The Newtown bee., 1904-11-04
Ten Pages.
LITCHFIELD COUNTY.
WASHINGTON.
THE RIDGE SCHOOL.

THE RIDGE SCHOOL.
 The. first reunion of the Ridge school occurred on Saturday. In the evening d choice dinner was served in the school building. The walls were decorated with blue, crimson and yell low banners. Among the graduates of the school present were: Walter Merritt of Danbury. Hamilton Gibson, Sidney Frissell of Hampton, Va, Will liam Lilley of Lambertville, N. H., William Wadsworth, Theodore White and John Ross of New York, James Bassett of Derby, Victor Putnam of Washington, Haskell Moves of Mil waukee, Kenneth and Frank ROSSiter of Washington and Timothy Merwin of Wilton. These with the present students and faculty made up a de- lightful party. The Ridge is home and preparatory school for boys. As recently enlarged by the addition Of another cottage, it affords accOmmO- dations to family of 25. The school property lies on a wooded slope just east of Washington, and covers about 10 acres, sloping to the south, with a pleasant outlook in the direction of the Shepaug Valley. The town of Washington lies among the hills of Litchteld county, less than three hours distant from New York, and is widely known as a place of resort on account of it's healthfulness and pict- uresque scenery. It's climate is often recommended by New York physicians to persons suffering from malaria or kindred troubles. As in many other ing, under the local option system, is fnrbiIIon Tho cchnoI ic rro nroH m the cottage system. There are at pro esent three buildings: the main house, built in 1894; the Willamy Cot tage, built in 1895; and the Chapin Cottage, built in 1902. These houses are modern in every respect: they are furnished with sanitary plumbing, are furnace heated and have also numer- Ous tireplaces Every bed room is warmed directly from the heater. Most of the boys occupy single rooms. The Chapin Cottage contains beside bed rooms, a study room, recitation rooms with laboratories, an exercise room with shower bath and dressing room and manual training room. It tricity. Each cottage is in charge of a master. Pure running water is brought from a neigbboring hillside and piped throughout the cottages
 The drainage is exceptionally good; being thoroughly tested application of the Waring system of sanitary house drainage The school makes a speciality of college preparation, though it also prepares for business. It's aim is by careful supervision to develop boys according to their indi- vidual needs; the classes are so small
 that the boys receive the personal at tention of the instructors, and at the same time get the stimulus that comes from working with others. Special attention is given to Elementary Eng by regular. theme work. The average age of pupils has generally been about
 7years, boys entering at about 15 and remaining until they enter college. It is only occasionally that a boy under If is received. A systematic course of study covering four years in prepara- tion for college is arranged for boys entering at the age of IA or 15. Boys older at entrance are, as far as possible, classified in this course, but their actual requirements, individual needs and future aim in life are all carefully considered, so that in each case the selected course of study Shal | be to the highest advantage of the particular boy. Private instruction is l furnished at regular tutoring rates | instruction in number of advanced subjects, so that when the college vii
 permit it, anticipatory work in Fresh man courses may be taken. In the case of Harvard, a boy, whose parents consider it desirable to keep him an
 other year in preparatory school may anticipate some of his college courses, and thus complete his college work in three years. Pupils may re ceive systematic instruction in car pentry and the use of tools, for whicf adequate facilities are provided. Mu sic is made special feature in the so cial life of the family. Boys are taught the art of reading music al and every effort is made by encourage ment of informal singing and playins to stimulate a love of music and de velop musical taste. Boys who show sufficient ability and interest are en couraged to join the singing club O I the school or town, or one of uh' church choirs. During the schoo year one or more dramatic entertain ments are given by members of th' school: unless under special pressure o college preparatory work, boys are en couraged to take part in such per formances. For the past two year
 the school has won first prize in al oratorial contest open to the boys o Litchtield county. In 1903 it carried off both first and third prizes. Tn
 social life of the town is free and in formal and the boys have many ol
 pOrtunities for dancing and social in
 tercourse. In the winter term danc ing class is formed. The school ha
 excellent facilities for baseball, foot ball, tennis and other out-of-doo
 sports. The average age of the boy
 being high, the school always contain
 strong material for athletic team:
 Hunting, fishing, canoeing and tn E winter sports of coasting, skating an
 skeeing are freely enjoyed, and tn healthful life of the woods and feld
 with which it is so desirable tha
 every boy should be familiar, is COT
 stantly afforded. Boys of good cha
 acter and behavior only are received
 A certificate of honorable dismiss;
 from the school last attended is r'
 quested. The intimacy of the hon