The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-01-31
STANTON VIRGINIA.


trenchment and loss concomitant thereon
In 1866 DR.. Harris was invited to com
to Staunton and re- establish the institu
tion with which he has since been con
nected. In former days it had had NOR
or less prosperity-the fact that there hat
been three changes in the presidency O
the school since its organization did no
augur well for it's prospects-the Board O
Trustees was disrupted and it looked very
much like leading ''forlorn hope''-ii
other words, it was everything or nothing
Dr.. Harris accepted the invitation eX
work to be accomplished here, but BIZ
must have been somewhat dismayed whe1
lie noted his school edifice and its sur
roundings Wesleyan Female Seminary
then occupied the building now used as
the Public School, upon Main street; il
was a dilapidated concern-there were
even no offences enclosing it, and certainly
the most visionary reporter could moi
have drawn sufficiently upon his imagi-
nation as to call the place an attractive
one. The first year of the school opened
favorably and the attendance increased
month by month. The second year the
attendance was really beyond the facilities
OF the institute-it was oyer-crowded, and
/
quarters was made. In 1870 DIR. Harris
in'the name of the Trustees Of Wesleyan
Female Institute, purchased the famed
Geo. M. Cochran = property-an estate
at one time conditionally selected as the
site for the Capitol of Virginia. For this
he paid 5000. The property comprised
the grounds and elegant mansion of Mr..
| Cochran, the whole embracing one full
city square. The mansion was remodeled:
/ from time to time it has been added to.
each addition being in conformity to gen.
eral symmetrical proportions. and the story
OF the success. OF the Institute is briefly
told in the fact that DIR. Harris has, from
the earnings of the school alone. added
roy, co0 in the way OF improvements. In
1870 Wesleyan Female Seminary could ac-
commodate no more than thirty boarders ;:
now it accommodates one. hundred and
sixty, and, including officers and attaches,
about 200 people connected with the
school, are living upon the grounds. The
attendance of boarding pupils is now 14O,
representing eighteen or twenty States
it thus becomes national in it's character.
and through the work that DR.. Harris has
accomplished here and elsewhere as an
educator, his reputation as scholar,
teacher. organizer and manager has also
become national.
The additions to the buildings that have
been erected ale in excellent architectural
taste. The ornamentation of the grounds
SHOWS type OF landscape gardening that
might be copied to advantage by scores of
our residents, and the view from these
grounds-the grand urroundings-consti-l
'tutes vista of beauty that words fail to
descrlbe-lt makes picture whose linn
ner was the Great Artist
Concerning the Institute itSelf-itS cur
riculum of studies, it's discipline. the
obvious advantages it offers, we need
write but little, for present and prospective
patrons already are well informed regard |
Ing these matters. Still, it is well enough |
that we should outline a few points. |
First, we may say that the classification |
OF studies is that adopted by leading |
European and American universities-iu |
fact the system that obtains is essentially |
the same as that which characterizes the |
University of Virginia. Virtually the |
Institute is the embodiment of eight |
schools, each separate and distinct 'FRONT.'
the other, and yet all uniting to form a |
complete and harmonious whole. Diplo-
mas are granted graduates in each of these
sO-called schools, !" but full diploma is
only given to the limited few who COM
plete the entire course. The design of I
this system of education is adaptation to
individual needs, capacity and ability
-Four prominent features present them-st
selves as inherent ARTICLES of faith in the
conduct of the Institute. They are re-
gard for the physical, the intellectual, the
social and the religious culture of pupils
TO this end the teachers employed, num-
being twenty or more. have been selected |
With the most ScrupulOuS care, and the en-
tire management of the school looks to-
ward the accomplishment of these objects.
While the general scope of education, as
regards the school, is very thorough, espe-
;ial attention ispaid to such branches as
modern languages, music, both vocal and
instrumental, and to art The music de-
)artment is under the direction of mas
,er who is graduate of the Conservatory of
Music of the University of Leipsic, and
whose thorough drill can be guessed at
rom the fact that for fifteen years he spent
eight hours per day under instructions at
hat famous Conservatory.
The vocal department is in charge of that
distinguished vocalist, Miss Lizzie Dan
els, whose sweet and cultivated voice has
,harmed thousands, and that she is inlove
With her work here is shown by the fact
hat not long since she declined an offer of
$1,000 per year (besides proposed classes) to
ing in one Of the church choirs in New
DIRK.
/
! most competent instructor-one who
vas trained in the art schools of Boston,
md latterly in European galleries in fact.
We could not name department in the
chool that is not. in all respects, fully up
o the high standard Of excellence which
Dr.. Harris had in contemplation when he
Issumed charge of the school, This fact
$ also noticeable in the management of
he infirmary, wherein two nurses tone a
are employed. They are Ia
lies OF education and cultivation, and as
ttendants upon the sick, may fairly be
ooked upon as the retaliation of the
deal" Fortunately their duties are not
nerous, for very little sickness prevails at |
he Seminary-eyery precaution is taken
gainst it.
Wesleyan Female Institute is under the
uspices of the Baltimore Conference of ,
he Methodist Episcopal Church South
t is an Institute of learning of which the
hurch may well feel proud, for it's success
as redounded to the honor of the church;
he most sanguine expectations of the
resident have long since been realized,
nd the future of the Institute promises
o be as prosperous as its past has been.