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"gi
IROQUOIS HIGH 7
SCHOOL
1845-1895
A STORY OF FIFTY YEARS
BY
ADAM HARKNESS.
■:^l
TORONTO:
WILLIAIVE BRIGGS
WESLEY BUILDINGS.
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PREFACE.
HEN it was first proposed to write a history of
the Iroquois High School the expectation was
that it would be written by Mr. John S.
Carstairs. His entliusiasm on behalf of the
school, his connection with it both as pupil
and teacher, and his experience in and capacity for literary
work, all marked him out as the one best equipped for the
task. But, after he became Principal of the Stirling High
School, at the commencement of the Fall term in 1894 it
became obvious to the promoters of the undertaking,^ that
they nmst look elsewhere for a historian.
The committee having the matter in charge, and of which
I was the chairman, then made an effort to get old students
to contribute reminiscences that could be easily arranged so
that with the illustrations, an interesting volume might' be
produced. However, the notices sent out with this object in
view met a very inadequate response, and there seemed to be
no one specially fitted for the work who could give it the
required attention. In the meantime the contributions to
cover the cost of publication were coming in apace, making
It necessary to get the book prepared. As there did not
appear to be any other person available. I was induced by
my colleagues on the committee and some other friends of
the enterprise, to do the writing, as my contribution to the
Jubilee Fund of the High School.
It has been in a great measure a labor of love. Though
iv
IMIEFACE.
never connected with the school in any other way than as a
citizen, I had from the ontsiih- watclied its course! (hirinjif
most of the fifty years of its histoiy. I had l<no\vn Mr. Dick
wlien, as local sujujrintendent, he visitctl our little coinitry
school in 1850. Kxccpt Mr. Davies, with whom my accjuaint-
anee was slight, I had tuimbered amonji; my personal friends
every succeedinjr headnuister. One brother and sister were
amonji; Mr. Dick's pupils, anothei- brother with Mi*. Albert
Carman, and still another and three of my own children with
Mr. Whitney. In addition, a lar<((' pro})()rtion of my contt'in-
])oraries, and the friends who helpi'd to bri<jhtt'n the days as
they went by, had at one time or another been pupils of the
school.
For much of the period covered I foinid my data rather
scanty. Mrs. William L. Redmond kindly gave me access to
the papers of her father, Mr. Philip Carman. These covered
the first ten years, but from that down to very recent times I
was confined almost entirely to the minutes and accounts of
the School Board, returns to the Government, and my own
knowledge of local history.
The speeches and papers of the three headmasters, one
assistant, and the chairman of the Board, given in the
Appendix, it is hoped will make good .some of the short-
comings in the body of the work, resulting fr'on> my want of
familiarity with the inside life of the school.
Adam Harkness.
iKogrois, January 28th, 1896.
f
CONTHNTS.
CHAPTER I.
Early History— The Camp Meeting— The Little Log School-
House— The Schoolmasters- The Old School- House -
I'AUR
9-14
CHAPTER IL
Fanning Storekee[)er8— Beginning of the Village— John J. Kerr
—First Eftbrts to Establish a High School - - - ..
15-18
CHAPTER in.
First Building— Early Settlers— The Founders of the School-
John A. Carman— Matthew and James Coons— First Trus-
tees-George Brouse— Jacob Brouse— John P. Crysler—
J. W. Rose— Rev. Wm. Shorts— Philip Carman - - . 19-25
CHAPTER IV.
First School— Engaging the Principal —The Curriculum— Fees-
Mr. Gates— Miss Bailey— Mr. Truax— School Diaries— Visi-
tors — First .Pupils
26-;u
CHAPTER V.
Mr. Dick— Examinations— How Teachers were Appointed— Con-
dition of the County— Prizes— County and Local Boards of
Trustees— New School Law— Wm. Elliot— Robert Lowery—
Ryerson's Visit— Public Library Established
32-39
VI
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI.
PAOK
Albert Carman- -General Prosperity — .lames Croil — .1. S. Rohb
Effect of their A|)])ointnient — Protracted Meeting — DiHcip-
lining a Student — The Methodist Churcli Belleville Sem-
inary — Retirement of Mr. Carman 40-4&
CHAPTER VII.
DavicH and Cowan — Changes in the School — Mr. Laing- Incor-
poration of the Village — Retirement of Mr. Davies — Mr.
Cowan engaged — New Trustees — \. B. Shermar- Alex.
McDonell — Dr. Worthington — Dr. Williams — Local Aid —
Laiitse'^ ftiiie — The Revenues — County Grants - - 4() 65
CHAPTER VIII.
Mr. Whitney — Farming Out the School — Miss Bailey — Success
— Government Grants — Local Apathy- The Morrisburg
School — Changes in the Law— Formation of High School
Districts — Model School — Abolition of the Districts - - 56-64
CHAPTER IX.
Mr. Whitney {rontinned) — Revenues and Sjilaries — Assistjints —
New Trustees Edward Parh)w - Robert Toye — Solomon
Doran — .Fanius Stephensop, M.D. — John N. Tuttle- John
Harkness, M.D. — Geo. Steacy, M.D. — James A. Carman,
B.A. — Declining Prosperity — The New Woman — Public
Buildings — School Neglected
65-75
CHAPTER X.
Mr. Whitney (rontiiiiii'd) — Want of £(|uipment — New Assistants
— Wm. Mf>ntgomery — Chas. Potter Inspectors' Rejiorts —
Business Outlook Improving — Added Trustees — Cephas and
Mason Mills— Beginning of Trouble — Close of Whitney
regime ..........
7G-85
CHAPTER XL
James A. Carman — A New Era — A. C. Cusselman — Erection of
the New Building — Its Effect on the School — Becomes a
Three-Master School- Ralph Ross— The Three C's— J. S.
Carstairs — Inspectors' Reports — Increjised Attendance —
Sources (if Revenue - 8G-9;i
76-85
CONTENTS.
Ml
MO*
40-45
CHAPTKR XII.
JaiaoH A. Carmim (rontinned)- Changes Retirement of Cas-
Helnian Four MaHterH — CriticiHins— Newspaper Enter-
lirise- Trouble in the Scliool— Mr. Thompson— Mr. Knox
—Mr. Coulter— Election Contest Retirement of ('Hnnan
and Carstairs— Death of John A. Carman
PAOI
94-102
4(J-65
CHAPTER XITI.
.losei)h A. .)acks(.n- New Regime Mr. Knox— Miss Hare-
Miss Ross- Mr. Warren— Miss Dillabough— Continued
Progress— Present Board -Dr. Harkness~R. M. Bouck
—Howard Durant — I. N. Forward— N. (i. Sherman -
Edward McNulty— Headnmsters and Assistants Rev-
enues antl .Salaries— (leneral Results— New Features
J 03 115
5G-64
Alumni
CHAPTER XIV.
116-12n
The Reunion
CHATTER XV.
127-132
65-75
APPENDIX.
Introductory - Dr. Carman- W. A. Whitney — lames A.
Carman— J, S. Carstitirs— Dr. Harkness - . . 133_i(Ji
86-9;i
K-r/:-*-";'ir.l'"-«jt'.»i,
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Semi-Centennial of Iroquois
High School.
CHAPTEK I.
Early History— The Camp Meeting— The Little Log School-House-
Schoolmasters— The Old School- House.
The
HE basin of the <rreat lakes of North America
has, anil not inaj)tly, been described as an
immense saucer, the rim of which rises in
several places but slitrhtly above the water.
Where this water found an outlet during the
earlier period of the world's history has not been definitely
determined, but it is pretty certain that, speaking geologically,
it was not until comparatively recent years, or subsecjuent to
the Glacial period, that it overflowed at Niagara, and passed
down or cut out the St. Lawrence River. The first consider-
able barrier it met aftei- passing Lake Ontario and its eastern
extension, the Lake of the Thousand Islands, was what is
now known as the Galops-Rapids.
A few miles east of this, and directly in the path of the
stream, lay a huge moraine, about one hundred feet in height,
and nearly a mile in diameter, left by the receding ice. The'
incoming flood found its way on either side of'' this, thus
forming an island ; but underlying the northern channel was
a bed of limestone rock, which resisted the attrition of the
1
I
I ;
I
10
SEMI-CEXTEWIAL OF IROQUOIS HIOH SClIOOL,
watei", whik' the bod of the southern channel, heing of softer
material, gradually deepened until the island became a point
surrounded on the north side by a swamp.
Tradition says this isolated point was a favorite resort of
the Indians : that amidst its groves of pine and maple they
built their camp tires and held their Councils, and that the
early French voyiujeiirs, as they passed up and down between
Montreal and the lakes, noted the conspicuous feature in the
landscape, an<l named it after the most warlike tribe or
confederation of red men that hunted along the St. Lawrence,
calling it " Point Iroijuois."
When, near the close of the eighteenth century, the country
bordering on the north .side of the St. Lawrence was settled,
the river road was built through the swamp at the eastei-n
and western extremities, and carried over the northern end of
this point. The vicinity of the road, perhaps because of its
greater elevation and natui-al beauty, probably also l)ecause
it was a convenient place for those living to the east and west
to meet, was early .selected as the site of a church and burying-
ground.
In 182.'i, under the supervision of William H. Williams,
a youthful and zealous Methodist missionary, the first camp
meeting, in the eastern pai't of what was then Upper Canada,
was held in the grove or woods to the south of this road. 1'he
country folk for miles around gathered in frcmi day to day,
and from night to night — some to scotl", and some to l)ray ;
some, no doubt, from idle curiosity or a desire to bi-eak the
monotony of their lives and mingle with tluui- fellows. Many
of them I'emained for weeks, returning home at intervals, or
leaving some one in charge of their premises. Whatever may
have been their object in coming, they generally learned to
pray before they I'eturned. The nuH'ting left an impi'ess on
the character of tli(; people that is yet phiinly visible, and that
has been far-i-eaching in its effects. Nearly all the old meu
living at the middle of the century dated their conversion
from that " season of prayer," and the vicinity has continued
to be a sort of centre from which Methodism has radiated.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
11
illiains,
camp
mada,
,<) (lay,
pray :
ik tiie
Many
als, or
r may
iumI to
ress on
(1 that
1(1 mcu
version
itiniK'<l
ted.
More than lialf a century after Mr. Williams had so stirred
the hearts of the people, his son. Dr. T. G. Williams, now of
Sherbrooke, Que., hut then of Irocjuois, initiated and guided a
movement that led to the union of the several branches of the
Methodist Church in Canada.
The St. Lawrence River was, of ct)ur.se, the principal means
of connnunication and channel of trade with the outside
world : but the (Jalops was only one of a succession of ra])ids
between Montreal and Lake Ontario, that made navipition
very difficult; and early in the thirties a canal, or rather
series of canals, designed to ovei'come these obstructions, was
conuuenced.
The Irocjuois oi- Galops Canal passed down the swamp or
old channel of the river to the north of the "point," and
terminated at its eastern extremity, where the locks were
placed, and where the water-[)o\vei' thus ci'eated was utilized
to drive two or three mills, around which the villa<;"e of
IrcMjuois was built. Previous to the building of the canal the
front road was dotted with .stores, but almost immediately
thereafter the business centred round the mills. The \ illage
became the principal, almost the oidy trading, as well as
milling jind shipping, point, for a eonsideral)le section of
country.
The country alon<>' the river and foi' two oi" three concessions
back, was first si'ttled by l^^.E. Loyalist soldiers and their
families, that came over at the close of tlu' Revolutionary war
in 17<S4. Tlie rear part of the front Township, and the Town-
ship in the rear of it, wei'c sid)se(|uently occupied, partly by
descendants of the tii'st settlers, who had been le.ss foi'tunate
or less successful than their neighbors, ami had been compelled
to move inland, where land was eheajx'r, and partly by inuni-
grants, tlu'sc iattei' piMMcijially IVom the Nortii of Ireland.
Most of the settlers came fi-om what miiiht be ternuMl ('(lueatinif
countrie.s. Whether from New England or New York, from
Ireland or Scotland, they had learned to value education, and
one of their first cai-es was to provide the means of preventing
their children from growing uj) altogether unlettei'ed. This
'I
12
SEMI-CEXTENMAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
could not be done vvitliout considerable exertion m the part
•of the parents, and 8on»e personal sacrifice.
The school-houses were built either in the centre of some
settlement, or at a "cross-roads," where three or four of the
small settlements could be accommodated. They were almost
invariably of loi^s, and were ^ene'rally from eijjhteen to twenty-
four feet scpiare, and about seven or eijrht feet in hei<^ht to
the eaves. The writer has a very distinct recollection of one
that may serve as a sample. It was placed in the centre of a
lai'ge wood, more than half a mile from any liouse, and where
two roads crossed, or foiu' roads met, and it accommodated
the clearini^s or settlements on each of these roads, tlie children
bein^ i'e(|uired to travel ji;enerally from a mile to a mile and a
half. It was eifj^hteen feet sipiare, built of dressed logs, rather
neatly dovetailed at the coi'iiers, and the interstices between
the logs chinked and plastered. It was floored and ceiled,
the ceiling being slightly over six feet [\xnn the floor. The
roof, what is called a sipiare one, was shingled. In the centre
of each end and of the back was a long, low window, while
the front was occupied by a similai" window near one corner,
iim\ a door near the othei* — this latter window was for the
" master," while the others were intended to light the desks,
which extended all the way along the back and across the
ends until they pa.ssed the windows. The lai'ger pupils, that
were writing and "cyphering," used tliese desks, sitting on
Ijoards, with their faces to the wall, while the smaller ones
occupied low benches ranged ai'ound the stove, which occupied
tJie centre of the room. The teaclier had a chair and a little
table in the corner by the front window, and the corner
behind the door held the wood-pile, a broom, and sometimes a
water-pail. The house had been built by the neighbors, the
logs Ijeing cut in the surrounding Imsh. One would furnish a
few boards, another a few shingles. Just how the nails were
paid for we never learned, but t)ne old gentleman, who had lost
his wife and (piit housek(!eping, furnished the little tal)le
which was tlie ordy piece of painted furniture in the room.
In this room gathered daily, during a considerable portion of
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OV lllOQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
13
the year, twenty to thirty pupils between the ajjes of tive
and llfteen, and (hiring the winter an<l Hprinj^ months a lew
that were nearly grown men and women.
The teachei'.s, initil near the middle of the century, were
nearly all Old Country people, — mo.stly men who had received
a fair education, but had mis-sed, or made shi})wreck of, tlieir
chances in life, came to this country, and not beinf^ adapted
to farming,', resorted to teaching as a means of livelihood.
The parents paid whatever might be agreed upon per month
for each child ; there was a small grant from the (Jovernment,
and the teacher, unless he had a family, " boarded I'ound."
The books were such as each parent provided for his children,,
and tho.se bought for the eldest wt're handed down from child
to child until the whole family Avas served. The system was
primitive, but the results wei-e not altogether unsatisfactory.
Amonjr the books u.sed were the old Enulish Reader, Mavor's
Spelling Book, a variety of arithmetics — ^aniong which Walk-
ingame's iigure(l conspicuously, Murray's and Ijennie's (}ram-
mar, sometimes a book on higher mathematics, perha[)s
furni.shed by the teacher, and in some schools " Testaments,"
}i8 the New Testament was designated. The litei-ature of the
readers was mostly from the writers of the early part of the
eighteenth century. The teachers, much as has bei'ii .said in
their disparagement, were fre(|uently men of considerable
cultivation. They had seen .somethinir of the world, and in
many instances had mixed with men of cultm-e. When they
" boardiid round " they were usually — the men especially —
welcome guests in the homes whei-e they stayed, and it is not
unrea.sonable to suppose that thcii- pi-esence in a family
raised and, so to speak, widenetl the tone of the convcr-sation.
In most families the conver.sation is contined to matters of
interest to the .several members about the house or place, or
in the neighboi'hood. In many cases the mind of the father,
though it may be fairly well stoi-ed, is a sealed book to the
children ; the presence of a stranger of a little better, or at
least different, (ndture, tends to draw out any members of the
family that have anything to impart ; experiences are related.
I
i
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14
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROgUOIS HKJH S('HO()L.
strange and distant scenes are described, and the interest of
the younger menibei-s of the family aroused. In addition to
this, the co-operation of several neighbors in the organization
and management of a school has an educational influence in
itself. At their school-meetings they could discuss their ways
and means just as deliberative bodies do that have larger
interests under their conti'ol. They provided for the school
directly, and to a large exterit managed and guided its course,
and, though it might be vastly inferior in many respects to
what is demanded by more modern standards, it was their
own school, and their interest in it created a love for educa-
tion and a desire among the people to promote the interest of
the school, which have made the work of the modern organ-
izer not only easy but i*ich in results.
CHAPTER II.
Farming Storekeepers— Beginning of the A'illage— John J. Kerr — First
Ett'orts to Establish a Higli School.
° yy'i^-»}ii''HE be.st of tliese schools wore alon<; the front or
^^1/fc river road. The concession along- the river
was the first taken u}), and in the front of
IMatihla Township the land was nearly all
^ood : moreover, the road along- which the
stage passed on its way between Montreal and Kingston was
during- the earlier years of the centur}' almost the only road
that was passable at all seasons. The business of the country
was done principally by the most enterprising residents on
tliis road. In most instances the farmer would build his
" store " near his residence, and carry on both store and farm ;
nnd these farming storekeepers, many of wIkjui l)ecame
wealthy, assumed to some extent the character of an aris-
tocracy. From these families the Justices of the Peace, the
Militia ofKcers, the Court and School Connnissioners, and, of
course, the Members of the Legislative Assembly (or Parlia-
ment) were selected.
Peter Shaver, who lived about two miles east of the site of
the present village, represented the County from 1824' to 1840,
and George Brouse also represented it from 1828 to 18.30:
from 1828 to the time of the Union of the two Canadas,
l^undas sent two members, and Mr. Brouse was elected along
with Mr. Shaver in 1828, but the death of (Jeor^e IV. soon
after necessitated a new election, and a Williamsburg man,
John Cook, took his place. But it was not until near the
middle of the century that any European immi<xrant, any one
1()
SKMI-("EXTEN'\IAL OF IlKHiUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
not " oF the Palp," or any " hiishwb icker," as losidents of the
liack coiicessioiiH were (Icsijiruated, was oloctcd or appointed to
any ottiei' hii^lier tlian tluit ot" Path-uutster, Pound-keeper or
School "'rustei'. As has been said, these stores and business
places were scattered alon^' the road at intervals, but, even
before the canal was liuilt — perhaps not before it was pro-
jected — the east end of Point Irociuois swamp, or ratlxer the
land adjoininn-, bcjijan to jjjivi; evidences of becomin<^ the site of
a villa<;('. In 1.S27, the Post-office, the only one in the two
westei'ii townships of the county, which had been kept by
Mr. (Jlassfoi'd, near the eastern side, was secured by Mr.
( Jeoroc Hrouse and brouj^ht here. Here the steamboat landing
was situate(l, a mill, a couple of stores, and a tavern. And
here, about or a little before 1840, was built the finst stone
scho(d-h()US(' in the Township of Matilda.
About this time a Mr. John J. Kerr was employed to teach
the school. He was an Irishman who had received a liberal
education, and who soon j)laced his school on a plane far
above that of the ordinary .schools, and who, we have reason
to believe, did much to create in the community a desire for
higiier education. This is evidenced by the following corres-
l)ondence, which, through the kindness of Dr. J. George
Hodgins, of the Education Department, we have been enabled
to procure :
Matilda, January ^th, 1843.
Sir, \\i\ the undcrsii^ned conimi.ssioner.s for the Town.ship of
Matilda, hcj.; leave to address you, as Superintendent of Education
tor Canada West, that we may obtain certain iiifoiination that we
re(|uire in relati(»n to establishing a (Tiaiiunar School in thi.s place,
which iiifoi'inatioii we are desirous to obtain as soon as practicable,
so that no time may he lost in acting up(»ii it, as the materials that
may be neces,sary for any additional buildings can be procured best
during the sleighing seasim.
We will liist give you a brief account of the present School,
being coniposcsd of School Division No. 3, first concession of Matilda,
very pleasantly situated on the Bank of the River St. Lawrence,
a few rods from the steamboat landing, in a den.sely settled neigh-
borhood, the inhabitants taking a live!}' interest in the education of
their youths ; and they have manifested that interest in a very
s of the
jirited to
eeper or
business
)ut, even
rvas pro-
ther the
le site of
the two
kept by
by Mr.
t landing
•n. And
i"st stone
to teach
a liberal
plane far
ve reason
Jesire for
ig eorres-
. George
ti enabled
'(, 1843.
iwnship of
Education
)n that we
this place,
iracticiible,
ierials that
)cured best
mt School,
3f Matilda,
Lawrence,
tied neigh-
du cation of
in a veiy
•y.
X
V.
/^.
r
i^.
\ HVii :.rj- i
^t
w
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IltOtHTOIS HIGH SCHOOI-
17
liaiidsDiii jinncr in the crfL'tiini of the picsciit huildiii;^, \k''u\<^
iiuulc nt' .stone, 24x3(5 tV«'t, divided into three rooms very eoinfort-
al)ly tinished, iind they (the inhiihitunis) offei- to add uriy other
huildini,'s tliiit may he i'e(|uiied to eonstitute it a (iianunar Sch(M)l,
aj(ifeal)le to the sixtii Section of the School [..ands Ac^t, providing
said huildinjis do not cost over £200. The present Scliool has Ixten
kept constantly for the last two years and upwards at the expense
of .£(10 jier anniMii for Teaclier alone. The Teacher, . I ohn .). Kerr,
Ks(juire, is a j,'ent h-niaii wiio has tornieriy heen an < )nicer in the
liritisli Army, and wh(» is amply ipialitied, to which the proj^ress of
his pupils ^'ives ample testimony, having advanced even lieyond the
most .sanguine exjx'ctaticwis of their parents. The number in daily
attendance has heen fnun thirty to forty, and they have now
advanced to upwards of fifty scholars, with still further applications
for admittance, which would I'eadily be admitted was the Sch(»o]
properly estabh'shed and the proper assistance atlorded.
'hie following are the sul)jects upon which we l)eg to be in-
structed :
1. Ily whom will tlw^ hou.se and appendages be held in trust, the
School C'oimnissioners of the Township oi' l)y a JSoaid of Ti'ustees
appointed by the subscribers ?
■_'. Who will have the management and contiol of the School '.
•>. Will the (irammai' School exclude us from the benefits to be
derived from the Common School Fuiul?
■1. Will you be jtleased to instinct us in the best and most suit-
able plan for the enlargement of the building '.
T). What blanches will be taug'it in the (Jrammar School?
G. Can we not become a Grammar School at once, an<i still
proceed to erect additional buildings that may be necessary for
permanently establishing said School .'
7. Please to direct us upon any other points that may be neces-
sary that you think will aid us in establishing a (jianimar School.
We are the more anxious on this subject, being situated at the
extremity of the District, being a distance of thirty-tivc^ miles from
the District Town, thereby being deprived of the benefits of the
District Town School.
We have the honor to submit the aliove (pieries to your con-
sideration, having no other object in view than to advance Kduca-
tion amongst us, which is vtMy much wanted.
We are,
Your obedient, humble servants,
VUUAV C.MiMAN.
(iKOln;!', BUOISE.
CiiAin-EK C. RosK.
To tlie Hevkhkni) .1. Muitu.w,
Siipi rintcmhnt of Eihimiioii, ('umdlii IIVvV.
=^
18
SKMI-CFA'TKN'NIAI, OK IH(t(/r<>lS llllill SCIIOul,.
Kkucation OKKin:,
KiNdSTdN, 7/// ./iiiiiiiiri/, IS|;{.
( Jknti-KMKN, I have the lioiinr to ackiiowlcdj^c rlio n'cniipt nf
yoiir lett»^rr»f tin* r)tli iiist., cnritiiiiiiii^' (|Ut'ii»'H I'CHix'ctiii^' a (Jriiiiirmir
ScIkiuI.
Ill reply I liavt" to state that my powers are not l»y the present
Scliool ISill oxtiMuled to (iraiiiniar Sehools, aii<l I cannot, therefore,
<i\\(' any very satist'actoiy iiit'orniation respeetinj,' tliein.
I inav iiieiition, liowever, that many appHcations liave lieen made
iimler the ISill tth nid "ith Vietoria, Chapter 10, without haviiij,'
received any assistance for the support of (iiammar Scliool.s, hut
not l)ein<^ within my department, I do not know the reason why tlie
moneys ai'o not paid as provided for. You should apply to the
Secretary West in the first place, and asc»'rtaiii if the provisions of
the Kill can yet he realized.
I have the honor to he, Sirs,
Your oliedieiit servant,
(Si^'iieil) IIoukkt Mi hhay.
Mkssrh. Caijman, Hosk, Ktc,
Sfliiiiil ('itiiiiinssioiii rs, Mitlihlii.
Messrs. Cai'iiian. I^i'ouse and Ro.se appeal' to liave heeii School
('oniniiasioiiers — prohahly ai)])oiiite{l niidcr the Act of 184-1,
wliicli made more liliei'a! |)i"ovisi()ii for ( Joveninioiit aid to
edueation. The lew ( ifaiiiiiiar Schools tlieii in tlie cotuitrv had
l)eeii cstaltlished iiiideraii Act j)asse(l in 1807, and were confined
eiitiri'iy to District, or what would now he calletj (\)unty
towns. It is noticeable that the eai'ly efforts to jn'oniote
('(lucation in this country were directe<l jirincipally to the
e.stablishiiient of hi<,di j^i-ade schools. The first ett'ort in hehalf
of coninion schools was made in 181(5, when a ^rant e(|Vii\a-
lent to about SI. 25 pei' year foi* each pu])il attending- was
provided. Under this most of the common .schools in this
y)art of the ccnintry were establisluid. 'I'he Act of 1841 not
only made moi'e liberal provision, but pi-oxided a more com-
plete oi-<j^anization f'oi' tlu> manao;ement of the .schools. Its
nim, however, appeal's to have lu'en mainly to improve the
C'Ommon School .system, and the effort made to convert the
Pnl)lic school into a (irammar school proved for the time
unsuccessful.
, 1843.
(ilnuiiinar
If |trt'st'iit
tli«'n'tor<',
).een ma<lf
lit. liaviii;;
llOol.S, l)Ut
II wliy tin'
)ly to tliC!
ivisioiis of
lltRAY.
en School
of 1841,
it aid to
nitry Imd
ecoutiiu'd
1 (\)unty
I ])roinote
ly to the
in beliali'
it e(|uivfi-
idinjf was
lis in this
1841 not
more coni-
ools. Its
prove the
)iivert tlie
the time
1
4
1 I
.KIIIN A. ( AKMAN.
.lAMKS ( IIDNS. MVITIIKW ('(IONS.
CHAPTER HI.
First Building -Early Settlers The Founilers of the School— .John A.
Caiiiiiin — Matthew aiid .lames Conns — First Trustees (ieorge
lin.nse— .lacol) Brouse — .lolin I*. Crysler — I. W. I'ose - Rev. Win.
Siiorts — Fliilip Cannan.
»"A>vv '. > ^'"r*- . \ coninion with tin' whole cMstrru part of Ontiii'io
l)o';(i('i'iiio- on tlu' St. Lmwitirt, the TowiLship
of Matil(hi, ill which tho xillaoc of Ii-oiniois is
situated, ami of which it foniitMl a pai't until
incorporated as a villao'e in 1S.")7. was first
st'ttled liy (lisliaiided soldiei's who had adhered to tlie Hritisli
side dtiriuo- the war of the lleNohitioii. The four lots, coin-
prisiuo- about l.'iOO acv 's, now included within the limits of
the villao'e. were ill 17S(!, two \-ears after the settlement,
owned liy Dorothy and Michael |{ns,sell, Peter Murray, .Martin
Walter, Kli/aheth and Peter Brouse. .lacoh Coons and .Michael
Carman. The four tirst-naiiied ajipear to have lieeii crowdeil
out, for pretty early in the century we tind nearly the whole
of this jiropertA dividecl pi'etty e(pially hetween the repre-
sentatives of tlie other three families, who had. hy iiiter-
mui'riao-e of the elder meiiihers. all Ix'coiiie cousins eitiier in
the first or second deoi'oc. These fiimilies all helonocd to the
chiss descrihed in a pi'evious chapter — a class whose l)usiin'.ss
trainino-, wlio.se contact with the outside world as meirhants
am; ..uiiltermen, naturally imlnied them with a desire to pro-
vide a. means for the hotter eilucation of their children. No
doulit nianv of them had felt the emliai'i'assment I'esultino- from
tlu'ir own educational shoitcominos when called u]»oii to fill
j»usiti«)iis of trust or honor, ami it is not, therefore, surprising
^rf^
20
SEMI-CENTENNIAL (W IROQUOIS HUiH SCHOOL,
I t
:t
that they should have ciKU'jivoix'tl to avail thciiisolvi's oi" what
appeared to be an opportunity to secure the means of procurint^
a better education, within their own neighborhood, than it was
possible to procure in a common school. Hut what is sur-
prisin<(, is that, having failed to procure the assistance of the
Government in the establishment of the school, there was
suthcient public sj)irit in the conununity to build and eijuip
an institution fully eipial to any county (Jrannnar School in
the countiy, outside of two or thi'ce of the lai'j^'e cities. It is
this spirit of })ersonal effort and personal sacrifice in the public
interest that we desire to commemorate, and, if possible, per-
petuate — a spirit that is the parent of all true proj^ress, and
without which no system, however well designed or elaborate,
can produce results fully satisfactory.
Soon after the failure, or partial failure, of the effort made
in 184i{, for it is not probable that the intention to establish a
Grammar School, in pursuanct' of the Act of 1841, was alto-
gether abandoned, a new actor a|)[)eared on the scene that
materially changed the aspect of affairs. Mr. John A. Carman,
the youngest of eight sons of Michael Carman, was born in
1810. At the age of sixteen he was a])prenti('ed to the
harness business in Pivscott. Subse(iuently he carried on the
business in Prescott. and later in Hi'ockville and (^)rnwall,
until failing health comjjelled him to abandoji it and spend a
few vears in a milder climate. Durinjj: his enforced retin -
ment he travelled over a considerable portion of the United
States, an<l, no doubt, made himself familial' with the
American school system. About 184-4, he retui'ne<l to his
native place, and h'nding that the canals were being built, and
the outlook for the future improving, he decided to make this
his permanent home. Hut he felt that it lacked one thing
more than any other — that was, the means of |)i'ovidinga moi'e
liberal education to the vouth of the neiiihborhood and
surrounding country. This he deteiMuined, as fai" as in him
lay, to correct, by the erection of a suitable building. He had
no land of his own except a lot that he had just }turehased
from Mr. James Coons, and on which he was about erecting a
SEMI-CENTEXNIAL OF IROQUOLS HIGH SCHOOL.
21
' wllilt
it was
is siir-
of the
•t^ wan
I (Miviip
liool in
, It is
jmblic
Ic, per-
!ss, and
iborate,
•t made
iblisli a
as alto-
no that
>arnia!i,
l)()rn in
to the
I on the
)rn\vall,
sjuMul a
retire-
United
til tlie
to his
liU, ai\il
ike tliis
e thill}^
;• a more
)()»! an<l
s in hin\
He ha.l
ii'chaseil
rectin;^' a
huildinir to he used as a jfeneral store: hut Messrs. .lames and
Nhitthew Coons, sons of the Jaeol) Co(jns who, in 178(5, had
<h'awn the east lialt" of Lot 28, now owned hotli the east and
we.st lialves of that lot, on the front of whicli weiv the
prospective locks, tlie mill privile^vs and the wliarf.
Tiiese brothers, whose mother was a Carman, were stron^-ly
iiiibueil with that /eal in the cause of religion and ^ood morals
that was ,so conspicuous a feature in the character of the prin-
cipal promoters of this entei'prise. Matthew built a stone
wall or fence in front of his yju'd or lawn, on the outside of
which, apjieared in veiy lar<:fe Roman letters, made of stones
ot" another color, the on<' word
TEMPERANCE.
His brothel" .himes, witli etpial zeal but less ])iudenci', put a
stipulation in the (U'('i\ of eveiy villa<;'e lot he parted with,
that no li(|Uoi' should be sold on the premises. l)urin<>; the
progress of the work on theCanaJ, this clause was violatecl by
one or two parties, and he entered suit to eid'orce the a<;ree-
ment. He was successful in the lower coiu'ts, but the case
was carried to Chancery, and " .larndyce r. .hirndyce " was
I'e-enaeted on this side of the Atlantic, the cost beino- charii'ed
ajxainst the property. This contimied until, wearic I by dola}'
and harrassed by creditors, Mr. Coons n-athei'ed up his few
remaining- bel()n<;inj4s and left the country. The fai-m was
subseiiuentlv sold bv the shei'itf to i)av' the costs.
'I'hey .saw, howevei', the advanta<;vs that would result fi"om
the establishment of a fir,st-i'ate school, and promptly acceded
to Ml'. Carmans propo.sal to j^i\e the land if he would erect
the buildino;, ami made over to him one acre, Ivins"; about
three hundred feet north of the front road. On this the
buildin;;- was erected during' the summer of bS45. It is
<le.scribed in a letter from Mr. C'arman to Dr. Hond, of New
York, written on the 2!)th of November of that year, and as
this letc.'i' not only describes the l)uil<linp: but trives Mr.
Carman's reasons for erectini;' it, in his own words, and is
;>*-
00
SEMI-CENTEXXIAI. OK IRdQrOIS HKMf SCHOOL.
lui'tluT illustrutivc ot" the conditions that piwaikMl, hikI the
views that wci-e licld at the; time, we aive it in full.
■ft?
Matilha, Eastkrn District, C. W.,
i)R. Hoxi), Xurrnilii'i- -IVifh, IS!.").
Dkah Sir, Hiiviiif^ hccn a i-cadcr of the Chrixfuai Adrucittr (tiid
Jounm/ foi" a few years past, and ()l)seiviiif^ yciur repocts of visits to
(/oUeifcs, Aeadeiiiies, Semiiiai'ies and the vaiious Coiifereiiees, I am
satislie<l to eoidide in y<»ii as a eonipetent and desii-ahle judj^e {»f
what r am now in immediate want of, i.e., a eompetent person to
take cliarji;e of a seminaiy, now new and in way of Hnishin<f. It is
situate on the hank of the St. Lawrence, fourteen mih\s east of
()ffdenshur<f, within fifty rods of the mail steameis' lan(hn<r in
Oanada. lUiildinij is T)? x 'A'2 feet, two .storeys, stone, divided inta
twelvf looms : one dinin^f, one kitehen, one sittinif, and (wo Ijcfi-
rooms for family department; one lai.tfe sehool-room, twenty-nine
feet square, seated and ventilated on tiie plans of a hook entitled,
" Schools and ScIk ml masters " : one ro(»m twenty-two feet sipiare,
and one lar<;;e teai.'hers' or recitation room. The remaininii f(»ur
rcMjms were for hoarders. I have l)een thus explicit, in order that
time may l»e saved in making;- eiupiiry, and I would state still
further the Townshij) is i^eiu'ially well settle(|, and Methodist is the
leading; or most populai- deiuunination of Christians in the nei<(hhor-
hood, a chapel within one mile. The canal, now in progress, is
huildinn' a lock and mill privilci^e just at the steamhoat landini,'.
The deficiency of the like places of e(lucation in these paits has
compelled many of oui' hest farmei's and mei'chaiits to send their
children to the neij^hhorin^f State to he educated. This, to,i,'ether
with the present move hy our Le<fislature, have made im[»i'es-
sions on my mind which have led to the erecting of this huihfini^.
I may here ac(|uaint you with the fact that I am the sole and eiitiie
proprititor. Two of my nei<,'hl)oi's have, liowever, granted half an
acre each to the huildini,'. I will also just liere I'emaik, I luwer
expect any return of capital, hut trust it will pay its way. T, how-
ever, think it preferahle to obtain a teacher of Uritisli or Canadian
hirth. Ft would do away with prejudices in some : and in case tlie
moneys now ollered for Crannnar Schools can he olitaiiied without
aU'ectiiii; the i,'overnment of the school, such a person will he
desirahle. .\nd now as to the teacher's (pialitications, I will entirely
suhmit it to youi' well informed jiid<,fment, ordy (hat hi' hi> a person
of character, deep piety, ca|)al)le of iecturinjudii the \arious sciences
usually tau;,'ht in such seminaries. F anticipate, should approved
teachers he ohtained, maleand female, that one hundred and twenty
or thirty scholars may he ohtained. I do not expect over fifty oi-
sixty to commence with, unless some puhlic disjilay of notices be
made. F am not fully prepared to say how I would |)refer s(ar(ing
m
the
OLD CIIAMMAI! SCHOOL
J
! i!:i I
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OK IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
23
the institution. I would either rent the Iniilding on nio.st moderate
terms, hire the teachers myself, or put it in the hands of a Board of
.Mana<,fers — any way that will be most a,<^reeal)le and advisable.
Should the j^incipal teacher, which you would recommend, prefer
taking the family department, and board the pupils that should
oil'ei' as l)oar(lers, to the number of eight o.- ten, he can do so, and
the salary, in addition to that privilege, will b( fi-om $400 to $500
per annum ; of course, paying according to abilities.
And now 1 am through with what T thought proper to connnuni-
cate in ordei' that a correct o[)inion may be formed Ix'foie an answer
could be at all fully given by the person you should r<'commend,
and I hope you will not think this conununication ])resumptuous and
too troublesome. 1 confess it is a stj-etch of ])ro{)riety in me Lhus to
address an entire sti'anger. My only excuse is, we are all but
entirely deficient in competent persons of the right, improved system
of teaching, and if you will take an inteiest in our {)ros])crity in this
respect, you will, no doubt, meet a rewai'd, if not in this life, in the
life to come. I tliink of but two or thi'ee persons to whom I can
refer them to in New York city, i.f., Mi. Freeland, of the firm of
Eli it Freeland, corner of William ai\d C'edar Streets ; Moses
-Maynard, Banker, and George Weir, in the Custom House.
J. A. Carman*.
Ml-, (^)innaii evidently found it difficult to obtain a suitable
person to take cliai-o-c of the school, for we find him dui-inp^
the wintei" cori'espondin*;' with other |)artie.s to the same ))ui'-
port; and, on the !)th of March, lfS4(), he wi-ote Bishop Alley,
of the American Methodist E})iscopal Chui-ch, teliint;- him
that he had tlnis t'ai- been unsuccessful, and askin<; his assist-
ance. He had now, liowe\er, dt'cided what be would do with
the p)-operty, for he says in this letter that he has ap[)ointeil
seven ])ersons, includino- himself, as trustees, of what he says
he may now term "our (Srammai- School, in accordance with
our Act : " ;ind adds, speak iny- of the pi'ospectix'e teacher. "I
may now moi'c distinctly I't'Uiark, he must be of Hi'itish or
colonial birth."
'{'he (lead, which was executeil on the 1st of A])ril, 1S4G, is
fi'om .lauu's C'oons and wife to (Jeort^c Brouse. Jacob Hi-ouse,
Philij) Carman, and dohn A. Carman, of .Matilda; and J. W.
Hose. John P. Ci'yslei-, and Wm. Sliails, of Williamsl)ur<i-. and
their successors in office. The considei'atioii is nominal (one
fT^
2+
SEMI-f'KNTENNIAl, OF IRO(/UOIS HKJH SCHOOI,.
pound H\f sliilliiiHs), aixl tliriT ;ir<' no .s|)('t'i;il conditions in
tlic i\v<'i\. It will lie ol)sci'\ rd tli;it Ml". Caiiiian liad \\yv-
vioUHJy said lli.it lie was tlir o\\ nci-, ami that .lames and
Matthew ( 'ooiis had each ^^iveii hall' the land. No douht
some arraniicment had lieen niaile, iJ'i^iiii;' Mi'- Ciirnian the
])roj)ei'ty Itel'oi'e the huildin;;' was ei-eeted, which had })rol»al>]y
never iH'cn re;4i;-.tered : and when it was decideil to dee(l to
'I'rustiH's, of whom he was one, it was thoueht Ix'.st to ha\e
the deed come difect tVoiii M r. ( 'ooils. 'i'lie land Tol'liied the
centre ol' a s(|uare of eio-ht lots — four front and foiirr-'ar:
the foiu' front ones facin""' on what is now ('ollet't' Street.
The <leed co\cicd the four ceiiti'e lots of tliis S(|Uare, two iVont
and two I'ear. ti\'e-si\tlis of which wei'c en Mr. James ( 'ooiis'
land.
The Trustees wei'e chosen from the first men in the comity:
all of them e.\ce))t the two Carmans and the l»e\'. \Vm. Sharts
Iteine' at the time asjiii'ants for parliameiitai'y honors.
Geoi'U'e Hro se owned a lare'c farm iust east of the Coons'
property, was a lumber merchant, kept a store an<l the post-
ottiee, and neai'ly twenty yeai's hefoi'e had lieen elected to the
Lee'islative Assemhly of C^jipei' ( 'anada ; and, as late as ISoY,
was ae-ain a candidate. He was one of the principal pro-
moters of the incorporation of the villai;'e in 1857, and was its
lirst l^'cve.
.lacot) Jh'ouse, who lived ahout one mile west of the
villae-e, \vas also an extensive farmer and mei'chant : and, at
the time he was a))])ointed 'I'rustee, was a leadiiii;' member of
the Disti'iet Council, and in \>^^^'\ became Warden of tlie
Counties. Thoue'h conijiaratively unlettei'eil, he was a man
of considerable ability, and a warm fiiend of education.
John W Ci'yslei' was the son of ('olonel John Cryslei',
Avho had re[)i'esented the couuty from iSO.S to IS24; and was
himself electe<l in IS4S, and ayain in l<So4.
J. \V. Hose was also a membei- of one of the oM county
families, was a man of <;'reat force of character, a fluent
s])eaker, and the hopt' and pride of his political friends in the
county. He defeated Ml'. Crysler in 1851. and represented
(IKOKdK HKorsK.
rilll.Il' CAKMAN.
.lAcor. liUorsK.
• I. \V. KOSK.
;-
SEMI-f'ENTENNIAL OK lUOi^roiS HKiH SCIlooi,.
25
the I'oimty tlnvf yciirs, hut wiis in tiini dclVntcl in l8.->4.
liov. Win. Sliai-ts vvhh ininistor in clmr^'e u\' the LiiLlit'iun am-
;,'r('«,^ati()n in WilliuinshurL^
I'liilij) (Wiimu wiiH till! ('Id.T l.rotli.'i' of Mr. Jolm A.
('anu)in. Me ha. I ivc-ivcl, ,,r ratlicr ac(|uinM|, a hcttci- cdu-
cation than any of his colleagues, cxc-pt, perhaps, the Rev.
Will. Sharts: was cm.I, inhaiie, and v<!ry iiH-thodical, and
po.sse.ssed unusual skill in IVaiiiin^r jnid aiTaiiein<r Ief^r„| .joeu-
iiieiit.s. Hisliinite.i means prevented him from s.-eirinu- p,,,-.
liameiitary position, hut he was one of tin' hest e.|uipp,.d
l»"''li<' iiieii of Ids time; was the first Clerk and prineipal
or«ani/er of the Matil.h. Township (\,uMcil, was for many
years lleeye of his nativ<' villaov, and in his turn Waiden of
the C!ouiities.
'IMie foui- Matilda rejuvsentatives and Mr. Hose were Meth-
odists; Mr. Crysler and, of course, Mr. Sharts weiv Lutherans.
Mr. Sharts, we as.suiiie, was not a politician; Mr. (}eor<re
Hrouse and Mr. Ciysler were C\)n.servatives, while the reinain-
in;;- four memhors were Liherals.
Mr. Crysler and Mr. Sharts were douhtless selected as
ivpresentatives of what minht he termed outside interests,
hut theii- influence on the school proved very .slioht; the four
.Matilda men and Mr. Ko.se, who had married a^daiiohter of
Peter Shaver, Ks(|., and was a l)i-othei--in-law of Mr. Philip
Cai-man, practically forming the Board.
ir=
CIIAP'I'KR IV.
. 1
First Schnol KnjL,'ii<^iii^' llir l'rin(i|ijil Tlio ('iirriculuiii Fuoh Mr.
(iiiteH — MInn liuiley — Mr. Trimx — Sdiool DiarieH —
ViwitorH— First Pupils.
UK new iJoiud (>i';^!mi/»M| l»y a|))»)iiitiii^f Mr.
.).i('i)li Hioiisc, ClifiiiMiiMii, and Mf. I'liilip
("iinnaii, Sccrt'tary. 'I'lir laiiMiii;;,' was sup-
|)linl with the neet'>ssary dcsUs, ])aiiitt'(l ami
rmdy tor use, wlicii liaiidctl ovcf hy Ml".
Cai'iiiMii. About all that was r('(|uiiv(l in the way of funii.sh-
iii^s to carry otit the oii^iiial (Ic.sijrii was a )»iHiio. This was
purt'hasfil in Moiitical, the price paid Itciii^- .s|,S(); lA' this SoO
was itaid l»\' .1. \V. l^osc, i5.')() l)v(}corijc IJroiisc, and !?5() Itv
J. A. Caniiaii: the rciiiiiinin;;' ^'M) appears t() have been jtaitl
by Jacob Ihouse. 'I'he piano was delivered and in the build-
in^' before the School was ()peiie(|.
Mr. .1. A. Carman iiad traversed the continent I'oi- a teacher
without sticcoss. perhaps becau.se his ideal was hi^^her than
the probable I'evenues of the School wariauted : perha}»s
because we ai'e incline(l to look far afield when what wo
really iieeil may be at otu" han<l. At all events the Trustees
.secured as teacher a Mr. H. N. (Jatcs, 1>.A., a fliviiiity student,
whose family, thouj^'h American, lived in the adjoinin<r Town-
ship of Kdwardsbui'^". He niay have possessed all the ^ifts
and acquirements sou<;ht for in a teacher, but he was lujt
British-born, and, con.seipiently, could not at once procure the
necessary authorization to teach a Grammar School in
Canada. It is probably due to this cause that we have no
SEMI-CKNTENNIAI, OK IIUH/rolS HIGH SCHOOL.
27
tliiin
lilt we
•ustt'os
Aidcnt,
'l\)\vn-
ifts
as not
me the
looi in
liivc no
rccoi'tl dl" tilt' School iluiiii^' tin- liist tciin (or (|Uiii"tt'r) except
tlie imynient <jI' the salary in the yeai'ly account.
The School ()|ieiu'(l on the lOth of June, 1S4(I, without any
tletinite a<^r<'enient as to terms, for, on the 7tli of Auj^ust, we
tin<l Mr. dates, who nnist then have heen teach i n<r, inHkin<r
the roiiowin;;- propositions to tiie Trustees:
" Ma\inj; considereil the i-ecpiireiiieiits, conditions and cir-
" cunistances attendant on the taking: chariic of your institu-
" tion as I'rincipal, and hein^ aware that in part, at |)resent, I
"aniunaltle to fulfil the reipiirenients. in conseiiuence of not
" liein;^ a iJritish subject, I propose to take the chai'i^e of it on
" the following- conditions :
" I. Shoid«l 1 within three months liecoine (pialilied as tim
"law rtM pi ires, and should tlie annual income of the institu-
" tion amount to the sum of one hun<lre(| and .seventy-tive
'■ pounds, then that 1 shall recciNf as luy salary the sum of
"one hundred and twelve |)ounds, ten shillini^'s, together with
"the use of the family ilepartment of the huildinj^-.
"2. Should I fail to hecome ipialified as the law directs,
" and still the a|)[)ortionment of the (Jovernment (Ji'ant now
"in I'e.serve for the use of this institution he secured for its
" hciietit, then 1 ennac^-e to receive the tuition of the jjupils a.s
"my comi)en.sation durin<r the first term.
" '.]. Should I not liecome (pialitieil as the law directs, and,
"in constMpieiice thereof, the ap])ol'tionment of the (J(»vern-
" ment (Jrant hi' lost to the institution, then I ai;ree to demand
"no contpensation for my sei-vices during- the first term.
"4. Should I Ix'come ijualitied as alioNc .stated, and the
"aiuiual income of the institution from all .sources he less
"than one humli'ed and sexcnty-five poiuuls, then that I
"receive one hundred pounds and the use of the family
" de])ai'tment of the Imildinj;' as comi>ensation for my ser\ ices.
" '). I aii^ree to ])i-ovide a teachei' for the female department
"while I i-emain in chai'^c of the institution, at the rate of
" fifty pounds a year.
" G. Should either of the parties conceiiied in the aliove
" projiositions hecome dissatistlecl, tlu'y shall he annulled l>y
"notice i;iven hy the dissatisfied paity at least six weeks
" before the close of anv iv^'ular tei'ui of the School."
•28
i: ''
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IKOlHIOIS HKJH SCHOOL.
!||l
'I'hc lii'Ht proposition appears to have hecn Hiially acceded
to by tlie Trustees, and Mr. Ciates was no douht successl'ul in
overcomint;' tiie dis(|ualitication ; thon<fh it seems probable
that at the close of bS^G the .school had not an as.snred income
of C17') i)er annum, as the accounts show lait £50 as the half-
\ear's salary of the Princii)a], and £'2'i as that of the assistant.
It is evident, howevt'r, that the ]))'()speet brif^hteiieil durin<;'
the winter, as, at the close of tlie next half-year, he I'eceived
the .C5() OS., and .£(> 5s. as ai'rears.
In September, l(S4(), the Ti'ustees made a vi<>'oi-ous eHbrt to
" boom ' thei)' new .school by issuin<; handbills oi- ])osters
.settin;^' forth its advanta^vs. One of these has bt'en pre-
.served. Fi-om it we learn that Mr. H. N. Gates, 13. A., was
the principal: Miss Sarah A. Bailey, assistant: and one John
L. Tmiax, music teacher. The general advanta<;i's of the
institution and its situation are then .set forth, and the
tei'ms of tuition i^^iven. For the connnon Kn^'li.sh branches —
spellin<i', I'eadino', writini;^, arithiMitic, •••rannnar, history and
o-eo^Ta)»hy — the chai'^'e is fifteen siiillings for tei'm of eleven
weeks. Foi" the hit^'hei- branches — al<>'ebra, astronomy, ^cont-
etry, ti'i;;'onoiiietiy. book-keepin^r, rhetoric, lo^'ic, botany,
rn'oloii'V, chemi.strv. natiu'al i)hilos()i)hv and natural theolo^'V
— the char^v is one pound for a similai* term : and for the
lano'uaires — Latin, Greek * 'erman and French — one ])oun<l
five shillintis. For <li'awli. Hve shillinu's extra was diarized ;
fo)' paintino-, ti'U ,shillin<^s: and foi' nnisic, one pound ten
shillinos: and five shillings for the use of the piano.
Com])laint is freipiently made that the subjects now taut;'ht
in oui- Hi;^h Schools are too numerous: l)ut this cunicuhun,
esj)ecially when it is under.stood that natural j»hilos()j)hy
incluiles the whole rani;'e of physical science, is all-i'inbracin*;'
enoujih for the most fidly e(pii])])ed of our modern institution.s.
The diflerence appears to be that most of tlu' subjects at
pi'esent taught in our schools are obli<;atory, and that the
teachers, under the I'ye of tlu' ubiipjitous inspectoi', nmst be
able to cover the whole tjround, while Hftv vears a<>'o the
.students miiiht select such bi'anches of studv as thev desii"e<l
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OK IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
29
■ tho
)unil
•(■•(mI ;
ten
iilllS.
ts ilt
t tlir
ist !)•'
the
'sirtM
I
to pui'suc, it heiii;;; understood that tlicy would lu- ;^uidt'il
HoiiR'wIuit by tlu' Jidvict' of tlu'ir teachers, who would, ufiturally
enout^h, direct them in paths most t'aiiiiliai' to themselves.
Of the teaciiers thus advertised, we know liut little of Mr.
Gates, except that he ai)pears to have tau<fht with acceptance
for a yeai' and a half.
Miss Sarah A. Bailey was of an old Pui'itan family, and the
dau<fhter of .ludf^c Bailey, of Potsdam, N.V. She was
euMuently successf\d as a teachei", and soon won hei' way to
the hearts of her j)upils, hut her intei'course with the trustt'es
appears to have led to the winnin<>' of another heart and the
makinii' of another eniiaufnu'nt, and she ami Mr. John A.
Carman, who had up to this time heeii a bachelor, were
marrii'd in the tvirly [)ai't of I8')().
Mr. Trua.x seems to have been a sort of wanderiu}.^- minstnd.
We have not been able to learn whence he came or whither
he went, nor, in fact, anvthinii' about him, f\n'ther than that
he was blind and that he tau<i:it unisic foi- a time in the
" Seminary."
I)urin<>' the fall teini of IS4(!, which mi^ht be said to Ite the
tij'st I'eo'ular term of the school, diaiies were ke])( by each
])U])il (of coui'se undei- direction of the teachei'), descriptive of
his conduct in school, and the pro<i;ress made in his studies
each day. The pupil o()t o'edit, first, f(»i' "(^)nduct : second,
for " Diliiience," and then followe<| the sexcral studies he was
pui'suiu^, such as ( iraunnar, ( Jeot^iaphy, I^atin — four in each
line — that is, foui" for "Conduct," four for '' l)ilio(-Mce,'' four
foi" ( Jraunnar, etc., was tlu' hii>-hest mnid)er of marks oiNcii.
Kach pa}i,'e covei-s a week s work, and it is sin'm-d at the bottom
1)V (he teachei' ant' the j)arent. It is intei'estin^' to note the
conduct and i)i'oirress of the N'ouiiii' man at school in the li^'ht
of his subse(|uent career.
Sevei'al of the students, anion^' them Hiram l\. Haines,
Reul>en Hickey and ( )rmond Skimiei', ar<- nearly perfect;
William an<l l^hilip Keeler, Kufus Carman and .lames Ault.
also stand hiijh ; Alonzo Bowen, (iuv C. Ault, (!uv Brouse
and Cyrus Brouse, show considerable fallin<i' off", but the worst
I
30
SEMF-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
.1 -I
I
I '1,
oiif ill the lot is An)i'rt Cannaii, the iuturc ])i'iiK'i})jil of the
scliool ,111(1 ot" Albi'i't College, and the present head of the
Methodist ( Mmirh in C'anada. One week, on Monday, he
made one niai'k in (Jranniiai- ; on Tnesdav and Wednesday,
no mark at all: on Thui'sday, one mark in Geography: on
t'liday, two in (Jrammar, and on Satnrday, orie in Geography,
while perfect marks for him woul<l have been twenty-eight
each day. Well might his i'atlier write at tlu' bottom of the
])age lu'foi'e signing it, "'I'his week seems a blank." Yet, of
all the stndents then in the scliool, or foi" that matter, all who
have since been in it, none has been a moi'e distingnished
.success ill life than the maker of this inferioi' I'ecord. His
hi.story is a ratliei' striking example of what industiy, perse-
verance and singleness of purpose can accom))lish.
Fifty years ago it was customaiy to have visitors of schools,
and, at least until the Local Su))erintendents and Inspectors
took their ])laces, clergymen, magistrates, and, we l)elieve,
some other members of the community wei'e recognized by
law as Vi.sitors of oiu' common or {)ul)lic schools. Among the
tii'st of tl:e acts pei'formed by the Trustees of this school was
the a])pointment of Visitors. These were, so far as we have
been alile to ascertain, IJev. K. .1. Boswell, John Archibald,
Rev. .lolin Lever, Rev. Bishop Alky, I'eter Shaver, William
Patrick, and James West, Ksipiires. The duties of the
N'isitors were not onerous. They were ex]iected to ta.ke an
interest in the school, to attend examinations, if convenient,
and call occasionallv when in the neiii'liborhood. On the other
hand, the as.sociation of the school with the names of men
eminent or ])rominent, wassup])osed to give tone and character
to the institution, and to be a warrant to the public that it
was worthy of jiatronage and suppoi't.
The school appeal's to ha\'e reached the high-water mark of
its earl\' dav^s in the winter term of iN47, when thirtv-eijTJit
male and tw(Mity-tive female students were in attendance.
They were almost exclusively the children of wealthy ])arents,
and were |)riiici|)ally from the front of Matilda and Williams-
burg, though there were a b'W tVom Oznabruck and Edwai-ds-
I r
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROVlOIS HKJH SCHOOL,
:U
iain
tht'
!in
lit'ut,
)thi'r
nu'ii
iU'tt'l-
lilt it
Ilk of
-ciglit
liUK'O.
.rents,
iuuis-
,iir<lH-
l)Ui'<;, and ont' or two tVoni KcniptvilK' and l^rcscott. 'I'lu-y
contined tlicir studies largely to tlu; common KiimHsIi brandies,
tliou<^li nearly liall' the school aimetl higher. There was a
Latin class oi" six, .lames Ault, C ynis Hronse, Albert Carman,
I'hilip Keeler, N. Kiwi))]) and Orinond Skinner, while just one,
Jaiiu's Ault, took Fi'cnch. Tlire*', Mary Bi'ouse, A. (Jates, and
Kli/abeth Wylie, took music. Only one, Mr. L. Pillar, devoted
himseir to Paintini;', while the l)rawin<; class numbered
seventeen, Messrs. ('yrus Hi'ouse, J. Cook, Rufus Carman,
K. Hickey, 1). S. Hickey, \Vm. Keeler and .). Mills: Mis.ses
Nancy Brouse, M. Brouse, Cretta Coons, Emily (yoons,
A. Lever, M. Mcllmoyle, A. Mills, ('harlotte Parlow, Elizabeth
and Annie Wylie. Trig'onometry claimed the attention of
but tliri'e [)U])ils, Philij) Keeler, N. Knapp, and .John Sutf'el.
Geometry, one, N. Knaj))). Al^'ebi-ji, ei^lit, .lames Ault, Cyi'us
P.rouse, H. .1. Cook, Albei't Carman, K. Hickey, Wni. Keeler,
,J. S. Kattray and .lohn Sutlel. Si.x devoted their attention to
Astronomy, CNrus Brouse, H. .J. Cook, R. Hickey, Wm. Keeler;
Misses jMcIlmoyle and Elizabt^th Wylie, The Phil()so])liy class
was larjfer, consisting' of Messrs. .bimes Ault, Cyrus l^rouse,
H. .T. Cook, R. Hickey, Wm. Keeler,. I. S. Rattray! Colin Rose,
Ormond Skinner: Misses Uretta Coons. A. (Jates, M. Midliiioyle,
M. Steacy, Elizabeth and Annie Wylie — foui'teen. Tlu-ee
a]^])eai'e(l to lia\e studied Loo-ic, S. Ault, H. J. Cook, and
N, Kna])p, and the same number Chemistry, E. Gates. .), S.
Rattray, and O. Skinner. Nine devoted themselves to
History, thirty-six to Geo_ij,ra])hy, tifty-six to Arithmetic, fifty-
three to (Iranimar, tiftv-se\ en to Readinu', fortx' to WiMtiim",
and thirty to Spellin;^'. The names of the ])U|)ils who continetl
themselves to the common branches were: Guy ( '. Ault, Guy
Brouse, Alonzo Boweii, B. Coons, G. (^)()k, X. Coons, William
and Robei-t Elliot, W. H. Eraser, H. Haines, E. Keeler,
S, Robertson, J. G. Skinner, .loseph Skinner, E. Selleck, L. ().
Sollies, .]ames Wylie, .bis. Wood, A. Dixon, .b)hn Barlow,
Charlotte Ault, .1. Ault, .1. iiowen, Mary (\irman, Maria
Carman, Emma Carman, F. Cai'iiian, M. Carman, M. A. Coons,
C. M. Ross, H. Steacy, A. Steacy— thirty-two.
'i;
•f !■
'!:
HI
1 !
CHAPTER V.
Mr. Dick — Exjiniiimtiniis — How Tuaehors were Appointed Condition
of tile County Prizes County and Local Boards of Trustees — New
Sciiool Law — ^ William Elliot Robert Lowery Ryerson's Visit —
Public Library Established.
K. (JATKS ivsiniu'd ;it the close of 1 847. and
was sncCLHMled by the Rev. A. Dick, a B;i))tist
iiiiiiisti'r. His letter of" acceptance is dated
at a place calle<l Ranisayvillc, and in it lu;
snoocsts that, it' he can [ivocure a suitahle
domestic to take the cai'e oF his little dauohtei', Mrs. Dick
may become his a.ssistant in the school, as she is " actjuainted
with nee(lle-woi'k, [laintino, botany, French, etc.'" His resi-
dence does not appear to have been a orcjit distance from the
school, as he lu'omises, ii" the slei;j,hino- l)e good, to be here on
the tii'st 'i'ncsday in Jannary. He did not, howoxn-, reach
the school nntil ahont a week later.
There were no genei'al certiticates at that time, but every
teacher oi' j)ei'son who desired to teach was ex])ected to pre-
sent himself to the District Hoard foi- examination. This Mr.
Dick did on the 8rd of .Febi-uarv foUowino', and the result is
indicate(l in the followiriir lette)':
Cornwall, '-VrU Fr/iruarij, i84iS.
Mu. PtiiLir C'akman,
Sn{. — The Rev. Alexandei- Dick presented himself tiiis day for
exfiniination before the Hoard of Trustees, and I have the pleasuie
to inform you tliat the I'esuit of his examination lias pi'oved sati.s-
factoiy.
You nuist understand, however, that the approval of Mr. Dick's
ajipointiuent rests with the (lovernor-( General.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OK IROC^l'OIS HKjIII SCHOOL.
33
tl»e
L'l' on
nery
() ])iv-
is Mr.
suit is
[848.
(lay for
l>U>iisure
ed satis-
Dick's
Ml'. Dick will he nominated and pi-oposcd for His P^xcollency's
approval as soon as thi' Trustt'cs have received certain testimonials
from Mr. Dick, which are deemed of importance.
1 have the hoiutr to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
H. Ukqdhart, ('fifiirinan.
Rev. Hugh TTrquhart was a Presbyterian niinistt r, an old
teacher in tlie Cornwall (Ji'annnar School, and an educationist
of considei'able reptite. He was \ni(lerstoo<l at the time to
have formed a high estimate of Mr. Dick's attaiiniients, espe-
cially in (Jreek. Everything appeared to promi.se well for
the school. The first year Mi'. Dick was in it the (xovern-
ment grant, which had been but thirty, was raised to ninety
jxmnds; the atten<hince was good, tlu^ fame of the school was
extending: yet, as will be .seen hereafter, the seeds of future
trouble had ali'eady been planted by the manner of his
a])pointment, as indicatetl in Mr. ("r(|uh;n't's letter.
Vet foi- two or three yeai's everything appeared to go on
swinnningly. Soon the students fi'om this school bigan to
take the places of the Old Country and American teachers
that had hitherto supplied the wants of the common schools,
in 1850 Local Superintendents were first appointed, and Mr.
Dick was placed ovei- all the schools in Matilda. The Su]ier-
iutendents within tlu^ countv formed an Kxaminino- Boanl for
eonnnon school teachers. At the meetings of this board the
pupils fi-om this school ac(juitted themselves creditably, and it
soou became recognized as a nursery for teachers within the
county.
.lust about this time othei- impoi'tant changes were taking
place in the conditions of the sui'iounding country. Hitherto
the princijjal articles of export, and the means of making
money, were either tindiei-, wood or ])otash in some of its
forms. The trade in these was almost entirely controlled by
thi' farmer merchants, who lived along the rixcr, the sui'plus
pi'oducts of the fai'ms being princi})ally used to suj)ply the
lumbermen or cordwood drawers, and to pay store bills. But
file continual attacks on tlu' woods had produced large clear-
T:
84
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IllOQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
f'l I:
in<^fs; these were incrojiHed in size by extensive fires that,
about that time, ran over the imperfectly cleared parts of the
county. Lai'^e areas well adapted to the growth of wheat
and barley wei-e brouoht under cultivation, and the disti'ict
was rapidly transformed from a lumbering to a grain-grow-
ing and gi-ain-exporting section of country. At the .same
time the Municipal Act, nearly as we have it now, became
0{)erative ; and, in I8o0, the rti'st Township C/OUncil was
elected. This stii'red the farmers in the rear, many of whom
were bect)ming wealthy, to .seek representative })ositions,
and a .sort of levelling-up process began. The line between
the front and rear became less marked: not that the front
receded, but rather that the rear progressed more rai)idly.
Nor were the friends of the school slow to take advantage of
these favoring conditions, as the following extract from the
Journal of Education for April, 18.")0, makes manifest:
"John .v. Carman, Es(j., the niuuificent foinuler of the Dunda.s
Seminary in ^fatilda, lias written to the Rev. A. Dick, Superin-
tendent of Common Scliools for tliat Township, stating that he will
place in that <:fentleman"s hands next January a prize of £\'l 10s.,
to '.)e awarded as follcnvs : To the teacher of X\w best and most
etRciently managed school in tlie Township, £5 ; to the Trustees of
the same, in apparatus, £2 ; to the teacher of the second best school,
.£4 ; to the Trustees of the same, £1. 10s. The time which said
teachers shall have taught in this Township in the year 18.")0 shall
not be less than eight months ; and the Trustees shall not be
entitled to the award unless their school has bean taught six months
in the year 18."i0 by the teacher who may receive the award. The
prize to l)e annual, jtrovided the experiment proves satisfactory,
(reoi'ge l>i"ouse, Es([., has also promised a similar prize on the same
conditions. William Elliot, Esij , has further pledged hin)self to
give a prize of the same amount to the writer of the best essay (who
must be a Teacher in the Township) on ' The Most Effective and
JJest Method of Teaching Common Schools.' In communicating
these encouragements to exertion to the Trustees and teachers of the
Township, Mr. Dick adds, 'You will also receive the Joiirnal of
Educatioii for the present yenv through the liberality of Jacob
Brouse, Esq., Town Reeve, and George Brouse, Es(|., Councillor.
It will remain the property of the sever-al school .sections, each
receiving one number monthly, and ought to be preserved. You
may (!xpect a visit and lectur(» from me in the month of July.' At
the close of the gratifying examination of the Dundas Grammar
li ;!•■
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OT IIKM^UOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
85
and
|atin<i
l)f the
ml of
iico\i
;Ulor.
each
You
At
Imvnar
School, of which Mr. Dick is Principal, Mr. Albert Carman, a
pupil, delivered a very elo(juent address on ' Pklucation,' which has
been published."
Whether the prizes offered were duly competed for and won,
does not appear: but it is evident tliat there was a {.jreat deal
of interest bein<;' talven in (Mhication, and that tlie school was
not only I'ejjjarded as lunn^- in a flourishin};' condition, but tliat
the Principal had tiuis fai- won the api)roval of the Trustees.
Uid'ortunately this was not to continue. We have seen that
(iranmiar School teachers were at that time a})pointed hy
the Governor-Cieneral, on reconnnendation of the District
(Jranunar School Trustees ; and tliat thouj^h the Local
Board, a]>point»'d by Mr. Carman, controlled the school
property, they were not recognized by law as Gi-annnar
School Trustees. They had hired Mr. Dick, but in order to
draw the Government j^rant, it had been neces.sary to procure
an appointment fi'om the Governor, in the prescribed way.
This made him (Jranunar School teacher for the county, and
in a measure independent of the Local Board, as they couM
not remove him from his position, though they niij;ht eject
him from the school buildin*;-. This divided auth(H"ity, as
mi<>'ht l)e expected, resulted in friction between the Trustees
and teacher, and seriously menaced the prospects of the
institution.
The situation is well describiMl in the followitii>' letter from
Messrs. Geo. Brouse and Philip Carman to Dr. Ryerson,
written nearly two yeai's later, or, on the fJth Febriiary, 18.')2 :
''We hold a dend of trust of one of the best and most extensive
buildings in Canada West erected for school purpdscs in a country
place. The building was eiectcid by Mr. J. A. Carman, of this
place, entirely at his own expense ; the land in connection with it
was given by Messrs. Matthew and James Coons, and all was freel}'
given into our hands fi>r the public good as a Board of Local Trustees
in May, 184(), and on the lOtli day of June the same j^ear we opened a
school in the building uiuler the superintendence of Mr. H. N. Gates.
At the time the school opened it was not legally a (irrammar School.
Subse(|uently, however, Mr. Gates passed through the regular
course and obtained his certificate, and our school was recognized as
one of the additional Grammar Schools for the District. At the
36
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
■ I
close of 1847, Mr. Gates reHi<^ne(l, and was succeeded by the Uev.
A. Dick (Baptist) as Principal, who has been in ciiarj^e since. At
this time ('47) the Government j^rant was £2^) or £.'{0 ; in '48 it
was raised to over .£!)0. This, or soniethin;;f else, had a bad tendency' ;
the teacher did not give the satisfaction he had formerly dime. The
consequence is, that now for the last year the attendance has been
from 1-5 to .30 (in 47 it was as lar<^e as 70). We are anxious f(»r a
change, but are unable to effect it, as the teacher under the present
system is beyond our control. He is aware that we are anx'ous for
his removal, but he has given us to understand that he is not beholden
to us, or to be controlled by us ; that if we tuiTi him out of our
building he is still the teacher of the Dundas (Grammar School, and
that he would only have to remove to some other locality and pro-
cure a building, and thus deprive us of the Grammar School, after
all that has been done to establish it here.
" We are decidedly of the opinion that the law wants amending,
so as to place a part of the control into thi> hands oi a Local Board
of Trustees, who certainly are most interested in the prosperity of
the school, so far at least as hiring and discharging the teacher,
subject, of course, to his procuring tlie necessary certificate of quali-
fication, and such other resti'ictions as may be deemed necessary.
As the law now stands, and the Government grant being consider-
able, it makes the teachers independent of other support, and they
become careless and indolent, and, in too many cases we fear,
intemperate. We should feel ourselves deeply indebted to you, if
your time would permit you, to look into the system and provide a
remedy."
])r. Ryerson's reply, dated 10th Febmiary, read.s :
"Gentlkmp;n',— I have the honor to ackn(.>wledge the receipt of
yours of the 6th inst., and to state in reply that 1 concur in the views
which you express in regard t(» the management of Grammar Schools.
In 1850, at the recjuest of the then Attorney-Cieneral, I prepared a
draft of a Grammar School Bill, which provided, anumg other things,
for the appointnient of Granmuir School Trustees l)y County
Councils, aiul the appointment and removal of masters of the
Grammar Schools by the Trustees thus appointed, but the bill,
though introduced by Mr. Hincks, was laid over. I think, how-
ever, the sul)ject will be taken up again at the ensuing session of
our Legislature."
J)r. Ryer.sou was a.s rrood as hi.s word: .sooh after this the
Act of 1S53 (16 Vic.) was pa.- sed. It autliorized the appoint-
ment of not les.s than six nor more than eight Trustees for
each Grammar School, witli the powers asked for in the letter
SEMI-CENTENNIAT- OF lUogllOlS IIIOH Sf'HOOl,.
37
if
)t of
,'iews
lools.
I red a
lings,
unty
the
bill,
how-
■;i(»n of
kis the
loint-
es I'or
letter
of MesHi'H. HrouHf luid ( 'aniuin : an<l, at a special nieetin^f of
the CountieH Council, at Coi-nvvall, on .lamiaiy Gth, 18r)4, just
before the expiration of tlie term of the nienibers elected in
l.S')J^, Messrs. Wni. Klliot, PhiHp Carman, and ll(jbert Lovvery,
were appointed. The new Board appears to have consisted
of these three (gentlemen and Jacob Brouse, .1. W. Rose, and
Wahcr liell, thouj^h I have l)een iniable to a.scertain when or
how tlie thi'ee last-named were appointed.
Jt will be seen the new Board consisted of three meml)ers
of tlie old Board, Messrs. Carman, Rose, and lirouse, an<l three
new mendiei's, Messrs. Elliot, Lowery, and Bell.
Ml-. Elliot was a Scotchman, born in the last year of the
last century. He came to America when a youno- man, spent
some years in New York State and in Canada Kast, and
subsecpiently stai'ted business as a brewer at Mille Roches.
While there he si'cured a contract cm the canal here — moved
to Matilda, married Miss Ennna Bowen, a niece of Mr.
Cai'man, and thenceforth made this silla^c his home. The
contract proved a profitable one' : and, when the canal was
com])leted, he leased the best millin<^ privilege, built a largfe
flourinjj,' mill, and for many years cai-ried on an extensive
business. He was a man of considei-al)le i)ublic spirit, served
some time as Councillor in the township and Reeve of the
village after its incorporation, and, in bSoiS, )»ecame Warden
of the Counties. Like most Scotchmen, he ])laced a hi<fh
value on education, was a staunch friend of the School, and
did much to promote its interests. He died in bSDl, in his
ninety-second year.
Robert Lowery was a youn^- and veiy andjitious Irish-
man, born al)Out 1820; he came to this countrv witli his
father, John Lowery, when a boy. His early years were
devoted to assisting his father to clear u}) a farm in the
Township of Matilda, and to executing some small contracts
on the Williamsbui'g Canal. About, or a little Itefore, 1850,
he bought a saw-mill at what is now Hainsville, in the
township of Matilda, and a little later went into mercantile
business at Dixon's Corners. He was one of the first Muni-
S !'
38
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
I ■
cipal Councillors of the TowiiHliip; was Reeve in 1852, Deputy-
Reeve in 1853, '55, '5() and 04, and eontiinied in the Council
until failing liealtli compelled him to r(!tirc in 18(15. In 18()3
lio unHUCcesHrully C(tnteHted the county with Mi" Ross. Hin
native abilities were of a hi^h ordiir, thou<;h hi.s ()[)p()rtunitie8
for their cultivation had been limited. He was a good
debater, with the <^lib ton^Mie of an Ii'ishman, r(»ady in
repartee, and strong in invective. In the un.sparini^ use of
the latter he fre(|uently provoked ho.stility ; he had warm
friends and bitter enemies.
Walter Hell was a leadinjr business man at North Wil-
liamsburg^: was Reeve of the Township of Williamsl)ur<j for
several years, beginning; in 1850; but it does not appear that
lie ever took nuich interest in the affairs of the school.
There were now two Hoards of Trustees: the one held the
school property by deed from .John A. Carman, while in the
other was vested the control of the school. Steps were, how-
ever, at once taken to place everything with the Trustees
appointed under the new School Act, and on the .SOth August,
1854, an agreement was concludiul wOiereby they leased the
school property for a term of five years at a I'ental of £12
10s. a yeai", ])ayable half-yearly. Whether the i-ent was ever
paid wi' have no means of knowing, Init it is probable that it
was merely nominal, oi", at most, as a .soi't of l)ond or secui'ity
that the pi'operty would be devoted to the purpo.ses originally
contemplated.
Another event of considerable importance, educationally,
occurred during the last year of Mi". Dick's incumbency. The
School Act of 1850 ha<l made provision for the establishment
of public libraries in Townships. Early in the year 1858,
J)r. Ryerson, the Chief Superintendent of Education, visited
the county, and held a meeting in the Gi-ammar School ;
Jacob Hrouse, who was Warden that year, presiding.
The "^ actor's mission was to ui'ge the adoption of the Free
School system and the establishment of public libraries. The
meeting was not large, but the discussion, in which George
Hrouse, Pliilii) Carman, Edmund Doran, Wm. Elliot, J. S.
i V
,) ■
I' '*'
n
SEMI-CENTEXNfAL OK MUH^roiS l[I(5II SCIIOOF..
30
it
i-ity
illy
Free
The
RoHH luid some (jtlicrs took part, Wii.s iiit('restiii<(. It wii.s
explained that an-an^eiuents had l)een made whereby the
hooks eould he g(jt cheaply: that tlie Government would
supj)lemt'nt every dollar providecl l»y tlu^ loeal munieipality
with another dollar: and that thus a very valuahle lil)raiy
could he ])rocured at slij^ht <'.\))ense to the rate])ayers. .lacoh
Brousc was the Reeve; and Mt\ssrs. Klliot, Ross, Lowery,
and Simon Strader Councillors. The matter was taken up at
a meetin^^ of the Council held Hubsecpiently : a <jrant of £100
proposed and tinully carried, Messrs. Lowisry and Strader
votiu}^ nay.
The result was the establishment of a tirst-class library for
the 'i'ownship, containin<;" about 1,000 vohniies. There was a
Township Jjibrarian aj)])()inted, and each School Scctic^n
ni)pointed a Section Librarian. The Itusiness of the Town-
ship Librariai; was to distribute to the School Section
Ijibrarians, who in turn distributed amont,^ the people. The
system was perhaps too elaboi-ate for the circumstances and
the time, and lacked a permanent inspectoral head tt) enforce
the regulations. The libraiians, even the Townsliip Librar-
ian, were frequently chanofd, an<l were sometimes inefficient.
The books }j,()t scattered, and it was hard, impossible, in fact, to
jL;"et them in a<;ain : the movement had nevei" bi^en a popular
one with the majoi'ity of the ratepayers, and no means were
taken by suceeedinj^- Councils to replace lost volumes: besides,
the incorporation of the villa<;'e in LS57 s))lit the collection,
and withdrew some influences from the Township that would
have been favorable to its maintenance.
The outcome was, that twenty yeai's after its establishment,
there ceased to l)e a Township or Villa.i;e Library. Nevei'the-
less, in many homes in both Township and xillage, some of
these books may yet be found: the seed was sown; and thou<ifh
sonie, perhaps much, of it fell by the wayside, if we could trace
its influence on the lives, tlu' character, and the achievements
of those amonnf whom it was scattered, we would find that
enou<;'h fell on ^ood ground to amply justify the eftbrt that
had been put forth.
3
rirAPTKij \'i
Alhurt Varumn (;onoral Pinspority .Fhuh's ('roil ,J. S. Koss KHbct,
of M.fir A|.i..,iMtiia.ut~l'n,tractL-.l Mfetin^'-DiscipliuiMir a St.ulent
— Tlie Muthodist Church l$olluvillu Suii.iii.iry ULtiriMiiuiit ..f Mr
CHrniiin.
I ,!
HK fortuiics of tilt' scliool wciv iievrr pci-hfipfs iit
a low.T rl.I. tlijtn ill the t-arly pjirt of l,sr,4..
As lias luvii s.Tii, Mr. |)i,.|< ;,,ii,| thr Trustees
were not ill hariiioiiy ; and Mrs. Dick, it
.•il)])('ais, lia,«l not proved a. siu-cess as an assist-
ant: hut the new I5..ai-d, eoiiiposed of l.,cal men, tried IVien.ls
of the institution, weiv now in rull control, and tli.. prosjM.ct
soon brio'litciied.
Mr. AllMTt Cannan, eldest s .f |'l,ilip Cannaii, the not
too promisino. ,,„pil ,,r 1847. the youth of l8o() whose .-ssav
had been thouo'ht worthy of publication, had just H,,„|uated
from Victo.-ia ("ollenv; an.l was chos.'ii b\ the lloard to
sumv'l Mr. Dick. He had barely ivaclu'd Ids majority, and
ha<l never had any experieiiee in teaehiiiu-: but he was at
once capable, earnest, and unpivteiidiiio' ; ..,nd earlv wiai the
esteem and love of his pupils, lie had the charm of youth
and eoiiimaiided the r. ^pect— almost the veneration— that we
usually accord only to tho.se of much riper \-ears.
The times M-eiv also proiiitious. The (Ji-and Trunk Railwav
Mas beino' built: the commencement of the Crimean Wai- hail
close.l the Da'tic and Black Sea, ])orts. from which (J,vai
Bntuhi h;' litherto di'awn a lar^v proi)ortion of her fo,,d
suiqily, so Jiat the demand b.r wheat from Aiiierica was
eno.-mously increased : while the mi..,.s ot California ami
-< ;'i
I*l'.»
Wll, 1,1AM K1,I,I(»T. .lAMKS CKOII..
A. I!. SIIKUMAN, M.li.
JOHN S. KOSS. KOHKHT I.OWKKY,
\ I
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OK FROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL
41
Ansti'iilia were adding at an unprecedented rate to tlie world's
stock of <>-old. These conditions, present at tlie same time,
caused a I'ise in prices of farm products, and an a[)pi'eciati()n
of land values, that created an ahoun^linu- prosperity, in which
the ]:)eople of this County fully shared. The one dark spot
in this, so far as this villa;^e was concerned, was that thei'e
was no road leadin;^- north into the country faither than the
Thii'<l Concession until you went a mile east: while the neiirh-
bru'inu" villaoc of Morrisburi; was moi'e fortunatelv situated
in this I'espect, and was thus enabled to secure the lion's
share of the produce ti'ade. The activity of trade and the
demand for laboi- naturally openetl uj) othei' avenues of
aihancement for the youni;', and may have tended to <lraw
attention from the institution: but thei-e is no doubt that it,
to some extent, sjiared in the o'eneral prosperity, tliough the
'.•eeoi'ds of the school for the first year and a half, or while it
may be said to luive been passino- from the old Board to the
new, do not appear to have Ikh'u presei'ved.
in lN5(i two new members were iippointed to places on the
Hoard, who exercised a marked influence; on the school foi'
several yeai's : and one of whom served lono-rr than any other
member except, pei'haps. Mi-. Philip Carman. These wei-e
James Croil and J. S. Ross.
Mr. Croil was a Scotchman, who about the inid<lle of the
century piu'chased and settled on the Crysler Farm, so
famed on account of the battle fouijfht there in INLS. He was a
ociitleman of culture and means, and devoted a considei'able
poi'tion of his time to literai'v pursiiits : his work o(>nerally
beinn- in connectit)n with, and foi- the briietit of, the Pi'esby-
terian Church, of which he Wifs a member. He found time
also to write a history of this countv, known as " Ci-oii"s Dun-
das." a work of very great merit, the value of which increases
as time uoi^!^ <"'• He serveil on the Hoard ten years, durinii'
five of which, or from 1851) to the clo.se of "02, and again in
"Ho, he was chainnan.
Mr. John Sylvestt-r Ross was the son of an U.K. iioyalist,
and was boi-n in the Township of Oznabi'uck in 1821. He
42
SEMI-C^:NTENNlAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
ciiiiu' to tlii.s place while the work on the canal was in progress,
first as chirk and paymaster for Messrs. (Jeo. and Jas. Craw-
ford, the contractors who built the locks. Soon after he
o|)ene(I a s)uall store near the locks, married a daughter of
Mr. Peter Carman, and settled here permanently. His energy
and ca})acity for business soon gave him an assiired position.
About 18.52, he l)ecanie a member of the Township Council,
and was Reeve in 1850. He was also a mendjer of the Village
Council for some time after its incorporation : and, probably,
would have had his turn in the Reeve's chair oidy for a sort
of unwritten law that — after Mr. (Jeoi'ge Brouse, who ha<l got
the first part of a year on account of his advanced years and
liis services in coiniection with the incorporation — no man not
a Lil)eral in politics should be advanced to that position. He,
howevei', got his compensation outside, for in 18()1 he became
the Parliamentary represi'iitative from the County and held the
place, except during the six years, 1872-78, until his death in
1882. At the first meeting after his ap])()intment to the
Board he was chosen Secretaiy-Treasurer, and contiiuied to
serve in that capacity until 1806, when he became Chairman;
after which, fcjr nearly fourteen years, he presided at the
meetings of the Board. He resigneil in 1879.
Up to the time of the appointment of Messrs. Croil and
Ross, the active managers oi the school, with the single
exception of Geo. Bi'ouse, had been RefornuTs: and the}^ had
all been Methodists, until Mr. Klliot, a Presbytei'ian, was
appointe<l in 1854. Not that they had been selected because
of their political or I'eligious vit'ws, but l)ecause theirs were
the vi(!vvs that prevailed largely, almost universally, among
the local promoters an<l fi'iends of the institution. But, now
that it had become a recognized County Grannnar School,
<le))endent, in some measure, on the Counties Ccjuncil for
support, and partially un<ler the contrf)l of that body, which
was composed largely, at least in this county, of adherents of
the opposing politit-al pai'ty ; it was im]>ortant that nothing
should arise to ci'eate distrust of the management. Any
danger of this was very much les.sened, if not entirely
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
43
now
hool,
1 i"()r
IvliicU
kits of
Any
kively
obviated, by the cordial co-operation with the old members of
the Board, of two prominent Consei'vativcH, the one a Pre.sby-
terian an(J the other a member of the Church of England. It
was an assurance to the pul)lic that in educational matters
neither creed nor party was reco^ni/ed.
Mr. Ross, who was tlu; trusted leader of the Conservatives
in the County dui'ini;' the whole pei'iod of his ccjnnection with
the school, was, from his position, specially fitted to allay any
irritation that niioht result from the friction of op])osing-
views or interests. That he, to a <fi'eat extent, succeeded in
doin<;' so, was subse(|uently made manifest by the almost
entire al»sence oi' want of harmony between the village and
Townships, in adjustintf theii- respective contributions to the
school.
The arran(;'ement made in lNo4, whereby the Ti'ustees hold-
in<i" the deed leased to the county Trustees, was revised in 1 8o(),
and insti'uctions ^-iven to prepare a new Kvisf. This was for the
full term of ninety-nine years fioni date, at a nominal rental
of £1 pel" year. It was executed on the I2th day of Juni;,
1857, and provided that the l)uildin<^' should be kept insured,
the institution beino' dcsij^iiated " Matilda County Gianniiai'
School."
In the spi'in;^' ot" liS5(i. a wave of rcHi^ious excitement swept
ovei' this part of the country. The Methodists, whose chui'ch
had been up on "the Point," about half-a-mile from tin- centre
of the villa;;"e, had, in LS.55, built a new and more commodious
one on the site oi' the present one, ei'ected twenty-one years
later. This way. de<licated in the early part of 185G, and a
" pi'oti'acted nieetinji," under the superintemlence of the Re\'.
James (b-ay, foUowt'il. Nioht after ni^ht, for seven or eio-ht
weeks, the lai"i>"i! editice was crowded to the doors. Nearly
everyone in the villa^t', and for miU's beyond, was "con-
verted " ()!■ undei' "conviction." Nothing- ai)proachin^' it had
been witness(!d since the ^reat re\i\alof 182'}. The scenes in
the church were impressive — sometimes a|)pallino-. Scores of
men and women would In; stru^ijflinn' in aii a^ony of prayei",
and shoutinjj^ at the top of their voices for meiry, friMpjcntiy
44
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL
i'
i-
li!
I '
! I
I'allini;" on tlu' floor, coiiiplctt'ly cxlijiusted. No oiilookur could
fail to be moved. A few Preshytcriiiiis, incinbcrs of the
Chureli of Eii<;'ljmd, and Roman Catholics, held aloof: hut the
jfreat mass of the people, including nearly all the pupils in the
Grammar School, joined the movement; oi-, as it was termed,
" j;ot relif^ion."
One of the most promisin<;' students, a youth, whose conduct
was othei'wise ii'ivproachahle, not only ref.ised to join, l»ut
was suspected of exerting- an unfavorable influence on some
fellow-students. He had a penchaiif foi' "pui'e science," and was
said to have some books that were of very doubtful oithodoxy.
The matter was bi'oui^ht to the attention of the trustees, and
foi- some time his fate hun<!; in the balance : but better couMsels
prevailed, and, instead (A' exjjcllinn- him from the scloo , as
had been pi'oposed, the ('haii'inau of the Hc^ard Mr. Jacob
Brousc. asked the a,ssend)l(Ml con<^'' ;ation to la-ay for him.
That youth is now ()ccui)yini;' the | sition on the Hoai'd then
occu})ied by Mr. Kiou.sc, and has for years exerted a consider-
able, fi'e(|Uently a ])r('vailin»;-, intluencf in its counsels. Ho
still retains his love for science and its nifthoils, l)ut it is no
longer regardiMJ as ininncal to the intei'csts of the school.
At a meeting of the Board, held on the 5th of July, 185G,
the .salary of the headmaster was fixed at £150. 'i'here is no
record of the salaiy allowed the assistant at this time: but,
when Mr. Carmans succes.sor w;is engaged, the huly who had
been his last a.ssistant, a Miss Kllswoi-th, was continued at €7.?
per year, she to devote sufficient time befoiv and afti'i' school
to Ljive one music le.s.son each tiav.
The early Metluxlist mi.ssionaries, or pi'eachers, in Canada
were principally fi'om the Methodist Kpi.scopal Church of tlu^
United States. These were reinforced from time to time by
helpers from England, and by local recruits, until a (^amulian
C'onference was foi'me(l. About IS.'iO, the (piestion of the
futui'e relations of this Coiderence came uj). Some
wei'e for continuing in cotuiection with the Amei'ican
Church, anil some foi' uniting with the Wesleyan body, in
England. The views of the latter ])revailed : the Old (/ountiy
SEMI-CENTEXXIAL OF IROC/COIS UMill SCHOOL.
45
>56,
Hit,
lool
latla
tlic
w by
(Uiin
the
Some
'i-ican
y, in
iiintvy
connection was estfiljlislicd, and tln^ Clun'ch becfuiie the
VVesU^yan Methodist Cliurch oi" Canada. A renuiant, consist-
ing of some hall'-(U)/('n cK'i'<;ymen and a consich'rahle number
of hiymcn, who remained ti'ue to their first love, refused to
unite with the Wesleyans, and formed the Methodist Episco-
pal Church of (/"anada. Anion*;' these wei-e the Carmans, of
Matilda.
The new Church pro.spered ; pi-eachers were selected with-
out any special (|ualification but theii- zeal and piety. Never-
theless, and perhaps foi- this very reason, they ajipeai'ed to
reach th'3 hearts of the people anu)!!"' whom tlu'y labored ;
and the " Episcopals," as they were calU'd, .seemed likely soon
to be able to <lispute the supicniacy with their Wesleyati
brethren. What it was felt was needed most was a better
educated cler<ify. 'i'o secure this, a .school was being- estab-
lished in Belleville, which was at fii'.st called the " Belleville
Seminary," but which in a few years acipiircMl univo'sity
powei's, under the name of " Albert C'ollege.'
Mr. Albei't Carman was ottered and accepted the pi'ofe.ssor-
.ship of mathematics in this .school, which opened in -Inly,
1M.")7, an<l of which he became the Principal two years later.
During the three yeai's he was hei'e steady pi-ogre.ss had been
made, and his leaving was deeply regi'etted by the pu{)ils and
frieiuls of the (Jrannnar School. His jiarting address wa.s
long I'ememliered. He has since, as Bisho]) in the Metlujdist
E[)iscopal Church, and latei* as head of the United ^b'tllodist
Church in C^anada, acipiired continental fame as a speaker:
but it is doubtful if lu' ever has found an audience so respon-
sive as the little knot of students and fiiends who gathered
around him on that day. It was no gi-eat oratorical i-fibrt :
but every word that he .said was so e\idently from the heai't,
thfit it went straight to the hearts of tho.se to whom it was
!id<lresse(l. Tlui writer was there simply as a visitor, but,
l)ack throuirh the mists of fortv vears, he can still hear the
husky voice of the master and see the streaming eyi's of the
{)upils as the affectionate M'ords of counsel and advice and
Hi\al leave-taking were being spoken.
CHAPTKU VII.
Davii's ;ui(l Cowun — Clianges in the School Mr. Laing— Incoi'poi'Htiou
of tlie V'illiigo -Jlotirement of Mr. Davies — Mr. t'owaii eiigagod —
New Trustees — A. 15. Shorinan — .\lox. McDonoU -Dr. Wortliiiigtoii
- I)i'. Williams — Local Aid - /io/.s.w. foirt^ — The Jluvemios — Coiiuty
(irants.
I' i
! ,
I
' 1 1
I' I
K. JA(X)B KROUSK, wlio had lu'cn Cliairinan
almost coiitiiniously iVom tlir time tlu' Hrst
Hoai'd was foniuMl, retired pennaneiitly at the
close of 1(S')(> ; .Mr. .loliii .\. ('ai'iiiaii liad done
tile same the ])revious year, and Me.ssi's. ( Jeo.
Brouse and Rose .some time earlier. Mi". Philip (^arman alone
of the orio'inal Trustees remained. He had acted as Secretar\-
Ujt to the time ol' Mr. Hoss' .appointment in 1(S.")(), he vas
Chainnan in LS.'xS, and retired tVom the Board at the clos > ol'
ISGO. hut was reappointeil in 1<S(!7, an<l was the Secretary
and 'I'l'easurei." from that time until the closi' of iSTo. The
("haii'itian who succeeded .Mr. Brouse was the Re\'. -lames
Hairis, a Church of Knoland cloro'vman. at that time settled
in M(juntain. He ]'emaine(l hut one year.
An e\'ent occui'red in LS.')7. which, thouoh not dii'ectly con-
nected with the school, has heen fre(|Uently referi'eil to, and
is, ])ei-haps, of sufficient interest to wari'ant the o-ivino- to it
a pao^e or two here. Of all the stores that had heen alono- the
front r(^ad one oidy remaineil. It was ahout a mile <'ast of
tlie villaf^^', and near the front end of the main road, leadino-
noi'th throufi;!) the centre of the Townsliip. This road had
heen planked a few yeai's hefore, and was the oidy outlet for
the traffic that came to the villag'c from the western part of
ilouo
tiU'V
V'ilS
)S ' <)l"
tilVV
"lie
lines
ttU'd
con-
to it
o- the
■ast of
■adin^-
(I IkuI
("t fol-
ia it ol"
KKV. UK. CAKMAN.
MKS. .1. A. CAHMAN.
I)l{. IdWAN.
MKS. W. C. r.AILKV.
•-*
semi-(;kxtenmal ok iiMu^rois iiniii scjkkh,.
47
the county. Tilt' propi'it'toi-, .loliii Liiiiin', was ji " hraiiiy "
niul " jH'pju'ry " little Scotcliiiiuii, wlio luul e.stiihli.sluMl u
husiiK'Hs there liel'oiN! there could he Hiii«l to l)e »l viljjij^e here.
He had a de'servedly \\\}s,\\ reputation for honesty. Mr. (ileor<;e
Brouse havin<^ said of him some time Ix'fore, when a youiij;
man in his store, that he " would not l»e afraid to trust him
with a dravvei-rul of uncounted j^old." He and Mr. Ross
had commenctMl husiness about tlie sunie time, and there is no
<louht re<!,ai'ded each othei" as rivals. Thev hoth .sounht and
obtained seats at the Council Hoard of the 'l^ownship. In bS.')(i
Mr. R(jss was llecNc, but, in IS')?, Mr. Ijainu' succeeded in
f;'ettin<;' two of the newly-electe«l mendteis to su])poi't hint,
and thus secuicd the Reeveshi)) Mud the control of the Coun-
cil, as well as a i)lace on tiie Hij^h School R)oar<l. In addition
to the rivalry between the two <;entlemen, there ap])ears to
have l)cen a I'ivalry between the two school sections. No. 2,
east of the villaj^'e, and No. 'iin which the \illaot' was situated,
and there was a farm or two, about midway between the sciiool-
houses, that was di'l)ata])le <;'round. At the time this laml
was attached to the villaec section, but Mr. Laino", ha\ino- a
iiuijority of the ('ouncil with him, j^cjt a by-law passed to
detach it and unite it with his section, No. 2. This arouse(l
the village, but as the Townshi]) was evidently with Mr.
Lain*;-, there was no I'eniedy unless the xilla^'e couM be inccji--
|)orate(l, and include this land within its limits. To do this
in tlie oi'dinary way, through the Counties Council, reipiired a
populati(jn of 7')(), which was more than the ])lace could then
nuister. Tliere was no resource left but to apply to the Legis-
lature for a special Act of Incorporation. This was done at
once, the Act passed, and the new Council was electi-il in
Auo'ust. Ml". (Jeore-e Brou.se was xciv active and influential
in ])rom()tin^' the incorporation, jind was elected Ree\e for the
balance of tin; year. His collcaj^iu's in the Council weiv :
J. S. Ross, Wm. Klliot, Phili}) Carman and .James Crier.
Thouj^h up to the time of incorporation the Post-olhce was
officially known as Matilda, the village was frequently desip,--
nated Cathcart, aftei- the earl of that name, who commanded
-X.....
48
SEMI-t.'KNTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS IIIOII SCHOOL.
the Hritinli Forces in Canada at tlie time of the I'csiirnatioii of
Oovernor Sii- t'liarlcs Metcalfe, in Novenilier, 184-'), juid who
a(liiiinistere(l the Govei'iiineiit until the arrival of Lord El<;in
in JjiiiUMiy, I.S47. The Point vva.s knctwn here and in the
suiToundin^ coiuitv a.s " Point Rockway ' — a coi-ruption of
the Franco-Indian name, Iro(jHoiH, which apju'arH to have heeii
too nnich for our (lerman fince.stors. ?]ven after it had been
sejcctecl as the name of the villaj^e, and was fre(|uently seen
in print, it was a considt-rable time Ix'fore even a majoi'ity of
the people could t,n't it ri^ht. And it is yet hai'd for some of
us to di'op the terminal letter. Perhaps we are still atield : to
sjtell it j)Iionetically, as we pronounce it, it woidd he n--o-kir{)i,
accentinj;' the last syllable. It is not imj)i'(>bable that the
French and Indians, from whom we received the name rii'd
vort', accented tlie second syllable, makin<^ it l-n'l'-fvol, thus
<;ivinj^ it when spoken I'apidly, as French and Indians jjencjr-
ally speak, the sound of " Rockway."
As an evidence of the haste with which th(^ Act was hur-
ried thi"ou<.jh the Lei>islatui'e, th()U<^h it was passed in the
interest of the C'Omnion School here, the western part of the
section, beyond the limit of tlu^ villa^'e, was left out in
the cold, and it was necessary to <;"et another Act j)a.sse(l
the foUowinj'' vear to attach it to tlu' vilhiire f(Ji' .school
purj)Oses.
The incorporation of tlu^ villa<>'e <.jave the ratepayers full
control of their own taxes ; and had the zeal for education
manifested in 1843 and 1845 not waned a little, it would \\:i\c
been of advantage to this scliool : but other mattei's claimed
tlie atteiitioii of the new Council. Streets were; to be opened,,
sidewalks built, and roads improved, and it was not until
some yeai's later that the villaj^'e, as a cor[)oration, reco<;ni/ed
its interest in the school, by contributing' to its eipiipment or
juaintenance.
Ml'. (*ainian's succes.sor as master was a Mr. Edmund R.
Davies. lie came ]ii<i^hly reconunendeil : was an En<(lishman,
a chuirhman, and, we bcdieve, in politics a 'i'ory. His attain-
ments were said to be at least equal, if not superior, to those
SEMl-CEXTKVMAI, (»l' IllOQUOIS HKill SCHOOI,.
40
liition
have
iintil
_',nt or
In.l H.
LUinan,
Lttivin-
I) t\\ose
ol' iiiiy of lii« j)r('(l('('('ss()r.s. Me may liavc Ix-cii, piohahly whs,
a very jfood man, but lie was not a sueeess liei'e : he did not
apjK'ar to be adapted to bis environment. We remen)ber
bearinj^f Mr. Lain<^r, wbo was tben a member of tbe Scbool
Hoard, say tbat tliere " was no use in anyone not a ^b^tbocbst
trying to teacb tbis scbool." Tbis was |)Uttin;^ it. unfairly,
liut tbei'e is no doubt tbat Mr. Davies failed to j^et in touch
with the people or with tbe pupils, 'i'his is evidenced by tbe
fact, that early in ISilH he appliecl to tbe Ti'ustees for assist-
ance in maiijtaininy; disci])line. They stood by him in tbis,
but it appears to have done no "^ood, as in tbe following
Au<4ust bis resii^nation, to take effect at the middle of tbe
tei-m, was tendered and accepted.
He is tbe only master that, so far as appears, ever asked
for Ol' recei\('(l a testimonial from the Trustees. It reads:
" The Tru.stees of the Matilda County Gnuninar School hereby
ceitify that Mr. Edmund R. Davies lias tauj^ht this (Jiainmar
School for the last yeai', and they cheerfully bear testimony to his
f,'eiitleinaiily deportment and his ;;;enei'al efficiency as a teacher,
and have no hesitation in i'ecouiraendin<? him t() the favorjible con-,
sideration of .any similar institution.
" (riven under our hands at Iroquois, in tii(> Countv of Dun(la.s,
the 19th August, 18r)8.
Signed, " P. C.\hm.\x, Chairmun.
"J.VMKs Ckoil.
".foiiN L.\iN'(;.
",l. S. Ross, Secretin- 1/."
At a subsecjuent meeting of tbe 'i'ru.stees, Mr. Sanmel
Cowan was engaged as ln>admaster at tbe old salary, S600.
Mr. Cowan was also an Knglisbman, but had conie to this
country when young, and was either a graduate or alumnus of
NHctoria College. He remained nearly a year and a half, or
until tbe early part of I860, when desiring to visit tbe old
country, be Jisked to be relieved on condition that be fui'iiisb
a substitute in Wni. A. Whitney, to complete the term ending
June 22nd. The pro[)ositi()n was accepted by the Board.
Mr. Cowan was fairly successful as a teacbei-, gave satisfac-
tion to the Trustees, and might have remained longer had be
4
')()
SEMI-CENTENNIAL <»l' IIKx^lOlS HMiM SCHOOF,;
;,
HO desired. After his rt'turii IVoiii Kn^ilaiid In- ;^rMduatt'd iii
mcfliciiic, marn('(l a dau<;iit<'r ol" Mr. I'liili]t Carinaii, and
alxMit 1N()') (•()ii\im'ii('('d the practice of his pi-ofessioii in
IroijUois. In I.Sfili lie was Seci'etary aii<l Treasurer of the
CJi'ainniar School l>oai'(l. He appears to have lu'cn |)artial to
th(! families of the old 'I'lustees : for, havini; lost his Hist wife,
he sulise(|uently rnarrie<l her cousin, the dauehter of Mr.
ilesse W. Rose. He is now lixine' in Wolfe Island, and has
attained a ^ood j)osition in his profession.
The Trustees who sei'ved aliout this time not ali'cuidy
noticed, were Dr. Shei'man, Mr. Alex. McDonell, J)r. Worth-
ineton, and l)i'. Williams.
I)i'. A. B. Shei'inan was horn in \'ermont, kept a hookstoi'e
in ()<;'denshure- at the time of the IJatth- of Fre.scott, in l<S,'J<S,
sul)se(|Uently ^Taduated in medicine, and |»i'actise(l his ))rofes-
•sion in Waddineton, N.V. At that time we wei'e not veiy
well supplied with doctors, and he o-ot fre(|uent calls to this
.side. Ahout 1850 he move<l to Morrishur^, and soon had a
]are(' practice : he had eonsiderahle ca])acity foi' ])ul)lic l)usi-
ness. and in IS')!) was elected Reeves of Williamshuri'', holdine-
the position until 1807, when he became Warden of the CouJi-
ties. In the year in which he Wiis first elected Reeve, he
hecaiiie a mendu'r of the (iranniiar School Board, and there-
after foi' si.x yeai's was anione- the most active and iidluential
of its mend)ers: always exertinti,' his inllueiice in the (boun-
ties Council in the intei'est of the school. He was chairman
^lui'ine- 18()*2-64: and, on his retirine- at the end of "G^, was
warmly thanked l)y the othei" members for his efficient
services.
Alexander McDonell was a wealthy fanner, who lived on
the front about midway between lro(|UoiK and Morrisbur"", a
«on-in-huv of Mi'. Jacob Brouse, ami a most decided Conser-
vative in politics : he was very much in touch with the
majority of the })eople in tbe Township, was Reeve in 1855,
aeain in 18(50 and 1861, and the third time in 18(57, 18(58 and
18()9: he was never defeated, and appeared to have merely to
nsk from the people to receive. He became a Trustee in 18(i0,
fmt never took very nuich interest in the school, and was not
SK.MI-CKNTKNNIAI, OK IH(k/I()|.S IIKill SCHOOL.
51
)un-
utial
oun-
llliUl
cieut
1 on
i the
1855,
8 antl
oly to
I 1800,
,-as not
lunoiin- its tVicixls in the Council, nt Inist not to tlu- «'xt(;nt of
nriiiitiii;;' imicli Hiumciiil aid.
Dr. Addison Woitliiiiuton was lutiii in the County of I'res-
cott, of Anicricau parrnts, was a inill\vi'i;;^^lit when he caini! to
Matilda, and niun-iod tin; dau<;litfr of Mr. I'ctcr Carman. Ht;
sul>s«'(|ucntly studit'il in'Mlicinr under Di'. Alex. Wylif, and
eoniincnc't'd practice licir in 1851. In l8f)l in- was a|)|)ointcd
Trustee, lait moved to Howiek in the following- year.
Dr. .1. D. H. Williaius, his pai'tner in husiness, was the
eldest son of the Ah-tliodist missionary, W. II. Williams,
spoken of in the early ])art of this work. Ijoiii in 18;}!, he
;4'i'aduated from the • llolph School, ' Toronto, soon aftei- Dr.
Worth inji'ton lie^un practice here, and became his pai'tner.
Fie was Reeve of the \illa^'e in 18()I : and in I8(i;{ succeeded
Dr. Worthin;;ton as Trustee. He left a few yeai's later, has
since heen a newsj)a]»ei' wi'itei', a minini^' speculator, an<l is now
pi'actisinn' medicine in the nein'hl)orin<; \illa^c of Caidinal.
The principal ditliculty with which the Trustees had to
contend at this time was the financial one. Tlu^y had the
(iovei-nment ;:;rant and the fees, which, luider favorable con-
• litions, were alxait sutHcient to pay salaries: hut any failure
on the part of the ti'achei- to secui'e (»!• retain the approval of
the patrons, ltd to the withdi'awal of the pupils, and was
almost certiiin to involve the Hoar<l in deht, and render their
task of providing' the ways and means, and of maintaining; a
pi-oper eipiipment aiiytliint;" hut a sinecure.
The law provided that the County C'ouncil mi<;ht ^'rant such
;iid as was nee<led, liut these (>iants were voluntai'V, and the
(^ouncillo)'s, elected by constituents, few of whom felt that tliey
li.id any intere.st in hi<;'her education, were slow to respond to
the ajipeal of the Trustees. The feelino- tluit was some years
latei' voiced by a mendter from the Township of 0/uah]-uck,
when he said that he <lid not '■ think it was fair for the poor
people of Finch and Ro.\ borough to be compelleil to di'aw hop-
])oles twenty miles in order to educate the ^■enth'uien's sons
of Coi'iiwall," no doubt existecl to some extent throu^liout all
the townships at the time of whidi we are WM'iting. Besides,
the sixth (h'cade of this century was })re-euiinently the a^v of
I
' \
52
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROt^UOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
1,1
i
laissez /aire ; the ecoiioiiiic doetriiu's of Adam Smitli and tlie
Mills were all but universally acce])ted throujj^hout the Bi'itish
Einpii-e. In CJreat Britain the State had ceased to interfere
with the course of trade ; in Canada we had, or thouf^ht we had,
got rid of all State interference witli the religion of the people.
A new era appeared to he dawning: it was then held hy
advanced tliinkers that the duty of the State was done when
it had made an<l administered laws for the security of the
life, the liberty and the pi-operty of the individual. It was
the age when individualism and um-estricted com})etition were
regarded by most thinking men as the proper and only
reasonable rule of life. Tlu; gospel of Herbert Spencer, which
teaches that the State is an organism with iiniumerable finic-
tions that it properly and necessai"ily exercises in the interest
of tlie whole, had not yet been preached. We had in our
progress toward a higher or more complex social life, )'eached
the age when the right of one individual to dominate the life
or conduct of another was no longer recognized; we were
only at the portals of the period when each unit of the social
organism is made to feel its obligation to the whole, and is
re((uired to peiform its part in promoting the general welfare.
It is true that Dr. Ryerson had been touring the country in
behalf of free, common, or public schools, and had made some
pi'ogress towards the desired end ; but few then thought of
applying the princij)le of general taxation for the support of
a system of education in which the ma.ss of the people had, oi-
felt they had, no share.
We have no record from which we can a.scei"tain what
were the revenues of the school dui"ing Mr. Carman's incum-
bency, furthei- than that he receixed ii^()()0 pel' year, and his
assistant $-S00. Fi'om this it would appear that it nnist have
been nearly $1000 : $400 of this ,vas derived from the Go\ ci'ii-
ment grant, a little, perhaps fifty, from rent of the living
rooms in which a boarding-house was kept: leaving about
SooO from fees. The fees wei-e two, three, and foui- dollars
for common English, higher English and classics, respectively,
per term — four terms in the year. Ther(> would also be a little
for nmsic and diuvdng, whicli were taught by the assistant.
wluit
icum-
n<l ln»
have
ovi'vn-
livinf;
!llH)Ut
loUiivs
ftively,
a littlo
distant.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROCiUOIS HIGH SCHOOL. 53
As the yearly avcraj^c t'oi- cacli pupil — asHuminjj^ half of them
to l)e ill tho coiniuon Itranclii's only — would bo a little over ten
ilollars, the average attendance must have lieen about fifty.
At that time, however, there was no entrance examination to
i'ace, and a ^'ootlly nund)ei' of 3'ounfi^ people took advantaj^e of
the winter terms : so the atte/ulance was larger dui'ing that
pt'riod, and correspondinrijly less in summer.
Vei'V soon after Mr. I)a\ies came the fallinj^" off'in attendance
nnist have bi'en eonsidei'jdde, for })efore the year 1857 closed
the services of the assistant hail been dispensed with, and tlu^
total income of the school in 1(S5S was ])ut S548.75. Nor
does this indicate the full decline of the school under Mr.
Davies, for one item of this was a Government grant of $200.00
for the last half of 1857, while the (Jovei'ment grant for the
Hrst half of 1858 was but §112.00: the i-emaining <?281.75
was neai'ly all from fees. The next year Mr. Cowan made a
nnich bettei' showing, though the Government grant, based on
the work done in the la.st half of 1858, was very small. The
recei])ts W(M-e :
Tuiticin fees, tiist ijuarter .^98 25
Tuition fees, second (juarter 1(2 00
Tuition fees, third (juarter T-*^ 00
Tuition fees, fourth (|uarter (io 25
,«!3;,8 50
(iovernment grant, first half-year .... S04 00
(lovernment yrant, second half-year . . 15t8 00
§2{>2 00
Rent from room 00
Total !*<)2f> 50
The receipts in I8(j0 weri' :
Tuition fees, first (juarter 8()!> 00
Tuition foes, second (juarter 51 00
Tuition fees, third (|uarter (il 25
Tuition fees, fourth quarter 40 50
8221 75
(iovernment grant, first half-year .... $198 00
Clovernment grant, second half-year . . 190 00
8;]88 00
From Counties Council 150 00
Total 8759 75
I 1
54
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
i
5
I
i
The first ^'rant From the CounticH Council was made in
IS")7. At the fii'st nu'titinf; of the Truste(!S in that vear a
resohition was passed setting- forth that the school ^I'ounds
needed fencing- and the hiiilding I'epaii'int^ : that maps, appar-
atus, etc., were required for the school ; that the law proxided
that the Trustees might apply to the Counties Council for
such sums as wei'e necessary foi* the pui'poses specified, and
directing- the Chairman to ask the Counties Council at its
next meeting to grant t5(). This was responded to by a
g-rant of £30. The members of the Counties Council from this
County were: .John Laing and (Jeorge J. Brouse, Matilda:
Henry H. Bolton, Mountain; James Holden and Henry
Weegar, Williamsburg; Giles W. Bogart and James Irvine,
Winchester.
The next grant asked foi- was in IH.iO. The institution
was about $150 in debt, and a kitchen and woodshed were
i-e((uired. The amount asked for was .$400, aiul the amount
gi-anted the $1.50 above, which was paid in the January
following.
The members of Council from this County that year were:
Philip Carman, Ii-oquois : (Jeoi-ge ,J. Brouse and Robert I'oye,
Matilda: (ieorge Mulloy and Mr. Farrel, Mountain: A. B.
Sherman and Thomas Johnson, Williaiusbur<'' : C. W. Boi>-ai-t
and David llae, Winchester.
Th(^ gi-ant being insutHcient, tlu' new buildings wei-e not
proccHMhid with, but a new fence was built, and $50.00 was
expended on maps, appai-atus, etc. These includeil, we lu'lieve,
an oi-rery, a very desirabk' piece of school furniture which the
much more fully-e(|ui{)ped school of to-day does not pos.sess. No
furtlu^r grant was made from the Counties until I.S()4, when
$200.00 was given, supj)l(^mented the following .January by
$I7<>()0 more, thus insui'ing the erection of the long-desii-ed
Imildings.
The niembi'i-s fi-om this county were, in 18(14: Fhili[)
Carman, rrocpiois ; Robert Toye and Robert Lowtu'y, Matilda :
Henry Wallace an<l Georg^e Mulioy, Mcmntain : A. B. Sherman
and .John Sergeant, Willianislairg : David Hae and Orin C.
Wood, Winchest(;r : A. (J. McDonell, Moi-risburg.
atil<liv :
Orin 0.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROC^UOIS HKJH SCHOOL. ");■)
In 180') Matilda was ropresented by Roltert Toyc an<l Mr.
Brouse: Mountain, b}^ Thos. Bailey and Duncan ('hristie;
Winclu'ster, by O. C. Wood and Matthew Rao; the others
remaining unchanj^ed. In each of thesis lists the first named
is the Reeve and the second the Deputy-Reeve. In 1<S')7
Mountain had no Deputy-Reeve, and of course the \illages
had none.
We have <(iven these jO-entlenien's names because every
grant that was made to tlu^ school was used against them in
the Townsliips, and sometimes to their iui<loing. Most of
them deserved well of the friends of education.
'fhe subsequent grants from the Counties (council were :
January, 18(i7 SlOO
October, " ;{6()
18(i8 100
1801) 100
1870 100
All grants subsecjuent tf) 1806 were made for a g7ti<l pro
quo. At the first meeting of the Higli School Board in tliat
year, on the 7tli F'ebruar}', it was
" Moved by Win. Elliot, seconded by R. Toye, That in accordance
with the condition of the report of the Connnittee on Hcliools from
the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, the
Iro(|Uois (Jrainniar School l)e free from tuition fees to ail pupils
attending said school, and who reside more than two miles in any
direction from w. i school, within the County, after the expiration
of the present term." Carried.
In 1871 the law was chang('<|, and thereafter the Counties
Council was required to grant each year a sum e(|uivalent to
one-half of the (Jovernment ""rant.
The first assistance given by the village as a eoi-poration
was W).0O in 1801. In 1804, .$1()().0() was given, and a like
amount in each of the three veai's, 1808, 1800 and 1870,
C^HAPTI'.R VITT.
,, I
;
h S
r' '
'I I i
' ft
u
! 31
Mr. Whitney Funning Ont tho School— Miss lijiiluy Siieooss (iovern-
niont, (Jrants— Local Apatiiy -The Mori'isl)nr!^ Hchool Changes in
tlie Law — Formation of Higli Scliool Districts Model School —
Abolition of tho Districts.
N APRIL, LS(i(), Ml-. Wliitnoy took cliuioe of
the school to till out Mr. Cowan's tiiiic A
mere teiiiporaiy jUTaiio-eiiient it seemed, and
yet lie had commenced what has been his lit't^
work. For over a (|Uartei' of a centuiy he
held the school — strong evidence in itself that he was well
a(la})ted for the ])rofession he had cho.sen. He was horn
in the 'rownshi])' of Ano'nsta, Septend)er .")tii, l8o4, had
conunenced teachino' when bnt little over si.xteen years of aoe,
and from that time earne(| enouoh to enable him to, at
intervals, pi'o.secute his studies ajid o-o thi'ouo-li colleor. He
oTa(hiated in arts at Victoria just before he came liere. A fellow
student of Mi'. Cowan, they were personal friends, and it was
throuoh that friendslii]) he became the headmaster of the
Irofjuois (Jrannnar School. On -lune 2r)th, iSfiO. he was
enoaifed at -SOOO per year. That was the salary that h;id
been paid for several years, and we have seen that the
reveitues of the school for some time had been barely suth-
cient to meet it without kee))in_o' an assistant. Hut Mr.
Whitney, who was a shrewd business man as well as an
erticient tt'acher, saw the po.ssibilities of the institution's future
if the stimulus of oain were added to the natural desire of
the master to promote! the interests of his school; and, aftei-
tlte end of his second term, proposed to take ovei' the .school
''■■/
-(Joveiii-
:iiin>j;e.s in
School —
liiroo of
'\\\w. A
lU'd, ;in<l
II lus life
iiturv lu^
was well
kjlS llDTU
S of ilot\
I to, ilt
ov. H(-
\ follow
(I it was
(.f the
lu; was
liat luul
til at tbo
■ly svitfi-
lUit Mr.
11 as an
IS futuiv
(K'siiv ot
uul, after
lie school
I'C
I'liii.o wiiri'NKV. I ii\Ki.i;s i'o'i"ii;i{, \\.\.
w \1. A. w 1I11'M;\ , M. A.
MltS. W.M, I,. KKIiMiiMi. WM. MON'ldoM 1•:K^ . II. A.
•anoMitamm^^^
t
i
'
1
I ;
I
SEMI-(;ENTENNIAL of IIlO(/UOI.S HKiH SCHOOL.
57
mill kt't'p an fiKsistaiit if the Govt'i'iiiiicnt <;raiit uiid t'cfs were
liaiKk'd to liiin. This was accepted by the Trustees, and
the new an-an^cnieut hecanie ()[)erative at the middle oF the
fall term in 18G0.
One of the first thintjs Mr. Whitney di<l was to en<i;a<i'e Miss
Elizabeth Bailey as assistant, at $'M){) per year. Miss Hailey
Avas a sister of Mrs. .lohn A. Carman, and was known to be a
^ood music teacher, and, we believe, was teaehinj^ a class in
the villa<;e at the time.
The i-esult fully justified Mr. Whitney's e.xpectations. The
first year, or, in bSdl, the income from fees alone was #611;
tliis, with a (Jovernment f^jrant of S,S87, pai<l his assistant and
left him a veiy comfortable increase o\' salary. We ha\'e no
record of the following; ycai-, but about this time Miss Bailey
retired from the school, and was marrieil to Mr. William C.
Bailey: theri'after music occupieil a minor place oi- the cur-
riculum, and the income from fees was nnich less. In 18()3
it had fallen to }?4:U), and the Government j^rant to .S874 ; the
assistant bein<( paid but $150. The next year the tifjures were
$452, 8.S!>7 and 8200, showing; a «jfain all round, which was
maintained until l(S()7, when the ty]ih()i(l fever scon rj^e tem-
porarily checked the pro^n-ess of the school.
As has been .said, the care of om' ( Jovei-nment for education
l)e<^an at the top. Our universities were the tir.st to receive
attention ; then the Granunar Schools, and lastly the Public
Schools, on the principle, we su])]iose, that while <(rowth is
from the bottom upward, lioht and heat came down from
above. At this time the Grannnar Schools were ret^arded less
as a trainin*^ <;round for teachei's, or as places where the sons of
mei'chants and farmers nn"<>ht ^ct an ('ducation superior to
that jn'ovided in the connnon schools, than as feedei's foi' the
universities. In pursuance of this idea, ^reat importance was
attached to the classics, and the size of the (lovernmeiit <;"rant
depended lai'<;ely on the number of Latin students. For in-
stance, in 1S()4, Iro(iuois had seventy-two English and twenty
Latin pupils, and drew 8397 : while Williamstown, with
thirty-seven English and thirty-two Latin ])upils, received
58
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OK IIUM^IOIS HKill SCHOOL.
a
'II i
$550. Otlici- yt'ars about that time, and conipariscMi witli
otluM" scliools, n^'ivc similar results. Tlu' total attendance is
not <^iven in eitlier ease, hut the En<flish pupils prohahly in-
cluded the whole school, thoui;h in some cases there may have
been students who confined their studies entirely to tlje classics.
Mr. Whitney a])pears to have noted the circumstance, and
to have governed himself accordinijfly ; for, a few years later,
the numhei- of Latin |)Upils had increased to 80 per cent, of
the total atten(hinee, and the Let^islative <rrant had mcn-e than
doubled. In 1.S72 it was $9!>3, and in l.S7;i, 890:3.24 : while
the County, which, afttu- 1871, was i-ecpiired to grant an
amount ecjual to one-half of tiie Legislative grant, contrilaited,
in the latter year, S528. The attendance was also good — 112
pupils, ninety -seven of whom weic in Latin, being given in
the returns. Of the 10!) High Schools tlien in the Province,
only twenty, and these all in cities and towns, surpassed this,
school in this respect. It was the largest school east of King-
ston, only two others, Broekville and Ottawa, ha\ing more
than one hundred i)Upils. Mr. Whitney's salary was $800,
and that of his brother, Philo, his assistant, $400.
In 18(i!) the Hoard had been enabled, by a grant from the
Counties Council, to increase the school aeconnnodation, ))y
removing the sleeping a])artments and throwing the whole
upper Hat into one lai'ge school-room: so to the people and
the municipal authoi-ities, and perha))s to Mi'. Whitney also,
nothing more seemiMl to l)e i'e(|uired. The first were getting
a High-school education foi' their children without having to
contribute thei-eto themselves, the second were relieved of the
necessity of assisting a local ])ublic institution that had bc^en
provided for them fi'ee of cost, and was of gi-eat conunercial,
as well as e(lucational advantage to the place, while the last
was piH)s])ering on his moderate salary, and had no desii'e to
disturb tlie existing conditions. Perhaps it w(juld be unfair
to say that they wei'e being afflicted witli the malady that
Mr. Philip Cai-man had deplored in Mr. Dick twenty years
before, but thei'e is little doubt but the exceptionally favor-
able conditions under which this school was placed from 18Gf)
SEMI-CENTENNIAI, OK IRO(^UOIS HICH SCHOOL.
59
and
ilso,
•■ to
tlie
Kcial,
last
u-»' to
lulair
thiit
yiiiirs
Ciivor-
18G1>
m
to 1874 teiidt'd t(; produce an uiiwillin^'ut'ss on tlic part of the
poopic and the Council of the village to beai- a fair .share of
the ccst of maintenance. This ,suh.se(]uently i)roved injuriouH,
ahnost di.sastrous, to the in.stitution ; and when tlie evil <hiys
came Mr. Whitney wa.s made the; .scapej^oat, and had to Hufiei-
for .sins not his own. If ever it is <leHiral)h' to make hay
when the sini shines, most assuredly the time to sti'enj^dhen
tlie teaching- .stati" improve the e(|uipment, and, if nece.ssaiy,
enlarge the building, was when the whole co.st of the school,
even to making the tires and sw(!eping-out the rooms, was
provided from outside. The aid given by the (Jovernment
was intended to promote, not to destroy, local ettbrt. It
should have been obvioris to the most obtusii, that the condi-
ticms then existing could not continue: besides, the Morris-
burg people had, in 1 805, established a (Irammar School in
connection with their Public School. That village was some-
what larger than this, was nearer the centre of the county,
and, having the Regi.stry Office, was, in a sense, the county
town of the Comity of Dinidas. Its rivalry had not yet
proved formidable, but it could even then be .seen* that unless
a little of the s])ii'it of the men of 1845 remained with their
succes.sors, the Iroipiois school would soon cease to be the
chief seat of learning in the county.
The law as it affected Oranuuar Schools had I'emained
without material alteration fVom 1854 to 1871. In the latter
year ' office of Chief Superintendent of Education was
abolisued, and the Department place(l under the control of a
member of the ( iovernment, called the Ministei" of E<lucation.
Several changes wei-e made, one of the least of them being
that Orannuar Schools were thtneaftei- to lie ealle<l High
Schools. The principal changes that affected .schools outside
of the cities were foui" in tnnid)er : the first provided that the
County Council, while still empowered to make voluntary
grants, nm.st grant a sum each year ecpud to at least one-half
of the Legislative grant: the .second authoi'ized that body to
form the whole or a part or parts of the county into a High
School district oi- districts : the third <lirected that any further
I
II
€0
semi-(;entennial of iiuk/iois iikjh school
HUiiiM, licyond tlic Ijc^iKlativc !iii<l Miiiiici|)al grunts, and Fees,
re(|iiii'<Ml for the iiiaiMtcnaiico of tin; school, lie paid, on the
r('(|ui.sitioii <»f the Hi^di Scliool Hoai'd, hy tin; municipality in
wliicli tlu' school is sitnattul ; or, in the event of a Hi^di
School district or districts havin<f hccn fornicil, Itv the muni-
c'ipaiitics, or parts of municipalities, foi-minji' •'^uch disti'icts;
and hy the fourth — which held <i,i"eat, hut alas! unrealized
possibilities for li-ocpioiH school — it was provided that any
Hijjjh School with foui- masters ami not less than an avei'a<;'o
of sixty male ])upils studying- Latin or ( !reel<, mi^ht heeomo
a Colleifiate Institute, and as such receive an additional Ijeo-i.s-
lative ;;rant, not to exceed .S7")() per aninim.
In 1874 some fui'ther chaii<;es were made, one new [)ro-
vision heino- that the Hiirh School i;rants he ap]iortioned
accordiujn" to the averao-c attendance of pupils and their pro-
ficiency in the various hi-anches of study prescril)e(| foi- Hi<4'h
Schools and Colle<;iate Institutes, as ascertained hy the High
School Inspectors. Another re(|uire<l that all moneys appor-
tioned hy the Oovernment, to<:,t'tlier with a sum provided by
local nnuiicipal assessment e(|ual to half the amount, he
applie(| in j)aynient of salaries to masters and teachers. In
1<S77 the Municipal i;i'ant was n)ade iMpial to the Legislative
grant, and hoth wei-e still to he a[)})lied in payment of
teachei's.
The Act of 1<S74 changed the source from which the
Trustees received their appointment. Hitherto they had all
been ap|)ointed by the counties, but now that they were
authorized to call on tlu' nunnci])ality in which the school was
situattMl,to maki^good any dtiticiency left after the Legislative
and County grants had been use(l, it was provided that three
of them be ap})ointed by the County C(auiciland three by the
Council of the nHniici])ality in which the school was situated.
The Acts of 1871 and 1874 gave County (councils the power to
form districts and define their limits: but this power was
withdrawn in 1877, though they were still left the power to
al)olish. A want of a clear understandinj'- of this last chant>'e
caused considerable litigation and involved tiiese counties in a
SEMI-<'ENTENN1AL OK IHOC^L'OIS HKiH SCHOOL.
(il
all
•ore
svas
Itivc
liree
the
ited.
■r to
was
'V to
lango
In a
heavy hill ol' coHts, when tlie <Hstriets in whicli this cotmty
VVUH divided vvi^re ahoHslied in IS7H.
In 1885 the ino(U'or afipoi'tionnientof the Lei^islative <^rant
was a^ain chan^^ed, and hased on the salaries paid to masters
and assistants, the character and e(|ui{)inent of the school
lmildin<;s and appenda;j,('s, and on the avei'aj^e attemlance ot*
[JUpils. These ehan;j;'es appear to have heeii desi<ifned to in-
crease tlie (general eHlcit^ncy ol' the Hi^h Schools hy ;;'ivinjf
thiMu an assnre<l income, and hy atlaptinj;' them m(ji"e and
more to the nuniicipal institutions of tlu; country, as well as
by increasing the Govei'nment supervision and control. 'I'hey
tended also to relatively r(Mhice the contributions from the
Government, and to increase those from the County and Local
Councils. This was inevitable if the schools were to become
an integral part of the. (Mlucational system of the country,
and was not in itself undesirable, but in the transition there
was a t^ood deal of friction. There was not only the very
natural desire amon^" the pe()i)le to avoid new inposts : but
until the \hniici])al Amendnuint Act of I88f), excluding;" nunu-
bers of Munici{)al Councils, was passed, the rule was foi- Reeves
to accept appointments as Trustees of Hifj^h Schools. Their
first care very freiiuently was for theii- nuniicipal jjositions, on
which tluM)thers sometimes dejx'ndtMJ, and for the retention of
whicli no plea was deemed so eti'ective as tliat they had kept
down the taxes.
This a))p(^ars to have l)een the jnuidin^- princi))le that in
High School mattei's actuated the nuniici])al authorities of
Iroquois for some years after the chan<;(' in the law made in
1871. The\'^ took no heed of the admonition: " Thei'e is that
scattereth, and yet increaseth : and there is that withholdeth
more than is meet, but it tendeth to j)overty."
At the first session of the Counties Comicii, after the passin^^
of the Act of 1871, a by-law was j)assed, forming- this county
into High School di.stricts : Matilda and Mountain being given
to Iroijuois, while the eastern part of the county was given to
Morrisburjif. Had this been done with a full knowledge on the
part of the Reeves from the townships of the position in
62
SEMI-CENTENNIAF, OF IROQUOIS HIOH SCHOOL.
wliicli tlicir iiniiiicipalitics wort- Ixiiiin; pljiccd in ivliitioii to
tin' Hij^li School BoMifl. it woultl luiNr Imtii of ;,M'((iitH(lvaiitii<;<'
to tlif \ illni;** iiiul to tin- si-liool ; that is, had thr towii.ships
vohiiitaiily a<^rt't'(l toj)ay^>/'o ?v(/(< with the ])('o|)le ol' Iroijuois
the whole cost of t'(|iii]»|)in<;' and inaintaiiiiii^' tlic Hi^h Scthool.
Hut the law was a new (die, thf statutes had not yet hofii
ji'eiiei'ally distriliutcd : lew nicinlH'rs of the (,'ouiR*il had .sc^eii
tlifiii . and rcwcr still knew the real |»ui'|)ort of the iveinit
enactments. The iin])re.ssion was created that it was as neces-
sary to <li\ ide the whole County into llieh School districts as it
was to divide the whole 'l^ownsjiip into Public School sections,
and in this way the measure was carrie<|. OF coui'se, the
villain' representatives liad the statutes, and it is ])rol)al»le
they liad stuilieil them sntHciently to know that what \vas
proposed would he of advantage to their constituents, hut
they do not aj)pear to have eot nuich farther, forwetind tlieni
the sam<' session Ievyin<^ thi' (.'ounty e-rant on the district,
in.sti'ud of on the county, thoi'ehy taking from this district,
which liad the lar^^est .school, very much more in propor-
tion to tlie as.se.sHment than was exacted from any other part
of the counties.
The by-law, however, did not for .some time affect the
scliool (»• the rates. 'I'he Countv and Leijislative tyrants wore
amply sutHcient for the school as tlien conducted, and in the
following" year the fees were remo\ed, ami the school became
free. It was not until INTO, when its ))rospe"ity bi'<;an to
wane, and the appoitioinnent undei' the Act of 1874, which
})roved le.ss favoi-able than that under previous Acts, be<;un to
be felt, that it became necessary to call on the district.
The calls were at tir.st liLdit, S.'iOO in 1870 and !?423 in
1877, and were little felt: and, notwith.standiiif^ one-half of
tlie Trustees were ciiosen by the villaj^e Council, thus making
the aiTant^emeiit seem more \nifair, the districts might have
been contiiuied had it not been for the action of the Morris-
biu'g School Board. The Morrisburg School was a Union,
Public and High School, with twelve Trustees, nine of whom
were chosen by the people and Council of the village and
SEMI-CENTF.NNIAI, OK IIIOVUOIS Hl(iH SCHOOL
03
H in
If of
kiu^
Ihave
L-i'is-
uion,
h\oni
arul
three l)v tlic Coiintit's Council. It lij\tl up to this tiinr Imm-u
k»'|»t ill tlif INil)li(' school luiiMinj's. Tin- Moi-risl)ur^f |ico])le
had Mot «»iily 1 ii less nioiirst in their (leiiiiimlH, l)ut they htul
rcsolvetl U) \ni\\i[ a new Hi;;ii School, and levy the cost on their
<li^.t»•ict.
They had just i^ni the iiioijcl scliool there. .Mr. Brown
was appointed inspector, and his ofhcr would he there, and
the time was o|»))ortnne to push the . "rishur;.;' Hi;,di School
to the front.
In the January Session, 1S7H, M. F. Beach, who was then
i)ep)itv-llee\(' of Winehestei', inti'oduceil a hy-law to ridievo
the Township, hut failed to carry it: and as the (tastern nieui-
l)er^ were la)"nc|y in sympathy witli the i'epres(!ntatives tVom
tlu' villages, it mi;^ht not have l»een possihle to carry it at any
time had it not heen for another feature in the law relatinj^
to Hi^h Schools. V>y the Mtuiicipal Act a union of c()unties
was re<iarded as a sin;;le county, except for registration pui'-
|)oses. But while the ;;,rants were voluntary, it had been
customary foi' each county to contrihute to the school or
schools within its hoivlers. When they hecame ohl i <;atory ,
and the Dundas schools heiii^' the largest, hecame entitle<l to
nearly one-half the monev I'eiiuired to meet the ( lovcrinuent
Ijjrants within the counties, the mend)ers from this bounty
contended foi' a ])ro nttn assessment oxer the three comities,
while their eastei'u confreres insisted on continuing' the old
.system, whereby each (Jounty provided for its own schools;
and as they posscssecj the necessai'v voting" power, they were
enabled to enforce their views, unless theii- wt'stern friends
shouM I'esort to the coui'ts of law foi' re(li-('ss. 'j'his was fi'e-
(|Uently thi'catened, but not piocecdcd with until liS77, when
])r. Chamberlain, Reeve of Morrisbur^-, made application to
liave the by-law of that year (|Uashed,on the oround that the
levy was not uniform ovei' the whole of the united counties,
and was, of course, successful. The eastern men then, throui^h
their repi'e.sentatives in the Local Lejrislatui'e, o;ot the law
chantred so that anv oiu' County, throuifh its Reeves,
might, for Hij^h School purposes, withdi'aw from a union of
"• i
ii
. f:
i
64
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
I
countii's. Actin;;' on this, ill the .Iniic session of I87N, (iien-
Lfarrx' and Stoi'inont botli withdrew, so tluit cneli ot" the three
counti(!s lu'canie a separate county for Hi<i;h Scliooi purposes.
And now that the sniaHer villages were <k'prived of their
eastern support, Mr. Beach had no furtht-r ditKculty in o-etting
a by-law through the Council aholishin*;- tlie Hi<,>h School
disti'icts in this County. This l»y-hiw was also attacked in
the courts on a technicality, and for a time successfully, hut
the clause abolishinij the Hij^h School districts was finally
sustained.
^7N, (ileii-
tlu; three
purposes.
I 1)1' their
ill <;'etting
;li School
ta c 1\ ('< 1 in
il'ully, liut
as finally
!::! I'!
M^
'III '
"^'^s. «^
SUI.OMON IKIIiAN.
KnllKUl' I'OVK.
CKI'llAS MILLS.
.KIlIN N. ITTTLK.
CHAPTEK IX.
I ccs-Edward Parlow-liubert Tuye-8olomon D,.ran-Ja„,es
Steacv MTl T ,,"^"'^-'^*''"' Hardness, M.D. -Ge.-,
T v' ^;°— -''^"'e'^ A. Carman, B.A.-D.3dinin.. Prosperitv
The New U ...nan Public BuiWing,s-.Sch<..] Neglected. '°''""'^-
illROM the tin... the sohn,.l was fanned out to Mr
l.:l-A- Whitney in I8(J1 until 1870 there is no ooni-
l>I.'t.. recor.1 of iHe<.me or expenditure, the
nistees having- no finances to deal with hut
those art'ectin^r repairs, in.pj-oven.ents or
-1-1-H-nt. As ehan,-es in the law and re^^uiations we
ery frequent durin,- the next deeade, we ^Wve u staten.ert o
he revenues of the school, showin. the sources fro. w L
they were derived. The fi^-ures illustrate one phase of h
Vjr... of t e Hi^h School fron. the State aid an<l Ic^^d con
^o that .narked the earlier period of its historv towar Is e
Mate cjntro and local taxation that followed the estahli
-nt ot a )ep.-tn.ent of Education with a n.end.er ,>f ^
(lov eminent, as Minister, at its head.
YSAR.
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
187")
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
I.K(ir.si,.
kTtVK
•iKANT.
$7M
00
!»14
00
!»9.S
00
!)o;5
8()4
802
r,;ui
">S4
24
00
00
.")0
50
OS
"This
district ii
recoKiiize
5
and
fieri
tlio
t lia(
Vii.i.ahh: ! Hkim Sciiooi, |
liHANT. DlsTIIIIT.
Fkks.
$:mo 00
400 00
*240 7.S
■'?204 76
l')l 10
Xi 10
l.S 00
114 .-)0
81 00
7.S 00
10.-) 00
00 00
liKAniNOH,
Ktc.
TdTAI,
Hkvk.me.
§76 19
10
(iO
14
.?12l.-) nn
142.-)
l.-)0.-)
1407
i:i;u 00
121.-) tiO
14S1.' 00
l.-).-)4 .-)0
1414
1227
81
.-)0
ir)24 99
i
I
GO SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
We arc almost equally in the (lack with reference to tlie
assistants. TIh' Falling otl' in receipts I'roni fees after LSfU
wonltl seem to iiKlieatc tliat l\Iiss Bailey, fi'oni wliose nnisic
lessons a considerable ])r()|)ortion of tlu'se was derived, was no
longer in the school. In the early ])art of IcSfiJ, Mr. Whitntsy
Tiiai'ried one of his |)U])ils, Miss Mary I'ose, a niece of the
Charles C. Rose who, with othei's, tried to establish a Grani-
mar School in l<S4.'5. 'i'his lady was a.ssistant for a time, as
were also a Mi.ss Weaij,ant, of Moi-risljur;,'' : Miss Stepliens;
Miss Holden, a dauohter of James Holden, of Morrisburo- ;
Mr. H. H. Ross, and a Mi'. Service. How lonj^ any of tlieso
tau<fht or in what order they came and went, oi- what remun-
ei'ation thev received we have no means of knowin<r, as it is
not till 18(i9, oi- after the .school was attain taken over bv the
Trustees, that we lunc any recoi'd.
In tliat vear Miss Annie (Rinnan, vounwst dauphter of Mr.
Philij) Carman, a yount;- lady who li«(l just taken the degree
of " Mistress of English Liteiature " from Aibei-t College, was
engagi'd as assistant. The salary does not a]i])ear to liave
bet'ii fixed at tlie time, but she receixed for work in tliat yeai*
SlOo, and a Miss Sha\-er receiNcd Slo. It is i)i'ol)al)le that
between them they did not put in a full yeai\ Fi'om that on
we can e-i\e the names of the a.ssistants and the salaries paid:
Asuistduts' Mdstir'n
rrar. A'amc. Salaririf. SaUiri/.
18()8 SCaO 0(1
180!). . Aiiiiio Caniian 8275 00 700 OO
1870.. M 275 00 700 OO
1871.. Miss Lane 250 00 700 00
1872 (•I->l'>iHei.lIl.,ss 122 80) >-,,^ ,„^
' ' I James A. Carman 105 00 I
187^.. I'hil.) Whitney 400 00 800 (M)
1874.. n „ 475 00 850 00
1875.. M n 500 00 000 00
187.; (•'•«-f''"-'^'l' -'-''■^•»^l 000 00
I H. T. Leslie 200 00 »
1877 . . I '^- '''• ^''^''^"' I 400 00 800 00
[ John A. D. Hamilton. . . . f
1878. W. F. W. Creehnaii 400 00 800 00
1879. . A. C. Croshy 400 00 800 00
1880. . Ale.\. McLeod 400 00 800 00
SEMI-CKXTEWIAL OF IROl^l'OIS IIMJII SCHOOL.
67
oti
(1:
i
Coinpariu/;' tlu'S(\ fio'ui't'.s witli tlir rcvciinc for tlio same
period, we find tliut tlie total ^rants Itoiii tlie (ioverniiu'iit
and counties for the tirst five yeans were, in round Koures,
$0,700, while the salaries paid teachers were but $5,850, and
the contribution from local sources less tlian $200. Tliouuh
it was not definitely so expresse(l in tlie statutes, tliese
grants were intended, by tlie De])artment of Education, to be
ap])lied in payment of t»!acliers' salaries, and we find it in
1875 inakint;^ representations to tlie Hioh Scliool Boaixl to the
effect that they had been misapplit'd. The Board at once, on
motion of ])r. llarkness, seconded by Robert Toye, I'esolved,
" That all moneys hereafter i-eceived be applied strictly as the
law directs." Tht^ wordin<>; of the statute was soon after
amended so as to leave no room for difference of opinion as to
the disposition to be made of these (;rants.
If we except Miss Cai'man, wlio taught two years, and Mr.
Philo Whitney, who remained in tlie school a littU; over
three, none (;f the assistants appear to have remained more
than a year, and .several of them only a few months. They
were mostly students out of a job, and the Ii'ocpiois Hi^h
Scliool ap))ears to have ad<led one moi'e to its many claims
on the gratitude of the public, by thus helping- them on theii'
way u}) the hill of knowledge.
Aftei' the oi)ening of the Grannnar School in Morrisburg
the I'epresentatives from the eastern part of the County
retired fi-om tlu- Hoard, and the names we meet in the minutes
between that ami 1880, are the three old mendoers, Messrs.
Carman, Elliot and Ross, the fiist retiiMnu- in 1875, the second
in 1878, and the last in 187!): Dr. Williams, who was in at
the time, but whose name does not appeal" after 18()(), and
E<lward Parlow, Dr. Samuel Cowan. Robert Toye, Solomon
Doran, l^r. James Stejiheiison, dohn N. 'i'uttle, Dr. John
Harkness, Dr. ( Jeorge Steacy and James A. Carman, new men,
who came in from time to time durin<;' the inter\al.
Edward Parlow, B.A., was first appointed in 186(), and
served nine years. He Wiis the son of John Parlow, E.sij., a
wealthy farmer, who lived three miles east of the village,
68
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IKOC^UOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
was youiif^, uiniiju'ried, and well ('ducatod. He attended tlie
iii(M>tin<rs of tlie Board r(';;ularly, l»ut rai'cly took a leadiiijf
part, or attempted to exi'i't iiiueh inHut'iicc on the Board or
tlie school.
Ml". Cowan s career has ah-eady been noticed.
Robert Toye was horn hi Ireland in 1821, and caiiu^ to
Canada when a very yoinio- man. He tauj^ht scjiool a sluji-t
time, but married early and settled on a farm in the Ki;^htli
Conce.ssi(in of Matilda, then the " Ha<>i;-erty settlement," now
ToytAs Hill. His svqierior eilucation an<l ability .soon made
liim a local leader. In l(S.")7 he was first I'lected a member of
the Matilda Council : in IS')!) he became Deputy-KeeNc, and
in 18()2, Reeve. This j)osition he lieM I'oi- five yeai's, and
took a pi-ominent part in the l)Usinessof the Counties Council.
Whether fi'oni (^arly association, or a true ap|)reciation of its
worth, or from botli coniltined, he was always a friend of
education, and su])porte<l the school in tlic^ Counties Council
at .some risk to his popularity in the township. In iSIKi lu^
became a Trustee, and from that time until 1.S79, when he
succeeded Mr. Ro.ss as chairman, lie was an etficient and iiule-
fati^able worker in behalf of the school. The story of his
withdi'awal may beai' repeating,-, and may convey its lesson.
Soon after he ceased to 1h^ a member of the Matilda Council
he was appointed Lockmaster at the lieMil ol' the Williamsbui'<^
Canal. This placi' is a little nearer Morrisl)uro than Ircxpiois,
but that made no tliti'erence in his attitude toward the respec-
tive schools. In 1879 he was a;;aiii elected Reeve of the
township. He never stocxl so lii^h in the esteem of the people
as he did at that time, but he succeeded a western man who
opposed him relentlessly. Complaint was made that he held
a municipal office, contrai-y to the I'e^nUations tifovernin^" the
Civil Service. The com])laint was drawn up by the Secretary
of the School Board, Mr. Tuttle. Some other members of the
Board were suspected of beiii;^' jiarties to it, and the sympa-
thies of the people of Iroquois were, or seemed to be, against
liini. He resi^-ne(l the Keeveship, and at the end of tlie year
withdrew from the Board ami tlie school.
SKMI-CKNTENNIAL (»l' lltOQUOIS IIKill SCHOOI,.
09
OlS,
X'C-
the
)|)le
M
tlie
Itiiry
the
|i\ pa-
Li nst
lyeai'
I
Mr. Solomon l)oi)iii was tlic son of Edmund Doran, an
Amcriciin, who had come to Uana<hi caily in the ccntuiy, and
sctth'd a milr ami a hall" oast of Iro(|U()is. The old o-entlo-
nian s I'athi'i- was a Vn-niont Irishman, and his motlici- a
l)i'f('lH'r : and with the industry and capacity I'oi' hard work
cliaractcristic of his lathci's countrj'mcn, comhiiuMl witli the
shrewdness oT the ^'ald<ee. he had succee(le<l in amassing
considerahle wealth. His voun^'est son, the subject oC this
sketch, devoted his attention partly to I'armine-, hut ))rinci-
pally to dealing- in i^rnin and sjx'culatine'. Durine; tlu^ sixties
he l)uilt a lar<;'e hlock in the \ illae'c, an<I rorme*! a partner-
ship with Richard ().\nam, a niillei-, William IJailey, a
merchant, and Lau»;"lilin Cameron, a millownei-; pm'chased
Klliots and ('ameron's mills, an<l I'oi' .some years conducted a
lai'i>(' mercantile and nnlliiiu' business. He was also a mem-
hei- of the \ illa;:,!' Council and Chaii'iiian ol' the i\h'thodist
Chui'ch Buildiiie- ( 'onnnittee, in 1S7") he was a]»])ointe(l a
memliei' ol' the H ieh .School IJoai'd, and died soon alter.
What he mi^'ht have done for the school was left foi' his son,
wlio succeeded him in t)usiness, and who did it \'ery well ten
years later.
hr. -lames Steplieiison succeeded him. The Doctor was a
native of the County of (irenville, and a y'l'aduate of Mc(Jill
Collei^'e. He had connnenced the pi-actice (jf medicine hei-e
about the same time that Mi'. Whitney beean in the school.
They were of the same a^e. both havine- been boi'n in Sep-
tend)ei'. 1(S.'}4. The Doctor won ]io])ular favor very rapidly,
and soon had a lare-e practice. In I'SIJ!) he succeeded Mr.
IMiilij) Cai'man as Reeve of the \illae-»', and held the ])()sitiou
without (piestion until the close of I ST"), when he voluntarily
retired. At the time his influence was confessedly <fi'eater
than that of any othei' man in the ])lace, but he appears to
have taken but a languid interest in .school matteis, and
abandoned the Trusteeshij) at the end of his term, in 1<S77.
.h»hn N. 'I'uttle, who liad serxcd a loim" time as villaire
Clerk and Councillor, was electe(l Reeve in J(S7(i, and
.jipj)ointe<| a member of the Hieli School Board by the village
70
SEMI-CENTENNIAI, 01' lUOgHOlS UIOH SCHOOL,
Council in plju-c of Mr. Pliilip Canimn, wlioiii lie also
suocci-iled as Sccrctary-'rrcaHUrL'r. Mi-. 'riittlc first, saw tlie
li<^lit at wnat is now Dundcla, in the 'l\)\vnslii]» ol' Matilda, in
Scptcndu'i', IfS.'U, the natal year and month of Mr. Whitnoy
and Dr. Step' "^«on. His fatlu'i-, Klijaii, was descended
t'roMi one of tli<- jld faniilies," and was a farmer and local
Methodist preacher and exhorter. When a hoy youn<;' Tattle
entere(l the stoi'e of Messrs. .lacoh Brouse and Wm. Bailey as
clerk. Some years later he starte(| a mercantile hnsiness on
his own account, hut aftei' a few years ahandoned that and
hecanie a conveyancer and instn-ance a^viit. He was a shrew<l
husiness man, a keen })()liticiaii, an acti\e worker in tiie
interests of the Lihei'al pai'ty, and for several years an iidlu-
ential mend)ei- of the Ui^h School Boa I'd ; was Secretaiy-
Treasurer until l(S<SS, when failing- health comj)elIe(l him to
I'esi^n. anil at the close of that yeai' he retired from the
Trusteeship. E.xcept one year he was Reexc of the villa^'e
from 187(i to the clo.se of 18JS2, in which year he was
ap[)ointed to the office of Division Court Clerk, which he still
holds.
Outside of the \ illa^'e of lro(|Uois no man has taken so lixcly
an int(!i'(^st in the foi'tunes of the Hi<;h School, or dcau; so mu( h
to promote its welfare, as Dr. John Harkness. His fathei-,
.John Harkne.s.s, was a North of Ireland Preshyterian, who
came to Canada in 1820: his mother, the da uo-htei" of a U.K.
Loyalist. They settled in the Thii'd Concession of Matilda in
182(), whiu'e their fourth son, John, was horn on the lOth of
May, 1841. He entered the Matilda Uranunai" School in 1854';
he<;innin<jj when Mr. Alltert Carman l)ecanie the master, he
remained a pupil until 1857~-l)oth he and the mast(M' (putting-
the school at the same time. He must have been an exception-
ally fj^ood stu<lent, for when bai'cly fifteen years of a^e he
went befori; the County e.xaminei's and took a tirst-class
teacher's certiticatt'. He ^raduateil in medicine at McGill in
18(i2, and soon aftei- settled on the Homestead, where he has
since lived, devotinj:*' his attention princi])ally to his pi-actice.
his farm, and his library, which lattei- is we'l-stocked with
SEMI-CENTEXNIAI, oT ll{(K,»r()IS MICK SCIIOOI.
71
111
of
|) +
he
on-
ill
lias
tice
•itli
sciciitilic inul philosophic vvoi'ks. A dose stuth'iit and <lrc]i
thiiikt'i', he has kept ''u ra/t/iorl with the alth'st scit'iititic
writers of his time, Darwin, Huxh'y, TyiHlall uixl Spencer
licinj^ amoii<<' his favorites. A Conseivative in ])olitics, he has
never been an actixf poUtician, the time that he has had to
sjiai'e for puhlic atiairs ha\in<;" heen almost entirely dexoteil to
the intei'csts of education. He was Snj)erinti'ndent of Schools
for the Township of Matihia for the three years emline- in
lN(J(i : has heen Trustee of the Fuhlic School at Irena, near
his home, altout thirtv V'eai's : and it is one of the Itest countiv
schools to he found anywhere. In I (S7"> he was first api)ointei|
Trustee of [i-oipiois Hii^'h School, hut was di'opped the next
yea)', it was said, because he favored inci'eased expenditui'e
and etficieiicy. He was, however, reappoiiite(l in IcST^S, and
in 1880 became Chairman of the Hoard, and has tilled that
position est'iy year since .sax'e one.
Dr. Geor^'e Steacy w^as a physician in M()()d practice at South
Mountain. He was first a[)pointe(l in 187<! He remaiiiecl a
member six _\'ears : was a man of ability, but residecl at such
a di.stance that he was unable to attend the nieetinii's
re^ulai'ly.
dames A. Cai'iiian was the eldest son of .lohii A. Carman,
the foundei- of the school. Boi-n in 18.^], he was anion;.'; Mr.
Whitney's pupils in the Hieh School. In 187*2 he ;.;raduated
in arts at Albert Colle;>"t', and in 1877 commenced business in
Inxpiois as a pai'tnei' of his father. In 187!> he was appointecl
to the Hi;;h School Hoard. He does not appear to have, at
that time, even contenij)late(I ado|)tiii^ teachin;^ as a profes-
sion, and the s[)ecial ;>'ifts that enabled him a few years latei',
as Principal, to raise the Iro(pi()is School to a hieher plane
were yet in tlu' womb of the future.
During- the later years of the seventies the prosperity of
the school appears to have been declinin^j;, and the attendance
had fallen from an a;;orc;r}tte of 112, in 187.S, to about 7o,
with an avei'a^j^e of not more than fifty, the two or three last
years of the decade. This was partly due to cau.ses already
indicated, and to the imj)osition of f(?es and restrictions on
SB
72
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OV llKHiVOlH HUlll SCHOOL.
tlic t'liti-jiiicc i)\' iit'W |)iij)ils. It was pi'oliiihly <lut' also, to
sdiiic cxtt'iit, to causes opcratixt' on m iimcli wider field. The
^•eiieral pi'osjH'rity so cliaracteiistic of the til'ties was, with
some iiitei'Niiis of" dejavssioii, iiiaintaiiieil throiij^h and lieyond
the ne.xt decade. The Wilis that heoan with the Aniei'icnii
war of secession in ISO I, and terminated with the Kranco-( Jei'-
maii war in IS7<>, lind stimulated prices in :ill countries, while
the exti'iisive pul)lic works undertaken in Canada, immedi-
ately alter and conse(|Ueiit on the < 'ont'edeiatioii of tlie Prov-
inces in l<S(i7 made the outlook \ cry hopeful here for several
voars. About IHT-i a reaction set in, ilue laru'cK' to the
demoneti/ation ot" silver in the |)rincipal Kurojjeaii counti'icH,
4inil in the Ignited States. The conditions ol' the si.xth deca<le
Avert; reverse(| in the ei<^hlli. The demand tor ;;()ld to replace
the siK'er was enormous, its price went up, and that of every
other commodity, of which it was the measure, went down
acconlinnly. C'anada was not only a borrowing' country, Imt
lier ti.scal system was so arraui^ed that she felt the full force
of the current of di^pression. One of the most impoi'tant
industries in this \ illa;j,'e collapse(l alto<;ethei", i'xryy Itusiness
languished, the wheels of proi;'re.ss, if not actually turned
l>ack, were stayed.
fn this aj4'e of the "New Woman," when the "ladies" are
I'omin;^" to the front so rapidly in our schools and colleu-cs,
when two-tliir<ls of thi' teachers in our I'lihlic Schools, and a
<-onsi(leral)le ])rop()rtion of those in oui- Hio;h ScIkjoIs and
(..'olle^iate Institutes are women, it seems passing strani^'c that
the Goxcrnment was so slow to recogni/e the value, to that
very necessary part of the social oroanism, of hij^her education.
We have already seen that in the earlier years of the Gram-
mar School nearly the whole of the (-rant was <>"iveu to
<'ncoura<:je the study of Latin and Greek, suhjects not usually
taken up l)y <;irls ; and so late as ]<S(i8, it was seriously pn)-
])osed to exclude women from the Grammar Schools, oi- if not
to absolutely exclude them, to at least refuse to count them
in apportionino- the o-rauts. As in 18.')2, when pleadinf^ for
SKMI-( KNTKXNIAL OK IIMK/IOIS IIKill S( lUtOl,.
7'i
at
to
not
em
i'oi-
local control, onr Ti-nstcM's a|»|)(')iriMl to Im' in advance of tlir
authorities at the seat of (Jo\ crnnient.
The matter was taken u]) at a meetin;;' held in .Inly of that
year (iMdcS), the memhei's present hein;;' : -1. S. Koss, Chairman ;
I'hili)) Carman. Secretary-, and Messrs. W'illian^ hilliot, Kohert
Toye and Kdwaid I'arlow.
At'tei', on motion of Mr. (carman, secondt-il hy Mr. Pai'low,
expressing;' conciu'rence in the views e.\j)ressed in a cir(;ular
from the Collioi-ne Grannnar School, respecting;' the distribu-
tion ol" the ( iovernnient ;;rant to (Irainmar Schools, it was, on
motion of Mi\ Toye, seconde<l l»y Mr. Klliot,
/ir,ii)/rr(/, '' 'I'liat in tin- n|iiiii(>ii ut' tlic Board, the prisilej^'c
liei'etot'dre c.vttMided to ^ii-|s in iidiniltiii^ tht'Mi as ( irainmar School
|)iipils, is reeo<^ni/.yd as one of the <j;i'eatest a(l\antaj;cs of our t'duca-
tioiial institutions, luid that any sclicini' adopted hy the Chief
Snpcriiitt-ndcnt to prohibit them fioni part ieipatin^ in llic advan-
ta<,'es of a more iihcral and superior education than can l)c ohtain«?d
in a common school would have a most l)aneful and iirejudicial
effect on the couununily, and this lioai'd is j)repared to j,'ive their
assistance in pntmotin^ such measures as will maintain the (Jrannnar
Schools in theii' foi'iner standin;; in accoi'dance with the (irannriar
School law."
'i'he .sini.ster intention of the Chief Superintendent never
became law, but the School Act of 1871 ;jfave no credit for
any but male pujiils in establishino' Colleoiatc^ Institutes, and
it was not tnitil 1874 that the sexes were ])laceil on an <'(piality
in I'efereiice to the (Jovernment orants.
N'ery early in the century there was a Methodist Church
built on the 'Point," abotit half a mile west of the future
site of the villaoc, and a sort of joint Anolican and Presby-
terian Church on the connnons, a mile east. The Methodist
Church was snbse(piently re])laee(l by a substantial stone
structure on the site of tlu; ))re.sent cenu'tery, and about IH'.]4-
the other clnirch fell entirely into the hands of the Church
of Knjf|;ind j)eople. These two were the oidy churches in the
front of Matilda, or in the Township, wdu'ii this villaoe beo^an
to take form. The clnirch on the "Point" had become a
Wesleyati Chuivh, and, in 185'), that body built a new church
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74
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HKiH S<IIOOL.
m
! i
.)
i
I »
H^
in the heart of the vilhige, on the site of the present one,
^iven hy Mr. Georj^e Hi-ouse. Some years later, in 1804, the
Church of Knjjland peojjle ereett^tl their heautiful little (Jothic
('•litice on the site of a Hax mill that luul heon built (hiring
the cotton famine, incident to the American Civil War, and
1 turned soon after.
About the sami! time the Methodist Epi.seopal Cliurch near
the west end of C't)llej(e Street — now the Catholic Church —
was erected.
The Presbyterians were few in number, l)ut zealous, and
mainly liy the efibrts of Mr. Elliot, who contributed the site
and otherwi.se helped the enterpri.se liberally, their little brick
church, on tlie coi-nerof Collej^e and Harriet Streets, was com-
pleted in 1874. 1870 witnessed the supreme effort in church
buildin<(, when the Wesleyan Methodists replaced their old
building, which had been faultily constructed, by the present
fine structure, costing; about .1*15,000.
The little school-house to whicl: we were introduced at the
be^innini; of this woi"k,.soon [)roved too small for the inci'eas-
\u^ luimber of children, and a new scliool-hou.se, .slij^htly larger
on the ground, and two stories in height, was laiilt on College
Street. The old building, that was to have been the nucleus
of a Granniiar School, wa.s then used first as a dwelling and
confectioner's shop, then as a harness shop, and finally as a
butcher shop. It was a little like taking the "dust of Csesar
to stuff" a cranny," but all the while it served a useful purpose,
until removed in 1802, bv Mr. William Fisher, to make room
for liis present shop. The (college Street building was soon
filled to overflowing, and, in 1870, the present Public school
building was erected. It accommodates five teachers and
from two to three hundred pupils, Init it needs enlarging.
In 1875 the Town Hall, two stories and 40x70 feet, was
erected at a cost of about 1$0,000.
In the thirteen years from 1804 to 1870 about S40,000 had
been spent in public building.s. The Public school was fairly
abreast of the time. The Town Hall was an exceptionally
good one for a village of one thousand inhabitants. The
L
■In
m\
I r »
as a
laisar
•pose,
I'oom
Hoon
ichool
and
was
lo ha»l
1 fairly
)naUy
The
VIKW OF villa(;k.
i'l
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
75
churches were beyond the nee(l,s of thi^ })eo|)le, and provided
with eveiy necessary accessory to make the act of worship
easy and agreeable.
The one institution that was neglected <huing all this time,
and for ten years afterward, was the Higli School. To the
onlooker tliis seemed strange, as, putting it on the lowest
ground, it had a money value to the peophf greater, perhaps,
than that of all the others condiined. It provided an educa-
tion at a nominal cost that practically was a life provision for
the recipient. The residt has proved that it was better to be
the .son of a poor man in or near the village with three or
four years at tlie High School as a .setting-out, than to come
into a one or two thousand-dollar farm in the country with
no such advantages. It also tended to draw people from
considerable di.stjinces in the country, and extended the influ-
ence of the village far beyond its otherwise narrow circle.
Besides, every dollar (expended on it was .sure to ))ring addi-
tional aid from the ( Jovernment. But, perhaps, just here was
the weak point. The churches, which were built by purely
voluntary offerings, surpa.ssed all the other buildings. 'I'ho
Town Hall, which was l)uilt by a.sse.s.sment, but entirely out
of local funds, came next, followed by the public school,
which received som(> (lovei'nment aid. It may be that the
paralyzing influence that is sometimes attributed to State
churchism, extends to all other departments of life, and that
we cannot have state-aided education without destroying or
lessening the springs of private enterprise and individual
eftbrt.
• : i
(CHAPTER X.
Mr. Whitney {continued) — Want of E(iuij>nient — New Assistants — Win.
Montgomery— ('harles Pf)tter — Inspectors' Re|)ortN — Business Out-
look Improving— Added Trustees — Cephas and Maaon Mills— Be-
ginning of 'I'rouble— Close of Whitney Regime.
BOUT 1880, tlu' school liad nettled down to a
position that it nuiintaincd with difficulty for
the iour or five sul»se(iuent years. Morrisburj;
had the Model School, the Inspector of Public
Schools, a fine new Hi^h School building', that
was about to become the home of a CoUeoiate Institute, so the
faces of the people seeking a superior education were turned
in that direction. Mr. Whitney had earned a high reputation
as a teachei', but that was practically all on which this school
had to rely. Its ecjuipment was infei'ior. Some of the assist-
ants may have been, no doubt were, very good men, but their
conne_'tion with the institution was, in each case, so brief,
that there was no time to build an}' reputation, outside of
that of headmaster, that would add additional strength ; in
fact, the salaries that had been and were being paid were so low
that good men could not be retained. We have seen that in
the ten years begiiniing in 1871 and ending in 1880, there had
been eleven assistants, and in 1881 there was another, Mr. John
M. Kiiiney, who remained but a year. Rather better success
attended the next effort, when William Montgomery was
engaged, at the beginning of 1882. Mr. Montgomery was
born in Ireland, in 1859, but came to Canada when very
young. In 1879 he matriculated from the Port Hope High
School, and when he came here had ])een two years at
M
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIOH SCHOOL.
77
m
olow
at in
e had
Jdhn
access
was
was
very
High
lis at
Toronto rniversity, taking an honor coiU"se in niathenrntics
and physics. Ht( taught hei-e two years and a half, giving
evidence of the (jualities that (uisure success, but h^ft in J\i\y,
1884, to finish his course at tlie University. He was suc-
ceeded by Charles Potter, RA., a grachiate of Toronto Uni-
versity. Mr. Potter, the son of a Methodist clergyman of
literary tastes, was himself a man of more than average
ability and attainments, and had had six years' experience as
teacher. He and Wliitney made the strongest staff' the school
had seen, and tlun-e is no doubt but good woi'k w»us don(! at
tliat time, but they were heavily handicapped by want of
equipiMent and attendance. J. E. Hodgson visited the school
in June, 18(S3, and reports the total number of pupils present
thirty-eight, of whom fourteen boys and four girls were in
Latin. He says, in his remarks, " This school is, in my
opinion, well conducted and is doing good work."
In June. 1884, it was visited by High School Inspector
J. A. McLellan. He found the total nundjer of pupils fifty-
eight, of whom forty-seven were present, nineteen being in
Latin. He says : " I was very much pleased witii the general
intelligence of the class, and with their evident devotion to
work."
The next visit was by Mr. Hodg.son in September, 1885.
He then found the total nundier enrolled fifty-eight, of whom
thirty-nine were present. He is rather less conuuendatory
this tinie, though he says, " Fair work is being done in this
school, one pupil, preparing for senior mati'icidation, is very
well up in his work."
The following year there was a new staff of teachers, and
Ml". John Seath was Inspector. He evidently had taken to
heart the admonition that it is not well to spare the rod and
spoil the child, foi' he applies the lash misparingly. We who
have witnessed some of the results cannot but regret that it
was r )t applied earlier. No one reading his report, and
visiting the present sclu)ol, can fail to be struck by the trans-
formation that has taken place inside of ten years. He says
I
r
;r
78
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OK IRoyl'OlS HKJH SCHOOL
\n
1. .
1
nothing,' alxnit the attonduMCC! or tho pfficit-ncy of the tivicluM's,
hut <U'scril)eH thu pmniHrs, and as li«' Foiiiid Uiem :
\Viit«'r supply : None.
School ;{roiiii(ls : No oniaiiicntal trees; in very I hu I coiuiitioii ;
no sttparate playj^rouiids; no separate entrances and walks; not well
feiujed.
School l)uildin<; : Very |)lain in appearance.
CMass rooms : Inconveniently arran^^ed ; very dinj^y and ill-kept;
walls papered, not tinted ; Hctoi-s in very had condition ; not
separate; entrances.
Ijif(htinf;f : Very had; from all sides in the upper room, from
three in lower room ; windows small and |»laced low; not sufficient
hlinds.
Heatin/i; : One of the stoves in had condition, and the other
<»f [)oor aj)pearance ; no wood-hox upstairs ; only class rooms heated.
V'entilation : None of a satisfactory kind ; windows not on
pulleys ; no fan-lights.
Halls : Not separate for the sexes, or with separate means of
egre.ss ; no doormats (»r scrapers; no porches. In very poor con-
<lition.
Waiting-rooms : None.
Cap rooms : One for the girls ; in very poor condition.
Teachers' private r(H)ms : None.
Desks : Double ; poor in one room ; no provision for teaching
science.
Blackboards : Only l)oards of little value ; badly situated with
lespect to the light.
Equipment and Rk.makks.
Library of reference : Number of items, five ; value, #24.75.
This should be increased to $250 at least.
Physical and chemical apparatus : A few bottles, worth pro-
bably 14. This also should be of the value of $250 at lea.st.
(Jymnasium : None.
Charts, maps and globes : Number of items, nine ; value, $17.25.
This part of the equipment is very poor. The latest maps, etc.,
should be provided.
Genekal Remarks.
As I pointed out to members of the Board, the only remedy for
the existing defects is a careful renovation of the accommodations ;
this, 1 believe, the Board intends to make.
The e(|uipment should be largely increased ; as matters now
stand it is not possible for the teachers to do good work.
The grading will not be made until the Board has sent me its
report of the alterations proposed to be made before next July.
'!
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OK lUOyrOIH HKJH SCHOOL.
79
>4.7r).
pro-
7.25.
etc.,
ily for
,tions ;
s now
me it»
The Ijitf VV^ T. hciison, oF ('iiidiiinl, \\l\il<' a iiiciiiImt oF tho
House of CoiniiiDiiH, spciikiii;,' of tlic Hon. Alex. McKtnizie,
saitl, that he owed liis success in public life hir^^cly to his
uliility to find fault ; Im' could do it easily, {^'laccfidly, and
witli an air of (tandof and coin|)l('t(' conviction that was very
effective, Mr. Seatli is evidently sli^ditly touched with the
fire of the Hon. Alexander's ^renins; still, the pictui'e, tliou^h
u little hii;hlv coIoihmI, is not nnich overdi-awn. The institu-
tion had iusen neglected, starved ; it was shahhy and out at
elbows, a>»d appeareil to <lisadvantap' ainon<f nei<(ld)orin<;
schools ; it had become a purely local affaii', ami the (|Uestion
of wipinjif it out alto^^ether was bein^ seriously di.scuss(Ml by
some of the Township representatives in the Counties Council.
It had b«(coine oitvious if Iroipiois was to have a .school at all
worthy its traditions, that something effective nnist be done,
and that si)ee<lily. Fortmiately the times were propitious,
and the men were not wantin<(.
The revival of laisine.ss that was <;enerally felt throughout
the country alMHit 1880, did not touch Irocpiois until a little
later. Early in 188:} the old tlom-iii^' mill, built by Mr. Elliot
more than thirty years befoiv, was burned. It, like the
school, had become " out of date," and its removal left
vacant one of the best milling sites in the countiy. T. S.
Edwards, a native of the Township of Oxford, who had pre-
viously accpiired con.siderable wealth in the {rrocery trade in
New York city, settled in Iroquois in 1879, an<l in I88.S
succeeded Mr. Tuttle as Reeve. He at once interested himself
in the matter, and by setting fortli the ad\'antajj;eH of the
situation, and promising exemption from taxation for ten
years, induced Mahlon F. Beach, a successful manufac-
turer, then located in Winchester, to build a large roller mill
liere. A little before this the stave business that had
collapsed about 1875 was revived, by Arthur Patton.
During the next year, 1884, Mr. Edwards introduced a b}'-
law to provide for the construction of water works. "^^rhis
was defeated when submitted to the people, but th(! following
year his successor, William M. Doran, successfully carried
I 'I
' I
1!
80
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROgUOIS HIOH Sf'HOOL.
tlir()ii;^li a schciiu' vvlierchy thr water woi'ks were \mi in by a
Company. WIkmi put in in tliiH way the dirrct Hat of tho
ptM)plc was not ncccsHiiry, so tlioy ln'tn'ht«'(l in tlioir own
tlcHpiti', tliou^fli it is now, vvf hclicvi', jrenerally a»lniitt('(l that
it had lict-n hcttt'i* ha<l thrv conscntcfl to h«!Conu' th»' owinsrH
of their own water supply. New an<l better huil<lin;^s were
goin^ up here and th(M<^ and everythinjj; about the piac(^
Itetukened inipi'oveiiient. Tlie p<M)ph' wt^re more hopel'ul, and
the Hpecial mei'it of thc^ men who had to do with Hij^h School
ati'airs at this time is that tlu^y took advantaj;e of the* con-
ditions prevailinj^ to lift their institution to a nuich hijj^her
plane, and |)lac«f it on tlie road to further pro^^i-ess and
improvement.
The Trustees in iiSSO were Dr. Harkness, Dr. Steacy and
Samuel Robertson, appointees of the Counties Coinieii, and
Ct^phas Mills, .John N. Tuttle and P. Ij. Palmer, repres(M»tin^
the Villa^(f Council. I rej^ai'd this year as the be^innin^ of
a sort of new period, not l)ecau.s(( there was anythinj^ im))ort-
ant done at this time, or for three or four years thereafter,
but ]»ecause it is the first year in which Mr. Mills' name
appears as a trustee, and Ix'cause he and Di'. Harkne.ss then
became^ the most prominent members of the Board, first as
ciiiefs of I'ival factions, contendin*^ over the jjrincipalship,
and when that was settled, as hvuU'i's of a united body ener-
f^etically engaged in carryinjr out improvements that have
made the school one of the best in the country.
Mr. Mills was descended from an old Puritan family. His
father Cephas Mills, was a Montr(>al merclumt, who.se busines.s
led him friMpiently to other cities. He was in New York in
1881, where his son Cephas was i)orn. The youn^ Cephas —
the sixth or .seventh of that name in the direct line — was
educated at a private school and the Hijijh School, Montreal.
When sixteen years of age lie entere<l the store of the late
Hon. John Young, then a grocer and provision merchant.
He early interested hiniself in politics, for his name appears
on the famous annexation manife.sto of 1849, signed by so
)- I I;
SEMI-CKNTKNNIAI- C»K IIMK/roiS HIGH SCHOOL.
SI
a.s
Hhip,
ner-
\ave
His
mess
»ik in
lllH — ■
was
treal.
• lato
hant.
spears
by so
iniitiy youn^ iiifii who aftcrwurdH Ix-eaiiH' pi'oiiiinfiit ti^fiircs
ill tlu' |)()liticiil life of the country.
In IH')l liis iiiotluM', wlio had hwomc a widow, was niarrit'd
to ilacoh Hrousc, Ks(|., of Matilda. This brought youn^ Mills
to Iroiniois occasionally. He hccaint* interested in Mr.
HroTise'js yonnj^est dau<^htei", Naney, and in 18.')8, the yomi).^
|)tM»plf were married, Mr. Mills takin;^ liis rather-in-law's
place as |)artner with W. C. Hailey in a mercantile Imsi-
iiess in Iroipiois. Soon after he started on his own account,
and in 18(51 was joined by his brother, Mason. Mas(in was
born in 18:i(j, in the City oi' Matan/us, ou the Island of Cuba,
whither his mother had <(one For her healtli.
Both brothel's had strong jxd'sonalitie.s. 'I'he <'lder, beinjr
the most studious, manao;ed the books and the financial part
of the business, while the younifer and more active devoted
him.seir to the ,sellin<,' de|)ai'tment. The business extended
rapidly, and has for over thirty years been the lar^^est j;eneral
store in the county.
No Damon ami P^'thias were ever more devoted to each
other than tlujse bi'other,s. They were inseparable in busine.ss
and in pleasure. When yoti saw one, you might be almost
certain the; other was near. In 187(i they went to the Cen-
tennial at Philadelj)hia tot^etluM', and in J8cSl made the
"grand toui* " in Kurope. In 1887. while returning from a
trip to Philadelj)hia on the ill-fated train that went down
with the bridge at Whit«^ River Junction, Vermont, " the one
was taken and the other left." When approaching the
bridge, Mason had gone forward to the smoking car, which
reached the opposite bank of the river just as the structm-e
gave way, preci|)itating the pas.senger cai-s to the bed of the
stream thirty feet below.
Sanniel Robei-tson was a farmer, living about three miles
east of the village, who had been I)«'j)uty-Reev»^ of the Town-
ship in 1800. He remained on the Hoard until his death in
1885, but never took a very active interest in the affairs of
the school.
P. L. Palmer was a practising barrister, who came to Inxpiois
n
82
SEMI-CKNTENNIAI, oF IHO(/l()IS IIKIH SCHOOL.
i
I (Hi
iihoiit this time. Mr rniitiincil on tlw lioiinl luit n coiiiilr *t\'
yt'Hi'.'i, wln'ii lie ri'iiiovtMl to Denver on nironnt ol" I'liilin;; lieiiltli.
He is now one oF the Di.sti'ict Ju<l;;es in tliut eity.
Tliere wuH no change ni)i<le in i\\i' />rrnimiu'/ of tlie lioanl
ill liS.Sl, hut tlie foll(»\vin;( year Dr. ('ol<|ulioun re]tla<'e<l
Palmer, and A. H. Cai'inan was a|)])ointe(| l»y tlie CountieH
Council ill place ol" Dr. Steacy. Dr. (^)l(|\ilioun was a ei'a«l-
Uate of Mc(till Colle(re, who settled here ill icS7!>. He took
an active intei-est in everythin;.; that temled to the educa-
tional advancement of the place, hut was retained on the
Hoai'd only three years.
A. 1) Carman was the second son of .lolin A. Carman, the
founder of the .school. He was an active meiiiher of the
Hoard from the Hrst. Succeeded Mr. Tiittle as Secretary and
Treasurer in ISNM, and coiitinue(| to till that office until, foi"
reasons that will appear hereafter, he severed his connection
with the Hoard in 1.S92.
Ahout, or a little liefore ISN.S, Mr. Whitiiev heo-an to j»ive
the »'X|>erieiice of neai'lv e\t'r\' man who has ever served aii\'
1 • • •
community for a ^I'eat len<fth of time, no matter how thorough
nnd efficient the sei-vice may liaxc 1 n. and occasional niut-
terin^s of discontent were heard : some that he was hehind
the times, althou<rli this was al»un<laiitl\' flisiiroved hv the
fact that soon aftei' Mr. Whitney left the Iroquois school he
pa.ssed the sj)ecialist e.xaiiiiiiatioii in cla.ssics, and taueht
successfullv ill Moi'rishurij ('ollei^iate Institute till his volun-
tary resi^'nation in ISit.'J: and .some that he was takinj^ too
much time in his jjfarden, althou<;h it is very probable that his
])hysieal ability to do efficient woi'k was kept up by the
interestin*;' out-door exei'ci.se which this afforded him, as about
this time his unceasine- work had be^uii to tell on him phy-
sically, especially on his throat, and he was .stronj^ly advi.sed
by his physician to take a year's rest.
Still, at the last meetini; of the Trustees held on October
27th (there were only two meetintrs that year), attended by
the Chaii'uian, Dr. Hai'kness, and Messi'.s. Tuttle, Col(|uhoun,
nnd Carnian, Mr. WHiitney, on motion of Mr. Tuttle,
i\ . , .
SKMI-CKNTKNNIAI, OK IHOQroiS irifJH SrilOOL.
8:^
iinit-
)1 lu-
H<>(M)U<|j'(l hy \h-. Coli|iilinuii. wiiM n'ii|t|Miiiit<'<l for \HHi. Mr.
Mills, who wjiM .sultsffjut'iitly most iictivc iij^uiiist Mr.
Whitiu'y, it will Ik' oltHt'i'vcM, was nhHcnt From tliiH iiirttin}^.
The next yt'ur tlu' f«'»'liii^ hcciunc more ucutc. Some diffi-
culty luul uriHt'ii ill till' school ln-twrcii the hnulrmistcr uinl
three or four of the studeiits, one of whom wiis a son of Mr.
Mills, and another of Mi". Tuttle, and the H;fht hecame an
open one. At the last meetin<;, held «tli the Ist of Decemlier,
at which all the memhei's were present, it was moved hy Mr.
Mills, seconded hy Mr. Carman, that Mr. Whitney he retpiested
to resign, ami that the Hoard advertise foi- a headmaster at
!?7()0 per year. The vote stood: yi^as — Mills, Carman and
Tuttle; nays — Col(|uhoun, Holtertsoii and Harkness. The
<Jhairman exerciser! the rij^ht he then j>o.s.se,ssed of a second
vote in case of a tie, and dcchiriMl the motion lost. A motion
by Dr. Colt|uhoun, seconded hy Mv. liohertsop, rea| (point in^-
the old teachers. Mr. VVhitney at I^HOO and Cha.s. Pottei- at
iii'.^OO. was then put and cari'ied on the same division, tlu;
Chairman a^fain exercisin;^ his riirht to a second vote.
There was no chan;^e in the Hoard the followinj^ year,
exce])t that Mr. John N. Koiward took the place of Dr.
Cohiuhoun, an<l it was know n that .Mr. Forward was friendly
to the ohl statl", .so as the law then stood, the control of the
school in 188'), depended on the seh'ction of the Chairman.
In ease of a tie in the vote for Chairman, it was provided that
the Trustee who was liiwht-st on the as-scssment roll should
have the casting' vote. As this Trustee was Dr. Hai'kness it
seemed extremely prohahle that he would lie Chairman a<(ain ;
hut on the <lay of the annual meetin;^^ Mr. ilohert.son did not
appear; he, it was said, had ;^one to Ottawa two or three days
before the meeting' and had not returnerl. The result was,
that on motion of Mr. Carman, seconded by Mr. Tuttle, Mr.
Mills wjus elected Chaimian — Harkne.ss and Forward votiny:
nay.
Just about while this was being done the Local Legislaturi;
at Toronto .so amended the law that the chairman was deprived
of his second vote, and the anticipated advantage resulting
i :
84
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL
III
from a clmnj^c in the clminnaiiHlii}) tlid not inaterijilize. In
the event of a tie the motion was simply lost, so that if tlie
Trustees stood three and three a dead-lock ensued, uidess
some one of tluMu gave way. Durin<( the year Mr. Robertson
died, and was succeeded hy Mr. R. M. Bouck, of Irenn, who
is still a memher of tlie Board.
The meetin<^ to select teachers for the following- year was
held on December 4th, l88o. ail the meiidiers being present.
A petition headed and circulate(l by William M. Doran. Reeve,
and H. H. Ro.ss, M.A., and very generally signed, asking that
the services of Mr. Wliitney be i-etained, was ])re.sented, but
it was Jisregarded by the tln-ee !io.stile Trustees, for when it
was moved by Dr. Harkness, seconded by John N. Forward,
that Mr, Whitnev )>e re-enmim'd at the old salarv. the xote
stood : Yeas — Hai'kness, Forward and Bouck. Nays — '{'uttle.
Carman and Mills. The motion was, of course lost and the
dead-lock .seemed innninent, but Mr. Whitnt-y's friends
evidently felt that to carry theii- o])position further might
injure the school : Ix^sides, no matter how great Afr.
Whitney's merits and deserts, they coidd not hope to get
the people to unite in pi'omoting tlie interests and advance-
ment of the High School so long as the .sti'ife over the head-
master continued. At all events, when Mr. Tuttle followed
the previous motion with one for the appointment of Mr.
James A. Caiman at a salarv of #!*00, he found a .seconder in
Mr. Bouck, and the motion carried without opposition.
Mr. Potter was then reappointed assi.stant at a salary of
SooO : l)ut as he held as high a Univei-sity degree, and had
had nearly as much experience in teaching as Mr. Carman, he
thought tln' difi'erence between the .salary of the headmaster
and assistant too great, and sougli* and obtained a situation
at Newmarket. An effort was then made to engage Mr. •
Arthur Forwar<l, a Toronto University graduate, Imt as ]w
had not attended the training school permission could not b(!
obtained from the department, and Mr. A. C. Ca.'„sf'bnan. a
Public School teaeher, who held a fii'st-class certiticjite, was
engaged at $o50.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROyUOiS HIGH SCHOOL. 85
This ,.i„1(m1 all rivalry or want of harmony among the
'i'l-UNtt'cs. The next year the .same membei-H w«k' in, the old
chairman was reinstate.!, a.id thereafter they worked as one
man for the upbuilding of the school.
So en. Is Mr. Whitney's twenty-six yea.-s of service— years in
which many men wh.. sul)se.|uently occupie.l useful and
pi-onnn.'nt positions in the connnunity received their educa-
tion m th.> Ir(i,piois High School. In it .luring this period a
great .l.^al .)f thoroughly efficient educational work was done
an.lju.lging by the iv.sults of the departmental examinations'
It was nevei- m.^re thorough than in the last two or tlir-ee
years of the period.
At the close of 181)8, being in his sixtieth year and having
taught fully forty years, he retired from the Morrisburg
School, and is now enjoying his well-eanie.l rest in his old
home, to which the best wishes and respect .^f his many
Iriends follow him
H
a
ill
nmm^jt
jf
? '
i . '
t I
\ ;
CHAPTEK XI.
.Jjuiies A. Carniaii — A New Kra -A. ('. Casseliiian — Erection of the
New Building — Its Etleet on the School— Beeonies a Three- Master
School — Ralph Ross The Three C's— .1. S. CarstairH- Inspectors'
Reports — Increased Attendance Sources of Revenue.
HEN we liist met Mr. .lames A. Carman he was
one of the Imsiness men oF tlie viUa<^'e and a
Tj-ustee. Very .soon after he (piit bu.sines.s,
l)eino- ^succee(le(l by hi.s hrotlier, A. B. (jirman,
and turned his attention to teacliin^. In April,
187!), he became Pi'ineipal of the Kem])tville Hi^li School,
tiien in a l)ack\vard condition. Under his manairement it
improved rapi<lly, and in a comparatively short time became
one of the best schools in the district. He retired fi'om that
in Novcniiber, 1884, to accompany his wife to Denver, whither
she W(>nt in .search of lu^alth. But he liad made for himself
such a I'eputation that on his return he was offered several
schools, amon<^ them the Cornwall Hi;^h School, whei"e the
salaiy propo.sed was Si ,100, while $5)00 was all Iroipiois couhl
<jive: but loyalty to his native villa<ije, and love hn- the .school
his father had founded forty years before, and in which many
of his earlier years had been spent, outwei^lu'd other con-
sideration.s, and he <letermined to cast in his lot with his own
people. It niay be doubted whether the choice, .so far as he
was concerned ])er,sonally, was a wise one, but there can be
no two opinions amon^ tho.se familiar with its history, as to
its effect on the .school. A teacher e(|ually ^ood mi^ht, per-
haps, have been o()t, but no other man combined the gifts of
teacher and manaoer i)ossessed by Mr. Carman, with the
pril,
hool,
it it
ihat
ther
iiself
oral
the
oilld
.'hool
nany
con-
own
as \n'
in be
as to
t, pi'V-
I'ts of
li the
^i^:i
.IAMi:S A. CARMAN, li.A.
A. r. CASSKI.MAN. .lOlIN S. CAKS'l'AIHS, l!.A.
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SEMI-CENTKNNIAI- OK ll{<»(/r(tlS KKJII SCHOOL.
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Htnin^" jM'rsonal iiMiiU'Hcc in tlw villa;j^e, that niadc it |»ossi)ilo
for tilt' 'rnistccs to >r('.i the (-ouiicil and tin; jx'oplr to consent
to the expenrlituie necesHary to l)uil«l aiul ^'^\n'\\t the ineseiit
Hchool.
The Trustees were e(maily fortunate in the ehoice ol' an
assistant. Mj'. A. ( '. (^issehnan, th(! son ot" a t'ai'nier, was horn
in the Township of Kincli, in tlie nei;j;hl)ofin;; County of
Storniont, (.11 the 2f)th of June, l<S(i(): eiitered the WilManis-
towii Hi<i;'h School in 187"), whei'e he spent two half-years,
workinij; at home in the intervals. After three niontlis in
the Morrishur;^ (\)lie<;iate Institute in the early [lart of 1877,
he took his third-chtss certificate, staii<liii<:f first in the County
of Storniont. In 1878 and 1870 he tauj^ht at Hainsvillc, and
in the year followino- a^jaiii atteiuled the i\lorrisl)ur<>; school,
and took iiis second-class certificate, ^rach- A, the (Mily "A"
obtained in the school that year. After atteiidine; the Noi'-
iiial School at Ottawa, he tau^^ht at South Finch until the
clo.se of 188:}. In 1884 he attended the St. Catharines (Jol-
le^iate Institute, then under the iiianaj^enient of Mr. Seath,
now Hi^di School Inspector, and in duly ohtaine(| a fir.st-
clas.s, (j^rade C, certiticatt'. From this time until he came to
tiie Irocjuois Hi<;'li School he tauylit a country school, a few
miles north of this villaiije, at the place. now calle(l H.iddo.
He was very successful in that school, and ma<le many
friends, and from there came to the Hi^li School, l)rin<rinii^
with him energy, ability, and what was also of some import-
ance, the sympathy and ^ood wishes of a j^i'eat many people
from the country.
It was clear, thouf^h, that before much im])roveinent could
be expected, .something must be tlone with the buildin<(. The
(lovernment and Countv m'-'Uits, with the fees, had hitherto
nearly suj)porteil tlu' school, the aid from the \illa<;e havin<^
been very ti'iflin^' : still this trifle of two or three huiidre(l
dollars a year had bei'ii J^nidoin^ly M-iven, and as the eiitiiH^
cost of a new building, if erected, niu.st fall on the villa|je
alone, the p().ssil)ility of getting the Council or the people to
consent to the undertaking seemed hopeless. Still thei"«' were
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SKMI-CENTENNIAL OK [lUU^IOlS HIOH SCIIOOI,
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fav()iin<; ('(iinlitioiiH. Mr. Win. M. Dornn. who was fclicn
Kccvc, witli tlic |)r('Hti^c' of haviiif^^ the jji-cvious year ])Vo-
iMiiTcl the watfi" woi'k.s at vny little cont to the people, was a
warm jiersonal Friend of Mr. Carman, as well as a friend of
the seliool. The hurnin<jj of the mill a few years hcfore ha<l
been felt in the trade of the villan;', and the more thon^htful
of the people lieoan to realize that should they lose their
school, it would i)e a mueh jrreater de|)i'ivation, and would
prohahly he permanent. Besides, tin; C'omieil that yeai' eon-
sistcil of Messi's. \V. L. Reihnond, Arthur i'atton, Lau;;hlin
Cameron and Samuel Larue — all men of exjx'rienee, with
lai'^e inter((sts in the village. These, with the buoyant
feeling existin{.j at the time, and certain provisions in the law,
nuide the bisk less difficult than it seemed. The School Board
had powei', without the consent of the Council, to levy a
nnich larger sum on the village than had evei' been exacted,
and (!X])end it in increasing the acconunodation : and they
could ask for all they re(iuii'e<l to improve tlie old building
or erect a new one, and the Council could refuse onlv by a
two-thirds vote, whicli, in a C^)uncil of Hve, meant all the
inembei'« Itut one. Still they could scarcely avail them-
selvcH of their full powers, and would pi-obably not have
gone on without a practically unanimous endorsation by the
Council.
In the month of April, J 88(1, tln' High School Boai'tj
appointed a deputati* n to wait on the Council, and a special
meeting of that body was called for the 10th of May to
receive them. As soon as this was known public interest was
aroused. It was understood that Mr. Coultei", an acti\"e and
somewhat aggressive aspira')t foi* a seat in the (council,
intended to oppose the scheme, and it was ex])ecte(l his
following would be larg(% at least among the attendant rate-
payers, if not in the Council. When the members of the
School Board arrived the chambei' in the south-east corner of
the Town Hall, where the Council was sitting, was packed to
the door. Dr. Harkne.ss and Cephas Mills were to present the
case on behalf of the school. The doctor explained that it
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SKMI-CKN'TEXN'IAL OF IKOQl'OlS HKiH SCHOOL
89
was iiii|H)ssil)lr to cany on the scliool Hiu'ccssi'ully witlunit
making cxtciiHivt' elian^^cH and inija-ovrnicntH. 'I'lu'sc would
c'OHt a threat deal, and when (•(nnplctcd leave tlnMn with old
and inferior [)renii.ses, j^nvin;^' them, he th()ue;ht, lesH |>ro|)oi'-
tior te value For theii' money than il" they put it in an entii'ely
new huildinjf. The grants from the Goveriunent, which were
also tlu! nieasui'e of the ^rrants from the CounticH, were hased
lar^^ely on huildin;^' and etjuipnient, and the advantaj^es to be
derived from jiew premises in this I'espeet would he considei'-
ahle. H(- expressed a hope that the Council would unite
cordially with the Hoard in niakin<^ their High School a
credit to the place.
Ml". Mills combated tlie idea that the town would be
injured bv the necessarilv increaseil taxation. He saitf no
town could hope to make j)r()gre.ss where there was not sufti-
cient public spii'it to induce the rate])ayers to unite in contri-
buti>i<;' to entei'prises that, like this, wei'e clearly conducive to
the best interests of the people as a whole, and cited Johns-
town, a dilapidated hamlet a few miles to the west, as a
.sample of a place that hoped to flouri.sh withoiit payinj^ taxes.
The ci'owd was expectant, but ;jjave no sion of ap])roval or
disap])i"oval. Mr. Coulter asked a few (piestions that were
I'eadily answered : the veiiei-able clerk, Mi*. .lames Tindale, sen.,
tried to intei'ject some words of warning, but they fell
unheeded, the o])po.sition had melted away. Tlu' deputation
thanked the Council for the favorable hearing given them
and I'etired, followed soon after by the crowd.
The suitor had declared his love and asked the lady's hand
in marriage : she had been coy, but had not refu.sed, he
accepted her silence as consent, friends regarded the couple as
engaged. What was the lady to do :■ This was soon .settled.
The Council actpiiesced, and it was
"Moved by A. Patton, seconded by W. L. Redmond, that in
view of the fact that our pre.sent Hij^h Scliool building Is entirely
inadeciuate foi- the present recjuirements, it being in a very bad
state of repair, and in tlie opinion of the High School Board
and this Council it would be very unwise to make the necessary
outlay ti) make it habitable, as the walls are in a condition that
!l()
SKMl-CKNTENNIAL OK flKH/HOIS HKill SCHOOL:
wduld not warniiit it: and ... the Hi;,'li School lloani of Triist«'«'s
(It'cin )i iit'w l)nil;liii^' ri»'c«'.ssary, this Council coincide with thcni
and ajfi'cc urianiinoiiHly to pass a by law during the prcsont year to
raise hv debentures a siifHcicnt amount t(t pay tlie same."
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This wiiN airrit'<l vvithotit ()|)})()siti()ii
On I'oniiiio- IVoin the ini'etin^ Mr. Jiiincs A. (/iiniian was
beard reiiiarkiii^j to a fVieiid that tlie Inxpiois Ti-usteoH wcro
the liroadcst, ahh-st and best llio;b School Hoard \w bad ever
met.
Thev had iiecil to be worthy the enconiiiini. Tbev were
iis.snniiii^ wei;^htv' responsibilities in asking a villa<fe with a
population not exeeiMlin}^ one thousand, to ei"(!ct, e(|uip, and —
with the help of lees from pupils outside the coi-poi'ation —
maintain a Hi-st-class lii^di School. There was in this an
imj)lied pledge that it would be well and carerully managed.
So bii" the trust has not been betrayed. The school has, in
many i'es])eets, siu'passed the exjx'ctations of its most opti-
mistic friends, and thei'e is now no reason to tliink that any
latepayer of Iroipiois will ever have reason to regret the
action then taken.
'I'he contract for the new buildin;^ was awardecl to Mr.
Patrick Keefe, on the I7tli of Sei)teniber, 1880, at $7,200,
though it cost some three or foui htnuh'iMl dollars additional.
The plumliinj;, seatin^j^ and a[)[)liances for heatin<( with hot
water added between tliree and four thousand to this; so the
total cost when comj)leted was between $11,00;) an<l $12,000.
J)ebenttn"es for $7,")00 wei'e issued on the 15th of Octo-
ber, 18S(i, and for S-S.OOO on March oth, 1S88. On the
tii'st i.ssui' the principal was made payable in twenty annual
instalments, and on the second, in ei<^liteeii, and in l)()th cases
the inteivst at "> per cent, on all remainin*.^ unpaid. The
amiual j»ayinents foi- principal are $r)41.()6. The interest
charo-es were at first, or would have l)een had the issues been
simultaneous. $520 per annum : but bein<i^ on a descending
scale, are now tnider $.'?00. It will be .seen tliat the amount
raised by debentures was not sutHcient to meet the full cost
of the building, but the l)alance, as well as what was required
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NKMl-i.'ENTKNMM. oK IIUKjCOIS lIKill S<'H<M)L. !)I
for «'«|ui))mtMit, was taken IVom tli«' ()i<linarv r«*v«'nut'.s of the
school.
The school soon i-cspondcd to the cfTortM hcin^ made in its
iM'hair. In IMiS7, it waw Found ncocsHary to add a third
teacher, and Mr. iial|>h IIohh, a ijraduate of Toronto l^^niver-
HJty, wa-s eiipa^ed at a salary ol' $600, uliicl was laised to
$700 the following year. This made a stronej staff' Tor a
three-master school. ( /a,s,selniaii liad <leveloj»ed a ;:freat apti-
tude for teachiii;^ natural science and drnwin^, while Kuss
was sti'on^j in literature and classics. The school made steady
j)ro<;i"e,ss, the inspector's reports each year indicating; imjirov*'-
in(!nt. This continued until the close of IMSi), wIumi Mr. Koss,
heini; oH'ered a lar;,^e increase of salaiy hy the Peterlioro'
school, resigned just as the .school opened in Januaiy. The
Trustees at once tele<.;ra|»hed Mr. .lohn S. Carstaii-s, who was
then teaehin;^ in a Public .school in Ottawa, oH'ei-in^ him the
situation. It was accepted, an<l the .school came undei* the
nianai^ement of three teachei's who were, and (■ontinue<l to he,
very warm personal frieiuls, and who delinrhted in calling
theni.selves the three C.'s — "Carman, (Vsselman and Cai'stairs."
Mr. Cai'stairs; was the second .son of Robert Cai'stairs, and
was born at Kin<.jston, Out., May 29th, ISd'i. His father had,
as Sergeant of the ')4th Heginient Infantry, sj)ent the earlier
part of his life in Iivland, (Jibraltar, the; West In<lies and
Quebec, and was at this time foreman in Mowat's bakery —
owned by the fathei' of Sir Oliver ami Professor Mowat. In
1800, Carstairs be<^an business as baker an<l confectioner in
Irotpiois, where the two l)oys, William and .lohn, attended a
private school until the family removed to Arnprioi- in iS71.
Here their business prospered for a time. At ten John S. was
tlie leading boy in the Public school : entered the High School
soon after, and in l<S7(i was the only candidate that passed
the December Intermediate K.xamination. Business ti'oubles
now intervened, ami in 187!) the family returned to Irotpiois.
In Novembei" of that year John S. entered the Iro<piois High
School, and in the following May passed the Senior Matricu-
lation of the University of Toronto, and a moi\th later secured
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MKMI-tJKNTKNNIAI- or IIKK^l'OIH MMill N(llt»«»I,.
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a Scpoud-cluMs (^>rtiH(•(lt<' iiii<l Im'^ui to tcacli. Diiriiij,' tho
iit'xt i''\if\\t. or tfii yciii's Iii> WMM a |ii'iii('i|»iil Nii|i|iuit ol" tli<»
fuinily, hikI at the Miiiiir tiliu> eolitiiiurd Iiih ^4tu<li)^s until he
hrtil now |»iH,s('t| his tliiitl yvnv at tlio UtiivjTHity witlioiit
atttMuliii^' l»'(!turt's. He liad taiij^'lit Hcvrral years i i tlio
Pultlie schools in th«' coiiiity, was well kiiovvii, ami ha<l many
tViciKis, who wclconit'il his acct'ssioii to thf Hi;;h School.
Like Mr, CasschiiaM he was in touch with the ))i'oplt' in the
country, and in that way, aside I'roni his niei'its as a teacher,
wa.s a source ot'stren^^th to the school. The staH' was undoiiht-
(fdly u ^oo<l one, (Vi'nian's stren;,fth lay principally in
numap'Mient and conti'ol, and the faculty of iniplantin;^^ in
tho.se asHociateil with him, as teachers oi- stuchnits, a desiru to
tixeol. Casselman was I'orcei'ul. (Miery,t'tic, apt to teach, and an
enthusiast in the suhjects he made his own, while Carstairs
was widely read, exact in analysis, clear in <'Xj»osition, and
synjpathetic with his ])upils. Kach appeare(| to tit in his
place, and all W()rke(l to;jethei" in the connnoii intei-est.
The .school had already made ^'i-eat strides towards a front
place amon^ F[i;;;h Schools. In I8.S7 Mi*. Sc^ath had repoi'ted,
" The ])roHj)i'ctH of the school are excellent, and when it i.s in
the new huildini,' it will compare favoui'ahly with any other
of its size ; and also, I note Hov especial connnendation the
scienc(! ma,stei" (Mr. Casselman's) teachin<i^ of hotany. With
a properly furnished lalioratory the physics and chemistiy
will, I have no doubt, l»e etjually jijood." In 1.S89 Mr.
Hodgson said, " 1 am jjlaJ to be able to report that tliis
school is in all resix'cts in a bettc'r condition tlian I have
before seen it. The members of the staff are efficient and
painstaking, and the pupils seem dili<;ent." He i-ei;rt'ttod,
however, that no provision was made for teachinjj^ drill and
calisthenics. In 1890 Mr. Seath I'eported : "This school has
improved very nnich in all respects since I last inspected it;"
and in 189J, "This school is in n\t)st respects in a very satis-
factoiy condition. The assistants, Mr. Carstairs in particular,
have improved very much since my last visit."
Tlie attendance was also continually increasin^f, and in
'II
HKMI-("KNTK\NIAI, <»K IKo(/l(MH MIOH SCUouI,.
!).•?
1H!)| ihr iliiily iivi!rii)^«- i(iiiiiIh>i- of |iM|)ilH wu.s iilHtiit one liuii-
tlrcd. TliiH v<'iir hIhu there whh u eliaii^e in tlie law that
materiiilly l)ri;;hteiie<l the jn'ospectH ol' thiH Hchool.
Hitherto the only asMin'etl soui'ce <if i-evenue I li^h Schooln
hail were the Ije^JHlative ^rciiiit Mil eijiial amount from tho
county, atiil aUo iVoni the village or town, and fees IVoiii th(>
I»u|»il.s. Anythinj; more was ^n\en vohiiitarily ; uml, as a
rule, liati to he proviileil hy the viMae;(' or town in which the
Mchool was .situated, which also had to i'urniHh the l)uildin^
and eiinipnients. Our Counties Council had for some tinio
heen ^rantin;^ three or four hundred dollars a year more than
was re(|iiired to meet the Le;^islative ;;rant, still (tur local
assessments were heavy: and in the event of the Counties
Council withdrawing,^ this extra ^'rant the school mi;,dit be
Hei'ionsly cri|i|)led. lint Ity the new law it was |)r»»vide(| that
vvdiere th(! (-ounty <;rant did not hear as <rreat a |»r(»|)ortion to
the cost of the school, less the Covermiient ;^raiit, as the num-
iM'r of puitils from thcM-ounty hoie to that from tli- village,
the county was to j^ive enough additional to make the pro-
])oi"tions correspond. That is, tho (N)unties ('oun'til has to
providi! foi" pupils livin<; in tln^ ccmnty outside of the villa;^e,
whil«! the villai^e provides for its own. I'ui)ils attendin; fi'om
other counties are, howevei", chai<^ed a;;ainst the vilhi^e.
ITndei' this Act the fees paid hy county pu|»ils are rixed hy
the CJounties (4)uncil. while those ])iiid hy villa^fe a»'d nou-
residcitit pujiils are fixed hy the Hi^^li School Hoard. Since
this law came into operation the (grants from the counties —
or rather the hivies on the counties — have heen more than
two and a half times <;reater than the Le^^islative grants. In
1<S7I the (lovernment hore ahout two-thii'ds of the cost of the
school : in l.S(S| ahout one-third, now just one-sixth. Had
the law not heen so moditie(l as to spread this ever-increasin;^
ratio of local contrihutions over a wider area it would have
hecm dirticult, perhaps impo.ssihli', to maintain an efHcieiit
Hijijh School in a village of the size of Iro(iuoi.s.
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(CHAPTER Xn.
.Trtiiius A. Ciirinan (rotiiiiined)— Changes — Retirement of Ciisselmaii —
Four Miisterfs -Criticisins — Newspaper Enterprise — Trouble in the
School Mr, Thompson — Mr. Knox Mr. C(»ulter — Election Con-
test — Retirement of Carnwui and Carstairs — Death of John A.
Carman.
VKNTS ocennvd at the close of 18!) 1 that in a
c'oniparutivcly sliort period UmI to an entire
ehano-e of staff. Mr. Casselnian had for some
years been ^"ivino- a o()0(l deal of attention
to drawing;-, and with marked success. One
pupil. Ai'thur ShaAi'r, had taken the j^old medal in a compe-
tition open to the whole Province: and another, Jennie Boyd,
had taken the silver medal for a design. The teacher's repu-
tation was such that he was offered the |»osition of Drawinjjj
an<l Writino-master in the Noi'mal School, Toronto, which
hecame \acant alumt that time. As this was not only more
I'enumerative, but opened a wider field and a brij^hter pros-
))ect. it was accepted. Mr. Cnrstairs wanted to finish his
course in the University, so he asked, jind was (^ranted, the
first halt-year, with the under.standinij that he might ivturn
to the school after taking his degi'ee.
T. K. Sidey, B.A., was engao-e(l to fill Mi-. Carstairs' place the
first half-yeai', at S4o0 : and Robert Thompson, a gentleman
who had considerable experience as a Public School teacher,
.succeeded Mr. Ca.sselman. The school was now large for a
three-master .school, and A. H. Harkness, a student of tlie
.school, was engaged to take the di-awing class the first half-
year, at $125. At the close of that time Miss Ida Dillabough,
iji
SEMI-CENTENNIAL <)1' IRKQUOIS HKJH SCHOOL
Do
who is still Ji iiu'iiihcr of the staft", was «'n<^a^('(l at $500 ju'i-
year, and the scIkjoI has since been a Four-master sehool.
There had l)een few chanj^'es in the Hi<i,h Sehool Hoard
since Mr. Carman's appointment as Principal, and such as
there were did not affect the relations Itetween the Board and
tlie staff'. Mason Mills had succee<led his brother in 1(S<S7,
and continued in active nieml)ership until the close of 1802,
hein^- the actin<f Chaii-nian durino' tlu' winter of 1891-92,
wlien the Chairman, whose healtli had been f)adly shattere(l,
was in Arizona, trvin*;' to recuperate. \Vm. M. I)oi-an, who
was Reeve at the time, succeeded Mr. Tuttle in 1880, but
on tlie passint)' of the Munici})al Amendment Act in that year,
dis(iualifyino' members of Council, retire<l, and was succeeded
by Dr. Johnston. Under the Act of 1891 the Pul)lic Scliool
Board ac(juired the right to apjxjint a seventh member, and
W. L. Redmond, the member of Council who framed the
motion to provide for the new l)uil(hng, and who was also
Reeve in 1887 and '88, became the .seventh mend»er.
To take in the situation fully, it is neces.sary here to refer
to matters outsi<le of the school.
Wm. M. Doran, who had been an influential friend of
the scliool, in close sympathy with Mr. Carman, and had been
elected Reeve the fifth time in January, 1801, died .suddeidy
a few weeks later, and was succeeded Ijy Thomas Coultei-.
This gentleman Jiad good parts, a large per.sonal following,
and had been five with his criticisms of the manatrement of
the school for sevei-al years. He kept a bakery, grocery store
and luml)er yard, was Secretary of the Public School Board,
and held a leading ])osition in the Presbyterian Church ; had
a son in tlie Council while his brother-in-law was asses.sor : so
that he was in a position to make his good or ill-will toward
the school or the staff' a matter of some moment.
Mr. Doran's business liad lieen that of o-eneral merchant
and dealer in coal and lumber. This latter ))art was offered
for sale a few months after his death, and Mr. Carman
became the purchaser, not, as he explained at the time, that
he contemplated carrying it on in connection with the school.
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SEMl-OENTENNIAL OF lKO(^UOIS HIGH SCHOOL
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but lie was threatened with deafuess, that iiii^ht uiiHt liiiii
For teaching', ho he availed hiiiiHell' of this o])j)ortuMity to
secure a business that would in that event attbrd him a means
of living, the business in the nuiantime being managed by a
friend.
Iro((uois had been a rather discouraging Held for newspaper
enterprise. In 1858 the tii'st news[)aper in the county was
pul)li.shed hei-e l)y W. S. Johnston, a former pupil of the
(Jranimar School, an able writer and good ])ractical printer.
It was designated the Irof/Hois Chief, and ha<l a considerable
circulation: but Mi\ .lohnston sought a larger town, and
removed to Cornwall about the end of its second year.
Twenty years later the Iroquois T'nncs was tried. 'riiis
paper had a cheijuered career. It was first ])ul»lishe(l by a
Mr. Graham, who came here fi'om (Quebec, but he soon became
discourage (1, and sold out to Mr. Hendry: who, after a few
months' ex]ierience, in turn sold to Arthur and Ormond
Hrouse, grandsons of the (Jeoi'ge Hrouse who figures j)romi-
nently early in the history of the school. A couple of years
later it was leased to H. 1). Harkness, the present proprietor
of the St. Lawrence Netrs, for a year. k.i the end of that
time, in July, 1882, the plant was taken to the North- West.
In 1888, B. C. Beach, a .son of M. V. Beach, commenced
the ])ublication of i\w St. Liiivrence Neirs. He soon secured
a fairly good circulation, and the venture gave promise of
success, but the publisher had little taste for writing, and
from the tii'st was assisted in this <le[)artment by membei's of
the High School staff'. Soon after Mr. (^irstairs had gi'adu-
ated and again taken up his work in the .school. Mi-. Beach
decided to "go west," and offered to let or sell the papei'.
Pai'tly becau.se of a desire to I'etain the paper in the place,
and i)artly. because he liked news{)aper woi'k, Mr. Cai'staii's
foi-med a partnei'ship with a R. A. McLelland, who was
then manager of a bi'anch of the Union Bank, doing business
ln're, and leased the jiaper for three years.
In the meantime the schcjol had not been running as
smoothly as usual. Mi-. Thompson had been developing some
fi
SEMI-fENTENNFAL ()F IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
97
eccentricities of cluinicter, and had succeeded in gettin^^ hini-
Hiilf nrrai^iied before the Police Ma<fi.strate for strikiiij; one
of the boys. The Princij)al and the Ti'UsteeH defcuided him
vif^'onnisly, not, they said, because they appi'oved of what he
had done, but in order to maintain th(^ discipline of the
school. The atiiiir was settled without a conviction, and if
thei-(( was any more friction insidi; the school it was not
broutfht to the knowledge of the general public. However,
Mr. Carman appears to have been disappointed in his assistant,
and near the close of tl)e year recommended a change,
Wluiu the Hoai'd decided to act on the recommendation,
Mr. Carstaii's suggested that an effort be made to secure
Robert HuntiM- Kno.x, whom i>e assigned a first place among
the young men who came within the sphere of his observation
while in Toronto the previous winter. This gentleman was
at once conununicated with, and soon after engaged, and his
work in the school since has fully borne out what was then
said in his behalf. Now that the jjcople interested know both
men as they were then known to Mr. Carstairs, nothing could
more strikingly vindicate the action then taken than the mere
suggestion that the presi'ut Science-master should give place
to his predecessor.
Neverthele.s.s, no teacher that ever was in the school
appeared to have more partisans Anui Mr. Thompson. He
had been an active worker in the Presbyterian Sunday
School, and had thus secured the goodwill of the people of
that faith. His wife was a charming wonum, and had made
many friends. A petition in his behalf was cii'culated in the
school by a son of Mr. Coulter and very generally signed by
the students. Still, it is probable that his dismissal was the
occasion, rather than the cause, of the etibrts being made to
embarrass the Trustees.
There liM.d for several years been a party in the village
more or less opposed to the school as conducted. They had
been so accustomed to having their children educated almost
free of cost to themselves, either as individuals or ratei)ay('i's,
that they resented the changed conditions under which the
■I
I
1:1:
98
SEMI-CEXTENNIAL OF lUOQUOIS HKiH SCHOOL.
ImrdcMs were more e(iuit!il)ly diHtrilmtcd. Mr. Coulter, tlio
Reeve, notwith.staii(liii<( lie lind as a member oF the C.'oinities
Council l)eeii instrumental in abolishini;' fees, thus |)uttin<r the
whole cost of maintenance on the taxpayers, was the reco<j-
nized lt!a<ler of this party. He and his Friends ha<l Found so
much Fault with the mana<;vment that early in October, Mr.
A. B. Carman resif^ned the position oF Secretary, which he
had efficiently tilled For five years, and retired from the Hifijh
School Hoai'd, that no cliar<;"e oF nepotism mi^-ht lii ;it his
doc )r.
Mr. Coulter soon aFter aired his <j^rievanees in the local
])aper, and advocated petitionin<;- tlu' Lei;islature to (le})rive
the Counties of any representation on the Hoard. He con-
tended that all the Trustees should l)e appointed by the village
authorities. As the village already had four-.sevenths of the
representation, and bore little moiv than one-tliird of the
cost of maintaining the scliool, the jiroposition seemed scarcely
reasonable.
A second lettei", wi'itten a shcjrt time beFore tht; electicais,
was more skilFuUy worded, and was aimed First at the Chair-
man, because he lived outside oF the vilhige and received his
ap{)ointment From the Counties Council : but was largely a
personal attack on the members oF the staff' and Hoard within
the village that were considered most vulnerable. Mr. Mills,
out oF whose store some oF the Furnishings of the school had
been procui'ed, was described as " Sutler " to the School Board;
and it was i-ather broadlv stated that the .scIhjoI was suff'erinj;
because Mr. C'arstairs and Mr. Carman were giving too nmch
attention to private business, the latter gentleman being
designated the " Head of the Coal Combine."
This called Forth rejoinders. That From Mr. Carstairs, who
wields a caustic pen, was regarded as rather severe: but Mr.
Carman's simply set Foi'th his ri'lations to the school, explained
the cii'cumstances attending his becoming the owner oF the
coal and lumber business, pointed to what liad been done by
the Fathers oF tlie
pr
'sent ii'eneration, and asked their sons not
uo " fly at each other's throats" at the bidding oF Mr. Coulter,
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
99
inch
who
ut Mr.
jiiued
of the
)ne by
)iis not.
'oulter.
notwithstandinj; he was, For the time hciii^', Koevo ot" the
viUa^e. Both, however, intimated tiiat so soon as it was made
manifest tliat the peopU' tlioun;l)t they were not j^ivinj^ value
for wliat tliey were receivin<(, their connection with the school
would cease.
This was the position in wliich the respective parties stood
at the time of the municipal election. A day or two after
nomination it was found that all the nominei^s for coun-
cillors had withdrawn hut fotu', who wei'c thus practically
elected by acclamation. Adam Hai'kne.ss had not been at the
meeting, but had been nominated as Reeve in opposition to
Mr. Coulter. He had had a .somewhat extended experience
ill connection with munici|)al affairs in the Township of
Matilda, was Postmaster of the village, had interested himself
a good deal in the School and Mechanics' Institute, and was
r^gaided as not ])ei',sonally objectionable to the people in the
\ dlage otherwise than that he was not in accord politically
with the majority. How(!ver, it was thought by the friends
of the school that as the political complexion of the Comicil
was already firmly fixed, and could not be affected seriously
by the adnn.ssion of one of the oppo.site cult, and that by liis
standing foi- election a fair expression of public opinion might
be obtained on tins matter of greatest interest to the people,
the consent of Mr. Harkness was sought and obtained, and
the election was fought out, nominally at least on the school
(juestion, and resulted in the return of Mr. Coulter,
At the tir.st meeting of the new Council the name of
Ml'. Mills was dropped from th(^ list of Trustees, and that
of Edwai'd McNulty, a leading su|)porter of Mr. Coulter's,
substituted. Ostensibly the verdict had been against the
school and the staff', though it is extremely doubtful if a
<lii"ect vote on the one (picstion would have resulted in the
same way. Mr. Carman and his friends, believing in the
loyalty of the people to their .school, did not take sufficient
account of other faiths and prejudices e([ually deep-seated.
A broad and liberal-minded man himself, he could not sym-
pathize with or measure the feelings of many of his own
I
111
.11
I,
"
100
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IKoyUOlS IlIUll SCHOOL.
m
iifi
'I
I, ai
fricTids, tliouf^li a study of tlx' history of the villu^'e and tlu'
school rni^ht have taught him the lesson. He coidd not
undcj-staiKJ why it was rc^aivUid as necessary to think alike
on all national (juestions to enable us to woi'k to<;ether i'oi'
our local inteivsts. He foryfot that Ml. Carstairs himself, a
somewhat pronounced Conservative, was a .sort of innovation
in tht! .school, and tliat Mr. Knox was comini;- on his recom-
mendation. Still, he had asked the people for their verdict;
it had been given, and he felt that it was not for him to cavil
about the way in which tin; i-esult had been reached. Neither
he nor Mr. Carstairs had S(aight the .school: they could now
only remain in it by, in a measiu'e, foi-feiting tlunr self-
respect, and they decided, notwithstandinj^ the desire of the
Board to retain their services, to retire at the closer of the
Academic year. The scliool never was more Hourishin<,'. it
had been I'aised in seven years from a small two-master
school until now it stood amon<^ the tir.st Hifi^h Schools in the
Province. The four men who, as teacliers, had been mainly
instrumental in bringiiifi; this alxmt were Carman, Cas.selman,
Carstairs and Ross. Their work in the school was done, l)ut
they were leaving a record that could not fail to provoke to
emulation their successors, and lead to continued effort tf)
maintain the reputation and .standing of the institution.
The I'esignation of Mr. Carstairs was presented at a me(>t-
ing of the High School Board held on June -SOth, IHOJi, the
members present being Dr. Harkness, Chairman, Messrs.
A. J. Ross, E. McNulty and J. N. Forward, when it was
moved by A. J. Ross, seconded by E. McNulty, and carried :
" Tliat J. 8. Carstairs' i-esij^nation be accepted, and that the
Board take this occasion to express their rej^rot at the sp\eraiioe
of his connection with the school, as well as their entire satisfaction
with liis services. They also desire to expi'ess their hope t'oi- his
success ill whatever calling he may decide to pursue."
Mr. Carman's was })resentcd at a meeting held on August
1st, the members present being the chairman and Messr.s. .1. N.
Forward, R. M. Bouck, W. L. Redmond, N. (i. Sherman, F.
SKMI-<'KNTK\NI.\I- ol' ll{<)(^r(»IS ilKiil SCHOOL.
101
x'ct-
thc
•SSI'S.
NVflS
■a:
]\IcXulty and A. .1. R().sh, when it was moved by Mr. IJonck,
seconded hy Mr. Forward, and cMi'i'ied :
"That the Board, in aiTe|itin;i,' Mr. Caiman's resi<,'iiati(in, wish
ti) express their re;;ret that aiiyt hint,' shouM iiave traiispiicd in
liii^h School all'aii's tiiat si oiild cause him to teiidei- his resignation.
We are aware that the school loses a head whose place, we helieve,
will he hard to till. The <,'iowth of the school under his leadership
has ItecM threat, and in a lai'^e measure is due to his untiriny eHorts
in its hehalf. We tiiist that althoui^h he is severin;.; his conin^ction
with the school as a leailef he will still remain a resident of the
villajiie, and that the school will leceivc the lienelit of his counsel in
assi.stin<^ the IJoard to maintain the high position the scliool has
j;ained undei- his ahle leadership."
Just three wcck.s after the strtiooj,. ii, tjn' Town Hall, that
resulted in severing' the connection of James A. Carman with
the school, his father, John A. Carman, ])asse<l to his rest.
Fortv-six vears before, in the viKor of his earlv manhood, h(!
had founded tin- .school. For years he watched over juid
assi.ste<l it in its early strn^'^'les. Dnrinj;' the wholi' of his
sidise(|Uent lil"e he ic^arded it with an interest l)orn of the
sacritices lie had made in its behalf. Now, in the e\'enin<x of
his ilays, he had the sati.sfaction of .seeing his son, in a
dirtei'ent way, ami under ditl'erent circumstances, repeat the
.story of his earlier years. It .seems almost a pity that he also
livecl to witness what nuist have seemed to him an act of
iiiffratitudo on the pai't of those whom he had striven .so hard
to benefit. Hut he had tlie con.sci()Usne.ss of having done
what he couhb and what he believed to l)e right, and wo luive
no reason to doubt his btitli in tlie beneficence of the ultimate
results. He was not oidy the princi|)al, but the last of the
original friends and benefactors of the .scliool.
( )n the day after liis death tlit^ Board met, and on motion
of Mr. Mills, .seconded by W. L. Reihnond. ])assed the fol-
lowing resolution :
"The Hij,di School Hoard, of Troijuois, having heard with deep
re<fret of the death of .lohn A. Carman, the founder and benefactor
<»f the school, wlio, by his j^'enerosity, donated the Hist buildin>(, and
Avho for many years was a Trustee, desire to convey their sincere
Si
II
, *.; 't:
/ :
10-2
SKMI-CENTEN'NIAI. OK IHoc/IOIS ilKill scilooi-.
1;
■! 'i*
::^:i
J
I ;■
sympathy to the wife iiiitl rclutionH of the (leccaHi'd in th«'ir dark
hour of t rilmlatioii, and tliat thf Scrrctary lie In'tcln' if'(|ut'st('d to
convey t<» Mis. (.'aiinari and family a copy of this icsohit ion.
"The Hoard further or(h'rs that the .scrhool l»e closed to-nutrrow
U> aHow the tejieliers an<l scholars to attcMid the funeral of the
founder in a body."
This cloHos an e|)oeli in tlic sehool, in many respects tlie
most l»rilliaiit in its history. Tiie three men most intimately
associated witli it are now widely se|)arated, hut we have
ahinidant evidence that tliey all look hack with [(hjasure and
some (h'^ree of pride to the time when they were workin^^
to}.(ether with a common purpose in tin' Iroquois Hi;;ii School.
Mr. Carman, whose wife I> id found it necessary to spend
soMK! pr(!vi()us winters in a. less ru^'<;ed climate., moved to
Denver soon after his retirement from tin; sch(jol,and is likely
to make that city his ])ei'manent JuMne.
Mr. Carstairs spent his first yeai-, after leaving' here, iti
Toronto, writine' for the press and studyino- law, Itut has now
been for a year and a half Headmaster of the Stirling;' Hi^h
School.
Mr. Casselman is now not only Writing and T)rawino;-
master in the Xormal School, hut Ivxaminei' in ])rawin<^ and
Lectni'er on Drawino- in the ScIkjoI of Feda^^o^y. He is also
author of tlu; Hioh School Drawino- (Nau'se, which is not only
used in Ontai'io, hut in the other provinces of the Dominion.
Mr. .). L. Hutches, senior Ins[)ector of PuMic Schools for the
city of Toronto, says that it is the hest hook that has heen
authorized hy the Departnu'nt on any sul)ject for many years.
1U(J1>.
■ thf
y."iU-H.
«, ,
PKKSKNT STAFF.
•■■M
I •'!
\\\: 111
CIlAITElt XllI
" Mi'ii iiiiiy cdiiie and iiu:ii iiiiiy ^i>,
Hilt I no mi foruvur."
.Foseph A. .liick.Hoii— Now llogime— Mr. Kiinx MIhh Hiirtt— MIhh IIosh—
Mr. Will Ten Miss Dillaliuiijrli C'diitiiiiit'd I'lot^resH Tiosoiit IJoiird
- Dr. HfirkiioKs U. M. \ii>\u-\< Howard Diirant .1. N. Fnrvvaid
— N. (J. Slionuaii — BMward McNulty lIciadiiiaHturs and .Vssist-
luits— KuveiiueH Hiul SalHrie.s— (loiuinil Kesiilts— Now FoHturiss.
ISS DIM.AHOIKIU at this tinu' witlidivw IVon.
tilt' Hchool to Hiii.sli licr ('(Mii'sc MS ji spt'ciali.st
at Toronto UiiiNcr.sity, and it tliii.s liccainc
iKHMissary to secure a new I'lineipal and two
a.ssistants. Notie<'H in the (i/ohc and M<iil
l)i-()Uglit in some fifty oi- si.xty applications. At'ter wrestliiij--
for .sevei-al lioufs with these, the TriLstees finally appointeil
Joseph A. Jackson Headmaster, with a salary of 81,000; .Miss
Zella Hare Mathematical-master, at i?GOO : and Miss Nellie
Ross, at 8.')00: these, with Mr. Knox, Science-master, con-
stitutin<>' the new staff.
Mr. Jackson was of Kn<;lish j)arenta<re. His father, the son
of a hanker in Newcastle-on-Tyne, was fairly well educated,
hut, not .succeed in j.,^ in the Old ('ountry, he came to Canada
about the close of the Crimean War, settled in the Township
of Edward.sbur^^ married, and became a Public School teacher.
In l«72 he died, ieavin^^ a widow with five children, of whom
Jo.seph A. was the eldest, being then almost twelve years of
age. His mother, having been a .seamstress before hei- mar-
riage, now resortetl to that as a iriean.s of livelihood, and
.started a .small tailoring estnlilishment at V'entnoi', and her
104
SKMI-<'KNTKNNIAI, <)l' lltovlois MMiK SCIloul,.
«'l«lt',st sun (lividtMl liis time lit'twi't'ii wdckine- jn a sliinj^lr
mill, u'l'iii^r t(» Ncliool, Mini ii'iir'iiiiij'- to nil for liis motliiT,
wlioHi' IdisiiK'HM wiiH iiicrciisiii;;. Wln-n mIuhiI I'ij^litfi'ii Ii«'
was, tliroti^'li tlif iiitliiiMicf nl' u ynun;^' scliuol tfiiclnT, iiaiiifil
Hi'umaii, iiKlnccil to tiini liis attriitiiai to that |irolVssioii. In
.Inly, !.S7!), lit- passi'd the t-nti'aiKM' cNamiiiatioii to the lli;^li
Si'liool. Not Ix-in;; in \riy ^ond lifaltli, In' lifcamr tlisconi*-
h;;;*-iI, ami ili-|rrmiiiri| to I'l'tiiin to his ti.iilr ol' iMittine, ;ini|.
with that i'ImI in \ icw, came to lro(|Uois to enter Mr. A, l».
('ai'maiiN shop. Here he met Mr. .lames .\. Caniian, who
" lan;;lieil him ont o)' the hhies, " ami iminceil him to •;*> to the
Keni|itville Hi;;li School, of which Miv Cannan was then
Headmaster. He commence(| tluTe in .lanuary, I^NO, .ind the
lollowiiie' summer iiot his Third -class Certiticate. Alter
attelidili;;' the Model School, at .Athens, he taU<;ht the balance
of that yeai' and the whole ol' the iie\t. Iii.lanuary, I.SS2,
he returned to the Kempt\ ille school, and anajn, at the end ol"
the hall'-Ncar, advanced a stei), takini: a Second-class ( 'ertifi-
cate. lie then tan;,dit until Septemlier, \SSl\. when ill-health
compelled him to desist. .\;;aiii, he made up his mind to
id)aiidun teachiii;;', and estahlished a tail(»rin;;' l)usiiie.ss in
Cardinal, hut a few months later left that with his In-other,
■who had 1 n his j)artncr, and in Se|)teml»('r, 1.SS4, eiitei'eil
Col»our<f C()lle;,'iate Iiistitute, where he matriculated in .luiie,
i(S.S.'), and in l!SS!) j^raduatcd from Victoi'ia niiixei'sity, with
First-class hoiiois in Mt'tapliysics, Lonic. and Civil Polity.
He tauj^ht in ( lanaiio([ue jliuh School until the close of that
year, when he went as Classical-master to Kempt\ ille, where
lie remained a yeai' and a hall, returning' to (Jananoiiue in
1891, and continuing' thi'ic until appointetl Headma.stei- iiere.
He was rather late in })e<,dnnin<;', l>ut he has pushed on
rapidly, and is making a ^"ood record in Irotpiois.
Ilohert Hunter Knox was l)i)rn ol" Scottish parents in the
Town of St. Mary's, in IJStJH. When hut eleven years of a;>-e
lie pa.ssed the necessary examination, and entered the St.
Mary's Colletijiate Institute. At Hfteen he toc^k his Third-
class non- Professional ; at sixteen, his Second-cla.ss, and at
•1T(I
UlU',
vitli
ity.
hat
icri-
ill
icrc.
on
thf
St.
lirtl-
at
SEMI-CENTKNNIAI, oK IKogI u|<s |||i)H si ii(M»L, , W-f
Mi'VonttM'ii, iiiiitl'iculatcil, He tlifii iittciHlfil tin- Modi'l Scliitol,
uidI liiii;;lit ill (I I'liMic Scliodl two or tlirrc yt'iirM. In l.HS!>,
lie ciiti'iiMrrnroiito I 'iii\('rsity, ami ;,'r)nlniit<'<| in Ai'ts in IM)2,
taUiii;;' Kirst -class honors all iiidnml in tin- (It'iiartiiicnt of
Niitnriil ScifiM't'. siicciiili/ini'' tlw last vt'ar in < J('olo<rv ami
rt'lntt'il suhjt'cts. Dnriii;^^ IM!H he tan^'ht I'oi' a short tiiin' in
(M'or;;»'to\vii lli;;li School, tiinl |{ii|;,n'to\vn ('ollcn;iiitc Institute,
mikI ill |.S!>2 ill .laivis StiTct ( 'ollc;;iatc Institute, Toronto.
'rhoii;,'h he may liaxc inherited the scientific l»ent from his
lather, who was a stoiieniasun ami ItiiiMer, the tenilency to
intellectual |inrsnits, characteristic of the raiiiily, a|i|iears to
have Iieeii (lerixcfj tVoni the mother, who.se ;^ramlt"atlier,
Hohert Hunter, was an lmle|ieii(lent minister. Her lather
ser\ei|as a regular soldier in the HOtli l{e;^finient hel'ore he
came to this country, and was captain of a coin|)any diiiine'
the troiihles of |s:}7. She her.seir was a school teacher, as
was also her hrotlier. Her two dan;;,liters -one of whom,
Allies Kii<».\, has W(ai tame as an clociitioiiist were both
teachers, while her three sons, lloherl Hunter, Ainlrew A., and
William .lolin, are all specialists in science, the Hrst at Iro(|Uois
Hieh School, the .second at ('hath uii Collen^iate Institute, and
the third at Oraiiecs ille Hieh .School.
Miss Har»' and Mi.ss Moss were hotli y^radtiatcM of Toronto
riiiversity. The rormer tau;^lit mathematics, liookkeepine;,
drawine- and writin;;, while the latter took Kn;^disli literature,
;;raniniar and modern laneuai^es. P»otli ot" these la<lies came
from the western part oj' the province, Miss Koss heine- a
daiiu'liter (»r the Hon. (}. \V. Ilo.ss, Minister of Education.
Some little trepidation was felt ahout the lart^'i; representa-
tion of youiie- ladies on the statl'. Still the school went on
fairly well. It was \isiteil l»y Mr. Hodj^son in October,
who ri'i)orted : ' This school is in a very satisfaetoi'V cmdi-
tion : eood work is licin;; done in all the departments."'
However, when the vear close(l, hoth ladies tendered their
resieiiations, and Mr. James M. Warren, of Hamilton, a
.s[)L'eialist in mathematics, and Mi.ss Ida Dillahou^h, who ha<l
T
100
SEMI-CENTKNNIAL OK lUOC^UOIS HlOil SCHOOL.
li ;t
nlivii<ly ]tr()\ rd lie]' worth in the school, wcrt' appointed to the
VJlCiUlt plilCL'S.
Mr. Wjirrcn wjih boi'n in Hamilton, in Novcnihci', .liS72, and
eleven years afterward.s j)asH('d hi.s entmnoe examination, and
entered the Hamilton (J()ile<;iate In.stitute. In 1<SS() he
obtained a Set'ond-ela.sH Certificate, and in l.ScScS a Fir.st-clasH
C.and tlie i"ollo\vin<;' year matrieulatecl with honor.s in Mathe-
niatie.s, Botany and Chemistry. In l.SOO he ohtaineil a Kirst-
elass B. non-Pi'ot'essional, and <;'raduated in 18!)."} from Toronto
Cniversity. Durin;;- his Hi'st two yt-ars at the university he
obtained First-elass honors in Mathematics, and durino- the
last the same in theoretical and pi'actical Physics; attended
the School of I'eda<;ony from October, 1<S!):}, to May, 1.S94,
and obtained while there a Second-class Professional Certifi-
cate with honors, and also an interim Certificate as specialist
in Mathematics with honors.
Mi.ss l)illab<ni<j,h is the dau(;'hter of Mr. Lawrence Dillabouj^h,
of Dundela. Alter passino- the enti'ance, slu' attend(>d the
Morrisburi;' Colle<^iate Institute until she took a First-class
non-Professional Certificate. She then went to the School of
Pedaj^'of^y at Kingston and '^nt her Professional, after whicii
she taught a year and a half in Norwood Hi<i,"h School before
con»in<: ii' Iro<|uois in l(S!)2. After teaching; one year here,
she wiu. '..'W to take a cour,se as s|)eciali,st in the modern
lan2'unoes--(5erman and French.
The start' is undoubtedly a strong one, all the members beino-
in the vio-orof early manhood and W()manhoo<l,and all puttino-
forth .strenuous etibi'ts to maintain and improve the standing;
of the school. These are being warmly seconded l)y the
Trustees, who are continually adding to the e(|ui})nient,
especially in the science department and librar\'. In Septem-
ber, !S!)4, Mr. Seath, the Inspector, said: " Tlu' science e(|uip-
ment of this school is remarkiibly gocxl, a result >»;hich is
evidentlv due to the i'neri>v and enthusiasm of the Science-
master. A good spirit oi work pervades all. the .school, and
its wneral tone is satisfactory."
On the occasion of his next visit in March, 189'), he reported:
d to tln'
S72, niid
ion, and
I.SSd he
I'.st-c'lass
I Mathe-
a Fir.st-
Toronto
rsity lie
•ino- the
ittondtMl
y, l.s!>4,
I Certiti-
;pecialist.
lal)<)U<;li,
idcd the
irst-ehiss
School ol'
!• which
il before
ar hero.
nio(U'rn
rs heini;-
puttino-
tandinfi^
l)y tlie
iiipnient,
Septeni-
;e eipiip-
!»'lneli is
Science-
lool, and
l)H. HAKKNKSS, rlmirmun.
K. M. HOICK. .rolls N. KOKWAKI).
N. (i. SHKRMAN.
II. C. DIRANT. KDWAUl) McMl.TV, .S.'nrtiiri/.
■('ported:
It
■ '
■ h
11
!H
;■ *i
■^ !i
m
: 1
! i'
! I
v.r:\^i
■ 1' I
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IltOQUOlS HHSH SCHOOL.
107
"Tlu," ort^at ligation lins been iiuicli improviHl since iny liiHt
visit. The ('(|uipnu'nt of this school, (^specially in science, is
unusually good. There are exceedint^ly few schools in the
Province in which in science there is the .same excellent spirit
and enthusiasm. The conilition of the lahoratciry and the
musevnn is iiighly creditable to Mi'. Knox."
The present Board of Trustees is composed of six members :
Dr. John Harkness, Chairman, R. M. Bouck, Howard Durant,
J. N. Forward, N. (J. Sherman, and Edward McNulty, the
latter <(entleman being Secretary and Treasurer. The first
three are appointees of the Counties Council, and the re-
maining three of the Village Council. The Public ScIkjoI
Board of the village should have ap[)ointed a seventh, but
that body, being composed of six members, divided evenly,
and, as neither party would yield, and no compromise could
be obtained, no appointment was made.
To those who have followed me, no further reference to the
Chairman is now necessary. Mr. Bouck is also an old
member, having been first appointed in October, 1S85. In
early life he was a school teacher, and was for a time Prin-
cipal of the Public School in the village. Later, he turned his
attention to farming in tlie Township of Matilda, and was
also for several years a mem])er of the Township Council.
He has given a good deal of att(;ntion to school matters, and
is an efhcient Trustee.
When A. B. Carnum retii'ed, in l(S92, A. J. Ross was
appointed in his place, and became Secretary-Treasurer ; but,
in 1893, the Moinitain members of the Council claimed a
Trustee, and William Marshall, a gentleman supi)orting and
very nnich interested in the school, was appointed. At the
clo.se of that year he retired, and was succeeded by Mr. Durant.
Mr. Durant is a young merchant of the village of Inkerman,
and may be regarded as the I'epresentative on the Board of
the Township of Mountain. This is his first year, and he has
as yet taken very little part in the affairs of the school.
Mr. Forward is at present the oldest member except the
Chairman, having been appointed a few months before Mr.
• 11
:i
t ■
■ 1
108
SEMI-CEN'TENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
m\
i:f
liouck. Al)()ut tliii'ty-tiv(; yc^ars ji<;'() \u' inarrit-Ml the younjjjcst
<l)Ui<^htt'r ol' tlio late Peter Cacinaii, and lias since l)een a resi-
dent of this village. He kept stoi'e for a time, but in recent
years lias devoted his attention [)rineii)ally to iTuit raisin*;,
^ardenin^, and we nii<;ht add iiinsie, though this latter has
boen almost entirely for the love of it. He luis for a ^i-eat
many years led the elioir in tlie Methodist Chureh. and in
Mr. Whitney's time o-ave lessons in tlie Hi<jjh School. Two of
Ins sons matricnlated from the school : the eldest, Arthur,
^raduatinj; some time after, and hein*^' now a jiraetisin*; bar-
rister in the City of Ottawa. He has been a <;o()(l friend of
the school, always ready to hold up the hands of the master
so lonj^ as he felt that lie was endeavorinu- to })erform his
l)art.
Nelson G. Sherman was boi-n in the Township of Ozna-
bruck nearly seventy years ago, and canu' to this place just
as it was takin<r form as a xillarje, and commenceil business
as a carriage-makei'. For over forty years he lias been one
of our foremost business men. and durint;- the oreatcn* part of
that time was a member of the Public School Board. He
was also several 3-ears in the Council, but never took part
in the att'airs of the Hin'h School until I.s9'i, when, beiiiuf
Chairman of the Public School P)Oard, he was appointed to
represent that body as a Trustee of the High School. This
year it was feared the Public School Trustees would not
agree, so the Council deferred making their a]ipointment
until it liecame clear that Mr. Sherman woidd not retain his
seat if not appointed by the Council.
Edward McNulty came to Irociuois wjth his father when
very young, and was educated at the Public and High
Schools here. When a mere lad he entered the store of C. & M.
Mills, and remained with the firm for several vears, first as
clerk in their stoi-e, and afterwards as managei- of branch
stores at Cardinal and Prescott. Nearly twenty years ago
he connnenced business here on his own account, and has now
one of the twf) lai'gest stores in the village. Since his appoint-
ment he has interested liimself very much in the school,
^
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL. l()f>
makes nu crticiont Seci-ctaiy-Ti-eaHui-er, has pro^nvsHivc idi^as,
and has .shown that he will {H-rfonn his part towards nuiin-
tainin<r and iniprovin^^ the standincr and reputation of the
institution.
The following' list of the nairies of Headmasters and their
a.ssi8tants, with the ,sahii-ies received in each case, marks the
ehano-es in tlie .school, and is not a had indication of the
pro<;-ress made dui'in^- the period :
1880— William A. Whitney, Principal $800 00
Alexander McLeod, Assistant 400 00
$1,200 00
1881— William A. Whitney, Principal $800 00
John M. Kinney, B.A., Assistant. .. 400 00
1,200 00
1882— William A. Whitney, Principal $800 00
William Montgomery, Assistant K)0 00
1,200 00
1883— William A. Whitney, Principal $800 00
William Montgomery, Assistant .... 500 00
1,;}00 00
1884 William A. Whitney, Principal $800 00
Wm. Montgomery, 1st half-year . . | - ,
Chas. Potter, B.A., 2nd half-year.. I
1,300 00
1885— William A. Whitney, Principal $800 00
Chas. Potter, IJ. A., Assistant 500 OO
1,300 00
1886- James A. Carman, Principal $900 00
A. C. Casselman, A.ssistant 550 00
1,450 00
1887 -lames A. Carman, Principal $1,000 00
A. C. Cas.sehnan, Assistant (iOO 00
Ralph Ross, B.A., As't 2nd half-year 300 00
1,000 00
1888 — Tames A. Carman, Principal $1,000 00
A. C. Cas.seman, Assistant (550 00
Ralph Ross, Assistant 700 00
2,350 OO
1880— James A. Carman, Principal $],ono 00
A. C. Ca.sselmtin, Assistant 700 00
Ralph Ross, Assistant 700 00
. 2,400 00
!i.
e|j]
I
no SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IHOC^rOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
1890— J times A, Carman, Principal ^1,000 00
A. C. CaHsulman, Assistant 7(M) 00
J. S. Carstairs, Assistant 700 00
S2,400 00
1891— .James A. Carman, Principal $1,000 00
A. C. Casselman. Assistant TOO 00
J. S. Carstairs, Assistant TOO 00
2,400 00
1892— James A. Carman, Princii)al $1,000 00
T. K. Sidey, Assistant, 1st half 450 00
J. S. Carstairs, Assistant, 2nd half.. 400 00
Robert Thomi)3on, Assistant ()T5 00
A. H. Harkness, Assistant, Ist half.. 125 00
Ida Dillabough Assistant, 2nd half. . 260 00
2.900 00
1893— Jas. A. Carman, Principal, 1st half) ^, Q^^^ .^q
J. A. Jackson, Principal, 2nd lialf '
R. H. Knox, Assistant 800 00
.1. >S. Carstairs, Assistant, Ist half . . 400 00
Miss Zella Hare, Assi.stant, 2nd half 'M) 00
Miss Dillabough, Assistant, 1st half ) _
Miss Nellie Ross, Assistant, 2nd half /
.•5,000 00
1894— J. A. Jackson. Principal $1,000 00
R. H. Knox, Assistant 800 00
Miss Zella Hare, Assistant, 1st half.. .'500 00
James Warren, Assistant, 2nd half. . 15.50 00
Miss Nellie Ross, Assi.stant, Ist half. 250 00
Miss Dillabouyh, Assistant, 2nd half .'500 00
;5,000 00
1895— .1. A. .Jackson, Principal i?l,000 00
II. H. Knox, Assistant 8T5 00
James Warren, Assistant 800 00
Miss Dillabough, Assistant, 1st half ..),.„,. ....
*Miss H. A. Snider, M.A.,As.st., 2nd half/ '
.3,275.00
A contimuition of the .statement of revemit- tluit appeared
ill an earlier chapter not only serves the same purpose, but
also illustrates rather strikin<^ly one phase of the transition
* Miss Snider was engaged temporarily, to give Miss Dillabough a rest.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IRO(/rOIS HIGH SCHOOL
111
IVoiii a vt)luntHiy school ansistt'(l hy the State to a purely
State school, tittinj^ into our educational syHtem.
Ykar.
18SI
1882
1883
1S84
1885
18S()
LS87
1888
188i»
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
I.ATIVK
• iKANT.
.■)41 15
511 61
504 00
500 00
4(iS 30
451
592
71(1
709
091
074
712
090
Col NTY (illANTW.
To iiieet
j Lcjfisliithe
I (iriuit.
\|I,I,MIK
(Jha.m.
Kbkn.
TiiTAI,.
Muin-
teimiice.
81
52
00
03
31
S2
74
40
8(530 00 '
050
00
(i50
0(»
050 00
050
00
050
00
1010
00
900
00
1000
00
1 100 00 ;
1100 00
750 00
725 01)
725 00
8898 85
1 150 00
1300 00
1476 (iO
!p200 00
200 00
200 00
350 00
300 00
800 00
1200 00
1000 00
1000 00
1000 00
900 00
1500 00
1500 00
1500 00
$73 00
58 00
54 00
SO 00
92 00
125 00
2S3 50
377 25
412 50
439 30
*307 50
+33 00
:*^245 00
.•j!l499 30
1449 15
1415 61
1590 00
1542 00
2043 30
2915 31
2S09 77
3128 56
3248 93
3889 66
4074 82
4270 74
4(i37 06
* First half-year. f Non-rcsidonl. ! N'on-reHident and last lialf-year.
By coniparinji^ tlie total reveinie with the salaries paiti
teacliei-s (hirinj;' the ei<;-ht years ending' in 1894, it will be
.seen that the foi'iner exceeds the latter by nearly $!),000, or
about $1,100 a year. This is duo in large measure to ex])en-
ditui'e on buildinj;', e(juipnient, and iln' enlargi^nient of the
school gi'ounds. There has been no separate capital account
kept, so tliat, except the debentui'es For .$10,.')00, everythine-
is included in the statement given. The building cost some
$1,200 or $1,500 more than provided for by debentures.
There has been expended on the Library, the fitting up and
furnisliing of a Science-room and Museum in tlu' basement,
and a (lymnasium on the third Hat, at least $2,000 more; and
in 1891 a (juarter of an acre was added to the school grounds
at a cost of $000, and it was further swelled ovei- $200 by
the im])osition of fees by the Counties Council in June, 1S94,
that were not taken into account when the estimates for that
year were made, thus leaving the actual cost of maintenance,
outside of teachers' salaries, about $(500 a year
*i
'•■
u
:
i
I
hi
112
SEMl-CKNTENNIAL (>K IHoQIOIS IIKMf SCHOOL.
( )i" course, hoiiic of this cxpeiuliturc I'oi- <'(|iii|,)iiM'iit was
C'lmr<^(M| iin^ain.st tlic silluoc alone, but there is a [)retty wide
l)0)"(lerland between what is dearly loi' liuiMin^- and e(|ui|)-
nient and what for maintenance. And in \ iew of the efforts
put forth by the villa<;e to j)rovide tirst-elass aeeoniUKxhition,
it has l)een the [)raetice with those having' to ('o with the
Hnancial att'airs of the school to draw the dividinu' line as
near to actual buildin<j^ and etiuijanent as is pei-niissible.
The cost of an educational institution is a V(ay j;()od mea-
sure of tlio efforts put fortii to reach tlie end desire(|, but the
results of the woi'k done by the teachers iire too impalpable,
too elusive, to be subjecte<l to exact analysis or counted in
figures. We know an effort is lu'ini;' made to do this, and the
outcome mav be of value, lait the svstem has, until verv
recently, been in a state of flux, and any attem[)t to estimate
from this the charactei' of the work done ovei' a lon^- ))eriod
mi^ht be very misleadint;-. We will, therefoi-e, content our-
selves with ^ivin^ a few more figures bearing;' on the attend-
ance and cost per pu[)il, and taken from the re[)()rt filed in
the Education Department and from the accounts of the
.school. The years l.SU;}, 187M, and so on, have been selected
because they ai'e the only i'(|uidistant years foi' which the
data were available.
YUAR.
NlMllKH OK
I'rni.s.
18«33
70
!?800 00
1873
112
1200 00
1883
(50
1200 00
181)3
172
290O 00
sai.ak1k.s of
.Mastkus.
ToTAI,
Kkvkntk.
§S43 47
I.54I .")!»
14r)0 (il
4074 82
I'Ain IN
Sai.akikh
KOII KACIl
IT I'll,.
.$11 42
10 71
20 0(1
16 m
Otiikr
KxrK.xsKs
I'KK
Pri'll,.
*() 62
3 O.-)
4 17
(5 83
ToTAI,
(!oHT I'KII
Prni,.
•SI 2 04
13 76
24 17
23 (59
' From tlio report of 1S!I3, hut the flgurcH given luv for 1892.
The nundx'r of ]iupils t;iven is, we believe, in each case the
whole iuind)er in attendance durin<;' the year. The average
daily attendance would probably be about one-third less.
iL
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IUO(iUOIS HIOH SCHOOL.
113
04
76
17
i li'J
the
In nscent y«'»ii*s " phy.sical (Milt»in> "' Iuih hccoiiu' a marked
feature of tlie .school. So reeently as 1881), Iii.spector H(mI<^.soii
regretted that no provision was made for teaehino- drill or
caliHthenie.s. Very soon after that a <jfyMniaHium wa.s fitted
uj) on the third floor, and a r<';^nlar .syHtem of c.xc'rci.se and
drill instituted. J)umh-l)('lls, Indian eluhs, wands and the
various otlu-r dexict's intended to conduec to lto(|ily v'ij^or
hav(! come to he n-^ardcd as hein^ nearly, if not alto<;"(^ther,
as OH.sential to the proper t'<|ui})ment of a Hi^h School as
blackhoards, maps and hf.xicons. At the atnnial " Conuuence-
ments, " the exliihitions of skill in the use of these appliances
have, for some years, been re;jarded as amon^' the most pleasin^f
featiires of these entertainments. Since the advent of Mi'.
Kno.\, the pi'esent Science-master, more attention has heen
paid to outdooi" sports and oames. No day in the calendai- of
the .school is Icxjked forwai'd to with more ea^'<'rness hy the
pupils than tlio annual meet of the Hiji^h School Athletic
As.sociation. Koi- days, sometimes for weeks, Ixd'ore: it
takes place the ])rizes, contrihuteil by the business men of the
viliajife and friends of the students, are exhibited in the win-
dows of one of the shops, and wistfully scanned by the
prospective po.ss(>s.sors.
These contests and ti,ames are .so arranj;ed that i'V(iy pupil
in the .school may find a [)lace adapte(l to his physical capa-
cities and peculiarities. They consist principally of foot and
bicycle races, jum pin ir in its various f(U'ms, vaulting, throwing-
weights, siich as the shoulder stone an<l caber, and games of
ball .and lacros.se. They are modelled somewhat after the
Olympian and other (li-ecian games, and it is hoped tlieir
influence on the character and conduct of the people may be
as salutary as that attributed to their gi-eat prototy])es. Nor
have we rea-son to think otherwi.se. The (Jreeks, and the
Romans as well, owe the place they fill in history as much to
their physical as to their mental superiority, 'i'iunr games an<l
their literature were intertwined, and mauv of their ffreatest
intellectual efforts were put foi-th in behalf of strength, endur-
ance and courage. Had there been no Achilles or Hector,
8
14
SKMI-rKN'TKNNI.M, <il" l|{(ivl(»ls llliill SclKiot,.
■I !■
,1
I! i(
i,
\v<»iilil tlitTi' lui\c I II II Ihdiicr' W'licii tlir ciiviis, with
its liiird (ir l))ii'liuriHii fitliictr.s, to(»|< tin- place nf tlic coiitcHts
niiioiii; till' rnTiiicii, tlw dccliiif dl' tlh'sc natioiiN li.id Im-itiiii.
it in till' Hiiinr with <iiir nwn iJicc mikI imtinii : its Hiiiin-iiiiicy
i.s hii'^ely tJK' outt'oiiit' ol' its fi^^'htin^" (|iiiilitif,s, II" the tup of
its iiioi'iiiii;^' (Iniiii ('(tutiinioiisly hrruMs the I'isiii^ sun, it is
hcc'iiust' of tilt' pluck mid riicr;^fy hiMii of iiiusculiir ctltn't. Ill
a TU'W country, where the conditions ol" life conduce to hodily
vi^^of, the want of physical training; in the schools may not
he I'elt, hut we think the new departure has Im'cii taken none
too soon. So far the hoys who are t'oreniost in the sportrt
ui'c aniono^ the t'oreniost in their classes, and the added laltor
or exercise apjiears to he rather a help than a hindrance to
their ))ro<;'ress in the ordinary work of the school.
in addition to the annual ^^'aiiies, other sports claim the
attention of the students, such as skatiii;^' and hockey in the
winter, and hasehall, lacro.sse and t'ootliall in the summer.
This last is the laxorite just now. The ' team consists of
eleven j)layers, and is a stroii;;' one. It has met ami vam|uished
nearly all the t»'anis from surroundin;^' villa;;es and towns,
and is now rej^arded as the cliaiii|)ioii team of Eastern ( Mitario;
that is, of all the countiy from Kinjjjston east to the l'ro\ ince
line.
Anothei" new and very conimeiidahle feature in the workin;^'
of the .school is the Science lectures, 'i'hese ow<' their orio'in
mainly to Mr. Knox, Imt he has hecn well .secondt'd hy the
other members of the start' and the C'liairmaii of the Hoard of
Trustees. They are intended not only for the students in the
school, l)ut for all who will take interest enough to attend,
'i'hey were hej^un in the winter of lS!>:i-!)4- hy inducine- local
men familiar with special departments of knowledge to
prepare and deliver lectures in the Assemhiy-room. Some of
these were very interestin<;" and instructive, and attracted
considerable attention. As time went on the circle was
widened, and scientists weri' broui;lit in from other towns and
vilhif^es, and from Ottawa and Toronto. Special efibrts have
been made to intei-est tlie faiMiiei's, and experts in a<^"riculture,
! ■;
4
:i
inn-
Ml.-
(I ol"
1 til.'
tniil.
local
to
nc ot"
acted
WilS
ami
liavc
Iturc,
?
s
^ a
I^E
- H
i 7 - >
y. —
M
1
fl ui
f 1:1
k\
;
1 1,
SKMI-CENTKNNrAL OK Illoi^fOIS MKMI SCHOOr,, 115
liorticiiltiiif and tliiiryiii^, liuvc liccn HfcuriMl. At tlir last
II tiny: Ifi'tiirt'M hy ( '. ( '. .Iiimk-m, M.A., Drpiity MiiiisttT of
A^^iicultiirc for Ontario, iin<l I'rotcssor KolMTtsnii, Doiniiiioii
Dairy CuniniiNNioncr, \v«'ri; given in the 'I'ttwn Hall tu u very
larj^i' audicMCU.
TlicMc lt!ctur«'H nvi' inidcr tin- au.spicr.s of the Natural
Science AsHociation, wliicli has also or^^omized weekly Satur-
day excui-sions tliirtu^rji the conntry during; tlie .siuniner
Heason for the study of nattii-al histoiy and the collection of
specimens I'or tlnMr nniseuni, which is now the second hest
High School inusuuin in the Provincui ol' Outario.
11 If!
i!|i!!|
1
=1
! ;
»■
\
h
! (
!i
CHAPTER XIV.
Tlie Alumni.
SCHOOL is like a world in miniature, un-
elian^in^ forces operatin<; from generation to
^(Mieration on similar material produce but.
slifflitly varying results, yet the individual
ehan<;es follow each other in rapid succession.
Fifty years is a very short period in the world's history, or
even in the life of a naticm, but the men and woiiien of fifty
years a^o, where ai-e they ? Those who have succeeded them
are, nevertheless, actuated by the same motives, the same
(lesir(!s, and the same ambitions. What the half-century
acc(implishes in the larj;er field, foui* or five years will do in
the smaller. In<lee(l, it is dtmbtful if the averaj^e school life
of tlu^ pupil is more than half of that, so the men and women
who owe a part of their intellectual development to the
Ti-oquois Scliool may be numbered by many hundreds, perhaps
by thousands. ( )f the lives of a few of these we have had
glimpses by the way as we traced the history of the school :
those of a few others fairly representative of the students
may be of interest. In sketching them we shall ccmfine our-
selves to the eai'lier students, those whose life work is well
on its way, perlia])s ended, merely premi.sing that what we
may say will be almost entirely from personfil recollection.
Among those who entei-ed the school when first opened
were some half dozen youths who appear to have made some
progress in the liigher branches before entering, probably
with Mr. Kerr, who had taught in the commor) school. They
ki
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IRO(^UOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
117
were : JameH Ault, Oi-nicind Skinnor, Rufus Carman, Philip
and William Keeler, and (!!yrus Brouse. Each of these boys
was the pridi^ and hope ol" the family to which he belonj^ed.
The three first named were frecjuentl}' referred to during the
speechmaking that was then, as now, common at donation
parties and socials, as living evidences of the success of the
school and intelligence of the citizens. Ault and Skiinier
studied medicine, and graduated from McCJill College about
18')4. Kxcept Dr. Wm. H. Hi-ouse, who graduated some years
earlier, and was j)ractising in Pi-escott, they were the first
native doctors in this county. Ault })ractised at Dixon's
Corners for a short time, and then left for newer and better
fields. He returned to Tro(iuois some years later, and died at
his mother's, the old Simon Ault homestead, in the eastern
part of tlie village, in 1<S67. Skinner Avent to Western
Ontai'io, and succeeded in getting a very good practice in a
small town near Hamilton. He, too, died early. Rufus
Carman adopted the legal profession, and was the first native
lawyer. He remained in [ro(|Uois for several years, and,
when the village was incorporated, was appointed Clerk.
He also has joined the silent majority. The Keeler boys, sons
of old Scjuire Keeler, were bright lads, but, especially William,
the younger, a little trying to the school authorities. Neithei*
of them graduated: some youthful escapade drove William
from the school and from home. He went West, and subse-
(juently joined an American surveying party, became an
engineer, got employment with the Goverrnuent, and died at
Washington some twenty or more years ago. Philij) did
business for a time at Dixon's Corners and South Mountain ;
realized on a large farm his father had deeded to him to
enable him to vote, and left the country with considerable
money nearly forty years ago. I belie\'e he, too, is long siiice
deail. l^he last of " that bi-ight l)and," Mr. Brouse, has had a
che(|uered career. First, as a druggist in St. Catharines ; then
as a farmer with his father, Mr. Jacob Brouse : later, in the
gold mines of British Columbia, where he made and lost a
fortune ; again, as a farmer on the old homestead : and he is
-V
.f.
' ifl
I !
y'
!!;
:jm
.■'"IP
I'
■ill .11
1 '
%
I?
I'|!
118
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROC^UOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
now trying to wrest fortune, or at leust tlie means of sul)-
sistence, from a farm not far from tin; city of Winnipeg.
Very few of the students of that time turned their atten-
tion to school teacliing. Among the young men we only
remember Mr. J. S. Rattray ; and of the hidies, Miss Emily
Coons, now Mr.s. Silas Redmond : and Miss Charlotte Parlow,
now Mrs. N. M. Davy.
Among the students in the school a few years later, or
about 1852, was a small la<l, the eldest son of an itinerant
Methodist ''Episcopal minister, who was stationed here at the
time, and who afterwards cliose to spend the evening of his
days in this village. This lad has since been closely identified
with tlie educational interests of this county, and is one of
the four or five we have selected for more exteniled notices.
Arthur Brown was born in South Crosby, County of Leeds,
May 13th, 1840. His grandfatlier, William Brown, had served
in the war of 1812, and at Prescott. The clerical instinct in
the family nnist have been strong, for notwithstanding he was
a Methodist and a soldier, he was designated "Priest Brown."
His eldest son, William, was a most devoted nnnister in the
Churcii of his choice, and died here a few yeai^s ago universally
regretted. Arthur was again the eldest son, and (Mitered this
school during Mr. Dick's time, when about twelvt' veai's old.
He remained ill the school two years, when the family
removed to Farmersvilh', now Athens. There l)eing no
CJranni'.ar School there at that time, he attended the conunon
school until he ol)taine(l a certificate to teach, and began
teaching in Mallorytown in 1857. He attended the BeUeviile
Seminary in 1858 and 1859. In the latter year Mr. Carnum,
who had been Professor of Mathematics from the time he
entered the school, became Principal. Later Mi-. Bi'own spent
some time in the Farmersville Grannnar School, first as
student and then as teaclier, and contiiuied teaching, mostly
in Public Schools, until Januaiy, 1874, when lie came to
Morrisburg and assumed the management of the Movrixhurg
Herald, a Liberal local paper which was about l>eing started,
and the first issue of which was published on the 24th of
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IKOt^UOIS HKJH SCHOOL,
11!)
imion
began
>ville
•Mian,
u' he
spent
st as
lostly
lie to
shnrg
arted,
tth of
March following. He still continiUMl to give a great deal of
att(Mition to ('(lucational niattei's, find when in 187IS, Rev. Mr.
Ferguson, on juronnt of liis advaneed age, retired from the
position of Inspector of Public Schools for the County, Mr.
Brown was unanimously chosen by the Counties Council as
his successor. His career since has fully justified the confi-
dence then so strikingly expressed by the Council. He has
devoted his whole attenticjn to the schools of this county for
nearly twenty years, and is regarded, and Justly so, as one of
the best in.s{)ector.s in the Province. Educationally, this
county is fai- in advance of any other eastern county, and
well abreast of any county t'ast or west. This is, no doubt,
to a considerable extent due to the character of the people.
Nevertheless, Mr. Brown has et)ntributed largely to the results
obtained.
Our own recollections of many Avho were contemporaries of
Mr. Brown at the (Jrammar School are still .somewhat vivid :
His younger brother. Miles Brown, now practising medicine
at Che.sterville ; Kdwin Brouse, who, after graduating in
medicine, went to British Columbia with his brother, Cyrus,
returned later and [))'actised in Brock vi lie, where he died a
few years ago; Edward Ault, now in Mon'isl)ui"g, whose son,
Charles, thirty years later, was one of Mr. Whitney's most
promising pu])ils, and who is now an ai'tist of repute in the
city of Cleveland : Orson Soules, for many years a telegraph
operator, now a farmer in the T<jwnshi]) of Matilda: Charles
Ault, a brother of Edward, who died young: William
.lolniston, the son of a widowed mother, one of the brightest
l)oys in the .scIkjoI. He became a printer, juiblished tlie
Iroquois (VtcVy' during the Brouse-Crawford election in ISoS,
and for some time tiiereafter : later the Gormvall Economist
and Port Hope Guide ; and then became, next to (Jordon
Brown, the leading edit(>r of the Toronto Globe, but died
before he reacluMl his n-rtieth year.
Robert Harkness, eldest brother of the present Chairman,
appeared to accjuire knowledge without an effort, and vahied
it about in [ji'oportion to the etibrt when acquired. He did
120
SKMI-CKNTKNNIAI. <>K IIKM/l'OI^ UKUI SCHOOL.
n
f S ilM
1, 1
Piil
Imsiiu'ss Mwliile as a <r<!n('ral iiicrcliaiit at Dixon's Coi'iu'i-s,
and latt'i- in Jnxiuois, in what is now tlu' Powell House. He
was two years CMci'k of tlie Townsliij) and one year in the
Villajfe Couneil. In 18(i2 he wvut to British ('olunihia, tni-
vellin;^ with a pai'ty overland from VV^innipej^, takini;- their
sn[)|)lies on the backs of oxen, that had to 1h> killed and eaten
when the party reaehecl tlie mountains. Bein<^ the oidy one
of the adventurei's who knew anythinj^' ahout hnnberin^, lie
su])erintende<l the construetion of a raft on the head waters of
the Fi'a.sei' River, and navioruted it down the unknown i-a))ids
with the supplies, while his companions made theii' way past
the dan^^erous places by land. A few ■ srs later he i-eturned :
tauf^ht school foi' a sliort time, visited fi'iends in Ireland, was
attain Township Cl'rk, kept howl, became a .lustice of the
Peace, and Hnallv losed his ^areer as editor of the Picton
Times, just as lie . ad passed his fiftieth yeai'.
Jacol) Loweiy, a (piiet and thoughtful stu<lent, was the
eldest of a family of .seven, all of whom early tell victims to
consumjjtion. A stone in Point Iro(|uois (cemetery, with the
sim})le inscrii>tion, "The L()wery Family," mai-ks the resting-
place of the fathei', mother, and .seven children — three sons
and four dauj^hters.
David A. Breakeiu'ido-c, a medical student, was the ex(iui-
site of tile school. Just before the conuiiencement of one of
the terms, bills were posted announcint;- the openin*;' and
{^ivin^ tlie names of the several members of the staff. " Jake "
Lowery, who had a keen .sen.se of humor, and detested any-
thint;- like foppery, sketched a reco^"nizal)le caricature of
Bi'eakenrid<fe on one of these bills, and wrot<' mi(U'r it, " Dr.
J^uf, Professor of Etiquette.'^ The epitlu^t had an apja-o-
priateness that connnended it to the boys, and poor Breaken-
ridi>e nevei' ffot altom'thei- over it while he remained in
Inxpiois. He soon after al)andoned medicine, excejjt as a
dru<.;(4ist, and later became a very successful life insurance
au'ent. About 189'i he died in Brockville.
H. H. Cook, a younj^ man fi-om the Townsliip of Williams-
bur<^', also attentU'd the school about tiiis time. He afterwards
kri
T. (;. WILLIAMS, II. 1).
AKl'lirR liKOWN, l.l'.S.
A. W . MdlilllSDN.
W. S. .lOIINSToN.
H. II. UiiSS. M.A.. M.P.
A. S, KUSK, ll'.S.
,'iirds
h
V.
i '
111
■■
! ; ,: !
ii 'i 1;
11
ill 111
■Uh
n
U'
Hit !; ' '
I I'
i I i
li'l
11
Fi
! !?
"X ^
:'|t ^
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF lUOVTOIS HIGH SCHOOL. 121
I'nj^a^ed with his l)i-()th('r in hnnhci'iii*;, and is now aniont^ thf
wealthy men of tho country: has Ixien several yeai's in the
Local Fje^islature and in Parliament, and, thou<^h not thei-e
now, is still on the rij^ht side of sixty, and may aj^^ain he
heard from.
Robert, oi' "Hob" Larmour also belonj^cd to this |)eriod.
He turned his attention to tele<,M'a))hin;4", became Suju'iintend-
ent of a Division on the Grand Truids Hailway, atid subse-
([uently Maiianinu' Director of the London and Port Stanhy
Railway. He is still livin<;-.
Thomas (J. Williams was the son of that William H.
Williams who conducted the <.,n'eat revival camp-meeting- on
the " Point " in 182.S. He was born tiear Belleville about IH'M]
or IS;}7. His mother was the sister of Charles ('. Rose, whom
Ave ha\e also mentioned in connection with the foundinuof the
school. The home of Ihm' people was at Dixon's Corners, and
when the elder Williams retired from the active' ministry he
settled there. "Tom" entered the (Ji-ammar School here in
the fall of [Hr)(i, when Mi-. Carman was princi])al, and con-
tinue<l in it, teachini;- betimes, thi'ou^h Cowan's time and
the fii-st vear oi- two of Mr. Whitnev's. Subseciuentlv he
attended Victoria Collect'. Li bSOl he entered on prol»ation
for the ministry, and was ordained in Ihiif). His j)rou-)-ess
towards a front place in the (.'hui-ch was thereafter steady, if
not very rapid. He was stationed at the following places :
Rawdon, Huntintifdon, Franklin Centre, Winchester, Iro(|uois,
Prescott, Brock ville, Pembroke; Sherbrooke Street, Montreal :
West End, Montreal ; and is now in Sherl)rooke City ; was
Chairman of District fifteen years, and twice Presi<lent of the
Montreal Conference ; a meml)er of the (Jeneral Conference
in 1878, and of each (Jeneral Conference since: a membei- of
the (General Boai'd of Missions since 188.'}, and Seci-etary foi-
eleven years. But the work for which he should be longest
and most gratefully remend)ered was the nnion of the Meth-
odist Churches in Canada. The union of tiie Presbyterian
Churches in 1875, had directed public attention to the (|ues-
tion of the union of the two branches of the Methodist
122
SEMI-CKNTENNIAL OF IHOt/UolS HKill SCHOOL.
^ , i
H.
^;.||
II P
■ <
Chureli, and the iiifittcr Iwul Itccn protty fn't'ly talked over
liL'iv during Mr. Williams' incuinhcncy, IVoiii 1<S7<) to 1N7!):
l»ut no action was taken nntil tht; Fall of 1!S8I, when Mr.
Williams, who was then .stationed in Pre.seott, and was Chair-
man of the Brock ville District, sunnnoned several of his
leadin<r ministers to meet with nunisters of the Methodist
Ejjiscopal Chnrcii at Morrislnn-^, on Decemhei- I5th.
Thin wati the first mcefim/ held to promote union. Mr.
Williams pivsided, and the outcome was a call to all the
official nu'inbers (jf the Methodist Church of Canada in the
Brockville District, and of the Ottawa J)istrict of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church, to meet at Ii'0(|uois, on the l.st of
February, IHH'l Mr. Williams was ai^ain chosen to picside.
Over six hundred were in attendance, and the Union move-
ment was (>ot fairly under way. A pa])ei', called the Method-
ist Union, was started, and published at the office of the
Morrinbiirg Herold, Mr. Williams contrihutinj^ lilieially to its
colunnis until the Churches were finally united. Hishoj) Carman
was then the head oi the Methodist Kpi.scopal Church, and
was at first re<;;arded as bein<; unfriendly, but he subsetpiently
led the movement from the other side: and to the.se two men,
more than to any others, it is due that wt^ now have but one
Methodist Church in Canada.
Mr. (now Dr.) Williams has written sevei-al jiami)hlets,
mostly controversial, and one b(»ok, " Methodism and Angli-
canism in the Li<^lit of Scripture and History." This is now
included in tlie ciu'riculum of students readin*:^ for the de<;'ree
of Bachelor of Divinity in the Wesleyan Theolo<ifical College,
Montreal. The Doctor has fought many hard battles in
behalf of the Scott Act, and believes that a prohil)itive Act
mi<rht l»e enforced as effectually as any of our Customs regu-
lations, fn addition to the positions named, he has been a
member of the Board of Examiners of Probationers since
1874, and is a member of the Board of (iovernors of the
We.sleyan Tlieolon;ical Collefjje, Montreal. He was also Bi'esi-
dent of the Ministerial Association in Montreal in 1894,
composed of ministers of all Protestant Churches in the city.
' I
SEMl-CENTKNNIAI, OF IRO(/UOlS HIOH SCHOOL.
•2:?
Willimii H. Williiims, a yoiiii;^^'!- Itnttlicr. wus also a .stiuU'iit,
ami tinislicd liis sciiool coiir.si! here. He was I'or many years
a writi'i' on tlir 'I'oi'onto (Uohc ; tii'st, as corn's) jondont during;
tilt' first Kiel troubles, aixl latci- as s))oi-tin<^ editor. He is
now in New Oi'lcans, still, we hclieve, doin^' newspaper work.
Alexander Morrison was horn in tlie 'l^ownsliip ol" Moun-
tain, in I84(). His lather, James Morrison, is ol" Scotch
descent, hut came to this country from ii-eland, where the
family had heeii domiciled Ion;;' enouj^h to make ol' him a
pretty {^ood Irishman. He is impetuoiis in mainu'r, out-
spoken, enterprisint;', hospitahle, and treiierou.s — characteris-
tics, some at least ol" which have descended to his son. His
enterpi'ise hroui^ht him a Fair measure ol" success, and in 1856
he ))urchase(l a tine farm and residence on the St. Lawrence,
neai- the western houndary of Matilda, where he still lives,
Itearinu' jauntily the weight of eiofhty-two years. Alexan<ler
attended the I'uhlic School at the neiehboi'ine- villa<;'e of Car-
dinal until sufficiently advanced, when he entered the Iroquois
(Ji'ammai- School, and spent three or four yeai's unth'i" Mr.
Whitney. He then decided on a mercantile cour.se, and went
to the British American ConnntMX'ial Colli';;e, Toronto, from
which, in due cour.se, he receive<l n dii)loma. With this an
his j))'incipal capital, he dete'inined to tempt fortune in the
Oolden State, and in the winter of 18G8 sailed from New York
for San Franci.sco. 'i'here he stjon ^ot a j^ood clerical po.sition
in one of the leadin<^ hotels, the " Amei'ican Kxchan<fe." Ten
months thei'caftei- he came home on a visit, intendinj( to
return to the "American Kxchan^e:'" hut, just as he was leav-
ini»" a second time, a lady in Iroipiois asked him to sto]) at
Saci'amento and see hei' .son, who was in that city. This h<'
promised to «lo, little thinkinj^^ that it would result in chan^-
in^- his plans and affect his whole future life. He reached
Sacramento on Saturday, and saw his friend. On Monday
he accepted a })()sition as clerk in the " Western Hotel," of
which he is .still the manager. His life has since been un-
eventful : his .surplus earnin<rs have been well invested, and
he is in easy circumstances. He has been very generous to
»
1
I
^
J"
',♦■■
, V.
124
SKMI-CKNTENNIAI. OK IlKH/UOIS HKJH HCIHOOL.
his less t'ortniiatr tViciidH, iiml still rctaiiiH liis lovf I'oi- his old
liomc uikI his hIuki iiintf)'.
lluHii H. llosH is the I'hh'st son of tli<' lute John S. Ross,
and was l)oni in Irocpiois in IS47. He must have t'ntcn'd the
(Jrannnar School when under ten yonrs of aj^c, as he was ii
|in|iil of Dr. Cannan's. Me rcniaintMl in the school throu<^li
Cowans. Davics", and tlu; first three or Tour years of Mr.
Whitney's time, wht'ii he entere(l 'I'oj-onto rnivrrsity. ;^radu-
atin^' ahont 1S(1!), and takin<;' the Silvei- Medal. Ih^'Mien
devoted hinisell' to Hi;,di School woi'k I'oi" a time, hut his
father's business was lai'<^e and re(|uire(l more attention than
lie could sj)are IVoiii his parliamentary duties, and the younj^
man was called home to assist in its manai^ement. Subse-
»|Uently a |)artnershi|) was t'oi'iiie(l. consisting' of the father
and two si^ns, H. H. and Allan .)., ami known as Ro8.s. Bros.
ik Co., dealei's in hai'dware, ^rain, etc. The business has been
C'ontinue»l bv the sons since the father's death. " Hutio" was
always a favorite in social circles in Iroijuois, and succeeded
to a lar^e share of his father's pojiularity in the ccainty. In
1<S!)1 he was elected to Pai-liameut, thou<fh by a narrow
nuijority, but his native villai^^e, for the first time in its
history, placed a Conservative at the head of the poll.
Amon;,' his contemporaries, Robert Baldwin Carman, the
second son of Philip Carman, is one of the Ix'st known. He
was born in 184.'J, educatecl here and at Albert Colle^^e, where;
he took his degi'ee of B.A. in 18()(i. He then took a course in
Chemistry, Zoolojry, and Botany at the St. Lawrence Scientific
School, in c<ainection with Harvard Cnivei-sity, Boston : was
Professoi- of Chemistry at Albert University some years, but
finally tui-ned his attention to law, and became a bai'i'i.ster in
187'i. He soon after tMitered into partnershi[) with James
I-eitch, of Cornwall. In 1888 he became Jmiioi* Ccnnity
Judfjfe of these Counties, a position he still holds.
Another, Andrew Harkness, a brother of the present Chair-
man of the Hi^h School Board, entered the school about 1863,
when eighteen years of aije. He was at tl>e time an untamed
youth, and severely tested Mr. Whitney's confes.sedly superior
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OK ilUX^UOIH HIOH SCHOOL.
I2:>
Nkill as M iliMcipliiiMi'iaii ; Ixit li<' t'Vt'iituallv )ir(>V(>(| liimsrli' a
j;()()«l Htudcnt, studifd Mfiliciiit- at M'.'(Jill C<)ll«'<;(', Montreal,
takiiiji; the primary pi'i/f in 18(18, and the final prize in 1869,
Nvlicii he j^raduated. He is now practi.sin^ at Laneaster.
Not many of the "old l)oyn" ol' the sehool were hoys ho
ioii^' or, when they became men, were ho much in sympathy
witii the younj^er Ijoyn an William Henry I'atton. \\r wan
tilt! Hon of Arthur I'atton, Eh(|., of this villa^'e, and, on his
mother'n side, the ;^randH(jn of Jamen Armsti'on<;, a wealthy
and inlliiential I'esident of Oj(densitur«^, N.V. When hut a
ho}' of sixteen, or thereabouts, he was, throuj^h tlie iiilluence
of his ;jrandfathei''s family, appointeil Amc'riean Vieii-Coiisul
at Preseott. Later, he <fot a |»Iaee in the establishment of
A. '!'. Stewart, N(!W V^:)rk. While thei'e Ik; l)eeame New York
eorres|)ondent of some Canailian paj)ers, and on his return
was for a time a report(!r for the Montreal Star. The last
ten years of his life he devoted to keepinij^ his fathers books,
and ■soiuidin<jj the [»i*aises of his native village throu<:;h the
local papers of siu-j'oun<lin^ towns. His local patriotism was
unbounded, and he was at once the promoter and chronicler
of the .sports and pastimes of the people, as well as of every
movement tendinjj; to prooress or improvement. He died
in 1890.
John Karl Halliwell entere(| the .school about l8(j!>. He
was the son of the Rev. John Halliwell, who ci'eated a .sensa-
tion here a (piarter of a century aj^o by leaving the Methodist
Ki)iscopal Church and uniting' with the Church of Kngland.
The younf]f man sub.se(|uently (graduated, and studietl law.
He also joined the volunteei's, and starved as Lieutenant imder
Colonel Williams duiin;^^ tlu^ North-West R(!l)ellion. At
Hatoche he received a <;"un-sh()t wound in the shoulder, a)id is
.still disabled. He is now [)ructisin<( law at Stirlinir.
There are others of the boys of the sixties whose lives we
would like to trace, but the field widens as we proceed, and
we have already exceeded our limit of space. Besides, Mr.
Whitney has gone over this <rround in his paper, and we
would only be enlarging on what he has said.
m^muif^titmm
I
f^p «i
126
SEMl-CKNTENNlAI, OK IIKM/UOIS HKIH S(!H()OI«
AlfxandtT S. Homc Ih-Ioii^h to a Iat«'r },.'riu(l. FT*- was Iku'ii
at DixoMH (j»nit'rs somt'tiinc iicai' l«S(l(). His Tatlu'r, Alva
H«)H«', vvaH a nt'jilu'W ol' tlit- Charles C. Ilosc who wa.s amoii^
the Hrst |)i'oinot(>rN of tht^ Gniiiiitiai' Scliool, aixl was a man of
much more than avi'i"a;^t' intt'lH^cnct'. Hv was, liowcvt-r, not
HUceesHl'ul in husint'ss, ami youn;; Rose had to make his own
way in thf woi-ld. Al'tci' leaving' the Public School he and
his l)i-othci' cn;;a^('d in hrickmakin^ at South Mountain.
This docs not a|)|)caf to have heen con<;enial work I'oi" either,
as it was soon ahaiidoned, and Alexander entered the Hi;;h
School. Alter Itecondnjj^ t|ualilied to teach, he went to Mani-
t()))a, and has since devoted himself" to school work. He is
now re^'ai'de(l as bein^^ amonj; thi- best eihicationists in that
province, and is Inspector of Public Schools For the liran<lon
District, or Division.
At sciiool with Mr. Rose were two boys, both cousins ol" his,
who have I'cliecteil credit on the school, and whom Mr.
Whitney has Tailed to notice: Aithur Whitney, his eldest
son, who ^ra(luate(l in Medicine at (.Queen's ( 'ollei.je, Kin;;ston —
standine- very clo.si' to the Gold Mcldl — aiid who is now a
successful practitioner in St. Paul; and Fred. B. Harkness,
.second son of the Robert Harkness who was amonj^ Mi'. Dick's
pupils, and who, while attending lectures in the same Collei,'e,
maintainetl himself bv workint; pai't of each day at his trade
of printer, and yet won the ( !old Medal at ^'raduation. He is
now practisinjj^ medicine at North Gower.
L8 Itoin
, Alva
iniui of
fC, not
is own
III' aiwl
iiiitaiii.
cither,
. Hioh
I Mani-
He iH
ill that
randoii
ol' his,
ni Mr.
cldcwt
jston —
now a
rknoHs,
.Dick's
JoUctjc,
iH traflc
He is
J
i
Iv
(v'J !
!
;.!r
! 4
i r
Ni'Jji
ifi-
jRpyi/oj:^
\illa(;k views.
CHAPTER XV.
The lleunion.
URTNG tlu' latter part of 1.S94 soiiu' of the ohl
students, notably Mr. Jolm S. Carstairs and
Mrs. Wui. M. Doran — the Mary Elliot whom
Ml'. Whitney speaks of as being one of two
pu])ils whom he found in the school one
morninff durinijj the fever plaj:jue of 1867 — began to talk of,
in some way, marking the semi-eenteiniial of the Higli School.
Soon after a few of the old-time pupils and friends of the
school got together and decided to celebrate the event by a
i-eunion of the "old boys" and "girls," and, if the necessary
funds could l)e obtained, the {)ublication of a memorial
volume. It then app(»ared that Mr. Jackson, the Principal,
had also contemplated some kii.d of celebration, and it was
thought liest to call a larger ineeting. This meeting was held
in the early part of 1895, and it was found that considerable
difference of opinion existed as to what should be done, or
attempted, and a committee was appointed to deal with the
matter. This connnittee consisted of Mr. Whitney, James
Bullis, Mr. Jackson (the Principal), Mr. E. McNulty(the Secre-
tary of the High School Boai'd), John G. Harkness, B.A., and
Arthur Forward, B.A. (old students), and Adam Harkness, in
whose office the meetings wei'e held. After considering the
various schemes proposed, it was finally agreed that the
original plan should be carried out, and sub-conunittees were
appointed. To .lohn (i. Harkness, James Bullis and Mr. E.
McNiilty was left the care of the finances, and to Messrs.
Jackson, Whitney and Adam Harkness was enti'usted the
128
SEMI-CKNTEN'NIAL OF IIIOQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL,
I ,
!'
!'
i,!!
ili'il
i'fi
])reparati()ii of tlic iiiciiiorial voluini', or liistoiy of tlic scliool.
Tho writini^' of tliis .substMHicntly "Icvolved entirely on the
last nanied, wliile Mr. Jackson attendtMl to the illustrations
and assisted the members of the Finance Committee.
Monday, the 2nd of Septeud)er, Labor Day, was selected as
the time for the rtmnion or celel)rati()n. 'i'he speakers were
chosen with special reference to their relations to the school and
their familiarity with its history. On the Friday following
a report of the meetinj^ was published in the St. Laicrence
News. It tells its own story, and we give it as it appeared,
exce})t the synopsis of the speeches and papers of Dr,
Carman, Mr. Whitney, James A. Carman, Mr. Carstairs
and J)r. Harkness, which we ha\e published in full in the
Appendi.x.
JUHILEK OK THE HKJH SCHOOL.
A n.W TO UK RKMKMBKKKD A HALF CICNTUKY IIEXCE.
Fitting Ct'lt'hiation of a Notalile Aiiiiiver.sary — Sjiecoluis iuid Speeches —
Kiiiids for tiiL' Memorial Volume all Sul)8uril)ecl.
There could not l)e a finer day for the occdsion once in fifty years
tlian was Monday, when the Semi Centennial of the Iroc|uois High
School was duly celebiatetl according to tlie aimounced programme.
The .sun was warm, hut the atmospliere had a bracing autumnal
touch that made its warmtJi welcome, and there was no wind, nor
(lust, nor sliadHies, nor aught else to make a half-da ■ in the o})en
air otherwise than perfectly agreeable.
There were a great many speeches throughout the day and even-
ing. The criticism of the younger element was that, taking them
"by and laige,'' there were too many, and it might have been an im-
provement had some of them been curtailed, or had there been fewer
speakei's. But the s{)eeches were all able and vital to the occasion,
and from fii'st to last were listened to with keen appreciation by
large numbers of tlie foremost and most intelligent men and women
of the community. It was intei-esting, and to the dispassionate
listener, somewhat amusing, to see the perennial and ubi(iuitous
(juestion of religious teaching in the schools crop})ing out again and
again, and to hear the hopelessly diverging views of the different
s| leakers.
'I'aking it as a whole the celebration was very fitting, very credit-
able and enjoyable, and reflects honor on those who carried it out in
the face of considei-able apathy and discouragement at the beginning.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
129
Perhaps it is not out of place liero to <^ive a special word of piaise
to Mr. .fackson and Mr. J. (}. Hcarkness, by whose efforts mainly the
funds for the memorial volume were obtained. The probable worth
of this work is peihaps scarcely recognized. To say nothing of its
present value and interest, it slutuld be a monument more enduring
than marble. It is not hard to imagine how a copy of this work
will be prized when the Centennial of the School is celebrated.
At the announced time, 2.30 p.m., about seven hundred of old
and young of both sexes, a large preponderance being ex-pupils,
assembled on the High School grounds, where seats had been laid
and a platform was er-ected.
Then^ were seated on the platform besides the speakers, Rev.
\{. L. M. Houston, liev. J. M. Macalister, Rev. F. (}. Lett, Dr.
Williams of Cardinal, Messrs. J. N. Tuttle, N. H. Sherman and
Hobert Houck.
After a few remarks by the Chairman, Dr. Harkness, Mr. J. A.
Jackson, B. A., the present headmaster of the school, delivered a brief
and appropriate address of welcome. He stated that the full amount
of $400 for t\u: memorial volume had been subscribed, and it was
assured that the volume would be published at an early date. He
read letters of regret from a number of teachers and otticials of
neighboring .schools, and a very inteiesting letter from James A.
Caiman, B.A., Mr. ifacksons predecessor in the headmaster's
chair.
Mr. J. S. Carstairs gave an atldress of considerable length,
dealing with his connection with the school as student and teacher,
and having also many well-expi'es.sefl thoughts on education in
general.
H. H. Ross, M.A., M.P., spoke briefly and humorously. He
alluded to one time when, as a small boy, he was under Dr. Carman's
tutelage, and played truant to go in swinmiing. Dr. Carman's eagle
eye detected the malfeasance, and the speaker was taken captive
and locked in a closet, and h^ft to his own reflection for sf)me time;
and after this the Doctor further chastened him by applying the rod,
with a hand that was not heavy, however. Under Mr. Whitney he
had spent many pleasant hours, and he always found him a fiiend in
and out of school. He also spoke of the brief reyime of Mr. Davies.
Referring to Mr. Carstairs' allusion to the matter of religious
teaching in the school, Mr. Ross intimated that he was then on
delicate ground. For the past twelve months he and his colleagues
in Parliament had been makijig a study of this (juestion as it aft'ected
another province, and they had found out one thing about it, that
it was not a safe matter to talk al)out. There was njom for argu-
ment on both sides, but he himself would not argue the question,
for the audience might then learn how he was going to vote in
Parliament. In concluding, Mr. Ross spoke in terms of praise of
the present status and prospects of the school, and mentioned that
T
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SKMI-CKMTKNNTAI, OF ll{(»(^r()IS HIGH SCHOOL.
ill jijissiiii,' thr()Ui,'li Muuntfiiii find Winclicstcr lately Iw FouikI the
si'hdol liiul lii^'li rcpiM' in those tdvvnships. A straw showing' how
tin' wind hlows was tho tact that Mr. KcniuMly, who lives on the
line hetween ^^ountain and Winchester, had told him he was j,'oing
to send a crou])le of hoys to the iro(|Uois school by {)ret'erence to
others eiiuall}' or more convenient, for the reason that }ie believed
this to he the best school.
Mr. VV. A. Whitney, M.A., followed with a paper reviewing,' the
history of the school during,' the long term that he was headmastei'.
This paper, coming,' from the man who, of all men, has had most to
do with the school, could not fail to be of exceptional interest.
Dr. Carman was next called upon, and was <^iven (|uite an
ovation. The liev. Doctor spoke with a force, earnestness and
clearness which showed that advancing years have not deprived him
of his remarkable physical and mental vigor.
THK i;VEN'IN(; MKETINO.
In the evening the Town Hall was literally packed. Not only all
the regular seats, but chairs and lu'iiches in the aisles, and even the
steps leading to the green room doors, were occufiied. In the
absence of Mr. C. E. Cameron, Ueeve, whose letter of regret was
read by Mr. Jackson, Air. N. (J. Sherman occupitnl the chair, and
after a few remarks, in which he contrastcfl the schools of his child-
hood with those of to-(hiy, called on Hev. J. M. Macalister.
.Mr. Macalister said that this celebration was one of the most im-
portant events in the history of the village. The school to a greater
or less extent must have its influence on every penson in the village.
He felt that all honor was due to the large-heailed, nobleinin(h'd
men who founded the school. He also eulogized the school and
staff of to-day; and, in conclusion, said he had a suggestion to make.
f)f all who attend the High School, the gi'cat mass Hiiish their
.scholastic education within its walls and for the benefit of these
and others the village needed a third educational institution, viz.,
a library. The opjxirtunity offered now to have a free public
library in Iro([uois, and it was his hope that the institution would
I)e established.
Rev. F. (x. Lett began by saying that his mind reverted to tlu^
year 1802, when he and others of his family blazed a road through
the woods to get to a log schoolhouse. In that schoolhouse he
learned to think. The man who was teaching knew how to make
a boy think for him.self. As one of the religious leaders of the
community he was in full sympathy with the j)romoters of the
High School. Their objects wei'e the same. He mentioned that
he would like to see the school have a gymnasium, and predicted
that the ne.xt half-century would see far greater progress than the
jiast.
T- .^1
SEMI-CKNTENMAL Ol' IKOC/l'OlS HIGH SC'HOOL.
i:}|
\\v\. Father Twiiincy iiiiulc; a hricf and strliolarly address, sjicakiiijjj
«'l()(|U('iitly of the iiitliieiiw of echication in taking away the mind
from things that (h'grade it. iUi Imlieved that the lr()(|U()is Migh
School was goveiiied l»y a grand IJoaid, and wouhl continue to
prosper. I{egarding the matter of religious instruction in the
schools, on which other speakers had been free to express them-
selve.s, he would refrain from giving his vicjws ; he believed that it
would h(> improper, not to say impei'tinent, to speak on this occasion,
when all should be harmony, on a subject on which ther(^ were such
radically and irrec- ncilably divergent views.
Dr. Ilarkness, bet ire i-eading his paper, recalled the day.s when
he was a student at rhe High Scho(»l. As student and trustee he
had been so long connected with the school that it had become part
of his existence.
Miss i^ibbie IJeach was now called u|)on to sing, and had a warm
reception. She rendered a very ditficult selection, " The Echo
Song,"' by Eckert, in an accomj)lished manner, and for encoi'c^ gave
a sweet and expressive rendition of "Home, Sweet Home.' On
lier recall Miss l>each was piesented with a beautiful boucjuet, the
cift of the Hi'di School.
Jlev. II. \j. .M. Houston piesented the regrets of Rev. T. .). Stiles,
who was so occujiied with parish work that he could not be pre-
.sent. He was glad to return to Trocjuois and see familiar faces
and shake fi'iendly hands. It was a great thing to have the youth
educated. The best e\ idence he could offer of his opinion of the
Iroquois High School was that he was thinking of sending his
(laughter to the school. Education was the training of the mind
so the mind would think for its(!lf. TIk^ most educated man, tiie
wisest man, is the \nnn who feels he knows scarcely anything.
There is no end to knowledge; education is nevei- complete, it will
nevei' be comj)lete until we cease to see through a glass darkly.
The speaker had an oj)inion with which he knew many would dis-
agree, but he had no hesitation in exjuessing it- that there was
oiu' lack in the school system, a lack that the countiy feels. We
have the three Us, Heading, 'Kiting and 'Kithmetic ; there is a
fourth IJ, a far more important U, that was lacking and should and
must be supplied, namely, Keligion. He believed that morals aiul
religion could not be divorcee!.
Mr. Arthur IJrown, I.P.S., touched upon the time when he was
a student here, in 18.")l-2, and rea<l from an old journal an account
of the offering of prizes to teachers and trustees for good school
work, by John A. Carman, (Jeorge FJrouse and William Elliot.
H(! believed that in the selection of teachers too great attention was
paid to their accomplishments, and too little .sometimes to their
chaiacter.
Mr. Jamieson, Princi})al of the Mori'isburg Collegiate Enstitute,
l)egan by paying a graceful compliment to INIiss Beach, saying that
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132
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IROt^UOIS HIGH SCHOOL.
Iroquois might well be proiul of her sweet sinjifer, a sentiment that
was heartily applauded. He also complimented the teachei-s of
Iroquois, and said that the rivalry between the two Hi<,'h Schools of
Dundas was a friendly rivalry ; each school was the better for there
being two.
Dr. Carman was then finally called upon, and after speaking
feelingly of the inexpressible pleasure it gave him to return to his
native village and rejoice with its people in the advancenumt of
education, he reverted to the (juestioii of religious teaching in the
schools. If the State is to put religion in the scht)ols, he asked,
what religion will the State put there ? He again expressed himself
as uncompromisingly opposed to any attempt to introduce religious
teaching in the schools.
The meeting closed with the singing of " (Jod Save the Queen."
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APPIiNDIX.
Introductory -Dr. Carman W. A. Whitney-James A. Carman-
•I. S. Carstairs- Dr. Harkness.
NDEIi our present .system of education tlie wliole
cost of the Primary or Public .schooLs, five-sixths
of that of the Hi<,rli schools, and a considerable
proportion of that of the Colleges, Technical
Schools and Universitie.s, is provided for by .^en-
eral taxation, and in tlu' Public schools tlie attendance is compul-
sory. The State prescribes the studies, ami directs the conduct of
. tlH' school in every particular. It appears to have become accepted
as an axi.miatic truth, that it is one of the first duties of the
(Jovernm.M.t to see that every child born in the country is properlv
fitt(.d for the duties of citizenship, ami thus the whole population
of school age may be said to be waids of the State.
This condition has come upon us gradually, almo.st imperceptiblv
When our fathers gathered at the cross-roads ami built their little
log school-houses, so that they might by mutual co-operation save
their children fnmi growing up altogether unlettered, it never
<.ccurred to them that they were m.t individually responsible ; that
It was not a part of the duty of a parent to" provide mental as
well as physical sustenance for his children. But even then the
seed was planted that has grown into the gigantic tree, in the
shadow of which we are now resting.
The small grants that were being made by the Government were
prnnardy hitended to encourage local effort, and were based to some
extent on results. This led to (Jovernmental supervision, at first
slight, but g.-adually increasing, until now the people, through their
Local Boards of Trustees, have very little to say in the management
«)t their schools, their duties and powers being almost exclusivelv
134
API'ENDIX.
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coiitiiied to providing' a tuM'taiii .sporititMl ac(-oiiiiii(i(lali()ii t'oi' tint
cliildreii of school agt? within tlu'ir I'tinpt'ctivn nectioiiH, and s(»l<ictinR
and (Mnployiii<,' teachers whose t|ualifications have hecn approved l»y
the central authority. The hooks, tlie mode of teaching, everythiiij^
coniu'cted with the iiiipartiri;^ of instruction within tlie school, is
uniform and under the (jiicct control and supervision of the (Jovein-
nient. TIk; whole of the youth of the counliy aiv being run in one
mould, the j^oal heinj^ that we may rear a race intelligent, patriotic
and united.
The main ol)stacles in the way of this are tlie fear of the influ-
ence of th(^ secular schctol on the futuie religious life of the pupil,
and the desire of tlu- Frcinch-speaking people to preserve the litera-
tui'e, language and traditions of theii' race. The first leads the
dominating Protestant churches, though in favor of a national .sys-
tem of education, to endeavor to engi-aft on the ordinary work of
the school a certain amount of leligious teaching and jiractice,
while th(^ two combined have been the cause of the <iemand made on
behalf of the Krench and C'atholics that they Ix; allowed to control
the education of their own children in schools s(!parate from tho.se
of the rest of the community. This right, with certain limitations,
was conceded in Ontario before (.Confederation, and at the time of
the Union was made a part of tht^ pact. Since then it has been
extended somewhat, l)ut the extension has been accom|>anie(l by
increased supervision on the part of the State. Similar rights were
conceded in Manitoba, but were withdi'awn in 18i)0, and the
minority is now appealing to the Dominion (iovernment for their
restoration, thus bringing the (juestion before the whole country,
and making the imparting of religious instruction in the schools a
subject of absorbing interest to all connected with our educational
institutions. It was freely dealt with by the speakers at the
" Reunion," and three of the papers that follow may be said to
represent three important phases of thought on the <|uestion.
The llev. Dr. Cai-man, the head and lepresentative of a youthful
and aggressive ecclesiastical organization, though profoundly imbued
with the realities of the spiritual life and the need of religious instruc-
tion, is yet prepared to leave all that to the Church, the Sunday
School and the home, that all the rising generation may gather in
the Public school, as their fathers gather at the market-place or the
town meeting. We cannot but admins his broad Catholicity, his
MtoyiiL
APPKN'DIX.
I3.>
mmestiK'ss and liis alxmtuliny faith in tlu,. causo <,f tli." iMasi.T
wlioiii lit' so zealously serves.
The views of Mr. CarstaiiH appear to accorfl pretty fully with
those ..f what may be called th.^ histori.- churches churches
that have ceas.-d to be af(f,'ressive, and arc ni..r.' careful to retain
their own adherents than eaj,'er t(. enter into conflict for new
recruits. They api)ear- t.. have Knisped the fact so plainly written
on every paye of the world's history, that w.; are very largely the
creatures of environment, and, in nine cases out of ten, hold our
ri'li^rious oj)itiions Ix'cause tlu^y w(mv implanted in us when we were
young.
f)r. Hai'kness, with much less faith in religious impressions as a
base on which to I'ear the moral (edifice, recognizes, peihaps, even
more fully the plastic nature of the material with which the school-
master has t.) deal, and the necessity of cultivating the moral
as well as the intelh^ctual side of our nature. He would teach, not
only what right living is, but that every deviation tVom it brings
with unerring certainty its corresj)onding punishm.^nt. Without
sacrificing moral training in the scIk.oI, he would find connnon
ground for all classes and creeds in a system of scientific ethics,
about the correctness of which theie could be no dispute.
.
136
AIM'ENDIX.
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ADDRESSES DELIVERED AT THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION OF THE IROQUOIS
HIGH SCHOOL.
r. V I!k\. I»i(. C a km an.
T]i«' <M'lcl»i!iti(»M of ;i iiit)ilt'c is llic (clcliiat iun of crtorts, »icli\cr-
nia-«>K iuul iicliicvciiiciils ; tlit- <-oiiiiii('iiioi'iit ion of iiicii, himI tlicii-
<'iitei'priHe.s and dt'cds. It in also tho foi-ecast of plans, |iiir|)ost's and
]io|i('s. Staiidiny upon I lie liiij;li Ljroiind of tin- pirsi'iil, it tiiinsits
])i('ii'in;(, jilcaniiiij; t'ye upon the past and t he fiit iiif. ( lod appointed
to His ancient people these seasons for i'eli;,'ious and patiiotic en<ls.
tliat tliev niiitlit well consider tlieir ways, wisely order tlieir paths,
and stand nii^dity and i,floi'ioiis amid the nations. Such a celehration
looks two ways: eonteniplatinj,' the foundations laid and the sti'uc-
tures to he reared ; leckoninj; t he mile stones passed and t he distance
yet to he travelled. It recoids facts, an<l makes promises and cove-
nants ; it sttM'eotypes history, and justilies and illuminates proj)hecy.
It laises the (piestions : What has heen done f How was it done f
What remains to he done? How shall we do it? It starts the
in(piiries : Was the ohject in view a mjood one .' Have the etl'orts to
accomplish it paid? Whoie wen^ the failures? Wheie the suc-
cesses? Can we avoid the failures in the future? Can wc multiply
and eiilari,'!' the successes '. Who are the men and the women that
went hefore us? What hei'itai^e did they leave? How aie we,
with our i^reater opportunities, dischai'!,nn!.j our trust and meet in;,'
the claims u|)on us '. What kind of a heritaj(e shall we leave to
tho.se who come after us .'
The ordy way we can pay our deht to our ancestors ' to the
founders of our nation and the huildei's of our institutions is to
<,'uard and enrich those ahout us, to found and huild for posterity.
" What has posteiity done for me ?" is the reply of the trickster and
the low politician ; it is hase ingi-atitude and treason aj^ainst man-
kind. What oui' pre(leces.sors did for our generation they did for
th(! human race ; and in the name of the human race, and hv its
«nergy and impeiial claim, tlusy laid us under the weightiest ohliga-
tions to all the g(!nerations to conu^ So our deht is to the human
race, and we can pay our deht to the human race only hy j)aying it
-I !:
AIM'KNDIX.
i;]7
liiyully iinil lilx-iiilly In posterity, luid t(i the iiicii of tlic llfctiiii,'
|iit'S('iit lis we limy nitcli th«' »>v««r-t's<ra|iiii<,' oppoit unity. Tin' liuiiiiiii
nice is tlic «'liiirnimt, tlu' unit of sovcrci^^iity iind ri;,'li(. Krom it,
iitidtT till' ;,'ov<'nimt'iil of (to(l, \\i' icn'ivc one liciM-fits ; iiiul to it,
under tilt' siinu- ;,'ovfrMuicnt, !in> due the lii;,'lie.st lonseeration luid
liest serviee of our lieart and life. This is at once a nohit^ Christi-
anity and a ^^enerous civilization to devote us whojlv to the ;,'ood of
ouf fellow men ; |ireseivin;,' the saeied ineinoiv of depai'ted hene-
faetors ; and pouiiiij,' lichest treasunis of n li;;ion, si'i<Miw and art
into the laps of the oncoiniii!,' procession of l)ene(iciaries. .\nd this
is the liii,'h example of the Son of ( lod, and the sui'est ohedience to
his supieuie law of love. "No uum liveth unto hiuiself." As in
the jouriieyinj,' of (Jods people out of the liondaLje of l')j,'ypt, the
hri^^htness heckoned onwaiil, and the shades were thrown upon the
way they had travelled; so, in th(^ generations of the human race
and the pro<,'i'ess of humanity, mixed evil and ^'ood are left liehind
in t'olors soher and suhdued, while aspiration and hope lighten up
the whole sky in the direction of our a<lvanc(\
I'^ifty years ha\e j^one since the ojtenin;,' of this ICducational
Institution. The sch.iol itself has seen its chan;;es ; it has passed
throu<i;Ii various phases, from the voluntary Academy at its orif^in
on the liasis of si'lf support, to the ( lovei'nmental llii^h School as it
is now in vital connexion with our public and provincial system.
The very liuildinj,' erected l»y its founder has ffiviMi place to the
present nohle editiee, more in harmony, it may he, with modern
rcipiirements and api)ointinents. The plain two-storey blue lime-
stone structure of half a century ai,'o, whose; walls were (piariied
from tln' bed of the neij,'liboiini,' canal, and in their solidity stood
fit emblem of the education desired by the men that built it, is
supplanted by an airiei' fabric and a liiihter architecture, .\niid
these scenes the tittiu},' (piestion of the hour forces itself upon us:
The fatheis, wheie are lIicv '. Where is .Fohn Adam Caiman, whose
was the conception, the plan and the execution of the projei-t ?
W here are .lames Coons aiwl Matthew Coons, the tvo brothers who
jointly j,'ave the land on which the buildinj,' stands? Where are
.Jacob IJroiise, I'hilip Carman and .lohn S. IJoss, who were charter
Trustees, and faithful friends and su))i)orters of the enterprise"?
N<tt one of them sur\ i\('s to share in the gladness of this celebration,
and most of them finished their earthly career many yt'ars aj(o,
And where ai'e the heads of the lar<,'e families of Shaver.s, Aults,
I )orans, Parlows, Tuttles, Services, Wallaces, Hrouses, Cooiises
and Carmaiis, that formed a lari^c part of the |)atroni/in<:f constitu-
ency at the time of the openinjj; of the .school / (rone to the land
unknown, most of them, with their coiiteinporari(>s lonj,' a<^o ; and
their <,'randchildren and <i;reat-j;raiidchildreii are now the scholars in
the seats and on the play-ground. What a commentary on the
instability of human affairs ! What an evidence that the things
las
AITENDIX.
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:
tliat iirr s«>«>ii art* tciiipoiul, wliilr llic tilings lliiit hit uiisfcii art'
riiilurin^' iiiid «*lcnial. 'I'lit* siiiiif sci(>iic(% tlic suinc tititli, l»ut
tt'ficluTs Htwl sclmliirH all cliuii^jtMl ! What a call ii|miii ;ih all Im S('t
ii|ii'i;;litn(>s.s ot' cliaiactcr mi lii^li, anil Imilil wi-ll iiilo Cliiiicli and
Statt' anil i^niiininii liiiinanity ; t'ni' w«> mii'si'lvi's must siion ilisa|i|ii'ar.
All tlii'ii- w ill 111- ut' in will In- wliat wi- liasi- ilniic t'cir (lod and
ciiiinli'V, and toe llii> liiiinan nic<>.
Standing ii|i<tn tins lioiiknut Miniiitain, tlu* vaiita);«> gniuMd nf ihU
Semi ( 'I'litciinial (•tiiniiu'iimrat ion, tliis placi* of n-vii'w and |iros|)»'cf ^
I am ifinindrd of llii' school lioys lioii/oii, the circuit that l)oiiiiiicd
my view in t he carliiT ycai-H, and .swept onward and outward into the
wider ciiilcs of siil)sc(|iicnl life. I well lenieniKer when the ;,'lowinK
sky met the fruitful eartli iip at Oordon Wert's and Samuel
Shaver's, the west«ni limit of School Section No. I. There was a
haze iieyoiid esen to the I'ldwaidshui'H \illa;(e ; hut the houses from
which the lads and lassies came to our school were on the utmost
vi'ij,'!' of well delineil liahitalion. The sun set at Samuel Shaver's,
and rose somewhere alxiut l''la^<;'s Ihid^^e, while theie was an eastern
^doamin;; over Mariatiiwn, and even a little lieyond. In the north
was an auroral play altout Dixon's CornerH, esjiecially at eleetion
time, when the spirits were free; and in the south an austral
hriiliancy aliout Waddin^ton and 0;^densliurj^, the limits of milling
and tradin'4 expeditions. This \ast expanse of the woi'ld of boy-
hood comprised some four or five .school .sections, and it was the
school section that was the constituent unit, t he ))rovince of child-
hood's Dominion, e\erythiii<,' pi\(»ted ujion the " little hrown school-
house,'' the centiv of interest and the source of power. There were
the hoys that contended in the yaine ; and there the j^ii'ls that
made our hearts Ihittcr, we knew not how oi- why. In thosi^ days
there were no Separate schools, and all people of all clas.ses learned
of one <^rammar, one arithmetic and one history, in the interests of
one Empire, and of the common lirotheiliood of man. W ould it were
so to-day. Within this spacious territory was everything found
necessary to the tastes, and sports and di'eams of ojx'nim^ youth.
Mere were the preachers and parsons ; I have them yet in my mind
and heart. Here were the schoolmasters — schoolmistresses, an
in\f'ntion of recent times, wei-e then scarce l)ut the schoolmasters,
those saji;(^s of anticjuity, those suhlime mortals of dij^nity and imj)ort-
aiice, those oracles of wisdom and j,'rai id viziers in pomp and authority,
that walked amiil our puerilities like jNIars amonj^ pij,niiies — .lupiter
tonans ! How we tremhled in theii' jueseiice anil tied from their
frown ! how we hung upon their lips to announce the recess, or a
half holiday, oi- the dismis.sal of school ! How we feared they might
keep us after .school, and away on till dark ! And that rule ! when
it would come along, straightening up our toes and our backhones !
Not much curvature of the spine in thosi^ days. Those were not
the days when little boys and girls, doctored up by a Minister of
t :. '
APPENDIX.
l.S!>
it'd
of
're
iiid
ith.
iiid
ail
M'S,
ll-t-
iter
icir
a
rht
K<liu-ati()ii iiiui liJN Noriiiiil iind M(kI«'I hcIkmiIs, taught the yniith i)f
the hiiid. llnw \\«-ll I rt'ineiiilMT noiid* of thusi- ^darits of autii|uity,
the jii'cdcct'ssors r»t' the " liciudlfss ' ;,'iilM and liii-yoliiiy lioys that
now i|u tJif |)i>(hig<>^'uiii;;. \'\tv iiislancc, there was .lohii •). Krrr,
a retii'(>d Noldier, a .stalwart liishinan, aii<l a polisheil "Kurdish"
jfeiitli'iiiaii. Me was the iiiaii that used to say tu the Trustees, he
would put the soldiei's us hoys thrnuj,di their t'aeinj,' till the army
was dishanded. Me iiieaiit lie'd keep us stiai^dit till selmol
was (tut. What a pretty, snft, well furined hand he had, and
how proud Ik- «a "t" it. Mow lieaulit'ully he could wiite.
Me lifted the staiUk t\ for good writing' in all tlie.se parts.
And he had lieiinie atid Walkinjianie at his linger en<ls Then
there was an American <,'entleman, Samuel IMatt, Ivstp Me
was grand on school exhibitions, and could hring down the house
every time with his " Nii,'hl liet'ore Christnias." And theie was
•lohn K. Ault, of School Section No. "J, a Canadian horn and l)ied,
a connectiiif,' link and sort of John the Haptist of the new dispen-
sation. Me was the man that coidd make tii^uies plain, and hring
tlie .scliolar easily throu;^h tlie mazes (»f |)oul»h' Uideof " 'i'hree " ancl
"Tare " and "Tret."' What a liouiid was tiiei iiward when Miiam
F. (iates, a well worn student, and his faculty opened elas.ses in the
Seminary, the foundation whose superst tincture we to-day maj,'tdfy
and admire. Misfaec^ was calm, liis motions slow, his jud;,'ments
swift, his comprehension of his work clear, and his devotioti to it
ardent. I see him now, lookin;,' tlii'ouj,'h tiiose ;,'lasses, and, with
the grace? and ease of a sosereign, moving aixiut the classroom.
His successor, Alexaiuler l)ick, was a l)rus(jue, decided man, who
tnhl you with his lips, without speaking, wIk'ii his miixl was made
up. Mr. dates was a Presliyterian, and Mr. Mick a Uaptist, whicrh
showed the genuine Catholicity of the benefactor of the people who
laid these foundations. Time woulrl fail to tiace the bright succes-
si(»n down to a Whitney, a .lames Carman, and a .Jackson, the
reigning sovereign. They left their traces, and did their work.
Their record is in our unfolding history.
Ours is the present oliligation and opportunity. It is ours to binld
upon the foundati(»iis already laid. If, perchance, they have been
laid in poor material, or daubed with untempeied mortal', it is ours
to I'eniove them, and to do better work. We may iind no fault
with the past, but avoid as best we can defects and mistakes in the
future. In oui' country's intei'«'st and the interest of mankind we
must build intelligenct? into the giand fabric, and morality and
religion. We must build in patriotism, loyalty, and honest govern-
ment. We must build in industry, economy and thiift. Wt; must
secure a free Church in a free Stat(>. We must strtingthen the
school, the bank and the mart. We must guard the purity of the
home, the hom^sty of the govenunent, and the justice of the court.
We must jealously protect the freedom of the press, the freedom of
m
140
APPENIMX.
')
!: S
f ■ . I
v ; 1
oonsficiic*', and the t'lt'i'doin of worsliij). Kvory age briiig.s its coii-
llicts, and every generation lias its sacred ti-usts. Even now in
Manitoba and the Xoitli-West is our scliool system in danger. A
previous speaker has rather implied that Manitoba should be
coerced into the ado)>tion of Ultramontane schools. Likely the best
thing, in all the circumstances, for our Dominion (lovernnient to do
is to let Manitoba manag*' her own educational all'airs.
Having so precious a lieritag*' to guard we can well see what it
is our duty to avt)id. We must shun the systems that nurture
ignorance, sectionalism, oi- sectariamsni in our schools. We must
shun violent pai'tisanship and dishonest gitvernment. We must
shun immorality and irreligioji, and the vices that at once nourish
them and fatten on them. A time-serving press or ))ul}Mt shou'd be
an abomination to oui' people. If we are to i)uild up a rugged
national charactei', we must put far away from us and keep away
every intluence that will weaken the marriage tie or corru})t the
home. The moral bond, the fear of (!od, the love of man, the
strength ol' (ionscience and the sanctions of religion nmst be
maintained in their integrity. What other thought or aspiration
founded tliis institution of leai'ning ? What was then in the mind
of -lohn A. Carman but the conviction that knowledge and religitm
nnist be conjoined in the personal and national character '. Indeed,
what with him, and with those that were with him in this work,
was the prime motive of action but love of man and taith in Jesus
Christ the Saviour of men, as the best evidence and exj>ressi(ni of
that love? Whether it be Christian education or an educated
Christianity, those men thoroughly believed in it. We may not
banish or exclude oursehes into separate schools for 't^ctai'ian pur-
poses, but we must giv(» t() our education the glow of Christianity,
iind to our Christianity the wealth of a sound education. The
Cod above us has given us a goodly land, an honorable aucestry,
and a fortunate and blessed national inheritancie. For the most
part descended from the Uni Hmpire Ijoyalists, we may well be
grateful for our relationship to the British Empire so glorious in
history and so mighty for good among the nations to day.
Love of Ih'itish Institutions, of the liritish Sovereignty, Crown
nnd Flag, was the ruling impul.se, the guifling star of the men and
women that settled this Upper Canadian St. Lawrence valley.
Thev were Unitol Fin])ire Loyalists. They proved their failh in
Britain, their devotion to the Crown, by toils, privation, heroism
and sacrifice of an unexampled character, iiritain's measures may
have been, in some I'espects, arbitraiy and unjustifiable ; her treat-
ment of the colonists, unworthy of the Motherland ; and the revolt
of those who stood out u[)on principle .igainst her exactions to their
heart and conscience a sacred duty ; and, certainly, the event
might .seem to cas* no doubts or reflections on the justice of their
cause. Tn the Providence of (lod the British flag went down at
APPENDIX.
141
I'oston iuid New York, und in tlic samo f^nod p."' i ice it arose in
sticiii^tli and splendor o\('i' (.^uclicc and Montreal. We ai'e not to
contemplate these ;(reat clianyes in human national att'airs outside
the divines ^ovtMinnent of men. It' they wen; ri<fht who i(!Volted and
Hew to arms, t!i(^y certainly wert* rij,dit who believ(Hl that all j^riev-
ances could he re(h'essed hy constitutional and parliamentary means,
and therefoi'e refused to entei- the lists of war against the ^Mother
C'ountry. And again the event has justified their att'ection for their
kinsmen and their fidelity to the Crown. The United Km})ire
Ijoyalists settled in a vas wilderness, hut a wilderness of inmiense
capabilities. Under their hand, witli (}od's blessing, it soon
Idos.somed as the rose. What homes they planted I W'hat com-
munities they formed ! What institutions they founded and reai'ed I
'riiougli they would not revolt they wtue not renegades or shives.
They proved their love of liberty, piety and intelligence, their devo-
tion to law and order by churches, schools, courts, councils and
parliaments. They gave themselves to industry, and from fertile
soil, flowing waters and teeming forests, wealth and comfort grew
a[)ace. (!od had given them a goodly land. Cities and towns
respond to manufacture and art, and magnificent water and land
higliways to connuerce and trade. Intelligence aro.se by education,
and sense of fluty 'oy religious instruction. Scattered bands in the
wilds became constituents of a great and growing people. And
to-day surely we are not less inspired l)\' the idea of a united Kmpire,
not less attached to the noble institutions that have made our
country uhat it is in our enjoyment this hour.
We have our })lain duty : to l)uild up this land in intelligence
and freedom, in religion and sound knowledge.
By W. a. Wuitxky, :\r.A.
r have l)een asked by the Committee who have in charge this
Semi-Centemiial of the Innpiois High School to fui'iiish a paper
embracing some reniiniscei ■ of my connection with the school.
In complying with this req , T find that I siiall have to claim
your indulgence for what may seem too free a use of the capital
letter "1."' I am compelled to rely almost wholly on my memory
for what I n>ay say, because, unfortunately, bur, few records have
been preserved. At this half-way stage in the ceiituiy, it is all-
important that the scattered leaves of the . -hool's history should be
brought togethei', parti} by what may be said to-day, and especially
by the [)ul)lication of the coming memoi'ial volume. Thosi' wIk^
may celebrat«^ the Centennial of the institution fifty yeai's hence
will have "upler materials for such a memotial, as the Educatitjn
Department now makes provision for keeping full records. In the
142
APPKVDIX.
mm^'
;•■-
I ■
1:!
r:
II
v .
J,, ,.
1 ;
i r '1
last miiiiboi" iif tlic Xi'/rs you will see tluit tlio scoiiiid term of Dun-
das County (ii'aiuMiiir Sc;liool was ojx'iied ou SepUMiiln'r L'Gtli, 1846.
Hence the school is now a little over forty-nine years old.
Out of the lifty years of the school's existence T was the Princi-
]»al for neiuly twenty-six consecutive years, so that I may claim, as
did TEneas, ^^ Quorum magmi pars fui" which, being interpreted,
means that I have had a larije )>art in the history «tf the school. 1
l)elie\(' that thei'e is hut one otlicM" man who has occupied t)ne posi-
tion as headmaster longer than I have. Almost my whole life-
work has been given to this institution, and such abilities as T
possessed have been devoted to the youth of this and adja-
cent counties. Tn April, 1860, Mr. Samuel Cowan, the Princi-
j)al, asked me to take his j)lace, as he was obliged to leave for
Ir<>land. I lacked a few weeks of graduation, but the Board
accepted me. The salary was |<600, and I had no assistant. I
found present about twenty-five pupils, and some of these were too
young foi' High S( hool work.
Foi- several yeai's after I became Princi{>al there was no entrance
examination. When the Education Department tirst exacted such
a test, the High School Insju-ctor had a sentence written on the
blackboard, and the candidate was asked to ])ai'se the words. That
was the only test, and that not very exacting. After this standard
of entranc(" had been used for about three years, the Piincipal of
each school was direct«'d by Dr. Kyeison, the Chief Superintendent,
to prepare (examination papers on the usual studies of Common
school work and, after exan\ining the papers of the candidates, to
pass ()!• reject them.
My first IJoard of Trustees were ; James Croil, Dr. Sherman,
Alex. >rc[)onald, Wm. Elliot, .J. S. H(,ss and Philip (.'arman. Mr.
Croil is the only one now living.
The (xovennnent grant was less than $400 per annum, and was
given on the basis of the attendance of classical pupils. Neither
the County Councul nor the Village Council contributed a cent to
the maintenance of the School. The pupils paid 88, $12 and $10 a
year as fees, according to the subjects taken — Latin, Creek or
French being the highest in price.
The school was called a seminary or academy at tirst, but when
it became a part of the Provincial system, and for sevtTal years
after I came — up to 1871 — it was called th(> Matilda County
(irannnar School. The School year was divided into foui- terms of
eleven weeks each. After F had been in the School a few months I
told tlie IJoard that I was dissatislied with the salary of $600, witn
the small attendanc*;, and in having no assistant. 'hey were some-
what shocked at my complaint, and said they saw no way of meet-
ing my re(|uest. I then proposed that they should hand over to
me the (Government grant and fees, and 1 would employ a lady
teacher as preceptress, and pay all charges for maintenance, insur-
..
API'KXDIX.
143
aiicf, i'tv. Tlu'v fciulily and i^ladly fij,'i<M'(l to the pi'oposal. In
Octolu'i', ISOO, I ('iMj)li)y('(l as pi'fccptrcss, at ."i^.'JOO a ycai' (a j,'()i)d
salary f(»i- a lady at that time), Miss K. IJailey, of Potsdam.
'rh»M'(^ was an old |)ia!io in !i small music room on tlic second lloor,
which 1 jfot I'fpaircd and tuned, so that it was ijuitt^ suitable for
instruction and practice. Miss IJailey spent |»art of lier time in
jjivini^ lessons on the piano, and the rest in "general teachini^.
Shortly after this new (h'partui-e, I found that the lunnher on
the roll had increased from lio to 70. We had pupils from all parts
of the county from <lrenville and Stormont.
After meeting' all demands, I still had ovei' 8700 ]ier annum as
my own salary.
There were no newspapers in the county in which to advertise,
but we <;ot out eireidars, and even ])osters, and sent tliem fai and
wi(l(>.
This arran<,'ement lasted for ahout six years, and the IJoard
seemed well pleased and satisfied with mycour.se. Finally, I hecame
tired of collecting' the fees at the end of each (juarter, and asked the
lioard to relieve me of the burden and take the school into their
own hands ai,'ain. Tlie (iovernment i;rant had now increased
greatly in conse(|uence of the larije attendance of classical |)U])ils,
and the income from fees now became (|uit<' respectable, so that^ the
I'oard found tiiemsehcs in possession of a surplus sutlicient to make
e.xtensi\(' chan,i;'es and rejiairs on the building'. it was orijj;inally
de.signed for a boarding-school, with rooms foi' the principal and his
family, and for a number of boai'deis, after the model of American
academit^s. Thei'c were two class-rooms and a music-room, 'i'lie
livini;- rooms were now no longer needed for their original purpose,
and there was a need for lai'ger t'hiss-rooms. be^'ause of the large
attendance. The whole of the upper l!at was thi'own into one large
scliool-room, to be occupied by the Principal and for as.seml)ly
purposes.
The first grant to the school by the N'illagi' Council was 8100 in
1805, for new seats for the Principal's class-ioom.
AnothtM' small amount was graciously given a little later on, l)ut
not until the law was changed in IS71 was the cor])oration obliged
to contribute to tlie support of an institution th.it all considered
theii' most valued possession, and that had very greatly conti'ibuted
to the matei'ial, and es])ecially the intellectual, advancement of the
village and county. During the most of my time in the school F
had a Board of Trustees who, by their harmonious action, their high
standing and intluence in the county, and their sti'ong and increasing
interest in behalf of the (irannnar School, stood by me in my effort
to maintain the attemhuice and general prosperity of the school.
Five years after I became the Princi])al we lost some pupils by
the estiil)!" inn<'nt <tf a (irannnar School at Morrisbm'g. F(»r se\eral
years thereafter we maintaineil the ascendancy, however, and not
144
APPENDIX.
'H 1
i'- I
:M
^:1
liiii
till that villajfH had j,'rtvitly surpassed Ii'(K|U()is in wealth and pojui-
lation, and until the two townships to tht; noi'th had uuich inci'eHse<l
in wealth and educati(»nal enterpiise, did the Moi rishurjj; school,
under the late Mi'. Stuai't, surpass us. In the year 1S()7, rro(|Uois
was visited l)y a terrihle seouig<! of typlioid fever. Veiy many of
our lionies lost one oi- n\ore of their members, my Hrst-born amonj.;
the number. The effect on tli(^ school was, of cour.se, disastrous.
We kept our classes i(oin<,', however, until barely two j>upils —
William Oxnam and Maiy Elliot -answered to the loll-call. The
Boai'd then closed the doors for two months.
1 look l)ack with j^i'atitude to the (!iver of all good, that during
those long twenty-six years I never was ab.sent from my [)lace
through illiu'ss, exce])t for a few days, i attribute this to the
abundant physical exercise that T got from my long walk to and
from school, and also to my flower aiul vegetal)le gardening, in
which I have ever taken great delight.
The l)oys who love play more than study and i-estraint, no (loul)t
were ghul at my enforced absence one winter, from Monday morning
till Thursday evening, when T became snowbound in Prescott, and
there were no trains during all that time. My a.ssistant, Mi.ss Bailey,
pluckily k(>pt the school going, with the help of one of the senior
pupils.
1 had the following pei'sons as my assistants, and in the following
order : Miss E. Bailey (afterwai'ds the wife of the late W. C. Bailey),
Mrs. Whitney, Miss Weagant (of Morrisbui'g), Miss Stephens (of
Cobourg who married Ilev. A. Bowerman and died in Winnipeg).
Miss Holden (now Mrs. Chisholm, in California), Miss Anna
Cai-man (now Mrs. W. L. Redmond), Miss Ada Lane, Mr. Ross,
Ml'. James A. Carman (who .succeeded me as headmaster), my
brother, Philo A. Whitney (now in lirantford), Mr. ('lough, Mr.
Lesslie (now a Church of England clergyman), Mr. Creelman (a
lawyer in Toronto), Mr. Crosby (now headmaster' at Forest), Mi'.
Alexander McLeod (a lawyer in Manitoba), Mi'. Kinney, Mr. Mont-
gomery (Mathematical-master in Petrolea), and Mr. Potter (who
was my last assistant, and left wIumi T did). You will wonder that
the list is so large. The reason is that the lioard thought they
could not atlbrd a salary suthcient to retain them. Some left to
complete their education, or to i'eceivt> higher salaries elsewhere.
Mo.st of them had no previous experience. The conseijuence was
that I was sadly handica[)ped in my work of maintaining the
erticiency of the school. (Jenerally, I had to take all the advanced
work in all the subjects of the course of study.
It was fortunate for me that at college T had taken a full pass
course. When po.ssible, 1 took all the Classics and English. After
leaving Iroijuois, I took and passed the examination for a specialist
in Classics.
J exceedingly regret that the Educational Department made no
^¥
.
APPENDIX.
145
Mr.
i (a
Mr.
out
who
that
liey
tt to
icre.
was
the
uiced
pass
.\fter
■ialist.
lie iio
rt'i^'iilatioii, as it dot's now, for k('e])inj,' and prcscrviiii,' all thf iiaincH
of pupils, their studies and destiny. A very lar^^e nunihei- havt;
passed throu<,'h my hands. They are found in all the walks of life,
and in places fai- distant.
Th<i Chuifh, (he law, medicine, Parliament, the Hi^'li and the
Public school, connnerce and the farm, have furnislied places for
their abilities and activities. I. deem it a i^i'cat honor that my
teaching has heljied to make those men and women useful to the
woHd. Many have already fii\ished life's work and have gone to
an early reward. I can rememl)er otdy two who died while at
school a son of Mr. Sydney Shaver, and a .Miss lliockway. A f(!W
died hefor*^ completini,' their c(jllege course, including Albert Coons,
Donald .Mc'I'avish, Simon Casselman, John I5e?inett and (ieorge
Ijarmour. 1 hav<' not room to give the names of all ex-pu[)ils who
have retleoted honor on the old sdiool, and it would seem invidious
to particularize; still I cannot forl)ear to mention Dr. T. <!.
Williams, Dr. W. \V. Carson, of Deti'oit ; Albert N'anCamp, of
Clevc^land ; Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Service and Mr. Karle, in the Church.
Clarke Closes is Public School Insp«'ctor of Haldimaiid, and A. S.
Jiose in Manitoba. Tiaw is the chosen profession of James Koss,
John Munro, Alexander McLeod, .Mbei't (Ji'ier, John llarkness and
A.J. Forward. In Medicine we claim many who g(jt their pre-
liminary training liere : such as Di's. Mclntyre, McLean, llowaid
Klliot. John *!ray, .Vllan M(dllmoyll. Ilobert Collison, William
Muiu'o, An(h'ew Harkness and .\ndeisoii. Messrs. H. II. Hoss,
.Moses .McPherson, James Carman, J. S. Carstairs and John (iraliam
hav(^ been Pi'incipals of lligli Schools.
jNlr. Koss, who was one of my first juipils, has been di^emed
worthy to r'eju'esent his nati\'e county in our Dominion Parliament.
Some of my (tld j)Uj)ils ha\e (le\oted themseUes to the press, one
of whom, .Mr. William Williams, is an able newspaper corres|)()ndent
and writer. 1 always felt the gi'cat rt ; jionsibility laid upon me to
help to train the j'oung minds that in after years were to mould the
destiny of <jthers and promote tlie welfare of our country. F ever
trierl to have their future in \ iew and treat them as ladies and
gentlemen, men and women, who in a few years would, like
myself, be l)attling with tlie great probl(>ms of life. The teacher
ought not to thiidv his whole duty performed when he lias • .e
through with the prescribed cour.se of study, but by exanm' iid
precej)t strive to Imild up in the mind and heart of his pi.^.iis a
noble niaidiood.
During my time in this .school, the old methods <tf discipline
had not yet given place to the better mode of these davs.
Still, I can say that but very seldom did I use the birch.
I founfl, that when a boy who was inclined to give trouble to his
teacher, entered our orderly school and found him.self ar<ong those
who respected themselves and their school, he soon caught the
10
14(J
AI'l'KNDIX.
I,
m
iiifcciioM of i^dod miiiiiHM's. And I lirlicvc tlii' coiixorsc to Ik- true,
tlijit ii wcll-iiK'liiH'd boy, when tlirowii jimiihi',' fiidf jiiid ill <,'()\('ni('d
follow students, will soon t'iill to tlicir level. .My discipline, I
know, svfis considered at the time i'iitli(>r se\ei-e by some. Itiit
in after years tlie.se isanu; ai{j;rieved lioys expressed their regret
for their conduct, and are to-day ainonjj; my best friends. I l)eliev(!
that tlie averaijfe l)oy I'eally dcsii'cs his teacher to be sti'ict in his
<liscipline. If he sees that his teacher is j)rompted in his teachim,'
and disoi|)line l>y a stronj^ interest in his pupils, the boy will
appreciates the motive and will honor his mastei'. I can renu'mber
but two whom 1 was oblii^ed to report to the i'xiai'd for expulsion.
The world moves, and eilucation and educational e(|uipments ha\»s
•^I'catly chaui^ed since ISdO. Then we had fewer subjeiits to teach ;
when these w«!i'e well tau,<j;ht and mastered I am not sure but
that the I'csults were just as satisfactory as they are to-day. I am
firmly convincful that we have too many subjcu-ts now taui^ht in
both Public and liish Schools. With fewer subjects, the work of
both teacher and pupil can be concent lated, and more thorough
work secured.
When about half my twenty-six years had eiapseil, drawiiiif,
nuisic and drill were made optional, an<l an additional i^rant was
<^iven when they were taken up. .Mrs. (Rev.) IMair was en<i;a,<;'ed
to^^ive instruction in object-drawinif, and was paid tlie fees thus
obtained. Mi'. Forward was employed to \isit the school once a
week to teach the whole school vocal music; and Mi\ T. S.
Edwards, without pay. taught nulitary drill.
Physical exercise and calisthtjiiics have been introduced since my
time. The law did not demand a reference library or a laboratory.
The school raised a nice sum of money by entertainm<'nts and spent
it on works of reference. The only chemical aj)paratus we ever had
was a set costing about .^I'^^-OU, procured by myself. During
the last ten years of my connection with the school, the Ti'ustees
had the power to demand from the Village Council money for
putting the school on a good working basis. But for rea.sons
which 1 shall not here specify, we were compelleil to struggle along
as b(!st we could with an old, uncomfortable building and no
e(iuij)ment worthy of the name. 1 trust you will not charge me
with selfish egotism in saying that, in spite of all these imj)e(li
ments, the old school continued well attended and stood well in
the examinations. At one of the examiTiations under the new law,
twenty wrote for third-class certificates, atid twenty passed. We
sent at one time four candiflates to McCiill College for matriculii.tion,
and received great praise for their good standing from the INlontreal
press.
During that (juarter of a centuiy we had among the Trustees
several men besides the six T mentioned befoi'e, who exerted a
powerful influence for good in behalf of the school. Dr. Stephenson,
Al'I'KXDIX.
147
s.
my
jorv.
pent
IkuI
riii^
IStl't'S
t'or
asoiis
,l<)Ug
no
• me
■11 in
law,
We
rtidu,
lit real
l)v. iStcacy (of Mountain), \)r. Williams, JJr. Cowan, Mi', lioht'fl
Toyj', Solomon l)oiari, Dr. Coitiulioun, and otlicrs. Tlitiy sfHimcd
to (consider tkt' wclt'jut' of th© Oramniar School »'(|ual in iinpoi'tance
to their own jtrivate laisiness. Often did I t,'o to .J. S. Hoss, or
William Klliol, or Hhilip Carman witli my tiouhles, and evei" r(^
ceived tlieir adviee and sympathy.
In tilt' eai'iiei- years of my hea(hnast<'rship, the Uev. .Mr. MeKt^nzio,
a ClnuTh of Knt,dand cieri^yman, was t,he sole iuspeetor for the
province. He was a man of small size, hut of lar;,'e mind and of a
most Uindly h(!!irt. Mis death caused a vacancy t.iiat was tilled hy
the app((intment of two inspectoi's-^Mes.srs. .Marling and 15'ichan.
This was mad*' necessary hy the increase in the numher of ITijifli
Scjiools, and the "greater ihoi'ouifhnes-^ of inspection that was now
insiituted. On the death of Mr. Uuclian, Dv. Mcijcllan became
one of the inspectoi's. Mathematics was the favorite subject of the
Jiew ins|)et'toi-, and for some yeai's it was the firfr noir of cjitididates
m what was termed at that time the inter-mediate examinations.
Other sul»jects were of comparatively small im{)ortance. TIk; papers
first set were of so ditlicult and catchiiii,' a cliaractei, that but few-
succeeded throuifhout the province 1 deem it a most mi.schievoua
C(mrse to permit any man to impose his own pet subject on the
schools, and thus consign Knglish, C'lassics oi- Scienc<^ to an unde-
.served neglect. After Mr. Marling's death and l)r'. McLellan's
transference to another position, the present men -Messrs. Hodgson
and Seath — becanm inspectors.
.Mv connection with the High Scliool closed with the year ISST),
and 1 hav(! no reason to blush at the results in the exanjinations
of my last years and of tiie succf^eding July examination. Some
inav jiossiblv think that I am wanting in good taste to thus I'efer tf>
my own work. My justification is that eri'oneous and unfair'
omiparisons have been made during tlie past ten year's. I rejoice
that we have rrow this tine building, a hirge and well-selectefl
I'efer'ence liltrar'y, a frr'sl-class scit^nce e(iuipnrent, and four good
teacher's. Surely we are justified in expecting lar*ge results fr'orn
.so gr'eat an outlay. I hope that Ir'o(|Uois will have no r-easoir to
r'egr'et the gr'eat .sacrifices that she has made, by which she Iras
somewhat atoned for the neglect of earlier year's.
You can r'eadily iirragine how the school, its gr'ounds, its farrriliar
old building, wlrich often gut the appellation of "The Seminar'y,"
the sound of the bell, the ro<mis and all Ijecame dear to me in all
those 2() year's. On the last day, wherr I had bidden good-bye to
the pupils, I tarried behind to think over the past and .say good-bye
alone to the mute .scenes of past labor. The causes and cir'cuirr-
stances of rrry leaving the school ar'e well known to you all. T
refuse to mar' the [)leasur'e of this occasion by discussing therrr ; I
have no occasion to blu.slr for rrry j)ar't in the difficulty.
And now in closing these rambling reminiscences, 1 do so with
"T
4
14fS AI'I'ENDIX.
the hope tlwit tlic |iii's('iit stiifV iiiid ]iu])ils in.iy l>" inspired witli a
m^'iitcr Idvc tor tlic scliool that luis a lialt'-cciitin y (»t' history, and
that the hcritUKc ciiti'iistcd to them may he the uiurc hij^hly
apprcHMatt'd trom tliis days ceh^hrution.
(;hki«:ttngs.
I'.\ Jamks a. Tahmw, I '..a.
I vciT ^^ladly avail mysclt' of the opjiort unity iilVordcd in liio
invitation <;iven uu* to send wtn'ds of ;fn'('tin<,' to this jidjilcc meeting,'
to-day. l''or the fxpatriatcd Ikijis and ijirls of the old \\vj}\ School,
w hcthci' our lot is cast l)csidf t lie I'acilic, iiuiid t he at tractions of the
(!ol(h'n State, whetliei' sve clinili the iiij,'i,'ed steeps and hreathe the
pure air of the I'ockies, whi-ther we wander o\cr t he prairie coun-
try, \vhere\er sve may lie, for us there is always a chaiin in visions
of the St. Lawrence N'alley. Its verdant fields, its fresh foliage,
the clear Idue-green wateis of the great I'iver, th(( Meets of vessels,
tlie old fishing and boating grounds, are ever present in our
Mjemories. To recall theii' delightful assocwitions stirs within us the
liveliest and pleasantest emotions; and next to the hear'th in the
home of our childhood, the liresi(l(> about which we clustered and
frolicked as ehihh'eii, where tiie fathei' presided with genial dignity
and joined in the fun, and wheic our loving mot her smiled upon oiu'
sport^. that childhood home enshrined in all that is kindliest and
tenderest in our memories -next to that hctme comes the old nrhnol.
On the iild riiuijtiis today what yarns are being spun by the ahl
l)Oi/s and the dI'I (/Ir/s .' I wish I were with you in your reunion.
My own first recollection of the old tSi'nnmiri/ are not among the
least lively of my history. T am reminded of the small school-room
on the fii'st floor at the south-west end of the old building. This
room was not especially elaborate or elegant in its appointments
and furnitui'e, and was occupied by a score or more of ]iupils,
pi'esided over by ^[y. (^)wan. Among the classes that nmst have
been his espcH'ial annoyance, and that used sometimes to occupy
seats on the edge of the ))latform at his feet, was one of two pupils,
a boy an<l a girl myself and a litthi girl, who is now an esteemed
lro(|Uois lady, and who doubtless is ])resent to-day. The work of
that little class was reading and spelling, and especially exploring
the n>yste!'ies of addition, and substraction, and multiplication, and
division. Small as I was,! occupied a desk which I called my own,
and which I could always find, because it had carved on the top in
lai'ge, legible characteis the name Jolni. Just bcack of nw sat
Andrew Mills and John Uxnaii names that will be familiar to
very many present. And what mischief my amateur cranium
AIM'EN'DIX.
140
Dili"
tuul
mil .
nhl
loll.
th«^
IIOlll
'his
■MtS
)ils,
ave
■upy
|)ils,
iiicd
of
'>K
iiiid
IWll,
l) in
sat
Ir to
liuiii
could not conooot was supplied tVoni Itcliind. I have nt'ser for-
^(ottcn tlio valentine ! wrote my eiaMs-inate, and liav(^ (tfteii wished
I ha<l a copy of it.
And we wert^ pupils of the sc^condan' sehool of that day! The
scope and character of the work in that school may he estimated.
Doubtless others of the twenty oi' twenty five of |)r. Cowan's
chaij^e were soon to matriculate at N'ictoiia or MeOill, oi' at
T(»ronto.
A sti'ikiii",' contrast, this school today with its modern lanyuayt^
spei.'ialist, its mathematical expert, its classical devotee, its elahor
ately eipiipped science departnuMit, and its specially-trained scienee
instructoi' ; its nuiseum, its library, and its well-furnished and
connnodious school looms.
And this .school is only one of the nwiny institutions of its «'lass
scattered o\-er Ontario. These, in many cases, have been developed
from like modest be;.;innin;L,'s, and have been evolved under the
Ontario school system an educational system justly the pride of
Canadians, since the schools are doubtless at least eipial to anv on
the continent. This excellence has \n'v\\ attained by steady and
wise adsancc^s, until the pupil of the pre.sent enjoys j)rivilei,'es and
advantages that would have been marvels and wonders, education
ally, in our school days. While all this is ti-uc, is there not ;^round
for the Hus|iicion that, to some extent at least, the work of the
Ontario schools is nmrhnii- irorh', and that the |)roduot smacks
of the ft u- tor If I
It is all very well for the professor of pe(la<^(»<(ic.s, and the psycho-
logist and the })sychophysieist to look with supercilious air toward
the days of th<^ ferule, of \\w log school-house and of the grotes(|ue
country' school teacher. Did not the true-hearted, eai'nest, ingenious
teachei', often amid unfavorable surroundings, succeed in instilHng
and stirring up an interest that produced tine results in the ('■ velop-
ment and cultui'c of tht; pupils in his charge .'
With all the advantagiis of modern methods does it seem so
certain that educational icsults are so decidedly in .advance? How
do the reading habits and tastes of ourselves comjjai'c with those of
our fathers and grandfathers ? Were they not (|uite as apt to read
and appreciate a good book as we ? T^ocally, jirovincially, nationally
are our leading men in public places broader, larger, better c'ducated,
in the true sense of the term, than Canadians in similar positions
have been for a few giMiorations l)ack ?
7 simply suggest. I do not de])reciate nor undervalue what has
been and is being accomplished, but it has seemed to me sometimes
that Ww foDiix and theories, and istt^ and Ixmx, and i^trtt'ujltf jdckfiAs
were in danger of (juenching, or at least of hampering and dis-
couraging, true educational entliusiasni.
150
AI'I'FA'DIX.
My .IdiiN S. O.MiHi'AiHs, I5.A.
Mr. ('h<tirniiiii uml Liii/iis mid (>'tnth nun, W'licii my old t'licrHl
luid iiHtritor, Adam I larkiit'ss, l*lsi|., tlit> Cliiiii'man of tli** (Ji-lclnat ion
('oiiimitti't', told m*> that I slioidd l)<> tlu; fust of tli*- s|ii>ak(>i's
to-day, 1 rcmaikcd. "'I'liat's i|uilt' ri;,dit, for, y<iii know, tlifi'c is
always some random slioolini,' and skirmishing hi'forc tlic Itattlt-
bcj^ins ; skitinishcis lirst and lii'a\y aitillfiy aftt'isvaids." " No,"
lie rtijtlied, "that isn't it at ail; we put you in the front of the
l)attl(' on the pi'inciplc of ' ( )ld men foe counsel and y(tnnL; men
foi- war.' '
And, Ladi«'s and (icntlcmcn, whcthfr as a li;;ht skirmisher, or as
the front man in that honorable \ani,'uard of the nhnnni ni lro(|uois
Hij^h School that she has heeii for lifty years pouring into the lap
of Canada, I hope I am fully sensihie of the honor that is done uie
to-day sensihie, not only on my own account, svhich may seem
very natural to you, hut also on your account, which may seem
somewhat ainbij^uous to you and egotistic on my part. Itut we
shall speak of that later.
I feel this honor on my account because of id! the associations
that cluster for me around the wvy name of Iroipiois lli^h School.
No matter what \ niii^ht be able to say concei'nin;^ that ii,iand old
institution, were my capabilities increased tenfold, I should be
merely j,'ivinti back to her in shower what I "gathered here in vapor
and sunshine. It matters not whether it i;e the oM hospitable
stone structure that our forefathers built for us out of their wisdom
and s(!lf-denial, and consecifited with their uneriiiif^ foresi;L(ht, or thti
ma<;nificent massive buildinjf that a later j,'eneration has provided ;
it is to the institution itself the iihnii innti-r which has reilected so
much credit on our eommiinity, which has been such a factor for
j^ood throui,diout the Dominion that my atlection clinns. I'lach
building, the old and the new, has its <iwii golden chain of meiiKtries,
unalloyed by baser metal. The old building again comes up before
me with its long rows of windows peeping out from the dense foliage
of the maples, denser now by the growth of si.xteen years. in its
soutli-w(!st corner, in an upper chamber, I first in\t'stigated the
mysteries of the hieroglyphic numerals; the same coi'iier saw the
agonies of my first efforts in penmanship. Thus, as a student, I
was born therir. Years passed away, I had seen other schools, and
at the age of sixteen I again found myself a pu|)il within the walls
of our old Ifigli School.
1 often look back at that epoch in my life with thankfulness.
Sixteen is tlu( most plastic period of a boy's life. The kindly
counsel and ever-ready assistance of iMi'. Whitney and his able
colleagues, Mr. Alex. ^FcLeod and Mr. .1. M. Kinney, stimulated
in me a love and thirst for knowledge and exact scholarship that
has always been, that always will be, with me. We were a hap|)y
i .
''■^i.
AIM'ENUIX.
i:)i
family, and tin- disi-ipliii*- of tin- scliool was siiiiply tlif (lisci|ilini> nf
tln' fiimily. To iiu', t'vcii now, with the widrr k now lc( !>,'(• that
(MMit's with 11 tcachin;; cxiu'iit'iu-c t'xt«'mlinj^ <»v«'r lit'ti'cn y'''ii''<. •""'
scliool lite (if I ln' latf 7U s seems in mativ respects an ideal school
life.
Our readitiji loom, well stocked with papeis, fiitiiished recreation
when weathei' or inclination led us to lejecl fool hall, cricket, or hase-
liall. <)ur Literai'v ami helialin;,' Society won fame in the local
press (IS "Tho Lime Kiln l)lnh," and oikm- hlossomed out into a
<lramatic concert, I liat scored a prodi;iious siit;cess in Iroipiois and
netted sixty dollars foi' the founditii,' of a llij,di School lihiaiy. Mut
in Caidinal, alas! (Mir conceit met failure, a rainy iiii^dit, muddy
roads, a hreaUdow n, sore feet from the loiii; walk home and sore
hearts from a newspuper controversy that followed. However, we
netted lifteeii cents for our infant lihrary fund.
If such were our more serious pleasures, we were not without our
more frivolous jiastimes. Of course, the supertluity of animal spirits
would efl'erve.sce in tricks. Our northern boundary was not marked
hy a fence in those days, and we assumed a (-ontrol over stray cattle
for which no hy law i;iaiited us authoiity : horses and cows wero
startt'd out from the north-west an;(l« of the school witli tin-pail
attachments that i;oaded them to a speed at which their (jwiiers
mar\('lled. What the <iwner.s said is scarcely worth mentioninf^
here. There was an initiation ceremony for every new pupil. It
was in the school when I came ; it was there wIk-ii I left. Kor the
first several days of his Itiifli School life, the novice was "elevated,"
as it was technically called, on stron<^ arms and tossed upwaid as
in a hlanket, until he touched those old, time-stained cross-heams of
the I'oof ; the numher of hoists heini;' always temjiered to tlu? iKtn-
resistance of the victim. Of course, the public <ienerally, and the
teachers in j)articular, were not "cordially invited to 1m> present "
at these demonstrations.
I>ut whelh((i- we were readinLt Herodotus or workin<,' out sitien
and cosini's, I feel now that the methods were sane and that the
work was that of the true teaclier. Kor many years after, durinfj;
that period of transition fi'om the microcosm of the school-room to
the macrocosm of the world— those ssilad-days re(|uired for the
schoolboy to adapt himself to the lai'^er circumstances, of which we
teacluM's fondly hope we ari; makinif our schooh: the miniature ima<.;e;
— durin<; these (hiys of disappointment and sometimes of triumph,
my Herodotus, my Mathematics, niy Macaulay, " were old friends
nev(!r sei-n with new faces, the same in wealth and in poverty, in
ylory and in (jbscurity," — my consolation in adversity, my conlidants
in prosperity. What school, what teacliei* can liave a hij^her aim,
can accomplish a "greater work than to widen the sources of human
ha{)piness and implant a love of learning? Education is but "a
sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal " if it passes candidates at
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(716) 872-4503
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152 APl'EXDIX.
examinations, yot leaves them witliout "Onward, onward I "' branded
deep into their hearts.
Sucli was the life and sj)irit of Tro(iuois Hi<,di School in 1879 and
1S8U, in which T paiticipated, Hrst as a pupil, and later as a pupil
teacher. The leadinj^ boys often talked (»f the day when we should
celebrate the " ( iolden Wedchnj^" of the school. Fifteen years
iiave scattered them o\cr the whole North American Continent.
One is carryini; the (Tosj)el, in the intervals of his farm labors, to the
settler and savaije (hat nestle at the foot oi the Uockies : three aiv
handlinjj; the scalpel and dispensinjj; health, one in a lar,ij;e city of
the West, the other two in neiffhboring counties ; another tiio aie
lawyers, one in the Western States, a second in the capital of the
Dominion, and the third hei-e anion,!,' you, the two latter <,'i'eatly
conti'ibutinii to the success of to-day's meetinj? — an ei<fhth is lay-
inj; out new settlements with chain and theodolite in the prairies of
the West ; and the sj)eaker is the ninth. Those nine boys, now
".severed far and wide by mountain, stream, and sea," played and
hoj)e(l and sti'ujxglwl heie in the miniature .school world onlv fifteen
years ago. This is but the merest glim])se at the influences that
were set in motion l)v this gi-and old .school duiing tiie tliiee years
that T was connected with it. Did the Carmans and C(»on.ses build
wisely and well .' •
Ten yeais passed before I was again connected with my ahna
iuaff): Changes had taken place : an nhttimitx of the school had
been five years her ))rincipal : the old school-building had become
but a memory : a new building with complete e(|uipment, had
superseded the old establishment ; a hundred busy pupils filled the
new class-rooms. And the same old spirit was hers still. The
school had expanded. A native product had succeeded .so surpass-
ingly as princi])al, that perhaps the Board was impelled to offer to
me, though only a foster-child of Irocjuois, a position on the stafl".
Those times aic recent : no halo of the past has gathered rouiui
them ; yet I can be pardoned for speaking of them when it is
remembered that it is as the i-epresentative of the Janu's A. Carman
re(ii)iif that \ have been invited to this platform to-day. To the
thiee C.'s of that period, Carman, Cas.selman, and Carstairs, those
(lavs are .sacred. The staft' and school were a unit. Not (»iu' mis-
understanding, not one harsh word or thought clouds the brightness
of those golden associations. We met almost as strangers, we
parted life-long friends, that neither time nor distance can sever.
The school was large; our enei-gies were taxed almost to the
utmost. In one year one hundred and .seventy pupils were enrolled.
The junior classes were very large, constituting from one-half to
two-thirds of the whole school ; the senior classes alone went up for
examinations. 'I'hus, examinations were a gauge of merely a part,
the smallei" part of the actual work done ; but, as you will remem-
ber, those examiiuition lesults were always very fair, and often
APPENDIX.
1.-).^
<;xcellpnt. IJut in that work for wliicli riil)l)ing a^niiist the world
is the only examination, in that culture of the nifnn nana et
Hdtntni cor/tKs, the school was in no respect deticient. The discip-
line was hased wholly on the self-respect of the pupil. Durinj^
tlie tliree years 1 was Classical and English iNIastcr of Troipiois
High School, hut one case of severe (lisci[)line arose. I was respr)n-
sible for it, and I do not regret it. The public sj»irit of tiie pupils
was so strong and so Imalthy that 1 never knew a mark to dt>face
the school premises; every breakage was reported, generally volun-
tarily, a>:;l i)rovided for on individual resj)onsiliility. The social
life issued in a Hoys and in a (rills' Literary Socicity, both of a very
high character. These two societies often combined under a teacher's
supervision, and formed a centre for socials, conceits, conversats,
and public del)ates, which wei'e deserving of the lii)eral patronage
you gave them. l'>oys and gii-ls alike developed e.xcellent powers as
public speakers and organizer's.
At the close of l<syi, yiy, Casselman and I resigned; Mr. Cassel-
inan to accept the position of Dr'awing Master in the Provincial
Nor'irral School at Toronto, and T to complete my I'rriversity course
at the Univei'sity of Toronto. On graduation 1 was r'eaj)pointed to
my old position ; at the same time a fourth teacher was apjiointed
to the stall" in th»^ person of Miss Tda Dillabough, a young lady who
is still a miMnbcr- of the stall', and whose industry, faithfulness and
ability have added gr-eatly t(» the r'e{)utation and teaching power of
the school. The fall of 18!)2 was notabl(> also for- a series of attacks
on ever-ythirrg rclatirrg to the High School, the Chairnian, the
Principal, the Classical riraster", individual Ti'ustees, the Boar'd as a
whole. The very existence of the school .seemed irreiraced. Of
these I shall rrot speak, but this is certairr, that if .lohn .\. Carrrran
founded the scho()l irr 184^0, his .son, James A. Carrrran, r-errdered it
the very gr-eatest possible service in 189"J.
In July, l.SDIi, Mr'. Car-man i-etir-ed, owing chietly to a sever-e
physical affliction, and I accompanied hiirr. He has left her'e with
us, living in a thousand hearts, a recor-d for manly sti-aightforwai'd-
ness, sanity of teaching methofl, thor-ough honesty of jiur-pose,
surpassing j)i-udence and sur-passing power of organizing that ar*e
not often fourrd combined in one man.
" His lifo was gentle ; and tlie eleiiieiit.i
So mixed in liiiii tlial Natui'e iuif,'lit stand u]>,
And say to all tiie world, ' This is a man.' "
Ever-y week thiit I pass her-e on the old spot of our boyhood, some
of our old pupils will call and confide in me how much they owe to
liaving come in contact with the ster-ling, manly character of James
A. Carman. Truly his
" . . . echoes roll fi-oin son! to .sonl,
And (jroir for-ever and forever."
If'
154 APPENDIX.
I have ali'eady said that I feel it an honor t«) adih-ess you to-da^',,
not inorely on uu' own account l»ut also on yours. ! have lived
much iMiioM^ you, iis well as nnich away from you ; 1 have had
fre(|ueiit opjioitunities of knf)wing how great an interest you take
in education. My contact with otlier connnunitie.s has led to
comparisons, and you liave never suffered in this res|)ect. You
support schools liberally very liherally: you eiuiou rage all educa-
ti(»nal and educative enterprises with your purse and your presence.
Where can you find in all ()ntario another municijiality of the size
of Matilda township, that furnishes so many High School pui)ils ?
Though your .schools may he hui'densome, in no place have I found
.so many citizens read\' and willing to discuss educational matters
rationally. This is well, hut let me utter a note of warning: "Do
not grow self-complacent ; do not say we are » .ice people ; we have
the tinest educational system in the world ; vve may sit down and
let the system run itself." Constant vigilance is the price of safety
in matters educational, as well as in matters military.
Fiut I have tried to find an explanation of this local yet widespread
abiding interest in educati<in that is so marked a characteiistic of
your connnunity ; and I have believed that I find it in the very
occasion and men we celebi'ate to-day. Foi- fifty y»>ars the conscious
and unconscious factors of a uell-conducted educational institution
have been going out among you ; an institution founded on self-
denial, maintained through self-sacrifice, and thus enhanced a
thousand-fold in your estimation. Foi- fifty years you have had the
men themselves that founded and sustained this institution, going
in and out among you no mean educative factor-! For fifty years
you have had the influences that such men .set in motion, accumu-
lating like the avalanche as it sweeps down the mountain-side ; yet,
uidike the avalanche, an accunudation of bi'nign and Idessed
elements. Can you ipiestion the result /
Fifty years ago, li(»(|Uois was not much. There were three stores,
two hotels, the post-oHice and the steamboat landing. Down near
the gravel road was the Laing store, with a little settlement around
it ; and up the river was Mi-. Jacob Ih-ouse's store. Near the
steamboat landing was the first stone school-house ever built in tlu^
county, which was I'ccently toiii down to make way for a meat
maiket. Here fifty pupils used to assemble, one of wh<»m is the
speakei' of the day. Rev. Dr. Carman, (leneral (Superintendent of
the Methodist Church. The teacher was Mr. John J. Keii-.
Already in lSf.5 the Trustees, Mr. Phiii}» Cai'uian, Mi'. Ceo.
Hrouse, Mr. Chas. E. Rose, were asking the (ioverinuent Su})erin-
tendent of Kducation, concei-ning the stej)s necessary to erect their
school into a granunar sch<»ol. Their efforts in this direction failing,
Mr. J(»hn A. Carman built a substantial stone edifice at his own
expense on land givcti by Messrs. James and Matthew Coons, and
pre.s(!nted it to a IJoai'd in trust for posterity.
h.
AI'PKNDIX.
155
ill's
uu-
•«'t,
ised
en,
;ir
M(l
he
\n^
at
h*>
of
To fipprctiiitf tlie truf sijiiiitii-ancc of this act of Mr. Carman, U?t
us look at tlic condition of educatioti in Canada in 1S4(). When
the scliool was opened, Kj,'erton Uyerson, the founder of our c(»niniou
scliool system was tiavellini^ in Europe, and liad not yet been com-
missioned Supeiiiitendent of Education two years. When tlie school
was opening in June, 1S4(), the Hrst al)i(hn<» touch of Hyer.son'.s
l»and, on our connnon school system, the embodiment of his re-
.searches and experiences among the educational systems of Europe —
I mean, the Act of lS4(j -was ])assing tin-ough the Legislature under
the management of the Hon. W. Drajier. In 184() Victoria Uni-
veisity was ten yeais old, (Queens five, Toronto three ; and Trinity
and Albert weiv yet unborn. The Iro(|uois school preceded the
Hrst issue of tliti first educational paper, '/'lie Joiirnnf of E'/iicafion,
and the first County Convention of teachers, by a year. It was in
1S4() that Di'. Hyerson issued his Hr.st circular to Municipal Coun-
cils. Fifty years ago, then, we had not (nie Public school as we
understand the term, we had no educational journals, no teachers'
meeting.s, no Normal schools, and but three infant universities.
Less than fifty yeais ago, we could Hnd an enlightened Chairman
(»f an Education Connnittee offering such a icsoliition as this, and
the (Jore District Council, meeting at Hamilton, ado])ing it :
" Witii ros|)fi't to till' iieces.sity of cstiihlisliiiig a Xoi'iiuil witli eleiiieiitiiiy
" Model Seliool in tliis froviiu'c, your iiRMiioiialists are of tlie opinion tiiat,
"however well-ailapteil hucIi an institution might lie to the want.s of the old
"and densely jt(»piilute(l I'ountries of Kurojie, where services in almost every
" v(K:atioii will scarcely yield the common necessaries of life, they are, so far
" iis the ohject expected to he {.'ained is concerned, ii/loi/rt/nr iiiixiiitnl to a
"roiintrt/ lib U/tixr Caiifi<lfi. . . . Nor <1<> your memorialists hojie to
" pro\ ide (pialitied teachers l>y any other means in the prese it circum.slances
"of the country than hy securing, as luM-etofore, the service of ihose irhote
Mr. .James Little, Chairman of the (iore Educational Connnittee^
certainly deserves fame ! I»ut de morfnix nihil nisi honnni.
A little more than fifty years ago there were only twenty-live
(irammar Schools in all Upjier Canada, educating '.>."iS jiujtils at an
annual cost of !i^lG,.■^_'0. To-day our two largest C!ollegiate Institutes
have more pupils, while many of our High Schools have a larger
expense account. And yet here, in a modest and unassuming
settlement in a cedar swamp on the banks of the St. Lawrence,
there was a modest and unassuming man (we all remember him)
who, of his own free will, without (Sovernment assistance, or the
hope of (.Jovernment assistance, impelled merely by that manly
and practical philanthropy marked his life, built the conmio-
loC
AH'ENDIX.
dious and substHiitial structure of our hoyliuod, deeded it to j)()sterity
Hud hronj^lit to our doocs the lilessiiij^s of edueatioii in a i,'eneratiou
that was notably tlie most i<,'noiant and illiteraU', owinj,' to its
unfortunate eircunistances, that Canada had yet seen.
Wlien the ^latihla (/ounty (iraininar Scliool set sail in .June,
1S4(), it was a wholly private enterprise; there was the possibility
but not the promise of (Jovennnent assistanct>. Tlie " Seminary,"
as it was ealled even in my boyhood, iiad a j)iano-room and sleepiiifj;
apartments upstairs, class-rooms and a icsidence foi' the ])iincipal
downstairs. The school was well ei|uippe(l, and possessed ap|)lian(res
not often seen, even to-day, in our more modern establishments.
A piano was bouj^ht by private subscription, and in my school-days
I saw the remains of what nuist have been a very complete tellurian,
^ivinjj; an objective repi'esentation of the whole solar system.
I am led to lielieve that in all rp|)er Canada thei'e wei'c not six
(Jrammar School buildiiiifs that surpassed it in size, appearance and
stability; none that surj>assed it in accommodati<,!i.
Such, then, is the debt that we owe to that generation of
Carmans, Coonses, Roses and l>rous(>s, htcally. They nnist impi'css
us all as men living' loni,' before their time. Scattci'ed ovei' Canada,
over the United States, are thousands, with their chililren and
childi-en's children, whom their wise foresii;iit h;is l>lessed. I had
thouu;ht when I assumed my duties in Stirlinic that I wasa strani^er
in a straMjj;e place; yet here I find two of our oI<l Hiijh School
jiupils precedinj,Mne. And yet to the Cai-mans of that ,:L;eneration
Ontario at larj;e owes another and i^reater educational debt. Tiiey
must lia\e felt that in Matilda (Jivunmai' School they ha<l built
wisely and well, foi' we lind both IMiilip and .John A. Carman
amonij; the Trustees of the I5(illeville Seminary, applyiny; for an
Act of incorpoi-ation as a University.*
In conclusion, how are we fultillini,' the educational obligations
that such men as these have laid upon us i We support our scliools
liberally. Does our duty cease there.' We attend educational
meetin<,'s ; are these all in all .' W(^ certairdy cannot lay much
claim to the self-sacriticiiiij; eilucational activity that so abundantly
characterized the founders of the old "Matilda County (Irannnar
School," as they called it.
It seems to nu' that our first aim should be to set a hi<,di educa-
tional standard, and to bend everything to that standard. 'I'hat
standard must reach the wayside cotta<^e. the home of the nation
at lai'jfe. Ki'(Uid(! I'emai'ks that the United States places as its
standard, that every citizen boin has a fail- and eipial start in
" Ki'V. Dr. Ciiruiim wiitos : " The ttliartff wan ())>tiiiiie(l as lielloville Sei,i-
inarv in 1S.">7. aiul, I preainiie, was ohtaiiicil .soon n» .soiijxlit. In I8(i(). it ^,as
f reeled, by enlarged iliarWr, into a Univer.sity witli ])r)wei'.s in .\rts ; anii, in
1871, l)y cliarter, still fiirtlu-r unlaigcd into a University with full powfirs in
all Arts and Faculties."'
AlM'KNUrX.
157
lite. Everyone knows that he has a ehaiiee of hecoiniiijj President
of die Re|)iil)lit'. This has nuuh' at least a " pushing; " race, we
must a(hnit. Knox ^^avtf Scotland a system of Parochial Schools
that soujiht nothing hij^jher tlian to teach man's duty to (io<land
man. We know the nation that "the land of hrown heath and
sha<fj;y wockI," as a I'esult. has sent forth to every land. \\ here are
<(ur stan<lai<ls '! Do either of these Scottish principles foini a |)intion
of our school code 1
Not lon<i aj,'o a teacher in a neii,'hl»orinji Ilii,'h School asked his
pupils whether they wished an education or a certificate at tht^
cominf( depaitmental examinations. All hut one answered, "A
certificate ! " This incident indicates to me a very indiappy ten
dency to confuse the means and the end ; a tendency to foij^et that
thei'e is tin education and there is //n- education. Ait education
may f,dve you ceititicates, it may ^'ive you the insij^nia of scholar-
ship ; t/n' education j^oes deeper: it wakens every faculty, (|uickens
every power, and, in the wnids of llerhert Spencer, jiivcs "the
right rulinj,' of conduct in all directions under all circumstances."
7'/ii' education will senil forth our hoys and yirls e<|ui|tpcd, not
merely with ceititicates, liut with live intelligence and strong
cliara jters.
Far he it from me t<i utter a jeremiad against the educatinnal
tendencies of our secondary schools 1 ain no ))essimist hut I do
feel that the High Schools are not fulfilling the hopes uf theii"
founders. I feel that the masses pay f<>i' the High Schools, and
that the IJigh Schools are fast Ijccoming nu^re technical schools foi-
the partial ti'aining of teachers and other professional men. I feel
that the High Si-hool Entrance i']xamination is a thick set hedge;
the Pul»li<' School l.,eaving Kxamination a " thicker set " hedge, in
which there are no gaps. As a result, a large class of our young
men and women, who could profit liy the comi)lete appliances of our
sc1r>o1s, an<l the high scholai'ship of the teachers, who, moreover,
are ])aying a large pi'oportion of the cost of these institutions are
yeai'ly shut out from these advantages. They may not wish to
(jualify for a profession, hut they might, and could, ipialify lietter
for life If the education we are dispensing is a good foi' the
pi'ofessional class, sui'ely a portion of it at least should he a good
for the sons and daughters of oiu' fainiers and mechanics who have
no professional and»itions. We have no more right to close our
High Schools against the mendicant in .Arithmetic or the unfoi'-
tunate in Spelling, if otherwise (pialilied in maturity and intelli-
gence, than to close our churches against the mendicant in pocket.
And herein we have one of our most terrihie wastes of educational
force and power. Instead of heing close corporations, oui- High
Schools should he as they were, T helieve, twenty years ago, centres
of educational light, sending forth their heams on all that have
outgrown in knowledge and intelligence the average pupil of the
irrr
158
APPENDIX.
v\.
[I )
(listrii't school ; ccntics, t'loiii which shall poir t'oitli a coiistaiit
stit'aiuof iiillucnct's that shall raise tiic ijciifral Irvcl of iiitt'llij^ciicc.
And we lu^ed not t'cai' to reach the hij^h water niaik too soon.
Tf we are thus t'allinj? in our educational ideals t'roin those of our
fathcis in oui' duty to man, where do we stand in teachin;f our duty
to the (ireat .\i-ehitect of the I'niverse ? Our l»il)les aic i,'ood one
day in the W!>ek, how about the other si.x days.' Our Uonian
Catholic fellow -citizens are at h-ast consistent as a Christian people
and an historic Christian Church, when they insist on reli;,'ious
instruction in their schools. Are we consistent, l>o;istin;( oui'
Protestantisni, lioastini,' an open l>il)le, and pluniin;,' ourselves on a
more enli;;htened faith ; yet, trustiiii,' to chance to instruct, our
children in llihiical facts facts, rememher, not doctrines? Aside
from its paramount tiaim iis a icvelation from God to man, aside
from its claim as <ine of our master|)ieces of Knu;lisli, the lUlile is
the earliest history, the earliest hio^n-aphy. the eailiest poetry, and
the earliest code of ethics of the lace. Should not the least of these
he a sufficient claim to iviise it to the rank of a mere te.xt-hook in
our schools.' A te.xt-hook of facts and lit«'rature, not necessarily of
doctrines, on which to base theolo<j;ical s(|ual)hles. No, our Uoman
Catholic fellow -citizens aie i"i<i;ht ; we ai'e wroni;. I^et us .say .so.
Let them have reliyious schools: let us have a .school with a IJihIe.
A Christian race without a liihle is an anomaly — an impossibility.
For
" It',-1 tlif little rift within tlic lute
'I'liiit l>y-aii(l-l)V Mill iiiakf the iiiusif iiiiiti',
Anil, evcr-widcninij;, hIiiwIv silence all, —
The little rift within the lover's lute,
Of little ))itte(l s|)ei'k in i^arnereil frnit,
That, rotting inwards, slowly inouMers all."
The fii'st fifty years in the history of this institution have passed
awa}'. The men who founiled it, the old buildin<>', have alike van
ished ; they made life a less serious j)roblem for us, they made such
changes in our envii-onment that a broader intelligence and widei-
opportunities have beanu'd upon us. Our duties are [»lain : to do
for posterity at least as much as tho.se grand (»ld men did for u.*-".
Let us free our High Schools from tlie narrow professionalism, with
which I fear, only too justly, they may be charged ; let us be con-
sistent in our claim of an open l>ibl(% and we shall rear on the.se
shores a nation etjual to the Scottish under Knox's .system of
Parocliial Schools ; anil when the hands of old Time's clock point to
1946, as a second " (Golden Wedding" for the old Matilda County
<Trainmar School, perhaps .some other gathering of old boys and old
girls of the School, who are now unborn, shall give us that least and
greatest word of praise possible, "They have done their duty."
AIM'KNDIX.
i:)9
[Hissed
»' vaii-
SUl'll
widt'i"
II do
r UK.
with
con-
tlu'so
in of
nt to
unity
oUl
t and
SC'IKNCK TN SCHOOLS,
liv .loiiN IIai!Km:sh, M.D.
Fortycmc years af»o now, 1, a l)oy of thirteen, entered tlic
lro(|Uois (iiaminai' School, which had just hccii placed under the
H'liai'^e of Mr. .\lheit Carman, a youn<,' man fresh fiom collej,'e, who,
I understood, undertook to run it for tlie (JoNcrnment j^rant and
what he could mal<e out of fees. The fees were §.'{.(10 per teini (four
terms in the year) for the Kn;,'iish l)ranches, and 84.00 when the
<'lassics were includeij. I had received my preliminary traininj^ in
a little si|uar<' loi,' hou.se, with a window in each side, made lon<;
lioi'izontally : one half of which was movable, and around the frames
of which and of the door there were Lceiierally more or less openinj,'s
throuifh which daylij,'htcould he seen especially around the door.
'J'he inside furnishiniis consisted of a Ixi.x sto\e in the middle of the
floor, with a pijie running; up stiaii,'ht throui,'h the roof, two forms
or lienches, which could he moved neai' to or away from the stove,
as (iccasioii wouhl rcipiire, and aroinid three sides of the house ajfainst
the wall a desk, with the seat (a continuous hoard) on the inside, ,so
that we had to stepovci' the seat and sit with our faces to the wall.
In the (irannnar School we were tauyht leadini:, writinj:,
•jramniar and jieoi,'raphy, with mathematics and classics. I)uriny
the three years in which Mi-. Carman taui,'ht and I attended, we
had small classes of four or five in astronomy, ^eolo<,'y and
physioloifv. This was alto<j;ether voluntary on the part of the
students and teacher; no provision, so far as I am aware, heini;
made in the curiiculum for teaching science'. Hut of late years
.science, as populaily understood, has a recognized {)lace in our
High School course, and I am [>leased to say that we have vt>ry good
facilities foi- teaching it. I liave every expectation that it will
have a still more imjHirtant place in the near future.
The great and most important object of education in our schools
is not so mudi the ac(|uisition of knowledge as the tiaining of the
mind to enable it in after life to acipiiic that knowledge foi' itself.
The transcendent im[»ortance of a scientific education for the
highest development of life caniu)t be too strongly insisted upon.
Science is organized knowledge. Ficiin the moment we open oui"
eyes an<l wail foith our first cry in this life, we begin the
acipiisition of ki\owledge. Every |ihenom"non of wliich we take
i'ognizance is a scientific fact, the act of takitig cognizance no less
than any other. Science arranges all this knowledge in an ttrderly
whole : the onh'rly arrangement of plienomena most nearly lelated
being a particular science. Each of the sciences has a development
fif its own, but they all follow a certain course. Somelxxly groups
a number of observations, and perhaps draws an inference or
p
I
I
KiO APPENDIX.
states a liy|i(>tli«-sis : soiiirlMidy t'lsc groups fiiidtlici' iiuml)»'r of
fiicts, iiiid (liiiws fi (lilVcrciit iiitVrcticc. Tlu' antiij,'(Hiisin stiimilfitcs
olwcrvatioii, and atlfi' a tiiiu', wlicii t.lic |)i<i;^i't'ss of kiiowlcd;^" has
iiiado tlio tiiiif i°i|i<>, a iiiastei' mind apiicais, ^ri'<iii|i.s all the
lilicnonH'iia, sees their relations, and plaees them in orderly seiiiiencp,
i- ! and we have a harmonious whole yo\erned hv a Imr.
J j Allow WW to illustrate shortly hy that most nearly perfect of ail
the sciences, Astronomy m<»st nearly pei't'eet, heeause in it we an?
ahle to previse phenomena much more than in any other. And in
no other have we a more striking:; illustration of the value of
a liifpotlK'sis as a working basis. Copernicus propounded the theory
of modern astronomy, hut it was nothin.i( more with him than
a hypothesis witlwtut pioof. After him, and working on his
hypothesis, the accurate and vei-y numerous ohservations of Tycho
Hrahe, made for many years, enabled his <rreat pupil, Kepler, after
yeais of profoun<i thou^dit, to estaltlish his three j^reat laws und(!r
which the planets move, and to ieco<;ni/e the force of "gravitation.
The time was now ri|H' for the comi>letion of the asti'onomical
theorem, and the man aj»i»eai'ed in Isaac Newton, wlu», in his
ej)och-makin<,' work, " Principia, ii'refra<,'ahly established the law
that "^'ra\ ity varies inversely as the scpiare of the distance." This
S'-eins to have made astronomical tlintru complete, and all thc^
discoveries and (»bservations made since have been found to conform
to these laws.
In the same way (Jeolo^y was placed on a stable basisaboui the
time of tlie establishment of this school, by the )>ublication oi the
successive editions of that wonderful work, l^yells "Principles of
(!eoloj,'y,'' althouiih the lieoloyical text-book which I used forty years
ayo here still tau<fht cataclysms, with sudden extinction of old
species, and sudden creation of new. Thirty-six yeais ai^o Hotany
and Zooloi^y had the same thint;done for them by Darwin's " Orij^in
of Species."'
Still more recently two othei- co<,'nate sciences have as.sumed or
are assumini,' dehnite shape, " Sociolojjiy," or tlie Science of Society ;
and " Ktliics,' or the Science of Conduct. Until of late years it
was not thouf^ht that these thintjs were subject to scientific treat-
ment, and even now f may be considered hetei-odox for claiming
that morals has any othei- "reason for existence," than the com-
mands of a superhuman power. The (juestions are ditiicult ones to
, treat scientitically on account of the exti'cme complexity of the
phenomena involved ; but an immense nund)er of data have been
collected by a f^reat number of ob.servers, and have been more or
less methodically arrani,'ed ; and there is no doubt that the time lias
arrived for placing both sciences on a broad, firm foundation.
They, above all others, deserve to be taught in our schools, especi-
ally Ethics, as it so intimately concerns our daily and houily life ;
and 1 think that a recognition of the distinctive difference between
AIM'KNDIX.
161
lt!(l or
nety ;
I'iii's it
Itieat-
iminj^
com-
les to
f the
been
)iv or
e lias
morals and religion, and tlie platting of the fonner on the scIkm)!
i-urrieulinn, would g(» tar towards solving the «wer present question
of religiouH teaching in the sch(M)ls. Keligion concerns our rela-
tions to the great first cause of things of which our purely intel-
lectual faculties cannot take cognizance ; Kthics deals with our
relations to our material surroundings and to ourselves, primarily
to humanity, and in a less degree to inferior animals, and even to
plants, and although our moral conduct is very much influenced by
our feelings, which have been partly inherited, and are partly the
result of (»ur (social and material) suiroundings, yet our thinking
part can (at least very largely) trace the origin and causes of our
moral emotions, and can, when judged necessary, very largely influ-
ence them and our conduct. Our teaching of right conduct has
IxHin nearly entirely an emotioiuil' <»ne. We are told to do so and
HO because it is the will of (jI(k1, and we are toltl not to do so and
HO Ijecause it is the wiles of the devil. It is not so many hundred
years ago since all epidemics of disease were ascribed to the will of
a superior power ; but since sanitary knowletlge has spread and
been applied, even in the very partial and imperfect manner in
which it is now, such epidemics are becoming fewer and much less
severe, and in the last two hundred yeai-s the average length of
human life, in cities especially, has been nearly doubled. In the
Haine way I have no doubt that, if moral hygiene weie taught and
understood as it should be, if everyone knew from reason what gttod
conduct is, and that every violation of that moral code is inevital)ly
followed by its appropriate punishment, which cannot be escaped by
any subsecpient repentance, [ have no doubt that there would be a
lessening of moral disease, with its accompanying sufTering, coiinnen-
surate with that of physical disease, following the application of
physical hygiene. We had disease and suffering before man came
into the world, and we will have it through all time ; but T
aui optimistic enough to think that with social and moral laws,
established on a firm and broad scientific basis, and the knowledge
of them generally diffused through the agency of our schools, we
will have a lessening of the evil and an increase of the good, of
which we can form but a very inade(|uate conception.
My hold on life is too slight for me to expect to see these changes
inaugurated, but I think that whoever sees the Centennial of this
school, will see scientific ethics Uiking its place as the most important
subject on the curriculum
speci-
life;
I ween