The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24


ASheville, including the Baptist, the
Methodist Episcopal the Presbyterian,
Christian, Lutheran Roman Catholic,
Jewish and Unitarian. The Baptist,
Methodist. Presbyterian and Episcopal
congregations of colored people as well
as white The people Of Asheville are
largely a church-going people, and there
are about 10000 sittings.
There is a y NJ G. A. well and
strongly established and doing good work.
The association has Sunday afternoon
meetings. weekly Bible class, an ex-
cellent educational department, reading
tables. library, gymnasium and bath
rooms.
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
The progress in education i'm Asheville
has been very rapid in the past ten years
The natural conditions which prevail
here pre-eminently fit Ashev4ne for an
educational center of a high order. The
large number of desirable citizens from
every part OF the country, ATTRACTED here
by the unsurpassed climatic conditions,
ha smade educational facilities of every
kind necessity. The total value of
private and public school property and
its suburbs is $350,000, with an attend
ance of nearly 5000 pupils.
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
The graded schools were started in
January. 1888, and in the fall of that
year the first building was erectwed.
Today there are four large brick build
ings, well equipped, a High School de-
partment. thirty-one teachers and one
Il az n
lutely free of political or sectarian intiu-
ences, the teachers are well trained and
progressive. and the popularity OF the
schools is attested by the large patron
age of every class of society. Visitors
who come to spend the winter here can.
and do, bring their children and place
them in the public and private schools.
One of the most prominent institutions
in the State is the Asheyille College for
Young Women, which is an outgrOwth
of the Dickson Seminary and the Ashe-
vile Female College.
Seven years ago the famous Bingham
School, after a most distinguished career
OF ninety-nine 800 years in middle
North Carolina, was driven from its
former location by three fires in less
nine years, and came to Asheville on
account of the climate and with full
faith in the educational possibilities of
the place. The school is enc of the
oldest institutions of learning in the
whole South and the only one which has
come down from grandfather TO grand
son through three generations Of .distin-
guished teachers.
The Normal and Collegiate Institute is
unique in its character and aims. maxi
ing a long step ] nadvancc Of the ordi-
nary arrangements. apparatus and fa-
cilities for the education of the young
women.
The Home Industrial School is situat
cd in the suburbs of Asheville, about one
mile south OF the business center of the
town. 1t is surrounded by n plot OF
ground consisting OF thirty three acres.
which it occupies jointly with the Nor
NAL and Collegiate Institute. The pur-
pose OF the school Is to place within
reach Of girls who would otherwise be
deprived Of an education. the opportunity
to secure educational advantages such
as will enable them TO become useful,
Self-supporting women.
The name of the school indicates its
scope of work 1t is Christian home
where the Scriptures are read and stud
led daily. Each member of the family
has some share in ministering to the
family comfort. as all the work Of the
house is dome by the girls under the di-
rection and supervision of the matron.
The work periods include six weeks
time. and Mt the close OF each period
every girl is assigned to a different kind
Of work. and by this method. each one,
during the year, has practiced in all de-
partments Of housework. The principles
Of homework and household economy
are taught in the kitchengarden classes.
The sewing departments gives training
in plain sewing, in drafting, cutting and
fitting dresses. in fancy work and en-
broidery Besides the cooking that must
necessarily be dome for the family, each
student has the advantage Of twenty
four lessons in cookery class.
The Asheyille Farm School, situated
eight miles from the city. is doing the
same work for boys that the Home In
dustrial School is doing for girls. The
present capacity Of the school is eighty
eight. and this number could easily be
doubled If there We're more room.
Skyland Institute. j. s. Dickey. prin-
cipal. Us a private school, established
in September, 1894. for 10th sexes.
The Misses Champions School 70"
Girls opened in January 1886. and has
been successful from It's beginning.
The Asheyille Free Xindergartens,
under the management of an association.
consist of four schools in different parts
of the city. and are doing splendid
work for the younger children
The Industrial School, colored, lis doing
an excellent work for the colored youth
of the city who patronize it.
There are numerous smaller schools
The 4Asheville Summer School and Con
servatory endorsed by the Board Of
Trade, and organized ny a number of
leading citizens of the city, held its first
session July 7-August IT, 1898.
SUMMER CONCERTS.
The grand concerts given by the mu-
sicians of the faculty add greatly to the
pleasure of the season for both students
and visitors. This school was started
because OF the growing belief that moth
ing could add more to the natural ad-
vantages of Asheville as summer re.
sort than a high grade summer school
and conservatory, and this in IFS ttirh
is made possible by that fact AslieVllie