The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-03-27
OBSERVES tooth
ANNIVERSARY
Of the Thompson's Island Farm
and Trades School
MANY PROMINENT SPEAKERS
Bishop William A. Lawrence, Pres.
Lowell Of Harvard College,
Chas. Evans Of Chicago,
And Others.


know OF in the vicinity of Boston or
indeed within the limits OF any great
city AT the present time"
President a. Lawrence Lowell OF
Harvard University spoke these words
on Saturday afternoon OF the Farm
and Trades School, located on Thomp.
sons Island, Boston. High words OF
praise, indeed, are these. a thousand
| aucitoIs applauded at the celebration
OF the one hundredth anniversary OF
this old school, which was commem-
GRATED by public meeting at the Old
| South Church on Saturday afternoon.
The speakers were Bishop William
| Lawrence, Pres. A. Lawrence Lowell
of Harvard University, Charles Evans
of Chicago, representing the Alumni
association and Charles II. Bradley
the superintendent. Charles Z. Cur.
tbs, vice president OF the board OF
managers, presided.
After landing at City Point the
boys of the school were taken 10 the
church in special cars They occu.
pied the north gallery, and their neat
appearance and genrlemanly behavior
was the cause OF favorable comment.
Bishop Lawrence said :-"Thomp.
sons Island, between the horizon and
a great city is in a position best adapt
ed for the development of a healthy
body and healthy mind. The boy
in the best school with the most ex.
pensive tuition is unable TO do chores
and the boy or the man that has
not the capacity OF doing chores, o'
adapting himself 10 the conditions ot
taking up saw or hammer or OF
handling plow or OF knowing some.
thing of birds or butterflies or of trees
lis boy who is only one-third train.
ed.
AT Thompson's Island he has all
his muscles developed and he becomes
an American boy with the capacity OF
standing On his own feet-a boy who
can be Kicked out West and can make
his way because he was trained 10
make his way. commend Thomp.
sons Island, not only for the educa.
tion of the boys but for the education
of it's patrons
Pres. Lowell said:-"The boy
brought up in the city has the ten
dency TO think anything can be done
If one is clever enough. On the farm
he soon finds there are certain inexor-
able laws OF nature which cannot be
changed and il he tries TO change
them he is checnmated. The boys at
Thompson's Island are brought up rs
our ancestors were-in the country.
You have developed in this school
n plan of study and shop work in a
way no other school has done that !
know of in the vicinity of Boston or
indeed within the limits of any great
city at the present time.
Mr.. Charles Evans OF Chicago, sec'y
OF the Chicago Historical Society and
one OF Americas foremost auihori-
ties in photography, and himself a
Farm and Trades School boy said:
at is the most famous school in
America on a charity foundation" He
also made the announcement that the
Alumni Association has raised $1,000
which will be turned over TO the school
Mr. Charles II. Bradley, Superin-
tendent of the School said in part
"Twenty-six years ago when ! be-
came fascinated with the Farm and
Trades School, it's unique location
and it's work and possibilities, the
school had but little company in the
work IL was doing. We were prac
tically alone in the teaching OF agri.
culture and some OF the manual arts
and in the division of time for mental
work and shop practice-the very
things which are nowadays receiving
earnest support.
Our school was the first in this
country 10 introduce sloyd. which is
really the A G of all manual instruc-
tion, and the teaching of which is now
10 be found in nearly. every city and
large town.
The band Cottage Row (the boys
goyernment). with its many depart.
ments, the bank. the trading company,
the monthly paper, meteorology and
the mechanical instruction which has
from time TO time being introduced all
contribute 10 the one end OF helping
the ldu 10 Hilu uilhbeiA anu 10 III ING
out the best that Is in him for pfoduc.
tive and effective citizenship.
The pioneer work accredited 10 US
has been made possible by the contin.
uity Of management and BY team play
on the part Of all Interested. We
have not been hampered by a change
OF board or Of administration or by
interference Of any nature.
Our aim and our purpose today is
the same as a century ago, starring
boys for a broad education with the
rudiments OF a trade and the trade
which they are most likely 10 follow
They are taught to do real things in
a natural way, the things which are 20
be done in after life. They are taught
obedience, respect for their superiors
and the rights Of others; TO be honest,
TO be loyal--in fact. 10 be good ct.
izens.'
The benedictioE was by Bishop
Lawrence.