Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-07-31


shade. At about | o'clock, however, the
heavens became overcast, and during thu
! afternoon copious showers OF rain descended
which cooled the atmosphere considerably
the mercury in a short time falling from 81
| 10 S0' The rain was much wanted, and w
hope was general, as there is great com
plant Of the dry weather.
o. Thursday last, John Boltz, a newspa
per agent ADD carrier, while ascending lad
der upon the Capitol dome, in Washington
with bundle Of newspapers under one arm
missed his footing and fell distance Of
about twenty five feet, striking upon his side
and bruising his head very severely. 1t i:
believed that the skull was not fractured
and that no bones were broken; but the IN
fortunate man sustained serious internal in
iufies, aud his recovery was considered
doubtful.
THE ALEXANDRIA FREE School The
ton Star gives the following history Of the
Free School in this place: There is il the
Alexandria Library the miaute book Of the
Trustees Of the Alexandria Academy, ex.
tending over space OF fifty years. 1t is in
many respects highly Interesting document
ard az some weeks ago | made statement
with respect to the amount Of funds derived
from Gen. Washington by the Lancasterlan
School, hich | fad on reference to it 70
have been incorrect, have gathered from its
pages the following facts respecting the or,
ganjz atom Of that school:
While the scheme for establishing an
academy was in agitation in lIS5, General
Washington, who bad been elected one Of the
trustees of the proposed institution, address
ed his colleagues proposing to endow it with
the sum of Ct 600 for the education Of or
phan and other INDECENT boys. 10 letter
dated December 18th, he informed them that
he had intended to leave this money in his
will, ard could not conveniently pay the
whole amount at that time; but being apX!-
Gus to sec the workings Of his plan, he would
pay the interest during his life, leavlog his
executors to provide for the principal.
The third floor If the academy building
the CID brick house now sta"ding in the lot
AZ the southeast corner oil Wolfe and Wash
ing streets, was assigned for the free school,
and on the 10Th of April, lTs6, Philip Web
ster opened il with twenty free scholars,
mostly sons Of widows. A few girls were
admitted when there were not enough male
applicants, until Mrs. Washington, in her
will, made some provision for the gratutous
education of poor female children. A CCut
1874 Edmund f imOnd5 WAS elected teacher,
and the school continued thus until 1872, the
teacher being allowed 10 take frss ten, and
then fifteen aud twenty pay scholars, to exc
out his salary.
On the 2Sth of April, 1900, application
was made 10 the common cUuncIi, which. 1t
apueared. bad been ia the habit Of giving
eco per annum for the education of twenty
poor children, FIR the union OF the funds, and
5000 we're appropriated for the repairs 81 the
ACADEMY on the 23d of June, on condition
that forty free scholars he taught thereafter.
When the Laucasterlan system was intro
duced in 1872, the common council appropri-
ated 5000 Tor building the present school
house, and agreed to give $40 per sunum
towards the education OF two hundred boys.
The school thus improved, was opened 10 the
new building 10 September, 1872 MIR. Town
send Waugh being its first teacher. and con
tinuing ia office seventeen years. About the
same time the Female Lapcasterian School
on Columbus street (now Odd Fellows ualil
Urs built and Miss Rachel Judge elected
teacher. This school appears to have bad
hut short existence, and though commit
tee was appointed to ascertain the condition
of Mrs. " ashing,on's bcquest, their report
does not appear on the minutes.
On the 18th Of June 1899, the trustees
formally resigned the school 10 the Common
Council, 10 whose charge 1t has since re-
NAMED; and as the funds derived from WASH
iugton's estate appear to have been invested
in the stock OF TIE Bank If Alexandria, ard
were. Of course, lost, the whcle charge OF
maintaining it has fallen, for more than tweE-
ty years, upon the Corporation.
II will be re.opened on the 2]d Of August,
under the direction OF Mr.. Samuel l. Beach,
a young gentleman whose success 10 teaching
10 tie county schools, supported by the
State Literary Fund, has won for him the
entire confidence OF the superintendent and
commissioners"