Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-07-28
"reminiscences Of Barre Academy.

Of leader whose place, It may be said, it is i'm
possible to fill. In this sense his death may be
termed public calamity. To his old students
those who have sat under the wisdom of his teach
ings and profited by his fatherly counsel-the an
nouncement OF his sudden demise comes with the
shock of saddest tidings To them 1t tells of the
loss Of one who held another and nearer relation
than merely public one-the loss of benefac-
tor, at once, and friend. As the days and months
go by since the sad news was told, and we be-
come more accustomed to think of Barre Acad-
envy without the presence of Mr.. Spaulding,-
strange and unfamiliar as it will always SEEM
the mind naturally reverts to those good old
school-days spent at Barre, and we are impelled
to recall some Of the old familiar faces, and few
Of the scenes and incidents which have occurred
there during DIR. Spaulding's administration of
over
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
And right here we would take occasion to con-
graduate the trustees of the academy its present
patrons, and the public generally, upon the fact
that the time-honored institution we all love so
well is to be so well and ably governed as it is
sure to be in the hands of the new principal, Mr..
Wheelock Under his teaching and guidance,
and with the aid of an excellent faculty, the
academy can still retain its deserved popularity
with the present generation and those who are to
come after. To the scholars of five, ten and
twenty years ago, however, it can never seem the
same. The niche which /" Uncle Jacob" filled,
and which was so peculiarly his own, will always
appear vacant to their eyes and hearts.
The excellent words spoken by President HUI
bert at the silver wedding" in II, concerning
lit.
envy, receive added force and effect by the re-
cent loss which the academy has sustained, while
his language regarding the future of that institu-
ton, and the effect which that very loss would
have which has really occurred seems, in the
light Of the present reading, decidedly prophetic.
The eulogy pronounced by President Buckham at
the funeral was thoroughly fitting and appro-
pirate that no words are necessary here concern
ing DR.. Spaulding's life and character, or the
great influence which he exerted for the good of
his felow-men No man of the present day held
wider sway in forming the minds and shaping
the destinies of the youth Of this country during
the last thirty years than he. This may seem a
broad statement, but we believe it to be true,
nevertheless. Look about you over the country,
in every state throughout this Union and note, as
you may, the stamp and impress Of the Spaulding
hand 1t is to be seen everywhere Wherever
seen it may be easily recognized. The instrument
always will acknowledge its master. This latter
fact attests particularly the wonderful and perma-
nent influence which DIR. Spaulding always exer-
cised upon the scholars mind. Ask any Of his
students who have grown to mans estate to
whom they are indebted for the success which
has attended their labors along life's journey and
the reply will invariably be, "Uncle Jacob
Spaudng" Each and all, no matter how fire.
quent and severe the crosses they were made to
bear while at school, now bless his memory. We
have met with many of these self-same "cross-
bearers" after their school-life at Barre was over
and they were one mind in affirming that they
would prefer Mr.. Spaulding, over all others, to
teach their boys. These commentaries by those
best able to judge of his worth as teacher and
as man, go far toward making up that need of
praise so universally accorded to the memory of
DIR. Spauding Again, the sway which DIR
Spaudng welded in forming the minds of the
young, we contend, was greater than that exerted
by college presidents and professors of as long
perience, for the very reason that DR.. Spauding's
influence was felt at an earlier and at the very
best time, when the mind is forming and just
-''' NO'A ga" W.
'e'oninss " may h"'e ''npfesseu upon H. Inc ie-
SUIT Oh MS training was therefore the most In
hueh'ia,' as 1t was 'ie lnos' permanent ana last
ing ana what
AN ARMY OF STUDENTS
have gathered within the walls of Barre Academy,
since its opening in 80, and have felt the impress
of the Spaulding mind. Vermont has had and
still possesses many successful teachers and
academic preceptors of established reputation
such men as Orcutt Dana, Ciley, Bingham and
Conant-while all will unite in naming DIR. Spaud-
ing as the Nestor among the teachers Of the state
The colleges Of New England and New York have
known Barre Academy for the past twenty eight
years as one of the best fitting schools in the
country. But the kind Of men which the academy
has out attests more than all else the success