Page 8 - 1983 Wardlaw Hartridge

4
The Eighteen
Eighties
The Civil War has ended, the South was being reconstructed, and people thought that things would finally settle down. They looked forward to reading new mazagines and newspapers as well as listening to Mr. Edison’s new inven­ tion, the phonograph. Women were in­ creasingly conscious of all the new fashions and dressed to look their best.
It was the immigrants, lower class mine workers, and farmers who really had to face grim reality and learn how to survive. The immigrants especially, traveling across the ocean to a nation of strange tongue and strange cus­ toms, were not usually welcomed by Americans. Only the factory owners accepted them, for the immigrants worked hard for little pay.
The lower class mine workers lived with the devastating knowledge that they would live and probably die in the dark, deep bowels of the earth. Their children learned at an early age that they, too, would spend the rest of their lives in the mines. These workers were not yet revolting, but they realized the need for some sort of labor union.
The farmers attained unity much more rapidly. They began to resist by forming "Granges.” At Grange meet­ ings they discussed how to get higher prices for their crops while lowering the present mortgage rates. Thus they sought to arise from the rut of poverty in which they had lived throughout their lives. Their struggle, along with the struggle of others, led the nation into the final decade of their century.
In the early 1880's Miss Julia Scribner was asked by one of her nieghbors to teach their delicate child, which Miss Scribner did in her mother’s home. Shortly thereafter other families wished that their daughters also be taught by Miss Scribner rather than in the existing school systems. Neither the Scribner home nor M iss Scribner alone would be adequate for the task ahead. there­ fore. the aid of Miss Adeline P. Newton was sought.
On Friday. July II. 1884, the first mention of the new school appeared in The Constitutionalist, a weekly Plainfield newspa­ per:
"The Miss Scribner S Newton's School
for young ladies, and little girls
will open about the middle of September. 1884. The English branches are taught with thoroughness. Instruction is also given in Latin, German, Drawing and elocution. A competent instructor is engaged for the French language. The announcement of place will be made hereafter. For particulars, Address Miss Scribner,
post-office box 98.”
The Misses Scribner & Newton's School for young ladies and
little girls opened its doors on Wednesday, September 17, 1884. The Constitutionalist did not mention where the school was located, however the 1884-1885 City Directory listed the school
at 21 E. Fifth St.
In 1885 the school's advertisement shows that the school will
continued on page 6