The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-07-13
Corr..po.A.1,s ii Is. uouu..lu D~.Oer...
81 DORADO, June ~, 1851.

EDITORS DEMOCRAT: We have had q
most excellent treat in our place during
the past few dayA On Wednesday, the
18th Ult, Mr.. johnson, teacher OF Our
school, commenced his seml.annual ex.
animation. He had his room most bean.
tifully fcsiooncd. Above was q large
American flag; in the centre . life size
portrait Of the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas,
trimmed with Grape. Above were two
American fags crossed; between, were
the following notices, American Inde-
Pendente, won by the sword, and will be
protected BY the sword" On the right
and lelt, portraits Of the American Presi-
dents. In brief, the room vas tastefully
and ariistically srranseds displaying much
taste on the part OF teacher and pupils.
Sir. johnson when interrogated in regard
to the richly dressed room Of pictures,
flags. and 6OW ers, gave nil the credit to
his pupils, Of whom he is justly proud.
The examinations commenced Wednes.
day, l9th, at which time the Rangers were
thoroughly examined In OrthOgraphy,
reading and simple numbers Thursday,
Trojans and Invincibles we're examined
in the various branches common to An
English education. Where all did so well
We will not attempt to particulArizc. We
observe two new features in Mr.. JOhnson's
examination. First, he has familiarized
his pupils on general questions, pertain
ing to practical life. Some hundreds Of
questions were answered promptly, which
are not found in the usual course Of
studies
Secondly, Mr. johnson holds the opin.
ion that Il II As much benefit, II not more,
that pupils, especially female, should be
encouraged in domestic rs well as in men.
tai work. lie therefore offered two prizes
to the pupils making tho bcct and second
best loaf Of bread There were some
twelve competitors, and on Friday the fol
lowing exercises were conducted: A spell.
ing contest and bread exhibition.
Committee on spelling-MeSsrs. Sim.
mons, Bartlett and Parker There were
SIX prizes, won as follows: First prize,
Wcbs,er'S Pictorial Dictionary, Richard
Irvine; second. ThOmpSon'S Travels, two
fine volumes, Miss Jennie Cray; third,
M'rs Mary Van Fossen; fourth, Master
L. Thorntin; fifth, George Hatch; sixth,
Miss Caroline Van Fossen. After which
. large volume was offered for the pupils
to compete fo.. 1t was won by Miss {.
Van FosSen.
During the contest in spelling, there
were three three thousand four hundred
ard seventy -four words given to the class.
The Committee on Bread, was composed
Of McssrA Chapman, Bryant and McCOr.
mick. First prize was awarded to Miss
Charlotte. Wctherwax; second, to Miss
Maggie Briggs.
During the days Of the examination
there were many persons present, among
them a number Of ladies. Mr., johnson
read his school record; the number Of days
in attendance; general average, visitors,
etc. We find the school has averaged, in
daily attendance, since January LIST, 46;
visitors present, two hundred and twentyi
lectures to the school, fifteen. There are
many other items Of interest to patrons in
the report.
The school will open again July 22d.
The house has been recently thoroughly
repaired, and now ranks among the best
and the school is under the management
Of gentlemen who are deeply interested in
the cause Of education, sParing no expense
to promote the welfare Of the rising gen.
Grafton. The board consists of MesSrs.
Blanchard, Meredith aud Gilmore.
CITIZEN.