Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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OLD UNIONVILLE FEMALE ACADEMV (Continued from page 12.) crowning the lonely mound with fr<;sl flowers. A loving deed that beauli fully closed for all time the recorf of May Day festivities of the Union ville Female Academy. FAMOUS MAY PARTY. Unionville Female Academy. May 1, 1855. Orator?States Rights Gist. Queen?Miss Mary Ellen Dunn. Arch-bearers?Miss Victoria Rice Miss Laura Gibbcs. Crown bearer?Miss Bettie Goude lock. Crowner?Miss Joscpha Dogan. Pole bearer?Miss Alice Hoey. Maids of Honor?Misses Sallie Wii kins, Mary Clark, Emma Dogan Maria Goudelock. Seasons. Spring?Miss May Sims. Summer?Miss Marila Beaty. Autumn?Miss Medora Gibbes. Winter?Miss Columbia Herndon. Months. January?Corinne Reid. February?Miss Bettie Noland. March?Miss Maggie Worthy. April?Miss Charlotte Sims. May?Miss Aurelia Jeter. June?Miss Theodora Young. July?Miss Susan Scaife. August?Miss Sallie Cooper. Stptember?Miss Nancy Thomson October?Miss Laura Whitlock. November?Miss I.eannah Scaife. December?Miss Nannie Goudelock Floras. Miss Eugenia Rawley. Miss Delia Sims. Miss Frances Rawles. Miss Eugenia Gibbes. Miss Maria Flannigan. Miss Frank Peake. Miss Cattie Gage. Miss Rosa Wright. miss ruien rounjr. Miss Mary Brandon. Miss Mary Herndon. Miss Mary Bobo. Note of invitation addressed t< orator for May 1, 1855: "To States Rights Gist? "The younp: ladies of the Unionvilh Female Academy request you to fav or them with an address at their con templated celebration of the first o May, next. "Unionville, March 28, 1855. "Mary E. Dunn. "Josie C. Popan "Bettie H. Goudeloek "Arsinoe E. Jeter. "Committee." The above is the first draft of in vitation. evidently written by a man and intended to be copied and signe< by the committee. (Answer to "request" which ha; not come down to us.) [The YI7*11 jT Will I] Betv Enroll Now i: ho The) "Unionville, May 4, 1855. "Young Ladies?I have read with unfeigned pleasure your note request" ing a copy of the address I had the honor to deliver before you at your - celebration of the first of May. I 1 assure you that the gratification oi ~ your slightest wish would be a source ' of pleasure to me but as the address - was imperfectly prepared, and intend ed for the amusement of the hour which purpose I trust it effected, 1 must reluctantly decline your highly complimentary request. "Allow me again to express my gratitude for the proffered honor, believe me your kindness will ever live in my memory and the first of May 1855 often referred to as the most det lightful evening of my life. Accept my sincere thanks for the very grace. ful and kind manner in which yoi have been pleased to convey your re quest. I remain your obt. servant and admirer, "S. R. Gist. ? "Miss M. E. Dunn "Miss J. C. DoRan "Miss R. II. Gtiudelock "Miss A. E. Jeter." Mytholopical May Party?1861. Union Female Acedemy, undei manaRemont of Miss C. M. Reid. (From memory of one of the Rodesses) Queen?Miss Bettie Noland. Venus? Crowner?Miss Mary Heron. Minerva? Sceptre Bearer?Miss Hattie Heroi Juno? (costume, pink) Aurora?Miss Josie Worthy. (Costume pink and Rold) Goddess of Nipht?Miss Saral Chalk. (Costume black and silver Silver crescent in front of her.) Iris?Miss Anna Hames. (Costume, all colors rainbow) Goddess of Justice?Miss Jennii Gibbes. (Cistume. white; balance it one hand, sword and chain in other. Ceres?Miss Ophelia Dawkins. Jupiter?John GaRe. (Wearing crown and holdinR thunderbolts.) Nine Muses?No record remain: ( as to names. (White robes, eacl holdinR characteristic article.) Three Graces?No record of names (Costumes white, a Rarland of whit< J roses held by ripht hand of each Rirl. Diana?Miss Janie Noland. Cos " tume?Rreen and white, Rreen slip ^ pers, white shoes with Rreen ribboi plaited around from slippers to knee with a larpe Rreen bow at the knee Dress white with short very full skirt and preen bodice. Silver crescent ii hair, silver quiver filled with silve arrows on left shoulder, how in ritfh hand. Nymphs wore same costum - minus the crescent, i, Cupid?Tommie Andrews. (Cos1 tume to suit character) ? The beautiful speeches are not o s record. Diana introduced herself thus: Mod =c live Awa To a StucU veen Now if n i7Aiin 5 ^ UUI VJLI me, and i Al Vlode "I am Diana, the Queen of the chasi i I bound o'er the hills with a nimbi grace." While Aurora announced: "I am Aurora, the queen of th F morn, : So brilliant and beautiful in th i first dawn; With an eye so ravishing, a mat , ner so sweet 1 That 1 quickly enchant whomever ' meet." r The pretty speeches of the otht deities and their attendants have n< , come down to us, nor is there any re< i - r iL.. t ? -a i? urn 01 me ceremonies at >11. rarna: sus?which was situated back c Judge Dawkin's residence. Clouph Culp addressed the Queer "'Tis the month of May. And these buds and flowers I'll strew around thee in fragrar showers. And their incense shall rise as a sa< rifiee To the lovely Queen of these ros hours." He concluded by saying: "We shall have desert upon the tabli An address, and a pretty one. too, As we've always been taught to giv way to the able-I bid you a kind adieu." Prof. I). A. Townsend was then it troduced and made a beautiful at dress. And then there came a suppersuch a supper as the -o latter da> can't conceive of?for there wei ) cooks in those olden days. Poun cake equal to theirs will never, neve be made a pa in in this world. ^ An Interestinp Letter. "Clerks Office, July 7. 1852. "Younp Ladies?Allow me hereb to present to you this little pi ft as token of my hiph appreciation of yot past favors in decking, now and thei 1 my lonely and dreary windows wit beautiful bouquets, which to my o ten depressed and melancholy spirit "civ- (iiiiiu^t ao vaimai cuni'j <t oasis to the weary and panting tra^ s eler whilst wandering o'er the va: and parching plains of the seeming] sky-bound desert. "And for which favor permit it . here, likewise, to present my mo; grateful thanks, and at the same tiir beg the continuance of the same ar alike tokens of friendship. With tt" highest respects, I am your moi ' obedient servant, "I. G. McKissiek." i We found this missive enclosed in r very dainty little envelope, oniamen t ed on the left hand corner by a vei e pretty flower basket in bright colo: that have not faded. This envelope addressed to Miss Josepho Doga Miss Laura Gowing, Miss Bott 11 Goudelock, Miss Emma Dogan, Mi Lara Gamewell, One of the girls of that olden tir ern I 1^^ mammm L ly an U1 >nt Making a Oct. < 1 Order tance to also to w SK AI rnBi TOWNS \e f - : ofr tio ie * V Col. I. G. McKissick an< * sm writes: "We were all very fond of ^.a Mr. McKissick. lie was always such , good company and so ready to help us ... c' out in all our plans. He wrote our *1 verses and speeches for our beautiful ( 0 May Parties, and never failed us )o when we called upon him. All the trirls were triad to show him their apJ" preciation of his pleasant kindnesses and courtesies." An invitation written in a school triil's hand addressed to the orator nu ,s for May 1, 185<?: en< 'd . . "March 27, 185(5. ,r "Mr. McKissick?I he yountr ladies tot of Unionville Female academy have dis passed a resolution invitintr you to tie- 18; liver an address at the Female Acad- fin eniy on the evenintr of the 1st of May Co next. The undersigned beintr appoint- to ? e?l for this purpose take transcended tal a pleasure in communicating to you the tin ir intelligence of your appointment. The foi n young ladies are satisfied that by to complying with their request the in- clu r terest of the occasion will be greatly afl s enhanced, and that the flowery festiv- ga n* ities of the occasion will he far more tor acceptable to the audience. We bo- chi lievc that you will not withhold vou>- of ly assistance from us but that by com- stc plying with this invitation, so unaniie mously extended by the school, you th< will lay us under still deeper and fur- his ie ther obligations. The season will h?> of ({j one of joy and gladness?the sky will ie bend in benignant beauty over us; th< sf- the flowers will yield their gorgeous cot colors and intoxicating perfumes; the a birds will warble in the proves and I tio the gentle breeze will rustle the nu a leaves and give bloom and giory to pii t- the young flowers. The sun will shed St; y his polden lipht upon the opening , int rs scene, and the moon with silvery He is sheen will add new glory to the fes- of n, tive scene. Re with us then and len'd th: ie the charm of your eloquence to swell ho ss the attraction of the scene. th "Hoping you will comply and reit- th gating the expression of the unadul- 1 M hisines INIOP VDERW001 Certain Numbc 3th anc to Get i get a Bus 'in a good BOUT I isines END HALL / ated joy we feel in beiiitf the or>;ai the school in extending the invita n, we raman?" rhe committee had not signed i t Miss Josepha Dogran was queei * this year and would naturally ce been chairman of it. rhe May Party of 1850 was a mos igrhtful occassion even to think of ir younjr irirls in dainty white witl ppy smiles and lovely flowers are ; r wherever found. One present 01 s occasion tells us that everybody joyed the festivities and cverythin} s very beautiful. The orator s< ijrhted the audience that at tin lclusion of his address the jriiT >wned him as they had crownei u-. i ? > ?|uv;vm, ruijvin^ an iir in?v\i*u (h1 e them: fe crown thee with the wreath o fame, 1 honor of McKissick's name." In the picture that has come dowi us he is holding the queen's scent n il a beautiful cake stands on ; all table beside him. He seems t< ve laid aside his crown in favor o : sceptre. l'he Queen in 185b was, we think ss Josepha Dojran, the younpes the five daughters of Dr. Jos. 1! Kan. No other data has com* ivn to us. School Data. Rev. Colin A. Murchison was : mber of the South Carolina confer :e lotip before the war, and til 1cm no of the most important appoint nts in the conference. He was pas of the Washington Street Metho t church in Columbia, S. C. fron 32 to 1851), and was then appointei ancial ajrent of the conference fo lumbia College. It was largely tin his work that the colleire was < < dished. In 1851) he had finish* < j canvassing necessary for th jndinu* of the college and was sen Union, S. C. as pastor of the M. I' inch in that town. Not very Ion; :er his settlement in Union, he or nixed a Preparatory School then ichinR first in the ohl Methodis ureh which was on the present sit the Union and Buffalo depart men ire. In 18(52 he was elected principal o i Unionville Female Academy air ; Preparatory School became a par that institution. His wide acquaintance throuyhou ? State and the condition of the 1*>\ untry because of the war broutrh preat many yirls to the upper sec >ns of the State. The increasinj mber of applicants for board fron rls in the Tower countries of th Lite induced Mr. Murchison to mov .0 what was then called the (Jos >tel which occupied the present sit the Citizens Bank building. Fror is time till the close of the war th use was filled with school trirls an e heavy demands of the school upo e time and strength of Rev. Mi urehison forced him to withdra1 s Co SJ= ) TYPE1 t of Points I Nov n the siness C Typewi X! sCol ii from the conference and devote him self to educational work. After the burning of Columbia t Sherman continued his famous i "March to the Sea." As Union was not one of his objective points large quantities of government cotton was stored in the town. The old Hib, t CJoss & Culp Co. building on the cot ner now occupied by the store of \Vi! i Imrti llros. was tilled with bales of i cotton. The store-room, outhouses, i ami back yard of the (loss Hotel were i' tilled with cotton. Kverybody knew t that tho torch would he applied to a'l -> this if Shoiman's men should enter i? Union. So when a courier galloped into the town and announced that 1 Sherman's troops had reached Hroad - river excitontent and terror reached the highest pitch. Mr. Murchison C promptly moved his family and school trirls into the McXally house on the corner, south of the Menu place, now the property of .1. <Wallace. The 1 house was only one story and very small. In order to accomodate the 1 family, and school of -10 girls had to he packed into two rooms. Hut no' hody complained of the crowding together. all seeming to feel that the liiggoi the crowd, the safer the indi* viduul. It is prohalde that Mr. Murchison cave up the school work and relun ed to the ministry in lNtiti. NOHl KSSK OHLK.i:. To thi young people of Union and 1 Union County: " In collecting and preserving the H<tory of our town and county 1 wi-t of course, to honor those who have passed av iy. Hut 1 know full well that the forgotten and unhonored 1 dead sleep as sweetly as they who rest in mausoleums like tnose of Na1 poleon and (leant. 1 am working not 1 in their interests hut for >uu and for those who are to come after you. 1 hope to put into your hands the won1 derl'ul story of the settlers, saints, and soldiers who have given you this " county with ail that goes with it. As L you read the story i hog of you to hear in mind this little incident. ' Years ago the son of a famous preacher and scholar entered the freshman class of Davidson college. 1 One afternoon in answer to what he . considered an insult, the young man . drew himself up to his full height and said, "1 avn the son of Dr. So and So." .-\ stuniv upper ciuss man uyi*u rum ( k t iily for a moment, shook his hea<l sorrowfully and said, "I'oor Or. So ( and So." ^ Check Kidney Trouble at Once. e There is such ready action in Foley ? Kidney Pills, you feel their healing s from the very lirst dose. Backache, e weak, sore kidneys, painful bladder n and irregular action disappear with e their use. (). Palmer, Green Bay, d Wis., says: ."My wife is rapidly ren covering her health and strength, due r. solely to Foley Kidney Pills." Sold by w all dealers everywhere. liege 1 IVRITFR r. 1st Contest ourse at iter. liege!