Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-06-16
From District No. 8.

y
with that gallant and prince of fell
lows, Mr.. Sam. Fessey, seated be-
hind pair of trotting mules, we
found ourselves making for Cum
berland river, where Sam. was to
meet by appointment some young
ladies from the SOuthside. Sam.
not being what you term a very fast
young man found upon arriving at
the river that the young ladies had
crossed, and no Sam. being there
they proceeded to Mr.. John G.
Thomason's, where we soon found
them. Our party, composed of Mrs.
John G. Thomson, Miss Carrie
Fessey and the Misses Martin, were
soon on the road to Mount Conten-
ton, where we arrived in due time
and found quite crowd already as
sembled. The school house, al
though a good large one, was not
sufficient to accommodated the crowd,
and temporary seats were arranged
under a large shed near by, and a
speakers stand erected and beauti-
fully decorated with flowers by the
members of the school.
The exercises were opened by Mr..
John Allen, one of the students, by
reading the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, followed by the different
classes reading appropriate sketches.
Then came the examination of
classes in geography. l am sure [
did not expect nor was l prepared
to see such proficiency as was dis
played by this class of young boys,
not one of them being over twelve
years of age. The ColOnel's mode
of teaching is by lecturing and de-
monstratiOns on the blackboard.
1t is wonderful to witness these little
fellows draw accurately maps of diff
ferent countries, as, for instance, the
map of Europe, drawing out so
plainly the seat of war in Turkey
and locating so accurately the diff
ferent rivers and seas. This l think
the more remarkable from the fact
that none of this class five months
since could scarcely read or write.
Next came the class in mathematics,
composed of boys, young men and
the Misses Bowers. Miss AttOsa
Bowers excited my attention in par
ticular. She is a real prodigy in fig
ures-nOt over twelve years of age.
The rapidity and correctness with
which she can work any of the eX-
amples in Davies and other arith-
metics is something remarkable; in
fact, all of this class acquitted them
selves with honor and reflected great
credit on their teacher. Other classes
were examined in algebra, gram
mar and chemistry, but want Of
time prevents me from noticing each
separately. Alldid well and showed
they had been diligent in the pros
ecution of their studies for the past
FIVE months.
| must notice here the class in
bookkeeping, composed Of Mr.. John
Allen and Gus. Owen. felt much
interest in the examination of this
class, for | have been prosecuting
this business for a livelihood for
some years and can testify that these
young men showed they understood
the theory of bookkeeping, and all
they now need to become perfect
masters of this branch is the practi
cal application. KNEW Col. Fessey
personally long before the late war,
and if there is a man that can train
and give young man a business
education that man is Col. VIM. II.
Fessey.
Dinner now being announced the
school and audience were invited
out under some shady oaks, when
a regular feast was spread by Mrs.
ThOs. Reynolds, Mrs. Nathan Allen,
Mrs. DR.. Bellamy, Mrs. John G.
Thomson and others. These ladies
had everything in abundance that
could tempt the appetite. The
young men of the school displayed
their gallantry and seemed to vie
with each other, seeing that every
one had that attention shown them
that the occasion demanded. This
important part of the programme
over, the audience assembled once
more to hear the compositions, dec
lamations and original speeches,
by the pupils of the school, who
showed that they had profited by
the teachings of Col. Fessey, and
who reflected great credit both upon
their teacher and themselves.
The school exercises being now
concluded Capt. Thos. II. Reynolds,
that prince of good humOr and re-
tort, was loudly called for. He
arose by saying that after witnessing
with profound interest the exami-
nation and productions of his grand
children, the Master ThOmasOns,
and the original speeches of Messrs.
John Allen and Gus. Owen and the
declamatiOns of other students, he
could no longer contain himself. He
gave vent to a burst of eloquence in
his native and fOrcible manner that
held the audience enchanted, as he
appealed to the fathers and mothers
to embrace the present opportunity
and educate their children, offering
himself as an example of the great
disadvantages with which uneduca-
ted men have to contend.
Upon Capt. Reynolds taking his
seat DIR. Bellamy arose and proposed
that right then and there they make
M another school, and in less than
fifteen minutes enough money and |
scholars were subscribed for the next |
school to begin Monday, June 18th,
1877. / never saw such interest |
for the advancement of |
as was displayed by both !