New-York tribune., 1881-08-17
OBII JAR Y.
FREDERICK w. GUM.


Yesterday morning there died in Washington
Conn, who had tte to the loving re-
membrance of all who knew him. and multitude of
persons who never him, bat have heard aud read
about unique boys school among the hills Litchhcd
County, will learn with genuine regret that Mr.. Fred
erick W. Gum is dead. Mr.. Gunn born in Washing
tOn October L. 1S6 AT the Of seventeen he entered
Yale College and graduated with Evarts, Waite, and
several Others since become famous in the class of
1887. He opened the school with which his name il
identified in 1899, but his outspoken and uninching
abolitionlsn poor recommendation to patronage
in those days. and he forced abandon his plan
temporarily and to teach for year two ia Towanda
Penn. Returning then his birthplace he rcopencd
there the school which has been in frlitful existence
since and still survives.
No graduate of "rhe Gunnery," it been famiI-
iarly known for many years. able convey
who had not been there vivid conception of the
school as 1t really was. The atmosphere which
rounded and permeaed its instruction sports and dis
cipiDe delicd analysis and yet made Il lasting impress
sion upon every boy who left it, former pupils love
to recall the humorous and pathetic incidents which
much diversified the life Of the school ypied the
nature of the teacherthe rectations under
summers the long days the lake when it was
To study the camping parties the saies the
hills in search of gray squirrels aud wOodchucks every
boy whose parents did not positively forbid carrying
gun behind his teachers the base ball matches the
green, directed by Mr. Gum, himself better player
than the youngsters; the drou system Of discipline. in
which fifty crcuits of the village church. ght tramp
to dcsOatc bridge evening call in sunday clothes
upon ncghhoriug RrOn replaced the traditional
birch and hours of study the donkey rides; the
swimming coasting and skating. which were not per
nitted privilege bu, enloned duty. to re-
these incidents aud diversions is describe
the school II would yield itself to escrp-
tlO for lie geuuH unique, and for rOuiine. there
It's spirit has been best caught by W. intnl-
ton Gibson in his 'Suug Hamlet and Hometown where
of Mr. Snug and the Snuggery," strong fca-
lures of teacher and school DR.. j. G.. Holland, too
when he tells about Fe Birds Nest in arthur Bon
niecastle' shows that he closely familiar with the
ways of Washington. and tnat his own must have
been of the Hcdglings.
In his personal character Mr.. Gunn of the
most lovablc of men, His nature frank and open
and ~ pansivc prarie. Nothing seemed admir-
able TO him noble character, bnilt up
III manliness and perfect truth. Almost the
which even to his tenderness seemed unpar-
doHahe, was lie, and no boy vcntUrcd look
him full in the eye while telling To accurate aud
wide scholarship he laid claim, but his
were neither few mean, and educator. the
unperverted sense OF the word he among ten
ature and he left his school in ignorance what
he considered best worth reading and remembering He
IL dead at the of sXty-livc, but among me
shadows of and painful illness he in
lection The noby gentle spirit and the Christian mni-
which his ample had IN decree Implanted
i'll OF young hearts He will be mourncd in many
! homes throughout the land, and his native town. of
which he had long been the head and centre, will
! lonely without him.
ANY sketch of the Washington school would be incom-
picte which did not tribute the noble
| and mother who made it also "a home Besides his
widow, Mr.. Gum leaves daughter who. with her
band, Mr. John BrtnSmade, Will cudodVor
school in the spirit of its old master.