Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-23

liens which will mainly show the results
obtained by the system. We would add
that there are two singing classes in Miss
slason's department, one composed OF the
freshmen, and The other of the Juniors and
ssniors. and one class in the High school.
Tho lesson is given by the music teacher,
and arterward prscticed every day, under
tbe direction of Mr.. Bingham in the High
scbool. and Miss Palmer in the Grammar
school,
This branch has been taught in the Gram
mar school five years, and in the High
school four years, during which time 1t has
been entirely under the charge Of Miss
Emily E. Blanchard. Bartholomew's draw
ing books are used by the pupils, though in
This, as 10 all other branches of study In the
school many of the best authors and ref
erence books are in daily use as Smiths
Manual of Free-band Drawing, Whites
Progressive Cards, Goodison's Popular
Perspective, &c. The pupils devote but an
hour week 10 their drawing in regular
school hours. There are three classes in
the Grammar school-corresponding to the
three grades-and one class, the First Diyis-
ion only, in the High school. During the
first year the pupils are limited to free
hand drawing OF straight lines and rectll-
linear figures, and 10 drawing from dicta-
ton by the teacher. Owing TO the large
number of pupils in this class lover six
ty at the beginning Of the year, they can
not with advantage use the blackboard,
though their lessons are freely illustrated
upon the board by their teacher. They
draw readily from dictat ion, an invaluable
exercise, as the pupil thus learns TO trans
late words into visible form. The second
year takes up the study of curves in their
application to various useful forms and
ornamental designs. This class use the
designs in the textbook as The basis of
much experimental drawing, combining
various tints of pencllling so as to produce
borders, mouldings, &c. The textbooks
show but small part of the work accom-
plished during the year, but we notice that
good foundation has been laid for useful
work to follow. The pupils of the third
class alternate their textbook with more
elaborate work, some of them taking litho-
graphic shaded copies. OF course all do
not show the same degree of proficiency,
differing as they do in taste and inclina-
ton for their work. Yet while all do not
draw elaborate copies or designs, it is evil
dent that each can learn practical work,
that the taste of each 10 cultivated and the
eye trained to discern forms which the
hand with more familiar practice can re-
produce at will. We must not omit TO
mention the blackboard work, mainly of
this class, specimens of which are drawn
upon silicated paper for examination at the
hall, aud more may be seen upon the
boards at the school-house. These draw
ings are enlarged, some OF them from COM
paratively minute copies, and evines care
ful attention to proportion of outline and
detail. The course at present pursued in
the first division of the High school is a
continuation of the work of the third year
in the Grammar school. This class and the
twohigher grades of the Grammar school
have been taught orally the principles of
popular or iree-hand perspective drawing,
specimens of which may be seen at the ex-
animation. They are drawn by knowl-
edge of rules only, no copies being used
are most of them designed by the pupil,
and include blocks, boxes, tables and such
common objects as readily fall within
lines OF perspective. We hope this depart
mept of drawing will continue to receive
much attention.
A beginning has also been made in the
use of charcoal for massed shading or orn
amental borders, which will doubtless be
further developed next year. Although
not entering into the regular course, we
notice few specimens of very creditable
crayon drawing, which we welcome as in
dicating an ambition on the part OF the
Supils 10 continue in the more artistic
and intricate branches of this art.
We regret that drawing, in one form or
another, does not go through the entire
course in the High school. Industrial and
instrumental drawing could be pursued
with profit by large proportion of our
boys, while a continuation of some of the
branches already commenced, such as per-
speclve and object drawing, would not be
without its advantage 10 all. In our day
the workman, whether civil engineer, arch
ilect, machinist, builder or mason, who
obtains the largest salary with sure hope
vi pIoulotlon, IL the artisan VINO IL capable
OF working from drawings. If, in addi-
lion 10 this, he be skilful draughtsman,
no position in his profession need be be-
You'd his reach.
The display of drawings this year is, as
awhole, the finest we'have ever seen in
schools of this class, and gives evidence not
only of the ability of Miss Blanchard as a
teacher of drawing, but of her indefatiga-
bic energy and perseverance.