MRS. MARY BARNETT HINE, COLUMBIA INSTITUTE CLASS OF 1868 (speech delivered at the annual banquet, May 30, 1930) "The Columbia Institute is very, very dear to me. My grandfather owned the ground it was built on. He made a liberal donation but did not give the entire lot. My mother went to school there a short while and all my aunts and cousins were educated there. I went to school there when small, something under ten years. Mr. Harding had charge and Miss Lizzie Chambers was my teacher. I distinctly remember one episode, I missed my spelling lesson and was kept in, when she called me up to recite my kept in lesson I missed every word, because I had not studied it, she reached over and slapped me and then I punched her, she then gave me a good whipping and my mother gave me another when I got home. I have never forgotten Miss Lizzie Chambers to this day. "The school was closed during the Civil War and was used as a hospital. Soon after the war Mr. and Mrs. Beckett from Louisville came to look over the school. They were at our home and my mother and grandmother were instrumental in their taking charge. I graduated in the class of 1868 the second year of Mr. Beckett’s administration 62 years ago. I was  Valedictorian and I had such a keen sense of humor that I wrote a humorous valedictory, I made every thing funny. I remember Mr. Beckett had the habit of calling everybody "My Dear" and one time a little dog found in the 3rd story he took the dog by his fore paws and gently pulled him down stairs each step. saying "Come on My Dear", all the way. That amused the whole school. These are the names of some of my class mates. Julia Rhone and Bessie Andrews, both of whom I dearly loved. They were from Pine Bluff, Ark., Floy Grey and Jennie Scott from Lexington, Ky., Sallie Temple, Mrs. Meckett’s. (sic) neice, Annie Miller and Clara Polk of Bolivar, Tenn. The following were the day pupils, Julia Baird, Lizzie Looney, Anna Nicholson, Mary Lou Pointer, Hattie Cheairs afterward Mrs. Norfleet Figuers, Ella Williamson, Dr. George’s mother, Hattie Webster from Cross Bridges, Mrs. Bruce Cochran’s mother, and; Fannie Williams of Lawrenceburg and Bell Gordon fromWilliamsport. "In 1891, 25 year later I became a widow and was left with three children. Mr. Beckett offered me the Kindergarten and Primary Department of the school. I was glad to get this place because I was obliged to earn my living and I could take my two oldest children with me. I held this position for 32 years without an intermission and I was very very happy in charge of some of the children and grandchildren of my former classmates. I realized my responsible position and I loved my work. "This is indeed a Grand old Alma Mater, very dear to every body who has been under the shadow of her tutelage. We citizens of Columbia are proud to have such an institution in our midst. May God bless and prosper this splendid monument of learning and inspiration. "MRS. MARY B. HINE, 1930." Source: "Historic Maury",p.81, Vol 6, 1970, abstracted by Virginia Alexander and Jill Garrett.