New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-26
SCHOOL FESTIVAL IN BOSTON,
REMARKS OF EDWARD EVERETT

REMARKS OF EDWARD EN EhEll
At the Annual Festival Of the Boson Grammar School
Mr.. Manor. Ladies and Gentlemen, and my Young
Friends Of both SeLes: | have had much pleasure IN
complyg with the particular request OF the Commit
tee hat would be present on this occasion aud say
few words to onr young friends Dr. ohurtlen, III ue-
string me TO do So suggested reason that my con-
nection with the Public Schools of Boston, which be-
gan pupil fifty years ago, ceases tns year as
parent Having enjoyed their great advantages IN my
person and that OF my SOD feel klnd Oh uu'y 10
say grateful word at parting.
II was as have said, Sir, tiy-tSo years las Apn
since began at the Of nine years to attend Tue
reading and writing schools IN North Bennett-st. Toe
reading school was under Master Little, for Young
America had lot yet re; lated that utle ami the
wiring school was kept b, Master 1ileetone Master
Little in spite of his name, was giant IN stature-sN
feet four al east-and somewhat wed led to the past.
He struggled earnestly against the change then taking
place in the pronunciation of n and insisted on our
saving m0R0OMom and l0tr. But acquired, under
his tuition, what was thought III those days a very
tolerable knowledge of Ludley Murrays Abridg-
ment of Engeh Grammar, and at the end of the year
could palse almost any sentence in the American Pre-
ceItor.
Master Tiles,one was writing mas'er Of the old
school. lie set the copies himself and taught that
beautiful old Boston handwriting, which, do not
mistake has in the march of innovation (which Is not
ALWAYS ibe saIre = ing as Improvement been changed
very little for the better. Master fllestone was al
val ced in years and had found qualncahon iOr hls
calling as writing master IN what might have seemed
al fret TO threaten 10 be obstruction. The ringers
of bis rgl band bad been contracted aud sen,J IN
early life by burD but were fixed IN Just the posuon
10 bold pen and a penkulie-and nothing else AZ
thew VIZ re also considerably induraed, they served as
a convenient instrument ef discipline. \ copy baily
wit en- or a blOiied page was sometimes VISITED WIN
an infection which would have done no disereilt to
the beak of bald eagle. His long, deep desk Was
perfect curiosity shop of couhscaed balls tops, PEN
knives marbles ana iewharps-the accumulation OF
forty wears. desire, however, 10 speak oil nm win
gratitude for he put me Oh the track OF au acquisition
which / as been extremely useful 10 me IN amer me-
that of a plain, legible hand. iernalned at tle77
schools about sixteen months and had the good Tor
tune in 1904 TO receive the Franklin medal IN the En-
glish department. 49,,
After an interval of about year, during which
attended pryate school kept by Mr. Ezek e Webster,
~ New. Hamushire aud on occasion Of his absence,
NV lis eyer-memorable brother, Daniel Webster, al
that time a student of law Ia Boston, went 10 the
Lan school, then slowly emerging rom stae U *
IN mo depresion ID was kept IN Schools where the
Horticultural Hall now stands Those who Jadge OF
what the Boston L1tin School ought To be from the
spaco us and conmooous building in Bedford ST. can
form but little idea Of the eli schooLhouse IL eon-
tanned but one ROOM heated IL the Winter by an lron
sioye which sent up funnel into curious nricA
CHM G, built wn from the roof in the middle OF The
room To within seven or eight ter IRON me hoof DC
IN Ike Msomets coffin held IN the ar 10 inc rOol U!
hars of irp The bows had take their turns IN Nln-
Ter in coming early the schoolh0use to open II, to
make q fe sometimes Of wet logs and a very made
ouste supply of other cor busnbes to sweep or me
room. apO If need De, 10 euONti phtu uliou-h tue
snow 10 the street. These were rot very fascinating
duties for an urchn of ten OF eleven but Se livei
through it. and were perhaps not the worse Tor hsylhS
10 turn our hard 10 these little offices.
TIE standard Of scholastic attainment was certainty
not leher than that OF material comfort In those days.
We read pretty much the same bOoks-or OF the s-ae
elass-in Latin AZ d Greek Gs are read now putin
verv cursofv and superficial manner. There was no
attcrt ton paid to he philosophy of the !angualts-to
the deduction of words from their natural eenenis-t9
the niceiies Of consiruction-sti Iess 10 prosody.
never made en- hexsmeter or pent1meter verse IN
wears afterward Il had a at school IN LONDON VIC
occasionally required little air in that way lae suo
sdsrv rdillustrsiive branches were wholly unknown
in the Latin school in 1905 Such thing as 'eheoi
library. a. book Of ref renee, critical eolloh ol
classic map, a blackboard. an engraving OF anIicu.
building, or a copy Of work OF ancient AT; sncn -
now adorn tie walls Of our schools, was as hie Aho"
as tie electric telegraph. Ii our children VINO po7es
s these appliance and aids 10 learning 40 Dol oIeaI
excel iheir Parents thew viii be much to blame
At this school in lsO6 bad the sailsiaetvh 20 re-
eeve lie Franklin medal, which however a. ".n a.
That received az the English School N l,Ui ourls n;
stsence from the country ia early hfe was 20 ul'i
snete os TO lose. l begged my friend ~. Shu tlsH'
wear or more ago 20 replace then-these PIec,l!!
trophies of my schoolboy days-at my eS!ense, ~hicn
he promised 10 DO. lie has not yet had UNI 70 A'eP