North Carolina Newspapers

> PLEA FOR BETTER SCHOOLS. ?t. Moser Calls the Attention of the I'ublic to Some Important Questions now Confronting the Educational Interests of Johnston County. More , Money Must Be Had With Which to Pay Teachers. Dear Mr. Editor: ^ Sometime ago I wrote an article under the caption, "Johnston County Should Take the Lead," that you were kind enough to publish. Last Friday your valuable paper carritd an article jf by Mr. M. C. Winston along the same ' ne only a ? little more definite and .uggestive of the way to get the mat ter before the public. To introduce what I have to say I am gbing to take the liberty of ex pressing the sentiment cf one para graph, at least, of a letter 1 received from a college president along the i same line. The United States Civil ' Service Commission is in urgent need of literally thousands of typewriter operators and stenographers, both men and women. These places pay from a thousand to twelve hundred dollars a year to start with and rapid ad vancement assured. The commission is urging that this matter be brought to the attention of the public, so that young men and women will prepare for these positions next fall. The w (men's colleges especially are going *jO feel it their patriotic duty to offer courses this spring and summer lead ing to the preparation necessary for taking the examination for these po , ~i;:ons. The salary offered by the Govern ment for this work and the opportu nity to serve the country are going to, in my opinion, makqr strong ap t&ials to our young womanhood to take up stenographic work. The de , mand for teachers is going to be equally as urgent as the demand for young educated people in other lines f work. I want to repeat whrt I said in my former letter, "We must rise to the occasion." Our schools must not suffer. We must keep the keenest intellect and the bes^ trained meii and women in the ranks of the profession. The ideals of the school teachers are in a great measure the ? ideals that make our country safe and keep it so. The standard cannot be lowered so the salary must be : rn i I think if this matter Rets properly before our County Commissioners they will take the lead in the matter. They arc the guardians of the Coun ty's Welfare, hence the destiny of the schools and the children's welfare are in their hands. They are men of men tal ability and are therefore willing to assume the responsibility to take the lead in providing means for the safety of the schools in the county. They will go further than this, they will lead in creating public sentiment for the support of the schools. All the Commissioners want to know, I be lieve, is that the public pulse is in favor of keeping the school houses open and a well trained, conscientious teacher in each one of them. Insterd of this crisis lowering the standard of teaching it ought to be the means of raising it. Placing the teacher's salary on a living basis will increase the community's respect for the teacher. If for no other reason than adding dignity to the profession it is high time the teacher's salary was placed on a respectable basis. But the cold fact is that new avenues of work are opening up so rapidly to the. tcachers that they are going to I qualify for the new positions and I begin to draw a self respecting wage. ' The fault is not the teacher's. We I d<now the true situati<fti. We must be I /held responsible for blocking civili r / zation and robbing the children of this generation of their birth right or else those who can must take the lead and ^ set* the conditions straight. To take active steps in this directon would mean more for Johnston County than my movement that has been started in recent years. The leading busi ness, the leading farmers, the leading professional men and women would like to see our county move fonvard in this direction. I believe that those who hold the destiny of the schools in their hands are willing and glad I to take the lead in this matter ? Therefore I think Mr. Winston's suggestion for a meeting to discuss the conditions is the opportune thing to do. I do not wish to be misunderstood in this matter. Other counties in the ' State are in the same condition, per haps some of them worse off. Bat ^ at does not excuse us. The entire ALONZO HOOD'S TRAGIC DEATH. I I'ruuiinent Farmer, of Southern John ston, Accidentally Shoots Himself While Out Hunting on Christmas Day. Leaves a Family of Eight Children. On Christmas Day quite a number of men gathered at the home of Mr. Alonzo Hood for a day of hunting. About the middle of the forenoon the party started out for the hunt. Mr. Hood and Mr. A. M. Rose were walk ing together. Just after getting into the woods they stopped and Mr. Hood who had some nuts in a pocket took out one and cracked it on a stump with the stock of the gun. He then drew the gun up under one arm using his hands to open and eat the nut. The gun suddenly slipped from under his arm and striking the stump as it went down discharged its load. The load plowed its way up Mr. Hood's breast and reaching his neck severed a jugular vein and went into his head. He fell dead witnoufr a struggle and still held the pieces of the nut in his hands. He was buried Wednesday at the old home place where Mr. John B. Hood -lived formerly, the funeral being preached by Rev. Mr. Lappin, from Atlantic Christian College at Wilson. Mr. Hood was a member of Mill Creek Disciple church, and was a good, true man. He was a success ful farmer and a leader among his people, and will be greatly missed in his neighborhood. He was a brother of the late Dr. Hood, of Kenly. The deceased was about 48 years of age and had lived an upright and honorable life before God and man. Ilis going in such a tragic manner was a great shock to his family and friends. He leaves an aged father and mother, a widow and eight chil dren. Two of his children are married, Mrs. Ernest Sanderson and Mrs. Or ville Eldridge, whose husband is in the National Army at Camp Jackson. He also leaves two Sisters, Mrs. W. F. Grimes, of Smithlield, and Mrs. J. P. Jernigan, who lives near Hood's Grove. Mr. Hood was twice married, the first time to Miss Ada Cole, a sister of Mr. W. W. Cole, of Smithfield, who died two or three years ago. He was married again about three months ago to Mrs. J. L. Rhodes who survives him. Among those from a distance who attended the sad funeral are: Mrs. H. Cole and daughters, Misses Elsie and Margaret, of Wilmington; Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Cole, Mr. and Mrs. George Thornton, and Mr. Everett Thornton and Sheriff Grimes and family, of Smithfield; Mr. H. V. Rose, of Camp Jackson, and Mr. Orville Eldridge, of Camp Sevier. Live Stock Meeting at Wilson. The North Carolina Live Stock Breeders' Association will hold an ex hibition and sale of about 200 head of pure bred hogs, cattle, sheep and horses January 1, 2, 3, 4, at Wilson, N. C. There Will also be lectures, by pro minent farmers and research men from the State College, every day and night, on farm problems. It is a farmers' meeting and they should take the opportunity and make it serve them, now as never before. January 1, is Hog day, the 2, is Beef Cattle and Sheep day, the 3, is Da:ry day and the 4, is Poultry day. All the leading breeds will be there for show and for sale. The farmers who cannot attend with those who go from Johnston County can have their wants attended to by the county agent at Smithfield, if they see him before Jan. 1. But go yourself, if you possibly can. State is going to wake up, and that right early, if jt keeps the schools going at an efficient pace. What we want to do is to solve our immediate problem and then be in line with the other progressive counties in the State that are doing the same thing. We must make the start. We caq help ourselves in this matter. It is an evidence of strength to solve our own problems rather than wait for some outsider or the State to come in and render aid whether we deserve it or not. "God helps those who help themselves.'1 We can help ourselves and now is the time to do it. A pond harmonious meeting under the leader ship of the County Commissoiners would be a great day for the uplift of the schools of Johnston. Most sincerely yours, E. H. MOSER. Selma, December 20, 1917. THE WEEK'S NEWS IN CLAYTON. A Quiet Christinas Season. Several Soldier Boys at Home for the Holi days. Many Personal Items. Clayton, N. C.t Dee. 20. ? Mrs. Chas. G. Gulley is visiting relatives in Columbia, S. C. Miss Rosalie Pope left Monday for Baltimore to visit friends. Mrs. Jesse McLamb and little daughter, Almira, of Benson, arrived last Sunday to spend Christmas here with Mr. and Mrs.?V. C, Austin. Garland S. Wall, who is in training; at Camp Jackson, arrived in town Tuesd^- morning to spend a five day furlough with relatives and friends. Misses Aldine Oniel, Carrie Austin, Lucile Todd and Emma Lee Juries came home from Greensboro College for Women to spend the holidays here. Mrs. II. P. Yelverton and little daughter, Jane Hall, are spending this week here with relatives. Mr. Exum Hall, of Camp Tipton, Long Island, New York, arrived a few -days ago to spend a month here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Hall. . Lieutenants, Bennette Nooe and Hubert Olive, of Camp Jackson, are spending the holidays here with rela tives. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Smith, of Lil lington, spent a few days nere this week with relatives. Among the boys from Fort Caswell who came home for the holidays are: Messrs. Devan Barbour, Neil Barnes and Rudolph Barnes. Dr. V. M. Barnes is spending the holidays with his parents near Wilson. The girls who are home from school for the holidays are: Misses Telza Barnes?, from Conservatory of Music, Durham; Genie Thomas, Clee Ellis and Thelma Yelvington, of Meredith College, Raleigh; Blanche Ellis, of Littleton College, Littleton; Flossie Parrish. of Elon College, and Sulo' McCullers, from Mary Baldwin Semi nary, Stanton, Va. , Mrs. E. E. Murchinson and daugh ter, of Sanford, ara spending the holi days here with, Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Barbour. Mrs. H. Ccats and children, of Goldsboro, visited relatives here this week. Mr. and Mrs. Turner Harris, of Durham, are here visiting Mrs. R. J. Honeyeutt. Mr. John Barpes, of Trinity College, is spending the holidays here with his parents. CorporalRoy Gulley, of Camp Jack son, S. C., returned to headquarters Tuesday after spending^ a five day furlough here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Gulley. Mr. Marlon Todd, of Durham, is visiting relatives here this week. Mr. Norman Ellis, of Raleigh, is spending the holidays here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Ellis. Messrs. Joe Turley and B. C. Allen, of A. and E. College, Raleigh, are spending this week here with parents. Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Johnson ,of Enfield, will arrive to-day to spend several days with Mr. and M*s. Ran som Penny. Mr. W. E. Stallings, of Newport News, is spending the week here with relatives. Mr. J. W. Barbour, of Barbour, spent Christmas day here with rela tives. Mr. John Allen, of Auburn, was heie Christmas day. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Cole, of Cary, visited relatives here this week. The Christmas holidays are very dull in our town and it seems today that the weather is going to be very unpleasant. It looks good to- see a few of our soldier boys spending the holidays here. While we are glad to have them with us let us not forget the million others who in this Christ mas time think of home, father, mother, brother, sister ?nd sweet hearts. Mrs. Eliza Sttncil 111. Selma, Dec. 27^? Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Stancil, of Fayetteville, Mrs. C. D. Stephen%on and Miss Florence Stancil, of Norfolk, and Mr. H.# D. Stancil. a member of the National Army at Camp Jackson, S. C., are at home to see their mother, Mrs. Eliza Stancil, who has been very ill for the past week. The people who ha(e planted wheat in Johnston bounty this fa'.l have en rolled in the r.rmy of American pa triots. MOKE ABOUT NIGHT SCHOOLS. More Pay for Teachers of Schools for Adults. The Great Importance of This Work. How the Teachers May Be Able to Supplement Their Sala ries. From past experience I know that the quickest way to rcach teachers and community workers of Johnston County is by means of The Smithfield Herald. It has been decided to double the appropriation for $ teaching night schools as based on enrollment of adult illiterates in night schools. Paragraph II in the rules and regu lations for this work now reads as fol lows : (II. Night Schools.) "(a) A maximum of $20 may be appropriated from State funds for this purpose for teaching ten (10) illiterates for a period of twenty (20) night sessions. Each night session shall devote at least one and one half hours to teaching illiterates. "(b) If monthly report shows an average nightly attendance of more than ten (10) who were enrolled as illiterates, $2 additional for each ad ditional pupil in average attendance not exceeding twenty (20) may be appropriated. To illustrate: If the report shows an average nightly at tendance for twenty nights of twelve (12) who were enrolled as illiterates $4 in r.dclition to the original $20 may be appropriated making salary $24 from State in place of $20, provided, ?;f course, that amount is duplicated from local funds." First* I want to call thevattention of live teachers in Johnst<yi County to the fact that in the above plan is a chance for them to increase their meagre salaries and at the same time render untold service to the com munities in which they are working. We have asked that this appropriation be as generous as possible bscauso it is for workers who are the very best, else they can not comply with con ditions reouired. From experience and observation I know that the real task and test of ability is not in teach ing adult illiterates but in securing and holding their attendance &l(d in terest in school work. This work need not consist of mere reading, writing, and arithmetic, hut in addition to these should be studies of thinps and conditions suggested by the community life and also current events of special interest. Because of the possibilities of these schools or community clubs for adults we are urging teachers not"* to shut out any who wish to attend even though they may be able to read or write. Of course we would advise that the illite rates have their special lessons un molested, and if there are not enough teachers so that the illiterates may be given the attention they need\ then others might not be encouraged to attend. However, we believe it is best to attend these schools since illiterates are not necessarily ignorant and com munity problems are interesting to all. I want also to stress the fact that we want this work done and there will be no descVimination against societies, clubs, fraternal orders or individuals who may put the work across accord ing to rules and regulations. I ad dress the teachers because they are usually better qualified to do work of this kind. In some places in the State the work is being done by men and women who are real leaders in their communities. Your county superin tendent, Mr. Royall, has all necessary blanks and information concerning this work in his office. Write to him or write to me direct concerning this work. Remember the thing you need to do is to organize your school. I am not pretending that this will be an easy job, nor would I advise a slacker to try it, yet I know there are enough real workers in Johnston County to put this job across. Do you think this work is a side issue and not important comparative ly? Then read the following quota tion from Mr. Newlin writing from Citmp Jr.ckson asking for pamphlets for use in teaching illiterates in camp: "From fifteen to twenty per cent of the white men and fifty per cent of the negroes in camp can not read or write." It is useless to discuss the whys of this condition, nor will it avail anything for us to wait for the other fellow to do the work while We congratulate ourselves because at some distant day we may say that North Carolina is freed from all of her bonds of illiteracy. North Caro lina will never be free from illiteracy until all of her people are"Tnade to face facts as they ax*e; until the illiterates are made to see their needs and those who are literal^ realize the fact that our State can never Ise de fined in terms of its educated citizen ship but in terms of its entire citizen ship. You say that there 'are too many calls upon the time and purse and thought of men and women at this time for the taking up of this extra work ? I am not so sure that the work would be extra since by means of these community clubs or schools the other necessary work might be dose. Each community needs always some sort of organization that does not recognize creeds or classes and one which holds the welfare of all i high above the desires and privileges of the few. Any way, I notice that the doors of our recruiting stations . are wide open to illiterates, and our training camps are full of them. They are gone to stand side by side with men who have had better advantages than they and altogether they are giving up all but honor that the na tions of the world may have a square deal. Shall we give to these at home and in the camps a square deal ? It is up to you. ELIZABETH KELLY, Director of Schools for Adults in North Carolina. State Dept. of Education, Raleigh, N. C., Dec. 15, H)17. PLEASANT GROVE NEWS. Christmas passed off quietly in our "Burg." Mr. Will II. Stephenson and family passed through here Thursday after ! noon on their way home from a I Christmas visit to relatives and friends in Wake County. Mr. Len. O. Ogburn has returned from a business trip to the Eastern part of the State. Mr. Milton Byrd and mother spent Christmas with relatives ifi Wake County. Mr. R. F. Coats, of A. & E. College, is spending his vacation here with re latives and friends. Mr. Turner Fish took a Ford load of pleasure seekers to Clayton last Saturday. Mr. David Stephenson and Miss Mary Ferrell are spending this week visiting friends at Kintson and New Bern. Miss Beulah Moore, of Shiloh sec tion, spent Christmas here with Miss Claudia Lee Stephenson. Mr. and Mrs. Finnie Adams, of Holly Springs, spent the first part of the week here at the home of his brother, Mr .L. D. Adams. Mr. N. V. Stephenson and family are spending this week with Mrs. Stephenson's parents in the Oakland section. Mr. Jack Fish, of Angier High School, is spending his vacation here with friends. Mr. W. R. Pope, of Green County, has moved his family here. We wel come them to our community. On Christmas Day the family of Mr. William A. Lee held a re-union at his home. All of his nine children with eighteen grandchildren were present and enjoyed the day im mensely. ? We are sorry to learn of the illness of Miss Elsie Johnson. She is con fined to her room with pneumonia? We also learn that there are several more cases of pneumonia in this town ship. The Christmas tree at Mt. Pleasant church Monday night was said to be the best ever held in this section. Mf. L. D. Adams, of Willow Springs, No. 1, was here Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. N. V. Stephenson, of Pleasant Grove township, were here on business one day this week. Mr. and Mrs. J. Walter Williams, of Shiloh section, were here Monday arilt Tuesday with relatives. Mr. Dal Messer just over in Wake County is critically ill. We hope for a speedy recovery. "Sal." The administration hill authorizing the secretary of the treasury to pur chase $100,000,000 of farm loan bonds during the next fiscal year was adopt ed by the Senate Tuesday without a record vote after it had been amended so as to eliminate authoijjty for a simi lar purchase next year. Immediately after the vote the bill was sent over to the house with a view to action there before the holiday adjournment. After some discussion, however, the house postponed consideration until Jan uary 3. ^ AT THE CAPITAL OF BANNER. Death of a Little Boy. Mr. VVhitten ton Recovers Watch Secured Under False Pretenses. Man^ Personal Items of Interest. Benson, Dec. 27. ? Mr. Joe Dixon, of Angier, is here for a short visit to relatives and friends. Miss Flora Canaday arrived last week to spend the holidays here with relatives. She will return to Mere dith after the holidays. Mr. Seth Creech, who is in Chapel Hill attending the University, has been spending the holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Willis Creech. Mil Wm. Canaday, of Richmond, Va., will be home the last of the week to visit relatives for a few days. Mr. and Mrs. *J. L. Hall and chil dren spent a few days this week at Buies Creek with Mrs. Hall's parents. Mrs. H. O. Dixon went up to Nor folk the first- of the week to spend a few days with her husband who is in the U. S. Navy at that place. Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Benton and chil dren went to Sanford to visit relatives and friends for a few days. Miss Leola Smith, of Henderson, is here this week at the home of her brother, Mr. Milton Smith. Mr. Alton Hall, of Wake Forest Col lege, has been here for several days to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Hall. Mr. Preston Woodall went up to Richmond Saturday and spent a day or two with his son Isham Woodall, who is in Grace Hospital for treat ment. Mr. J. E. Wilson who has be#h in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for the past month leached home last night. While on his return trip from the* springs he purchased one hundred mules which will arrive here in a day or two. j ' Mr. J. R. Barbour spent Tuesday with his wife and sons at Hamlet, where they have been for the past several days visiting Mrs. Barbour's parents. Misses Myrtle Ashcraft and Annie Laurie Wicker left last Friday for Washington City, where they speijd the holidays taking in the scenes at the Capital. Mr. J. W. Whittenton recovered fhe watch and ring which was obtained from him several weeks ago by false pretenses the first of this week. It seems that the young man who se-_ cured the watch pave it to a young lady, and when she learned that they had been obtained through fraud she immediately returned them to the boy who had given them to her. <The three-year old boy of Mr. and Mrs Harvey Ryals died last Sunday and was buried Monday at the Ceme tery here. The little boy had been sick for some time and his death was not unexpected. Among those who have been here for the holidays from the United States Millitary Service we note Messrs. Walter Strickland, Eli Mor gan, Jesse T. Morgan, Paul Lee, Willie Clifton, Jesse Jernigan and Eugene Jernigan. Mrs. Lizzie Dixon died at 'her home in Elevition Tuesday morning and was buried yesterday afternoon. She was .".bout seventy years of age and was a highly esteemed woman. She leaves surviving her a number of children and a large crowd of friends who mourn her loss. Mr. J. R. Barbour, who has a po sition with the Government mail Service in Washington City, has been home spending the holidays, with his father, Mr. Lynn Barbour, of Eleva tion township. Government Takes O^er Railroads. Today at noon the President of the United States takes over all the rail roads of this country. He has ap pointed Hon. William G. McAdoo, Sec retary of the Treasurer, Disector* General of the Railroads. During tho remainder of the war the Government will operate the railroads in the best interests of the country. This step has been taken by the other countries now at war. Cotton Ginned in Johnston. I There were 31,082 bales of cotton ginned in Johnston County from the crop of 1917 prior to December >13, 1917, as compared with 33,419 bales ginned to December 13, 1916. . Japan employs 4,000 women on . Jk ?> ??l M 1