The Somerset reporter., 1899-07-13
For the RHPoRrKR:
Some Somerset Schools.

Owing to the uncertainty In regard to
the sums at his disposal for the support
of these new schools, Mr.. Stetson deem.
ed 1t best to pay the teachers rather low
wages this year. This fact and the late
ness of the season made it practically
impossible to secure the services of ex-
perienced teachers, therefore, with one
exception, we made our selections from
the ranks of those desiring to enter the
profession.
On large intervale on the west side
OF the Kennebec, short distance above
Caratunk village, is small settlement
of five families, partly in the southeast
corner of Bowtown and the rest in the
northeast corner of Carrying Place.
Years ago the people there united in the
support of a school for few weeks each
year but for long time there has been
no school.
In this neighborhood Miss Ida E.
SanbOrn of Caratunk, opened the first of
these State schools, May 10Th, in the
light and pleasant sitting room gener-
ously donated by Mrs. A. S. Bragg of
Bowtown. The school consisted of four
pupils, representing three families.
Miss Sanborn "boarded around In the
good old fashioned way, enjoying the
hospitality of each of these homes in
turn, and, by faithfully devoting her
time and energies TO her school work
and by her thoroughness in Instruction
and drill, compensated for her lack of
experience and made her eight week
term successful one. She will teach
the remaining twelve weeks this fall.
Three and half miles northwesterly
from The Forks on the blackboard and
tote road to Moxie pond, are three
bouses in Moxie Gore township, oceu-
pied by two families and public spirit
ed bachelor Here in the one room
house of the aforesaid bachelor, stand
ing by itself In little field in the forest
about quarter of a mile from the near
est house. Miss Josephine M. Kennedy
of The Forks began work, May 10th,
with seven boys, all brothers. The
seats and desks consisted OF table, a
trunk and two chairs on one side of the
room for the three older boys and long,
low bench and shelf projecting from the
wall for the four smaller ones. The
room also contained a cook stove, flour
and pork barrels and a lounge. Amidst
these pleasant surroundings, chetred by
the melody of the birds and mosquitoes,
spurred on by teachers ambition, a
deep sense of the needs of her long neg
lected pupils and by the assiduous at.
tentions of the hinges she met and over
come many obstacles and peculiar dis.
couragements and proved herself a
teacher. But it is not strange that she
declines the proffer of the fall term.
At Holeb, fifteen miles west of Jack
man on the G. p. r., is a railway station
telegraph office, P. o., four private
dwellings, and boarding house. In the
ell Of a neat and tidy log house, vacated
for the school by kind old lady, Miss
Leila Wilson of DennistowD, has gather
ed six little ones and s producing
wonderful results by her plain and
faithful instruction. The fathers at this
place propose to build a school house
this summer. Messrs. Coville and Viz
timer, the first we'll known guide and
the latter section foreman on the c. 2.
r., have taken deep interest in the
school and provided such appliances as
their means would allow.
la Attean, between Holeb and Jack
man is the G. p. r. section house occu-
pied by Mr.. Swenoi, foreman, and log
dwelling occupied by one of his assist
ants. Here, in Mrs. Swenoir's front
room, Miss Amanda Crate of Jackman,
a graduate Of the convent school at
Sherbrooke, P. O., will begin work on
the first Monday in September.
Six miles east from Jackman on the
railroad is the farming settlement of
Long Pond township with eleven farm
dwellings, section house, tank, and
Catholic chapel. In this latter build
ing Miss l.. Myrtle Wilson of Dennis
town gathered twenty-five pupils rang
ing in age from five to twenty
five, one being a married lady. Every
child of school age in the settlement at
tended throughout the six-week term
with surprising degree Of regularity.
Quite portion of these could speak no
English and all were of French descent,
French being their daily language. Miss
Wilson had taught similar schools and
thus was able to do tfficient work, dis
playing great ingenuity and tact and
often employing one of the pupils as an
interpreter. Tine high character and
quiet, ladylike manners of the Wilson
sisters added to their conscientious and
successful schoolroom work make them
very desirable teachers and it is needless
to add that their services will be retain
ed.
The children from Taunton 81 Rayn-
ham township were boarded at Long
Pond and attended school there. There
is hut one child in Sandy Bay hence no
school will be established there.
1t should be paid, in conclusion, that
Rev. FIR. Forrest of Jackman, whose
parish includes this whole section, has
given his hearty aid and support TO this
work. AGENT.