Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-12-13
Franklinton and its Schools.

Mr.. EDITOR Ever interested in Education
and North Carolina Enterprise, / take my
pen to say a few words about a new village
and it's Institutions of learning, which have
sprung up in our midst like Minerva from
the brain Of Jupiter. / refer to Franklinton
and it's Male and Female nstitute-underthe
charge of Mr.. and Mrs. Richardson, aided
by a large corrs of carefully selected assis-
tants, as was most satisfactorily demonstra-
ted by the recent examination. Having in
former years been an humble laborer in the
field oflearning, we take great pleasure in
attending school examinations, when they are
honestly conducted and give a true exhibit
of the scholars.
Such is the character of the examinations
here. They occur semi-annually and MONTH
ly. We like it. This mere yearly exhibit
ton Of schools is too much like Sunday re-
ligion and go connecting clothes; besides it
precludes the necessity of constant resort TO
the Ui ct ormis' principle, thus acting as a
healthy stimulant to both pupil and teacher.
In the examination of the young ladies we
were much interested, because we could hear
what they said, which, | am sorry to say,
cannot be said of many of our Female schools.
We have never seen scholars give evidence
Of a more thorough drilling, and We were as
sured by competent judges, that the month
ly examinations force this conviction upon all
who attend them. The class in French and
one in Parsing deserve special notice. The
specimens of Drawing, Painting and Needle
work exhibited o skill and artistic talent
which would have won 1st honors at our
State Fair. With such a school as this in
our midst we cannot divine why other States
should receive the patronage due to North
Carolina.
IN 41a MALI naNorEaaooA - I4on1 a-1-
three classes examined-not being present on
the preceding days. These were Parsing.
Chemistry and Algebra-all very good class.
es. but the latter deserving especial notice
Problems were selected by some lady visi
tors, at the Teachers request, which were dis.
patched with facility and 'the understand
ing In Elocution, l am told Mr.. Richard
sons pupils always bear the palm. At The
Semi-annual examinations each student is
required to declaim and read a composition
The original as well as selected pieces were
highly entertaining and creditable. The
house was called down-particularly in thu
play of VIM. Tell-in tears and applause
The debate on Temperance would have inter
ested you much. The composition book
ELECTED much admiration, both for fine pen
manship and original conception.
On the day previous, the young ladies wer
addressed by Rev. r. G. Maynard, of tina
place, in a style beautifully chaste, eloquen
and appropriate subject, Female Education
We would that his voice might have reachet
the cars of every father in Carolina VIII
has daughters to educate.
The concluding school exercise was tn
reading of original articles from the Acron,
a paper edited by the young ladies of tn
Female Department. These were indeed in
4ono,4SN~ A-oa~~ Az - 0n4ortoInIn
articles was a humorous letter dated 1900
%purporting to be from a graduate of this In
stitution, after attending its semicentenia
examination, &C.; and Poetry which woul
do credit to the second compilation of Care
lima Carols
A word on the last Wand or the dessert {
this literary feast--the classical and apropo
address Of Prof. Jones, of Wake Forest Co
lege. 1t needs no panegyric from our hands
but less than this we cannot say-it isseldor
we hear the subject of Education discusse
so graphically, ~eloquently and forcibly, j
reference'to it's value and practical bearing
But we must stop though we have niue
to say. Twelve months ago, presented or
picture of Franklinton-tO-day presents a.
other, and a change denoting an enterprii
in business and an appreciation of Educate
worthy of all ommendation. New building
are springing up as by magic, one great S
cret Of which is, we presume, the Steam Sa
Mill and extensive machinery in c~onnectiC
with it, put in operation by one of its ente
prising citizens. We are told there is b
one offspring of the Worm of the Still ne
this place, and none in 1t, and it is expect
this last born will soon be routed. Succe
to such a people. With health, industr
school and virtue, they are bound to prosp,
Wa understand the DnnilS in both dana
ments of these schools have numbered
during the past session. Success ate
them. Yours in haste. J.B. w.