News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-01-15
President Arthur as a School
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES OF HIS
SCHOOL IN POWNAy

INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES OF HIS
SCHOOL IN POWNAL.
The New York Tribune sees fit to
| remind the commissioners of the
worlds fair for 1892 that the build-
| ing in which President Arthur tauoht
school in North POwnal Immediately
after his graduation from Union col
lege still exists; and suggests that it
would be well tOremOve it to Chicago
for exhibition. What was the North
POwnal academy when Arthur was
teacher IS now used as a vestrv for
the church, says the Bennington Ban
ner. He taught the academy in
1852. His school was a very large
one for those days, and was com
posed OF students from HoOsick. Pet
ersburg and Pownal. Some came
also from Williamstown and a few
from Bennington. He daily opened
and closed his school bv reading q
chapter in the Bible. He was NOT at
that tlmea church member, although
his father was pastor of the church
at HOOslck Corners, and quite fire.
quently preached at o'clock Sunday
afternoon in the church at North
PoWnal. The year 1852 was a presi-
dental year. Gen. Merifield Scott
and Franklin Pierce were the Whio
ana Democratic candidates for presi-
dent OF the United States. In those
days boys and girls were interested
III polltlcs, and it required all the tact
OF Arthur to keep under proper sub
lection these two factions in the
school.
This difference in politics found ex-
preston more among the younger
OF es than among those who were
comparatively men and women. One
OF the first results of Arthur's teach
ing was to awaken in the minds of
the pnplls I, new enthusiasm for dec
lamatloh. Hitherto on Friday after
moons attendance had ALWAYS been
small and defamation was reouirpd
OF only few. But as soon as Mr..
Arthur took the school there was n
change III this respect. He himself |
was a good reader and a splendid |
Arthur in those davs |
mad fine personal presence. Black
halr, black eyes, tall and straight as
an arrow. His features were regular
and had an expression of candor and
trust which invited the confidence
and respect of all his scholars. Child
rem liked him. Young men and Young
women admired him. Obedience was
! consequence and not a restraint.
The student was never excused until
after he had mastered his piece. Over
ma over again he was made to re-
peat line after line until he was able
% speak like an orator. He himself
would read or rehearse the speech as
he wished to have it spoken. When
yer he did this the school became
Iulet and respectful at once His
gestures expressed Il grace and vari-
ty without which there had been
nOnotOny, and his taste in emphasis
lad the effect to bring out from the
entences into light their vital living
IDEAS, that till then had been hidden
ar beneath and beyond the bows
'Wn mental power to uncover. Bv
uch teaching 1T was not long before
is school had acquired a local repu-
alton at least, for the number of its
God speakers. In the fall term of
S52, at its close, the school pro-
osed a public entertainment in the
Orm of an exhibition.
A very elaborate program had
cen arranged, consisting of decla-
nations, dialogues, original ESSAYS,
tc. No pains were spared to make
a success. On every evening, ex-
epting Sundays, for six weeks, there
ad been rehearsal From these
ehearsals Arthur was never absent. ,
he Bennington cornet band fur |
ished the music. The exhibition /
ommenced at 7.30 p. m. and closed
t = a. m. Those who were in that
;hool and exhibition have since
ALTERED abroad in the world. Some
18th the teacher are among the dead. !
few are living but wide apart. Sew =
al were in the war. Others did =
lty at home, but to all alike the
enes and experiences of that school {
pom with its remarkable teacher :
IN never be effaced from their mem =
aipS