Year: 1863

dies Seminary as an Examining Commit
tee, would submit to ITS Trustees, Patrons
and Friends, the following Report:


The Committee feel that they have had
unusual opportunities for observing the
school. This is their sixth day at the In
stituton, and they have seen il from al
most every point Of view, in the quiet and
hush of the Sabbath, aud in the busy rou-
tine of the week.


Their Examination has not therefore
been only or mainly in the recitation room,
They nave watched the daily life and come
in contact with the prevailing tone and
spirit of the Institution. They are per-
suaded that these have more to do with
the real education of its inmates, the bring
ing out and proper training of their whole
nature, than any amount of mere school
room exercises.


And in reviewing the observations ami





experiences of the week, we. would first
call attention to these less apparent, al
most insensible but invaluable influences.


Among them a high lace should be
given to the location of the school. 1t
enjoys most happy combination of ad-
vautages, Nesting among the Vermont
hills, it is still but half hours ride from
Railway communication with the Connec-
ticut Valley. Boston and New York.


The ar, the water, the soil are such as
only mountain region can furnish. Hill
and valley; streamlet and pool; wild
crags and grassy Slopes gardens, or
chards, hay-felds; gem of village and
the forest crowned mountains, make up
landscape not to be surpassed in variety
and beauty even in our beautiful New
England,


The Seminary is worthy Of such sur
roundlngs The grounds present unusual
ions,-shrubbery, flower garden and
fountain, green lawns and shaded walks;
all conducting to the refinement as we'll as
health of the pupils. Join to these the
quiet homelike domestic arrangements, me me
abundance of water, the neatness of the
well-turnished halls and rooms, the gener-
Gus diet, and 1t is not surprising that the
close of hard years study finds the young
ladies, with but few exceptions, robust in
health, buoyant in spirit, ready vigorously
to prosecute father studies or to enter upon
the duties of active life.


Beyond all these external influences
have we noticed and admired the eminent
ly paternal spirit of the principal and his
associates. This difuses itself everywhere,
pervades and controls every department.
The Seminary is home. Its very at
mosphere is mutual affection. Its law is
the law of kindness. There is law. It's
administration is efficient and uncompro-
missing, but there is in general little fric-
ton, none of the restless chatting under res
trant which is the curse OF some Institu-
tions.


In respect to the Examination. For
| three days we have listened continuously
o the exercises of classes, conducted by
their respective teachers in such a wav as
TO show the real merits of the pupils with
out fear or favor.


Among our general impressions we place
first the thorough conscientiousness of the
Teachers. In their system there is is nc
veneering. Substance is of more value
than outside show. There was no smooth
lng over or covering up of defects in their
| pupils. And that there were defects
showed that the young ladies have not
been brought under such pressure as des-
troys their individuality and turns them
out all in one shape for exhibition.


The examinations have been admirably
sustained, with the exception of two or
three classes in branches where perfection
is to be attained only by untlinching Sc
verify of drill pursued until it becomes a
pleasure to the scholar and its fruits a
credit to the teacher. 1t is but Justice to
| say that these classes were composed of
those who have been but a short time at
the school, er had some inherent difficult
ties hindering proper classification of their
members.


The examination of one class each in
English Grammar, Natural Philosophy
and Geology were highly creditable. The
classes in Latin gave evidence of very
thorough instruction. The French class
under Prof. DeLannoy showed rare ac-
quaintance with the Grammar and idioms