The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-09-20
ST. MARY'S.
RALEIGH'S OLDEST EDUCA.
TIONAL INSTITUTION.

tioH..Only Three Deaths in Nearly
Fifty Years--The Beauty of the
Buildings and Locations. And Other
Intere sting Notes.
The educational institutions of Raleigh
constitute the chiefest pride of the city.
Any one who shall ever visit the insti-
tutions will readily understand why this
is so, and the visitor viii also determine
for himself, without expressing it per
haps, that these institutions would be
the pride and the boast Of any city, and
this determination would be intensified
after visit to the famous Old female
school of
st. Mary's.
Maj. E. G. Harrell, editor of the North
Carolina Teacher, and a representative
of the STATE CHRONICLE, have been Wis
iting the Raleigh schools during the
past few days, and have been learning
and noting some interesting facts about
them.
The last visit was to ST. Mary's, and it
was one which proved interesting indeed.
The institution was founded in 1912
The education Of many women who be
came noted for culture and refinement
of mind and manner was completed
there shortly after the foundation of the
school; then the daughters of these early
classes made St. Mary's their Alma
Mater, and to-day the grand daughters
| Of the women who graduated there years
ago are attending the school.
| Thus the education Of three genera
tions of the female portion of some fam
lilies is given by St. Mary's school.
There is not on record an instance in
which the institution has not Won the
lasting love of it's pupils. They regard
it as kind of personal home, and for
years past many Of its old pupils now
stately matrons whose hair is tinged
with gray-haye made it custom to pay
an annual visit to the school they so
much love enl cherish
There are few educational insti.
tutions il the land which has
brilliant and refined representatives
from more States in the Union than st.
Mary's. 1t is in fact stated that there
is 40 State il the Union which has not
at some time had representation there.
Ii all its history Of nearly fifty years,
there have been only three deaths among
the thousands Of pupils who have been
| there.
The institution began its session this
year with larger enrolment of pupils
than ever before, there being nearly TWO
HUNDRED. 1t has been necessary to Or
der more school furniture to give nee
essary accommodation to the increased
attendance.
They come from nearly all the States
between Maine and Texas. They quickly
love and revere the school, and as a rule
all who spend one session there return
at each successive session until her edu
cation is finished, and the finish " al
St. Mary'S means more than can be easily
described.
The Principal.
Rev. Bennett Smedes, A. M, is Prin
cpal Of the school, The PrinclpalshiT
descended upon him from his father
est refinement and culture, and tht
CHRONICLE asserts, because 1t believes
t that educational work has no better rep
resentative in the Union than st. Mary
| honored and revered Principal.
, The Buildings.
The buildings of St. Mary's are inter
esting in pointssof architecture and ar
rangement. In the annual catalogue
OF the school appears cut OF the build
lngs, but certainly 10 effort was made il
t it to present the elegance and beauty o
l the grounds and surroundings. In fac
!, all the buildings are not shown, and th
7 drives and promenades Of the immens
e grassy lawn, shaded by many magnifcen
e oaks, are not defined. The art buildin
which is a model Of architectural elt
! gance does not appear in the picture.
The situation Of the school is all tha
can be desired for convenience, healt
and beauty.
The buildings, six in number, are Il
Gated in an oak grove Of twenty acres
y on elevated ground. mile from tt
Y State capitol The Main Building is
It brick, three and half stories higl
a frontage ninety feet, depth seventy fou
e 1t contains, besides the private apar
ments of the Rector and family, the pa
lor and the study-room of the academ
department, each ffty-seven feet
thirty-four; the two junior dormitorie
Of the same dimensions; the sittin
room, reading room, library, dinin
room, and three recitation rooms. II
halls are spacious; there are two stat
ways. Water and gas are on every foo
The East and West Rock-Houses a
two-story buildings of stone connectt
with the Main-building by covered co
r. ridors of brick. The former is chief
used for the Department of Music, al
- contains the practising rooms, twelve
~ number. The West Rock House CO
70 tains the dormitories for the senior p
- pills.
';i 9i The East Building is Of Gothic desig
at aa in brick; dimensions, sixtys'x feet
- ~ forty five. 1t contains study and re-
! tation-rooms for the primary and p1
- paratory departments, cloakrooms,
large gymnasium, laboratory
physics, and the studio. This last
noble gallery sixtyfour feet long
:. twenty-six wide, is lighted by four SIX
on lights; the open ceiling is finished
to- oiled woods; and the whole forms
ast most beautiful studio for school pu
to- poses in the South. 1t is in charge
Miss S c. Wells. the art teacher, a
whether on commencement occasions
in the midst of the session, it Is
ways place Of rich interest.
E,,1 hY1 1r1I