Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-11-27

the citizens this was considered as a sort
of log-rolling scheme. 1t was said that
parties in interest would so constitute
the committee that ii would in its report
suggest the propriety of introducing
new spelling book, thereby not only caus-
ing bill of expense to few Of the
towns people, but would also add lit.
tie capital to the book publishers.
This feeling grew and it was determin.
ed to defeat the measure at all hazards.
The town meeting before which the sub
ject was to come, assembled at the old
meeting house, and in point of numbers
had not been excelled by the gatherings
which the names of Adams and Jack
son had called forth. The Adams men,
the Jackson men and the anti.masons
were sadly mixed on, the committee ques-
tion. Harry Campbell of Rockingham,
| whom the older portion of the town folk
remember well as wbole-souled and fun
loving gentleman, saw in the excitement
good opportunity for the display of
his mirthful disposition. One party was
| determined that q committee should be
appointed, another party fully as de-
termined that there should not. To
calm the troubled waters, Harry Camp
bell, acting in part with such men as
Horace Baxter, William Henry, the
Cutters and others, proposed that COM
promise should made, and that com
mittee of three be selected to visit the
schools and that lothian Richardson,
Fredrick Read ana Solomon Buss be
that committee. As neither of these
gentlemen had ever been near enough to
school house to throw stone through
its windows, the absurdity of the move.
ment was so apparent that both sides
felt the awkwardness of their situation
and with rare grace and grins as broad
as ever seen, elected the committee unan-
imously.
AhC SOuCt w thS Ca BCS
tatious of some, but not to the facetiou;
proposer of it, accepted it and promptly
began their labors. Gratuitously engi
neered and instructed in their serious
duties by Harry Campbell they VISITED
/, every school in town. Teachers wer,
examined and re-examined; books look
ed over and the architectural and acou
site properties of the school building
{ also thoroughly examined. From th'
/, inability of the committee to even writ
the simplest word, their opinion wa
; kindly formed and written out by Har
{ ry Campbell, who furnished the commit
| tee during the whole of their arduous la
r hors with sufficient quantity of " Pur
r Old Jamaica from his we'll stocke
0 store, to make their time pass pleasant
|, away. The next town meeting, at whic
the committee was to report, was large
than that at which they were appointed
/ Daniel Kellogg was the moderator, an,
even with his usual dignifed and statel
appearance, smile seemed to irradiat
} his whole presence as Harry Campbell
+ in behalf of the select committee OF hi
:, own raising, appeared to present thei
{ report. For the edi6cation and at th
: request of many, who for years hav
f honored the writer with their freindshi
/. on account of kind acts performed b
= one long since passed away, / appen
the report as it was originally presente
9 at that meeting:
To THE Town OF ROCKINGHAM =
: The undersigned, Superintending Con
e mittee of Common Schools in said tow
: very espectfully-Report
T That Immediately after our election t
y the distinguished Station, to which th
e unbiased suffrages of the Freemen {
t Rockingham had advanced us with S
!. near approach to unanimity, we entere
d upon the duties assigned us.
The lateness of the season, at the tim
e of our election-the meeting being holC
: en- at a time when the winter schoo
y were fast drawing to close, may b
S considered sufficient reason why you
!. Committee were prevented from bestoy
ing upon the subject that attentio
n which its Importance would seem to d.
a mand. We we're at that time unable I
: visit but few of the schools, to examir
g into the literary qualifications of the Ii
structOrs, or to mark the progress of th
n pupils.
IS During the past Summer, the labol
a of your Committee have been extensiv
q and consequently more arduous. Ful
n complete and satisfactory examination
II have been made, and so far as yol
70 Committee could judge from those e;
aminations, the character Of the schoo
le in this town was of no ordinary kind.
,e Your Committee have seen some sc
8 vice in their days-Through "perils
sea, and perils by land through
e. long life which is now fast approxima
N ing to its termination, in which the