The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1953-09-01
Seen and Heard

Imagine IL nlnety-three years ago.
Can you visualize Longwood as a
school of one building set in
spacious grounds. overlooking a
F'armville Of two thousand people?
Can you still the roar of pass
ing cars. extinguish the lights of
thousand electric bulbs2 See the
streets as dirt tracks. rutted by
the hooves of horses and an oc-
casional coach or cart? Hear the
rustic OF petticoats under ankle
length gowns as the young STU
dents promenade the extensive
hard gravel walks for recreation
and exercise Can you really
visualize life as it was at the
Farmville Female Seminary at the
beginning Of the Civil War?
Its hard to do, but these are
the visions aroused by an 1860 re-
port card Of Alice NJ Gillispie.
from Buckingham. who was
student here in those days.
Several of Miss Gillispie's re-
Port cards are in existence today.
The present one is in the posses
sion of Mrs. Katie Kidd Austin. of
Route 2, Farmvile. a graduate
this summer OF the college that
has been in existence since at
least l843 land according some.
even before that timel Another
such document is held by Mrs. I
r. N Cocks, Of "Woodlawn"
Prospect, daughter Of Alice Gil
lispie, whose married name was
Mrs. George Pollard
With the assistance of Mrs
Austin. whose husband is Miss
Gillispie's grandson the aid OF
Mrs. Cocks. and the use of rare
old catalogues and clippings from
the files of Longwood College. it
has been possible to piece to-
sether college life in Miss Gil
lispie's student days.
Salubrious Atmosphere
According to the school cata-
loGue OF l859-60. This Institu-
ton OF Learning. established for
the Liberal education OF Young
Ladies. is beautifully located on
one OF the heights OF Farmville.
FRINGE Edward Co. Virginia, in
che of The most attractive and
healthy districts OF the State. and
enjoys the most invigorating and
aalubrious atmosphere An arti-
Gle in a newspaper of 1861 states
THAT 1t is in an elevated part OF
The town. entirely apart from
scenes Of excitement. and the
author adds of Farmville do
not know much. it can boast Of
three large, handsome churches
and this fact alone speaks well for
its inhabitants.
Under principal George La
J onte. the school vas a thriving /
Institution designed to promote
intellectual advancement by rem
rering the acquisition OF knoWl- /
edge pleasant. and by training the
pupil TO correct habits of thought
and reflection, The school maxim,
\ Favor Is deceitful and Beauty is
y Ain. but woman that feared the +
J ord she shall be praised" indi-
Z ated that the Bible will be en-
rloyed as the basis OF all religious
and moral instruction" and all
arc made to feel at home and /
happy. while they acquire those
l1eas and habits which will fit
them for the sober duties and
realities OF life"
Further. the catalogue States
nat one distinctive feature of
this Institution is social arrange /
mems. the lady teachers are ex-
rected to be as elder sisters TO
the young ladies. and inculcate
runctuality, diligence. order.
featness, easy and graceful de-
pertinent, as much by example as
Iy precept. Instead of remaining
n cllques in their rooms. out OF
;chool hours. to spend their time
n gossip and scandal. the young
aides are encouraged to assemble
@ith the teachers in the parlors
',ructed in the Bible, vocal and
Instrumental music. languages
7nglish. mathematics, and draw
ns and painting. Every pupil had ,