The Naiad - The Newspaper of W.F.C.

Here are quips and quotes from issues of the Naiad that are archived in the Jackson Library. We have several years worth to comb through but thus far they are providing some excellent insight into the day to day happenings of Dr. Lander, his family, and the students of Williamston Female College. I made 12 pages of notes on Monday (11-3) which will follow....forgive any spelling or grammar errors as I transcribed at a high rate of speed.

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THE NAIAD
A monthly journal of Christian Education
Williamston, SC August, 1884
No. 1 Circulation 2000


The smallest bark on life’s tempestuous ocean,
Will leave a track behind forever more;
The lightest wave of influence set in motion
Extends and widens to the eternal shore

Think for thyself: one good idea,
But known to be thine own,
Is better than a thousand gleaned
From fields by others shown

God first – self last – all the rest will come in the right order

S. Lander – Editor in Chief
Miss Kathleen Lander of the Erosophic Society
Miss Mary Mabry of the Boarding Department
Miss Mamie Wilson of the Town Pupils

Terms Per Annum.

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Two inches, 10 per cent discount
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Payment for subscriptions and advertisements must be made in advance

SALUTATORY

In entering the field of journalism, we beg permission to make a modest courtesy in the presence of our sturdy brethren. We ask an humble place among them,, and due allowance for all our imperfections.
With no experience in the editorial art, we hesitate to undertake the heavy tasks before us. Indeed, we could not venture upon these untried duties, did we not remind ourselves of the courteous gallantry of the brethren of the quill.
Looking for their indulgence and their constant help, and trenching not upon the special province of any one of them, we come among them in the earnest hope that all our intercourse will be pleasant and mutually profitable.
We shall constantly labor to make our sheet attractive and useful to its readers. While much of its subject matter will smack of the school-room, we shall ever try to present it in as cheery a form as possible.
The youthful mind is naturally curious; and there is no good reason why this proper curiosity should not be gratified to the intense delight of young inquirers. For this class largely our enterprise is undertaken; and to their interests our efforts will be directed. As we write or select articles for these columns, we will imagine our young readers arranged in order in a vast lecture-room, eager to hear all we have to say.
By this feeling of responsibility and privilege our best energies will surely be aroused; so that, if we fail to make our paper readable, it will simply be because we have missed our calling. As soon as we discover this sad fact, we will retire from the field as gracefully as our chagrin will allow.

Our Name

In the olden time, the Greeks and the Romans believed in a class of female divinities of a lower rank, to which they gave the name nymphs. These nymphs were of different species, according to the departments of nature over which they presided.
Thy nymphs of the ocean were called Oceanides; those which inhabited the mountains were known as Oreades; while to those which had the care of fountains the name Naiades was given.
The village of Williamston owes its origin to the discovery of the fine chalybeate spring, which still constitutes its principal native attraction. About twelves years ago, there sprang into existence near this fount of health, the fountain of learning which since then has sent forth copious streams of mental and moral culture, to gladden and adorn full many a happy heart.
This Naiad aims to devote herself to the interests of these two fountains, to help them in their Heaven-directed mission of imparting health and vigor of body, mind, and spirit to all who quaff their limpid waters. She claims not divinity, as those of yore; and yet, conscious of the purity of her motives, she hopes to enjoy in her earnest efforts the divine cooperation.
Kind reader, will you also give her yours?

Opening Sermon

Rev. S.A. Weber, editor of the Southern Christian Advocate, of Charleston, S.C., delivered the opening sermon before the young ladies of the College on Sunday Aug 3rd. On the bright Sabbath morn, a large congregation assembled in the commodious Chapel; and, as the young ladies came in, the organ began a most beautiful arrangement of Rock of Ages, as an instrumental voluntary. Rev. Wm. Hutto made the opening prayer. The text was from Jude: “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
We do not propose an analysis of the sermon. The presentation was logical, forcible, beautiful, and touching. The effort was not one of those cold, formal, and barren ones which often characterize Commencement seasons. The effect was a general feeling of spiritual delight; and the occasion was one to give joy and improvement. The closing prayer was offered with emotion by the President; and, after the long metre doxology, the benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Weber.

PERSONAL

-Miss Cara Featherston, at Belton, Miss Mamie Finger, at Abbeville C.H., and Miss Lizzie Alexander, in Laurens county, conducted their schools on the “One-study” plan, to the entire satisfaction of their patrons.

- It gave us no little pleasure a short time ago to hear that Miss Willie Manning, of Clio, satisfactorily solved a problem in Surveying, which had baffled the skill of some gentlemen of cultivation, who would have been expected to know more about such matters than a young Miss.

CORNERSTONE ANNIVERSARY

Last Wednesday was the eleventh anniversary of the laying of the corner-stone of the West Wing of the College. Aug 27, 1873, a large crowd assembled here, and the stone was laid by Hon. F.A. Connor, D.G.M,; after which a very appropriate address was made in the Spring Park. In remembrance of the event we were given a half holiday, which of course was enjoyed by all of us.
Master Norman Prince, the “little corner-stone babe,” grandson of our President, celebrated his third birthday, by a fruit feast, which was enjoyed by the household.
In the afternoon we girls, assisted by Mrs. Lander, redecorated the evergreen arch, bearing the motto, “What hath God wrought!”
After enjoying a long ramble in the woods, we assembled in the Chapel for prayers. Thanking God for his past mercies and imploring his blessing for the future, the day closed on a happy household.

Every man stamps his value on himself.
The price we challenge for ourselves is given us.
Man is made great or little by his own will. – Schiller

OUR PRESENT SESSION

With deep gratitude to God, we record the fact that our Fall opening is much more favorable than usual. Our forty boarding pupils represent four States besides our own; and we are daily expecting a batch of five or six from Alabama, which is not yet represented. Of the eighty-six girls and young ladies in attendance, almost every one is devoting herself with commendable industry to her school duties; and, as to good behavior, we do not except a single one.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORK

Prof. J.M. Lander instructs the Second Class in Physiology, and the Collegiate Classes together three times each week in Spelling, and twice a week in Elocution.

Prof. W.T. Lander conducts the lectures and experiments in Chemistry, the recitations of Class C in Geography, and the Review and Map-drawing exercises of the Collegiate Classes.

Miss Stradley has charge of the Class in Caesar, Class A in Geography, and the Academic Classes together in Spelling

Miss Wagner’s labors are devoted to the pupils in Botany, Class B in Geography, and the Class in French. This Class is an exception to our general rule, in that it has two recitations a week throughout the session.

Mrs. Langdon has entire charge of the Primary classes.

The President has the care of the classes in Vocal Music, Composition, and Penmanship, and is in charge of the Study Hall

The Music pupils are for the present taught by Mrs. Mattie L. Prince who is not a member of the Faculty. This arrangement will continue until the arrival of Mrs. Holmes, who has been engaged to fill the vacancy caused by the absence of Miss Hagen.

In the lexicon of youth, which Fate reserves
For a bright manhood, there is no such word
As fail – Lytton

DEATHS

Rev. R.L. Harper

It is a sad coincidence that the first number of the NAIAD should be called to record the death of the minister who delivered the first commencement sermon in the history of our College. From that night in November, 1872, when with tender earnestness he pressed on each of us the solemn question, “Where hast thou gleaned to-day?” he remained a firm friend of the Institution to the end of his life.

A SOVEREIGN (last story)

A young man once picked up a sovereign lying in the road. Ever afterward, as he walked along, he kept his eyes steadily fixed on the ground, in the hope of finding another. And, in the course of a long time, he did pick at different times a good amount of gold and silver. But all these days, as he was looking for them, he saw not that heaven was bright above, and nature was beautiful around. He never once allowed his eyes to look up from the mud and filth in which he sought the treasure; and, when he died, a rich old man, he knew this fair earth of ours only as a dirty road to pick up money from, as you walk along.



THE NAIAD
No.2 Sept 1884 Circulation 1500

OUR RECEPTION

As the hands of our brethren of the press has been very kind and cordial. Indeed, they make us feel quite at home in their midst. We owe them earnest thanks for words of commendation, both of the cause we advocate, and of our maiden effort in its behalf.
The teacher and the printer are working in the same great enterprise. The elevation of our race, so far as human influences are concerned, is to be accomplished largely by the harmonious labors of the pulpit, the press, and the school-room; and it would be a sad thing if either of these potent agencies should waste its energy and lose its opportunity by opposing either of the others.

OUR NEWEST DEPARTURE

All human plans are imperfect. A careful critic can make serious objections to the best of them.
There are several objections to our plan of giving to vacations every year. Pupils from a considerable distance are subjected to additional traveling expenses, or else are obliged to remain idle at the College during vacations. In consequence of this fact, we have had comparatively little patronage from a distance, although our location is unusually favorable for pupils from more southerly latitudes.
Desiring, as far as practicable, to accommodate all classes of patrons, we propose to re-arrange our plan so that each patron may select his vacation according to his own convenience or views.
The institution will open hereafter on the first Monday in February, and remain in session for nine consecutive sections, or forty-five weeks. The year’s work will close about the 10th of December, from which time till the next February there will be an entire suspension of the School.
A pupil will be received at any time during the Annual Session, with the understanding that she is to remain four or more sections, unless a special agreement ot the contrary is entered into when she comes.
By this plan, pupils from our neighborhood may begin with the year in February, and, after studying twenty weeks, may enjoy a five-weeks vacation in June and July. Or they may remain in school five sections, and rest in August. Or, if they need more rest, they may remain at home two consecutive sections, whenever it suits their convenience.
On the other hand, pupils from malarial regions or from lower latitudes may come up at the beginning of the first, the second, or the third section, and remain in our healthy location till the sickly season is over, and then return with perfect safety to their homes.
Again, those who wish to save time, and advance in the Course as rapidly as possible, may, if their health will allow, enter the school at the beginning of the scholastic year, and remain at work without interruption to the close.
Our friends in the low country will observe that this arrangement will exactly suit their cases; while our upcountry neighbors can manage their plans so that they will suffer no inconvenience from the new arrangement.

PERSONAL

-Miss Nannie Jefferies, of Union, made us a very pleasant call, though a very short one, on her way home from a visit to Newberry. The tenor of her conversation was toward the elevation of the standard of scholarship in the College. She wears one of our Badge-pins; and she does not wish its pure gold dimmed by any deterioration of our scholarly character. We thank her for her sensible suggestions; and we will try to govern ourselves accordingly.

- We are sorry to see Miss Juila Zeigler, of Abbeville, looking somewhat badly after a right serious attack of sickness. Our excellent chalybeate water, which has benefited her greatly more than once before, will soon bring back the roses to her cheeks, and send her on her way rejoicing. So we fondly hope.

- Mrs. Mollie Prince Fouche’, of Ninety-six, with her sweet little Pearl, has been spending a while under the parental roof, in reach of the healthful waters of our village spring.

- We got a mere glimpse of Prof. A.S. Townes, President of the Greenville Female College, as he passed through our village with a car-load of young ladies for his excellent Institution. In his company we noticed two of our last Session’s pupils, the Misses Holliday, of Horry, who have our best wishes in their new home.

- There is real pleasure in welcoming to our halls an earnestly appreciative pupil who comes back after an absence of a few years, and rejoices to see marks of progress since her departure. This pleasure we enjoyed from the short visit of Miss Leila Browne, of Storeville, the other afternoon. We are always glad to see her.


WHAT THEY SAY

- I am truly glad our College is publishing this paper; for it will give the former pupils an opportunity of keeping posted with the changes and improvements of our school. Being deeply interested in its welfare, I have often wished, since my leaving its walls, that I could have the pleasure of hearing from it more frequently. The Naiad will afford me this pleasure

- I send you my name as a subscriber for The Naiad, thus renewing my connection with the dear friends, who by their many acts of kindness have won a lasting place in my affections. Do not think, my dear teacher, that, during these years which I have elapsed since my departure, I have ceased to take an interest in you all. No: I can never roget my happy home at Williamston; and I thank the kind Providence which sent me there.

- I have just received and read the first copy of The Naiad, and I am really delighted with it. It made me feel so home-sick, or rather, Williamston-sick, that I almost shed tears over the little thing. I am very glad you succeeded in getting the paper published; for a monthly letter from you will help me to bear my disappointment in not being able to return to Williamston, and finish my College course.

- I pronounce the first copy of The Naiad a perfect success. You can not imagine what genuine pleasure I experienced while reading it. I almost imagined that I was again with my teachers and school-mates, so vividly did it bring to my mind the happy days spent at the Williamston Female College. In publishing this paper, you have made a decided hit. It will certainly interest, not only the pupils who are now with you, but those who have long since gone out from our dear old College.

THE NAIAD
No. 3 – October, 1884 – Circulation 1000

A FRIENDS OBJECTION

An esteemed friend of our College during a recent visit expressed earnest regret that we had discontinued presenting our pupils on the stage. He said, “If you had kept on giving the fine concerts that you used to give, you would long ago have been obliged to double the capacity of your building.”
While we think our friend’s ideas extravagant, we will admit their truth for the moment, and base our answer on the admission.
We discontinued public exercises in our school, because we reached the belief that the exposure of our pupils to the gaze of a mixed multitude on the Chapel stage was injurious to them, - that its tendency was to make them unduly fond of display, and to diminish those delicate qualities which constitute their highest excellence and charm. We believed that these results were accomplished at frightful expense of time, money and health.
Now, if our opinions are correct, our friend’s objection is ruled entirely out of order; for no consideration of pecuniary prosperity should induce us to pursue a policy which would tend to injure our pupils. If they are incorrect, we are open to conviction; but we have seen no symptom of reason yet for changing them or the plan based upon them.
It is at least ominous that the main objection to our private plan is that it causes the Institution to fall into the background, in comparison with its sister schools that persist in public exercises. Nevertheless, if so, so be it.

NUTTING

The afternoon of Oct 4th, instead of taking our usual short walk, we had leave from the teacher in charge to go nutting. We accordingly proceeded about a mile out of town to a grove where hickory nuts abound.
Of course, being freed from all restrictions, we acted more like a set of children than any thing else. Some were in such haste to cross the little creek, which flows through the grove, to gather the wild grapes on the other side, that, when they reached them, they were in quite a moist and muddy condition.
After finding all the nuts we could, we set off in search of ferns and grasses, of which we obtained some beautiful specimens.
Several hours sped away; and, before any were aware of the nearing close of the day, the tinkling sound of the call bell brought us together; and behold! The sun had quite disappeared from view.
On the homeward way, many comparisons were made of our various possessions. Some had one, and some an other; but all showed evidence of renewed life and happiness. Perhaps after all, it was for this that our good teacher and friend accompanied us nutting.

OUR EXCURSION TO PELZER

It was announced that Rev. H.F. Chreitzberg was to deliver a Temperance lecture in Pelzer, on Monday evening, Sept 29; and, as we had been unusually good on the previous Sunday during the absence of our President, he decided to reward us by letting us go hear it.
The conductor seemed very much surprised (knowing that school was still in session) to find us girls, waiting at the station to board his train. We had a very pleasant ride of two miles, which we would gladly have extended, if we could.
After leaving the Pelzer depot, we had a little distance to walk before we reached the Town Hall, where the lecture was to be delivered. We enjoyed the walk in the moonlight very much. The road was quite dusty; but we did not complain, for we knew before we started that we had to walk all the way back home.
When we reached the hall, quite a number had already assembled. We found use for our fans, as the room was somewhat crowded, and the boys would sit in the windows, and keep out the fresh air.
Mr. Chreitzberg entertained us somewhat over an hour with a very practical and interesting lecture on Prohibition. He is laboring for a good cause; and my God reward his efforts! May the time soon come when whiskey can be driven from the land, and peace and prosperity reign supreme.
After the lecture, we rejoiced to reach the open air; and we went down to see the falls. They are 21 ft high and about 200 ft wide, made by the skill of man combined with nature. As we viewed the water glistening in the moonlight, our souls were filled with rapture and delight. The scenery may be beautiful in the daytime, but it is perfectly grand by moonlight.
On the way home, we passed the time pleasantly, talking and singing. We reached home about 10 o’clock tired and dusty, but sober.

ARRIVAL OF TRAINS

Mail comes up at 5:07 p.m. Mail comes down at 10:48 a.m. Freight comes up at 6:50a.m. Freight comes down at 5:15p.m. All every day but Sunday.

PREACHING APPOINTMENTS

1st and 3rd Sunday morning and night – Methodist
2d Sunday, morning and night, Presbyterian
4th Sunday, morning and night, and Saturday morning before – Baptist

AUTUMN LEAVES FROM THE HEAVENS

While returning from our evening walk on the 4th inst., our attention was directed to the beautiful phenomena which attend an eclipse of the rising moon. The sun was almost setting in the west, as the full moon rose totally eclipsed. The possibility of seeing both bodies at once when it is impossible for both to be above the horizon illustrates very beautifully the elevating tendency of refraction upon the heavenly bodies near the horizon. We remained in the spring park some time, watching the moon gradually pass out of the shadow.
…Thus awakened, our attention was turned to the stars, which wer noted with interest by a few of us for several nights; but on the 9th especially, we were aroused an hour or so before sunrise, to notice Mercury, which had reached his greatest western elongation. From the observatory on the top of the College, we had a splendid view of him; and we watched him closely until he was lost in the rays of light. This is the last time during the year that he is favorably situated for being seen by the naked eye as morning star.
…As we gaze upon these far-off lights, a feeling of awe and softened melancholy comes over us, and we are brought more fully to feel that “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handywork.” – Maggie Houser W.F.C.

DIPTHERIA

The vapor from the burning of a mixture of tar and spirits of turpentine near the bed of a patient suffering from diphtheria, it is said, will melt the false membrane which is so often fatal in this dreadful disease. If this simple remedy is complete, as the French Academy of Medicine is said to have declared, it should be widely published.

ADVERTISEMENTS

A HOUSE AND LOT FOR SALE

In Williamston S.C.
A convenient House of ten rooms, very near the CHALYBEATE SPRING and in 200 yards of the FEMALE COLLEGE. Possession given at once. W.L. PRINCE


THE NAIAD
No 4. November 1884 Circulation 1200

LENDING NEWSPAPERS

By lending your Naiad to a neighbor, you may induce him to become a subscriber, or a patron of our College.
We will take it as a special favor, therefore, if every subscriber will show each issue to some influential friend, calling attention to such features as may secure the good-will and patronage of persons who now know nothing of our claims.

THE NAIAD
No. 5 December 1884 Circulation1000

NEXT YEARS OPENING

Our college will resume its exercises on Monday, Feb 2, 1885.
The First Section will be devoted to the Department of Language.
The Faculty will be the same as during the last Fall Session, with the single exception that Mrs. Mattie L. Prince will occupy the place of Mrs. L. D. Holmes, at the head of the Music Department.
The President of the College will come up from Wright’s Hotel in Columbia on Saturday, Jan 31, for the purpose of escorting pupils to Williamston. – Tie in with story from Quilt book about Samuel Lander grabbing a young ladies hand to comfort her as she was in the train station for the first time – PC

VACATION

Our premises are painfully quiet. An air of loneliness pervades the whole establishment. It seems to rest upon our entire village. We are in vacation. Our boarding pupils, with only three exceptions, have left us for their homes. The bell is silent all day long. What little work we do is done without a program; and, instead of the perfect system and discipline of the session, we have lapsed into a state of indolence and confusion.
We confess to a distaste for vacation for ourselves; and yet, perhaps, our young friends, who have been pursuing difficult studies more or less earnestly for several weeks, may need the relief and recuperation of total recreation and rest. And, so, we yield to the inevitable, and conclude with a hearty vacation greeting to our recent charge, and a sincere desire for their prompt return to their College home, after the highest possible enjoyment of their winter’s rest.

OUR CHRISTMAS TREE
The few vacation members of our household have had the usual pleasure of erecting the College Christmas tree. It occupied its accustomed place in No. 7, and bore upon its graceful boughs its multifarious fruitage, oranges, bananas, apples, candy, toys, books, and other presents, too tedious to mention. Beneath its loaded branches lay an artificial landscape, tastily devised and skillfully constructed, with birds aquatic, and terraqueous beasts in their appropriate elements.
To us all it was a means and an occasion for enjoyment.

NAIAD
NO. 6 January 1885 Circulation 1000

PLEASE GIVE CREDIT

It is gratifying to us to see in the columns of well-established newspapers articles that first saw the light in our little sheet, provided we see that due credit is given us for their authorship. We would modestly remind our stalwart confrere, the Boston Journal of Education, that our articles on “Words Misused” are all original with us. We are satisfied that the omission to give credit was an oversight; but still-------

ANNALS OF THE COLLEGE

Spring Session 1872

The exercises of the Williamston Female College were opened on Monday, February 12, 1872, in a two-story brick building on Spring street, which belonged to MM. Earle, Blythe, and Shumate, of Greenville, and had been occupied for years as the principal hotel of the village. The premises were leased by the stewards of the Methodist Church, as their contribution to the support of their new pastor, Rev. S. Lander, whit the understanding that he should look to the income of the Institution for the remainder of his living.
The Faculty consisted of Rev. S. Lander, President, assisted by Mrs. L A. Lander, Miss A.M. Hagen, Miss Sallie Mauldin, Miss Maggie McNinch, and Mrs. M.H.Swygert.
The second story of the wing, the former ball-room was used as the chapel and general study hall; and the primary school occupied the basement room which had served as the barroom of the hotel.

(From April 1885 Issue)

During the year 1873, the company resolved to enlarge the College building, and, accordingly, contracted for the erection of a three-story wing, 44 by 76 feet.
The corner stone of the new building was laid with Masonic honors on Wednesday Aug 27. ()
From this time forward, the walls rose rapidly; and the new Chapel, though not entirely finished, was occupied during the closing exercises of the fall session.




A pall of deep gloom was spread over the Institution during this Session by the untimely death of Miss Janie Foster, which occurred at 7 o’clock on Saturday evening, September 7th. This sad event called forth from her surviving fellow-pupils a series of resolutions expressive of ardent attachment for her, and sincere sympathy with her stricken mother, which were published in our first Annual Catalogue.
During this Session, several of the leading citizens of Williamston formed themselves into a joint stock company, and purchased the premises occupied by the College, for the purpose of establishing it on a more permanent basis. The Company thus formed leased the premises to Rev. S. Lander for the term of ten years from Jan 1, 1873.


BARTHOLDI’S STATUE OF LIBERTY (From March 1885 NAIAD)

We are indebted to MM. Root & Tinker, Tribune Building, New York, for a beautiful engraving of this celebrated work of art, a copy of which they propose to send prepaid to any Institution of learning applying for it.

The following statements are taken from the accompanying circular:

-The colossal statue by Bartholdi, entitled “Liberty Enlightening the World,” the gift of the French people to America, will be place upon its pedestal on Bedloe’s Island, in New York Harbor, during the present year.

- The statue, which cost $250,000 is finished, and will be ready for shipment to the country during the ensuing summer.
- The pedestal, including the foundation mass, will be 182 ¾ feet above low water.
- The pedestal proper will be 62 feet square at the base, 41 feet square at the top and 117 feet high
- The entire structure will attain a height of 329 feet above low water, and will prove a useful ornament to the metropolis, as well as a lasting honor to the nation.
- For the purpose of transportation to America, the statue will be divided into 300 distinct parts
- The cost of the erection of the pedestal is estimated at $250,000