Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-01

The school question engages the attention OF
the people. 1t seems to be the leading question
In town affairs. II Is high time IL should be ag- |
tated. Superintendent wrights report though |
II recounts facts which were known, In general |
way, TO few who have maintained an inquiring |
interest In the district schools gives details OF their
standing which are As startling they unflat-
tering Out Of seventeen districts the superntend- /
ent could speak in terms Of moderate praise Of |
but two or three. In one or two instances his |
commendation Is quite unqualified; in others |
good school part Of the year is balanced by poor
school In the other part, while In some ten OF |
twelve districts positively unfavorable report Of |
the condition Of the schools Is made, the |
mantle Of silence Is charitably thrown over them. |
Mr.. Wright expresses his inability to see, after |
three years experience as superintendent, how |
the schools Of the town are to be made better
der the district system, and he therefore recon- |
mends a change to the town system. Light is |
thrown on the subject OF the low estate OF educa-
ton in the town by examination of the late re- |
port OF the state superintendent Of education. |
From that report 1t appears that the entire ex- |
pense OF schools in the whole town for the school |
year 1890 was the enormous sum Of so, 414. 49,
that the average wages Of male teachers, nclud- |
ing board, was IS SO per week, OF female teach |
ers, the princely sum Of "a per week. There were
three male and twenty-three female teachers en-
ployed during that year. Hire good teachers,
pay them living price, and there will come a
change The money expended as 1t has been is |
practically thrown away, for, as the town super
intendents report shows, very insufficient returns
are obtained for It, Buy good thing, pay lit
tie more for 1t, and get the full value Of the
money,-that would be wiser management. 1t is
| reasonably claimed that under the town system
better results would be realized. That system
should be candidly examined and Its merits dis
cussed with a sole view to progressive improve
ment in the vital subject Of education OF the chill
dren. 1t should not be cautiously dismissed or
hooted down on the ground that g. the old system
was good enough for me and guess 1t will do for
my children" That policy pursued in other
matters would have kept the old scythes swing
ing in the mowings and consigned the moving
machines to the limbo OF newfanged notions"
and with them every other improvement in farm
ing tools. Are not the children Of more value
than moving machines Cooley creamers or Jer-
sey cattle? -. The village schools closed Friday
More than usual interest vas taken in the exam
nations, and there was an improved attendance
Of school officers and parents. An unfortunate
feature in the arrangement Of the school terms is
that which will enforce long vacation at this
| time, while the scholars can best be engaged in
school, and compel them to attend during unfa-
vorable conditions of weather which prevail in the
later spring and early summer. Furthermore
the interruption in their studies occasioned by a
six weeks vacation between the winter and
spring terms is serious injury to the scholars and
deprves them Of large share OF benefits that
| tba prip uni
ter with brief vacation of week or two. More
real benefit would result to the scholars during
six weeks OF study now than during an entire
term commencing after six weeks vacation 90.
There good attendance at the masonic fest
| val at Waterbury hotel Tuesday evening, the
Dist ult., considering the severity OF the storm
which prevailed at the time. None of the speak
ers advertised for the occasion put in an appear
ance. The meeting was called to order by H. NJ.
Bruce in the hall of the hotel the stage OF which
was arranged to represent a masonic lodge. L.
L. Durant of Montpelier briefly addressed the
meeting, and was followed by Rev. W. j. Johnson
of Waterbury, who made the principal address OF
the evening. Remarks were made by Thomas f.
McGnns Of Bolton, who also favored the audi
ence with song. Miss Lille Arms, Miss Hattie
Elliott and Mrs. Adebert Bureigh, by vocal or in
strumental music, contributed essentially to the
enjoyment Of the OCCASION and last but not least
worthy Of mention was the song, "The trunde
bee" by little Myrtle Huntley, daughter OF L.
W. Huntley of Duxbury, sung to an organ accom-
panment by her mother. Letters were read by
W. p. Dillingham; expressing the regrets Of abb
sentees and also an exceedingly interesting one
from B. H. Dewey of New York, former master
of Wnooski Lodge. Mr.. Dewey was an active,
influential and popular citizen, as well as mason,
in Waterbury many years ago, and his lette was
full OF interesting "reminiscences At half.past
ten o'clock the company sat down to a well Or
, dered supper, and dancing and social pleas
, ures crowned a pleasant and enjoyable occasion.
An invitation had been extended to the general
public, and it is believed the latter class outnum-
bered those who had experienced the initiatory
> application OF the traditional gridiron.. . Seth
Warner Engine Company meets Monday evening,
Z March 9th, to accept new members. The com.
I pany lacks twelve OF the number which the
town exempts from taxation Of poll ...... Ed.
, ward Ashley has rented the farm of Oscar May,
4 above the Center. Mrs Rachel Dam crit
a has rented her farm to John Talbot and Arthur
Demeritt returns to his own farm. C. f. Rich
n ardson was reminded, on returning to his HON,
Wednesday evening" that he-or his maternal pa
rent-as well as George Washington, had con
tributed to the popular interest in the 22d of Feb
/ ruary. 1t was not exactly Carl's one hundred
" fftieth birthday, but he enjoyed the surprise hi
Is wife had arranged for him all the more for tina
|. fact, very pleasant evening was passed by tn
N friends who had happened in, and others VIII
I happened otherwise thought w(h)istfully Of tn
good time from which they were debarred b,
n other engagements. It. B Crossett has gone +
E. market to buy goods for the new grocery an
IN hardware firm Of Crossett & Cole. I'D. D. Col
,f has provided successor in the telegraph offic
a. which he will soon vacate for a mere lntile life
Of The operator is very young but transmits as we
as reads her messages entirely by sound M eth
odist sociable, with entertainment at Elish
re Moodys Friday evening. Coffee, cake an
r ham-sandwiches for entertainment,-reporter
m not sure as to the first two articles the bill
" fare but Is solid on the last Several month
~ ago these items contained description Of d.
d, James Queen Anne cottage, and the superb view
40 from its gabled windows. The interior, just con
peted, Is unique for the style, quality and variet
~ Of Its finish. In the lower hail. whose standn
's, finish Is cherry, the inmates tread on native
or and birch laid in alternate squares with panele
H. border of birch and butternut. Opening into tn
-, hall are parlor and library, with cherry fnis
I'll | mante and cornice, and floors of birch laid
~. basket filling and edged with paneed borders
birch and butternut a sleeping-room, correspon
ingly finished, and dining room having oak fl
ish, birch floor In basket filling bordered wit
alternate squares Of cherry and beech, also ope
re- into this hall and comprise the chief rooms
oil the first floor. Three pleasant chambers, con
n handing fine views Of the Waterbury mountain
!, the Duxbury hills and the Winooski valley, a
cid finished one with oak the second with beec
eek and both having floors Of birch laid In large bloc
hv and bordered with beech and butternut, plain
~ in panels. The third chamber has butternut fl
er- ish and birch floor laid in large diamonds. Bir
leh stairways afford communication between the ty
,ps floors. The doors Of the upper story are OF beec
20 of the lower story chiefly OF oak, all very hea'
nj, and stoutly finished. To complete these room
vii nice mechanical skill well as good taste al
ing good Judgment were needed, and Emory Tov
an and Isaac H. Elliott Of Waterbury are the craft
'A men who were tried by this critical test and n
len found wanting. A little sap flowed during Il
ere warm weather Of two weeks ago, and it is a
re serted that more than ton and half OF " new
maple sugar was made" In this village la
'po week for party in Moretown Thus Is met
on potan guilelessness shamefully trif ID with.
ing Our butter market fairly attended this wee
no and prices the highest known since 1869. N,
pro tubs sold at thirty-eight cents and five box
~ from forty to forty-one cents.
Tx
rye CHEIsEA.-The Methodists gave their pasto
Al donation last Wednesday evening. 1t was gu
for successful, nearly $50 being realized -. A ball
rn- the hotel Tuesday evening of last week "