New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-05
WELLESLEY COLLEGE.
METHODS AND AIM OF THE INSTITUTION.
DESCRIPTION OF TIE BUILDINGS AND THEIR con-

rvRoM AN occ ASTON AL CORRESPONDENT THE TRBUNEl
WELLESLEY, Mass, Jan. 4.-Of the more cele-
brated of American schools for girls perhaps none Is
less generally understood in its actual methods
aims and purposes than Wellesley College. fifteen
miles from the City of Boston, and one mile from the
town of Wellesley on the Boston and Albany Rail-
road Monday is visitors day. Guests are cor
daily greeted and shown through the buildings
The winding approach to the main building Is
gradual ascent and at the top of the hill the view
of the towers and minarets Of the structure is inn
pressive. The building is in the form of a
double Latin cross, covered with
Mapsard roof. its length being
AIS feet and its width $50 feet. Its material is
red brick, with gray stone trimmings. The main
corridor is at once picture gallery and consery-
atory running the length and tho width OF the
building and crossing under an opening which
reaches to the roof Here are large palms and other
exotics, which lend q charm 10 this otherwise at
tractve passage way. withits broad and easy stair
way to the upper Stories and its walls adorned WIN
numerous examples of art--water-colors by Bellows.
Parsons, Magrath. and Ellen Robbins pencil
sketch by Edward Frere, a marine painting by
Arthur Quartey. X. Swain Chords " Gibraltar"
wood scene in the Adirondacks. by kensetti the
Mono Pass in the Sierra Neyadas. by w. ID. Keith
and works BY Bristol, Head, Smiley, j. NJ Hart, Ved-
der and other painters To the right OF the corridor
on entering. is what is called the Browning Room"
beautiful parlor equipped after the aesthetic STYLE
and containing memorials OF Robert and Elizabeth
Browning This room is square, and lighted by
three stained glass windows illustrating Mrs.
Brownings Geraldine" Aurora Leigh" and the
Romance of the Swans Nest" The walls are hand
painted I'm imitation of Venetian leather. sur
mounted with trieze In panels of hand-painted
IN, lilo l,v Robbins. which
are exqusitely lovely and true to nature. The
furniture is teak wood inlaid with mosaics. There
are two medieval examples of German art, a oabi-
net and marriage chest of oak carved in intricate
mazes of leaves fruits and flowers, and there are
ceramics and other pretty trifes. But after all
the chief interest of the room IL centred
in Story's bust Of Mrs. Browning, and two auto
graph letters, one by Mrs. Browning and the other
by Mr. Browning, both framed and under glass
There is only one statue besides the bust by story
Jackson's Reading Girl" life size. The floor Is
covered with Turkey rug.
Opposte the parlor is q large receD,ion-room,
handsomely furnished. and having, among other
pictures on It's walls. Chapmans "Applan way
The dining-room will accommodate $50, twelve OF
fourteen sitting at table. All its appointments
are good. The gymnasium is in detached wing OF
the building. Two thousand dollars has recently
been spent in perfectnc its furnishings. Inc IL
hrarv IL Gothic room with alcOyes and galleries,
and lofty windows 1t contains 27,OOO volumes
of carefully selected reading. Adjoining it is the
reoding-room where the choicest of magazine liter
AZURE is to be found, with a large number of news
PAPERS Both of these rooms are at all times open
tn the students The chapel will comfortably seat
700 persons at one time. IL is lofty and handsome
has reed organ in the gallery at one end, ana OPP
poitc TO It, over the platform, Is line memorial
window of stained glass placed there by eH-Gov-
ernor Clahin in honor of daughter who was
a pupil at Wellesley, and subsequently died III
Rome. Here few weeks ago Miss Thursby
sang seven times in one morning a delighted au-
diencc OF girls whose enthusiasm seemed the most
grateful kind Of aduation. Here clergymen OF va
rious denominations have preached and talked To
the young ladies' and there have been no end of
concerts and lectures besides the tWenty-mi1uto
morning and evening religious exercises. The upper
corridors are the same IN size the described.
and everywhere adorned with engraving. III series.
illustrating some one author. or IN groups OF nn-
thors German. English. French and Italian Close
10 fine rotunda the second O0ris the bronze bell
half covered with caballstlc hgnreS, winch once
rang out lis mellow tones in an old heathen
temple and now sonorously times the honrs for
recIatiOns and prayer for 41O students
and fifty resident teachers. From the rear
windows of the building there Is an cX-
tended view of "rraban Mere" the pretty sheet of
water on which the Wellesley students row their
boats In summer, each crew having IFS own
colors Tho class color fer 1852 Is
Old gold and scarlet The name of the
boat is 'Tanager" after "a scarlet coored bird very
common in the woods around the lake. The famous
Italian gardens of the 1unnewcil estate. border the
lake opposite the college.
From this bnef description of this insttu-
ton for the education OF young women. 1t
will be seen that an atmosphere OF refinement pre-
vades il. Many OF its methods are unique; The
founder of Wellesley College was Henry Fowle
win 90 abOut "A
time q partner Of Rufus Choac. In the City of Bos-
ton. was "a lawyer, OF lucrative practice wealth,
and fame; cminently handsome, genial, eloquent
and gifted with all the graces that charm society.
in tho very height OF his successes, and while still
a young man, Mr., Durant lost his only child hoy
eight years old. This changed the whole current
OF his existence. HIS hair tnned white III the single
week OF his sons illness, and he passed from the
man Of fashion into deyotee to religious work,
quickly becoming evangelist, and gong out into
remote places 10 preach, often suffering from expos
uIe 10 the elements aud the absence of common
forts Of life During some I'VE or six years of This
evangelistic work he made II a study how To spend
his fortune to the best possible advantage OF his
fellow beings. and decided TO build college for
the higher education OF his conntryswonen He
said he saw a growing feeling among women against
honest labor, and he wished 10 prove 10 them that
it is honorable to labor with the hands, aud with
the BRAIN and that doing rich girls could help
poor girls TO obtain an education. He talked much
of " the silk and calico girls" and his pity
cited for the latter. lie said he would build in
sttutiou where h. would collect beautiful things for
poor g1rsas well rich girls and where girl could
1--we three OF four Yeas without being properly edn
Gated where the love OF dress would not be encour
aged and where the teachers should he professed
Christians. while the school should not
he sectarian. lie at once began prep
arations to carry out tins deeIgn, taking
the 300 acres ne had been preparing for
home mansion near Wcllesley for this purpose
When the corner stone of the original building
LAID In 1873. Mr.. Durant placed mis- mothers Bible
in 1t. IN which was written. Christ first and In
everything" He said the spirit Of this college
shall be mot TO be ministered unto, bat TO minis
teri Accommodations were made for 800 pupils
which some persons were of the opinion were quite
beyond is probable requirements; but long before
gagged. From the frst the project was successful
but probably after finishing the initiatory plans for
his system Of education for yOung women Mr.
Durant added and elaborated many methods as they
were suggested by circumstances aud necessity. lie
wnnld moi hn va NJ UNDERWOOD 10 be an indnsfrin OF