THE HOME NEWS
EDITED IN THE INTEREST OF McCRORY AND WOODRUFF COUNTY
VOLUME 2.
McCRORY, ARKANSAS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, 16, 1917
NUMBER 29
A School Problem
Word has reached me that I
am being criticised for giving
temporary relief to conditions in
Miss Jones’ room by instructing
children to come each grade a
half day; no parent, however, has
come to me to talk the matter
over, or to suggest a better plan.
I feel that the criticism is unfair
and unjust, unless the school is
visited and the parents get first
hand information, unless they
come to see for themselves.
There is so little sympathy being
shown in the matter that I believe
it is because the people do not
know the conditions as they are.
It is to be understood that no
other teacher is to be criticised or
condemned for what has been
done; censure me, if you will not
advise with me.
Miss Jones has enrol lea <b
pupils; she has an average at
tendance of about 58; her room
will seat 43 pupils comfortably.
All her black boards have been
obstructed. The desks are single,
yet pupils have had to sit to
gether. Half the time the teach
er has been without a seat; teach
ers get tired sometimes. Many
of the 43 desks are too close to
the stove. The teacher’s health
is failing because of the undue
streneous work. This teacher
deserves your sympathy, not your
criticism. THE CHANGE WAS
MADE IN THE INTEREST OF
THE TEACHER, not because I
believe in half-day work, for
fifth and sixth grade pupils.
lhe directors deserve your
sympathy, co-operation and ad
vice. How much do you pay
them for the privilege to censure
them? They are doing the best
they can do. Keep a level head.
Don t fly off the handle because
things are not going to suit you
Conditions don’t suit us, either,
but we are doing the best we can.
Have you a fine scheme up your
sleeve? Don’t blame us for not
thinking of it. Tell us.
The entire school has an en
rollment of 300, as follows: Miss
ells, 90; Miss Johnson, 48; Miss
^°nes, 76; Mr. Willis, 22; the
•gh-school study-hall, under my
supervision, 64. No room now
emg used will accommodate
^ore puPHs. Why not equip the
usic studio with desks and em
P °y another teacher for the rest
o the year? We have no moral
to oust the music teacher.
iss rarptey wag employed by
I- , oard, just as the other
thru trS’ understanding
Sht was to occupy one of
r°°ms in the school building.
A FEW VERSES
Appropriate to the death of Rev. H. T. Raney, Con
tributed From the Scrapbook
of Col. H. B. Gray.
The White Pilgrim.
I came to the spot where the White Pilgrim lay
And pensively stood by the tomb,
And in a low whisper a voice seemed to say:
“How sweetly I sleep here alone.
“The tempest may howl and loud thunders may roll
And gathering storms may arise;
But calm are mv feelings, at rest is my soul,
The tears are all wiped from mine eyes.
“The call of my Master compelled me from home
I bid my companion farewell;
I left my sweet children, who for me now mourn,
In a far-distant region to dwell.
“I wandered a stranger, an exile from home,
To publish salvation abroad;
I met the contagion and sunk in the tomb,
My spirit ascending to God.
“Go tell my companion and children most dear
To weep not the loved one that’s gone,
The same hand that lead me through scenes dark and
Hath kindly conducted me home.” [drear
The White Pilgrim’s Widow.
I called at the house of the mourner below,
I entered the mansion of grief,
The tears of deep sorrow did flow,
I tried but could not give relief.
There sat a lone widow, dejected and sad,
By affliction and sorrow oppressed,
And here were her children, in mourning arrayed,
And sighs were escaping each breast.
I spoke to the widow concerning her grief,
I asked her the cause of her woe
And why there was nothing to give her relief
Or sooth her deep sorrow below.
She looked at the children, then looked up at me;
That look I can never forget,
More eloquent far than the seraph can be,
It spoke of the trials she had met.
“The hand of affliction falls heavily now,
I am left with my children to mourn;
The friend of my youth is silent and low,
In yonder graveyard alone.
“But why should I mourn or feel or complain
Or think that fortune is hard?
Have I met with affliction? ’Tis truly his gain;
He has entered the joys of his Lord.
“His work is completed and finished below,
His last tear has fallen, I trust;
He has preached his last sermon and met his last foe,
Has conquered and now is at rest.”
In conclusion, this step was
taken for temporary relief. As
spring comes on, pupils generally
begin to dropout. Soon we shall
have room for all who attend;
then, we will have the full day
work for Miss Jones’ room. As
it is, if parents will keep their
children off the streets and at
home preparing their lessons, I
feel sure that practically as good
work will be done during this
period of half-day attendance.
Respectfully yours,
T. W. Woodbury,
Principal.
Monday’s Dance
The young men of McCrory
gave a dance Monday night in
Wherry’s Hall which was one of
the leading social events of the
season. Many home and out-of
town people attended and all re
port a nice time. Bynum’s Band
of Memphis furnished the music.
The following attended:
Misses Veryl Pasco and Effie
Sisk, Newark; Sallie Moore, Ruby
Ferguson, Francis Golson and
Hazel Berry, Augusta; Mr. and
Mrs. F. E. Bronaugh, Augusta;
Misses Catherine Merritt, Wee
Whitmore, Mira Collins and
Katherine Emerick, Little Rock;
Dorothy Wei ton and Dale Young,
Judsonia; Marjorie Harrison and
Dell Modlin, Kensett; Bess Jones,
Riverside; Buelah and Vie Butler,
Brinkley; Marye York and Bea
trice Hy smith, Cotton riant;
Mary Johnson, Lottie Barber,
Elynn Johnson and Zelma Young
er, Newport; Bessie and Lena
Drexler, Wynne; Ora Lee Hun
nicutt, Jelks, and Joye Ellington,
Pauline McFall, Lizzie Johnson
and Hazel Roberts, McCrory; Mr.
and Mrs. Oc Jeffries, McCrory,
Mrs. W. E. Butler, Brinkley, and
Dr. Arthur G. Harrison and
Messrs E. L. Fox, Kensett; Duf
fer Ballew, Mark West and R.
A. Davis, Newport; Turk McEl
wee, T. 0. Flippin, M. B. Fergu
son, Robert Buchanan, E. A.
Billingsley, J. H. Puckett, L. W.
Winfree, W. E. Harville, H. 0.
Price and W. E. McCain, Augus
ta; Jack Trice, Jay L. McGregor,
Maple Johnson, Tom Foster,
Earl Montgomery, J. W. Ander
son and J. C- Malin, Cotton
Plant; Harry Greenfield, D. M.
Hamrich and — Walker, Wynne;
Teddy Dickerson and H. H. Hen
ley, Memphis, Tenn.; Fink
Hayes, Grays; Eddie Muir, Ful
ton, Mo.; Harold Holder and Al
len Taylor, Jelks; L. H. Mathews,
Guss Davis and G. A. Sammons,
Brinkley, and David B. Arnof,
E. C. Marsh, Tom McFall, S. M.
Jones, Jacob Arnof, E. W.
Wilder, H. D. Angus, A. W.
James, R. H. Abbey and Forrest
Greer, McCrory.
Lee Collier Goes Up
Mr. Lee Collier of Tip returned
Wednesday from Memphis where
he attended a re-union of the
Spanish-American war veterans.
While there he had the pleasure
of taking a ride in an aeroplane,
going up 8,000 feet. We suppose
he is the first from Woodruff
County to enjoy a ride such as
the above.