The Press., 1899-02-02


:: Several special meetings have been
held at the Methodist church this week
The ladies Of Grace church propose
giving measuring party" some time In
April.
W. Fay Wicks, formerly employed at
the Springs House, visited friends in town
this week.
A special mass was held at St. Ed
wards church this morning, it being Cam
dlemas day.
G. G. Parkess was appointed Judge and
w. H. Heald assistant judge Of the local
court yesterday.
A social will be held at the CoDgrega-
tional chapel next Wednesday evening.
Mrs. w. Fl. Cooley and Mrs. George
Lawton will entertain.
Miss Grace HARDWOOD will return to her
studies at Abbott seminary in Andover
next week. Miss HARDWOOD has been de-
tanned by illness in her family.
Don't forget the ten cent supper and
silhouette social" to be given in the par
ish room of Grace church next Tuesday
evening, snow, rain or shine. Supper
will be served from six to eight. The
''silhouette social" promises to be inter-
esting and amusing. A prize will be CIV
en- to the person guessing the identity OF
the largest number OF profiles. II desired,
your silhouette will be made "while you
wait" There will be some mounted sill
houettes for sale.
The Methodist, Congregational and
Episcopal choirs, together with some
singers from the neighboring villages
about 40 voices In all-are planning to
give Stqiner's .tCrucifixion'' and one or
two anthems, at the Methodist church,
some evening in Holy week. First class
soloists are to be engaged for the occa-
sion. There will be short service, and
possibly an address, in connection with
the rendering of the music. More def
mite information regarding the affair will
be given later. The first rehearsal is to
be on Feb. 13.
Judge Wheeler has handed down his
decision In the Upham will case of Union.
The case was brought TO get judicial
ruling on the intention of Jonathan G..
Upham, who made the will. States At
torney Reed represented the administra-
tor and the Congregational church Of
Union. Mr.. Reed held that the church
in Union had an interest In the estate
Other prominent lawyers disagreed with
him. Judge Wheeler found that the
church has an interest in the estate, and
by his ruling should Arthur II: Upham,
who is heir to the bulk of the estate, die
without issue, the property will revert to
the church. Other minor entanglements
resulting from the peculiar construction
of the will are also Strengthened out by
Judge Wheeler's ruling.
Mrs. Augustus Spellman, 70, died at
her home on East Main this morning be-
tween seven and eight O'Clock. She was
taken with the grip four weeks ago, and,
as she had trouble with her lungs for
some time, was unable to rally. A hem
orrhage of the lungs was the final cause Of
her death. Mrs. Spellman was born In
Wilmington, April 8, 1897. Her maiden
name was Zilpha A. Morse, and she is the
last of the family of six children. She
was married to Augustus Spellman June
Z, 1916 and has lived in this town the
greater part Of her life. Mr.. Spellman
died about one year ago. Mrs. Spellman
was a member of the Methodist church
and woman Of strong character. One
daughter, Mrs. G. B. Gary survives her.
Funeral services will be held at the house
next Saturday afternoon at 1.3O O'Clock.
EDITOR The PRESS In speaking Of the
town management of schools, 1t will be
to the formation of clearer judgment II
it Is kept separate from the consolidation
of the schools: Town management may
result in consolidation in this town, but
what Is here said would be true, In my
judgment, If every district in the town
had twenty or more scholars. Town
management means the abolition of the
district system, with Its district commit.
tees, and the management Of all the pub.
lie schools In the town by one committee
to be elected at the annual town meeting
The reasons why this method Is better
are as follows:
Reports from several states in the I'm.
ion, as to which Is best, the district OF
the town system, are at hand, from which
the following quotations are taken: They
are all to one effect. They say Of the
district system that sit has lost much Of
Its usefulness"-"is effete and impo.ent'
lis antiquated, inefficient, and expen
sive." These reports say that the towr
system gives Increased efficiency ir
grading, and that, therefore, the children
under this system are becoming better
educated"-that it "gets better men fol
school committees than under the distric
system" This is the result of expert
ence. No state that has tried the towr
management would go back to the distric
SySLOM
If the results are, as stated, that tn
schools are better and less expensive
that the children get a better education
for less money. then this ought to end tn
argument on this phase of the question
| By this system more rigid examination
of teachers could soon be effected. Thi
would react on the schools and raise tn
standard Of education. 1t Is amazing t.
western man, accustomed to the rigi'
examination of teachers of the countr
schools there, to find in the east, wher
he expected to find the best methods, 8
loose system, and such a want of meth
cd In ascertaining the educational attain
ments of teachers. The town manage
ment would soon lift the requisites for
teachers certificate higher towards thos