The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-01-31
AUGUSTA FEMALE SEMINARY.


community to an incalcuable extent.
AUGUSTA FEMALE SEMINARY.
The educational interest to which W
here refer at some length is one of thos
forces whose work is far more readily real
lied than described. Acting upon plasti
Notwithstanding destinieS as surely a
it shapes scholarly effort, an institute o
learning like this yields a power and ex
erts an influence that words scarcely define
an influence that is lasting and for goo(
not to the individual only but to commu
mites. Much as we would like, in thi
connection, to publish history OF thu
school, we cannot, because OF several rea
sons. The events OF upwards of forty
years cannot well be crowded within thu
limits of a newspaper article; the prompt
ingS OF those most interested in the
school S advancement are not always easily
discernible, and, so far as the principa
who has made the school what it is, is con
cerned, she who has given to it a national
reputation, those who know her know full
well that she is a lady who does not ''weal
her heart upon her sleeve;;'' in other words
she is an executive and administrative
officer who, having carefully scanned the
field of action, has ever been ready to dc
and to dare what to less practical or ener-
getic minds might have seemed the eli
macteric Of folly.
AS historic fact we make mention that
DIR. VIM. Rufus Bailey was the founder of
then day school, and it never, either as
day or boarding school, reached any spe-
cial prominence until Miss Mary j. Bald
win became associated with it as Principal
twenty-One years ago.
IWenty-One years ago!
The date, 1868, is worth remembering.
The whole country was plunged in the
vortex of civil war; the Valley of Virginia,
to which Augusta Female Seminary had a
right to look for SuStenance, was traverSed
again and again by hostile armies; not a
merchant OF the city of to-day whom we
can call to mind was then in business; all
enterprises languished, and it was left to
a woman, amidst scenes of war, to raise a
seminary of learning from the Slough of
and eventually establish it upon
the very summit OF that Detachable Moul--
tain, at whose base flow perennial springs.
The Augusta Female Seminary nova
days bears very little resemblance to it's
OF two decades ago. When
Miss Baldwin assumed charge of the
oCuOOl OlClC WC1C UtlU lllllU6u LIABILITIES
and small faculty-indeed there was
nothing to distinguish the institute from
thousands OF such OF it's class as then and
now hold, by effort, a position of medioc-
rlty. 1t evidently Was her desire to make
the up-building of this school her life
work; directing her own efforts as best
she could, and, by degrees. calling to her
aid the best talent and advice she could
the Seminary has advanced in
far greater ratio than the city in which it
is located; if some of our capitalists had
been ''enthused" with the idea of posi-
Oilities, as Miss Baldwin has been, Staun-
ION would to-day be city of 10000 people.
When Miss b. assumed charge of the
one bull ding, and it Of but me-
1ium size, sufficed for all wants. How is
t now? The engraving given of the
school in this issue Of the VALLEY VIR-
3INIAN partially answers the query. The
chapel, the art building, the laboratory,
,he infirmary and other buildings have
been added, and these structures, each
with the other either direct or
~ covered passagewayS, are in the midst
II plot OF about four acres. The ter
'aced grounds are rendered as beautiful as
cultivated taste can make them; in sum-
ner, fountains and parterres OF flowers,
'."u"l u OH upnely, cAUIlC pldHIS anu
lindred things constitute them an attrac-
ion that is the pride of every resident of
he city, and tempt one to explore the
chool itself. Even in winter there is an
Iir OF c0siness and home comfort that is
peculiarly attra. tive-so attractive that
ALLEY VIRGINIAN reporter wished to |
earn more of the school than could be |
judged by externals. Miss Baldwin kindly |
'olunteered to conduct us through the |
more prominent departments, and we
we're nothing 10Th to avail ourselves of |
Ter kind invitation. The office is mar
el OF neatness and of system; the parlors |
re furnish ed in rare good taste and abound
n Statuettes, paintings, plaque, etc. :;
he library, with it's well selected and well |
lied book cases, convenient writing tables |
nd other appurtenanceS; the chapel-a |
DOM pleasantly remembered by thousands:
he musical departments; the art gallery
II that we visited seemed the perfection |
t convenience and the careful result of |
laborate thought. We were taken to the |
ming room-caught a glimpse of the Gull
airy departmental brief. saw and heard |
nough to illustrate to our own mind that
ompiete and harmonious effects have been |
yolyed from almost fragmentary nothings.
10 better proof of this can be found +
han in the simple statement of fact /
hat when Miss Baldwin became Principal
nd proprietor of the school she opened it
nth 80 pupils. Now there are 1876 board
1g pupils and nearly leo day. scholars.
10 tell where these scholars come from
,ould be equivalent to publishing list of
tates in the Union, as nearly all the
tates, North, South, East and West are
like represented, and if ever a s'happy /
amily'' existed-barring school studies
nd necessary discipline this is one.
Augusta Female Seminary is generally |
Onsidered Presbyterian School," Such
J not the fact, Miss Baldwin is a member
I that denomination. and her church pre-
Elections are naturally in that direction,
ut the school, as such, does not proselyte
d. any denomination hOWever, regard
lg this and many other matters, the an
ual catalogue gives more explicit infor-
nation than we can furnish. This much
an, in all fairness, be said: the school is
OF sectarian, though it's bias is undenia-
ly Presbyterian Of course it is impossi-
lie to write OF all the departmental the
ttractl0ns Oh advantages of the school;
hese advantages may be summed up in
ew words. The Principal has surrounded
erself with corps of assistants, selected
rom among the best. She has not only
lmed at providing q pleasant home for
ne pupils entrusted to her care, but she
as further aimed to give them every ad-
anGage which modern educational ideas
aggest. Nor has the good work stopped
ere; Former pupils of the school are
saching in Japan, Mixico and other coun-
les; it's influence is thus almost I'M
Ounded.
There are few full graduates.
IhiC will ha |
ho reads the Seminary Catalogue The
nriculum of study is comprehensive: the