Jasper County, Missouri - Chapter 43: Educational and Religious, 1912

Chapter 43: Educational and Religious

Manual Training, Music, and Summer Normal - Inculcating Love OP THE Beautiful - Size op Jopun District and Teaching Force - Compulsory Education - The Truant School - The Play Ground Idea - ^Recent Additions to School Work - ^Visitors' Day - The High School Alumni - ^Alumni Banquets - School Officials - The Joplin Public Library - The Churches of Joplin - First Congregational Church - Three Colored Churches Built - Billy Sunday - The Brotherhood Movement - The Young Men's Christian Association - Jopun Churches in Brief.

The past ten years of Joplin 's school history, if written in full, would make of itself not only a large but an entertaining volume. It would show each year the introduction of new and up-to-date methods of education and a gradual increase in school population and percentage of attendance and an expansion in the area of the school district which, as the city spread out, necessarily took in the former outlying territory. Each of the superintendents gave to the schools some progressive policy and stamped his individuality on the city's educational system.

To J. D. Elliff the school system owes the enlargement of the high school course of study, so that it met the requirements of the State University for a first class high school ; also the designation of Joplin as one of the points for the establishment of an experimental Summer Normal, to articulate with the University. Under Mr. EUiflf's administration manual training was introduced in the high school and the government established a Weather Bureau at Joplin and placed it in charge of the science department of the high school.

During W. P. Roberts' term of office, music was introduced into the schools and a supervisor elected to look after this work. The matter of better penmanship was also given especial attention and an expert penman employed to supervise this most important branch of work.

Superintendent Roberts was also a great lover of the beautiful wid to the end that the pupils be taught, in a practical way, the love of home and out-of-door beautification, he secured from the school board an appropriation to purchase a large quantity of flowers and garden seeds, which were sold to the pupils at cost. The idea proved so popular that the first year of its trial (1904) it was necessary to twice order an additional supply of seeds and, as a result, over six thousand packages were distributed. The effect of this was farreaching in its importance and cannot be overestimated when we think of the joy and the additional beautification which came from the six thousand flower beds which were planted and cared for by the children of the city.

Oeorge V. Buchanan, who was chosen superintendent in 1908, has made a strong executive officer and, in addition to introducing many up-to-date methods, has in a most diplomatic manner harmonized all of the different ideas of educational policy and united the several factions who, during 1906-7, created much feeling in public school circles.

Space will not permit a mention of all that we would like to say about the school system of Joplin. We will, however, chronicle a few of the happenings so that the reader may keep in touch with the general character of the work and the school policy.

In 1909 the school district of Chitwood and East Hollow, suburbs of Joplin on the west and a part of which had the year before been taken into the city limits, petitioned the city district to be annexed, and at the election of 1909 was formally annexed, adding approximately five square miles to the area of the district and about 600 to the school population.

The school census of 1911 showed the district to have 9,341 children of school age. The annual revenue derived from taxation and public appropriations is, in round numbers, $175,000. During the year 1910-11 the district employed 172 teachers.

At the session of the general assembly in 1903 a law was passed making it obligatory for all pupila over eight and under fourteen to attend school - either public or private - at least four months in the year.

The Joplin Board of Education, in 1905, for the purpose of enforcing this law, employed a truancy oflScer and also established a truancy school, to which the habitual truants and unruly pupils were sent. S. S. Nix was the first truant officer and enforced the new law with tact and good judgment. When he found children out of school, on account of not being provided with proper clothing and books, he saw to it that means were provided for the same. He personally visited the parents of children not in school and talked with them, not as an officer of the law come to enforce the mandates of the state, but as a citizen and fellow townsman interested in the welfare of the boys.

In nearly every instance he secured the cooperation of the parents and during his first year as truancy officer did not make a single arrest for non-compliance with the law. Mr. Nix was elected city assessor in 1907 and was succeeded by O. D. Billick, who served the district faithfully until 1911, when he retired and was succeeded by S. S. Nix, who was recalled to the position.

As an experiment the Board of Education established a Truant School in 1905 and placed it under the supervision of R. C. Bums, one of the best teachers of Joplin. The school was a success, so far as results were concerned, but did not prove popular with the people, and the next year Mr. Bums, having accepted the principalship of the Shreveport (La.) school, resigned his position as principal of the Truant school, and it was not reopened in 1906.

During the decade the school district spent $175,000 in school improvements, among them being the enlargement of the High School in 1906, which doubled its capacity. The building, although well located and excellently appointed, is now crowded and the matter of building a new $100,000 High School building is now being agitated and is among the possibilities of the near future.

Of recent years the school board and teaching force have encouraged the plan of putting on the play grounds apparatus to help make the recreation hour both pleasant and helpful and at three of the schools, viz., Irving, Jackson and Garfield - the pupils have given highly successful entertainments and have raised money and purchased complete equipment for the playground, consisting of swings, horizontal bars, vaulting poles, etc.

During the administration of Superintendent Buchanan, among other things the following have been added to the school work and course of study.

The Manual training department has been enlarged by the addition of a domestic science department, and the work has also been extended into the grades.

A department for the teaching of business methods has been added to the high school and has proved very popular with the people and highly satisfactory to the school.

It has always been the policy of Joplin to employ each year a few of the high school graduates as teachers, and (be it said to the credit of the schools) most of them have made good. Superintendent Buchanan introduced the following plan for the better training of high school graduates desiring to become teachers. A dozen high school graduates are chosen each fall, according to their apparent natural ability for teaching. Each is located at one of the larger ward schools for the school year at ten dollars a month. The work of the pupil teacher is of three kinds, teaching classes, observing methods, and tutoring. Each cadet teaches four classes, representing four different grades and as many diflPerent branches of study. While she hears her classes in the rooms of the various teachers, she is given entire charge of them for the term and held responsible for their progress. At the beginning of the second term she is given four other classes, thus furnishing practical experience in eight different phases of teaching. In connection with her teaching the principal of the building and the teachers under whom she teaches take special interest in her work and offer helpful suggestions from time to time. For further development as a teacher the pupil teacher spends about one-third of her time each day in the rooms of the various teachers of the building, where she is free to observe the methods used in managing classes, hearing recitations, assigning lessons, etc. This gives an excellent opportunity for learning by observation ; the safest and surest way of acquiring any art.

Visitors' day, which was commenced back in the early 'nineties, has been observed each year during the last decade and the annual occasion brings to the various school buildings hundreds of patrons and has been a source of much good to the schools, for the reason that it has furnished the occasion for the teachers and patrons to come in closer touch, and has no doubt created a stronger school sentiment.

While visiting one of the schools in 1903 the author had the pleasure of hearing from an old-time Joplin teacher the following, very interesting recital of Joplin 's First Visitors' day, and we give it here - First, because of its historic interest, and secondly, because the contrast of the methods pursued at this first public examination which occurred '*way back in 'seventy-eig^t. "

During 1878 the pupils in the East Joplin schools did splendid work. The principal, James A. Race, was a scholarly and courteous gentleman and brought the schools up to a high standard of excellence. At the close of the year '78 he hit upon the following plan for Visitors' day and public examination: A committee of twenty-five prominent citizens were appointed to prepare the questions and conduct the examination. T. A. McClellan, Jesse Shortess, F. E. Williams, D. A. Preston and J. W. Henry had charge of the examination in mathematics, and the method pursued by these gentlemen was said to have been the most impartial examination ever given the pupils of the schools. One hundred problems were prepared for the class, which included work in compound numbers, percentage, common fractions, cube root, etc., extending through the entire year's work. These questions were placed in a box and after having been thoroughly shaken up, each pupil drew from the box five problems and passed to the blackboard and solved them in the presence of the visitors. Out of a class of twenty-three, eighteen solved and explained each of the five problems correctly.

The next afternoon the examination in spelling was had, and was conducted by Jesse Shortess, Alford (Jensell, and Mesdames Carl Shepherd, D. A. Preston and J. H. Maddy. One hundred words were pronounced to the class as a written test and of these the per cent made by the room of fifty-one pupils was 97.3.

Sides were then chosen up and an old-fashioned spelling match indulged in; words were pronounced in rapid succession for one hour and a half, and when 4 o'clock came, seventeen pupils were still on the floor. During the contest over a thousand words had been pronounced. It will be observed that as there were fifty-one in the room and seventeen on the floor at the end of the contest, only thirty-four words had been missed (when a word was missed the pupil took his seat). This was certainly a record to be proud of. The examinations continued for a week and the tests in history and algebra, grammar, etc., were made in a manner similar to the above.

Each year save one during the eleven years of this century, the High School alumni have held an annual reunion, at which old-time friendships have been renewed and the graduating class for the year formally welcomed into the fold.

Each of these ten banquets has been highly successful and each ripe with rich experiences and pleasant memories. To give an idea of the character of these entertainments we give here the JopUn Daily Oldbe's account of the 1903 reunion, which we select for the reason that it brought together the largest number of alumni during the decade.

to the class of 1903 last night went merrily on and it was not until the final note of the closing speech was sounded and the several hundred alumnae and friends sought egress from the structure that the fojy of the elements manifested itself in all its might.

Aside from the weather it was an evening of pure delight to the several remaining residents that have gone out from that institution as their alma mater, as well as to the graduating class and their educational guardians, the board of education and the faculty and the other friends assembled together.

At the head of the long banquet tables, which extended the length of the spacious assembly hall, said to be one of the finest in the state, sat the alumni president, L. L. Lichliter, the man who stands next to the highest post of honor in the province of the school board, as principal of the High school, and a member of the first graduating class, that of '88. The faculty, the members of the board of education and their wives, together with Paul Brown and wife and Rev. W. P, Turner and wife held the front tables, while down the center of the room ran the band of white damask which was to grace the feast for the members of the class of 1903. The other members of the alumni and their friends occupied the adjoining tables.

With the guests thus arranged the Rev. W. P. Turner, pastor of the Pirst Christian church, spoke a few forceful words of grace and invocation. Then for the space of the next fifty minutes the appeasing of the inner appetite was the only number on the program and it had been amply provided for by the ladies of the Dorcas Circle of the Christain church who are to be congratulated for their success in arranging and serving such an elegant menu as was provided. The menu was as follows :

When the last remaining vestige of the feast had been removed - the last crumb brushed from the table, as it were, President Lichliter as toastmaster for the evening formally opened the toasting ceremonies with an address welcoming the graduates of 1903 class upon their initiation into the Alumni association. Mr. Lichliter explained to the class that they had not seen the last of him as some might have thought, and no doubt many wished, but that like Banquo's ghost he would not down and was now before them in a different light, not as principal of the Joplin High school, but as the honored president of the Joplin High school alumni. He spoke in regret of the fact that of the many who start in school at the beginning, so few remain to the close. He referred to the High school as the people's college and declared the class to represent, as regards the school life, the survival of the fittest. In closing he complimented the diversity of talent and the personality of the class and bade them cordial welcome into the Alumni association.

Walter Tousley, class president, resi>onded to the address of welcome in that same manner and ease and completeness that has characterized that young man's oratorical course in the High school from its incipiency four Septembers ago. He pointed with pride to the proverbial bigness under the hat that all the members of the class certainly felt and gave forth the class promise of living up to their motto: **A11 are Architects of Fate," that they would do their share of the building of the great and composite structure called life.

Mrs. H. S. Miller (Miss Cora Lichliter) one of the early graduates, and who is now recognized as a vocal singer of exceptional talent - talent that was first fostered in singing those dearly sacred school songs that never die in memory - sang a soprano solo^ '*Shoogy-Shoo" (Ambrose), Mrs, J. M. Gwinn accompanying, and responded to an encore.

A male quartet composed of Messrs. E. V. Jackson, C. C. Cummings, L. L. Lichliter and F. B. Rogers, sang DeKoven's **The Owl and the Fxisay Cat" and were very heartily encored.

Prof. J. M. Gwinn, who for the term just closed has been superintendent, and who held the x>osition of principal for two years prior to that time, gave the toast **The Joplin High School." The salient facts of Prof. Gwinn 's talk to the alumnae were first that of the 243 graduated students, 71 had become teachers and 43 were now serving in that capacity in the Joplin schools; second, that Joplin High school boys make the best business men and Joplin High school girls the best wives in the community.

Prof. Gwinn struck a new chord when he prophesied for some not far distant future date a magnificent new stone high school building at Wall and Eighth streets, almost across from the new Carnegie library, where the Central school now stands. Prof. Gwinn foresaw in the near future if not at present a crowding for room in the present High school building, commodious though it is, so phenomenal has been the growth of the Joplin schools.

''The High School Boy in PabUc Life" was the toast assigned to Hon. Richard N. Qraham, graduate of the Joplin High school and member of the recent Missouri legislative assembly. Mr. Graham called attention to the dire need of more high school boys in public life and advanced the opinion that if there were more of this class of young men in public life there would be fewer boodle scandals and lobby crookedness in connection with state administration. Mr. Qraham spdce feelingly and eloquently to the incoming class and closed his remai^ with a brilliant effort, entirely extemporaneous, alluding in most auroral terms to the opportunities before a high school boy in public life and of the edge that would be taken off the brighter side of the rainbow after a few months' actual contact with the rou§^ surfaces of life in the world of public life.

President C. S. Poole, of the board of education, closed the scheduled toasts with **A Few Remarks" for the good of those ^o £^ke before him and for the good of the school.

Following Mr. Poole Rev. Paul Brown made a stirring speech in compliment to the Joplin High school and those who have watched over and in great measure shaped its destiny, the teachers, and bespoke for the future Joplin a keener awakening of the public spirit to a constant demand for improved facilities and accommodations in every phase of school life.

President LichUter closed the evening by extending the thanks of the association to those present and repeated a welcome to the class of 1903, in whose honor the banquet was given.

The rain was coming down in torrents as the assemblage was dismissed and the street carriages reaped a harvest in four-bit pieces. It was past midnight before all the evening's participants were in their homes.

The following is a list of the superintendents of High school, principals and members of the Board of Education who have served the people of Joplin during the present century:

Members of Board of Education: C. S. Poole, Al Reynolds, T. A. Cunningham, C. A. Lyon, C. M. De Graff, Joel T. Livingston, L. W. Kost, R. A. Wilson, Dr. A. Burson Clark, A. J. Shockley, S. C. Fones^ Dr. M. T. Balsley, W. H. Warren, J. W. Boyd and A. Houghton.

In 1903, largely through the instrumentality of J. D. Elliff, the superintendent of schools, who had just returned from Columbia where he had taken a post>graduate course in. the Missouri State University, and the Board of Regents and faculty of that great school, there was 'established in Joplin a Summer Normal which was conducted partly by members of the faculty from the University and from supply teachers in and around Joplin. The grades made at this Summer Normal were entered on the records at the State University, and the students were given credit for the work done at Joplin, the same as if they were in Columbia. The school lasted for ^even weeks, six days in the week. The following was the faculty: R. H. Jesse, president of State University; J. D. EUiflf, superintendent of Joplin school; W. J. Hawkins, superintendent of Nevada schools; J. M. Owinn, principal of Joplin High School; Luther Hardaway, superintendent of Jasper county, and R. R. Ramsay, W. L. Howard and William Westmoreland, of the faculty of the University. This school was a great benefit, especially to the teachers of southwestern Missouri, and was largely attended by students from all over that vicinity.

As mentioned before, a movement was started in the 'nineties to found a public library, and something like $1,000' was collected from various sources for the purpose of starting a public reading room, but it became apparent that to be a success the fund for maintenance must be of a permanent character and during the winter of 1900-1 a campaign of education was carried on by the various literary clubs of the city looking to the establishment by the city of a public library. The city, at the general election of 1901, by a very large majority voted an annual tax of ten cents on the one hundred dollars valuation for the maintenance of a free public library and reading room.

The law creating the library provided for the appointment of a non-partisan board of directors to manage the affairs of the library, and the Mayor named as the first board the following persons, all of whom are great lovers of good reading and who had taken a lively interest in securing the passage of the law and its approval at the polls by the people : J. D. Ellifl, president ; Rev. Paul Brown, 0. H. Picher, Henry Kost, E. L. Anderson, William N. Carter, H. H. Gregg, and Mrs. Ada QosB Briggs, Mrs. Emma LichUter and Mrs. Hattie Ruddy Rice. The board organized by selecting superintendent J. D. EUiff, of the public schools, as president and Mrs. Rice as secretary.

About this time Andrew Carnegie announced his intention of donating $10,000,000 toward the founding of free public libraries and the Joplin library board made application to the philanthropist for a donation for the erection of the Joplin library building and in July received the following letter relative to the same :

Dear Sir: - Responding to your letter of May Gth - if the city of Joplin will furnish a suitable site and pledge itself to maintain the library at a cost of not less than $4,000 a year, Mr. Carnegie will be glad to provide $40,000 for a suitable building.

ing remained excepting to secure a site, and at once a number of well appointed building lots were offered by individuals and committees representing property owners in various parts of the city. After much consultation and careful deliberation the board, after having taken many ballots, selected the northwest corner of Ninth and Wall, and there the library, which is the pride of all Joplin, was built. The corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremones in October, 1902. The Jasper county white limestone was used in the superstructure and the roof was very appropriately covered ^ith zinc shingles, a gift from the Illinois Zinc Company.

While the library building was in course of erection the library was placed temporarily in the High school. Mrs. Baker (Beckie Sharp) being the first librarian.

In 1905 Miss Mary B. Swanwick, the present librarian, was placed in charge of the reading rooms and she, together with Miss Blanch Trigg, Mrs. A. D. Scott (nee Mary Barr) and Mrs. Hattie Ruddy Rice, assistant librarians, have most thoroughly classified and catalogued the books and periodicals.

In order that the reader may have an idea of the workings of the library we append herewith a few extracts from the annual report of the president and librarian for 1911 :

Twenty-one thousand five hundred and fourteen books were furnished to the public schools and circulated among the public school children under the direction of the superintendent of schools. Each of these 4,634 books was read on an average by five pupils; or in other words, each pupil in the schools (grammar grades) read five books in addition to the regular studies during the year.

The following constitute the present oflScials of the Library: President, Clark Craycroft; vice president, Hugh Mclndoe; Thomas Dolan, C. W. Wescott, August Junge, W. A. Nickell, Dr. M. C. Shelton, Miss W. B. Myers and Mrs. Emma Idchliter.

Religious work kept pace with the business activity during the last decade and was manifested by the organization of nine new churches and the reorganization of the old Congregational church, which had fallen into torpor during the latter 'nineties. Six of the older congregations built new and more commodious church edifices and three of them enlarged their old buildings to accommodate the new and enlarged demands. At each of these churches the building of the new church was a memorable event and was attended with impressive ceremonies.

The First Methodist and Byers Avenue churches were built, at a cost respectively of $35,000 and $20,000, and the First Christian church for $25,000. The Second Christian church was also enlarged.

The new East Joplin Congregational church cost $5,000; St. Peters Catholic, $40,000, and St Philips Episcopal, $20,000. The building of this church also was an example of perseverance worthy of emulation. In 1903 the foundation of the church was built. This was added to, little by little, until 1911, when the beautiful edifice was completed and dedicated.

The First Congregational church built two churches, or rather erected one new edifice and then were forced to rebuild it; and, on account of these peculiar circumstances, we speak more at length of the matter.

In 1900 the reorganized Congregational church called to the pastorate the Rev. Paul Brown of Kansas City. Mr. Brown was an exceptionally strong pastor; being not only highly cultured and a widely read man, but an orator of great ability. He at once became very popular and built up a large congregation of literary people, and money was quickly raised for a new church home which was built at the southwest comer of Second and Pearl streets. The building cost $10,500, and when it was dedicated was entirely paid for. After a few months of occupancy, however, it was discovered that the walls were sinking aad an investigation disclosed the fact that a drift in an old shaft, which had been worked away back in the early 'seventies, abandoned and filled up, had begun to cave.

Mr. Brown was a man of great action and, like Napoleon, was quick to see the time for action. A church meeting was called and it was determined to purchase a new lot, tear down the beautiful little church and rebuild. The lot at the northeast comer of Fifth and Pearl was purchased and the church rebuilt in 1902. The drift under the old building lot was filled and the lot sold.

In 1903 Joplin was visited by a small cyclone, which did great damage to certain parts of the city, destroying two of the churches occupied by the colored people.

Thomas Connor, one of the city 's millionaires, came to the front and donated $5,000 to each of the three colored church organizations for the purpose of reerecting the buildings destroyed. This splendid gift was a great boon to the colored people and was much appreciated by them.

In the fall of 1909 Rev. William A. Sunday was induced by the church people to come to Joplin and hold a series of meetings. To accommodate the vast throngs who nightly came to hear the evangelist a tabernacle was constructed on vacant lots south of the Christman Annex on Virginia avenue. The Tabernacle, as it was called, was 150 by 120 feet and seated 5,000 people.

The meetings continued for six weeks and 3,000 conversions were made. As a testimonial of their appreciation of Mr. Sunday's labors, the church people of Joplin raised at the final collection $5,500 which was given to the evangelist.

In February, 1910, largely through the instrumentality of the Rev. W. M. Cleaveland, of the First Presbyterian church, a men's society was organized and was called the Brotherhood of the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. The Brotherhood movement, which originated in the east, is an organization of the men of the church, and its purpose is threefold - first, to aid in spreading the Gospel; secondly, to bring the men of the church closer together in a social way and, thirdly, to strengthen the bonds of friendship.

F. E. Butcher was the first president of the Brotherhood and J. M. Evans has occupied the chair during the past year. The Brotherhood has held a monthly business and social session in the parlors of the church since its organization. The plan of these monthly meetings is as follows: On the night of the meeting, the members of the Brotherhood come directly from their work, or places of business, to the church parlors, and at 6 :30 sit down to supper in the spacious dining room of the church and here partake of their evening meal which is served by one of the ladies' societies of the church. After the meal is concluded and as they sit around the table, a literary program is carried out, the exercise differing at each meeting; sometimes it is a lecture, sometimes a discussion of some of the great topics that are before the people, and sometimes a number of short recitations, readings and songs.

as its guests quite a number of distinguished men, and is a great factor in the life of the church. The Brotheriiood movement spread from the First Presbyterian church to quite a number of the other church organizations, similar societies having been formed in the North Heights Presbyterian, First Christian and the South Joplin Christian churches.

The ten years of the decade ushered in with 1900 represent ten busy, active and productive years for the Young Men's Christian Association, The year 1900 saw plans consummated for a new and commodious building; 1901 saw the magnificent structure completed, and the remaining years have seen its scope of usefulness enlarged. In order that the reader may have an idea of the influence it exerted we give here space for the mention of a few of its important doings.

When J. E. Coulter took charge of the Young Men's Christian Association he introduced the custom of asking some one of the several churches to have charge of the New Year's day reception and so tiie Methodists, Congregationalists, Christians, Presbyterians, the Baptists and others took turns in entertaining the young men of the city <m that anniversary, each vying with the other in conducting the most brilliant and pleasant New Year's day entertainments.

On January 1, 1900, it was the turn of the First Presbyterian church to entertain and Mrs. J. E. Coulter, the genial wife of the secretary and a past worthy matron in the art of entertainment, was appointed to preside over the annual New Year's day reception. Mrs. Coulter called to her assistance twenty-four of the most charming young ladies of the church to assist her. The entertainment given and the good cheer that prevailed eclipsed all previous receptions. The rooms were most beautifully decorated and the general air of brilliancy was heightened with a liberal array of potted plants and cut flowers. All formality was waved aside and the committee of twenty-five saw tihat everybody got acquainted and had a good time.

During the evening an informal program was rendered and there was just enough of music and literary entertainment to add ^ice to the social conversation ; and, to cap it all oflP, there was a superb abundance of cakes and pies *'just like mother used to make," and other edibles, which were served by the good women and rounded out tiie evening's pleasure.

Qround for the Y. M. C. A. building was broken June 1, 1900, and the elegant new home was completed in February, 1901. The building has been liberally patronized and well supported by the young men of the city.

The Children's Home of Joplin originated with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union which organization, realizing the necessity of a place where the friendless and homeless children could be cared for, started in June, 1900, the W. C. T. U. Home. The home was first housed in a four room cottage at 708 Pearl street In 1901 Qilbert Barbee donated the use of a twelve-room building, at the corner of Twelfth and Virginia avenue, and suggested that the home be incorporated and plans laid for making it a permanent institution. Articles for incorporation were drawn up and, for the purpose of widening its scope of usefulness, the name was changed to the Joplin Children's Home. Among the W. C. T. U. women who were prom- Digitized by inent in founding the Children's Home were Mrs. S. A. Phelps, Mrs. L. Gould, and Mrs. Dr. Willim. The first matron of the home was Mrs. C. E. Barr.

In 1904 John H. Taylor donated a five-acre tract of land in East Joplin for a building site, and the good women of the city raised $10,- 000 to build and equip a home. In 1905 Mrs. Barr moved to Kansas City and was succeeded as matron by Mrs. Dona C. Daniels, who has proven a most excellent oflScer. Ihiring the twelve years that this home has been in operation the ofScers have found permanent homes for two hundred and four children. Last year one hundred and seven homeless or friendless children were cared for, sixty-five of whom have been provided with permanent homes.

The Home has been supported almost entirely by private subscriptions, which have been made by the charitably inclined people. One of the important plans for making money is the annual event known as **Tag Day," which was first introduced in 1907 and has since been observed with great success. The Tag Day plan is so fresh in the minds of the people that it is hardly necessary to describe it here, except to say that too much praise cannot be given to the splendid women of Joplin for the manner in which they have rallied to the support of the Home and to their untiring efforts for its welfare. The following are the present oflScers of the Home : President, Mrs. C. M. Spring; vice president, C. C. Spencer; secretary, Mrs. J. W. WiUim; treasurer, Mrs. J. W. B. Amsden.

The following interesting story which describes the manner in which the Home was first started was told the author by Mrs. S. A. Phelps, one of its founders. In the spring of 1900 a girl came to Joplin seeking employment and in wandering about the city from place to place, in search of work, she came to the home of Mrs. C. E. Barr. It was then almost night time and the girl, who was tired and hungry, asked to remain with Mrs. Barr until she could find something to do and the good woman, realizing the temptations that would come to a homeless girl, took her in and cared for her until she found work in a private home. The girl told the incident to one or two other young women out of employment and they too came to Mrs. Barr for assistance. At a meeting of the W. C. T. U. Mrs. Barr related the incident and asked the Union to help her provide for these young women, and thus guide them over the pitfalls and dangers that would beset them. The Union with one voice voted **aye," and from this little beginning a Children's Home movement took root and grew to the splendid institution which is today Joplin *s generously supported charity.

The Young Women's Christian Association was organized in 1905, largely through the efforts of Mrs. J. W. Bell, who became its first president. The objects of the **Y. W.," as it has been popularly called, were threefold - ^first, to bring the Christian young women of the city in closer touch with one another; second, to strengthen the bond of friendship, and third, to provide a Christian home for the young women who are temporarily in the city and away from the home life and influence. The home has done a splendid work for the young women of the city. From 1906 to 1911. it maintained a home in the John Taylor's old property, comer of Seventh and Joplin.

In 1900 the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy Convent launched a project to build a hospital - an institution much needed in a mining community. The citizens generally endorsed the plan and assisted the good women in collecting the funds necessary to build the same. Many wealthy men also contributed to the building fund and quite a number of lodges gave entertainments for the benefit of the hospital.

T. C. Malloy, councilman from the third ward, has perhaps more than any other one man pushed the matter of public contributions and has, as chairman of the club hospital committee, given much of bis time to this worthy charity.

One of the first and most enjoyable of a hundred or more entertainments given for the hospital was a ball game played by a picked team of ball enthusiasts from the Elks Lodge and the Joplin Club and we print here the News-Herald account of the great game, which occurred July 31, 1901: **The great game of ball is over at last. And St. John's hospital won a lai^e sum of money. With the weather as fine as one could wish for, the grand stand packed with the most enthusiastic audience that ever witnessed a game, besides, fifty vehicles filled with the elite of Joplin 's smart set, the best amateur event in the history of Joplin ball playing began.

''The orange and black of the Joplin club were also conspicuously displayed all through the audience and was waved frantically whenever the favorites performed noteworthily.

"As for the quality of ball the two teams put up, the universal comment expressed great surprise at the professional manner in which the game ^as carried out, many expecting to see merely a laughable burlesque of a ball game; but instead it was faster and more spirited than many of the so called professional games. To see business men, whose work is in office away from the out door air and not enlivened by out door exercise, play such a game as yesterday's shows that there is ability in the physical line accompanying the more, active mental exertion.

'*When the two teams got themselves together yesterday afternoon, arrayed in striking uniforms of black for the Elks and white for Joplin club, they had their pictures taken separately - ^that is^ the two teams. The patrol wagon in charge of Officer Tom Brower was in waiting for the Elks and they were immediately taken in. The Joplin Club was more stylish but less amusing, as they rode in two open cabs. The band which was to have headed the procession did not materialize. However, that was no obstacle, and soon the patrol wagon had hurried to the park where it unloaded its freight in front of the grand stand, while a cheer went up from the purple and white. Rubber tired cabs are not so slow, however, and in a minute another cheer went up for the Joplin Club, as its members filed out of the carriages.

*'At 3:45 o'clock. Umpire Marcum sent the Club to the field and the Elks began batting all over the Club's pitcher scoring five runs in the first inning. The Club was not so lucky in the first inning scoring only one run. However, a bad beginning does not mean a bad ending, and after the first inning things began to look serious for the Elks until the fourth, when Baker was put in the box for the Elks and Smith was sent to the field. This changed matters somewhat and Roy Caulkins' megaphone again came into evidence, the purple and white taking on a more lustrous sheen meanwhile, for Baker was holding the Club down. However, the latter raised themselves gradually and at the close of the seventh inning, the score was 18 to 13 in favor of the Club. But there were two more innings and in the eighth the Elks took advantage of every opportunity and succeeded in bringing up the score to 18 and 18. This made the matter more serious than ever, as the Elks had had their last bat and it was up to the Club in the last half of the last inning to decide the game. The winning run was scored, pandemonium reigned, the crowd departed and all was over.''

Joplin Club

Summary: Earned runs - Jopliu Club 4, Elks 6; two base hits - Quinby, Walden, Jones, Rummel, Bayless, 2 Craig, Shepherd; three base hits - Quimby, Chestnut, Shepherd; home run - Layne; struck out - ^by Smith, 6 ; by Maher, 11 ; bases on balls, h. b. p. - Smith, 1 ; Maher, 1 ; o - substitute for Baker ; x - ^substitute for Layne. Time : two hours. Umpire : Marcum.

This was the beginning of a series of entertainments - balls, lawn socials, festivals, etc. - all of which added to the hospital fund. The hospital was built in 1902 and formally opened to the public. It has proven such a popular institution and has been so generally used that it became necessary, in 1910, to enlarge the building.