A SKETCH OF EDUCATION IX SOUTH CAROLINA. 473 



of Prof. Si'hoenberg. It is located in the society buildings, and fulfils to 

 a large extent, by its public features, the original aims of the benevolent 

 founders of the societ}'. 



ST. David's society, cheraw. 



St. David's Society was incorporated in 1778, but nothing was done 

 until 1787, when it was reorganized, and maintained a flourishing school 

 until 1836 or 1838. The society then closed an active existence, and the 

 buildings were transferred to private teachers. About 1820, the ladies of 

 the community established a female school of very high grade, which 

 lasted for ten years. The two societies then exchanged buildings, and 

 the St. David's Academy was "transferred to the Baptist Church for use 

 as a lecture-room. After the war, it was sold to the Freedmen's Bureau, 

 and it is now used as a school for colored children. In early days, 

 the school was patronized by most of the Pee Dee country. Col. W. H. 

 Evans, of Society Hill, says : " In ni}^ boyhood, we had scholars from 

 Cheraw to Georgetown. The rod, the dungeon and the fool's cap reigned 

 supreme. I have seen them all in full operation." The dungeon re- 

 mained until the transfer of the property to the Baptist Church. Dr. 

 Park and Mr. Handford, both afterwards professors in the South Carolina 

 College, taught here, as did also Judge Wilds. Further information about 

 the society can be obtained in " Gregg's History of the old Cheraws." 



the cheraw LYCEUM 



was organized 8th January, 1856, with a president, vice-president, a 

 l)ook committee of three, an executive committee of three, and a sec- 

 retary and treasurer. Monthly meetings are held, at which an original 

 e-53ay is read and some subject discussed. A course of public lectures 

 has been delivered ever since the beginning, and an anniversary oration 

 is pronounced on the 8th of January. An original poem is sometimes 

 read. The Lyceum has a well selected library. During the twenty-six 

 years of its existence it has exercised much influence in furthering the 

 enlightenment of the people. 



THE DE LA HOWE SCHOOL. 



Dr. John De la Howe, of Abbeville district, by a will dated 7th Sep- 

 tember, 1796, devised the bulk of his property to the Agricultural So- 

 ciety of South Carolina, in trust " for the purpose of establishing and 

 maintaining forever, at his former residence in that district, an agricul- 

 oi 



