Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-10-26

Of Philadelphia, has given an interesting
account OF visit to the Farm School a,
Thompson's Island in Boston harbour
The following is the concluding part Of
his communication.
BOSTON FARM SCHOOL.
The oyerseer Of the farm is Capt
Chandler; a practical farmer of sood
sense and good temper; a steady thor
oughgoing man and witha! good dis
ciplinarian.-He very cour,eously &C.
companied me through all the depart.
ments OF the institution, aud explained
TO me IFS various management. About
100 boys were at the place, nearly three
iourths OF whom were natives of Boston;
OF the balance. more than halt were ma
tivcs Of New England. The mass of the
boys are from . to IL years old, six or
seven only being under nine and about
the same number over twelve.
The number received, on board, the
second year, was only ~. These were
charged. on an average. S | 90 per week,
ana OF 10 who were sustained holly by
The charity OF the institution, nearly or
quite all were either orphans, without
friends 10 protect them, or the children
oil parents for the most part Of widowed
mothers) whose poverty or inability to
support them. lthe result sometimes of
misfortune, but too often of improvidence
and vice. leave their children TO physi-
cal suffering and moral exposure. The
primary object OF the institution being
10 take care Of those who have none else
to care for them, the admission OF those
whose parents have the means of sustaiu>
Ing them elsewhere. has been very rare
Of the Is received on pay, all were idle,
refractory and ungovernable, whose mo-
Tiers were compelled to work out for
livelihood or whose fathers were at sea
or abroad at labor.
The building is well arranged aud
the out buildings commodious and very
complete. Every thing is neat and tidv.
The school room is large and finely ven
tlated, US are also the dormitories
These last occupy hall, and the berths
or cribs are arranged one above the other,
in three or four tiers. The beds and
bedding were clean and comfortable and
many of the details of arrangement are
well worthy of imitation in some of our
institutions in Philadelphia. The lar
ger part Of the boys, (all the smaller
class. were in school. We heard some
OF them read. who were unable 10 read
their letters when they came there, and
there can be no better reading. never
heard SO good in common school in
New England.
A detachment of Is or % boys were
seen on the marsh, near the margin of
the Island, gathering in hay. They
came up to dinner while was there,
aud a happier, healthier company could
not wish to see. They were bare foot
ed, but comfortably clad On the first
of October they have shoes, and on the
first OF November stockings are added.
The overseer is required to take such
boys upon the farm as may seem best
fitted to work with advantage, and they
are formed into squads or companies,
with alternate labor and schooling. In
the busy seasons Of the year, large
number are upon the farm, and in The
winter the time is chiefly occupied in
study.
Those boys that ere designed for the
farm, as business are well trained in
every branch of it. Several Of the BOYS
are entirely competent to manage farm
now, so far as practical knowledge is con-
cerned. Such branches as pruning and
ENGRAVING fruit trees, raising seeds OF
flowers aud vegetables for the market,
butchering and putting down meats
which are sometimes considered an ex-
traordinary ccompIishment-are un-
derstood by the elder boys very thorough
ly.
Each boy has small plot of ground,
(ali OF them in one enclosure,) which he
cultivates at his own discretion. 1t is
his miniature farm. Some raise flowers
and some vegetables-aud all deserve
great credit for the neatness aud skill
which were manifested throughout the
territory.
The whole island, comprising sever
al hundred acres is appropriated 10 the
school. A stock Of thirty COWS, is kept
aud proper stock Of swine, poultry
&c The buildings for tools farming u.
tensils' carts, Sc, were highly commo
dious and well arranged, aud kept il
fine order. Two boys thirteen years old
are estimated as fully equal to man, il
wedding or hoeing.
The school is open the year round
morning and afternoon; and the boy,
are taught reading, writing, arithmetic
and geography. The elements of prac
teal science are practically taught them
from day to day, in the progress Of iheii
labor.
The religious instruction Of the house
| suppose 10 be regularly and proftably