The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-08-05

The edltic6 shown ABOVE ID nODle DrlCK
| building, which is used exclusively Tor
school purposes such as Rotations, music,
art, chapel, society rooms, business depart
ment, libraries, reading-room, etc. In 'front.'
of it a fountain sends up its cooling spray,
| and on either side are trees and shrubDery
on a smoothly shaven lawn. 1t looks out
upon a fine campus and commands splen-
| did view of the Green Mountains. The
| school has four dormitories and TWO cot
tages, which afford homes for students ana
teachers. These all front upon the campus,
thus making a very pleasant and homelike
| community.
The outfit of a school is another mpor-
tant consideration. Mere textbook work
in the natural sciences is not very highly
esteemed to day. Cabinets and laboratories
are now indispensable. AT Montpelier one
half of the work in physics and chemistry is
done in the laboratory, while full cabinets
and frequent excursions aid the work IN
mineralogy, geology and botany. Fnysloi-
kin, dissections, and microscopic views.
Herbariums are prepared with great inter
est by students in botany. In short, the de-
partment of science was declared by the
committee to be fully up with the times.
Believing in the value of business edu.
cation, and also that it involves no special
difficulty and ought not to be expensive,
Montpelier Seminary introduced such de-
partment, few years ago, and 1t has been
very successful, registering last year eighty
nine different students. 1t has the exclu-
sive use of three large rooms and the par
tial use of others. All the usual business
studies are taught including business prac-
tice, short hand and type writing. Its in the
hands of thoroughly trained and efficient
teachers, and charges are kept at the lowest
possible point for tirst-class advantages.
The Seminary firmly believes that the
least education with which our young peo-
pie should be satisfied is a literary course Of
four years, and that business studies should
be taken in addition to that, or, at the least,
as a part of it. 1t allows, however, its bust
ness studies to be taken by themselves, in
business courses, or as special studies, as
well as in connection with literary courses
The head OF the Music Department at the
Seminary has long been known az one of
the most highly cultured musicians in Yer
mont and one of the most successful teach
ers. Under him the department has en-
joyed great prosperity. He will be assisted
next year. by new teacher Of voice-a lady
of high culture and several years Of sue
cessful experience as teacher. Music stu
dents can be accommodated with board and
lodgings at the Seminary, or can come upon
the trains at reduced rates, taking one or
more lessons per week, as they may desire.
An excellent pipe organ is rented to pupils
at reasonable rates, and also pianos.
great deal of interest is taken in elocu-
ton. 1t is required in the literary courses,
and there is special teacher of this art.
Six prizes are awarded annually for deca-
nation, and, at the state interscholastic
contest at the University of Vermont, one
of the prizes was awarded to Montpelier
Seminary.
Debate receives also, much attention.
There are four literary societies in the
school-two for ladies and two for gentle
men. These societies have the exclusive
use of two large and elegant halls, and are
the center Of much interest among students
and alumni. A prize is offered, next year,
for the best debate in a public contest.
This will stimulate the societies to do the
best work possible.
The Seminary has Boarding Department,
in which teachers and students mingle, as
in refined Christian home. There are also
three dormtories for self boarding-two of
them for ladies and one for gentlemen. The
Christian Boarding-school for both sexes,
, is believed to be the ideal school, Here
young people associate, as in the family,
with the added aid of the society and care
Of teachers
Athletic sports flourish at the Seminary.
The spacious grounds afford abundant room
: for baseball, football, tennis, vaulting
pole and other field Jrts, part of the
campus is flooded in winter and turned into
a skating-rink. This is a unique feature
and furnishes most excellent recreation. A
, ball cage. chest weights, bathing-rooms
with shower bath and hot and cold water,
are inside auXiliaries.
These things, with occasional coasting,
plenty of long walks, ETC., leave little to be
e desired in the way of exercise.
: The struggle with poverty keeps great
s many young people from trying to get an
t education. But is not an education the
| most likely to be the solution of that prob
Q lem? In every department OF life the best
e educated man, other things being equal, Ii
y most likely to succeed In the great com
! petition of this age an education gives 8
s man a decided advantage. Very true,
0 says some one but how can get the edu
o cation? That is the troublesome point
: Well, perhaps you cannot get II. IL yot
}, have not good health, II you have feeble
mother who is dependent upon you, per
haps you ought not to try to go to school
:. But if you have health and fair chance L
help yourself, and If you are willing t.
3. work, and to economize, and to deny your
self, and to persevere, you surely can ob
- tain good education, A kind Providence
will come to your rescue, in some way an(
ss you will come off victorious.
" But what shall do frst?" Well, frs
81 start out to school, with the determination
u to go just as long az you find it possible
Az III you have some money and your TREND
IT, will help you little you can go to schoo
u at Montpelier, for some time, by boarding
e. yourself and working when you have
II chance Then you can stay out Of schoo
W for while and earn some more money
ST. Thousands just as good as yourself, and n
better, have done just that sort of thing
OF and have come out at the top.
"a Young women az we'll as young men, AM
10 perhaps more than they, need an educs
40 ton. IL they are TO teach, broad foundS
~ ton should be laid, not only for the sake 1
oa future success, but for immediate efficiency
10 If they are to marry, surely they ought t
" be at least the equals of their husbands /
- intelligence. Whether as mothers or a
on teachers, the welfare OF the rising generatio
r pv is largely in their hands.
al 1t is Indifference chiefly, and not povert.
u which keeps the young away from schoo
ny The value of an education is not apprec
re- ated by people in general. How should
e. be? They have not the experience whic
an would show them its worth. Parents nee
,n to arouse and encourage, and, 80 far as pc
GO sible, assist them. They will abundant
repay the sacrifice in the years to come.