St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-07-06
CristObaI Colon,
A Former Teacher Praised.

The June number of the Abbot .Cour-
ant, the magazine published at Abbot
Academy. Andover, Mass, contains a
lengthy and deserving tribute to Miss
Laura Watson who resigned as teacher
in St. Johnsbury Academy to accept the
principalship of Abbot Academy. Miss
Watson many friends will be interested
in the following extracts from this ar
ticle:
Miss Watson's retirement from the
principalship, prior to prolonged resi-
dence abroad, closes another epoch in the
history Of Abbot Academy. In midwin.
ter, the announcement of her resignation
was the occasion OF sincere regret among
her co-aborers and pupils, and even nov
the mind refuses to adjust itself to any
realization of future without her.
Looking back over the period of Miss
Watson's six years Of administration,
from 1892 to 1898, we notice marked
evidences of growth in the equipment of
the school, and in the attractions offered
to meet the present needs of its patrons.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in
it's enlarged curriculum. To the general
course OF study, Miss Watson added
modern literature and classical courses,
where work in the languages both an
cient and modern was so wisely empha-
sized as not to encourage undue speciali-
sation. The college preparatory course
was likewise so deity adjusted as not to
exclude the regular school programme or
materially increase the expense of in
struction or the labor of individual
teachers.
The departments themselves have been
more sharply individualized. Not only
has the Greek department been distinct.
lively recognized as such, but those o.
history, literature and science have gained
greatly in unity under the exclusive di
rection of one instructor, whose work is
limited to her speciality.
During this period there has been ar
aggregate enrolment from year to yeal
of about eight hundred pupils, ninety.
five of whom will always remain Mis-:
Watson's devoted graduates.
This period is also marked by an effort
to keep Abbot Academy more conspicu
ously in the public eye. Its enterprise ii
having an exhibit at the Worlds Fail
was amply rewarded by fine testimonial:
bearing the seal of the Columbian Exhi
bition. The Abbot Clubs of Boston anc
New York have done much to extend tn,
reputation oil the school and to Great,
and foster public sentiment whose in
huence can not be over estimated.
Even this imnerfect record Of orowt \ :,
the various avenues of school work is {
speaking testimony to the generalgr growth
of the school. Year by year, under Mis-
Watson's ADMINISTRATION quietly, un
obtrusively, but steadily, it has held it,
own amidst many and divers discourage
ments,-not the least of which has beer
the excessive financial depression of tn
country since 1898. This has prevented
the energetic pushing of the new acad
envy building, but if it is the beginnin,
that counts, the realization of that beau
tiful dream will owe debt of gratitud
to Miss Watson.
But the debt of gratitude, felt by s,
many for Miss Watson's kindness, pa
thence, and generosity is fortunately n,
dream but blessed and substantial
reality to which there is no end or fare
well. Still paying, still to owe" is til
unspoken benediction of many, an,
BLESSINGS and prayers in noble retinue
follow her in her chosen pursuits. w
hope that not for long will Miss Wat
sons scholarly attachments, astut
mind, and commanding intelligence b
absent from the educational world