Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-07-21
For the Vindicator.
Monterey Acadan,v

<pr LUG " lHulcatoF.
Monterey Academy.
MfssRs. EDIToRs:-The annual exam
ination Of this School took place on the
9th ult., and it is proper to take some no-
tiet' OF it, together with the exercises IN
connection. M
Z When, few years ago, the county Of
Highland was formed and the seatsof JUS
tiee fixed upon, the first public building,
next 10 the Court House and Jail, erected,
was Il neat aud commodious brick Acade.
my, It's not our desire 10 enter into any
fodious contrast yet as startling facts NAV
promote useful inlormation il may pot De
amlss TO state them. We say, therefore,
that such public and patriotic spirit
among the scattered aud secluded people
of the mountains, is in strange contrast
with that OF "a neighboring, though not oil
an adjoining couaty The latter, though
one OF the oldes, and wealhiest IN IVES,
tern Virginia, has never had at her seat Of
justice, p sci,aol house of any kind, ill
within the last three years. Ii is proper
to add, in connection. that the las. census
revealed the fact, that IN the latter county
there were $3.50 over the age Of twenty
W o can neither read nor write. 1t may
not be amiss to state further, that but for
citizens of the county referred to, High.
land would have had very little use for
her jail.
Bnt to the examination. A numerous
School has been kept in Monterey from
the existence Of the yiiiage. During tnt
past session, the number in the Academy
under the care of Mr.. Hull, as Principal
was about fifty. These, OF course were
in various departments from the clemen
tary branches Of our language and up
ward. Some were IN the higher brancile.
OF Mathematics, and a goodly number ii
the Classics. In SO large number it can.
not be expected that all will make equa
proficiency. Atan examination. therefore
properly conducted, some will appear te
greater advantage than others. This j.
| owing to different grades OF intellect, self
possession, industry, &c, At the exa.niha
ton referred to, those Yin the elementary
branches were passed over for want o.
time. OF the others it would be difficult
to compliment too highly most Of those
composing the classes in the English aud
Latin, Grammar, Caesar, Geography, Arith.
metie, and Algebra. or most Of these
branches, such tests were applied as made
it evident they had been well drilled by a
competent Instructor. =
On the day following, the Methods,
Church was wei! filled with the citizens
Of Monterey and the surrounding county
10 hear what the boys could do at declana-
ton. This was confined to discussion
on the Pacific Railroad. In this, four or.
" participated. 10 reference to it I will
only say have seldom heard boys acquil
themselves better. This was followed BY
an address from the Rev. James Raplse y,
OF Rock bridge, rep!ete with practical good
sense and sound instruction. A teacher
from a Stale Of schools, said sit was the
best address Of the kidd to which she had
ever listened On the whole, the im-
pressiops made BY observations exercises
were highly saluiary. People seemed to
have. b.tn aware of ha.rnr,,fai r.sonrcps
Of Highland. trust they went home
under the impression that il is their duty
10 see that these resources <be developed.
| trust also that this Academy is destined
to be no inconsiderabie feeder to our high
er literary Institutions.