The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-04-27
KENOSHA PUBLIC SCHOOL
~ THIRTY YEARS AGO.

~ THIRTY YEARS AGO.
A periodical of sixteen pages, maya
zine size, one of series published in
1858, edited by pupils Of Kenosha Pub.
lie School, entitled Literary Wreath
has come into our hands. The publ
cation of this literary production was
during a period when Hon. J. G. Nc
Mynn, now of Racine, was the princi-
pal of the High School.
We give extracts from the Wreath OF
date July 81, 1858, from which our
readers will learn something of the
spirit and enterprise of the school
thirty years ago. There were four ed.
itors, who were changed on the publ
cation Of each successive number; in
the number before us Hiram Johnson
now of Madison, Wis; Valois Butler
now Of Chicago; Miss Helen M. Car
penter, now Mrs. Sage, of Racine, and
Miss Kate E. Deming, now Mrs. Wheel
er, of Kenosha, were the editors. n
II This number of. the Wreath opens
+, with well written editorials, and 4
| glowing description Of Kenosha, in
which its beautiful situation, the reli
gious character of its inhabitants, its
educational advantages. including q
ilourishing Ladies Seminary, are dwell
upon. The notice also goes on to say
+" In the south part Of the city is park
containing eleven acres, where the
mighty oaks stand in all their primitive
dignity, shedding peaceful influence on
surrounding nature, and seeming tc
stand sponsors for the young NAPLES
and other trees interspersed among
| them. On our gala days their shade
renders the grounds a most acceptable
place for scenes lof public festivity
The band meets here on pleasant even.
ings, discoursing music to residents
and those who desire to seek the de.
lightful retreat"
(And just here the TELEGRAPH is
sorrowfully compelled to say, the frogs
have now monopoly of the music in
the Park, and the band of old is almost
traditionary.)
|
The Wreath speaks hopefully Of con-
templated future improvements; the
projected railroad from Kenosha to the
Mississippi, which then had begun tc
be agitated, was spoken of as of vast
Importance 70 the future development
of the city. Our harbor prospects were
also made The subject Of congratulatOry
comment, and the fact exultingly noted
that $40, 0O0of our city bonds had been
sold in the market at 215 per cent
premium. The Wreath tenders the
thanks of the High School to Hon
Charles Durkee for books donated by
him for the school library. OF the adj
vancement of the younger scholars,
the Wreath remarks: " We think we
risk nothing in asserting that pupils in
the school from seven to twelve years
of age are not surpassed in map-draw-
ing by any school in the State"
The articles contributed are publish
ed in the Wreath; the names of the
writers are given below. It will be
seen that most of the writer's, so far as
known, are still living. Some of the
compositions are noticeable for their
elegance of diction, others of. the
younger pupils for juvenile simplicity.
Two Of the pupils were in after years
elected Mayor of this city, also to other
offices of distinction. Several others
of the then boys have risento positions
of responsibility. Probably none of
those alluded to would object to seeing
areprint from the WreGtho of their boy
hood productions. Among the then
young girls, a number became justly
entitled to commendable notice; one
went west and made a tree claim on
quarter section, and is now the owner
of valuable farm; another travelled
in Europe, spending considerable time
in perfecting her studies; still others
are equally deserving of mention.
The following are the names of those
whose articles appear in the Wreath,
and the subjects on which they wrote:
Denis J. Hynes, Lying Joseph
Quarles. "Stealing;;" Melyina VI.
Hawks, Sunshine" Mary Snediker.
g Childhood Amanda A. Colwell, |
+" No Excelleney Without Labor r.
E. Rowland, Life" Medora Durkee,
The Opening Bud Amelia Merrill, |
Deaths" Assenith Wilkins, Friends; !" |