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the year 1869 was 119, and that is the highest average given in any catalogue (Report of 1870). The graduating class of that year numbered 12. In 1870 it had nearly completed a new gymnasium and reading room. Its location is very pleasant and healthy, and the moral and religious influence exerted on its pupils is second to that of no school of the kind in the State. The institution had in 1870 a working fund of $25,000, besides the academy building and boarding house.

This school is, with one exception, the oldest institution of the kind in the State. It is situated some 3 miles from the depot at Mason Village, N. H., on the Peterboro and Shirley Branch of the Fitchburg Railroad.

This school is designed to furnish young gentlemen a thorough preparation for college, and to furnish both ladies and gentlemen a course of study calculated to fit them for teaching or for the duties of business life.

There are connected with the school five societies whose aim is either religious, social, literary, or musical. There is a library of many hundred volumes belonging to the academy, and also a new and valuable town library, to which the students have access.

By the munificence of the late Dr. A. A. Gould, of Boston, the school is provided with one of the finest geological cabinets in the State. There is also a good chemical, philosophical, and mathematical apparatus. Students in surveying will have the benefit of practice in the field with compass, theodolite, and leveling instruments. A public examination of the several classes is held at the close of the fall and spring terms before a committee appointed by the trustees.

APPLETON ACADEMY, MOUNT VERNON, N. H.

Appleton Academy, of this place, was founded and incorporated in 1850. It is endowed with a fund of $6,500. The school property, including buildings, library of above a thousand volumes, and apparatus has a value of at least $8,000. The number of its alumni, 1870, must reach nearly 1,000. The school year embraces three terms of twelve weeks each, at an expense of about $160 per scholar for the year.

BOSCAWEN ACADEMY.

Boscawen has reason to be proud of the many distinguished men who either claimed it as their birthplace or were educated there. Among these were Daniel and Ezekiel Webster, who were born just over the line in Salisbury, and who used to go over to Boscawen to recite to the famous old pastor, the Rev. Dr. Wood.

The academy dates from the year 1827. Money was first raised among the citizens by subscription for the erection of a suitable

building, and on March 29, at a meeting of the trustees, it was voted to apply to the legislature for an act of incorporation.

The academy building was completed during the year. Dr. Wood himself, besides a generous donation in money, giving the shingles that covered it, "shaved by his own hands."

Ezekiel Webster also

The bell was the gift of Daniel Webster. contributed liberally to aid in the construction of the building.

The school was opened in April following, and before the close of the year the number of pupils in attendance was 86. From this time until 1856 its history was the common one of the small village academy. In the last-named year the trustees voted to lease the building for a term of twenty years to Mr. Jonathan Tenney, the lessee having the right to make such alterations in the building as he might deem necessary. Soon after extensive alterations were made, and the school became widely known as the Elmwood Institute. In 1868 the lease was canceled by mutual agreement. Jonathan Tenney was born in Vermont; early taught district schools; graduated at Dartmouth; read law and medicine; adopted teaching as a profession from the love of it; pursued it with marked success for many years as principal of grammar school, academy, and high school; was editor of educational periodicals; active in organizing State and county teachers' associations, of which he was either secretary or treasurer many years. During the last twenty years of his life he lived in New York and held many of the highest educational offices in that State. He was author and editor of several historical, statistical, and educational publications.

In 1870 the academy building was rented to the trustees of the school district, and in 1872 it was voted that the building and grounds should be sold, "the avails invested, and the increase appropriated for educational purposes." It was decided, however, "that the bell should not be disposed of, but kept in the building as at present."

In 1874 the $2,000 for which the buildings and grounds were sold was invested in the Penacook Savings Bank, "the principal never to be withdrawn without the consent of a majority of the district."

Among public men who in early years attended Boscawen Academy is President S. C. Bartlett, of Dartmouth College. He and his brothers came to it from the adjacent town of Salisbury.

PENACOOK ACADEMY.

The citizens of Fisherville, feeling the need of better educational privileges than those furnished in the neighboring towns, established in the winter of 1866 the Penacook Academy, and the school was opened November 6 of the following year.

In the spring of 1875 A. C. Hardy, A. M., took charge of the academy, and in order to specify its design and plan changed its name to Penacook Normal Academy. Its curriculum was made very much. 1157-No. 3—5

broader and the course of study greatly enlarged. In other respects the academy was so well equipped as to make it the peer of any school of its class in New England. The school was arranged in five departments, viz: preparatory, normal, business, scientific, and classical. The board of instruction was enlarged from three to nine members. Thus by the liberality and energetic action of the trustees of this institution the people were put in the enjoyment of superior educational privileges.

HOLDERNESS SCHOOL FOR BOYS.

The Holderness School for Boys, under the charge of Rev. Frank C. Coolbaugh, A. M., and a full corps of teachers, is situated near Plymouth, among the foothills of the White Mountains, and is doing excellent work. It has four courses of study-a classical, scientific, commercial, and English. The classical is arranged for four years, and consists of the studies required for admission to college.

Instruction in military tactics is an integral part of the physical training the boys receive, and is regularly given.

The build

The school was established about thirteen years ago. ings are excellent and supplied with all modern improvements.

DOW ACADEMY.

Dow Academy was founded by Moses A. Dow, of Charlestown, Mass., in the year 1885.

The design of this academy is to promote the higher education of young men and women, and also to afford a thorough preparation for college to such as desire it.

The instruction, discipline, and influences are such as it is believed will secure the highest development of character, and be the best preparation for a life of future usefulness.

The academy is situated in Franconia, N. H., and in beauty of scenery and healthfulness of location is unsurpassed by any similar institution in New England.

The academy grounds contain 5 acres; the academy building is a handsome, substantial structure, with convenient recitation rooms, and such other rooms as are needed for apparatus, library, reading room, etc., well lighted and ventilated, and heated throughout with

steam.

The courses of study embrace two departments, preparatory and academic. The preparatory is designed to fit pupils for the advanced courses of study. This department is thoroughly graded and under competent teachers, who employ the best modern methods of instruction. The academic comprises two courses of study, the classical and the English. The classical course has been planned with great care, and is intended to afford a complete preparation for our best colleges. The English course is designed for those who do not expect to enter

college. It aims to give breadth of culture and to impart a thorough knowledge of the higher branches of an English education. Students who satisfactorily complete either the classical or the English course receive a diploma. Five annual prizes for excellence in scholarship are given.

The trustees at the last annual meeting voted to add two new departments of instruction for the ensuing year. These consist of a course of normal training for teachers, and a course in telegraphy, stenography, and typewriting. Steps have been taken to provide means for the encouragement of athletic sports. The trustees have appointed a committee to select and prepare suitable grounds for baseball and other games. In the fall term an athletic association will be formed, instruction given, prizes offered, and regular field days established.

The academy possesses an extensive apparatus for illustrating natural philosophy; a museum of natural history, to which additions are constantly being made; also, anatomical and astronomical charts; a complete set of Rand & McNally's and Johnston's wall maps, illustrative of modern and ancient geography; a compact and valuable stereopticon; and a compound microscope, adapted to every grade of work.

The library contains only books of acknowledged merit. Great care is taken to select the best works in each department of literature and science. Students have regular access to the library, and receive all needful counsel and help in the choice of books. The collection is constantly enlarged by systematic and liberal additions, and it is the purpose of the officers of the school to make the library one of special educational value. The reading room, open to all students, has on file the leading journals and magazines of the day.

The Automathian Society meets once in two weeks for practice in debate, essays, and declamation. There is also a religious association which holds devotional meetings on Thursday evening of each week. Both of these societies are conducted by the students, and have rooms in the academy.

The entire expense for the school year, including board and room in the academy boarding house, tuition, books, fuel, lights, and washing, need not exceed $150. The average attendance of students during the school year 1890-91 was nearly 100.

BREWSTER FREE ACADEMY.

The first schoolhouse in Wolfeborough was built in 1793, but it was not until 1820 that any special interest in education was shown, that year witnessing the incorporation of the "Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy." A suitable building was erected in 1820-21, and the academy was carried on with considerable success until 1866, when the property was leased to the Christian Society, and became known as

the "Christian Institute." The agreement with the society was that their denomination should raise a fund of $10,000 and "put the school on a good foundation." In 1870 the institution was called the "Wolfeborough Institute," and was in charge of a corporation styled the "Christian Educational Society." The number of students enrolled was then 133. The academy was most prosperous about the year 1835, and among the students at that time was Henry Wilson, afterwards Vice-President of the United States. The old charter of the institution was renewed in June, 1887, by the New Hampshire legislature, the name being changed to the Brewster Free Academy in honor of John Brewster, of Cambridge, Mass., a native of Wolfeborough and a successful Boston banker, from the trustees of whose estate it receives a large income. This income will increase as certain annuities, now charged to the estate, expire, and is expected to become in time more than $40,000.

The management of the academy is controlled by a board of 11 trustees, and is wholly nonsectarian. Tuition and text-books are free to the pupils, and all the expenses are paid from the income received from the Brewster estate.

The site of the academy embraces nearly 40 acres on the shore of Lake Winnepesaukee and commands a wide outlook, whose beauty of scenery is seldom equaled.

Owing to the fact that the trustees do not control any capital, the development of the institution is necessarily slow, and it will be many years before all the projected buildings are completed. The present accommodations are ample for 160 pupils.

The first term was opened in September, 1887, with 40 scholars and 3 teachers; in 1891 the scholars numbered more than 100, and there were 7 teachers. Prof. E. H. Lord is principal.

Two courses of study are provided, one furnishing ample preparation for college, the other equal in disciplinary value to the first, but so framed as to allow some latitude for choice on the part of the student, according to his needs and purposes.

At a meeting of the trustees held in June, 1890, it was voted to establish a course in manual training.

The only accommodation for pupils now under academy control is a half dozen rooms in a house on the academy grounds, provided by the liberality of one of the trustees, and primarily intended for the use of the teachers. These rooms and the cost of board, including light and steam heat, will probably be $4.50 per week. Tuition and text-books are free.

GILMANTON ACADEMY.

By Rev. S. S. N. GREELEY, Secretary of Board of Trustees.

Judge Tourgée in his Fool's Errand says tersely and forcibly: "The remedy for darkness is light; for ignorance, knowledge; for wrong, righteousness. Educate the voter, because the nation can not afford that he should be ignorant." Ex-President Hayes said, in a speech

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