The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-10
THE DUE WEST COLLEGES.
Il SAMPLE OF SOUTHERN EDUCA-
TIONAL ENTERPRISE.
A Model Institution for Young Ladies'
Annual Sermon by Rev. w. 8. Bow
man.
[rRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE

VI tuC SuuCdLIoudi luSllCultOnS lOcaCtQ dL tule
place, is Of hardly less Importance than its
elder neIghbor, Ersklne College, of which
description and historical sketch was given In
this correspondence few days ago. The
Female College differs from the ether institu.
tion In not being connected with the Associate
Reformed or any other church. Religious In
struction ls carefully attended to, and 1t hap
pens that the majority of the faculty are men,
bers of the Associate Reformed Church, but
the college is private enterprise, uncon.
nected with any church organization, and
sectarianlsm Is wholly excluded from its teach
ings. The college was established In 1859,
and sent out Its fret graduates In 1860. The
erection of the present college building was
begun In 1860, but the commencement soon
after of hoctIliIies between the South and
North caused suspension of operations dur
Ing the war, and 1t WIS not until 1868 that the
building was completed. The walls, however,
were built before the war, the fuors
laid aud the roof put on, and the college
continued ils operations Without interruption,
though of course under circumstances Of great
daconragement from ils first establishment.
The building Is centrally and pleasantly
located in the midst OF grove of fine forest
trees upon q rectangular plat OF ground COM
prIsing seven acres. A drive ls laid out
through this grove which describes perfect
circle, and forms pleasant approach to the
college building. This Is handsome brick
structure three stories high, with front OF
one hundred and forty-three feet, and with
four massive while pillars In front supporting
the lofty roof Of the portico and shading the
galleries of the two upper stories. The main
building is 9 parallelogram ffty-ive feet
square, and is fanked on either side by
wing forty-four feet long and thirty-two feet
deep. The roof is cruclform, and is BUT
mounted by cupOla, where, when the college
was first built, hung fine bell, which, how
ever, In the first year OF the war became
patriotic sacrifice, aud being sent to Colum-
bla contributed to the manufacture OF Con-
tederate cannon. Altogether, the external
monious aud graceful. In Its interior arrange
ments the building Ia convenient, well
lighted, well ventilated, and admirably
adapted TO The uses for which 1t is intended.
On the fret floor the main building is divided
into tour rooms of equal size, with broad
passage running 10 each direction across It's
entire length. Three OF these rooms are oc-
neatly furnished psrlor and reception room.
rhe wings each contain one large room, the
one to the west being occupied as dining
room and the other AZ the college chapel, and
on occasions like the present as The general
examination room. On the second floor there
Is the same general arrangement Of rooms,
those In the central b1iIdlng being occupied
as recitation rooms and the wings being de.
voted to dormitories. On the third floor the
main building is occupied as the hall of the
Amellan Society, q fuurishin literary associa-
ton connected with the institution, and the
wings cuntain another range Of dormit0rleB
for Lnose Of the students who board on the
premises. Altogether there are thirty sleep
ing apartments, with capacity for lodging
about forty students. The capacity OF the COL
Iege for nonresident students Is, Of course,
much greater, and the number OF students ID
attendance since the war hes ranged from
one hundred to one hundred and forty,
with an average of one hundred and len. This
wear there have been one hundred and twelve,
aud the class about 10 graduate numbers
twenty-one. There are three departments In
the institution, the primary. academic and
collegiate. In the first two departments the
rudIments Of education arGtaught, and there
is no minimum limit Of the age at which 8
child NAV be admitted. The collegiate course
occupies four years, and includes the study of
grammar, composition, arithmetic, history,
rhetoric, algebra, Lalln, French, moral sci-
ence, botany, physiology, geometry, logic, men.
tai philosophy, trigon6meIry, mtnsuration,
astronomy, analogy OF religion, chemistry and
natural philosophy. Greek is not included In
the curriculum, and the choice between Latin
and French Ia optional With the student The
faculty of the college are as follows: Rev. j..
j. Bonner, president and professor of mental
and moral science; J. P. Kennedy. A. NJ, pro-
lessor OF Latin and rhetoric; Miss E. Nc
Queens, teacher OF botany and ornamental
branches; Miss Kate P. Wldeman, teacher OF
mathematics aud French; Miss A. L. Morse,
teacher ofinstrumental music, and Miss Carrie
Watson, principal OF the primary department.
There are two vacancies now existing
wanted for Instruction In vocal music. and
another TO teach drawing and painting.
All these branches are now taught In
the Institution, but addltlonalHeac are de-
sired Lo attend 10 them specially. The young
ladies Of the college are now busily engaged
in their final examinations, and are on The
Ilptoe OF expectation for the public COM
mpncement exerclsrs, which lake place next
Thursday. They have, as rule, passed the
ordeal OF the examination room credliably
and successfully, and the senior class have
especially distinguished Themselves by the
promptness aud accuracy Of their replies 10
eyery one of the long list of aiudies in which
they have been engaged. The sight Of this
collection uf young lady Students as they
bend gracefully over their studies In the class
rooms, as they respond TO tneir examinations
ID the college, Clbptl, Will LHeiI iaCCo uuoucu
with the pleasant excitement OF competition,
or when, as was the Casa this morning, they
flock 10 the village church arrayed In every
variety of female tastefurfess, ls an exceed
ingly beautiful one. Drawn from the best
classes OF Southern homes. these young ladies'
furnish fair and proud example or what
Southern society really is. Many OF them are
lrulg beautiful, all are graceful, rehned and
tender women, and all OF them bear upon
their oountenancps the impress OF eXuberant
health and the unmislakaoIe expression OF
frank ingenuousness and careful culture.
The occasion Of tnelr attendance at the
village church this morning was the annual
sermon (they don't Gall 1t baccaaureat-)
preached py The Rev. W. 8 Bowman, OF the
Wentworth street Church, Charleston. The
little church was flied with large and al
tanlive congregation, prominent places Del1g
assigned In the body OF the churcn 10 tne
students OF the TWO colleges. Alter an anthem
by the village choir, reinforced ior tne oc-
cssiou by the senior class OF the female col:
Lave. MT. Bowman delivered an excellent and
really eloquent discourse, addressed partieu-
IarIy to the young lady graduates, from
GrnesIs 2-ls. The three subjects to which he
directed the attention Of his audience were
Ihe creation. the sphere and the destiny OF
woman, and the sermon was admirably
adaoled 10 impress upon the minds of iLs
hearers the value, Importance and sacredness
of the higher and holler dulles Of woman, and
To ft the young ladies to whom 1t was ad-
dressed to assume, with grace and dignity,
the elevated stations in society to which they
were fitted by birth education and talents.
He denounced, but In no rude or tntem-