The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14

age, still passes part of each day in the
main building of the school, to which
she goes every morning from her home
in the village to preside at breakfast
and to confer, on the numerous Ques-
tions Of school life, with her associate
principal, Miss Dow. Miss Porter has
her study in this house and each new
pupil calls Upon her there, and is care
fully questioned as to her former stu
dies, advised as to those she should
continue and others she should begin.
The main house accommodates about
fifty pupils, or half the scholars, the
other hall, composed of the newest girls,
occupy the outside houses, which are
all presided over by teachers. A girl Is
called an ''old girl" after remaining a
year in the school and she then takes up
her residence in the main house as u
second haller," her room being on the
second floor. The following year she
moves to the next floor and becomes q
third haller," and here she remains un-
til she leaves school. AS an old girl
she has all the privileges the name I'M
plies at Pennington, for perhaps in no
other school Is the distinction quite SO
marked between the new and the old
girl.
THE NEW GIRL.
A new girl' is cons nsidered fresh"
who occupies certain chairs In the stu
dies and parlors, who speaks first to an
''old girl" who does not step from the
board walk to allow an "old girl' to
pass. who presumes to ask an ''old girl''
to dance with her, and who is at all as
suming in her manners towards an "old
girl" When the new girl" has been
tried and found not wanting in defer
ence she IL taken up" by the "old girls"
and invited by them to the concerts,
lectures, dances. walks. ETC., and finds
school life made pleasanter in conse-
quenCe.
ADJUSTMENTS.
There are few rules In the school for
Miss Porter and Miss Dow rely on the
character and honesty of their girls In
regard to their behavior. The school
day begins at half-past seven with
breakfast, followed by prayer led by
Miss Porter. The rest Of the day is de-
voted to study and recitation, with the
exception of two hours in the afternoon,
which are allowed for recreation. The
girls enjoy skating, sleighing and coast
ing In winter. and tennis. riding, driv-
ing and walking during the fall and
spring. No expense Is spared In secur-
Ing the best talent, both native and fer
eign, to lecture and give concerts for the
pupils. Ysaye, Lachaume. Cesar Thorn
son, Xavier Scharwenka, Martcan.
MacDowell and many other celebrities
have given charming concerts In the
school parlors.
A FAIR PICTURE.
Near the main house is the "Art and
Music Hail." built and presented to
Miss Porter by some OF her former
pupils and used for the purposes the
name indicates. At the end of the viii
lage street stands the Lodge" which
is owned and maintained by former and
present pupils for the benefit of poor
working girls in the cities who are glad
to rest and enjoy country life during
the hot weather.
"FarmingtOn, dear old town,
Sweetest place the sun shines on
This refrain from one of the school
songs expresses the sentiment the Far
mingtOn girl feels for this quaint old
place In which she has spent SO many
pleasant hours. The wide street over
hung by grand old elm trees, the houses,
many of them built over a hundred
years ago. the village inn, the church
with its tapering spire, the river fiow-
ing through the outlying valley-this is
Pennington, dear to the heart of a
Pennington girl.
ELEANOR ANDERSON.