The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-14
SKETCH OF AsR LIFE
SUE CONVERTED OLD SOUTH
cur,pcu INTO "A LIVING TEN
PIE OF PATRIOTISM"
TEACHING WOMEN TO Be USEFUL
'.She Gave Her Purse, Her Time, Her Ialent,
Her Heart to the Uplifting to the Girls
and Bows of Our Country"


a recent issue of your paper of
tbe re-opening of the Hemenway
School in Wilmington, suggests 10
me- that a br.ef sketch of MS. Mary
Hemenway's life and work may interest
our young people. They should I've
&aurht to love the memory of this great
woman. She gave her purse. her time,
her talents. her heart to the uplifting OF
the BOYS and girls of our country.
She was born in New York Ci:y De-
cemher ~, 1920, aud died ut her nome
i'm Boston March q. 1894.
Her father, Thomas T.leston, was a
business man of unusual ability, ana ms
daughter inherited his talent. Tier
husband, Mr.. Augustus Hemenway. was
a shipping merchant. For years before
his death he WAS IN Invalid. and Mrs.
Hemenway had largely the control or
his business. She said she Was pillow
ell To grow up without learning how to
do things and she observed that the girls
who were the most efficient workers
were the happiest. She fe.t that she
and all other women similarly neglected
had been drfrauded. This inspired her
to teach girls 10 sew and cook. Through
her efforts. sewing WAS introduced IN
the schools of Boston. The example set
by Boston has been COPIED In almost
every city in America. Through her in
fluence sewing WAS made Il department
In the Boston Normal School. She es-
tablished aud ma ntained normal school
for cooking. From the love of one wise
woman, the trained fingers of many
thousand women have frightened homes
In every part of our land.
When she became convinced that
physical training was means of inn
proving the appearances. health. power
and morality of youth. she set herself
to learn all there was 10 be gathered
concerning the best system Of gymnas-
tics. She preferred the Swedish system,
and induced twenty-five Boston teach
ers TO unite with her i'm iii IN expert
men; With it. Their opinion was 81 fa-
yorahe thar sne offered To train lU0
teachers II the system upon the condition
that they he allowed TO use the exercises
In their classes. The school c-Nmiltee
accepted her offer and again h.. efforts
were crowned witt, success. Her eil-
thusiasm increased and led TO Il great
conference OH physic; ira ming in Ros-
ton in 1889. This did much 10 arouse
al interest in the subject. A demand
for trained teachers arose. The out
come was the establishment by her of
the Boston Normal School of Gymnas-
ties.
The Old Sonth work may he deemed
by some her greatest achievement
In 1876 our very centennial year. the
Old S0n,h meeting house. the most
historic building in Boston itself. was
threatened Will. destrnct on. Mrs.
Hemenway saved il. She said: Il have
just given Sl0U.gOO Ia save the Old
South: yet ! care nothing for the church
or the corner lot. hnf If | live. such
Teaching shall he douc in hat obi I'm ID
Ing and such an influence shall 20 out
from il. ~ shall MAKE. the children If
future generations love their country 80
fenderly that there can never he anather
civil war in this country
In France are many grand buildings.
which are nanghf save scpnichrc~ for
dead greafnrsS Mrs. iIemcnwny de-
fernined thar he Oil South should not
be such tomb. hnt some one has said
Of il: "She converted it into u living
temple of patriotism
The ola South lectures are given dnr-
ing the summer al , o'clock on Wrlnes-
young people If ;houf IL years of age.
To these. they are free. Older people
pay for adnicss nii The feachers treat
of American History. and ;ir.. delivered
by foremost scholars and patri"ts Of tlie
day. The Old South leaflets are meant
to supplement- the lectures They are
made MP chiefly of original papers 81 the
periaiS treated They hrin. rhe youn,
In ,:ft, Ia hn
plain. quainr wording OF our FIRST en-
plorers AMI settlers are far more inter-
esrin= than the more. polished accounts
OF modern historians.
The old South work offers prizes
every year 10 The graduates IF the l,u>-
ton high schools for best essays on
snbj"cts in American History. The
prizes are announced on Washington
nursery of lrfters and l,atrintiSm
In lS!l4. the young people. who had
competed FOR the Old South prizes
amounted to n,i- hundred. and rhey had
then formed themselves into an Old
E"urh Historical Smiety They hu.
started - library in the essaysts' room,
This society is active in every branch
Of historical work and its Influence fo.
e''' nv ''"'" i"e Se"h'F'i'"' pi"SIeS'
sion.
Mrs. Ilemeuway gave S1mWup 10 rht
ecloni in Wilmington. Son,. one nSke,
her why she gave money to build nj
cchn,lS in the Sunth She replied
Nv her my country called for her SON
1" defend the tlag. had none 4" give
AIin. WAS bad ~ - years gave IN,
money ~ tIiankin. onerin. ,ia,
was uat t:t he'd ro suffer "a ,,tber moi n
ers who gaze their sons and ln>t Them
ANNIE O. RANDALL.