Another reason why the children talked was that a new principal (new and yet old) and five new teachers were to be met, measured, and, if possible, mastered. Every boy wants to know just how strong his teachers are; and as their strength is, so his respect will be.
Again the bell sounded, this time to announce the hour for devotions. As the pupils filed into the chapel their eyes fell upon a new crayon likeness of Prof. M. A. Warren, a former principal. This work of art, costing about $50, was presented to the school by the Alumni at their last annual meeting, July 4th. It is a generous expression of their love for a faithful teacher and a true man.
With the children came a large number of patrons “to start them,” of course, but little was done the first day but to exchange greetings, hold chapel exercises, take names and addresses of pupils, assign former pupils to the classes which the previous principal had named for them, and to examine and grade a part of the new ones. Other examinations and grading, with the selling of books, and the collection of tuitions for the month, hindered our programme of work from being fully taken up before the second week.
It is now four weeks since our opening. In the time we have registered three hundred and thirty-six pupils, collected $332.85 for tuition, sold $462.64 worth of books, organized in addition to the common-school branches, classes in physics, chemistry, mineralogy, botany, zoology, physiology, school economy, political economy, history (U.S. and ancient), algebra, geometry, rhetoric, Greek, Latin, French, German, music, gymnastics, sewing, stenography, and Bible study. We have also had our monthly written reviews. A good number of pupils are fitting for college, some of whom will be ready to enter next October. Other pupils are preparing for teaching, and will enter upon their work after leaving us. Others still are intending to follow trades, and are studying that they may become intelligent tradesmen.
In response to our circular of information which we have sent out to friends, we have already received a box of chemical apparatus, a scroll saw with lathe attachment and a book of patents, a quantity of basted patch-work, fifty magnifying glasses, and a box of minerals. In addition to these gifts from abroad, our pupils are daily contributing to start natural history cabinets. Among our pupils’ contributions are many fossils, some of which we would like to exchange with other schools. We need several more scroll saws, and more work for our sewing class.
In the senior class, one of the incentives to study is the Alumni Prize of $50, which is to be given to the student who makes the best record this year, and intends to pursue his studies at some higher institution of learning.
The morning of the 25th (October), we met to join in the concert of prayer for the A. M. A. As a part of the exercises twelve members of the senior class gave brief recitations, in which much information of the Association was given. The recitations, each of which was closed with an appropriate Bible text, were in answer to the following questions: What occasion do we observe this morning? What is the object of this observance? When was the American Missionary Association organized? What led to its organization? What is the character of its work? What is the extent of its work? Name some of the results of its work. What relation do we bear to the A. M. A.?
A more quiet, earnest spirit pervades our higher classes than I have ever seen so early in the term. With the sympathy and prayers of friends, and honest persistent effort on our part, we hope to be signally blessed in the work of the year.