Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19

The schools of the District were closing in
July, 1858, and The Star was printing re-
ports of the exercises at the
Closing various institutions. In the
soh.,,. issue of the 10th Of July
there is one such report
which is an interesting example Of the
closing ceremonial then the fashion in the
public schools. This was the third dis
trict High School. female department. 10
Gated near the intersection of East Sth
street and Virginia avenue. The exercises
consisted of the final examination con-
Quoted by representatives of the board OF
trustees. and in the presence Of citizens.
members Of the board of aldermen and
teachers. The order of exercises was in
part as follows:
Song, One Sweet Flower etc.
THE first division of the third class was
then examined in spelling, reading, geog-
raphy. grammar history and arithmetic.
During their examination in the latter
study they performed the operations of
the following questions mentally. giving
correct answers without hesitation:
"A jeweler bought watch for $50 a
chain for So and seal for IS; he then
sold the whole for $50. Did he make or
lose? And how much?
IF two boys are thirty-six yards apart
and going in the same direction. and the
hindmost one gains on the other four
he overtake him?
The whole school was then exercised in
spelling in concert, especial attention be-
ing paid to proper syllable division and
correct pronunciation of the syllables and
words. Sweet Music is Falling was then
sweetly sung, and afterward the first
class was thoroughly examined in read
ing. spelling, grammar, history. physi-
ology and algebra. In the latter study
among the problems solved were the fol-
lowing:
From II a minus plus take a plus
b minus 3 plus II.
"A man met four beggars. to whom he
gave Il cents. To the first he gave twice
as many as to the second, and to the
fourth as many as he gave to the first
and third. What sum did he give to each %
In response to the public demand for
naval expansion Congress had provided
for the construction of eight
Naval new steam sloops of war.
and great interest was mani
p'' tested as to where they were
to be built. The Star was daily endeavor-
ing to ascertain this fact, inasmuch as
Westinghouse were hopeful that at least
one of the vessels would be constructed at
the Washington navy yard. In the issue
of July II The Star said:
There is a population of some thou
sands of Industrious. intelligent and in all
respects worthy persons dependent on
work in the Washington navy yard. many
of whom must suffer materially If by any
mishap the Secretary of the Navy should
be induced not to order the construction
at this point of due share of these eight
new sloops of war. The Washington
yard is the leading manufacturing estab-
lishment of the kind owned by the gov
eminent and to ignore that fart in giving
out the work cannot fail to result in a
heavy pecuniary loss to the government
from the unemployment of its heavy
investment there In preparations to be
ready to execute just such jobs. OF course
spectators in steamship and engine build
ing are now actively engaged in endeavor-
ing to induce the Secretary to make spe-
cial favorS of this work. to accord it to
them. Private gain Is SO clearly at the
bottom of all their representations on the
subject as that the Secretary. we appre-
bend, can hardly fail to comprehend the
drift of their interested advice