Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-01-26

entirely lose itself In the great American hur-
TIcdue. c.
ICorresponlence ot the Lcwisburg Chronice1
Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary
Stands in the center of South Hadley, q
village situated in Central Mass, about ten
miles from Springfield, ,and containing about
eight hundred inhabitants. The Iustitu-
ton is built Of brick, five stories high the
lower one is partly under ground in front,
as the surface slopes back. The main bull
ding is ninety-four by fifty feet, faces the
west, and is built, according to New Eng
land taste, short distance from the road,
thus leaving yard in front for the culti-
vatioh of flowers. Through this yard two
paved walks lead to the front entrance Of
the building, but the doors in the gable
ends are used more generally by the pupils
for ingress aud cgress. Two porticos ex-
tend nearly the whole length in front, sup
ported by round pillars. There are two
wings to the building which extend back
and are connected by frame building
used for wood rooms, thus enclosing a
square court devoted to the purpose Of the
laundry The whole building contains enc
hundred and fifty private rooms for teach
crs and scholars, besides large dining
hall, and domestic hall in the basement, .
parlor, hall for public exercises, reading
room, library, cabinet, lecture room on first
floor, two music rooms on the second floor,
and ten recitation rooms in different parts.
There are at present sixteen teachers, and
two hundred aud eighty pupils. The school
is divided into sections, each teacher having
charge Of one section. The pupils feel free
to regard their section teacher as an older
sister, to whom they can so for assistance
whenever needed 1t seems to be the OBJ
ject of these teachers, while preparing the
immortal mind for ming!ing with TIL,
world, to prepare it also TO be happy with
angels IN an eternal world.
The greatest beauty Of the Seminary
consists in the manner in which it is COLI
Quoted Everything is done with such
punc,uality that there is nc more confusion
than in well regulated private family.
As no young lady is admitted younger than
sixteen, each one is old enough to know
that all the rules Of the Institution have
been made to promote her own good, and
therefore cbecrfully obcys them.
There are no domestics engaged in the
Seminary, but the labor necessary in the
family is all performed by the pupils; the
time each one devotes to domestic labor,
is but one hour each day. This arrange
ment tends to unite them more closely, as
they are thus dependent Oh each other for
comfort and happiness. Their diet is plain
but wholesome, cold water is the only be-
verage, neither tea or coffee being used.
Regular exercise in the shape of a walk of
two miles, or ride Of eight miles, every
day, is also required. The day is so d.
vided, and the exercises so happily varied,
that performance of each study at its ap-
pointed time becomes pleasure, and time
speeds pleasantly and proftably on,
The Seminary grounds in the rear slope
to the margin of a stream of considerable
size from which water is supplied to every
part of the building. These grounds are
laid out in walks which serve as promo
nades. In the centre stands the moru-
ment of MARY LYON, whose noble mind
conceived aud executed the plan Of the
Seminary. The monument consists of
single square marble column resting in
block of granite, each side bearing an ap-
proprate inscription. An observatory con-
tanning telescope is built on this part Of
the grounds.
Beyond the stream rises Prospect Hill,
the name of which is very appropriate, for
from its summit the eye wanders over the
adjacent country for miles around and
drinks in the beauties Of the far famed
New England scenery. The scenery at
thi, season, when each morning the vallies
and surrounding hills appear arrayed in
more gorgeous robe, as though each lofty
tree and each humble shrub were vieing
with its neighbor to present to the hu-
man eye the richest shade of the rainbow
is peculiarly beautiful.
From the front rooms Of the building
we have a view of Mount Tom, lying about
four miles distant, looking like great gi.
ant among the surrounding hills. To the
north we see Mount Holyoke, towering
aloft as though conscious Of the honor be-
slowed upon it in giving its name to Mt.
Holyoke Seminary. Sep, so, 1854.