The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-09-20
Mary Sharp college.


Although comparatively a stranger in
Winchester, yet not seeing your paper
represented at the meeting, have taken
the liberty, unsolicited by any one. to
report the truly refreshing opening ex-
ercises of the SD annual session of this
time-honored seat of female learning
established, generation ago, in res
ponse to the imperious demand of that
time, in the language Of its founders,
Ito give broader and more thorough
culture to woman.
This institution was named after an
estimable woman, Ga native of Virginia
whose grave and headstone (unostenta-
tious by her own request.) was placed
beside an imposing monument of len
nessee marble, which she had erected
over the remains of her husband, and
shaded by evergreens planted by her
own hands. This private cemetery is
upon her old homestead, some mile per-
haps from town. visited it this morn
ing in company with my wife, and
found the modest stone, of italian mar
bic, Greeted by her neice, } shivered in
to fragments and scattered upon the
ground. To this secluded and now
beautiful but neglected spot l would
think It highly appropriate that each
pupil of the College should, once a
year, pay pilgrimage with votlve Of
ferings of flowers not as to the shrine
of tutelary saint, but to gain inspira-
ton from cherishing the memory of an
early benefactress of the College, whose
inner life was portrayed not only by her
generous donation, during her life, to-
wards the erection of the buildings, but
also some years before the late civil war
manumitting her numerous slaves and
ample provision for their trans
portation to Liberia, and for their COM
Portable establishment in the land of
their fathers.
Many doubts and fears had been en-
tertained by the friends of the College
as to its present prospects, growing out
of the perverted and exaggerated re-
ports which had found their way into
the press Of the whole Southern country
as to the prevalence of smallpox i'll
Such evil reports are
beautifully described by Virgil, in his
as increasing by motion and ac-
curing strength by advancing; and
which, by poetic license, he personifes
rs bird of evil omen, hideous mon
ster, flying by night through the midst
IF the air, and never closing her eyes in
sweet sleep; by day sitting as spy up
IN some high building or lofty tower,
certifying great cities, rejoicing by I'LL
ng the people with various reports and
ndiscriminately uttering facts and
alsehoods.
But these doubts were all removed
shen the deep-toned bell summoned to
he College.
In approaching the street leading to
he building, one is forcibly impressed
With the wisdom of its founders in es-
ablishing the College in Winchester,
lpon what is known in the geology of
Tennessee as the Highland Rim, al
,road elevated expanse of country, ex-
ending from the central basin to the
cumberland mountains, whose western
rear an imposing outline of
700 feet, just at that distance which
lends enchantment to the view,
And robes the mountain in its azure hue"
Here, within classic walls, surrounded |
~ landscape at once peaceful, beauti-
ul and sublime, affording lovely pic
ures of nature, restful to the eye and |
% well calculated to drive away that
lull feeling and general enna of soul
md body SO prevalent in lower lati-
udes, here, for thirty-two years have
assembled the lovely daughters of that
Southland, downtrodden and |
devastated by the desolations of war,
'ut yet containing many refined and ell |
CANT homes, presided over by mothers
Who seek only to reign as queens OF the |
ocial circle, and who feel that in presi-
ling with ceaseless care over the desti- |
lies of their households they are filling
heir own high destiny by the appoint
nent of Heaven; pointing, like the
nother of the Gracchi, to her children
S her jewels, and emulating the vir-
aes of the Roman Matron, whose proud
st epitaph was, "Manet domum, fecit
anem."
In this beautiful land domestic broils |
nd divorces are comparatively I'M
nown, Susan B. Anthonys and Eliza
eth Cady Stantons are regarded as
and libels upon the sex,
nd here is inspired the sentiment of
he poet:
IT'S homefelt pleasure prompts the patriots
sigh,
his makes him wish to live, yet dare to die.
From such nurseries as these are the
ender plants transplanted to the guar
liam care of the Mary Sharp College for
culture and development.
But to return, more directly, to my
subject. Upon entering the grounds, |
shaded, and carpeted with a
'ward of emerald green, we beheld !!
,evies of girls strolling in groups, arm
Il arm, or crowding the halls and win
lows, anxiously awaiting the ID bell to
summons them to the scene of their fu-
lure labors Among them, modestly
IL