The Portland daily press., 1863-09-28
Exhibition of the Eaton Family School at
Readfield.

popular and fourshing institutions, devoted
to the development and education of the
youthful mind. The Wesleyan Seminary at
that place, under the auspices of the Maine
Methodist Conference, is too well known to
need word from us. 1t s the pride of the
Methodist denomination in the western por-
ton of the state, and we are glad to hear of its
generally fiourshing condition. We have not
the pleasure of an acquaintance with any Of
its Immediately controlling spirits, and have
never been favored with an opportunity to look
inside of its classic halls. 1t is of another in
stitution, however, that we have to speak in
this article.
The EATON BOARDING SCHOOL FOR
Boys" has been established several years, and
has flourished and been patrOnized beyond the
most sanguine expectation of lis proprietors
The location of the school is on the pleasant
est part of the "Hill," where the eye takes in
large portion of the pleasant and fertile sur
rounding country, interpreted with its placid
lakes, and dotted here and there with thriving
villages with their church spires pointing
heavenward, showing that religion and moral
principle are not without their shrines and
devotees. The school is under the proprietor
ship of Rev. ii. M. EATON & Son, the senior
proprietor attending to the outside interests
of the school, the boarding house which is
kept by his own family = and other matters
having bearing upon the success of the insti-
tuition. The board of instruction consists
of Mr.. A. II. EATON, Principal, and Miss A.
II. PHILBRICK, Assistant. The school room
is made to accommodate 80 pupils, and during
the term just closed every accommodation was
called into requisition. The boys-whose ages
vary from nine or ten to nineteen or twenty
have come not only from various counties in
this state, but from other New England states,
from the West, from Cuba and from South
America The summer term OF five months
closed on Thursday last with an exhibition, at
which we were present by invitation from the
proprietors.
The exhibition, which consisted Of music,
declarations, dialogues and dramatic pieces,
took place in Giles Hall, at Readfield Corner,
abour two miles from the location Of the
school, The school and many Of its friends,
escorted by the Mt Vernon Brass Band,
proceeded to the hall in carriages, arriving just
at DUSK and the hall-which is large and ca
pacious-was soon filed to its utmost capacity,
and large numbers were unable to gain access.
E. o. BEAN, Esq, of Readfield, was Marshal
for the occasion, aud took especial pains that
everything should be conducted in excellent
taste. The Band-the most of the members
of which had served in regimental band in
the army-did its part well, and furnished a
quality of music rarely met with in the rural
districts"
The programme contained sixteen parts, all
but one of which were performed according to
order, and the exception was owing to the
protracted illness Of the young man who was
to take the part. Several Of the parts were
participated in by perhaps a half dozen of the
boys. The grave and gay alternated; and
the variety was pleasantly made up. Some
of the boys spoke admirably. The Salutatory
and Valedictory-both original = were very
good. The patriotic selections predominated.
Two of the declamations were selections from
Gen. Shepley's speech in this city, oneof them
entitled, "Can the Rebellion be suppressed? |"
and the other, "Call back the Troopst
The following prizes were awarded by Com
mitiees appointed for the purpose:
For Defamation, an elegant edition of
Montgomery's Poetical Works, to ID. c. Rob-
inson, Skowhegan. DIR. 'ihailer, of this city,
was Chairman of the Committee that made
the award. ~
For Composition, Pope's Poetical Works, to
Oscar A. Richardson, fremont
For Penmanship, book to ID. c. Robinson,
Skowhegsn.
For speiling-based on the records of the
classes - LIST class, book, to Fred. S. Hunton,
Readheld; I'd class, book, to II. C. Bickiord,
waterviIle.
Department out Of sckooi-awsrded by the
school by ballot, book, to o. A. Richardson,
fremont In .
The books were all elegantly bound and ex-
pensiye, and the awards seemed. highly salts
factory to the school, for the victors were sew
orally warmly greeted by their iellow-pupils.
After vacation OF six weeks the Winter
term will open, and the prospect Is that full
and prosperous school will reward the efforts
Of the efficient, industrious and hard-working
teachers.