Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-06-29
w a1ha11a Female
So1LNGM.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.

22d instant. No better assurance Of tho
merit Of this ihstitation or of it's permanonce
in our midst could bo furnished than its
history and the zeal and energy Of it's
founder in whatever he undertakes. Its
President and founder, Dr.. j. p. Smeltser,
came among us Us the head of Newbeary
Institution then could hardly be called a
college, as ono other professor, its bell.
charter and handful Of students constituted
ats oil, aud with these ho began work in
small building hardly adapted for common
school house. DR.. Smeltzer gave it his
whole attention, and labored to build it up,
not without success. In fcw years New
berry College had over one hundred students.
full corps of professors and worry fair
temporary building. 1t began to send put
graduates annually and assumed an enYiable
position among the sectaran colleges of
the State. About that eime, whom wo felt
that our county and town had living,
growing Institution, it was removed to New
berry, its old homo. where il was offered q
better building and richer aud more popu-
lous neighborhood as feeder, and DR..
Smeltzer, who had rehabilitated it and given
it new life aud usefulness was left without
any occupation.
It was then that Dr. Smelt1cr, whose life
illustrates the maxim. that to those who put
forth proper energy there is no such word as
fail, without individual capital, without any
promise of church patronage and without
moneyed friendss ventured his all in the pur-
chase and repair of building adapted to
cohool ,od
the present Female College. Most people,
and among them his personal friends, pre-
'dicted tho failure Of tho enterprise and his
financial ruin, but time has demonstrated
how for they miscalculated the energy and
real worth Of DR.. Smeltzer. The college has
succeeded beyond the most sanguine antici-
patton of its founder and is now q fixed
light in our State. shedding forth the benign
influences Of wisdom, Intellectual and moral
excellence, among her fair daughters.
The present is the 6fth annual commence.
ment OF the Female College, and it has now
sent forth in oil Gfteen graduates, who will
feel an interest in and give it their influence.
I'm this way it will naturally grow stronger
every year and will provo q blessing to our
State and county. 1t is true it has not age,
nor has it On endowment, nor is it aided by
that prestige Of reputation which old insti-
tutions enjoy and upon which they too often
rely, but it hae merit. We bolieve it's grad,
Iatss 80 forth with as many and excellent
requirements rs those of any female college
in the State, If not in the South. Further
moro children and young ladies sont to this
college learn, advance in Whatever studies
khn., L., l.
as a patron and we believe our citizons will
universally bear US out by their experience
as patrons.
The reason IL both simple and natural.
DR.. Sneltaer hazardcd oil he possessed in
this enterprise and he knows and realizes
that success depends solely on merit. lie
equally knows that failure means ruin both
financially and 10 his reputation as success
full teacher for thirty years. lie is therefore
pressed forward by the strongest worldly
motives to give to the college his whole time
and personal attention, not only in teaching
himself but in selecting good assistants and
supervising them, as far as necessary. But
apart from these motives, which more or loss
move the world, DR.. Smetzor is an upright
Christian gentleman and a sense of consoi.
entious duty wond cause him to labor faithful.
ly in whatever he undertook. He has done
this. lie has given us an institution if not
primus inter pares, ut least equal in tho
facilities afforded for female education, to
any in the State, if not in the South. Such
is the feeling of our people and wo bespeak
for him only that patronage which his insti-
tuition merits. Give 1t a trial and you will
want no better.
Just here wo might say truly that Dr..
SmelHer has done moro for tho highest
interests Of this county, it's social, moral and
intellectual, and in this way it's material in-
forests also, than any man in it. TO hin, is
due the opening of Adger College. for had
he not brought Newberry College hore, We
would in all probability have had no COL
lege. To him personally we owe the Female
College with oil its benefits and holescme
influences. We all owe him debt of graft
tude and should feel it both our interest and
duty to patronize his college, It will benefit
him and US and tho State. His commence
mont exercises this year wero interesting
and wo are glad to say were largely attended.
AT o. O'Clock A. NJ, tho students oil
dressed in white formed in procession and
marched to the Lutheran Church to the
music Of the Dixie Cornet Band which
preceded them. After prayer by Rev. DR.
Martin, of Abbeville, tho following essays
written by members of the Philophreniar
Society were read:
Essay by Miss Lena s. johnson, Of Wal
ho1 nhsook UThop oo1 oo,r