Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-19
FAMOUS OLD SCHOOLS ADVANCED
LEARNING IN PRE- WAR DA VS.
Miss Jessie Gordon De-
volved Her Life to
Teaching Here.
PECTAG0GUES WIN WAY
TO PUBLIC ESTEEM
Before 1850 Men Had Looked
Down on Teachcing as
Profession.

enough TO make modern educator
cnvious.
There WAS Monsieur Baunbaree.
who was instructor In French. and
DR.. Satori. OF Italy. who taught his
native tongue The latter was 4
member OF Second Presbyterian
Church and one OF DIR. lioge's mos.
faithful sheep. Mrs. Pellctt was
particularly fond OF grammar and
history. which She taught herself.
n ana was one OF the first 70 use
charts in her history classes. Poetry.
also . was favorite subjcc, with
this woman: and II was Important.
TOO. for IN her day girls We're sup
posed 10 know poetry"
Her school was well equipped with
mahogany topped desks which
opened. so that one might put book 5
inside; inside Just AS school desks do to-
uaE: On on. occasion. so the tale
goes. Mrs. Pellet was out OF the
room and all the girls in the study
hall planned to drop their desks tops
they did create u terrible noise. IT
Is rec"nntSd that the pupils were
probable punishment than ever the
teacher was at the clatter.
IL: +. Lcfebvre was the first own
er OF the school at 3 East Grace
already mentioned, and many of the
most fashionable future helles OF the
city and surrounding counties we're
ms pupils. ana later he leased it to
The community for a number of ses-
SONS and relative OF the late John
POWELL. father OF the eminent plan
list. In Il catalogue OF the school
for 1867. which Mas known ms the
southern Female Institute, one reads
concerning the conduct OF the place
,hat only such rules are enforced
as as are necessary TO secure the end
Tor which parents send their daugh-
icrs to school Among these Is a
rule ioroidding the young women to
ilcmen other than brother. and un-
clcs." brothers and uncles must
nave nave, nsen as plentiful then as al
WAYS s,i;;, they have been at strict in
stltutions Tor young ladies'
Jake" RctnhartIt There.
In 1876 we tind Miss Maria l.. Car
rinSion head OF the school. but il
is seemingly impossible to learn
when She succeeded MIR. Powell, or
how long Was her reign. In The
catalogue for that year is the name
OF Mrs. j. T.. y. Stuart, widow OF
inc famous cavalry leader, as teach
er OF EnsNsh. while Professor JACOB
Hcinhardt. that venerable and be-
loved musician of our own time MS
well as OF that somewhat dis,an,
date, in charge OF the department OF
There were many other schools,
great and small. Including the Rich
ihonu Fcma!e institute, later known
a.! AS me Moman's College, located on
and the Merrill Female schooii
1T loI East Cary Street. taught
s Seem Ge f6st F. Me!ri w, It would
worked word in those days. TO the
list OF the ante bellum Institutions
may ne ADDED that operated at Firth
an" FRANKLIN streets under the al
rectlon of the Rev. Moses d. unI;e
ID. D.; whose church and mansc wer.
Kept in an old wooden house whiCn
was torn down many years ago.
0f Inter Day.
Then came Miss Augusta DanIol
also power in her day. who was.
ascessor of Miss Jennie Elicit. 4
Powell and others. Miss E.,ie,rs
nhnc. bE the way. appears as :,
~ uneht IN the catalogue OF the
southern Female Institute in the sew
cntitS, irlVate schools have ALWAYS
nourlsheh in Richmond. even sine.
me ADVENT ~ the public school sys-
TEN; nut in IN" old days il was prac-
t!caily the sole method Of cJucatiny
children other than TO employ GOV
"!hcsSeS IN private homes. which
was naturally more ponular IN ~
country than In town.
reese are just some of the schools
me names OF which have lived chirf.
~ oecauSc or the personality of the
principals or on account OF ibe tom,,
duration Of their tenure proh !ItunS
there were several other ms, ituiionss
widely known and highly rrsnac,..;
but their alumnac s1eiEs 800
ceased TO call Richmond home