Winthrop University - Tatler Yearbook (Rock Hill, SC)

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Uk gferg of 'lbinflirop BRILLIANT midsummer sun was shining down upon a typical New England farm-house which stood stiff and sternly erect as a Puritan should. to meet the darts of the Heavenly Archer. To one side stretched the cranberry patch. Up and down the rows, filling her pail with the tempting red fruit, a woman passed to and fro. The swish of her garments, the rustle of the bushes, the tinkle of the berries as they fell into the pail, were the only sounds that disturbed the noonday stillness. There was nothing to indicate that this day was to be unlike the days that had preceded it-that it was to be the birthday of a new life that was to affect most powerfully the old life of a far-away Southern State. The sun shone hotter and hotter, the berries fell faster and faster into the pail. The stillness was broken by another sound. the sound of horses' feet, as a carriage came swiftly into view and paused in front of the house. A stranger dismounted, walked with quick, determined steps to the door, lifted the knocker, and waited. He was a man with a mission. An idea had taken possession of him. You saw it in his eye. You read it in his walk. You felt its presence even though you did not know its name. in a few moments the door openedg he gave his card to the servant and was ushered into the dim, quiet parlor to wait. The servant walked swiftly to the cranberry patch and handed the card to the picker of fruit, who read aloud in her surprise, D. R. johnson, Colum- bia, South Carolina. VVhat can the gentleman from South Carolina want with me? Giving her pail to the servant, she hurried to the house. The gentle- man from South Carolina arose to meet her as she entered the dimly lighted parlor. The dreamer of a dream that had scarcely yet been dreamed. the super- intendent of a school that was to be, the president of a college that was yet unborn, looked into the eyes of the woman who was to be the first teacher of the visionary school, the teacher who could help to make such a school as he dreamed of a reality. Mr. D. B. Johnson and Miss Mary H. Leonard shook hands, and then he told her of his mission. He had dreamed a dream, he had seen za vision, and he was seeking means to realize this vision, to make this dream come true. He had experienced a great need. As organizer and superintendent of a new system of schools in Columbia, S. C., the need had pressed heavily upon him-the need of trained teachers in his work. There was plenty of fine material going to waste in South Carolina. Some means for utilizing this material must be found. Filled with this idea, he had gone forth seeking aid. He had obtained a private inter- view with President Cleveland, a member of the Peabody lloard. From Wfash- ington he had gone to Boston to see Robert C. VVinthrop, the President of the Peabody Board. To him he unfolded all his plans and received immediately Mr. VVinthrop's hearty endorsement and promise of assistance at the next meet- 19 . - ,-.Bw-.Hil...-..ii.. ,,..-.. . .- - .. ,-..... -...,...v...? W. Y