The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-05-25
Columbus Female Institute.

We visited this Institute yesterday in
company with Col. Adams, of the Eastern
CLARION, and our distinguished fellow-citi-
zen, Hon. J. }. Pettus, of Kemper. High
ly as we had thought of the school here
tofore-knowing that it was one of the
largest Female Colleges in the South
still we were taken by surprise by the real
superiority and completeness of the estab-
lishment We knew that there were such
Institutions thousands of miles away from
home, but we were not aware that we
had, right here in Mississippi, school
combining so many facilities for imparting
instruction with so much prosperity and
internal excellence. In the first place,
the buildings are imposing, and. the
grounds large and beautiful. But, what
is of vastly more Importance, the interior
machinery and operations of the college
are complete to a degree that should be
gratifying to the citizens of Columbus
and the numerous friends Of the Institute
| throughout the Southwest. We will give
an item or two that we cleaned in our Wis
| It, as atfording some slight index of the
| prosperity of the school.
There are one hundred and eleven who
take lessons on the piano, the guitar, or
the harp. A very large number 1--WE do
not know how many study Latin and
| French. The department of drawing and
| painting we do not believe is surpassed in
any school in the South. The oil paint
ings on which many of the young ladies
were engaged, made the large room look
| like an artists studio, and exhibited deci-
! ded proficiency and considerable talent
! 1t is certainly commendable feature of
the institute that it lays stress upon this
| departments and undertakes to cultivate
| the taste of the pupils.
The philosophical apparatus is a very
| good one. The Chemical Laboratory is
on the most improved modern scale, en-
bracing samples of all the chemicals called
for in the text books, and the means for
trying the experiments. In this Labora-
tory feature mot Of it but to it, which
we think other institutions should initiate.
1t is full and admirable apparatus for
the study of Anatomy and Physiology-a
complete human skeleton-a fine set of
charts hanging on the wall ETC., etc. Our
children should be taught more of the
nature and laws of their own bodies; and
it is false delicacy which has prevented
this study in some female schools and
| which we are glad to see this Institution
has had the good sense to rebuke.
Tne Geological Cabinet is, we have no
|
ranged one THANKS to DR.. Stillman of our
city) in this part of the country. A gen.
tleman from Tuscaloosa, graduate of the
University of Alabama and familiar with
all its apparatus, visited this collection a
few days since, and remarked that it was
decidedly superior to the Cabinet of that
University, though it was said to have q
very fine collection.
| One other feature we must allude to,
and this is the elegant Library and Read
ing Room where is placed within the reach
of the pupils during their recess and leis-
ure hours, a choice Library, and large
number of the best newspapers and peri
odicals from all parts of the world where
the English language is spoken.
The Faculty of this Institution compri-
ses four gentlemen, tall married and all
experienced teachers,) and ten or more
accomplished ladies. The President, Rev.
B. f. Larrabee, is gentleman of the first
order of talents-enterprising and ener-
getic-and has been long and favorably
known in connection with the cause OF
Education in the South. We predict for
the Institution under his administration
an unprecedented prosperity. The citi.
zens of Columbus should at once enlarge
tho portion of the buildings designed fol
boarders as many have been prevented
from coming from abroad during the pre-
sent session, we learn, because there wa,
no room for them to board in the lnsti
tute, which has been full from the frs
day.
We have felt 1t our duty to say what w,
have said in regard to this school. Whel
we see an institution springing up in on
, midst which is really meritorious, and es
, pecially when, as in this case, it is super
, or in every respect to many Of the famou
: schools at a distance, to which we too ofte
!, send our daughters, we think the pres
+ and the people of the State and the Sout
should speak out in its behalf GalJd'cdy
Il Erpos9er.