Phillifs Exeter Acadcmv.
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��teachers eoustitiite a faculty, in which are vested the government and instruction. Their support comes excUisiveW from the funds. Tiiey do not, therefore, ' hang on princes' favors,' or on the still more fickle favor of the populace. As a natural consequence, they are not obliged, by any consideration of interest, to lis- ten to the capricious whims of boys, or to pander to the tastes of a super- ficial, hurrying people. . . . The faculty can be systematic and thorough without becoming a topic for debate and denunciation iu town-meeting." This is true to-day, and it is difficult to imagine a condition more likely to produce good results. Failure can come only through faculty weakness. There are in the academy four classes only, — Preparatory, Junior, Middle, Senior. The fit for college is not excelled ; the English depart- ment is inferior to a good high school. Rules are few in number, but the wisdom of years has so fashioned them that their restraining power is felt throughout the course. The large degree of personal liberty, the absolute necessity of meeting certain well known requirements, and the strong democratic spirit of the school render it easy to assume college du- ties. The instructing body is remark- ably strong. Prof. Pennell is said to have revolutionized the teaching of Latin ; certainly no student ever sat long under him without great gain iu celerity and precision. Profs. Went- worth and Cilley are abler men than one sees much of in collesfe. The method of instruction does not com- mend itself to the weak or indolent. Information is given only after suc- cess has been measurably secured by
��hard work. The main thiii"- sought is intellectual development. Hon- esty, inclination to labor, and power of endurance are imperatively de- manded. Hence, anything in quality, habit, mental or physical condition, seriously interfering with a pupil's progress, is very apt to make his seat vacant. The ideal academy boy would seem to be one with vitality and human nature enough to be way- ward, but possessed of latent manli- ness sufficient to conquer himself. The majority of the applicants for admission have had some training iu small academies and high schools, and readily fall into the Junior class. Two 3'ears of sharp work fit them for entrance to any college except Har- vard. A few graduates from classi- cal institutions are admitted every year to the Middle class, of whom some complete the course and enter college a year in advance. Candi- dates for Harvard take the "Prelims" at the end of the Middle year, and "Finals" when through with the Senior.
The faculty encourage base-ball, foot-ball, and rowing, and there is always a lively interest in the games. There are two literary societies. The Golden Branch was established iu 1818, and has until within a few years afforded a common meeting-place for picked boys of the different classes. The Gideon S. Soule was organized in 1882. Neither makes any parade of mystery, and both are without doubt of considerable value. The best scholars are sought for member- ship. With a view to supply "the lack of a proper medium for the interchange of opinions and the dis- cussion of matters of general inter-
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