The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-10-11
MRS. NJ. e. MARTIN.

it. There seems to be someth ing about in
tellectual occupations that is preservative.
Mrs. Martin says Of herself: 81 began in the
First grade and have gone up, step by step,
until 1 now have charge OF the Eighth grade
In the Bradley Baildlng on Thirteen-and-a-
half street, South Washington. 1 have al
ways been student. One has to be to keep
up with the times, for improvements are con-
stantly being made in the public school sys
tenn which teacher must keep in touch with
or drop behind well remember how differ
,ent my first examination was from my last.
The first took place in an old school building,
now no more, on Fifth street--a building
which once had been market house. 1t con-
sisted OF two big rooms and two ante-rooms
on the upper and lower floors. There were
at least hundred candidates on that occasion
hailing mostly from the Northern States, for
public schools were comparatively new and
crude here then and our teachers were mostly
from other PLACES Mr.. Wilson was superin-
tendent. Well, we all received a number of
written questions for which to write out
the answers We sat down to the task
at 9 a. IN. and we got through about p.
M, not having had recess or a lunch, and
feeling as though we had been getting ready
for the executioner, especially after we had
severally and singularly been interviewed in the
ante-room by q trustee to find out who we were,
where we came from, and If we had self
possession enough to teach a school. This
knowledge have since concluded was to COM
pare with our names which had been
numbered and sealed up in papers separate
from our examination papers Well, /, though
Washington women, passed. You see In
those days we had no normal or high school,
and the best material to be had for teachers
was generally to be found among the northern
candidates Fortunately, | liked teaching
from the first, and made up my mind to fit
myself for my business. Hence, have always
subscribed to various educational journals,
and kept read up on school work. and studied
up for teachers meetings, and tried to profit by
the suggestions thrown out by the superinten-
dents for our guidance IN certain branches OF
study. l am so used TO going in harness that
| always GET sick after few weeks vacation
and my doctor Invariably encourages me by
saying, Oh, you will be we'll enough when
you get back to the school-room.' l like it
so well, that | should be puzzled to know
what to 90 with my leisure If had to give it
up. / have taught boys and girls,
am accused of being partial to boys. l con-
fess do see manly stuff in most boys and
when you appeal TO an unspoiled boys honor
you have got him safe. 1t is good for both
boys and girls, in nay opinion, to go to school
together It refnes the boys, and stimulate
the girls. With both it does much to prevent
romantic and foolish fancies about each other
to meet often, in everyday clothes, and rub
their wits together for first places in the
classes"
Mrs Martin began to teach In 1857, SO that
she really has seen the planting and growth
of the public school system IN this District in
all its phases. 1T reminds me of tree,n said
she, 'First mere shoot, then branches put
out here and there, and now every kind of
fruit and flower educational can be plucked
from it by those who strive for them"
The High School Orchestra is very much
alive after a long rest. 1t consists of four
teen young men and women under the leader
ship of Mr. SheIburne, one of the teachers,
who, while not professional, is musician Of
more than ordinary skill and ability. The or
chestra last season owed its prestige to his
admirable training.
The jefferson School, in the Fourth division,
on the corner of Sixth and d streets south