The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-04
THE PASSING THRONG.


board will go into effect at once, and it was ex-
planned that IL was to be more on the order OF
an experiment. this year, and Its continuance
will depend upon the effect of its operation.
The resolution for the discontinuance OF the ex-
aminations provided that transfers from class to
class through the primary and grammar schools
shall be made upon the recommendation OF the
teachers OF the class to be promoted
and that tho promotion from the pri-
mary and grammar schools shall be
made in like manner; that any scnolar
not so promoted, who considers himself quail
fed, may submit to an examination as 10 now
usual for promotions; that all promotions shall
be upon a probation Of six months or q less time
in any individual case submitted to the superin-
tendent or assistant superintendent, and that all
those who fail to keep fairly up
with their classes shall be returned to
the class from which they came
that the superintendent and assistant superin.
tendent shall inquire into the progress and pro-
fciency OF the scholars during the probation
PERIOD and to turn back any scholar who may not
come up fairly to the requirements of the class
to which he or she may belong. The resolution
also applies to promotions from the grammar
schools to the high schools and city college, SO
that such pupils as are not recommended for
promotion to the high schools may take the
usual examinations If they SO desire. think
this matter il worthy of the careful attention of
all interested in education here. II the teacher,
having spent three, six or ten months with the
pupil. Is not prepared to pass upon his or her
fitness for promotion, rest assured something is
wrong which no written examination will
right"
Colonel and Mrs. G. s. Wheaton, OF Narragan-
sett Pier. are at the Rainier hotel. They have
been making the tour of the Coast with the
National Editorial Association, but they will
make the trip to Alaska before returning to their
Eastern home. Colonel Wheaton was delegate
to the convention from the Southern Rhode
Island Press Club, and is connected with the
Pendulum at East Greenwich in that state. Col.
onel Wheaton is a brother in-law of ex- Governor
William Sprague, and resides at Canonchet, the
beautiful Sprague mansion at Narraeansett
Pier, where he has entertained members OF the
press . number of times in most hospitable
style. In addition to his editorial work
on the Pendulum, he Is spe-
cial correspondent for leading newspapers
on society events at Narragansett and Newport.
Colonel Wheaton is an expert horseman, swim
mer and whist player, and he engineered very
interesting series of whist games during the
journey OF the delegation across the continent.
Mrs. Wheaton 10 herself popular member of
the Southern Rhode Island Press Club. She is a
leader in society at Narragausett Pier, and
takes great interest in the Casino hops during
the season. She is an expert horsewoman. Mrs.
Wheaton ID widely known among the newspaper
she is great favorite and she 10 leading spirit
in the doings Of the press club to which she be-
longs.
In speaking of the system OF examinations in
the Seattle public schools Superintendent
Frank J. Barnard said yesterday: promotions
are not made upon the result of annual exami-
nations, but upon the teachers judgment OF
pupils fitness for promotion. Every other
month we have examinations. or you might call
them written Rotations These examinations
are not a test for promotion, but test of the
pupils ability to express himself in writing,
and also to retain in his memory things learned
some time before. On the alternate months,
when examinations are not held. the teacher
sends into the superintendent personal esti.
mate of the ability and progress OF each pupil.
In June, for example, we have no final exami.
nations for promotion, but we supply the teach
ers with blanks containing lists OF studies, and
columns headed excellent good fair poor
and under one OF thess headings the teacher
checks off each pupils standing In each study.
The teachers estimate ID a personal summary OF
the work done in daily Rotations and in the
special written recitation The abolition of ex.
amnations rs tests for promotion Is no new
thing, for the system was introduced in Cincin.
natl as early as 1855"
Mr.. and Mrs. J. +. Chapman, OF Oakland, ar.
rived at the Grand hotel yesterday. Mr.. Chap.
man Is an old resident of the Puget sound coun.
try, for he passed his boyhood here. He was
born in Ohio, but when he was only years old
his family came to the Pacific coast and set.
tied near Olympia Yesterday he said: 81 was
well acquainted with Chief Leschi, after whom
the beautiful park on Lake Washington is
named. He lived with his squaw not far from
US, and, indeed, he used to work for Us. He was
q smart Indian, but treacherouS When the war
broke outline time OF the Indian uprising in
1855 and 1S56-he suddenly disappeared. After
few days his squaw came to us and told US
that We should be killed ii we stayed on our
farm, and If anyone knew she had given US
warning she would be killed too. So We all
hurried into Olympia Tor refuge; and 1t Is lucky
we did so, for our house was burned down and
we should probably have been massacred had
we been there" Mr.. Chapman was engaged in
mining in New Mexico for eighteen years. He
IS now trying to organize here q company for
the manufacture of water pipe.
F. NJ. Rites, of Pittsburg, member OF the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, is
ut the Rainier hotel He has been attending
the session of the society at San Francisco, and
he is now making a leisurely way homeward.
Mr.. Rites received his education at Cornell uni
versity. and he is now with the Westinghouse
Machine Company, for which his special
work is designing steam engines. He was
largely the originator of the Westinghouse com.
pound engine, which is used in running the
electrical plants for many OF the street railways
of the country. Running such a plant" said
he last night, sis peculiarly trying to an engine,
because the loads are constantly changing as
the cars stop or go up or down grade. Now
there may be scarcely any WORK at all, and the
next instant the engine may have the maximum
OF It's task TO perform Any good engine will
respond in time TO the demands on 1t, but what
is needed is an engine which will respond in
stantly; and this we think We have obtained"
State Senator Platt A. Preston, of Waltsburg,
was at the Arlington hotel yesterday. Mr.. Pres
ton, who is one of the prominent Republicans OF
Eastern Washington, Is native OF New York.
AT the age OF 10 be came as far west as Omaha,
where he was employed for time on ferry
line. Several years were spent at mining in
Colorado, Montana and Idaho, but finally in
lS66 he settled at Wai,sburg, where he engaged
in business. He is one of the owners of the
Washington mil, and he has extensive interests
IN farming and stock raising He has been
mayor OF Waits burg and member OF the terri.
torial legislature
G. 5. scriyen, OF Fairbury. Ill. IL at the Grand
hotel with his wife and two children, and Mrs.
Dawson and Miss Dawson, OF Minonk, are with
the party. Mr.. scriven, who Is on pleasure
trip 20 the Coast, has been quite active in Dem
ocratie politics in his part of Illinois. He said
last night that the Democrats were gaining
strength among the Germans, and they hoped
TO elect their governor this fall. I'll Governor
Flower, of New YORK Is the Democratic nou-
inee for president he will have the electoral
vote OF Illinois," added Mr.. scriven-
Mr.. and Mrs 6 r. Prentiss and their children
Miss Prentiss AMI J. W Prentiss, are at the Raj
nier hotel. Mr. Prantiss who has been q resi-