The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-08-09
LENOIR ANGELS NAMED HER.
1T il AS EVER BEEN LOVED THE
GODS OF ART AND Music
Nesting Amon. the Hills aud Mountains
OF Old Caldwell, il Has Il Charm II II its
Own that Attracts Strangers.
editorial CORRESPONDENCE I

l-ENoIR. N. c., July 81, 1889 The edi-
tors of North Carolina have held their
seventeen sessions in many delightful pla-
ces in Moth Carolina and enjoyed the
most elegant hospitality of many of North
Cardinals lovely towns. But it has never
been more heartily welcomed or more ele-
gantly entertained than in this delightful
town which nestles under the protection
of the beautiful mountain peak Hibrten-
pronounced as if it were spet High bright
en-. This town has long modestly borne
the name among those who know it best of
the Western Athens" From its incorpo-
ration it has been the home of men of let
ters and the center of educational intu
ences The air of learning and of art hangs
over the place. There is probably no town
in the State which does not contain some
one who was prepared for college in Le
noir. This love of letters, music and art
has predominated here, and Lenoir has not
been noted in the past for its business en-
terprises or its manufacturing. 1t, there
fore, has its own individuality and its own
peculiar charm. There may be AS mnch
talent in some other North Carolina town
as here, but | have never been to that
town. During the Convention an Art Ex-
hibit was arranged over the store of Har-
per, Bernhardt q Co. The pictures were
many and evidenced native talent and
cultivation that | have not seen equalled.
The exhibit would have attracted atten-
nj oh ha Of no hoo,
tiful anywhere What made the cOllec-
tion most interesting was the fact that
most Of the pictures were from nature and
We're landscapes of the beautiful scenery
III Caldwell county, of which this Is the
county seat. | was told that over half the
pictures We're executed by pupils of Kirk
wood School, which is conducted by MISSES
SALLIE AND EMMA RANKIN They are daugh-
ters Of the late REV. JESSE RANKIN, who
was for many years distinguished edu-
Gator and Presbyterian divine. He had
school here to which boys We're sent from
the Abemarle and all other sections of
the State to be prepared for college. The
influence OF his scholarship and his teach
ing still rests upon many of the best and
most useful men in North Carolina His
mantle of teaching ability has fallen on
his two unmarried daughters who conduct
Kirkwood They limit the number of pu-
pills they will receive to fifteen, and fortu-
nate indeed are the fifteen young women
who enjoy the exceptional advantage of
being trained by these ladies.
Among the old and popular female
schools in the State is Davenport Female
College which is built upon hill overlook
ing this lovely village. Its location is all
that could be desired for beauty and
ed many years before the war and was
named for Col. WM DAVENPORT, promi-
nent ani prosperous farmer of the Happy
Valley who contributed largely to its erec-
ton. 1t is the property of the Methodist
Episcopal church. 1t has had a remarka-
bic career Of success and usefulness and
has been leading factor in bringing about
the educational and refining influences
which distinguish Lenoir. The building
was burned in 1879. 1t has not been so
tiourishing since, but all its friends
think that it is now on the high road to
its greatest prosperity and usefulness.
PROF J. D. MYNICk, of Pennsylvania, an
educator who has experience, capacity and
money rare combinations) has been elect
ed President. He will at once improve the
buildings and grounds, employ a faculty
Of excellent teachers, and do everything
necessary to make Davenport the equal of
any Female College in the State. He comes
to Lenoir with the highest endorsements
and the friends Of the college are expect
ing great things from his management. |
hope that all their bright expectations may
be more than realized, and that Daven-
ports star may shine with brighter lustre
than ever before in its honorable history.
The Finlay High School for boys has had
a career of success. Mr. E. W. FAUCETrE
has retired from the Principalship and will
pe succeeded bp Mr.. E. /. BARNES, of
South Carolina.
In addition to the above there are two
other educational institutions in town. l
refer to the Public Library and the Lenoir
Topic. The Public Library is not a large
one but it is the best selected small libra
ry | ever saw An examination Of that
library of itself would attest the literary
capacity and taste of the managers of the
library But better than this good taste
and good judgment in selection is the fact
that the people read the books and read
constantly and with interest and profit.
Young and old alike read and the library
is constant educator to all classes and
, ages | wish that every town and every
city in the State would follow Lenoirs ex-
ample in this respect and encourage all
the people to read. The chief need in
North Carolina to-day is that all our peo-
pie will read and inform themselves. If
everybody read and thought the day Of
demagogues and pretenders would be at
an end.
The other educational institution, and
it is the promoter and the strong right
arm Of all of them, is the Lenoir Topic.
This weekly newspaper, edited by w. w.
SCOTT, ESQ.,, is the best and most favora-
bly, known of Lenoir's institutions. 1t is
a bright, clean, ably edited paper. Its
editor is wise and discreet to a degree un-
common in young man, and he is as mod