USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870 > Part 28
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.88
2.74 21.67 77.54 37.99 52.00
674.99 18.91
Adams Square,
L. M. Harrington,
37.
470.71 12.72
.75
2.69 22.17 66.80 38.50
52.00
653.62 17.66
Burncoat,
L. L. King,
17.6
383.32 21.78
1.26
68.18 25.52 52.00
530.28 30.13
North Pond,
E. J. Powers,
38. 480.48 12.64
9.96
4.22 19.93 94.83 29.00 52.00
688.42 18.12
Chamberlin, ·
Į Maria Moulton,
21.
361.69 17.22
1.46
1.95
43.00 27.45 52.00
487.55|23.21
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Orange-st.,
Henry M. Harrington, 127.
385.25|
3.03
1.00
2.15
5.50|61.59| 12.00| 42.72
510.21|
4.02
Elm-st.,
Laura L. Newton,
48.
243.00;
5.06
.28
2.67
25.00 24.00 22.34;
317.29
6.61
East Worcester,
T. S. Darling,
33.
215.00
6.51
.75
17.00
25.00 39.25
297.00
9.00
Quinsigamond,
|M. E. Carr,
30.
29.00
.97
8.39
12.50 7.28
67.17| 2.24 29 Evenings.
COST PER SCHOLAR BY GRADES.
High School,
Tuition,
$40.39
Total Expense,
$46.45
Primary, 2d Grade,
Tuition,
$ 8.37 Total Expense, $10.57
Grammar, 1st Grade,
37.90
41.43
Primary, 3d Grade,
8.44
10.64
Grammar, 2d Grade,
13.34
17.06
Ungraded,
22.76
66
26.86
Grammar, 3d Grade,
12.10
13.71
Suburban,
12.18
19.26
Secondary,
10.81
13.68
Evening,
4.11
5.40
Primary, 1st Grade,
8.35
10.68
-
119
In estimating the average cost per scholar for tuition only, and for total ordinary expenditures, those schools that have not been in session but a part of the year, are omitted.
Table showing the location, description, size and value of the School Houses, and School House Lots belonging to the School Department.
Location.
Material.
Stories.
Size.
rooms.
Number of school
Estimated Value.
Sq. feet.
per foot.
Amount.
House and Lot.
Total Value of
Remarks.
Walnut-st.,
Brick
3
50 x 75
7
Fair,
$18.000
25,672
$1.00
$25,672
$43,672
Occupied for High School.
Thomas-st.,
66
75 x 56
10
Good,
20,000
25,000
.75
18,750
38,750
Dix-st.,
66
2
75 x 52
8
Good,
25,000
12,625
.50
6,312
31,312
Providence-st.,
4
62 × 50
8
20,000
58,000
30
17,400
37,400
Lamartine-st.,
2
96 x 60
8
New, Good,
12,000
17,200
1.00
17,200
29,200
Pleasant-st.,
2
62 × 50
4
12,000
12,555
.40
5,022
17,022
Salem-st.,
3
59 x 51
6
Fair,
12,000
13,400
.25
6,312
18,312
Ash-st.,
3
62 × 50
6
Good,
18,000
18,150
25
4,537
22,537
East Worcester,
2
52 × 30
2
Poor,
3,000
18,300
.50
9,150
12,150
Summer-st.,
Wood,
2
51 x 48
4
1
100
1,517
.50
758
858
Old building not occupied. Stands on the Old Common.
Front-st.,
Brick
2
67 x 31
4
Fair,
6,000
13,200
.12
1,584
7,584
Mason-st.,
66
50 × 30
2
New,
7,500
7,188
.50
3,594
11,094
Adriatic,
Wood,
45 x 30
2
3,600
25,000
.10
2,500
6,100
New Worcester,
Brick
2
50 x 36
4
Good,
10,000
14,900
.15
2,235
12,235
Quinsigamond,
2
51 x 33
2
5,500
19,065
08
1,525
7,025
South Worcester,
2
40 x 33
2
4,500
29,184
.08
2,335
6,835
Valley Falls,
Wood,
1
28 x 22
1
500
4,988
200
700
Leesville,
1
25 × 30
1
1
73 x 30
2
6,000
34,875
600
6,600
Northville,
Brick Wood,
2
38 x 28
2
Fair,
2,000
11,000
10
1,100
3,100
Blithewood,
1
36 x 28
1
Good,
1 500
1 acre
100
1,600
Pond District,
Brick
1
32 x 40
1
3,000
14,000
300
3,300
Tatnuck,
2
43 x 32
2
5,000
11,500
300
5,300
Chamberlin,
Wood,
1
38 x 22
1
1
1
6
2,500
21,500
150
2,650
Burncoat Plain,
300
3,100
Adams Square,
1
40 x 32
1
Fair, Unfinished,
16,000
30,760
.06
1,850
17,850
Edgeworth-st.,
66
2
96 x 60
8
40,000
.15
6,000
6,000
$284,600
$147,435 $432,035
Hall full size of building in French roof. Two L's 52 x 21 feet.
Hall full size of building in French roof.
120
[on this Lot. A large addition for four schools being constructed An addition of four schools is now being erected in [connection with this house.
Not yet completed. Under contract.
Woodland-st.,
2
62 × 50
4
1,600
20,300
200
1,800
North Pond,
1
40 x 32
1,200
acre
100
1,300
Poor,
300
5,050
75
375
Union Hill,
2
44 x 30
2
Good,
29,000
24,000
.15
3 600
32,600
2
96 x 60
10
New,
Sycamore-st.,
3
52 × 50
5
25,000
27,000
.15
4,050
29,050
8,624
5,000
9,060
.40
3,624
1
22 x 22
6,000
Orange-st.
Fair,
Good,
Brick
1
31 x 28
2,800
22,360
Size of Lots.
Estimated Value
Condition.
--
6,000
121
OTHER SCHOOL PROPERTY.
1526 Single School Desks,
$4959 50
1 Piano, High School, 66
200 00
1566 Double
4698 00
1 Mr. Comins',
200 00
1924 School Chairs,
1400 00
1 Mr. Harrington's,
200 00
120 Teachers 66
240 00
1 Miss Hapgood's, 200 00
458 Common
229 00
1
66 Miss Aldrich's,
200 00
125 Tables,
1250 00
37 Bibles,
8 00
28 Teachers Desks,
880 00
75 Testaments,
7 50
104 Clocks,
1000 00
124 Primers,
18 60
34 Coal Stoves, Millers, &c.,
900 00
112 2d
36 60
55 Wood Stoves,
850 00
130 8d 60
65 00
58 Coal Hods,
50 00
66 Int. -
36 00
36 Stove Kettles,
18 00
45 4th 66
36 00
66 " Shovels,
13 20
21 5th 6
21 00
29 Pairs Tongs,
10 00
147 Ell. Spellers,
22 00
10 Coal Sieves,
3 00
101 Pro. 66
25 00
1 Screen,
8 00
97 Pri. Arithmetics,
18 00
157 Boxes Crayon,
34 54
140 Colburns,
30 00
40 gals. Ink,
50 00
121 C. S. Arth,
70 00
43 Ink Jugs,
25 00
142 C. S. Geography,
150 00
41 " Fillers,
24 60
105 Primary “
50 00
123 " Stands,
85 00
247 C. S. Grammars,
175 00
121 Brooms,
30 00
129 1st Lessons Grammer,
40 00
153 Floor Brushes,
100 00
31 U. S. Histories,
80 00
269 Dust 66
67 00
10 Physiologies,
10 00
108 “
Pans,
32 40
81 Qua. Dictionaries,
450 00
105 Water Pails,
21 00
24 Aca.
66
36 00
218 Dippers,
21 SO
46 School
19 00
118 Wash Basins,
35 40
59 Gazetteers,
354 00
188 yds. Towels
18 80
51 Manual Penmanship,
30 60
104 Door Mats, 3 by 3,
208 00
102 Object Lessons,
125 00
85 * 3 by 2,
85 00
120 Mus. Text,
15 00
104 Waste-paper Baskets,
100 00
70 Song Wreaths,
25 00
237 Pointers,
23 70
44 Song Garden,
24 20
40 Dinner Bells,
50 00
110 Golden Robin,
36 00
103 Table 66
25 00
50 Forest Choir,
16 50
103 Thermometers,
41 20
669 Miscellaneous,
167 00
310 Blank Books,
155 00
46 Writing Books,
4 60
996 Maps,
250 00
1 Book Case, (Sec'ry roour,) 66
75 00
1 Set Guyot's large Maps,
65 00
1
1 (Sup't room,)
40 00
194 Charts,
58 20
1 desk
35 00
283 Tablets,
40 00
1
(Secretary room,)
25 00
750 Keys,
150 00
75 Window Openers,
15 00
Copy press,
12 00
1060 Chalk Erasers.
200 00
Stamp,
5 00
74 Globes,
370 00
50 rulers,
5 00
1503 Slates,
90 18
Hammer, screw-driver, ink measures, 15 00
51 Numeral Frames,
75 00
57 Crickets,
11 40
56 Table Covers,
28 00
16 Quires Cap Paper,
3 20
86 Letter,
7 00
1250 Envelopes,
6 00
Book Case at Chamberlin's, 20 00
12 Sets Mason's Musical Charts, 80 00
447 Vols. in Library High School,
750 00
190 Text Books High School,
200 00
Coal and wood on hand, 2,000 00
Philosophical and other apparatus at High School,
3500 00
$33,507 72
Value of Real Estate,
$432,035.00
Value of other property,
33,587.72
Total value of School Property
$465,622.72
35 00
57 Map Stands,
200 00
12 chairs,
25 00
20 00 1 Ream Book Covers, 6 00 Wheel-barrow, shovels, and pick, Lanterns, wood boxes, sinks, slate pencils, ink wells, registers, soap stones, &c., 100 00
Desks and lumber in process of man- ufacture, &c., at work shop, 1500 00
55 " Morning Glory " Coal Stoves, &c. 8300 00
122 1st Readers,
30 00
122
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
CITY OF WORCESTER,
FOR THE YEAR 1869.
JAMES B. BLAKE, President.
ALBERT P. MARBLE, Superintendent.
SAMUEL V. STONE, Secretary.
Members whose Term expires January, 1872.
Members whose Term expires January, 1871.
Members whose Term expires January, 1870.
CALEB B. METCALF, H. WILLIAMS,
GEORGE W. GALE, EDWARD EARLE,
SAMUEL E. STAPLES, JOHN J. POWER,
P. T. O'REILLEY, JOHN L. MURPHY,
JOHN C. NEWTON, R. N. MERRIAM,
O. O. WHEELER, JOHN DEAN,
GEORGE JAQUES, E. WARNER,
P. EMORY ALDRICH. E. B. STODDARD.
WM. DICKINSON,
ANN B. EARLE,
SAMUEL PUTNAM,
JAMES MELANEFY,
SAMUEL V. STONE,
D. S. GODDARD,
H. K. PERVEAR,
FRANCES N. BAKER.
SUB-COMMITTEES.
On School Houses .- Messrs. Stone, Newton, Earle, Goddard and Gale.
On Books and Apparatus .- Mrs. Baker, Messrs. Stoddard, Williams, Jaques and Mrs. Earle.
On Examination of Teachers .- Superintendent, ex-officio, Messrs. Power, Jaques, Stoddard, Pervear and Metcalf.
On Finance .- Mayor, Superintendent, Messrs. Earle, Dickinson, Murphy, Staples and Warner. On Assigning Visiting Committees .- Superintendent, ex-officio, Messrs. Stone, Jaques, O'Reilley, Newton and Dean.
123
VISITING COMMITTEES.
Principal.
Ellis Peterson.
CLASSICAL AND ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL. Committee. Messrs. Jaques, Power, Pervear, Aldrich, Metcalf, Newton and Stoddard. THOMAS STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Aldrich, Dickinson, Williams, Gale, Stoddard, Earle, Staples and Mrs. Earle.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
Ist GRAMMAR,
E. I. Comins,
Aldrich.
2nd 66
Caroline Parkinson,
Dickinson.
3rd
Mary Warren,
Stoddard.
4th
M. A. Harrington,
Williams.
5th
S. R. Gifford,
Gale.
1st SECONDARY,
E. H. Coe,
Stoddard.
2nd
Abbie F. Knowles,
Gale.
PRIMARY,
L. M. Allen,
Earle.
INT. PRIMARY,
Susie G. Gale,
Mrs. Earle.
SUB
S. L. Phillips,
Staples.
DIX STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Metcalf, Williams, Warner, Stoddard, Aldrich, Power, Dickinson, Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Earle.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
1st GRAMMAR,
Samuel E. Fitz,
Metcalf.
2nd
V. E. Hapgood,
Williams.
3rd
E. M. Aldrich,
Williams.
4th
E. Merrick,
Warner.
1st SECONDARY,
K. A Meade,
Dickinson.
2nd 66
A. II. Barnes,
Stoddard.
TRAINING SCHOOL,
D. A. Lathrop,
Rebecca Jones,
Power, Metcalf, Aldrich, Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Earle.
SYCAMORE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Williams, Pervear, O'Reilley, Stone, Warner, and Wheeler.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
1st GRAMMAR,
A. A. Hunt,
Williams.
2nd
A. S. Dunton,
Pervear.
3rd
C. A. George,
O'Reilly.
Ist SECONDARY,
C. R. Clements,
Warner.
2nd
J. A. Green,
Wheeler.
PRIMARY,
S. W. Clements,
Warner.
INT. PRIMARY,
E. F. Marsh,
Wheeler.
SUB
N. C. Thomas,
Stone.
PROVIDENCE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. O'Reilley, Goddard, Earle, Melanefy and Merriam.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
1st GRAMMAR,
H. M. Harrington,
O'Reilley.
2nd
M. F. Reed,
Goddard.
3rd
J. F. Smith,
Merriam.
4th
P. M. Cole,
Melanefy.
SECONDARY,
L. A. Perry,
Earle.
PRIMARY,
M. J. Morse,
Merriam.
INT. PRIMARY,
S. J. Newton,
Merriam.
SUB
M. T. Magennis,
Melanefy.
LAMARTINE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Newton, Power, Dickinson, Wheeler, Melanefy, Murphy and Stone.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
1st GRAMMAR,
C. C. Foster,
Newton.
2nd
M. E. Carr,
Wheeler.
3rd
M. A. Smith,
Power.
1st SECONDARY,
J. E. Prentice,
Dickinson,
2nd
HI. N. Perry,
Wheeler.
PRIMARY,
M. P. Valentine,
Melanefy.
INT. PRIMARY,
SUB
L. E. Goodwin, N. L. Moore,
Murphy. Stone.
124
EAST WORCESTER SCHOOLS. GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Power, Staples, Murphy, Putnam, and O'Reilley.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
1st GRAMMAR,
A. E. McCambridge,
Power.
2nd 6
L. L. Newton,
O'Reilley.
1st SECONDARY,
H. Hathaway,
Staples.
2nd
Annie Brown,
Staples.
1st PRIMARY,
T. S. Darling,
Putnam.
2nd
66
E. G. Wheeler,
Murphy .
INT.
C. E. Putnam,
Putnam.
SUB
E. L. McFarland,
Murphy.
PLEASANT STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Aldrich, Warner, Williams, and Mrs. Baker. Grade.
1st GRAMMAR,
M. F. Wentworth, Lizzie Graham,
SECONDARY,
C. Hewett,
Mrs. Baker.
PRIMARY,
L. M. Wilmarth,
Aldrich.
SUB-PRIMARY,
M. P. Jones,
Williams.
MASON STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Warner and Stoddard.
Grade.
Principals.
SECONDARY,
M. E. Bothwell,
PRIMARY,
M. E. Pease,
Special Committee. Warner. Stoddard.
ASH STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Pervear, Melanefy, Murphy, Stone, Staples and Mrs. Baker. Grade.
GRAMMAR,
M. M. Lawton,
SECONDARY,
C. N. Follett,
PRIMARY,
M. J. Mack,
Staples.
I T. PRIMARY, SUB
E. L. Brooks,
Stone.
SALEM STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Jaques, Merriam, Newton and Stone. Grade.
Principals.
GRAMMAR,
M. E. Fitch,
SECONDARY,
R. Barnard,
PRIMARY,
Aate Hobbs,
SUB-PRIMARY,
H. A. Harrington, FRONT STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Dickinson Gale, and Melanefy. Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
SECONDARY,
PRIMARY,
INT. PRIMARY,
SUB 66
A. Perry, M. Hobbs, C. M. Draper, A. Pratt, SUMMER STREET SCHOOLS.
Dickinson. Melanefy. Dickinson. Gale.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Earle, Staples, Gale and Mrs. Earle. Grade.
Principals. T. S. Nichols,
SECONDARY,
PRIMARY
E. G. Chenery,
INT. PRIMARY,
M. A. Slater,
SUB 66
I. C. Upton,
ELM STREET SCHOOL.
Grade. GRAMMAR,
Principal.
Special Committee. Mrs. Baker.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. O'Reilley and Murphy. Principals. M. M. Geary, M. E. D. King,
Special Committee. O'Reilley. Murphy.
Grade. SECONDARY, &c.,
Principal. A. E. Ayres,
Special Committee. Earle. Mrs. Farle. Staples. Gale.
Emma Brown, TEMPLE STREET SCHOOLS.
Grade. SECONDARY, &c.,
PRIMARY, &c.,
UNION HILL SCHOOL.
Special Committee. Newton.
Principals.
Special Committee.
Pervear. Murphy. Mrs. Baker.
E. G. Cutler,
H. M. Shattuck,
Melanefy.
Special Committee. Jaques. Newton. Merriam. Stone.
2nd
Principals. Special Committee. Aldrich. Warner.
125
ADRIATIC MILLS SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Goddard and Dean.
Grade.
Principals.
SECONDARY,
S. A. Bigelow,
PRIMARY,
M. Parker,
Special Committee. Goddard. Dean.
SOUTII WORCESTER SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Goddard and Dean.
Grade.
Principals,
GRAMMAR,
E. D. May,
PRIMARY,
A. E. Ilall,
Special Committee. Goddard. Dean.
NEW WORCESTER SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Jaques, Pervear, and Den4. Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
1st GRAMMAR, 2d
A. P. Dean,
SECONDARY,
M A. Metcalf,
Dean.
PRIMARY,
S. L. Carter,
Dean.
QUINSIGAMOND SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Goddard and O'Reilley.
Grade.
Principals.
GRAMMAR,
H. G. Wafte,
PRIMARY,
L. E. Perry,
Special Committee. Goddard. O'Reilley.
NORTIIVILLE SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Mrs. Earle and Mrs. Baker.
Grade.
Principals.
GRAMMAR,
Maria Moulton,
PRIMARY,
S. M. Brigham,
Special Committee. Mrs. Earle. Mrs. Baker.
UNGRADED SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Power and Newton. Location.
ORANGE STREET,-Boys,
Girls,
P. E. King,
Special Committee Power. Newton.
SUBURBAN SCHOOLS.
Location.
Principals.
TATNUCK,
C. A. Rider,
VALLEY FALLS,
A. L. Daniels,
LEESVILLE,
E. J. Pratt,
Dean.
BLITHEWOOD,
M. L. Warren,
Goddard.
POND,
M. O. Whittemore,
Putnam.
ADAM'S SQUARE,
L. M. Harrington,
Mrs. Baker.
BURNCOAT PLAIN,
L. L. King,
Mrs. Earle.
NORTII POND,
E. J. Powers,
Metcalf.
CHAMBERLIN,
C. Manley,
Metcalf.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Location. Principals.
ORANGE ST ,-Young Men's, H. M. Harrington,
ELM STREET,-Girls, L. L. Newton,
EAST WORCESTER,-Girls, T. S. Darling, VOCAL MUSIC.
Special Committee. Jaques.
Newton. Wheeler.
GRAMMAR AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS .- I. N. Metcalf, Teacher.
COMMITTEE -Messrs. Power, Staples and Newton.
The Committees of Visitation shall exercise a general supervision over the Schools to which they are severally assigned, and shall visit them according to the provisions of the Statutes, not less than once in four weeks, and generally during the week preceding the monthly meeting of the Board, at which they shall report their true condition .- Rules, Chap. 3, Sect. 6.
Though each School is assigned to a Special Committee, yet every member of the Board shall deem it his duty to watch over all the Public Schools of the City, to attend their examinations,and visit them at other times as his convenience will permit .- Rules, Chap. 3, Ser. 9.
17
Special Committee. Gale. Jaques.
Principals.
George A. Adams,
Jaques. Pervear.
M. E. Maynard,
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1869. Vacation periods indicated by italic figures.
1869.
SUNDAY.
MONDAY.
TUESDAY.
WEDNESDAY.
THURSDAY.
FRIDAY.
SATURDAY.
1869.
SUNDAY.
MONDAY;
TUESDAY.
WEDNESDAY,
THURSDAY.
FRIDAY.
SATURDAY.
Jan'y.
3
4
5
61 7 8
9
July.
4
5
61
7
8
9 10
10
11
12
13;14|15
16
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
17
18
19
20
21
22 23
18
19
20
21 22 23
24
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
25
26
27
28
29
30 31
31
Aug.
1
3
4
5
6
7
Feb'y.
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9|10
11
12 13
14
7
8
9 110
11
12
13
15
16 17
18
19 20
21
14
15
16 17
18 19|20
22
23
24
25 26 27
28
21
22
23
24
25 26
27
29
30
31
28
Sept.
1
2
3
4
Mar.
1
2
3
4
5
6
5
6
7
8
9 10 11
7
8
9
10!
11
12
13
12
13
14|15 |16| 17 18
14|
15
16|17
18
19
20
19
20
21|22
23 24
25
21 22|23 24
25|26
27
26
27
28
29
30
28 29 30 31
Oct.
1| 2
April.
1
2
3
3
4
51 6
7 8 9
41
5
6
7
8
9
10
10
11
12|13
14 15 16
11
12
13
14 15
16
17
17
18 19
20
21 22 23
18 19
20 21 22
23
24
25
26
27
28 29 30
25 26 27 28 29
30
31
Nov.
1
2 3
4
5
6
2
3
8
7
8
9
10
11 12
13
9|10
11|12
13
14
15
14 15 16
17
18 19
20
16|17|18|19|20
21 22
21
22.23
24
25
26
27
23 24
25
26
27
28
29
28
29|30
30 31
Dec.
1
2
3
4
June.
1
3
5
6 7
8 9 10 11
6 7 8 9|10|11
12
12
13 14 15 16|17
18
13 14|15 16
17 18
19
19
20 21 22 23 24
25
20 21 22 23
24
26
26
27.28
29.30 31
27 28 29|30
1
The 1st Term begins Nov. 30, 1868, and ends Feb. 12, 1869, comprising 11 weeks.
2d
Feb. 22,
'69,
66
April 30,
3d
May 10,
July 2.
8
4th
Aug. 30,
66 Nov. 19,
12
'Total,
41 weeks.
The 21st of September is assumed to be the Cattle Show day. It is liable to be some other day. Also, Thanksgiving week is assumed to come at the usual time.
From Monday, Dec. 28, 1868, to Saturday, Dec. 25, 1869, the schools will have been in session, exclusive of vacations, forty-one weeks, and a full year's salary will have been paid, and due. It is therefore probable that there will be no school, this year, upon Christmas week.
-
1|
2
-
1
2
3
-
-
May.
1
| 5
6
7!
24
25
10
NINTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
DIRECTORS
OF THE
free Public Library,
WORCESTER, MASS.
Published by order of the City.
OR
R.
A
TOWN
.29
BY
JUNE 14
E 14.1722
IT
WHITTEMOC
A
WORCESTER: TYLER & SEAGRAVE, CITY PRINTERS, Spy Block, 252 Main Street.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
OF THE
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
To Hon. James B. Blake, Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Worcester :
The Directors of the Free Public Library respectfully present their Ninth Annual Report.
It seems to have been the intention of the City Gov- ernment so to constitute this Board, that the taste and wishes of all varieties of citizens should be, as far as pos- sible, represented here. For the convenience of busi- ness, the Directors have arranged themselves in special committees, to which the more important objects are given in special charge, without intending to exclude Directors not members of a committee from interven- tion in regard to those objects. The most important of the Committees is that on the Library, who by their own judgment and on the suggestion of other members of the Board, select the books to be purchased, with due care to make the departments complete, to avoid dupli- cates and to reduce, as far as possible, the inevitable pest of a large library, that has no better name than rubbish. The last President of this Board, who will be remem- bered as one of the ablest friends of the Library, in his general care for its interest as well as in the establish- ment of the Reading Room, of which he was the most efficient promoter, has set forth, by his expressive pen, the large means, which will hereafter come from the in- vested funds established by Dr. John Green, and has
130
given important suggestions for their wise application. In these early years of the progressive increase of these funds, there is no largeness of amount to quicken the sense of responsibility, but it is not less desirable that the selections for the permanent Green Library should be carefully made, so that they may be useful now and not an injury and an obstruction to the great collection,
which in future years will be added to them. The mere quantity of the great libraries of Europe, of the 900,000 volumes in the Imperial Library at Paris, and of the 600,000 volumes of the Royal Library at Munich, and of other old Libraries, has often been held up for the dis- couragement of American scholars. It is indeed a grave reflection, that the light and the laborious thoughts of men for hundreds of years are there embalmed by the printer's art. But a near inspection will diminish the rising admiration and envy, when it is seen that the grim array of heavy volumes, behind the wire netting, is rarely disturbed, for the research of visitors, while the active consultations are chiefly directed to the newest books, adapted to the thoughts and necessities of the passing year.
It is stated that a Chinese Emperor ordered, that all writings should be destroyed, so that every thing might begin fresh from his reign. This destruction of the in- tellectual results approved by successive generations, was a great loss. But it is not a less evil to disregard the condition and requirements of the passing age. As books come from the press, they often have a value from their connection with more able works of the same author, or with some transient incident, which gives them an undeserved place in great libraries, and their presence there embarasses and misleads the student. It is desirable to introduce into a public library books that
131
will excite the appetite for reading, but these should be selected with great caution. Mr. Longfellow said truly, " Many readers judge of the power of a book by the shock it gives their feelings, as some savage tribes deter- mine the power of a musket by the recoil-that being considered best, which fairly prostrates the purchaser." A public library is also liable to be encumbered and dis- abled by an unnecessary quantity of works of a grave character, treatises on sciences and the inventive arts. Books in these departments are in the highest degree useful and indispensable, but they should not be gath- ered in, as if they had " attained the sum of knowledge." Human thought is progressive, and most of the scien- tific teachings of fifty years ago are esteemed worthless or insufficient. There are many elaborate works, like the 68 large volumes of old Zedler's German Cyclopedia, which may be bought for their value to the paper-maker and have a place in libraries, not for the worth of deep investigations, but for the easier statements of historical- and biographical truth. To a few of the scientific stu- dents who abound in France and Germany, as they do not in America, the larger and older departments of their vast libraries may render an occasional service ; but to the great majority of the most intelligent inhabitants they have no lesson so plain and impressive as their rep- etition of this old rebuke to the pride of science, " whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." The life of a library consisteth not in the abundance which it possesseth. Good books are now so abundant that readers cannot be restricted to the allowance of old Chaucer's Oxford Clerk, who
-would rather have at his bed-head A twenty books clothed in black or red Of Aristotle or his philosophy Than robes rich, rebeck or saltery."
Scott's version in " The Antiquary."
132
There will be a difference of opinion as to the selec- tion, but all, who have occasion to consult books, will agree as to the desirableness of the manageable size of a library, especially for the use of those whose training and pursuits do not give them a facility in such research- es. Hence arises a necessity for greater caution in fill- ing up a library, where books can be so easily obtained, as they may be by the expanding liberality of the Founder of this Library.
Since the preceding lines were written, the caution which they suggest has been found to have the inciden- tal sanction of the following admirable passage in the Lectures on the Origin and History of the English Lan- guage, by Prof. Marsh, one of the foremost scholars of our country and our age : "The destruction of the products of Anglo-Saxon, of Anglo-Norman, and of early English genius occasioned by the Danish invasions, the civil wars of different periods and the suppression of the monasteries in the sixteenth century, is in many re- spects much to be deplored, but for such apparent ca- lamities there are, in the scheme of Providence, always sufficient compensations. Not only must the old crop be removed from the earth to make way for the new, but it must also be in a good measure consumed, before adequate stimulus can be felt for the industry which is required to produce another harvest. We have abun- dant reason to rejoice that Homer and Thucydides and Plato and many master-pieces of the Greek dramatists, that Terence and Cicero and Horace and Virgil and much of Tacitus, have escaped the casualties which have destroyed the works of other scarcely less renowned an- cient authors ; but whether the existence of the whole body of Greek and Roman literature down to the pres- ent day, would have been an advantage to modern ge- nius, is quite another question." (Page 11.)
133
The important duties of the Committee on the Libra- ry have been performed by Messrs. E. Cutler, Edward L. Davis, Nathaniel Paine, David Weston, and Charles A. Chase, and their Report, by their Secretary, Mr. Paine, is adopted as a part of this Report. It is unnecessary to repeat the valuable suggestions and interesting state- ments therein contained. They will receive from the City Government and from this Board the attention which they deserve.
It is gratifying to observe that the privilege of this public benefaction has been so generously and respect- fully used by those who enjoy it; that in the nine years of the liberal administration of the circulating depart- ment, while 14,233 persons have taken more than 500,- 000 volumes to their homes, no more than 120 volumes have been lost. This fact reflects honor on the charac- ter of our city and also on the discreet management of Rev. Z. Baker, the Librarian. It must be ascribed to the same good influences that there is a decided im- provement in the care of books and in their prompt return to the Library.
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