Missionary Association schools. Of the nearly four hundred living graduates of Avery, not one is a criminal nor has one ever been accused of crime, and the writer has yet to learn of more than two who have proved unworthy of the training they have received, or dishonored their alma mater by immoral lives. These fell under a stress of circumstances that would have ruined almost any young person. On the contrary, the graduates of this and other schools under the auspices of the Association are conspicuous for worthy and upright character, for thrift, for industry and good citizenship.

And this is true not only of those who complete our course and receive their diplomas, but of hundreds of others who do not go beyond the grammar grades. Such invariably make better citizens. It is a rare thing to learn that one of the students from any class of our school has become a criminal. The criminal classes are not recruited from the pupils in missionary schools.

We need large contributions of money or materials that will enable us to enlarge and develop our industrial department. A promising beginning has been made, but it is only a beginning, and we desire to extend it in many lines, giving the widest possible scope to individual talent or proclivities, without lowering in any degree the present standard of scholastic attainment.

We need contributions of money and books to enlarge our library and give to our students advantages which they cannot now find in the city. A good library is absolutely indispensable in all educational work. We have a few hundred well worn volumes, the merest apology for a library, but it is the only one in the city to which colored people have access.

We appeal to individuals, to Sunday-schools, to Christian Endeavor societies and to churches for the establishment of scholarships for worthy and capable pupils. We have many such, on whom the burdens press so heavily that continuance in school to the end of the course is an impossibility. We wish to help such after they have reached the normal department. A small sum expended in keeping these worthy students in the school may bring rich rewards when the harvests of life are all finally gathered.

SOUTHERN FIELD NOTES.

Early in the school year the teachers of Trinity School, Athens, Alabama, made their annual visitation to the country people. They carried with them the good cheer of the holiday season in the distribution of odds and ends from barrels from Northern friends. Gifts were distributed to a hundred persons, old and young. One old lady, fearing that she had been overlooked, exclaimed: "Wat you gwine to gib me?" and she was made happy by the gift of a bandanna handkerchief. Trinity School fills a large place in that community, as it is the only school for colored pupils in a radius of several miles of Athens.

A revival followed the week of prayer service at Talladega College. The school is full, and all are happy in the work.

Secretary Beard's trip through the Southern field was a delight to the workers and students. His sermons and addresses and wise counsel were helpful to all. Porto Rico was made very real by his graphic descriptions of the country and people.

Our church at Shelby Iron Works, Ala., is flourishing under the labors of Rev. E. E. Scott. Mr. Scott, with his rich tenor voice, leads the people in the singing of the old spirituals, and the choir in anthems and song.

Rev. T. J. Bell and his people are doing good service at Selma.

Miss M. L. Phillips and her associates are happy in their work at Marion, Ala. A deep religious interest was awakened both at Marion, Ala., and at our Lincoln School at Meridian, Miss. Rev. M. Jones, a graduate of Tougaloo University, is pastor at Meridian, and Rev. C. L. Harris, the former minister, is now at Mobile.

The Emerson Institute at Mobile is doing excellent work, under the direction of Dr. Burnell and his teachers.

The meeting of the Louisiana Association was held with the Central Church, New Orleans. The attendance was good, and the reports of the churches, addresses and papers were full of interest.

The Woman's Missionary Union, Christian Endeavor and Sunday-school Association also held interesting meetings.

The Straight University has a large attendance; the school is making good progress in its various departments of literary and industrial work.

After the meeting of the Louisiana Association, I visited the work at Thibodeaux, Schriever, Chacahoula, Abbeville, Lake Charles and New Iberia. At several places a deep religious interest was awakened, and a large number avowed their faith in the Saviour.

A new church has been organized at Lake Charles, La., with thirty members. It gives promise of growth and fruitful service. Rev. S. J. Wood, a graduate of Straight University, is pastor. The people bought a lot, and the Church-Building Society aided them in buying a meeting-house which has been removed to their lot.

Three miles from Fort Davis Station, on the Georgia and Alabama Railroad, and forty miles from Montgomery, is our Cotton Valley School, which is located in the heart of the Black Belt of Alabama. This country school is the one bright spot in the lives of the large population of poor black people of Cotton Valley. It is in charge of four young women, graduates of Fisk University—Miss Carrie Alexander, Principal, and Misses Pearl Binford, Lelia Haynie and Lizzie B. Moore. Besides the school work, the teachers visit the people in their cabin homes, hold mothers' meetings, Sunday-school, Christian Endeavor and Junior Endeavor meetings, sewing classes, a literary society and singing-school. It is a veritable social settlement. The people look to these young women for advice, medicine and help in all kinds of ways. They have won the love and confidence of the people, and gladly help them in all ways. The school is under the management of the American Missionary Association, and is supported by the Woman's Missionary Union of Massachusetts. The school is located in a most needy field for mission work. A teachers' home is greatly needed. The teachers occupy the log cabin home built by the first missionary teacher, Mrs. Lillian V. Courtney, nee Davis. This cabin home has done good service; but a larger home is needed for the teachers, with facilities for industrial training for girls.

BITS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE INDIAN COUNTRY.