The Cecil Whig

(For the Whig.)
THE ACADEMY.

I happened to be present on the Friday evening of last week, at the examination and exhibition of the pupils for some time under the tutelage of Mr. Thorp, principal, and Miss Sears, assistant teacher, in the Academy in this town, and cannot withhold the expression of my satisfaction, nay the delight I enjoyed at witnessing the proficiency of some and the demeanor of all the pupils in that institution.

Mr. Thorp the principal, seems to be master of his business, and it is apparent is pushing his boys forward in a most judicious and advantageous manner. His system will undoubtedly prove very efficacious to the youth committed to his care, and the result gratifying to their parents and friends. The delivery in Latin, of Cicero's celebrated speech against Catiline, by one of the students was performed in a manner highly creditable indeed, and deeply impressed me with the conviction that few older and riper scholars in the county could have done it so well. The French essay, read by a young lady, was truly surpassing. altho it wanted that peculiar intonation, accent and expression, which none other than French can impart to that language.

The composition of the pupils on general subjects was very commendable, and read in an excellent manner. The examples in reading select pieces of prose and of poetry was given in good style, without that whining tone, and juvenile hesitency so generally found among children, and which it is so difficult to correct. Mr. Thorp, however, seems to understand the art of learning his pupils to read well, and reduces it to practice. And then the little men, I will not call them boys, delivered their speeches, committed to memory in an "open bold and brave" manner, pronouncing the words generally in a clear and distinct voice, occasionally "suiting the action to the word."

The only thing throughout the whole affair which seemed to give me the least pain, was the paucity of the rewards distributed, for I felt as if each one were entitled to, and should have had a present of some sort. I am always glad to see emulation to good deeds imparted to youth, and in my humble opinion nothing contributes more to that end than commendations and rewards however trifling—but I derived some consolation in this case from the fact, that this was Mr. Thorp's first attempt at exhibition, and so new to this community that he was entirely unsupported whereas, on a future similar occasion, the public so deeply interested in the matter would procure for him a number of presents, to be distributed among his meritorious pupils, most assuredly Mr. Thorp, ought to be supported in these efforts, and I would respectfully propose that he hereafter makes them semi-annually.

Nothing can present stronger claims to the encouragement and support of the public, than the education of the rising generation, our sons and daughters, those, who when we spectators are gathered to our fathers,—are to tread the paths we trod, and must adorn or disgrace the country we now serve.

We should not be insensible to the blessings of good education, we should cultivate and promote it, as connected with every thing which ennobles men here, and hereafter. our arts, our freedom, our laws, christianity that bright and shining light, mens civilization, his eternal destiny, All, all are connected with education. Plato, Newton. Washington and Franklin, would have been born, and lived, and died unknown without this boon, and shall we, we who have passed the halcyon days of youth, and now tread the verge of advanced age supinely sit down with our arms folded, in stolid indifference to the future destiny of the rising generation?
Forbid it humanity! Forbid it righteous heaven!

SPECTATOR.