Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-17

For the Middle Atlantic States fair weather
with variable winds in the southern portion
shifting to east and south in northern portion
Sigh. rise in temperature The same conditions
will pr .vai tomorrow.
SCHOOL CENTENNIAL.-The boys of Wash
ngton Public School, about 500 in number
celebrated to-day the one hundredth an
nirersary of the donation of Gen. Washing
ton 10 the Trustees of the Alexandria Acad
envy to establish free school, The school
thus founded was continued until the open
ing ofthe present system when 1t was merS-
ed into the system under the name of Wash
ington school. The exercises consisted Of ad
dresses, recitations aud music, all connected
with the life and times of the founder OF
the school and the father Of bis country
The schools having gathered at Peabody
Hall, the exercises commenced with
declarations as follows: Washington's
Birth, j. J. Nugent; Washington's School
Days, John Jones Washington's Manhood,
f. X O'Brier; Washington's Farewell to the
Army, Arthur NJ. Graves; Washington's
Death, Fl. c. Graves.
Solemn Music.-Sixteen boy vocallsts
selected from the schools aud trained by
Miss Stoutenburg, took their places on the
platform and sang, Mics S. presiding at the
organ, "Washington's Grave"
Disturb not his slumbers let Washington sleep,
Meath the boughs Of the willow that over him
weep.
His arm is unnervcd, but his deeds remain bright
AS the stars in the dark vaulted heaven at night.
The selection was very nicely executed.
Scarcely had tho singing died away when
Miss Dearborn, accompanied by two Of
her schco!mates of Lee school, tripped
lightly in from Lee school room and reaa
"Washingtous Influence on Lee" b. L. Nj
Logan, of Louisiana. Music. Principal
Flcklin then read the following:
At a meeting of the Trustees, on Satur'
day, the 18th December, 1885, present: Viii
liam Brown, President; Benjamin Dulany
James Hendricks, Samuel Hanson, William
Hartshorne, John Fitzgerald, Charles Lee
General Washington's letter to the Trus.
tees, bearing date this 18th December, 1855,
being read,
Resolved, That the proposition therein
contained be approved and accepted, and
that an answer thereto be written by the
President, signifying the same.
Ordered. That the said letter and the
Trustees answer be copied and inserted on
the minutes.
GENERAL wAsHINGToN's LETTER.
"To the Trustees of the Alerandria School.
Gentlemen: That / may be perspicuous
and avoid misconception, the proposition
which l wish to lay before you is committed
to writing, and is as follows
ut has long been my intention to invest
at my death one thousand pounds, current
money Of this state, in the hands oftrustees
the interest only of which to be applied IN
instituting a school in the town of Alexan-
dria for the purpose OF educating orphan
children or the children of such INDECENT
parents as are unable to give it. The object
TO be considered of and determined on by
the Trustees for the time being, when appil
ed 10 by the parents or friends OF the child
rem who have pretensions to this provision
Under this state of the matter, submit
to your consideration the practicabiIi'y and
propriety Of blending the two institutions
together, so as to make one seminary, under
tho direction Of president ,visitors, or such
other establishment as to you Shall seem
best calculated TO promote the objects IN
view, for preserving order, regularity and
good conduct in the academy"
After discussion of the question whether
it would be we'll to apply the fund to CT b.
ing as we'll as schooling he adds: Il shall
be ready as soon as the trustees are estab
lished upon permanent footing, by deed
or other instrument of writing, to vest the
aforesaid sum of one thousand pounds in
them and their successors forever, with
powers to manage and direct the same
agreeabiy to these my declared intentions
G. WASHINGTON.
December 18th, l7So.
Mr. ". Fl Greenwich read