Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-02

PrBLic SCHOOL ExAAiNArIox.-Tte annusl
examination Of the Male High School Of tn,
Fourth District fIsland) occurred yesterday after
noon. This school is taught by J. E. Thomp
son, Esq, who has fifty two scholars enrolled
and fifty -one attended the examination
The examination was conducted by Col Ran
dolph, Drs. Willett, Walsh and Ironsides, and
Aessrs. Whyte. Van Santvoord, Wilson, Pear.
son, Bacon and Price, Of the Board Of Trustees,
ana the Secretary Of the Board, Mr.. Ricketts,.
Among the large number of visiters were Miss
margaret Milburn, teacher Of the Female High
school Of the Fourth District, Mrs. Martin,
Misses Adams, Choate, Mooney, Sanderson, Ell
vans and Lee, and Messrs. Edison, =. J. Thorn
son and McCathran. teachers in other public
schools, and MIR. Richards, Principal Of the
Union Academy.
The exercises began with the examination OF
the lowest class in spelling, reading, and geo.
graphy. II is composed Of scholars who ha, G
entered within the year, without having attained
the usual proficiency in the primary schools
which Is required before their admission here
The reason for their being thus irIegularly trans
ferTed was that the primary schools might be
relieved Of the excessive numbers of scholar 8
they contained. Notwithstanding these disad-
vantageS, the boys acquitted themselves very
creditably, reading quite well and spelling sat
isfactorily. They also evinced a considerable
acquaintance with geography.
The second class was next examined in reading
and spelling They read distinctly and deib.
erately, usually pronouDcing and punctuating
well. James Egan, a little boy, who stood at the
head OF the class, read remarkably well, and
haif-a-doZen others almost as well as James. The
lessons were The Character of Addison as a
Writer" and " Filial Reverence both compost
tions for the practice of advanced scholars. In
spelling they mastered all the questions save two;
though some were OF difficult o. biography
The examination in read ing and spelling of the
highest class next succeeded. The scholars COM
pIising 1t proved to be good readers, and sener-
ally gave the appropriate expression to every SEN
tence so as to convey the sense of the text TO the
listeners. Their exercises were the interview
between Mr.. Dombey and Prof Blimkins, VIII, N
the former was about placing his son under the
tuition and guardianship Of the latter-an extra It
from Dickens's " Dombey Son-and % The In
terview between Roderick Dhu and James Fitz
James," They spelled some seventy words, and
were at fault only In two instances. Robt. Ricll,
Samuel Amery. and Peter w. Pearson were the
readiest scholars in this class, thou h the two
former are the smallest boys in 1t.
Original compositions. by Masters r w. Pear
son, Samuel AmeTy, n. Isd.lI John l. Came
ron, j. w Clute aud w II. Kidwell were then
read by their respective authors. These were all
surprisingly accurate in the construction Of their
sentences, and generally possessed fire shness of
thought and originality of idea really praise
worthy They were read very accurately, and
with a due degree of pertiBencc.
The FIRST and second classes next passed exam
nations in English grammar, the questions put
to the latter being confined TO the elementary
rules, while the former wele car led through a
l.
volving Etymologv, Syntax, Prosody aud Pune
tuation. Among other exercises, the first class
analysed the sentence g. Christianity is adapted
to the intellect, because it puts IL in possession
OF higher kind of knowledge than nature can
give. IL solves questions of different order :;
a'd these too, questions which mar, as an intel
lectual being. most needs to have soi.ed.n
The examination of the same classes i'm mental
and written arithmetic followed, and the schol
ars generally evnced comprehensive acquaint-
ance with, and practical appreciation of the
rules, which enabled them to solve problems
with remarkable CELEBRITY, and give the reasons
why the results we've obtained from the several
propositions. The ii 'st class, Sperially pvinced
a thorough acquaintance with the rules for work
Ing out answers to questions involving fractions,
whether the character of the latter was simple
complex or compound. This exercise closed by
their speedily obtaining the answer to the follow
ing rather intricate proposition; g Ii 100 men, in
20 feet long, 3 feet high, and , feet thick, how
many men will he required TO build all 10 feet
long, 10 feet high, and four feet thick in ~ days
working hours per day?'
After an examination in geography and men
snration, the scholars Were questioned in r-la-
ton to matters pertaining to the Constitution and
Government of the United States All these in
vestigations were attended with entirely satisfac-
tory results.
The examination ha, / ~ included Col RAJ
dolph asked for the attention of the >chOas
during few moments. He supposed they were
all fatigued, and acknowledged himself to be al
with this schOol-its scholars and teacher-the
Board OF Trustees are very well satisfied and
have been much pleased with the exercises of
this occasion: He reminded the scholars that
they are here for the purpose of qualifying them
selves to Nil the stations il may become their duty
to occupy later i'm life. They have a teacher. he
told them, highly capable of teaching them
and therefore they would have no excuse in after
life for not having lea ned while attending this
school. Those who shall improve their time by
studying diligently, are certain Of enjoying OPP
portuniy hereafter to rise in the social scale to
the highest walks of life, and ii is CONNIE ndabe
to put forth efforts for that purpose.
You Will daily see, continued Colonel X =, hun
dreds OF persons who are compelled TO continue
their whole lives In the most humble aud least
profitable pursuits, as well as many who
worthy of social position. Some are led into
these pursuits because they have had no chance
10 nj themselves to rise above them, while OF hers
owe 1t to their own neglect and vitiated tastes.
You now have opportunities to become ompetent
TO NIL high positions; your teacher abors to for
ward your improvement, and your friends look on
with solctude: and it rests with yourselves TO
acquire good education. Col. X. added few
more words of encouragement, and ex pressed his
appreciation of the interest manifested by the
scholars In this examination.
Mr.. Ricketts, also add ssed the school, and re-
ferred to the visit 4 Prof Dor aldsor, a bird
man, which occurred several weeks ago On
that occasion Frof. ID. had invited the scholars
to attend lecture to be delivered by him at the
Smithsonian, aud, while he did not make any
CLdISc ioi SUBMISSION. he lntlUldted that cOntrl-
buttons would be gratefully received, and PROM
Used that the school which donated the largest
amount should have Present of d basket
his own manufacture. This school, it seems
won the prize, and AIR. X. asked leave to deliver
the present to the teacher, whom he compli-
mented highly on having scholars capable of
such generosity.
Mr.: Thompson received the present and re-
sPonded happily to the remarks Of Mr. Ricketts,
lie also expressed his grateful regard for this
conduct on the part of his scholars, and encour-
aged them TO cultivate the quality of charity
towards the unfortunate. The donor received
his BEST wishes.
DIR. lronsides expressed his high approval of
the school The teacher and himself he re-
mar ked, had been school mates, and he was not
only gratihed to witness his success in his pres
.nt calling, but his visit to the school had awak-
ened very many pleasant "reminiscences He
congratulated the scholars and teacher on being
brought together in their present relative posi-
tions.
The school was then dismissed, at IA few min
ntes after O'Clock p. IN the examination having
commenced at O'Clock.
WATER The citizens Of the Second Ward
during the hot weather, have suffered greatly for
want Of sufficient supply Of water At tunes