USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1860-1887 > Part 10
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The Registers for the past year show an increase in the punctuality of attendance, which is very gratifying. In some schools a large number of pupils have been neither absent or tardy during the term, and others only when de- tained by illness. It is also pleasing to notice the names of so many visitors during the year; this, we believe. is a step in the right direction. Before closing this report, we would congratulate the South School upon the neat and com- modions house erected for them during the year, and hope it may serve to awaken in the young minds new interest in study ; we believe they will prove themselves worthy the grift. . We trust the same generous spirit of improvement may be extended to some other portions of our town.
At the commencement of the year a vigorous effort was made to unite some of the former districts, thereby securing
20
a much longer term of schooling. This in the opinion of many would more than compensate for the disadvantages arising from an increased distance of travel. At a meeting, however, called for the purpose, it was decided to allow them to re- main within their former limits, and be called by the old . names which our fathers called them. As the town covers a large extent of territory, and the population is scattering, it is doubtful if any better arrangement could be made. We hope the day is not far distant when the town will rem- edy the defect alluded to, by cheerfully appropriating a larger sum of money for the several schools; or better still, support a High School for onr more advanced schol- ars. Let no backward steps be taken, but let us as a com- munity press onward in whatever pertains to the increase of education, and tends to elevate the public moral senti- ment, and upward in the pursuit of that higher wisdom which is vonchsafed to all who ask, by the Great Teacher of us all.
WARREN EAMES,
WM. H. CARTER,
Committee.
LEMUEL C. EAMES,
TABLE OF ATTENDANCE.
Name of School.
Name of Teacher.
Terms.
No of Scholars.
Average Attend.
Length of Wages pr. School. Month.
East
Miss Rebecca Eames
Summ'r
34
32
3 mos.
$32.00
66
66
Winter
44
40
33 “
34.00
Centre
66 Susie E Littlefield
Sumni'r
38
32 2-5
3
32.00
Winter
36
29₴
3%
32.00
Nor:h
Hannah M. Hart
Summ'r
35
27
32.00
66
66
66
Winter
33
19
27-66
32.00
West
66
Clara E. Bancroft
Summ'r
14
12
3
6
28.00
66
..
Susie A. Greene
Winter
16
13
3.3
28.00
South
Catharine J. Siller
Summ'r
30
26
3
32.00
16
Phebe G. Harnden
Winter
29
25
28.00
Mary E. Nichols
School
TOWN WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
To A. P. Pearson, Constable of the town of Wilmington,
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the male inhabitants of said Town, qualified by law to vote in town affairs, to meet and assemble in the Town Hall, in said town, on Mon- day, the sixth day of March next, at ten o'clock A. M., - the polls to be opened at eleven o'clock,-to act upon the following articles, viz :
ART. FIRST .- To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. SECOND .- To choose all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year.
ART. THIRD .- To see what sum or sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate for schooling.
ART. FOURTH .- To see what sum or sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate to defray annual expenses and pay town debts.
ART. FIFTH .- To see what sum or sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate for the support and repairs of highways.
ART. SIXTII .- To see what direction the Town will give for expending the money raised and appropriated for sup- port and repairs of highways.
ART. SEVENTH. - To hear reports of Committees, and act thereon.
22
ART. EIGHTH .- To see what measures the town will adopt in relation to the collection of taxes the ensuing year.
ART. NINTH .- To see if the Town will have their current year's expenses printed, and if so, choose a Committee to effect the same.
ART. TENTH .- To choose a Committee to settle with the Town Treasurer.
ART. ELEVENTH .- To see what sum of money the Town will raise and appropriate for the support of a High School in the centre of the town, the ensuing year, or see what they will do about it.
ART. TWELFTH .- To see if the Town will establish a Pub- lie Library, or do anything in relation to the same.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thercon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands, at said Wilmington, this eight- eenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
LEMUEL C. EAMES, Selectmen H. ALLEN SHELDON, of
HENRY SHELDON, Wilmington.
A true copy, Attest : A. P. PEARSON, Constable.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
OF THE
TOWN OF WILMINGTON,
FROM FEB. 1, 1871, TO FEB. 1, 1872,
AND THE
Report of the School Committee,
FOR THE
SCHOOL-YEAR 1871-2.
WOBURN: JOHN L. PARKER, PRINTER, 204 MAIN STREET. 1872.
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Names and ages of the Inmates of the Almshouse : -
Betsey Tweed,
86 years, died May 28.
Nancy Alexander,
83
Frederick Butters,
76
died Sept. 18.
Louisa Burtt,
67
Elbridge Butters, 66
Albert Carter,
52
Fanny Butters,
31
John Bancroft,
29
H. Orn Bancroft,
39
Judith Alexander,
76
Charles Butters,
Whole number,
admitted Dec. 6. born Dec. 16, 1871. 11
Present number, 9
VAGRANTS. Number of lodgings furnished, 149
meals 405
Expense at the Almshouse : -
To cash paid for flour and grain, $234 84
66
groceries, 227 57
fresh meat, 123 80
salt pork, 20 61
66
clothing, 43 22
Amount carried forward, $650 04
4
Amount brought forward, $650 04
To Cash paid for household furniture, 25 54
farming tools,
32 59
fish,
47 70
، ،
soap,
21 80
cider and vinegar, 9 90
..
boots and shoes, 8 45
.. bakers' bread,
10 00
..
blacksmithing, 5 21
..
horse hire and car fare, 13 61
..
fruit and vegetables, 7 04
..
labor in the house,
36 75
medicine,
6 80
spirituous liquors,
6 25
. .
two shoats,
11 00
beans,
2 88
..
snuff and tobacco,
16 10
66
sundry expense, 10 88
doctor's bill,
30 00
funeral expense,
23 00
salary of sup't,
200 00
$1,175 54
Credits.
By labor of superintendent and team, $125 00
" keeping peddlers, 23 75
" lumber sold, 23 00
" wood sold,
5 00
" butter sold,
38 15
" milk and eggs,
19 01
" two calves,
20 00
" labor of inmates,
4 76
" potatoes sold,
7 00
265 67
Amount carried forward, $909 87
5
Amount brought forward, $909 87
Expense of the Poor out of the Almshouse: -
Paid city of Lawrence for support of Philander King, $9 00
Supplies furnished Rhoda Abbot, 43 50
of Reuben Butters, 8 00
Expense incurred for burial of James Rocket, 24 00
$84 50
By cash received of town of Woburn,
for supplies furnished Rhoda Abbot, 43 50
$41 00
Total amount of expense of the poor,
$950 87
LEMUEL C. EAMES, Overseers HENRY SHELDON, of
SAMUEL B. NICHOLS, Poor.
Wilmington, Feb. 1, 1872.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Orders drawn for Expenses of the Poor, $950 87
Expenses of Town Officers :-
Paid William H. Carter, services as Town
Clerk, and making Returns, $24 40 L. C. Eames, services as Selectman,
Assessor, & Overseer of the Poor, 75 00 Henry Sheldon, do., 65 00
Samuel B. Nichols, do., 65 00
Warren Eames, services as Treasurer and Collector, 100 00 S. B. Nichols, services as Constable, 20 00 Warren Eames, Wm. H. Carter, and
L. C. Eames, services as School Committee, 40 00
S. B. Nichols, care of Cemetery, 10 00
do., care of Town House, 5 00
do., return of deaths to Town Clerk, 1 80 C. L. Carter, auditing Treasurer's accounts, 5 00
Wmn. H. Carter, 3 00
414 20
Expenses of Repairing Roads :
Paid James K. Pearson, for labor, $107 20
Wm. H. Carter, 2d, do., 248 28
Amounts carried forward, $355 48 $1,365 07
7
Amounts brought forward, $355 48 $1,365 07
Paid Frederic S. White, for labor,
75 00
Charles M. Gowing, do., 75 00
Henry Sheldon, do., 225 00
Sylvester Carter, Jr., do., 150 00
Wesley Nason, extra do., 4 80
- 885 28
Miscellaneous Expenses :
Paid J. L. Parker, for printing 500 copies of Town valuation, $107 00
Town Reports, 43 00
Blank Books, 5 50
Printing blank deeds for Burial lots, 5 00
Express, Postage, and Stationery, 7 85
Ringing bell for Town purposes, 20 months, 25 00
D. P. Brigham, for labor and ma-
terials repairing Cemetery fence, 123 85 Repairing School houses, 20 27
School books, 84 21
Isaac Damon, for watching fire in
Sawpit woods, Aug. 1870, 6 00
Noah Clapp, balance for building South School House, 69 17
Abatement of Taxes,
12 10
508 95
Amount of State Aid paid to the Widows and Orphans of deceased Soldiers, and those partially disabled in the Service : --
Paid Mary A. Chapman,
$96 00
Lavina Jane Blaisdell,
88 00
Amounts carried forward, $184 00 $2,759 30
8
Amounts brought forward, $184 00 $2,759 30
Paid Daniel R. Upton, Guardian, 48 00
Widow Ambrose Upton,
80 00
Stephen Frye, 72 00
Mary A. Phelps,
92 00
Willie R. Butters,
36 00
512 00
Expense of Schools: -
Paid teacher of Select School,
$224 80
furniture for School room, 167 37
fuel and incidentals, 75 83
Paid teacher for East School,
224 00
fuel and incidentals,
29 57
Paid teacher for West School,
203 00
fuel and incidentals,
17 90
Paid teacher for Centre School,
216 00
fuel and incidentals,
35 80
Paid teacher for North School,
216 00
fuel and incidentals,
24 32
Paid teacher for South School,
224 00
fuel and incidentals,
34 10
1,692 69
Total expenditures,
$4,963 99
LEMUEL C. EAMES, HENRY SHELDON, Selectmen.
SAMUEL B. NICHOLS,
Wilmington, Feb. 1st, 1872.
STATISTICS FROM TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.
Births Registered in Wilmington in 1871.
2
No.
NAME OF CHILD.
NAME OF PARENTS.
DATE OF BIRTH.
1
Harry Benjamin Lowe, Simon Firmane Doucett,
2
3
Francene Alisa Buck,
4
Milton G. Upton,
5 Charles Willard Buck,
6 Francois H. Doucett,
7 8
Ada Florence Frost, Antenell Mabell Pike,
9 10 11
James William Miller, William Otis Carter, Althea Maud Harnden, Charlotte Butters.
12 13 14 15 John R. McIntosh,
Ethel Jane Batcheller,
16 Carrie M. Swain,
Timothy and Mary S. Lowe, Dominique and Ann J. Doucett, Otis C. and Caroline R. Buck, Daniel R. and Clara G. Upton, Charles and Susan S. Buck.
Joseph and Gertrude Doucett, William A. and Phœbe. E. Frost, John S. and Mary Abbie Pike, Timothy and Matilda Doucett, James and Mary J. Miller, James O. and Elizabeth R. Carter, Otis and Mary Harnden, Frederick and Fanny Butters, James H. and Mary E. Batcheller, George W. and Mary A. McIntosh, Charles W. and Harriet A. Swain,
January 22, 1871. March 17, 1871. April 26, 1871. June 13, 1871. July 3, 1871.
July 11, 1871. July 22, 1871. July 28, 1871.
Rosalie Elizabeth Doucett,
August 17, 1871. August 2, 1871. December 2, 1871. December 5, 1871. December 16, 1871. December 30, 1871. December 22, 1871. October 6, 1871.
9
Marriages Registered in Wilmington in 1871.
No
DATE OF M.
NAME OF GROOM AND BRIDE.
AGE.
RESIDENCE AT TIME OF M.
OCCUPATION OF GROOM.
PLACE OF BIRTH.
NAMES OF PARENTS.
1 Jan. 11 James W. Murray, Alice J. Perry,
23
Wilmington, 27 |Wilmington,
Carpenter,
Hill, N. H., Wilmington,
Hugh and Elsie A. Murray. John S. and Martha Perry.
2 Jan. - Joseph Doucett,
Hannah Doucett,
21 Wilmington, 21 Lowell,
Laborer,
Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia,
Thomas and Mary Doucett. John and Mary Doucett.
3 Jan. 25 J. Sheldon Sargent, Angeline Buck,
24 18
Wilmington, Wilmington,
Butcher,
Henry and Sylvania Buck. Oxford, N. H. John B. and Clarisa Sargent. Wilmington,
4 Mar. 2 John S. Pike, Mary Abby Walker,
20 Reading, 20 Wilmington,
Salesman,
Reading, Wilmington,
Stephen T. and Martha Pike. George and Hannah Walker.
5|Ap'l 22 Edward Mears, Ellen M. Slack,
43 30
Wilmington, Wilmington,
Farmer,
Tewksbury, Wilmington,
Russell and Hannah Mears. George and Louisa K. Slack.
6 Oct. 3 Lemuel Pope, Lucelia A. Butters,
27 Acton, 26 Wilmington,
Farmer,
Kingston, Wilmington,
Aug. R. and Lucy A. Pope. Lorenzo & Angelina Butters.
7 -
Cilvine Doucett, Maggie Froton,
22 Nova Scotia, 26 Wilmington,
Laborer,
Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia,
John & Mataline M. Doucett. Peter and Elizabeth Froton.
10
Deaths Registered in Wilmington in 1871.
No
DATE OF DEATH.
NAME OF DECEASED.
AGE.
CON- DITION.
PLACE OF BIRTHI.
NAMES OF PARENTS.
DISEASE, OR CAUSE OF DEATH.
1 April 10 Leroy Carter,
2 April 11 Henry Harnden,
3 April 24 Eugene B. Nichols,
11
single single
Wilmington, Jonathan L. and Mary, Wilmington, Joshua and Dolly Harnden, Wilmington, HI. Brewster and Phoebe -
4 April 25 Sarah Jaquith,
58 marr'd
Wilmington, Sewall and Sarah Buck,
5 April 25 William A. Butters,
45 marr'd
Bedford.
Daniel and Susan Butters,
6 May 28 Betsey Tweed,
86 1d
widow
Wilmington, Daniel R. and Clara Upton, hemorrhage.
5y single
Wilmington, England,
William and Sarah Fortis,
10 Sept. 17 Mary J. Boyce,
11 Sept. 18 Frederick Butters,
75 single
41 marr'd Wilmington, Francis and Betsey Snow, Wilmington, Amos and Mary Butters,
12 Sept. 18 Oliver J. Killom,
57
Hillsboro, NH Thomas and Lois Killom, No. Reading, James and Sarah Taylor,
13 Sept. 23 Sarah T. Eames, 14 Oct. 6 James Rocket,
68
marr'd widow marr'd marr'd marr'd marr'd marr'd
Ireland,
Wilmington, Nathan and Lydia Pearson,
16 Nov. 30 Hugh Murray,
56
Hill, N. H. James and Elizabeth Murray, freezing.
17 Dec.
20 Mary E. Miligan,
27
18 Dec.
21 Elizabeth W. Carter,
75
Duxbury,
Wilmington, Lem'l C. & Catherine Eames. consumption. Samuel and Judith Walker. heart disease.
convulsions. bronchitis. dropsey. typhoid fever. typhoid fever.
7 June
13 Milton G. Upton,
8 Aug.
4 Willie C. Mears,
Edward and Abilene Mears, brain fever.
9 Sept. 9 William Fortis,
53 marr'd
cancer. gastritis. debility.
cancer. gangrene. jump from car. diphtheria.
15 Oct. 28 James K. Pearson,
30 43
25y single 63
11
12
DR. WARREN EAMES, TREAS'R, IN ACCOUNT
1872, Feb. 10.
To cash on hand in former settlement,
$1,332 45
Amount of taxes uncollected, 1869, 3 81
Amount of taxes uncollected, 1870, 941 13
Cash received from town notes issued,
5,068 00
on account state aid,
452 00
for corporation tax,
134 99
for bank tax,
113 18
for lots in cemetery,
37 90
for dog licenses,
35 78
60 for lease of Silver Lake, 1 00
Cash received from Jonas Alexander in part pay-
ment for funeral expenses of his sister Lucy, 10 00
To cash received from town of Woburn for sup- plies furnished to Rhoda Abbott, 43 50
Cash for interest on taxes, 1870, 6 64
Cash for interest on taxes, 1871,
28 22
Cash from S. B. Nichols for school books,
78 87
Amount of tax, 1871, committed,
8,957 18
$17,244 65
13
WITH THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON. CR.
1872, Feb. 10.
By cash paid sundry notes of the town,
$5,100 00
66 interest on town notes, 765 73
town orders,
5,010 26
state tax,
1,475 00
county tax,
600 47
Amount uncollected tax, 1869,
3 81
1870,
45 84
1871,
1,545 72
Cash paid C. M. Gowing,
100 00
Balance in treasury,
2,597 82
$17,244 65
We, the undersigned, a committee chosen by the town of Wilmington to settle the town's accounts with Warren Eames, Treasurer, have attended that service, and find the account to stand as above stated, and that there is due from him to the town Two Thousand Five Hundred Ninety-seven 82 Dollars. 100
CYRUS L. CARTER, Committee.
WM. H. CARTER,
Wilmington, Feb. 10th, 1872.
14
OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS OF THE TOWN.
Note to J. L. Carter, May 1, 1868,
$1500 00
Mrs. Polly Parker, March 2, 1865, 138 00
Darius Buck, August 9, 1865,
600 00
Benjamin Buck, May 1, 1866,
2,000 00
Nathan E. Buck, Oct. 24, 1866, 300 00
L. A. Avery, June 29, 1867, 100 00
L. F. Avery, May 6, 1868,
100 00
66 Otis C. Buck, April 20, 1869,
500 00
C. M. Gowing, April 1, 1870, 200 00
66 Otis C. Buck, Aug. 20, 1870, 500 00
Dec. 3, 1870,
500 00
Benjamin Buck, Dec. 23, 1870, 1,000 00
J. A. Ames, April 1, 1871. 500 00
L. C. Eames, April 1, 1871,
1,000 00
Darius Buck, April 1, 1871,
500 00
Sarah J. Buck, April 13, 1871,
293 00
J. A. Ames, May 24, 1871,
500 00
H. M. Eames, Trustce, May 4, 1871,
75 00
Sarah J. Buck, Oct. 5, 1871,
100 00
C. M. Gowing, April 1, 1871, 100 00
Levi & Ward Parker, balance,
426 46
$10,932 46
Town orders,
$56 94
Due Alexander Ellis,
103 50
" trustees of library,
100 00
" schools from state fund,
51 00
" dog licenses,
35 78
" Select School, 356 80
704 02
$11,636 48
15
· ASSETS.
Cash in treasury,
$2,597 82
Uncollected taxes,
1,595 37
Burial lots unpaid,
34 00
Use of Town Hall,
11 00
Amount due for state aid,
512 00
4,750 19
Net Indebtedness of the Town,
$6,886 29
The Cash in the Treasury has been reduced thirteen hundred and fifty dollars since the settlement with the Treasurer by payment of notes and orders.
SCHOOL REPORT.
-
In the discharge of the duty assigned them, the School Committee of Wilmington present to the Town their An- nual Report. We have nothing new to offer, and would gladly forego this duty altogether, for we realize that to most of our fellow-citizens a report is considered little else than trespass upon their time and patience. But in the " Revised Statutes " it states " that the School Committee shall annually make a detailed report of the condition of the several public schools, which report shall contain such state- ments and suggestions in relation to the schools as the com- mittee deem necessary to promote the growth thereof." We do not understand this " act " to necessitate our enter- ing into all the minutiæ of each teacher's system of train- ing, nor do we think such a course beneficial to the public or to the teachers themselves. In our visits to the several schools during the year, we have called attention to some defects which have existed, and we are happy to say these suggestions were always kindly received, and in most in- stances acted upon with beneficial results. Although we have passed through the usual ordeal of changing teachers, yet we believe our schools are in a more prosperous condi- tion at the present time than one year ago. The teachers employed have been mostly of a high standard, and their methods of instruction thorough and practical. In a few instances it was felt that corporal punishment was injudici- ously administered ; but as soon as attention was called to the subject there was no more occasion for censure.
We do not profess to number ourselves with those who would abolish the rod altogether. Our experience with
17
children has proved to us that there are times in nearly every child's life when it is the most convincing argument that can be used. We hear a great deal about the improve- ment constantly going on in our human nature, and are happy to believe it may be so; still we venture to assert that the day is far distant when all our children will be model scholars. We believe in the divine law of love and in moral suasion as fully as any one, but when these fail we think compulsory obedience better than none, and coincide with a certain clergyman, " that it will be soon enough to do away with the rod when the class for whom it was origi- nally intended becomes extinct." The branches in which our schools generally are most backward are spelling and penmanship. At an examination of candidates for admis- sion to our High School in these branches, they were nearly all lamentably deficient. It has been wisely said " that we are not sure of our knowledge unless we can write it down." Writing tends to produce accuracy of thought, and fixes the idea more firmly in the mind. In the East School the advanced class is required to write the spelling exercises. This practice is very beneficial, and we hope it may be gen- erally adopted. We have received the usual number of circulars from publishers desirous of introducing new school-books.
From the frequency and urgency of their claims we have sometimes queried whether the wise man had particular reference to school-books when he remarked, " Of making many books there is no end." Of the many presented we have introduced but two - Guyot's Geography in our High School and a part of Hillard's series of readers in our com- mon schools. These were introduced at a liberal discount. and we believe they have given satisfaction to teachers and scholars. We would impress anew upon the minds of all our teachers a deeper sense of the responsibility of their work. In every form before them there is an immortal mind looking forth for guidance and instruction, and it is a 3
18
grand and noble work to mould the young and opening mind for great and true ends.
In place of the spirit of " Young America," so disgust- ingly prevalent at the present time, we would have our children taught the debt of gratitude they owe to the wise, the mighty and the good, who have preceded them, and from whose labors they are reaping the benefit. Nor would we educate the head at the expense of the heart; for it is virtue combined with intelligence that most exalts a people. There have been several instances of the most complicated villainy brought to light during the past year, where the perpetrators were well skilled in this world's lore, butdes- titute of all moral principle, and their learning had simply enabled them to take advantage of the weakness of others, and to carry out their own schemes more perfectly. In fact we want instructors who will educate a child in what is beautiful as well as useful; in what will make a child happy as well as learned, and in what will elevate as well as in- struct the mind. This is true education.
EAST SCHOOL.
Miss Rebecca Eames still has charge of this School. For many successive terms this name has appeared in our re- ports, and always attended with words of good cheer. We are happy to bear our renewed testimony to the worth of her earnest, loving efforts for the highest good of those un- der her care.
WEST SCHOOL.
Miss Clara E. Bancroft taught this School both terms. This name is also familiar to our readers, having received favorable mention many times in the past. Although this School is small, yet it requires the same qualifications on the part of the teacher for its successful management, as larger schools.
19
CENTRE SCHOOL.
The summer term of this School was under the care of Miss Mary E. Nichols. This name received extended notice the past year, and what was then said, is substantially true of the present. As Miss N. did not wish to continue her labors in Wilmington, Miss M. F. Cummings, of Boston, taught the winter term. She entered upon her duties with a well defined plan of action, which was most faithfully carried out, and the term proved, as might be expected, a successful one. Her system of instruction is well adapted to a higher grade of schools.
SOUTH SCHOOL.
This School was taught during the summer and nearly all the winter term by Miss H. M. Avery of Wakefield. Under her care the school progressed quietly and prosperously. The order was excellent, and in most of the branches taught commendable improvement was made. The map drawing in this School, as well as in the East, is worthy of special notice. Having an opportunity to take charge of a yearly school, she was released, at her own request, from her en- gagement here, four weeks previous to the close of the winter term. Miss Thomas, of Wakefield, was selected to finish the term. To the credit of the School be it said, the scholars united readily in support of the new teacher, and the change produced but little hindrance in their studies. From what we could judge of Miss Thomas's method of in- struction in so short a time, she seemed to possess many of the qualifications necessary for a successful teacher. We shall be glad to continue her labors another term.
NORTH SCHOOL.
Miss Ella M. Dager of Wakefield was the teacher for the summer term. This was her first experience in teaching ;
20
and, considering the previous reputation of a portion of the School, a good degree of success attended her efforts. The improvement was most manifest among the Misses of the School. Her literary qualifications are of a high order, and aided by the wisdom gained from experience, we feel sure will make a thoroughly successful teacher. Mr. Mather, of Andover, taught the winter term. This was his first attempt at teaching, but we believe his labors gave general satisfac- tion. Whenever visited by the Committee and at the clos- ing examination, the School appeared well.
At the meeting held in March last there was a sum of money appropriated for the establishment of a High School. There had been no concerted plan of action previous to the meeting ; and as there seemed to be numerous obstacles in the way of its accomplishment, the project was for the time abandoned. In autumn, public sentiment demanding that some decisive steps should be taken, our Town House was fitted up for a school-room. Miss A. B. Chandler, of Andover, was engaged as teacher, and on the 18th of Sept. our new High School commenced its existence. In defer- ence to custom we call it a High School, but, in reality, it has simply been an experiment. Some of its opposers claim that the school has been an unnecessary expense, from the fact that the same branches have been taught as in the Common Schools. This is true; and yet this state of things could not well be avoided. With a few exceptions, we had no scholars qualified to pursue the higher branches. Had our school been established in 1867 instead of 1871, we might have had an advanced class that any town would have reason to be proud of; but we offered that class no advantages, and they are now attending or have graduated from High Schools in other towns.
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