Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-29
coMMuNIcATED.l
AN INTERESTING SPECTACLE.

AN lNTERES TING SPECTACLE.
On Thursday, the 25th instant, a class Of in
FAINT scholars from Mr.. BAcoN's School at Alex
andris, consisting OF eighteen children, between
the ages Of two and eight years, the youngest
being only two and half years old, many OF
them with their parents, waited on the Presia
den, al his house, and were very kindly receiv-
ed by him.
The boys were observed to have lunches Of
roses in their bu,ton-holes, and the girls at
their waists. Tie Teachers, Mr.. BACON, from
Philadelphia, and Mr.. lBsErsoN, late Superin-
teudent Of the Philadelphia, and now Of the
Baltimore Central Infant School, marching lii
at the head Of The Scholars, were introduced TO
toe PRESIDENT and his family, and TO the Sc
cRETARY OF WAR, who was present, by the Rev.
Mr.. DANFoRTH. The ATTORNEY GENERAL
came in during the REGULATIONS. The President
spoke to the children individually with great
Kindness and condescension Of manner. His
silver locks, as he bent down TO speak eucou-
raginely 10 them, contrasting the lipeness OF
venerable age with the extreme youthfuness OF
the lIule ones who STOOD around him. The
children appeared much pleased with the at
lention paid them by the President.
When hey had rang. d Themselves in single
line across he room, Mr DANFoRTH addressed
he President briefly, rs nearly as we can re-
coll c., in the following Terms: He said, that
il wa with the utmost pleasure he, with the
teachers, presented these li,lle members oil the
national! family, to one who might be consider
ed the father of that family, as specimen OF
The style of infant education, lately introduced
into this counry-tbat he trusted they would
receiye the favourable notice of the President,
and If he might De permitted for the moment,
To consider himself as speaking iii the name oil
all the friends & promoters Of infant schools III
! the United S .tes, he could assure !he fiesl>
der: nothing would more cheer and animate
them, in their arduous labors, 'ban the know
ledge OF his appreciation and support; that
amid all the multiplied civil and political cares
| of his high staion, he hoped the cause OF ec-
uca,ion and o! infant schools, would meet with
tnar attention demanded by the influenoe which
they we're 10 exer, on the dcslnies OF The coun'
try.
! To this the PRESIDENT replied, that il pleas
ed him 10 see The lil,le children who had come
TO nav him This vsit-thal in Republic Ike
ours, education, and particularly The education
of the young, was Of the frs, importance. Up
on The rising generation, he looked with mueh
interest, and he hoped that The efforts mace Tor
their instruction, would be successful. The
schools established on plan by which ins,ruc-
excellen, effect in re moviog Ignorance aud vice
Some additional remarks were made, not dis
tine ,ly recollrcted, but all indicative Of appro-
baton on he part Of the President, Of the Ell
forts making Tor the cause OF education.
The children then commenced the peculiar
exercises Of the infan, schools, SO different from
tive usual practice OF our schools, consisting OF
rtci,a,ions, marching, singing, marking time,
manual ges,uring, SC. with which the Presi
den, expresss d himself much graih,d.
Those exercises, occupying about an hour,
were performed wi h so much originality and
vivacuy, and varied judiciously by Messrs. Ba-
con and Ibbetson, as TO sustain the interest
hiough"ut, and TO impress on the mind ofev,
nv observer, the conviction Of The superb att, t
importap ce Of infant schools.
The Georgetown Columbian speaks in high
terms Of The performances Of the lHfant soho'
las at DIR. Balch's church or Wednesday last.