The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-13
THE GRAND DUKE.
Alexis Examines the Boston Edu-
catiOual System.
A Quiet Visit to the Various Public Schoois-
His Pleasure at What He Saw Thsre-He
Asks for the Plan Of Their Organization.

The movements OF Duke Alexis to-day have been
OF an Informal and quiet character. HIS Imperial
Highness having expressed desire TO Witness the
methods OF instructng In our public schools ar
rangements were maze for his visit by the Com.
mittee OF City Council, and at their request MI.
Phtbrck superintendent OF Schools acted as
cnaperon OF the party IN showing and explaining to
them the workings OF the different departments.
The Duke ana his companions left the Revere House
at about quarter before ten O'Clock this forenoon
in two carriages, the first being occupied by the
Duke the Russian Admiral, Mr.. Machin and Mr..
Phllbrick. In the next carriage were three OF the
Dukes suite accompanied by Mr. Perkins. OF the
city committee 1t was particularly the desire OF the
Duke and his party that the visit should be strictly
private and informal, SO that they might see
THE SCHOOLS AT THEIR EVERY DAY WORK.
In compliance with this wish no notice was given
to the schools that this visit was to take place. the
teachers only being informed OF the approach OF
the party few moments before they entered. The
first visited was the primary school on Appleton
street. On allghtlng from their carriage the party
entered the room devoted to teaching the low.
est classes, the children In which had only
attended school q few months under the charge Of
Miss Sprague, who gave an Illustration OF the
method OF teaching these children to read by the
use OF DR.. Lees phonetic system. With this exhi-
bitiOn the visitors appeared much gratined, and
made inquiries in regard to procuring the books
and charts by which the system was taught. They
afterwards visited successfully the different rooms
In the second school, under the charge OF Miss
Hooper Miss Cheney and Miss Beal. where they
witnessed Rotations in different studies as they
were going Oh, such as reading, spelling, drawing
on the black board writing on the States lessons In
arithmetic, music and SO forth. They appeared par
pupils, by which each one was given chair and
desk They then went to the upper story Of this
building, where
THE NORMAL ART SCHOOL
is located and spent considerable time In examin-
ing the models drawings and patterns In this de-
partment. From this school the visitors proceeded
to the Rice Grammar School for boys, where they
school; Mr.. Flint chairman or the school Com
mittee, was also present Here the different
classes were heard at the regular recitations, and
Webster's speeches, which was
WARMLY COMMENDED
by the members OF the party Wnle they were
passing through the several rooms OF The school the
teachers arranged for assembling the different
his way out he was received by the scholars thus
assembled and an illustration given OF The march
able manner 10 the music Of the piano. Mr.. Phil
brick then introduced the Grand Duke, ana few
remarks were made by Dr. Machtn expressing the
GREAT SATISFACTION or THE GRAND DUKE
In his visit TO their school, The visitors then paid
visit 70 the Girls Migh and normal school After
the training department., where the pupils went
through some beautiful gymnasG exercises under
the direction oil Miss Stickney From this depart
ment they proceeded to the chemical laboratory,
under the charge OF Miss Capen, wnere the junior
class Of some seventy-fve or one hundred
girls were performing chemical experiments.
They then paid brler visits to several other rooms
including the drawing room, under the charge OF
Mr.. Furneaux, and the botanical laboratory. In
the meantime the pupils OF the school had been
assembled In the new hall, and on the entrance OF
the Duke he was received with lively applause Alter
the applause had subsidized several
FINE PIECES OF MUSIC
were presented under the direction Of Mr.. Eich-
berg, about half the pupils present taking part in
the performance. Mr. Philbrick then introduced
the Duke to the school, and member OF the Duke's
suite made q few remarks expressive Of the salts
faction they had enjoyed in examining the different
schools and he told the young ladies' that as upon
them would devove, in a great measure, the
TEACHING OF THE RISING GENERATION
much depended upon their qualifications FOR this
important WORK Just before they left the Girls
High ana Normal ScnOOl the party were joined by
Rev. Mr.. Cudworth, chairman OF the committee or
that school, who assisted in doing the
honors OF the occasion. This was
the last school visited, and the party
returned TO the Revere House, where they arrived
before twelve O'Clock. The Duke expressed to Mr..
Philbrick his pleasure at what he had witnessed
ana asked that documents relating to organiZa-
tion Of the schools might be furnished him. This
evening the Duke and his suite were present at
one Of the City theatres