Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-08-04
A YENERABLE INSTITUTION.

VENEhADLE ANo1AIUAAVNs
Philips Exeter Academy and some Of
| ITS Fam Gus gtutlenlB--TvO Princl-
Years,
Professor Bowen, OF Harvard College
has prepared n concise history of the ori.
gin and fortunes of Phillips Exeter Acad.
emy, of which he is one Of tho Trustees,
and IL has been published as q predatory
notice" TO catalogue of this ancient
school, which gives the names of all the
instructors and students during its eighty
six years of existence. The school was
established ut Exeter, N H., in 1888, and
writer in the Springfield Republican says
'It gives tho name, residence and age at
entering of 1856 pupils of tho academy,
among whom we're Bushrod Washington,
Daniel Webster, Lewis Cass, Edward Ev-
erett, james Sparks, John G.. Pallrey, Geo.
Bancroft Richard Hildreth, John p. Hale,
Con. John A. Dix, DR. Peabody, of Spring
field, DR.. Peabody, Of Boston, Theo Ly-
man, j. O. Richmond and many moro who
have become famous in one way or anoth.
or since they left Exter. Among the in
structors who were not also pupils we find
Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., President Walker,
of Harvard College, Alexander II. Everett
fand Chancellor Hoyt, Of Washington Uni
versity. Tho two Principals who have
roigned eighty-one years, were DR.. Benja.
min Abbott, whose term was half centu.
ny, and Dr. Soule, tho present head of tho
school, who first entered it as q pupil SO
years ago, and rs an instructor 81 years
ago. Such constancy in position is re-
markNble anywhere, and still more SO in
America, where things change, and men
with them pretty rapidly II is less re-
markable in Rockingham county, New
Hampshire, however, than anywhere olse
en- this 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 tho better for it say
we, and certainly so much the better fora
quiet old classical school, not much dis
turbed MS yet by the controversies about
philosophy and the sciences, which threat
en- TO destroy the usefulness of other
schools.
"rhe founder of Exeter Academy was
DR.. John Phillips, ono of tho family TO
which Wendell Phillips belongs. Ho was
born Nt Andoyer, just n century and half
ago, graduated at Harvard College and
studied theology, Ns did his neighbor,
President Weare, of Hamilton Falls, but,
like him, avoided tho pulpit. lie became
n merchant at Exeter, and acquired hand
some property, which he gave mostly to
the two schools bearing his name, in Exc
ter and Ill Andover. TO Exeter Academy
he gave about $65, 1000, TO Andover about
$31 900; the latter was first founded in
IT'S, while that at Exeter was chartered in
1881, and opened in 1883; DR. Abbot be-
cameits "Principap 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
il soon became tho correct thing for
gentlemen's sons from all parts Of the
country TO 90 TO his school. Lees and
Washingtons, Taylors and Ogles came
from Virginia and Maryland; Oushings and
Pcrkinsos, Swnles and Aphorphes from
Boston; Piclmans and Dorbys from Salem;
Thondykes from Beverly, and Dwights
from Springfield, not to mention the de
scendNnts OF the great centurions' in Rock
ingram county the Gilmans Sullivans
and Peabodys of Exter; Chleys of North
ampton; Plumers of Epping; Sheafes, Cutt-
ses, LangdOns and angdon-Elwins of
Portsmouth, etc. Good schools were then
few, and teachers like DIR. Abbott are
always few. Heleft his place in blaze of
glory reflected from his distinguished
pupils, Webster, Everett, Saltonstal and
the rest, who gathered at Exter to celebrate
their CID teachers semi-centennial DR..
Soule, his worthy successor, has main
tanned the reputation, while advancing the
scholarship of the academy, and now has
hundred and twenty boys under his charge,
among whom are the son and 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 ii is called, as well as taught
gratis. Twenty such scholarships are now
supported, and more will soon be added;
whilo 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 osti-
mates At $4,000. 1t would bo a grateful
offering from the survivors of tho four thou
sand pupils Of the school, if they should
contribute tho amount, and allow the
present funds of the institution to go, MS
they do now, TO maintain good and cheap
classical course for boys fitting for col