Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-07-28
A VENERABLE INSTITUTION.
Fhiii.ps Exeter Academy and Some OF
Its Famous StudenfsDTxyo pr:nci
pais VINO have Served Eighty-one

Phillips Exeter Academy and Some OF
its Fameus Students-Two Princf-
pals who have Served Eichty-one
Years.
PROFESSOR Bowen, OF Harvard College,
has prepared concise history of the orr
gin and fortunes of Phillips Exeter Acad-
emy, OF which he is one of the Trustees,
and 1t has been published as ''prefatory
notice to catalogue of this ancient
school, which gives the names of all the
instructors and students during It's eighty
SIX years OF existence The school was
established at Exeter, N H., in 1883, and
q writer Ia the Springfield Republican SAYS:
IL gives the name, residence and age at
entering OF 1856 pupils of the academy,
among whom were Bushrod Washington,
Daniel Webster, Lewis Cass, Edward Ev-
erett, James Sparks, John c. Palfrey, Geo.
bancroft, Richard Hildreth, John T. Hale,
Gen John A. Dix, Dr. Peabody, of Spring
tleld, Dr. Peabody, of Boston, Theo. IY-
man, ). Q. Richmond and many more who
have become famous in one way or anoth-
er since they left Exter. Among the in
stfuctors who were not also pupils we find
Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., President Walker,
OF Harvard College, Alexander H. Everett,
and Chancellor Hoyt, OF Washington Uni
verslty. The two Principals who have
relgned eighty-one years, were Dr. Benia-
min Abbott, whose term was half q centu-
ry, and DIR. Soule, the present head of the
school. who first entered it rs q pupil Sc
years ago, and as an Instructor 81 years
ago. Such constancy in position is re-
markable anywhere, and still more so in
America, where things change, and men
WITH them pretty rapidly. It is less re-
markable IN Rockingham county, New
hampshire, however, than anywhere else
On tins continent, for that is corner OF
the world that changes less than any other
place we know OF, from one generation to
another. So much the better for it saw
we, ana certainly SO much The better for
quiet old classical school, not much dis
turbed as yet by the controversies about
philosophy and the sciences, which threat
en- to destroy the usefulness of other
schools.
+ ''Ihe founder of Exeter Academy was
DIR. John Phillips, one of the family to
which Wendell Phillips belongs. He was
born at Andover, just century and q half
ago, graduated at Harvard College and
studied theology as did his neiehbor.
President Weare, of Hamilton Falls, but,
like him, avoided the pulpit He became
merchant at Exeter, and acquired hand
some property, which he gave mostly to
the two schools bearing his name in Exc
ter and IN Andover. To Exeter Academy
ne gave about $50, 200, to Andover about
S3l, 600; the latter was first founded in
l776, while that at Exeter was chartered III
1871, and opened in 1888; DR. Abbot be-
came its principal in 1888; its first teach
er, Mr. Woodbridge; being called 'precept-
or DIR. Abbott was q rare teacher. and
gave the new school great reputation.
lie was also courteous gentleman, and
it soon became the correct thing for
gerIemen's sons from all parts of the
country to go to his school Lees and
Washingtons, Taylors and Ogles came
from Virginia and Maryland; Cushings and
PerlIinses, Swales and Aphorphes from
Boston; Pickmans and Derbys from Salem
Thorndykes from Beverly, and Dwiehts
from Springfield, not to mention the de
scendants of tho great centurions' in Rock
lngham county-the Gllmans, Sullivans
and Peabodys of Exter; Chleys of North
ampton; Plumers OF Epping; Sheafes, Cutt-
ses, Langdons and Langdon-Elwins of
Portsmouth, etc. Good schools were then
few, and teachers like DIR. Abbott are
always few. He left his place IN blaze of
glory reflected from his distinguished
poPiAFJ bOboUSls 1LhCltLt, kOdibcllSt11i ana
the rest, who gathered at Exter to celebrate
their cid teachers semi-centennial. Dr.
Soule, his worthy successor, has MAIN
tained the reputation, while Advancing the
scholarship of the academy, and now has q
hundred and twenty boys under his charge,
among whom are the son ana namesake Of
General Grant and the son of Montgomery
Blair. The commendable feature of the
school is the provision made for poor
scholars, who are maintained 'on the foun-
dation, as it is called, as well as taught
gratis. Twenty such scholarships are now
supported, and more will soon be added:
while the necessary expenses of scholars
not so maintained are kept very low by
furnishing them lodgings and club-rooms
without expense. Professor Bowen states
that it will soon be necessary to rebuild
the old academy at cost which he esti-
mates at $40, 900. It would be grateful
offering from the survivors of the four thou
sand pupils of the school, if they should
contribute the amount, and allow the
present funds of the institution to 90, as
they do now, to maintain good and cheap
classical course for boys fitting for col
lege."