Mount Vernon Seminary - Cupola Yearbook (Washington, DC)

Page 12 text:

1 fensley died, her debts of honor, as she called them, had been met in full and the indebtedness to the hanks reduced. In 1917 a spacious building of Georgian architecture opened its I riendly doors to old and new pupils. Since that time many girls have entered these doors; entered and left them finer and better women for the years spent within. Yet the school, so happily established, was to experience two losses. In November, 1923, Mrs. Hensley died. This was a great grief to all who had known her and had felt her inspiring influence. In the follow- ing June, Mrs. Somers also passed away. Miss Jean Dean Cole then took over the responsibility laid down by Mrs. Hensley, and continued the work that Mrs. Somers had started. Now, in the Spring of 1925, the Alumnae are erecting on the school grounds a memorial chapel to the founder. Within the chapel an organ dedicated to Mrs. 1 fensley will he built — on May 23rd to be played at the school ' s Golden Jubilee; Mount Vernon Seminary may pause to look back over fifty years of progress — golden years of earnest endeavor, devotion, and accomplishment. 1 hit the complete history ol the school is not written until an insight into the characters of its three head mistresses has been gained. For they gave to Mount Vernon Seminary its spirit and its standards, and what the school is today is due most of all to their personal contributions. Mrs. Somers believed that living is a fine art and should be cultivated by tbo.se attributes which make it so — gentleness, courtesy, and considera- tion. She gave to the daughters of Mount Vernon Seminary her love of beauty and high regard for the qualities of a true gentlewoman. Mrs, I iensley contributed her unfailing sympathy to the spirit of the school and to its ideals her absolute integrity of heart and mind. One cannot mention Mrs. Hensley without also speaking of Miss Cole, the present head mistress. For years. Miss Cole, as associate principal, by her industry, her courage, and her progressive sin, pint the policies of Mrs. Hensley into practical action. Miss Cole’s vitality and force inspire in the girls a desire for progress and self-improvement. She is a fit guardian of all that is finest in the school, and under her, it may look forward to a sure future as well as back to an honorable past. Isamu, Crmi-u .