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FACTS ABOUT GEORGIA 171
Tne Berry Schools at Rome
The Martha Berry schools for poor mountain children, at
Rome, Ga., are institutions of such an unusual character and far-
reaching influence, that Miss Berry, their founder and sponsor,
was asked to write something about them for Facts About
Georgia. She says:
"Sixteen years ago I was spending the Sunday afternoon in a
little log cabin on our home plantation. I had fitted up this cabin
as a study and had hoped to spend many quiet hours there.
"I noticed four little children wandering around in our grove.
They were white children, poor and neglected. I called them in
and after talking with them, I found that they lived on rented
land near by and had no opportunity of attending school or Sun
day School. I began to teach them on Sundays and to go to see
them in the week, helping them as much as possible. From this
SMITHWICK HICKORY TREE—60 YEARS OLD—14 VARIETIES OF
PECANS BUDDED TO TOP.
Two young ladies,
Misses Eva and Leila
Gardner, are rural
teachers i n Newton
County. They are set
ting a pace that teach
ers of small rural
schools elsewhere might
do well to follow. They
realise that the children
need not only the text-
hooks, but practical dem
onstration and example.
They are being sat
isfactorily repaid for
their efforts as the par
ents are co-operating
with them in every .pos
sible way, and are ex
pressing their apprecia
tion of the excellent re
sults, that are being ob
tained. This school is
said to be the first rural
garden school in Geor
gia, as well as the pio
neer in teaching care of
poultry and pigs.