Milford chronicle., 1927-01-14

month was Composition Day" when
every scholar old enough was eX-
pected to read composition or re-
cite piece.
l well remember one of the first
exercises of this sort ever wit
messed, being too small to take part.
James N. Wine was the teacher and
pupils were dressed up somewhat
for the occasion.
The first one called was John A.
Collins, the banner scholar of the
school. His subject was 1.-THE State
of Delaware" and he read it with
credit to all concerned. He was fol-
lowed by Sallie Williams and Annie
Heathers who went to the platform
first bowling to the audience then
facing each other, Miss Williams be-
gan:
"Why Phoebe have you come so soon
Where are your berries, child?
You could not have sold them all,
You had basket piled"
Then Miss Heathers responded:
mo, mother, as I climbed the fence
The nearest way to town
My apron caught upon stake
And so 1 tumbled down"
And thus they recited the entire
poem, as found in Towns Third
Reader" a widely used school book
three or four generations ago.
The next one called was John N.
Heathers, a handsome fellow, well
dressed, boots polished, shirt and
collar immaculate and his hair
groomed to the line. 1 can see him
now and had it been Webster, Pat
rick Henry or Demosthnes, would
not have been more interested. He
politely bowed and said:
Jack Brag had a fast nag,
1t made his coat tail flutter,
The nag took fright at paper kite
And pitched him in the gutter"
The next was an essay entitled,
"The Refining Influence of Flowers" "
by Miss Johnson, and, as remember
it, was well written and read very
correctly.
The next was the recital of
'Lucy's Little Lamb" by Mary E.
Robbins, beginning as follows:
Lucy had a little lamb
It's fleece was white as snow
And everywhere that Lucy went
The lamb was sure to CO."
This poem appeared in Towns
Second Reader" and as this text book
had wide circulation the poem be-
came not only known but very pop
ular all over our land.
The school books used sixty years
ago were prepared with great care.
The moral tone was of a high order.
That vice Injuries and virtue rewards
was taught as a cardinal principle.
The well-known English Reader" Of
those days was full of the nobiest
thought and sentiment. Its object,
according to the title page, was: ITO
assist young persons to read with
propriety and effect, to improve their
language and sentiments and to in
culcate some of the most important
principles of piety and virtue" It's
selections were from the best writers
in the world, including Joseph Add1-
son, Oliver Goldsmith, DR.. Hugh
Blair, DR.. Johnson, Cowper and Pope
and from the old and new testa-
ments. Such literature inspired an
elocutionary effort, was impressive
and wholesome and promoted good
habits, pure thoughts and correct
principles among pupils.
Beginning in 1865, Warren 1. Hicks
and Hudson A. Wood, two college
Graduates, assisted by their sisters,
conducted a most successful private
academy in Milton for three years.
| They were born teachers and up-to-
date in every particular, using the
most modern textbooks and approV-
ed methods of teaching. Their three
wears in the town made a decided
impress upon the public schools OF
lower Delaware.
[ attended their academy during
their last six months stay in Milton,
being then thirteen years of age.
They introduced music, elocutlon
and new methods Of study which
have never seen excelled. At the be-
ginning of a three months term
Scholars were assigned selections
from such difficult pieces as 1.-The
Raven" THE Bells" Speech OF
Spartacus to the GladiatOrs," &C. to
the bows, and more suitable selec-
tions to the girls, and during the en-
tire term each scholar was required
to practice his assignment. Under
this system marked proficiency was
attained. as a correct knowledge OF
things taught was the constant ain
and a good impression was always
made upon visitors who were invited
the last Friday afternoon of eact
month.
The last month-end exhibition IL
the academy, under Hicks and Wood
/. TO which the public was invited, wai
a smelling Match" held Friday at
ternoon, May 10Th, 1868. A bouque
made by Miss Martha Atkins ant
Miss Amanda Prettyman was tn
? prize. Six weeks notice was g1Vel
so pupils could make due prepara
: tion and Wilson's Larger Speller
= was to be used. The contesting pu
nils were chosen in two sections an
stood on opposite sides of the room
= Prof. Hicks gave out the words an
as the contest proceeded the rank
f were slowly depleted and it too
2 over an hour to reduce the numbe
4 on each side to three or four. job
/ A, B. Wilson, who became a famou
= Methodist preached, spelled ragge
= with one "g" and had to take nj
seat. When John B. Welch missed
= word there were only two left, job
l A. Collins and myself. Since m
r first day at the Williams School h
: had been my model as he woul
r make a banner student anywhere
1 He was about twenty years old Will