New-York tribune., 1902-05-24
A COLLEGE CENTENNIAL.
NORTHERN WOMEN To PARTICIPATE
IN THE CEREMONIES OF THE SALEM
ACADEMY. IN NORTH CAROLINA.

a party headed by General and Mrs Nelson II
Henry will leave New-York to-day to participate
IL interesting and picturesque festival at Win
ston-Salem. y. c. The Salem Female Academy
and College is celebrating the centennial Of its
opening by a week Of festivity. which will end
next Wednesday. The specia. occasion. to be hon
ored by the party is the laying Of the cornerstone
Of the memorial chapel given by the alumnae
association. TO which many of the party belong
II is expected 10 be an impressive function. as
many Governors Of Southern States have appoint
ed sponsors for the ceremony. and the Governor OF
North Carolina will attend in person.
Mrs. Nelson Herrick Henry. wife of the adjutant
general. is a graduate of the college and gave an
interesting account of it yesterday to a Tribune
reporter.
1t has a picturesque history" she said
"and is the second oldest academy for girls in the
United States. The first was Bethlehem, Penn,
and both were founded by the Moravian Church.
in the old days girls travelled on horseback to
the school from all the States around. Those who
came from the greatest distances often remained
Gt the school during the, hVe six years course
that then prevailed Frequently party of four or
five would come together under the escort OF the
father Of one. who would sell all the horses but
his before his return. The side saddles hung
in the barn until the years OF schooling were
passed and the finished product Of the educa-
tional system ready I go home.
The wife OF President Polk was a graduate OF
this school. The wife Of Mr.. Key, who Post
master General under President Hayes was one of
the fifty members of her family who gradual ted
from it, and Mrs. John H. McAIlister of New
York, who died two weeks ago. was one of sixty
six from one family. Mrs. Cortelyou. mother of
President Roosevets secretary, was a graduate.
''Of the twelve thousand young women who have
been graduated, fully one-fourth have been from
the North and the college is immensely proud of
the fact that the sessions interrupted for
a day by the Civil War Each army. in turn as 1t
CHANGED TO be in the vicinity. mounted guard over
the buildings, and permitted disturbance OF
There was something delightfully."- quaint the
By m o 81 1hs ar da Of fhs e as tod ID
a little Sketch Of the college says III
ga Rising Isl 3 from % their tue white beds that stood
glrls descended TO the living rooms There. upon
intricate patterns stood the long tables with
rows Of benches, and down the centre the candle
sticks one 10 each quartet Of girls All the little
services-brinSinS the wood and water for the liv
Gay keepers py turns, TWO AT a time. Every Fri
oag da al u - clock the ieaeher and day keepers
fresh sand beautifully white and clean; then, at
girls into another while the duty teacher and
her two assistants swept out the old sand wiped up
the floor, sprinked the new sand and otherwise put
the room in the most perfect order
I'm, Inc dining rooms were n IN the basement OF the
companies, the other by the older The girls
while the teachers had stools at the ends and when
all seated the teacher nearest the door began
10 sing the blessing,
leave Thy peace divine
With US. we are Thine,
all present Joining in The tables were spread with
was eaten from pewter plates with steel knives
and forks. the or coffee being taken from
cups without handles. On certain days the plates
were scrubbed with rushes from the lowlands about
the creek. until they reflected clearly a mir
the bright faces looking into them.
Some years after Mr.. Reichel became principal
visitor struck with horror by the table
appointments that he to the store and pur-
chased china plates, mugs and cotton tablecloths,
whose patterns much resembled those OF the COM
mon bedspreads Of to-day. The fare plain but
wholesome, and on Friday evening each girl re
CelVed biscuits large that often would
be saved until the day then. perhaps be given
10 some girl friend from town, who thought nothing
else was quite so good as H. ..-,.. - -,
time also carly, and the girls were generally
settled by O'Clock, the teachers following an hour
later.
Girls and teachers dressed very simply, usually
IN calico and made their dresses themselves They
wore no hats when they went 10 church, but caps
instead those belonging TO the girls being made OF
white bObinet, with very full ruching around the
face. When several strands Of floss were run along
the edge Of the ruchng and the with its bright
ribbons tied under the chin II was both pretty
and becoming
1t is rather different now said Mrs. Henry.
the adoption Of the higher education system has
not been allowed TO interfere. 1ne course now IS
eight years, four IN the academic department and
four in the college There are $50 scholars at the
present time"
Governor Ayecock will give a reception the
Northern visitors and other guests IN the college
Wednesday afternoon, and General and Mrs.
Henry have issued invitations 10 meet the Gov
ernor and the other guests of honor at the Twin
Other members Of the party, which IS to be
met by special train at Washington for the re
who has been invited TO make "A patriotic address;
Mrs. Alma Calder Johnston, who IS to give an ac-
Of the Little Mothers Aid Association; the
general secretary of the 7. ). 5. VINO mas been
asked tell of the work Of the Tribune Sunshine
Society, and TO organize branch IN the college!
Colonel Mrs. Robert Patterson. Miss Percy Pat
Mrs. Vessels and Master Vessels, OF East Or
ange, and Ernest Turpn.