The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1920-09-03
"REMINISCENCES
WRITTEN FOR THE ENQUlRER]

During my recent illness | often re-
called Incidents and scenes of boyhood
days; and, while convalescing, l have at
times amused myself by dotting down
some of these "reminiscences. In this
article and others to follow ! shall en-
deavor to give an idea of what MARI
borough was half century and more
ago. My readers must, however, re-
member that the impressions were such
as would be made upon the mind of a
little boy; and, though real, may per
haps in some particulars, contrasted
with present day eondj tions, seem to be
clothed with the elements Of romance.
For this, your indulgence is asked.
My little heart fiuttered with excite
ment when, without warning, on a
bright autumn morning in 1863 my
father announced at the breakfast table
that |, the eldest child, was to be-
gin my school career. Accordingly, he
led me to Academy Hill and introduced
me to Mr. Edward Bushell unto
whose tender mercies | was committed
After chatting with the old teacher
for while, my father took leave
and we'll remember how | cried when
| realized | could not return home with
him. | was consoled, however, by the
kind old teacher, and soon | became a
part of that little school circle. After the
p performance of few trifling exercises
in reading and writing, | was sent back
to my home under the escort of an old
er boy on account of my tender years.
By the next day l had grown big
enough and brave enough to go to
school and return all by myself. What
little hero!
The school of that time was quite a
con trast to the school of to-day. The
Academy building then consisted
of two rooms, one of which was the
school room and the other the bed room
of the professor. ] speak of him as a
professor, for better educated man,
never knew-a ripe scholar with degree
from the University of Dublin. His
classes, wonderful to- tell, ranged from
boys learning the alphabet, the first
step in education then. to classes in
Cicero and Xenophon. Under the charter
of the School, the teacher was required
to be classical scholar and to teach
Latin and Greek. The furniture was of
the rudest kind. Desks with sloping
lids in sets of three, in all about 80,
were arranged against the walls. Those
b oys who faced the windows had to have
the light full in their eyes, and those
between the windows had little light at
all. Plain wooden beaches without
backs formed the seats. The very small
boys, who had no writing to do, found
resting places on two long benches with
backs. There were no blackboards, no
free books and few physical comforts.
The old professor sat at a small table
in an arm chair, and was always suppli-
ed with d goodly number of supple rods,
for the rod was not spared In those
primitive days. For many long and
weary hour the boys listlessly awaited
the .1oon hour. There could be very
little concentrated Study, un der such
unfavorable conditions.
And yet this good old teacher prepar-
ed many boys for college, some of whom
heve become conspicuous in the affairs
of State and in the professional world.
There were no written examin ations
under this master. Pupils were not
hampered by grades. There was more
individual than class instruction, and
bright ambi tious lads were pushed for
ward at rapid rate. This perhaps, was
the only merit that the old system pos
sessed; if, indeed, it can be considered a
merit. The beginners used John Com
ley's "Spelling and Reading Book" k"-an
atrocious infiiction upon the youths of
that day. What contrast we have
now in the wonderful Primers, and the
modern system of primary instruction
based upon psychological principles.
The old Academy lost its identity
about twelve years ago, when the prop
erty was turned over to the School
Board (now known as the Board of Ed
cation) in order that the present High
School might be established, and our
boys and girls alike might enjoy the
benefits of instruction in the higher
grades. Historic associations still clus-
ter about Academy hill, and some of our
citizens of advanced years have recol.
lections of more than one of the pro.
fessors who welded the rod and taught
the classics in those by-gone days.
Modern life demands improved condi-
tions. The old order of things has
passed forever. May the new
High School building soon to be erected
embody in its conveniences all the com.
forts of the new age, and may the
children of the present generation and
of generations to come find keen de.
light and rich enlightenment within it's
wallsi
More anon.