The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-27
Christmas Times In the FORF'h Ward

lent system of free public schools, Like
all human Institutions, however, 1t is CO.
pable Of improvement; but we question
much if any city on this continent gives
to its rising generation an education su'
perior to our own. The schools may be
likened to university, or collection oil
colleges, under one general government,
There are some eight or nine schools scat.
tered in the different wards of the city.
Each one is managed by three resident
Commissioners, one principal and corps
Of lady teachers. All are governed by
the same laws, rules and regulations. All
use the same text books and impart the
same studies, All are graded alike, so
that any room in one school is perfect
counterpart of the corresponding room IN
any of the other schools; and all the teach
ers are subjected TO the same examina-
ton Tor the department in which their
duties are to be discharged, and they
must DO worthy and well qualified, The
whole are under the admirable super
vision oil Mr. F, s. Williams, who has
spent about thirty.ave years as a sue.
cessful educator, Is himself ripe scholar,
thoroughly acquainted with the best sys.
tens of instruction in the world, and
brings the knowledge derived from long
experience and extensive study to meet
the requirements of the age,
Amongst the various school houses OF
the city-And many Of them are very fine
ones, the new school building in the
Fourth Ward Is, beyond all doubt, the
most beautiful and imposing. Most of
our readers are already aware Of this |;
and as It's architectural character and Gle.
giant proportions have been already de-
scribed in these columns, any further
remarks are unnecessary.
With this introduction, We proceed to
give some account Of the closing exer.
cises, last Friday afternoon. Squire
Launder, tho popular and polite commits.
sloner OF the Fourth Ward, conducted our
reporter through tho various parts of the
building, lie was at great pains to OK.
plain the heating furnaces and tlues, and
every modern improvement for ventila-
ton and comfort. Ascending from room
to room, we find all things in perfect or.
der, and manifestations of Joy and happl.
ness in the face Of every pupil and teach.
er. After visiting each room in succession,
highly delighted with the various depart.
ments, we inspected the library and lab.
oratory. Thence we pass into the Gram.
mar School, which is under the personal
supervision Of I. G. futile, EsQr, the
principal, and Miss Anderson, the sem
Tor and accomplished lady teacher. Mr.,
futile is a live teacher, truly wide awake,
full of energy and lie. From the rOs.
trum he delivered very neat closing ad.
dress to his pupils, congratulating them
on their general good conduct and prOilCi
Cncy. Notwithstanding the prevalence Of
n contagious disease in the neighborhOod,
every department has prospGred. And
now wishing each happy new year he
would bring his remarks to close by
giving them he &ck.I Miss Anderson now
appeared carrying some mysteriOusbur.
den, and unfolding the samb, lol each
pupil was presented with Sdtk 81 candles
and other good things. Some other re.
wards were likewise given and all dc.
parted with exuberent Joy, While this
was going on In the Grammar school, the
pupils Of Miss Annie Ewing presented her
with handsome gift as q token OF their
high regard. In another room the pupils
OF Miss Dillon sang several pieces with
pleasing effect. In all the rooms every
pupil was presented by his or her teacher
with sack Of candles. One room had o
candy whistle in each sack, which the
boys proceeded TO experiment on, and
produced q sound like the scream of n
dozen locomotives. Every teacher, from
Mr. futile to the youngest onein the build.
Ing, was the recipient OF some favor from
tho pupils. As the youngsters departed,
each little girl took leave Of her teacher
with An alieCtiOnaLo kiss, and joyful
tear might be detected in the teachers eye.
The last scholar having departed, Wis.
itOrs and teachers repaired TO tho Gram.
mar room, where the organ, under the
skilled fingers Of Miss Dillon and Miss
Downs, was made to discourse some ex.
cellent music. Thence all were invited
to the "Oflce"-Mr. TuttlB's sanctum
On opening the door what sight pro.
sented itself! A largo and beautiful cake,
whose dimensions reSemblGd little
mountain, with crackers, candies, cream,
peaches and nuts Gd infnitum, filled the
table. To this feast Of reason all sat
down, and did ample justice to tho good
things which Mr.. Tuttle had 80 abundantly
provided. This part Of the programme
though not In the bills, was as successful
as any of the others.
There ar, ten lady teachers In this
school and more efficient staff Of teach.
ere no principal ever could boast Of. One
thing deeply impressed the visitors-the
ardent love and confidence subsisting be.
tween every teacher and the pupils Of her
room. That the "schoolmaster Is abroad"
Is evident If VIC contrast the modern &C.
compliShed teacher with those who flour.
ished in Goldsmith's time, as he thus dc.
scribes him:
"Thero In his noisy mansion skilled 10 rule;
lne village master thuRnt MS HUE SCHOOL,
A NAH severe no was and stern 10 view,
knew him well and every truAnt know:
Well had the boiling tremblers learned 10 trace
The days disasters In his morning face
Full well they lAugh'd with countcrielted gleO,
At oil his Jokes, for many a Joke had he:
Full well the busy whisper clrcllng round
Conveyed the dismal tldlngs when he ifown'd,
In arguing, too, the pArson own'd his skill
For cen though yanqnlshed he could argue STILL"
Nearly 600 pupils are on the class books
Of this institution, but the building Is ca
pable Of accommodating 800, as many as
will probably be wanted for years 10
come. In conclusion, We regard the
Fourth Ward School as perfect success,
and we believe the work II has accom-.
plished during the year now closing, re-
fleets credit alike upon Commissioners,
Superintendent, Principal and lady
teachers.