That we recommend the consideration at the next session of the legislature of measures regarding state aid to the public schools, a longer required term of attendance, and more stringent truancy laws. That the suggestions of State Superintendent Fred Gowing, relating to a unification of the educational organizations of the state, meet with the approval of this association, and that a committee be appointed at this meeting to take into consideration a plan of carrying into effect the ideas advanced, and we recommend a more cordial and active coöperation on the part of teachers to the end that opportunities for education to all our youth may be equally enjoyed. [Signed] F. L. SPAULDING, Chairman, For the Committee. These resolutions were adopted, and a committee was appointed to consider the suggestions of Superintendent Gowing, relative to the unification of the educational organizations of the state. The committee consists of the follow ing members: State Superintendent Gowing of Nashua, Superintendent Folsom of Dover, Superintendent Simpson of Portsmouth, Mr. F. L. Sutcliffe of Manchester, Mr. Tucker of Laconia, Miss Peirce of Portsmouth, and Miss Snell of Plymouth. The committee is to report at the next meeting. President Tucker then presented the following resolution : Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to consider the question of preparation for the scientific schools and for the scientific course in the colleges, to report at the next meeting of the association. The resolution was adopted and the following committee appointed by the chair: Chairman, President William J. Tucker, Hanover; President Charles S. Murkland, Durham; John F. Kent, Concord; Lemuel S. Hastings, Nashua; Mr. After the business meeting Mr. G. T. Fletcher, of Northampton, Mass., agent of the Massachusetts State Board of Education, addressed the convention upon "Rural Schools." Mr. Fletcher spoke of the rural schools of the past and of the powerful influence they had in forming the nation. He referred to the decrease of population in the rural districts, and urged the necessity of state aid. He advocated the combination of small schools and need of skilled supervision. He concluded by saying that it is the duty of the state to see that none living amid its mountains, forests, and fields lack the best educational advantages the state can give. The last topic was "Desirable Educational Legislation." The discussion was opened by Superintendent Folsom of Dover. Mr. Folsom spoke of what was accomplished at the last session of the legislature, and said he looked upon this as a long step toward improving rural schools. He urged the necessity of state aid, a more just distribution of the literary fund than is obtained under the present law, and minimum school year. Mr. Folsom introduced Professor J. W. Sanborn, who pleaded the cause of the rural schools, and gave statistics to show that the products per acre are measured by the intelligence of the control of school buildings. people. Dr. Harris of Keene spoke on "Compulsory Attendance." He said that people in his part of the state de sired a longer school year, and are able to pay more than they are now paying. He believes that parents should be made to see that their children enjoy the privileges they are supposed to. Laws in regard to the employment of children should be strengthened and enforced, as should the truancy laws. New Hampshire has no law fixing the minimum length of the school year. Such a law should be enacted. Superintendent Simpson of Portsmouth followed, speaking upon “School Buildings." He said these were constructed oftentimes without method, and that it would be well if plans were submitted to the state department for suggestions. Every means should be taken. to keep school buildings in a cleanly and healthy condition, in order that the best results may be secured. Such a law was passed at the last session of the legislature, but was vetoed. This should be represented to the coming legislature. The last speaker was W. N. Cragin, of Laconia, who spoke on "Truancy and Desirable Truant Legislation." He called attention to the fact that the law which gives the towns the right to make by-laws regarding truancy is not compulsory, and expressed his belief that but few towns avail themselves of the right. He urged that the law be made compulsory; and that towns be required to appoint a truant officer. He advocated truant or parental schools separate from the industrial school and its atmosphere of crime, for the education and reform of children unfit to be in the ordinary public school. He claimed that it is for the interest of the state to reform these children before they have actually become criminals. The convention then adjourned. It is estimated that between seven School boards of cities should have and eight hundred were present. Monday, December 28, 1896, Horatio Hale, the ethnologist, died at his home in Clinton, Ont. He was born in Newport, May 3, 1817. He was the son of the well-known author, Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale. On graduating from Harvard, in 1837, he was appointed philologist of the United States exploring expedition under Captain Charles Wilkes, and was thus enabled to study a large number of languages of the tribes of the Pacific Islands, as well as of North and South America, Australia, and Africa. His investigations of the history, traditions, and customs of the various tribes form the seventh volume of the expedition reports, and are spoken of by Dr. Robert G. Latham, the English philologist, as comprising the greatest mass of philological data ever accumulated by a single inquirer. On the completion of this work he spent some years in travel and in literary and scientific studies, both in Europe and in the United States. Subsequently he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Chicago. In 1856 he removed to Clinton, Ont., where he devoted his time in part to the practice of his profession, and in part to scientific pursuits. He was a member of many learned societies, both in Europe and in America. In 1886, as vice-president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he presided over the section of anthropology. Among his noted works are: "The Origin of Language, and Antiquity of Speaking Man," "Indian Migration as Evidenced by Language," "The Iroquois Book of Rites," and a "Report on the Blackfoot Tribes." CHARLES S. FIFIELD. Charles S. Fifield, of the firm of C. S. Fifield & Co., No. 53 High street, Boston, died at Waverly, Mass., January 21, aged 53 years, after a lingering illness. He was widely known among the boot and shoe trade as the inventor and manufacturer of machinery for making boots and shoes. He was born in Belmont, and at an early age learned the trade of a machinist at Manchester. After serving his time, he, in connection with his brother, established a general machine business at Waltham, Mass. After a few years they were burned out, and he removed to Boston. There he formed a partnership with C. H. Morse, and devoted his attention to manufacturing and selling boot and shoe machinery. Mr. Fifield resided in Revere, and was one of the largest real estate owners in that town. JONATHAN BLANCHARD. Jonathan Blanchard, one of the oldest residents of Haverhill, Mass., died December 26, 1896. He was born February 27, 1810, at Nashua, and came to Haverhill early in the thirties. He was for many years a successful shoe manufacturer. but retired from active pursuits fifteen years ago. ISAAC S. MORSE. Isaac S. Morse, one of the oldest and most favorably known lawyers at the Massachusetts bar, died at Boston, December 27, 1896, at the age of 80 years. He was born in Haverhill in 1816, the son of Bryan Morse, a noted physician, and was educated at Dartmouth, graduating in 1857. He went to Massachusetts almost immediately and studied law, being admitted to the bar on the same day as General B. F. Butler. For eighteen years he was district attorney of Middlesex county. WYZEMAN MARSHALL. Wyzeman Marshall, widely known as a player of the old school, manager and dramatic reader, was born in Hudson on September 26, 1816. He went to Boston with his parents when he was 8 years old. When 19 years old he made his first appearance at the Lion Theatre, taking the part of Vibulanus in "Virginius.” The next autumn he became a member of the stock company of the old National Theatre, Boston. There he remained for several seasons, steadily advancing, until in 1839 he made his first appearance as manager, and in 1840 he opened a theatre of his own in that city, the Vaudeville Saloon, which proved successful. During the next two seasons he was again at the National, but in 1842 opened the Amphitheatre. Later he starred in the British provinces, and after two seasons in Philadelphia as acting and stage manager at the Arch Street Theatre he starred in Baltimore, Washington, Albany, and New York, meeting with great success. In the autumn of 1851 he returned to Boston and assumed the management of the Howard Athenaeum for the season of 1851-'52. In February, 1863, he took the Boston Theatre, then in a bad way financially, and made a success of it. He retired in 1864 and devoted himself to teaching elocution and fitting pupils for the stage. For the last ten or twelve years Mr. Marshall had been in poor health and he died on Christmas day, 1896. ALFRED L. TUBBS. A. L. Tubbs, president of the Tubbs Cordage Company, who died at San Francisco, December 26, 1896, and who had been identified with many of California's most noted commercial institutions, was born in Deering in 1827, and voyaged to California in 1849. Mr. Tubbs had served in the legislature and made an honorable record. BENJAMIN L. CULVER. Benjamin Lyman Culver died at Suncook, December 6, 1896. He was born in Norwich, Vt., 67 years ago, and in 1856 engaged in business as a photographer at Suncook. Later he went into the millinery and fancy goods trade. He was prominent in secret societies and one of the most esteemed residents of Suncook. HENRY A. BUELL. H. A. Buell, head of the wholesale grocery firm of H. A. Buell & Company of Lawrence, Mass., died December 27, 1896. He was born at Newport, in 1839, and came to Lawrence about 1861, where he became a member of the firm of Eastman & Buell. Later he formed the present firm, which was the largest in the city. SAMUEL M. YOUNG. Samuel M. Young, the oldest railroad director in the world, died at Toledo, January 1, in his 93d year. The deceased went there nearly three-quarters of a century ago from Lebanon, where he was born. The late Chief Justice Waite was a law student in Mr. Young's office and received his first legal training under his direction. Mr. Young was also president of the Toledo National bank for a quarter of a century. He was one of the projectors of the Cleveland-Toledo railroad, now the Lake Shore. In late years he helped to build the Columbus, Hocking Valley and Toledo railroad. Mr. Young also built a number of grain elevators, and for years was the leading grain dealer, railroad builder, banker and capitalist of Toledo. He abandoned the practice of law in 1860, and from that time to 1895 devoted his energies to business enterprises. The deceased leaves a large fortune to be divided among his three children. JOHN T. SPOFFORD. John T. Spofford, for 32 years Manchester's assistant postmaster, died in that city January 23. He was born in Londonderry, April 29, 1821, and went to Manchester at the age of 21. He was appointed to a position in the post-office July 19, 1862, and served continuously until May 11, 1894. NATHAN G. WOODBURY. Nathan G. Woodbury, one of the most extensive pail manufacturers in New England, died at Keene December 28, 1896. He was born at Rindge April 16, 1823, and when 24 years of age began business life as the proprietor of a sawmill at Richmond. In 1870 he returned to Keene, where at the time of his death he owned three large and fully equipped pail factories. His business methods were unique, in that he kept no books, but they were highly successful. DR. WILLIAM T. MERRILL. Dr. William T. Merrill, one of the most wealthy and prominent citizens of Hampton, died in that town January 22, aged 73 years. He was a native of Hampton Falls, but since 1854 had practised medicine in Hampton. He was, for a long time, president and treasurer of the Hampton school board and had been a trustee of Hampton academy since 1861. He founded the town's public library, built the largest public block there, and had done much in general to promote Hampton's interests. He was an especially zealous advocate of temperance. DANIEL R. HENDERSON. Daniel Rodney Henderson was born in Francestown August 22, 1863, and died in that town December 26, 1896. He lost his hands by a premature explosion in 1886, and the plucky and ingenious manner in which he conquered his misfortune won the admiration of the whole state. He was a justice of the peace and a deputy sheriff, served as doorkeeper of the New Hampshire house of representatives in 1893 and 1895, and would have been sergeant-at-arms in 1897 but for his death. |