The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11

A Great American SCHOOL.
Among the institutions which English
men regard with peculiar satisfaction are
the so-caled public schools, which, how
ever, are not public In the American sense.
but are frequented chiefly by boys and
young men belonging to the aristocracy
and the upper middle class. By means OF
their endowment funds. however, a con-
siderable number of intelligent youths OF
narrow means Is prepared for the uni
versity, and, from this point Of view. they
may be looked upon as discharging phil
anthropic as we'll as an educational func-
ton. In both respects they have some nota-
BILE counterparts on this side Of the Allan
tic, among the Oldest and most eminent
OF which is Phillips Academy at Exeter.
n. H. We find the actual condition Of this
interesting establishment set forth in the
catalogue for the academical year which
has just ended.
The fact Is worth recording that this acad-
envy is the oldest educational institution in
corporated by the Legislature of the State OF
New Hampshire; the first meeting OF its
trustees was held lin 1871, or some two
years before the independence Of the United
States was recognized by Great Britain
The founder, DR.. JOHN PHILLIPS, conveyed
to it his large nterests in large number
OF tracts OF land in various towns in New
Hampshire the proceeds Of which were to
be used for the education OF youth in the
English, Latin and Greek languages, and
in other liberal arts and sciences.
The original endowment has been sup
plemented at various times by gifts which
now amount, collectively, to half million
dollars. The accommodations for students
have been increased in proportion to the
resources OF the institution. Besides the
large central edifice devoted to the work OF
instruction, there are now four dormito-
ries, chemical and physica! laboratories
and spacious gymnasium. all situated in
or near the school grounds. The school
course covers four years, and the number
Of students in the four classes known re-
spectively as the senior, upper middle, lower
middle and junior is at present 263. They
are drawn from all parts OF the Union,
New Hampshire and Massachusetts each
sending So the rest Of New England % !;
New York and Pennsylvania, each 81 New
Jersey, 8; the Western States, collectively,
50; tho former slave States and the Dis
trict OF Columbia, "a.
Now let US see what these students pay
for secondary education OF high grade
which qualities them to enter the foremost
American universities, or to apply at once
for admission to law. medical or scientific
schools. 1t appears that the expenses Of a
student living in a dormitory and boarding
at the dining hall, where food is supplied at
cost, vary from $3.50 to s4Os for the school
year, the tuition fec being 500. The
fundamental expenses of student lodging
and boarding in a private family are nat
| urally larger, and are computed at about
| 5000. Nevertheless, an intelligent and
Industrious student. though he be al
most destitute of means. may obtain an
education at Exeter Academy. There are at
| present thirty-six endowed scholarships, to
| tho income OF each OF which the trustees
add an amount equal to the tuition fee
| These, as thus augmented, arc worth from
$l25 to S24O a year Tho trustees have
also established twenty scholarships, the
income OF each Of which is equal to tho
| years tuition and twenty-four scholarships
each equal to one-half OF the tuition fee
| These scholarships are assigned to students
according to their scholarship considera-
tlon also being given to character and prcu-
| MARY needs The holders Of these scholar
ships may be compared to the so-oaled
"collegers" who are said to be on the
foundation" Mt EtOn and Winchester.
The curriculum Of Phillips Exeter Acad-
envy corresponds to that of the great Eng
lish public schools, beng intended pri-
| marly to fit young men for admission to
the freshman class at Harvard, Yale and
Princeton universities. The Latin books
read include tho Lives OF CORNELIUS
NEPos CEsARs Commentaries on tho Gal
lie War and on the Civil War, SALLUsTs
Catiline, many OF CICERo's Orations and
| one OF tho trcatises De Scnectute or
De Amictia, OvIDs Metamorphoses, VIR-
GILs Aeneld, part OF Ivy, selections from
the Latin poets and two OF TERENCE's plays.
In the senior class the pupil is also expected
to read Latin at sight and to exhibit II certain
proficiency in tho composition OF Latin
prose. The Greek course comprehcnds four
books OF XENoPHoNs Anabasis, besides
extracts from that authors Hcllonica and
| CyropRda, the Greek Testament, three
books Of tho Had and four of the
Odyssey. selections from HERopoTUs and
one or moro OF the orations Of LYsIAs.
Greek also, n member OF the senior class
must read at sight and lie must evince
! some skill in the writing OF Greek prose.