The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-03-14
THE WINTER.

"lnIeI I'D minnesota IS not severe.
Last winter was an exceptionally hard
one throughout the whole country, aud
was, according to the records kept at
Fort Smelling, the severest one known
in the Northwest in fifty years. But
the present winter has been nearer the
average Minnesota winter. The wealth.
er has been mild and generally beauti-
full. Clear, crisp, sunny, invigorating
days have been the rule, and there has
been no disturbance of the elements
which rose to the dignity of a storm.
Some clustering days we have had, and
occasionally, for half day, there have
been such demonstrations in the sky
as to suggest ''blizzard, - but the bar
ometer has s eadily persisted in predict
ing good weather, and the barometer
has been true in it's representations.
During the greater part of the winter
the sleighing has been good and there
have been few days too severe for a
child to be abroad enjoying the sleigh
ing. On New Years day the Union
Sabbath School of Worthington enjoyed
sleigh-ride on Okabena Lake. There
were over twenty sleighs in the process
sion, which was headed by the Worth
ington Cornet Band, with flag fly
ing, and so mild was the day that many
Of the children went without gloves
and wrappers. Up to January first, not
day passed without the customary
game of croquet in the yard of the
Warrington Hotel.
This is al ''epen' winter in Mime
sofa. Settlers from those states where
an "open" winter means rain, mud and
large proportion of the population
sick, are decided in their praise of this
climate. While they read of impassa-
BILE roads, of business almost suspend
ed because of the mud, and of much
sickness and many deaths in their for
mer homes. they are enjoying bright
skies, good sleighing and the most ex-
huberant and Astounding health. No
disease whatever has prevailed here du-
ring the winter. 1t is a rare thing to
meet person with cold or cough.
Three or four deaths have occurred du-
ring the winter, two of the persons be-
ing infants and one an aged man who
died of apoplexy.
Two points, then, seem to be settled
definitely in the minds of the settlers
in the National Colony, viz: that, in
both soil and climate, Southwestern
Minnesota is unsurpassed.
THE WORTHINGTON SEMI
NARY.
From the first the founders of the
National Colony determined upon two
things. One of these was that the sale
of intoxicating liquors as a beverage
shoEld be prohibi led within the Colony
limits, and the other was that the Col
ony should be made an educational CEN
tire. Both purposes have been carried
out in good faith. A Seminary of learn
ing has been established at Worthinp-
ton at which the young can secure as
good an education as can be secured at
similar institutions in the Eastern
States, while at the same time they are
safe from the temptations of the liquor
traffic.
The Worthington Seminary was op-
ened in November last, with a corps of
eight teachers. Tie design of the SEM
mary, as announced by the founders,
is to prepare students for collegiate
course, or to qualify them to engage sue
cessfully in business, The institution
is under the patronage of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, and is designed
to be auxiliary to the Hamline UNIVERSE
ty, already located between St. Paul
and Minneapolis and destined to be-
come the leading Methodist institution
of learning in the Northwest. Those
preparing for college may prepare at
the Seminary for entering the Fresh
man or the Sophomore classes.
The success of the Seminary from it's
opening was surprise to it's most san
guine friends. Great credit is due the
Rev. B. Fl. Crever, who was the found
er of Carlisle College, Pennsylvania,
for his labors in securing the early OPP
ening of the Seminary, and his services
were cheerfully recognized by his cleo
tion to the Presidency of the institution.
His efforts were vigorously seconded
by Prof. R. F. Humiston, who has had
TWENTY-FIVE years experience as an edu-
Gator, and who has accepted the de-
partment Of Natural Science and dona-
ted to the Seminary, at a cost of be-
tween $500 and 5000, a quantity of
beautiful apparatus for the illustration
of physical science. Chas. F. Dunning,
3. A., of Delaware, an experienced ed
ucator, has been secured as Principal.
Rev. B. H. Crever is now abroad pre-
senting the claims of the Seminary to
the friends of education in the East.
That it will be founded on an enduring
basis, and that it's influence will he felt
for many years to come throughout
Southwestern Minnesota, Northwest
ern Iowa and Southeastern Dakota, no
longer admits of doubt.
SCHOOLS OF MOBILES COUNTY.
We learn from the County Superin-
tendent of Schools that there are twen-
ty-nine organized school districts in
the county, and that eleven petitions