The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-01
JUDGE GRAY AT RALEIGH.
He Writes of His Impressions of Peace
Institute Where He Entered His
Granddaughter.

He Writes of His Impressions of Peace
Institute Where He Entered His
Grand Daughter.
Culpeper, Va, Sept %. 1897
To the Editor:
L had the privilege on Wednesday
last Q5th of September) of being pres
ent at the opening of the sixtieth ses
sion of Peace Institute, Raleigh, n. c.,
of which Prof. James Dinwiddie is now
the principal
l witnessed the coming in of the ''old
girls" as they are termed, and the glad
meeting between them and their teach
ers, and especially the welcome and af-
fectonate greeting of Prof. Dinwiddie
and his charming wife. 1t resembled
big family reunion of which Prof. and
Mrs. Dinwiddie were the loving father
and gentle mother.
Homer, who wrote his incompatible
Odyssey 1000 years before the birth of
Christ, said:
There is no fairer thing
Than when the Lord and Lady, with
one soul,
One home possess"
Beautiful, indeed, is this sentiment
But how much more beautiful would
have been his description had Homer
lived in the Christian era and seen such
a home elevated and adorned by the
ripaning and enObling graces of Chris
tianity and then witnessed the influences
of such home, extended over fifty or
one hundred young girls brought under
its shelter to receive the training de-
signed to fit them for the relations and
duties of life. OF course it was a charm
ing thing to the new girls" to witness
this joyful meeting and return of the
"old girls" to this delightful home, for
it gave them assurance that they, too,
had found the best and happiest substi-
tute for the homes they had left be-
hind them, and so they were all cured
of inconsistencies before Inconsistencies
came.
The school building is built OF brick
very commodious and convenient Its
parlors, its library, dining room, music
rooms, recitation rooms, bed rooms and
chapel are all under one roof. The en-
tire house is lighted by gas and heated
by steam. The rooms are large, high
pitched and well ventilated, and the
bed rooms are beautifully furnished.
The institute has its own steam laun-
dry, where all the washing of the in
stitute and its students is done. None
is permitted outside of this laundry.
This, | think. is great protection
against the introduction of disease into
the institution. The table is supplied
with most excellent fare and in great
abundance.
And then. too. the sight of Peace In
stitute with its handsome lawn of eight
acres shaded by its majestic oaks, gave
relief to the travellers from the heat and
dust through which they had been sub
iected. Verify. Pcaca Institute is
beautiful for SituatiOn,' the JOY of all
who enter its precincts, and breathe its
genial atmosphere and drink it's de-
lIcious wafer 1t is located in large
grove. as | have said. just outside of
the corporate limits of Raleigh, the beau
Itiful capital of North Carolina. Raleigh
is indeed a beautiful city BlOunt and
Hilsboro streets which are the princi-
pal residence streets, will compare
favorably with streets of any Southern
city The buildings and grounds are
exceedingly handsome and attractive.
Fayetteville street is the business
street. and here we find as large and
beautiful stores as can be found in any
city South of Philadelphia and New
York
The society Of the city is cultivated
and elegant 1t seems to be n great
centre of refinement and education
The climate is delightful, mild and
temperate, equally removed from the
harshness and rigors of the more
Northern cities and from the pro-
longed heat of the extreme South.
Raleigh is also railroad centre. Here
i ind fhps iau NJ har
depot that / have seen anywhere south
OF Washington, built by the great
Southern Railway and the Seahoard
Air Line Railroad companies. Trains
are arriving and going out nearly every
hour in the day.
Peace Institute is corporation with
its Board OF Directors and its presi-
dent and vice president AMI all other
officers.
Prof. James Dnwiddie is now and
has been it's principal for eight years.
and has under him some twenty-five
teachers. Here no sham work is done,
or countenanced. PNof. Dinwiddie is
an A. NJ. of the University of Virginia.
His maxim was the maxim Of Lord
COke-"Melior est petere fontes guam
sectari rivulos"-to look to the sources
rather than tap the streams; and the
girl who obtains her diploma rs "full
graduate OF the institute" is equal TO
an "A M" of the University OF Vir-
ginia There was but one full graduate
at the last session
Prof Dinwiddie is a born teacher as
well as thoroughly educated teacher,
and he loves especially to teach girls.
He has spent his life thus far in this
work, except the four years spent as
gallant soldier in the army of Northern
Virginia during the war between the
States. He is an enthusiast especially
in mathematics and music.
The musical department OF Peace
Institute is not surpassed by that of
any institution in the South. There is
in this department distinguished pro
fessor with five lady assistants. The
pianos are all made TO order and are
decidedly the handsomest / have ever
seen anywhere. Here, indeed, is a regu-
lar conservatory of music, conducted
in the very best manner.