New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-27
THE FREE ACADEMY,

To tie Eddor g The NJ T. Tribune
SIR: have few words to say about the Free
Aosdemy and as have the interest of many of your
readers at heart, trust they will pay minute aten
ton TO ny statement.
Toward the end of the last century, poor Lad left
his native village, in of the eastern counties of
Scotland. He went to India, and there he amsssed
considerable fortune which, his DEATH he bequeath
ed to his native parish. One cOnditonw expressed
in bis will, viz: the principal to be invested
to yield permanent beuelt to all the poor OF that
parish Various plans devised by the executors,
but at last it was resolved to build large and elegant
Academy for the education Of the youth of both sexes
and to endow some six or seven masterships. The
modern and the classical anguages were to be taught
and the exSct sciences were 10 form an important
branch Of instruction. The Professors chosen were
inca Of some literary eminence, and their reputation
soos drew to the village numbers OF wealthy fanlles,
whom the absence of school fees siterward induced
10 form permanent residences in the village. AT hrst
everything worked TO admiration. Tho son OF the
peasant stood up in class, in his clouted shoon and
coarse heirn shirt besde the elegantly dressed scion
Of wealth and rank and brayely did he hold his own
IN tho contest Tor academic honors. But as soon
the rustic student was prepared ~ enter with expect
ant mind, the higher departments of literature and
sciencv, the requirements vi seli-suppor recalled him
from intellectual labor and the neshboing qusrre.
and cosle ries gave pew aud different direction to hi,
future movements. Thus the academic ground wa,
TO remain through sl the terms of ace literary and
scientific courses and the fruit Of the knowledge
held up so tantsbzipgy 10 the peasan; scholar, drop
ped, through default into the palm Of MS wealthy
competitor.
The bistory OF This Scottish Academy Is that IN gcn'
era Of institutions ibeialy endowed Tor the oeneh
Of the working classes Ihese classes are, by suppo
stop poor and tho poor can receive only part Oh tue
favor intended for them; for, granted thst hoeral
education is provided for their youtn, ana allowing
their children possessed Of the average mental ca
pscity, another requisite il necessary, VIZ the
OF decent support during attendance on the fIoiee
som leoturee. Our own Free Academy Is not an ex-
cepton to the general rule. Some youths belonging
10 our working Glasses and selected from the common
hero IN our Public Schools for ther superior attain
meats may oSter the junior classes and possibly con-
TIVE 70 remain there year longer STILL the diif'
Guilty which thor families meet, aud the many sacri-
tees which they mus make, 70 maintain them decent
~ TIL the age OF nineteen or twenty, impediments
scarcely 70 be- surpovnted and such as no generous
minded youth would suffer bis friends TO face on his
account We made 1t an object to attend the public
examination recently held at tho Free Academy.
While istesng 10 the exercises Of the students we
had opportunities OF noticing the general appearance
OF the different classes, well Of comparing the
seeming condition of the various members OF the same
class Among the juniors were some, indeed, who to
Judge frvm their drcss, would say did really be-
long to families among our working population and
grsstipg that they had passed from the benches Of