, or children‘
living in them will grow up with
out instruction.” =
" Is this not enough to convince
any reasonable person that our
rural schools are afflicted with a
grievous malady? Fellow citi
zens, it is our right and duty to
correct this evil, then let us have
better schools for our little ones,
Items of Interest.
When it comes down to facts,
the average millionaire finds auto
mobile racing tame sport compar
ed to a good railroad fight. }
The blank -cartridge whichi
caused over 400 deaths from lock
‘jaw in July are made by four
American and one Canadian mans
ufacturer.
Statistics gathered at Princeton
Theological Seminary show that
forty-one members of the associ
ation died last year at an average
age of 68 years,
A post card sent from Berlin to
Turin ou June 7, 1877, has just
come back stamped ‘‘Address not
known.” The writer has been
dead twenty-four years,
The deaths from consumption
in New York have decreased 40
per cent, since the health depart
ment began its crusade against
the disease two years ago.
It would take the entire popula
tion of the United States to shell
the corn crop by hand, The
steam sheller will shell a bushel
of corn a minute, while the most
practiced hand would occupy an
hour and a half to the bushel.
Vienna telephone booths are
furnished with napkins bearing
the inscription, “Wipe, if you
please.” The napkins are chang
ed frequently,and this undoubted
ly serves to keep the mouthpiece
of the transmitters in good condi
“Oflr
'l'he Mauser Company, of Ger
‘many, is working on an order for
200,000 rifles and the Berlin Am
'munition Works are making 1000 |
| 000,000 cartridges, Under ‘these
| circumstances, of course, the
world cannot afford to remain at
peace.
The cotton crop of Alabama,
Arkansas and South Carolina is
obout 1,000,000 bales, worth §sso
‘each, Georgia and Mississippi
| produce 1,400,000 bales and Tex
THE MONTICELLO NEWS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER =23, 1903.
as 2,400.000 bales. More than
“halt the cotton is now produced
west of the Mississippi river,
E A Bridgeport, Conn., man has
“invemed an engwme developing 12
‘horsepower weighing but fifty five
pounds. It will run ten hours on
‘l\\’o and one-half gallons of kero
sene. He will use the engine for
‘propelling an aeroplane, which
will be seen at the World's Fair at
St. Louis in 1904.
The chiefs of the several depart
ments of the St. Louis Exposition
a few months ago were wondering
if all the space would bé taken.
Teo-day they are. puzzling their
brains to know how they can take
care of the different demands, as
the applicants are more numerous
‘than the most sanguine had ex
pected, m ‘
**Hoo-Hoo Day" at the World'si
Fair will be September 9, 1904.
Work on the **House of Hoo-Hoo" ‘
will begin soon. The *‘Hoo-Hoos"
arc an organization of men engag
ed in the lumber trade and kin
dred industries, Itis designed to
build a club house at the World'’s
Fair for the comfort of the mem
bers when they visit the exposi
tion.
The jubilee gifts of the late|
Pope Leo XIII will be exhibited
at the World's Fair. . W. E, Cur
tis, the author and correapondent,
now making a tour of Europe, is
in Rome to arrange for the trans
fer of the treasures from the Vati
can to St. Louis. The intrinsic
value of the gifts is incalculable,
nearly every crowned head in Eu
rope being represented in the list
of donors. |
It will be a great surprise to
many Americans to learn that
there are some countries that re
strict the admittance of Ameri
cans who wish to take up perma
nent residence. Consul J. E,
Proffit reports from Pretoria that
the permit regulations- that are
still in force in the Transvaal and
Orange River Colony limit to fifty
the number of Americans who
may enter these colonies in a given
month, :
The so-called ‘‘desert” of Mon
tana is turning out to be a region
of much agricultural richness des
pite the impossibility of irrigating
it. The Agricultural department
has shown that hay of very good
quality will grow there, especially
alfalfa aud red clover, and that an
excellent wheat is being raised.
The one drawback is that only one
crop a year can be raised, instead
of the two and three as on the ir
rigated lands.
For Sale:
A scholarship on the Georgia-
Alabama Business College, located
in Macon, Any young lady or
gentleman desiring to take a
course in this excellent school will
find it to their interest to call at
this office or writeus. We can
save you money,
Shotographs . . . .
RSTRSREE NIRRT SO R ST R S S S
Any size up to an Bxlo ranging
in price from 25c to $5.00 per
dozen,
Buttons, Rims, Photo Jewelry,
etC.......... Pictures adjusted in
v*' Watches and Lockets, Copying
Viewing, developing and finish
| ing for Amateurs... All executed
| in best styles and lowest living
* * * prices.
l 16x20 Crayons, with frame,
g $2.08. Same in pastel and
‘‘ l sepia at similar prices.
o You are kindly solicited to call
f and see my work and get my
} o prices on the above before
! ! placing your order elsewhere.,,
' Respectfully,
o 9 j o /3 @ .‘Bal’ neSQ
i In Denmark a girl of 12 and a
‘boy of 14 can marry. In most
places the limit for age is 18 for
| men and 16 for women, In Ger
many a man can only contract
marriage before his twenty-first
year when he is specially declared
of age, and this can only be done
| when he has completed his eigh
| teenth year.: The law of I'rance
iis specially notable for stipulating
|about the legal rights of each par
’Ly, and the relations of cach to
|the earnings of the other. The
man who marries a Frenchwoman
!becomcs' by French law liable to
| be called on for the support of his
wife's near relatives if they are in
{need,
i Notwithstanding the very low
‘wages paid, labor is not so very
cheap in Guatemala, as it takes
ten or fifteen men to do the work
of one American with labor-saving
machinery. Especially is this
true on the farm, where much of
the ground is prepared by the
pick or. shovel, ~Of course in
many places but little machinery
could be used, for corn is raised
on the mountain side where a
horse or mule could hardly pass.
The conditions are not encourag
ing, notwithstanding the fact that
there is no country on the face of
the earth where the agricultural
resources are so great and varied
as in Guatemala, noris there any
country where they could be de
veloped with so little expense.
Crops grow here very fairly by
simply placing the seed in the
ground. Corn is scarcely ever
cultivated. The seed is simply
put into the ground, which is very
poorly prepared.~Savannah Morn
ing News, ;
Take this Chance to go to Califor
nia or Puget Sound.
: August Ist to 14th, inclusive, $47.50
round trip from Bt, Louis and $45.00
from Kansas City and St. Joseph, Con
sult nearest ticket agent about our
through tourist sleepers to California
and Seattle,
“Cheap To Cool Colorado.
Every day we sell excursion tickets to
Colorado and Utah resorts at approxi
mately half rates, with return limits all
summer, ; : .
To Minnesota’s Beantiful Resorts.
Daily, round trip tickets to all Min
nesota resorts at a mere trifle over half
rates. With her 10,000 lakes Minnesota
offers a wealth of summer attractions,
‘Write for a lisit of Minnesota boarding
houses and hotels.
Homeseekers’ Excursions,
The first and third Tuesdays of each
month at approximately half rates to
see the magnificent crops of the west
and northwest, and to help you secure a
home in that rapidly developing region.
Write us, describing your trip. THE
BURLINGTON LINES are the main
traveled roads through the west and
northwest,
J. N.MERRILL, L.W.WAKELEY,
Gen'l Southern Agt., Gen'l Pass'r Agt,
ATLANTA, GA. ST. LOUIS, MO,
"Wanted Superintendet’s Place.
I would like to make a trade with
the proprietor of a farm for the
superintendency of same. Hhad
about forty one year’s experience;
can give references,
W. E. Dennis.
WANTED Every man, woman and
9 child in the South to open-:
| T ORI LT L EAAA WA B M . . .
=——-———¢-——h¢- a Sav'ngs ACCOUnt Wlth t‘hls
O\ MU SSR T SR\ 8 ) S
Deposits by mail may be made with "
. as much care and safety as at home, :
Deposits of §I.OO and upward received and 3 per cent
interest compounded quarterly is allowed. When an ac
count reaches §3.co, a handsome home saving bank will
be loaned the depositor.
Write for full information and blanks to open-an account.
Savannah Trust Company.
Capital stock §5000,000. Undivided profits $99,605. 46.
Savannah Trust Building, Savannah, Georgia.
WM. W, MACKALL, Gro, J. BALDWIN, W, V. Davis,
President. Vice-President. Sec'y and Treas.
R "I S ™BE D Se U IN R RLI e Ne L e R Ae e Rs M o A e s e
To the Planters of Jas=
per County.
s VAR L ]
Cotton season is again on and | am better
prepared than ever to handle your cotton.
Services equal to the best. Fire risk
Minimum. Interest rate liberal, shipping
facilities unexcelled. Centrally located.
Cotton Markets of the World accessible.
I want your business because | need it. Be
cause I can handle it as prompt and good
as any. Because | appreciate it and feel
honored every time a persondrops off a bale
ai my place. .
Thanking my many friends for their lib
eral patronage in the past and hoping to
merit a continuance of same I beg to remain.
Yours Very Respectfully,
MONROE PHILLIPS, Prop.,
JASPER COUNTY WAREHOUSE. '
TO THE
OF JASPER AND ADJOIN
ING COUNTIES.
e
Re sy —SR
lam again at the Old Reliable Planters
Warehouse where 1 will be glad to handle
you cotton. | appreciate your past favors
and will continue to do so. Will furnish
Market Reports as usual, so bring your cot
ton to headquarters and go home happy.
Yours Truly,
W. R. POPE.
P.S. Liberal advances will be made on
cofton in Warehouse at a very low rate of
interest.
Our Boys and Girls are to
be commended for their
. .
Wisdom.
It is very gratifying indeed, to note the increasing interest on
the part of our boys and girls in education—especially in busi
ness education; for there in nothing else in which they can invest
their money that will bring them such large and certain profits,
The general favorite in this state, particularly this section,
seems to be the Ga,—Ala, Bus. College at Macon, Ga., which
is not surprising, for it certainly offers them unparalieled advan
lages, guaranteeing positions UNDER A $5,000 BANK DE
POSIT.
Ga.--Ala. Business College,
Macon, Ga.
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