• : • : • m~t 31nlititutt••• ., rI-.

itttmhtr : 1912

1-Ffite forCatalogue.

The

W. VA. COLORED INSTITUTE

AGRICUL-TURAL,

INDUSTRIAL,

DOMESTICSCIENCE,

ENGLISH,

ACADEMIC,

NORMAL,

andCOMMER-QAL Courses.

-Splendid facilities for Literary and Indus-trial training.

-Good moral surroundings and healthfulenvironment.

-Connected with the outside world by rail-road, steamboat and telephone.

-Three Literary coerses-eEnglish, Academic,and Normal.

- 7he English Course is especially designed forthose taking the trades.

- The Academic Course is designed for j hosepreparing for college or the professions.

-7 he f}l(ormal Course is especially designedfor those preparing to teach. Graduatesfrom this course receive first - grade certifi-cates without examination.

-r Indastrisl Lourses- The girls take Plain Sew-ing, Cooking, Millinery and Dressmaking.

The boys take Agriculture, Ca- pentry, Print-ing, Whee!wrighting, Blacksmithing, Paint-ing, Brick Laying, and Plastering.

-Commercia! Course-Both boys and girls maytake this ecorse, which COy rs two years.

-Excellent opportunities are offered for vocaland instrumental music.

-Strong Faculty. Fine Equipment, GeodBuildings.

-Steam heat and electric lig:, ts, Expensesreasonable.

BYRD PRILLERMAN, A. M., President,Institute, W. Va.

Notice to Parents or Guardians:

Hereafter, Report Cards of the student's standing in school will bsent to parent or guardian at the close of each term, instead emonthly as formerly. Of

Parents and guardians should carefully examine these cards as the.indicate the progress the student is making in school. ~

~===============~The Week at Institute

THE DAILY SCHEDULE

Rising Bugle :........................... 5:30 a. m.Breakfast 6:30Study Period 7:00-8:00Chapel 13:30Recitations 8:30-12:00Dinner . 12:15Library 12:45-1:16Recitations 1:30-4-10Military Drill...................................................... 4:15-4:45Supper 5:00Evening Study Period.... . . . .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . .. 6:30-9:30Lights Out 10:00WED ESDAY EVENING PRAYER MEETING 6:30LITERARY SOCIETIES-FRIDAY AND SATURDAY EVENI GS 6:30

THE SABBATH DAY

'

I Young Men's Christian Association 8:15 A. M.Sabbath School 9:30" "

IYoung Women's Christian Association 1:30 P. M.Song and Prayer Service 6:30 "" I

&= ~

IDqr 3Juslilutr :!1toul111y NO. 1I1

Devoted to the Interests of The West Virginia Colored Institute ::C~nts the S:holastic Y ~ar : : : : : : : : 5 Cents Per Copy

Contents for 'December, 1912.PAGE

e Week at Institute ··.···················· .. ········· 2

t Com Show and Local Industrial Fair at the West VirginiaColored Institute 4

ond Annual Conference of Colored Agricultural and Me-chanical College Presidents and Directors ··.. ········.. ········ 7

•. cicacus 9

Invitation to the Inauguration of the President of HowardUniversity , .. . . . . 9

pton Institute Farmers' Conference , 10

esident Prillerman's Letter ··· 12

e Southern Trip of President Prillerman and Mr. C. W. Curtis 13

e Quest of the Silver Fleece"-A Review by J. W. Scott 15

Communications for publication Sh0Uld be given or sent tothe Editor, or Managing Editor. All news will reachthese columns through the Editors. . ..

El>lTORBVRD PRII.LERl\1.\.·

S. H. GussJ. xt C\I\T\'

4 THE INSTITUTE Mo THLY

THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY 5

The exhibits were tastefullyarranged around the walls, andalong the center of the library.

The early part of the afternoonwas devoted to an inspection ofthe exhibits by the student body,teachers and residents.

At three P. M., all assembled inHazlewood Hall, when the follow-mg program was given:

Program

Prayer Rev. D. C. DeansSinging .."The West Va. Hills"Remarks .Pres. Byrd PrillermanSinging .Hymn of the West VirginiansAddress .. Hon. M. P. Shaw keySinging AmericaAward of Prizes .Mr. B. B. EzellSinging The School SongJudge of Corn, Mr. B. B. EzellJudges of Woman Exhibits,

Misses Amanda Gamble, C. RuthCampbell, M. Mason Lowry, MaryE. Eubank.

pres. Prillerman, in the interimtween the assembly and the ar-

val of train 31, on which Supt.awkey, chief speaker, camelled upon Messers. Elijah Hurt,. Scott Brown, Z. Taylor Brown,

ad L. Woody, farmers of theeighbJrhood for brief remarks.

h responded and was loudlyplauded.At this juncture, Supt. Shaw keytered the hall and was greetedlth the stirring strains of Col-el Edward's "Song of West

irginians."After the song, President Prill-

an introduced Supt. Shaw key.. Shawkey immediately en-ed into the spirit of the occasiond spoke in a very happy strain.

e expressed pleasurable surpriset the magnitude and quality ofe Show, and hoped that it would

e to incite a spirit for irn-rovement in agricultui al affairs.e emphasized the fact that work,to which well directed earnestdeavor is placed, no matterhatevor such work may be, isver drudgery. He advised the

ers that success in farming118 due, in a great measure, toing more and better every year

ban is done the previous year.Mr. Shawkey produced muchughter by .his humorous refer-nee to his early life on the farm.

First Corn Show and Local Industrial Fairat The W • Va. Colored Insti tute,

The first Com Show and localIndustnal Fair was held in thelibrary of the West Virginia Col-ored Institute, December the 11thand 12th, with very flattering suc-cess. President Prillerman, Prof.A. W. Curtis, Agricultural Direct-or, and Assistant N. A. Murray,labored earnestly to make this e-vent a very impressive affair.The farmers and residents of thevicinity cooperated with the ComShow management most cordially.The exhibits of cooking, canning,preserving, and the domestic artsand science placed for display bythem, were very creditable.

Much praise is due Mr. B. B.Ezell, the Kanawha County Agri-cultural expert, for the spiritedmanner in which he loaned hisservicies to the success of theShow, both in its arrangement andconduct.

The Show was staged in thelibrary of the Institution, and amuch larger space could have beenutilized with better effect.

He was followed by Mr. B. B.Ezell who spoke very flatteringlyof the School, and the com show.

Mr. Ezell awarded the followingpnzes:

Boy's Best Ten Ears of Corn.

First prize, $2.00 to ConallyJones from A. W. Curtis and $2.00

. from Pres. Prillerman.Second prize, $1.50 to F. Hurt

Marshal, from Dr. R. L. Jones, $1from Pres. Prillerman.

Third prize, one-half dozen linenhandkerchiefs in leather case, to A.B. Cunningham from Barrett &Shipley Co.

Fourth prize, "The Boy's FarmLife" to Lawrence Prillerman,from Supt. Shaw key.

Fifth prize, silk socks and tie toWm. Spriggs, Jr., from Franken-berger and Co.

Best One Ear Of Corn.

First prize, "Farm and GardenRule Book" to A. B. Cunninghamfrom Spencer, Moore and Co.

Second prize a pair of silk socksto Conally Jones, from Schwabeand May.

Men's Best Ten Ears of Corn

First prize, one ham, to ElijahHurt, from Bauer and Co.

Second prize, ten pounds oflard to Robert Howard from Bauerand Co.

6

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Second

THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY THE INSTITUTE MONtHLY 7Third prize one pitchfork to W.

Scott Blown from Callison andPierson. •

Best Pumpkin.One silk neck tie to C. L. Woed-

ey from Henry Smith and Co.Best Squash.

One silk necktie, to Elijah Hurt,from Henry Smith.

Best Peck of Apples.

One four bladed pocket knife toAlfonso Finney, from Leowensteinand Co.

LADIES PRIZESBest Collection of Preserved and

Canned Goods_First prize, one pair felt house

slippers to Mrs. Eunice Brown fromPalmer Shoe Co.

Second prize, fifty cents, to Mrs.Mamie Murray, from Dr. R. L.Jones.Best Collection of Canned Vegeta-

bles.

First prize $1.50 in trade to Mrs.Mamie Murray, from R. A. Mar-shal.

Second prize fifty cents to Mrs.Florence Canty from N. A. Murray.

Best Bread.

First prize 3 lbs Coffee to Mrs.Florence Canty from Lewis, Hub- .bard and Co.

Colored Agricultural and Mechanical CollegePresidents and Directors.

Second prize fifty cents to M:Dora B. Curtis from N. A. M:r .ray. ur,

Best Jelly.

First prize 3 pounds of tea tMrs. Anna Howard, from LeWi~Hubbard and Co.

Second prize fifty cents to MtDora B. Curtis from J. W. Paxto~and R. W. eadows.

Best Needlework,

First prize pair of scissors toMiss Mariah Eubank from Callisonand Pierson.

Second prize, combination toiletset to Mrs. Dora B. Curtis, fromPotterfield and Co.

Mr. Curtis, has already begunhis plans for the holding of B

Corn Show and Industrial Ex-hibit next year, of far betterquality and grander proportionsthan this one. The fanners whoparticipated, promise to aid theby striving for better results inthe products submitted.

his hoped that the interest inthe coming Show, will be of amuch wider scope than was wit-nessed this year.

TL<\'JTA. G\., Nw. 16.--Theond Annual Conference of C:>l-

Agricultural and Mechanicalge Presidents and Directors.d its session here yesterday:any noted visitors were present

Atlanta and various otherof the country. Some of the

t conspicuous were: Pres. Ken-L. Butterfield, of Massachu-; Mr. W. T. B. Williamsof ther and Jeans Fund; Mr. W. A.

nton, International Y. M. C. A.retary; Pres. John Hope, of At-ta Baptist College; Rev. H. H.

tor, of Atlanta, Ga.; Dean B. G.wley, of Atlanta Baptist Col-

e; Dean Adam, of Atlanta Uni-rsity; Rev. Dr. Rush, Atlanta.; Prof. Sa-nu-l H. Archer, ofanta Bap'ist C111ege;Mr. FloydJenks, Lind Grant Specialist U.Department of Agriculture.

ch and everyone seemed to haveught the spirit of the meeting.Was indeed a happy moment

hen so many men, represent ing

"God helps them that helpthemselves."

Annual Conference

what is called the Imtitutions ofhigher learning could meet withthose who represented the distinct-ly industrial idea and feel as a unitin the great cause of education.

The meeting was in every way agrand success. The sessions wereheld in Ston a Hall, Atlanta Univer ..sity. Pres. Byrd Prillerman ofWest Va., called the meeting toorder. After prayer by Rev. Dr.Rush, of Atlanta, the house wasdeclared in order for business.Pres. Buch-man, of Alabama, notbeing presen: Prof. B. F. Hubertof South Caro'ina State Collegewas appointed temporary secre-tary,

Tne welcome address "vas madeby Prof. G. A. Towns of AtlantaUniversity which was respondedto by Pres. Jism, of Deleware.The body then took up the pro-gram and reported by states uponthe subject "How is My SchoolFulfi'ling its mssion." The reportswere rmde :11 the folowing order

8 THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY

Alabama (Normal), Prof. P. C.Parks; Ala. (Talladega), Prof. T.J. Larkin; Deleware, Pres. W. C.Jason; Florida, Prof. F. A. Cordozo;Mississippi, Prof. J. A. Martin;South Carolina, Prof. B. F. Hubert;Tennessee, Pres. W. J. Hale Vir-ginia, Prof. C. K. Graham. '

Telegram, and letters of regretwere read from many of the statesnot having represenatives present.

At this point Prof. W. T. B. Wil-liams agent for the "Slater andJeannes Fund" being present wasintroduced to the body. In a fewwell chosen words he impressed up-on the body some idea of the magni-tude of the responsibility as well asthe opportunities of the State Col-ored College.

Prof. C. K. Graham of HamptonInstitute then. came before thebody and by his enthusiatic talkmoved all to see the necessity ofmore practical men in the field ofagriculture. He also showed thatthemen in theindustralline of workmust be as stong or stronger thanthose in the other departments ofthe school.

On Thursday afternoon the bodywas thrilled by three speechesdeliv-ered by three distinguished men:Mr. H. E. Strockbridge of Atlanta;Mr. Floyd B.Jenks,Land Grant Col-lege Specialist, of the U. S. Depart-ment of Agriculture; and Pres.

Kenyon L. Butterfield, of the Maachusetts Agricultural Colless.Amherest, Mass. Each speak

ge,

h . d h . eremp asize t e l~portance of Agri_culture and of agncultural traininThey all declared that the m;·teaching agriculture must be pra~tical, but at the same very srtongalong academic lines, and that theyshould be 9D enthusiastic in theirwork that they will attract mento their respective fields.

Emphasis was also laid upon thefact in order to teach a subject, theman must know that subject him-self. Stress was also laid upon thefact that the people need knowl-edge, but they must be taught towant this knowledge by practicaldemonstration of its value.

Among the above speeches, re-ports were made by the committeeon resolution and organization.Officers were elected for the ensu-ing year. Pres. Byrd Prillermanof West Va., was elected presidentand Prof. B. F. Hubert of SouthCarolina was elected secretary.After. voting that the conferenceshould be continued another yearthe meeting adjourned to attend "a reception given by Pres. JohnHope, of Atlanta Baptist College.Here opportunity was given tomeet many of the faculty of Atlan-ta Baptist College in asocial way:All went away under many obliga-

THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY9

to the host for the splendidtion received.

00 much cannot be said of theest and enthusiasm that Pres-t Prillerman put into the con-nce; for had it not been for hisrts it is very doubtful wheathernot the meeting would have

a success. Thanks are alsothe white and colored friendstlanta who made it so pleasant

the members of the conference.e members were cordially we]-ed to attend the regular ses-

ns of the N ltbnal Conference of'cultural College Presidents

Diviciacus.

Mr. J. H. Arnold, Mr. B. B. Ezelld Mr. o. M. Johnson spent Mon-Y. December 9th, at the West Vir-

. ia Colored Institute, examiningto the condition'> of Farmanagement at this institution.r. Arnold is an expert on Farmanagement from the Unitedtates Department of Plant In-

dustry, Washington, D_ C. Mr.Ezell is an expert on Farm Man-agement at The West Virginia Uni-versity. About two years ago, the

tate Board of Regents secured theservices of Mr. J. H. Arnuld to givea general plan of Farm Manage-ment at the West Virzini:' Colored

and Directors, being held at thesame time in the Piedmont Hotelof Atlanta. When it is consideredthat this was allowed in the heartof the south, we can for that reasonalone feel grateful for the prospectthat the future has in store for usas a race in the Southland.

The meeting adjourned to meetagain at a place to be de3ign"ltedlater. AUof th ~ states are urgedto send represea"ltive3, and to dowhat they cac to create enthusiasmfor a greater and mote e!'ficientrace along all industrial and agri-cultural lines.

I tstitute. He expre3sec;him elf ashig'11y nleased with the efficientmanner in which Prof. A. W. Cur-tis, Director of Agriculture at In-stitute, is carrying out the planagreed upon. These three gentle-men went over the entire Institutefarm and seemed most favorablyimpressed with the results accom-plished by the scientific methodsemployed.

An Invitation to the Inaugu-ration of the Presid~nt of

Howard University.

President Byrd Prillerman hasbe~n invited by the Trustees of

10 THE I 3TITUTE M):-iTHLY

Howard University, Washington,D. C., to participate in the inaug-uration of Stephen Morrell ew-man, A. M., D. D., as President ofthat University, Friday, December

13th. This is a distinct COll1pli_

ment not only to Mr. Prillermanbut also to The West Virgini~Colored Institute.

Hampton Institute Farmers'Conference.

wM. ANTHONYAERYHAMPTON,VA.-Five hundred

prosperous Negro fanners andhomemakers from Virginia andneighboring states, attended theannual Hampton Institute egroFanners' Conference, which washeld on ovember 20 and 2l.

The recent conference was mostinspiring to white and colored peo-ple who are interested in rural-lifeimprovement. It shows beyondany question that the trend of edu-cation in Virginia and the South isto make the whole life of the com-munity a part of the school's workand responsibility.

EXCELLET EXHIBITSThe Hampton Institute Gymna-

sium, which will accomodate almosttwo thousand people, was filled tooverflowing with excellent exhibitsof vegetables and fruits; corn,wheat, oats, and. rye; forage and

forage crop seed; cotton, tobacco,and peanuts; fresh and curedmeats; poultry and eggs; bread,cakes, and pies; canned fruits andvegetables; plain and fancy sew-ing, hand-woven articles; dairyproduts; public-school manualtraining, domestic arts, and domes-tic science exhibits.

HAMPTONINSTITUTEEXHIBITSThat the Hampton School carries

out in its own department the.prac-tical education for which its prin-cipal and workers have alreadystood, was shown by its own ex-hibits. The Whittier School, inwhich Hampton students receivetheir training for teaching, placedon exhibition mended shoes, re-caned chairs, black board erasers,yard sticks, book racks, a tea table,footstool, a magazine stand, and apanel screen. Its cooking and sew-ing exhibit showed clearly that the

THE I STITVTE Mo THLY 11

[ored children in this well-equip-school are receiving excellent

'ning in the homecraft. Theittier Home Garden Club placed

roe well-grown vegetables on ex-·bition.The exhibition furnished by thempton Institute Manual Train-

Department included mendedks, harness, and shoes, speci-

en of chair and stool-caning, andm-husk articles. Other indus-I and home-making departmentsHampton Institute furnishes

listie hand-woven rugs, stenciled° low covers, and excellent speci-ens of cooking, sewing, and laun-ering.

DR.FRlSSELL'SWELCOMEDr. H. B. Frissell, principal of

pton Institute, pointed outt some of Hampton's best grad-

tes and ex-students came origi-Iy from the country district

here they had learned kindness,lhrift, and co-operation in helpingheir parents buy land and homes.

Referring to this recent tripthrough Gloucester County, Vir-

inia, Dr. Frissell said that he was

glad to know that the Negros havebecome landowners and the po-ssessors of attractive homes; thatthey live with their white neigh-bors with-out the leastfriction; andthat 90 per cent of them own andmanage their own land. This pro-gress has been secured throughthe leadership of Thomas C.Walker, who is a well-knownHampton graduate, and other de-voted colored men and women.

ABLE ADDRESSESDr. Wallace Buttrick, of New

York City, who is secretary of theGeneral Education Board; Dr.Wickliffe Rose, of Washington, D.C. the administrative officer of theRockefeller Sanitary Commission;Bradford Knapp, Washington D.C., who has charge of the fanndemonstration work; J. D. Eggles-ton Richmond Va., state superin-tendent of public instruction; andmany other prominent men andwomen delivered helpful addressesto the colored people who hadcome to the Hampton school for atwo days course of instruction andinspiration.

12 THE INSTITUTE Mo THL Y

The Following Letter Has Been Sent Out byPresident Prillerrnan.

Institute, We:5t Va., December 20, 1912.

My Dear Co-worker:

I am writing to solicit your special interest in the young men ofth it section. I am of the opion that we are not doing all we can tohave our young men between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five availthemselves of the opportunities offered for an education in this insti-tution.

By our method of instruction, the student is enabled to secure agood English education, and at the same time, learn a useful trade·This school has graduated nearly three-hundred (300) young men andwomen who are usefully employed in this State and in other statesof the Union.

The State will expend here this year more than forty thousanddollars ($40,000).

We have a faculty of well trained men and women. For moralcharacter, they will compare favorably with any of the faculties of thebest institutions in this country.

We have registered two-hundred and sixty-four (264) studentsthis fall, but there ought of be a greater number of young men than wehave. I should be glad to send catalogues to any young men whosenames you may send me. I want only such young men as are capableof developing into good, useful citizens. I am sending you under sepa-rate cover a catalogue of our school. I shall be glad to have you readthe account of the opportunities offered here. We must depend uponyou, in a great measure, to lead the old people right and influence the

THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY 13ung people in the proper channels.

Again soliciting your interest in the matter of pushing the causeEducation in this State, I am

Most respectfully yours,

Byrd Prillerman,Pres. The West Va. Colored Institute.

Southern Trip of President Prillerman,and Mr. A. W. Curtis.

President Byrd Prillerman androf. A. W. Curtis represented

e West Virginia Colored Insti-te at the Association of Ameri-

Agricultural Colleges and Ex-riment Stations in Atlanta, Ga.,ov. 13th, 14th, and 15th, 1912.hile in attendance at the Asso-

ation, they were guests at thetlanta University, where a spe-

Conference of the represena-Yes from the Negro schools wasld, Nov. 13th and 14th. Onursday evening, Nov.14th, Pres-

ent John Hope of Atlanta Bap-t College gave a reception to thetire Negro delegation at his pal-ial residence. By special invita-

ion of Dr. Booker T. Washingtonesident Prillerman and Prof.

urtis went to Tuskegee Instituteriday morning, Nov. 16, where

they spent four days studying themethods of that great institution.Here they were treated with everycourtesy and consideration. Theywere entertained -at dinner Fridayby Dr. and Mrs. Washington. Theysaw the foot ball game betweenFisk University and Tuskegee In-stitutelSat. afternoon. On Sundaythey were invited to dinner byMr. and Mrs. J. H. Washington.On Monday evening, Mr. WarrenLogan gave a dinner in honor ofPresident Prillerman. At the re-quest of Dr. Washington, PresidentPrillerman spoke to the teachersand students in the Chapel Sundayevening, Nov. 17th. On Tuesday,Nov. 19th, they left for Montgom-ery, Ala., where they visited thefirst Capitol of the ConfederateStates of America, the State Nor-

14 THE INSTITUTE Mo THt

mal School, and other places of interest. While here, they were theguests of Mr. V. H. Tulane, Cash-ier of the Penny Savings Bank.By invitation of President Patter-son, President Prillerman spoke tothe students of the State NormalSchool. Mr. Prillerman and Mr.Curtis went from Montgomery,Ala. to Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 20th.Here they were guests at FiskUniversity. They were also enter-tained by Prof.C. C. Poindexter, agraduate of The West Virginia Col-ored Institute, Dr. George E.Haynsa Professor in Fisk University, andProf. W. S. Thompson, Principalof one of the city schools. Whilein Nashville, Mr. Prillerman andMr. Curtis visited also the StateNormal School, Walden University,Meharry Medical College, PearlHigh School, and the Baptist Pub-lishing House. They both spokeat the last two places. They nextcame to Louisville, Ky., wherethey visited the State University.Here they were the guests of Pres.and Mrs. W. T. Amiger. They

were entertained at dinner by 11and Mrs. W. H. Stewart. 1hr.next day they visited Lincoln Insti~tute, or "The ew Berea," nearShelbyville. On Nov. 23rd, theyvisited the Kentucky Normal andIndustrial Institute at Frankfort.They visited the Department ofSc ools in the Capitol where theywe . most cordially received bySupt. Barksdale Hamlett. Theyreturned home on the morning ofNov. 24th, after what they termthe most pleasant and profitabletrip of their lives.

On this trip, they found Insti-tute graduates employed on theFaculties of the following institu-tions:

Mr. Jessie Fields on the Agricul-tural staff of Tuskegee Institute;

Mr. C. C. Poindexter a full Pro-fessor in Fisk University;

Mr. w. A. Brown, the State Uni-versity at Louisville, Ky;

Mr. R. W. James, Director ofAgriculture at the KentuckyNormal and Industrial Institute.Frankfort, Ky.

THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY 15

S lThe Quest of the Silver Fleece." - AReview. •• • •• •

A book review should first of all give information on three points,mely, (1) what the author has set out to say, (2) what he has saidd (3) how he has said it. The Quest of the Silver Fleece is the workw. E. B. Dubois and is regarded by many critics as a novel of sternism. It is a novel with a purpose. It clearly shows the economicts of many of the wrongs which beset us as a race. It shows the

ruggles-often against impossible odds-of the negro who desiresdevelop his personality. For the hero and the heroine he makes a

rong plea. He does not leave the reader in despair for he ends the. k. with a hopeful outlook. In compressing a novel of 434 pagesthm the compass of ten pages it will be necessary to omit many of itsteresting episodes and nearly all of its literary beautv.

Now the story is laid in the South and in Washi~gton. Zora theeroine lived with her mother, a reputed witch, in a tumble-down cabin

the edge of a swamp in Alabama. Not far away is a school foundedy Miss Sarah Smith. Zora cared nothing for an education until sheet Bles Alwyn, a young student from Georgia not liking her rudeanner and half-dressed appearance he shunned her for a while. One

ay she looked up into his eyes so wistfully that he talked to her ofucation and gave her a primer which she promised to study. One of

les' teachers was a Miss Taylor who had come South not so much toch Negroes as to study cotton for her brother John who was revolv-

g a big scheme in his head. Miss Taylor liked Bles because he tolder so much about cotton but she disliked Zora the child of the swampho seemed to her incorrigible. Bles' beautiful discription of cotton

ouched the poetic fancy of Miss Taylor and she told him the story ofhe Golden Fleece. After listening to the Grecian myth he slowly said

16 THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY

"All yon golden fleece is Jason's now. The Cresswells are thieve;"Col. Cresswell was the largest landlord in that part of the state a~downed 50,000 acres. 'Old pappy' the cunjure man and preacher toldher "Nuttin can buy de Cresswells-+dey naturally owns de world."The next time Bles saw Zora he repeated the story of the Golden Fleeceand proposed that they plant some of the silver fleece in the swampsell the crop and use the money to put her in school. Zora havin~mastered the primer was now fired with an ambition to become educa_ted so she agreed quickly. By the moonlight they grubbed and plowed.Old Elspeth told them not to plant till the dark of the moon. Whenthe time came she went with them down into the swamp and did theplanting herself. In a serious conversation on purity, truthfulness andhonor Zora promised Bles she would be just as good as a woman knowshow. From that day on they walked together in a new world. Zorabecame a day student and Miss Smith's interest in her increased as MissTaylor's declined. Zora watched her little island of cotten in theswamp. One day after a light shower had passed she found the islandall sprinkled with green. "It's come, it's come. The Silver Fleece,"he cried with joy.

While Zora is rejoicing over her sprouting cotton let us take upanother thread of the story. John Taylor's scheme for cornering thecotton market was growing a pace. His sister spent her vacation Northwith Mrs. Grey the widow of a cotton merchant for whom Taylor hadworked. She was now a philanthropist and interested in Negro schools.She announced at a big dinner her intention of giving $750,000 forNegro education and that $150,000 would go to the Smith school inAlabama. Miss Taylor immediately wrote Miss Smith who upon re-ceiving the n s thought that she might safely mortgage the school for$5,000 to Col. Cresswell to buy some long needed land. He persuadedher to make it $10,000 hoping thereby to get his hands on the propertyand shut up the school. When Miss Taylor returned South she chancedto meet young Cresswell who became interested in her despite th·efact that she taught in a colored school. Soon John Taylor came Southto confer with CoI. Cresswell about his cotton combine. The wholescheme was unfolded and Cresswell agreed to go into it with the un-derstanding that he would clear about $1,000,000. While on this

(To ht.: courtudcd it! the j a nua rv i•••.•ue of 'I'IIE )10",.1I1.\,)

The W. V. C. 1.

Studen Press r : : :

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