Chapter XXXII

Advanced classes made pillow tops of raphia woven on their looms, some used natural colors of raphia and many used plaid designs in various colors. These all sold readily. Boys and girls both made baskets of all sizes, wood baskets, stools and tables, frames for which were ordered from the factory. The stools had woven tops of flat reed and tables were woven of heavy round reed. At toy-making the boys were quite expert and often helped wonderfully. I recall a toy with a clown riding up and back on a roller which would not turn at the proper place. "Earnest, come here," I said. "What is the trouble with this clown?" "Can you make him roll?" Looking at it closely for a few minutes, he said: "May I move this tiny piece of wood a bit?" "Why, yes, anything," and at once the clown resumed his rides. I remembered this same boy when as a small office boy he was playing outside of my office drawing a little tin engine along by a string and for a headlight he had inserted a dandelion blossom. We shall hear more of that boy in years to come, I thought, and we did. lie is row a successful business man in Washington, D. C.

Chapter XXXIII

The class felt the need of a large globe. With advice from the teacher a Tellurian was purchased with funds earned by the pupils. They were as much pleased with their globe as were the little ones with the globe given them previously. They also purchased a large lantern and screen in 1917 for showing slides which projected pictures across the chapel. This was enjoyed by all the children, many of whom explained the slides when presented. The lantern was gladly loaned at times to several schools in the near neighborhood. A radiopticon for showing postcards in class rooms was hampered by the inability to darken the rooms sufficiently. It was used somewhat to show the many cards brought back from my trip to Europe in summer of 1914, and for geography and history classes assembled in chapel near the machine. When our moving picture machine was given us by Widow's Son Lodge, Roanoke Rapids, these other machines were not needed. Reels were ordered from picture houses, the Paramount Picture Company, in Charlotte, and obtained from the Education Department in Raleigh..

Chapter XXXIV

By this time, 1916, we had a tenth grade. Any student doing creditable work in this grade could enter the freshman year at Greensboro Normal College or junior year at East Carolina Training School. Six girls entered these and other schools that year. The amount of work required of a girl was considerable-if working her way-and it required more than four years to complete the course. It was gratifying to note the number of children anxious for an education, working their way and going back year after year to continue their studies. The closing exercises in June, 1917, consisted of two lectures compiled and given by pupils of the 9th and 10th grades using the school lantern and slides. One set of slides, including the descriptive lecture, was rented during the winter from Underwood and Underwood, New York, expenses defrayed by the Manual Arts fund. During the war this fund purchased Liberty Loan Bonds.

Chapter XXXV

For several years we had a plan for the teachers to visit schools in other towns and cities one day a term; they also observed in classes at the orphanage. We found this to be very beneficial. Besides this many teachers have attended summer schools and Columbia University, bringing back energy and enthusiasm that has helped all. Teachers also took courses in the Palmer method of writing, which was then in the ascendency; prizes were offered pupils making the most improvement in a year. Now, I understand, leg ibility only is required of pupils in cities. Years ago, the Spencerian handwriting was most popular, then the long, graceful slant of this par ticular style changed-all letters must stand erect. Soon this system swung into the backhand writing, and probably fearing the letters would soon be standing on their heads, it was considered best to insist on a medium slant. We had tried them all years before, not at the orphanage, however, only the Palmer method was taught there. I do not know that any system is taught now-a-days. I rather think the art of writing develops itself in the mind of every child. How wonderful if this be true! Think of the years wasted in frantic efforts to secure "desired results" from a particular system.

Chapter XXXV I

A Domestic Science class had been started for the older girls as only four were needed in the cooking room each year and many others needed the training. The plan was to teach plain cooking of good wholesome foods used in a North Carolina home to which many would return, to use the products of the farms, vegetables, fruits and the making of breads. Gas stoves were installed `&n the South basement room under the dining room. The science department of the high school also used this room for their experiments and adequate equipment was provided. Many will remember Mr. Barnhardt and the most earnest attention was given his lectures. I have heard that a singing class has been a part of the orphanage since the institution was founded, the first Superintendent taking a class round the country in a wagon, stopping at places to give concerts. However, that may be-a singing class was functioning when Colonel Hicks and I arrived and was off on a trip in charge of a music teacher. They made one trip a year in summer vacation time. Under Colonel Hicks' regime two trips were made, in charge of a teacher and a manager and later three trips. Ten girls and four boys were chosen from children who had good voices and a good record as to deportment. The clans lost practically a year in school but the distance traveled from North to January and February were taken to make up the class and program. At first the practicing occupied much time as we had no music teacher for the school until later and intensive drill was needed. Programs consisted of songs, recitations and often an operetta-this last requiring costumes, which were usually made by older members of the class. The sewing rooms made all the traveling and concert clothes (the class was out six weeks at a time) quite a task for sewing rooms with all the laundry, mending and new clothes each week besides. Members of lodges provided homes where the children were entertained at night. In this way they met ruany people of the state which added greatly to their enjoyment and education, and gave the people themselves a chance to learn more of our institution life. In the homes they were royally entertained, everything was done for their pleasure and comfort. An older and younger child traveled together. Colonel Hicks said the little ones would "take" with an audience quicker than the older ones, but the teacher thought more of the volume of voice when they urged permission to take older children. Colonel Hicks said, -"If a little 'fell' made a mistake it was enjoyed but the older ones were not expected to make errors." His advice proved true in all the after years. The class was welcomed home from each trip with great excitement, the members being exceedingly popular for weeks, on account of the wonderful tales they had to relate. Some had never seen the ocean and the trip to Roanoke Island, going from Manteo to Wanchese, was exciting, others had never seen the mountains and their traveling over them to Murphy became a fine experience for all-giving them a broader outlook on life. In addition to all this, the trips were financially successful and added greatly to the income of the orphanage.

Chapter XXXV I I

Stealing and lying were major faults, breaking the commandments. It was difficult for the children to see why anything on the orphanage grounds could not be taken at any time. "Yes, it belongs to all the children, not to a few boys who can roam the grounds and take all for themselves," Colonel Hicks would say. "Wait until all is gathered and divided, so that all may share alike. We are not going to sell anything; you may have it all," had to be repeated over and over. For anyone found stealing from neighbors' fields, as I am sorry to say often happened, no worse punishment could be inflicted than having the boy go to the farmer, confess his deed and offer to make good the loss. At the neighbor's estimate he had to make good the loss with his own funds. If the boy had no money he could obtain a loan at the office which must be paid back at the first opportunity. Respect for the property of others was taught all over the grounds, at cottages, school and Sunday school, still some boys would be found to have despoiled a melon patch, perhaps newcomers or ones whose love for melons could not resist the temptation. The fact that visitors would often in their talks to the children in Chapel, tell tales of their young days and with a smiling, knowing look toward the boys, refer to journeys into peach orchards and melon patches, always seemed to me very unwise. "How can he talk so when we are trying to teach respect for property of others," I thought. Such talks might pass for the older boys, but there were the middle and smaller size fellows listening with open ears and wide eyes taking it all in. "Why was it so wrong to go to a melon patch, if those men went and laughed about it?"-- is what they seemed to be thinking.

Chapter XXXVIII

In the earlier years quarantines were imposed by the doctors when contagious diseases were epidemic in town. Then no child was allowed to leave the grounds. I imagine some of the boys did occasionally slip out. With three hundred or more children on the grounds for two or three months at a time, who could blame them? If perchance some one developed a case of measles, oh, what a time l All four cottages, as well as the tiny hospital, would be full of patients and they required careful attention when convalescent. The last quarantine imposed lasted seven months, and really we hardly remembered our names at its close. We concluded to let anyone have the disease as they entered, there would probably be few at any one time. Soon the, anti-serums began to be used as preventives for various diseases; whooping cough, typhoid and measles. Dr. Daniel gave these treatments to each child every few years, after he became physician at the orphanage.

Chapter XXXIX

Usually a friendly spirit prevailed among all the children-very few quarrels even with the boys. However, when a visitor was being shown around by the secretary, he asked about fights and was told we had few-low and behold l looking out the door they saw two boys engaged in a big fight. "Children show off before company, as usual," he said. The older girls were particularly kind to the younger ones, helping with their doll clothes, especially if a doll parade had been scheduled and prizes offered for the best-dressed doll and best marching appearance. They paraded around a circle of the campus twice, but it was difficult for the judges to decide on the winners. Many received honorable mention.

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