Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-07-26
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS.

/ LIMESTONE SPRlNGS.
! Thursday Morning, July 10, 1860. !
! Dear ENQUIRER: We arrived at this noble seat
of learning, this shrine for the baptism of wo-
mans intellect and heart, on Monday evening
The examination of the young ladies was then
progressing-having begun on last Thursday
The principal, we are glad to see, has adopted
the searching and satisfactory method of writ
ten examinations. For four days this severe
test of scholarship was appledto the pupils of
Limestone, with very great credit to themselves
and their instructors; and judging only after
careful observation of its effects here, we hearth
| " recommend this method as entirely superior
to the old plan of oral examinations.
| We have been much impressed by the spirit of
order and system which pervades this Institution.
| 1t evidently has had at its head those who have
studied, con amore, the wants of the female
mind, and the best modes of supplying them.
First, the mastery intellect of the elder DR..
CURTIS, then the rapid, penetrating and compre-
hensive mind of the younger, have been busy in
building up model school-in unfolding an sdeaI; !;
and their success is clearly exempli6ed in its
Justly high and extensive reputation, and the
large number of girls attendant upon its daily
dispeusation of truth and light, of mental and
moral culture.
1t is one of the hope-inspiring facts of the age,
that we have so many high-schools for youth of
both sexes, aud they are so well patronlzed-
DR.. Vaughan in his recent book, entitled "Revo-
lutious in English History" tells an anecdcte of
two "learned men" of Oxford University, of the
year of Grace 1855, which illustrates the anna
zing superiority in this respect of our nineteenth
century. Oxford had become so poor, from want
of patronage, that she had to "heg or starVe.' y
The Chancellor sent the two learned men, men
toned, who possessed with their learning 'the
gift of poesy," on begging expedition Upon
coming to the castle of nobeman, they were
let down into well, one in one bucket and the
second in the other bucket and kept alternately
bobbing up and down, until they composed each
verse suitable t. their feelings in this novel
situation! Such is the patronage given to learn
ing in 'the good old days of yore.' Now the
poor and rich alike, are electrified with the de-
sire of educating their children. No wonder that
s:miracles become common conveniences, In
these days, before we have time to mentally re-
alize them"
But we wander from the subject of this letter.
This is the very spot, it seems to US, which we
would have selected for school in which to train
up girls. if we desired to do so in accordance
with the prevailing seclusive and nunnish spirit
of female education at the present day. 1t is
separated from all the allurements of promiscu-
Gus society is here alone in the bosom of nature;
with no surroundings either to attract or disturb
the college sisterhood, except those which nature
kindly furnishes to the ear and eye. The small
village is nestled upon few rolling limestone
hills, with green valleys of clover intervening,
and clumps or avenues of willow oak diversity
ing the picturesque landscape. The scene is
emrenty rural one. Late Tuesday evening,
after night-fall, stage-coach with its lamps
burning, drove up to the door Of the seminary,
and dropt one ofits passengers-a fact indicative
of the remoteness of Limestone Springs from
the cloud marts Of trade"
Every thing about here has originated in the
wants of the Institution. The stores supply the
girls with dressing material and the hotel now
belongs to DR.. Curtis. To show you how fully
the village partakes Of the nature of the school,
and how entirely it has sprung from it, it does
not sport a barber !-one had to be imported from
Spartanburg to do the shaving this week of COM
mencement This feminine aspect of the village
makes it at all the more singly and solely
shrine for female culture.
! The school was founded in 1915; and is now
entering upon its sixteenth year. The building
was first erected for hotel; as the springs were
then popular watering place. 1t cost first an
enormous sum but was bought by Dr.. Thomas
! Curtis at reduced price. He converted it in
! to seminary, embracing under one roof every
thing pertaining to the culinary, laundry and
studentica departments. 1t is a stupendous
pile, four stories high, and some three hundred
feet long In the basement story are the cook
ing and dining rooms, &c.; in the second are.the
school. room, the chapel, and parlor, the Sigour-
ney Society room, with library of some three
or four hundred volumes, SC. ; then above are
the sleeping apartments of the pupils and an
immense ironing room. 1t is complete system,
and works like clock. The whole building is
well ventilated, and during these dog days that
we have been here, has been courted by cool
and delightful breeze all the time.
The examination of the fair pupils was con-
cludcd on Tuesday afternoon. At o'clock on
the same evening, the audience was favored with
an address by Rev. E. A. Crawley, D. d., the
new professor who has filled his chair with great
success and satisfaction since January. The
subject of the address was Education the high
est development of our nature Dr. Crawley in
his exordium severely rebuked the idea of edu-
eating for trade or q profession. We must
educate for the sake of the human about u.s. and
the spiritual within US. To do this we must
educate all the man, physical, mental and NOR
al. One is as binding as the other. Health,
health, HEALTH" must be the basis of any system
= proposing to accomplish the most banefcent re
suits for the young Mental training must be
associated with moral, and the knowledge of
truth with the performance of duty. His views
are wide, profound practical; his style clear
and energetic; and his delivery by no means
repulsive He is an acquisition to the Institu-
ton, and will doubtless add to its previous char
acter of eminent usefulness. He is by birth an
Englishman; but is recently from Nova Scotia.
Wednesday morning was occupied with the
graduation of eleven young ladies-one, Miss
Mary Wallace, from our District. The Baccal-
.L &C Ar Curtis flll of snnnA