New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-17


sn4 IL D. i. Octave, PIP Viii. 2G5. Charles
LIFE AND REMAINS OF THE REV r H.
QLllh- -.-el by +. Storr. Octave, PIP. vii
80. The ID MILAN Company.
EDWARD TGEING. HEADMASTER OF Up
PlN,5ii.11 :. itl.oi-: Life I'iary and Letters
VII, SIS The Lal1lil-4E Company.
On reading these three books one cannot fail 10
Re struck Is The resemblance between them.
They are essentially records not merely Of facts,
but Of character. The three educators whose
lives are ra.ordad-one American, the others
English-l5we,zr they may have differed in
their methods If work and in their experience.
all had The same aim in life, the making Of boys
l-to high minded and clean hearted citizens of
The world IN tie work Of each insistence was
laid not on Intellectual achievement, but on
moral habit So che students Of rcdaEogics pure
and simple "u not find great enlightenment
from these volumes; they have a higher value.
however, In being what they are
To American readers The Story of John
Adams Fil probably prove most interesting,
far Il presents what is practically a history of
lie best phase If New England life during the
carrier years Of the present century. John
ADAMS "1s born in Canterbury, Conn, in 1872;
he "as the principal Of Phillips Academy. An
dover, from $50 TO 1898 and he died in Jack
sanTile, III. He passed through an important
period in The most strenuous region of our
country. Whatever may be said Of the exag-
CREATIONS and narr0Wness of the England
civilization IF nifty years ago, it produced sturdy
and laboT-cus men, Of whom John Adams might
be fairly taken as a type. Henry Adams was
he gcea---reat -grandfather Of the President
John Adams ne wrote in his notebook Henry
Adams Was the great-Sreat- great grandfather
IF ny humble self John Adams" Coming of
such stock il is not surprising that he should
have been a strong influence in the community.
De was educated at Yale, where, as he explains
he had his full share Of the advantages, dangers
and honors Of a college course. It is surprising
10 note that according to the biographers. the
zone Of college life was far less healthy than at
the present day"
Brutal amusements were in vogue among the
lnderera 3uates, and hard drinking was the
fashion. owing in part to the influence of the
gay French officers who accompanied the Mar
Quis ~ Lafayette 10 this country, scepticism
mad spread to an alarming extent. Young men
received much formal religious instruction, but
felt little interest in the truths Of Christianity.
Into such surroundings John Adams entered as
country lad, fresh from the farm. Though he
had not yet the support Of a personal re-
lgiOus experience, his safeguard was natural
tendency toward that which was pure and up
night. Nevertheless. in after years, when his
views regarding amusements had grown more
strict his conscience was often sadly troubled
by the "roIlies" Of his 'giddy youth"
As IN .he case f many another man of force,
John Adaus's character developed with his re
sDonsibilies. The position at the head Of an
important and growing school presented prob
lens that la met fearlessly and with a discre-
tor that has since been warmly attested by his
pupils He haL that greatest Of all faculties in
\ teacher, The power of winning the confidence