Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-14

recreation rooms under the supervision of
the wives of two of the instructors who live
in the building. The remainder OF the
students are now lodged in five fine dorni-
tories. which are proving eminently salts
factory.
Hit the Toboggan.
After the death of Dr. Soule. who had
been principal for nfty-two years, the insti-
tuition seemed to lose prestige. The num-
Der of students dropped off materially and
there was a general Decentralization, until
Harlan Page Amen OF Portsmouth, Ohio.
graduate of Exeter and of Harvard and
for sixteen years Joint proprietor and prfn-
cipal of a private academy at Poughkeep-
sic, called to take charge of affairs.
He reorganiZed the school completely, mod
ernized its methods, raised the standard or
scholarship, improved the equipment, In
creased the number of buildings from nine
to seventeen, the number of instructors
from ten to twenty-one. the annual income.
from S31 600 to $3.50, 40 and the attendance
from 195 to Ala. All this has taken place
snce Mr.. Amen came to Exeter, in 1895.
The seven principal buildings grouped
on a campus called the academy yard.
Across the common are two old-faShioned
colonial residences, one occupied the
home of the principal and the other a
dormitory. To the left Is a fine stone
church of modern construction, with a
Norman tower, designed by Cram, Fergus
son & Goodhue, the Boston architects who
are building the new academic structures
at West Point.
The 124th commencement occurred on the
10Th of June last, with ninety-fve gradu-
ates, the largest class on record. F
Mighty Democratic Ideas.
Phillips Exeter Academy has always
been famous for it's democracy. Some of
the students are poor. and a considerable
proportion of the endowment goes for schol-
arships for their benefit in accordance with
the wishes of the founder and the provisions
OF other special gifts and requests. On the
other hand, more than half the boys come
from the richest families in the land. but
there Is no distinction, no barrier, no caste,
and healthy, wholesome rivalry is NAM
tanned among them all, including several
colored boys, who are treated just the same
as the rest, and whose merits arae promptly
and fully recognized both by the students
and by the faculty. This spirit was Illus
trated some years ago by the election of
Roscoe Colkling Bruce, colored boy, as
the president of his class.
To maintain this democratic spirit is the
constant care of the principal and the gov
erning board: and Alumni Hall. which was
erected two years ago by contributions from
the graduates, has proved to be a powerful
Influence in that direction 1t Is a sort Of
central clubhouse as well general dining
hall, where 800 boys be seated at the
same time, and they served with plenty
of wholesome food. The ample funds of the
academy enable it to maintain the table at
a low price. 50 that the poorest student can
take advantage of it. The dining hall is a
large. airy apartment, and upon the walls
hang oil portraits of many famous gradu-
ates. including those of George Bancroft,
Lewis Cass. Senator John P. Hale, Edward
Everett. Robert Lincoln. President Chad
bourne Of Williams. the late George 8.
Morrison, the famous engineer; F. O.
French. the New York banker; George A
Wentworth, the famous mathematician, and
others.
In fJa -
ing table for the athletic teams, also con-
Quoted by the corporation.
Athletics are encouraged to the highest
degree. Physical culture Is a requirement.
Outdoor life Is encouraged as well as
gymnasium practice. The country sur
rounding Exeter is unusually attractive.
with beautiful woods and streams. and the
river furnishes facilities for rowing
course. The management does not encourage
interschool contests except with Phillips
Academy at Andover. which is a sort Of
brother institution, and. as I have already
told you, was founded by the same man.
For more than thirty years series of foot
ball and base ball games has been played
between the students of the two schools.
later golf and tennis matches. These con-
tests are held alternately at Andover and
Exeter, and are attended by the faculties
as well as the students Of both. who are
carried back and forth special trains, ac-
companied by fathers mothers. sisters and
sweethearts. each bedecked with the school
colOrS of blue and white on the one side
and crimson and gray on the other. They
are duplicates Of the great intercollegiate
contests upon a smaller scale, but are at
tended with quite as much excitement and
interest
Odd Sort of Discipline.
The faculty recognize 1t as a duty as
well a privilege to take an active and
sympathetic part in athletic affairs and In
the social relations of the boys. Every
student society-and there are several-nas
one more faculty members, elected by
the undergraduates themselves. This brings
the boys in close and constant association
with their instructors at the most impor-
tant period of their lives. Most Of them
are between the ages of twelve and eigh-
teen when the foundations Of their char
acters being laid. The institution has
no fixed rules. Dr. Amen says emphatically
that Philips Exeter Academy is not a re-
formatory institution and is not intended
for boys who need watching He says the
students under the paternal care of
their advisers and instructors, who exercise
only such control as ought to suffice to
guide healthy minded young American
boys. If that Is not sufficient those who re-
quire more discipline are asked to go else
where.
The main building containing recitation |
halls, chapel and laboratories, is the center |
of school life. The walls of the chapel, like |
those of the Alumni Hall, are covered with |
have been connected with the institution, |
including John Phillips, the founder, said |
to have been painted by Stuart. Most Of |
these portraits have been presented by the