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The Method of Nature.

The Passing of Spring.

The Madness of an Hour.

The Hero. __--

♦ Clothes. ----

♦ 1 The Herald of the Morn,…

THE DOLGELLY ICOUNTY SCHOOL.

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THE DOLGELLY I COUNTY SCHOOL. Ymgais. BY "PHILIP SIDNEY." Honiton and Colyton have met in Dolgelly. To ninety-nine out of every hundred readers, this will be as a cunieform inscription-not easily under- standed-so mote it be; the writer and one reader will know what it means. Pursuing my personal visits to all the County Schools within a given area, it was my fortune and good favour recently to find myself inside the massive walls of this noble pile of buildings. Let me at once say how impressed every visitor must needs be with the glorious views which meet the eyes; all the windows, and there are many of them, give a different panorama. The main doors, at the top of the flight of broad steps, lead into a vestibule, from which rune the main passage giving entrance to the large hall, masters, and other rooms. On the wall facing you as you enter are an ex- cellent portrait of Charles Reynolds Williams, Esq., of Dolmelynllyn, chairman of the governors, to whom the school owes much, a large representation of Sir Burne Jones' seal for:the U.C.W., Aberyst- wyth,%nd the ancient inscribed brass mounted on oak, formerly in the old Free, or Grammar School. In the lower floor-basement it cannot possibly be termed-are the carpenters' or wood work room, and the unique room so successfully devoted to the pursuit of art as exemplified in clay modelling and designing. The large hall has its walls delicately tinted, with a frieze designed and personally worked on it by Miss Griffith, of Arianfryn, Barmouth, who possesses true artistic knowledge, and whose handiwork is to be seen, unless I err, in Towyn County School, and will be also in the new building for the Barmouth one. The artist has given due prominence to the word at the head of this article, which forms the motto of this school, and being interpreted as nearly as possible would seem to read—ENDEAVOUR. This school is entirely one for boys, the ancient and noble institution known far and wide as Dr. Williams's School, Dolgelly" doing for girls that which has of necessity to be done for them in other County Schools. The staff comprises:—Mr. Arthur Clendon, M.A. Cantab., M.A. Lond., Headmaster; Mr. T. L. Humberstone, B. Sc. Lond., Associate Royal College of Science; Mr. Robert Jones, B.A., Lond.; and Mr. Richard Edwards, Instructor in woodwork. The school was opened in 1897, and thanks to the generosity of true friends to education like the late Sir Henry Tate, Bart., John Corbett, Esq., D.L., J.P., of Ynysmaengwyn, Sir John T. Brunner, Bart., and others, aided by the results of a memor- able bazaar, there is not debt on the building. There is ample land all round the school, and recently a strip running parrallel with the main road has been acquired, and work is now in pro- gress to make on it the main entrance to the premises, which will be an immense improvement to the property. Good cricket pitch and football ground tell their tales of use in the results of matches twixt this school and those of Bala, Barmouth, and the old Grammar School in this town. It is in contemplation to build a house on the premises for the Head-master, which, when accom- plished-may it be soon-will naturally lead to an increase of boarders from afar. There are now some thirty scholars in attendance, varying in age from 14 to 18, who certainly take a deep and intelligent interest in their classes, and, as time goes on, will not fail to give good account of themselves in the varions walks of life mapped out before them. The day's work is closed by a short office of scripture reading and prayer to which no one could possibly take exception. That in which it was my privilege to join con- sisted of a few verses read—and well read too, not mumbled—by one of the elder boys, from the Book of Proverbs, the Lord's Prayer joined in by all, and the Apostolic Benediction given by the Master from his desk. Singing, as usual, forms part of the curriculum, taught from the old notation, the results fully justifying the means. A library is available for and availed of by the boys. Here, as in other schools, further funds would be welcome to replenish the shelves. In view of the recent timely words uttered by masters at Machynlleth and Tregaron, on the all important subject of right reading, and reading aright, I cannot too strongly urge upon all who have this school's continued welfare at heart, the necessity of keeping the library up to the highest pitch of efficiency which may be possible under the circumstances. A small but well thought-out museum is in course of formation, and should be further developed. Every county school has some one particular which differentialtes it from others, and Dolgelley is no exception to the rule. b Here the especial work most certainly is that started and largely carried on with increasing success in the art room by Mr Thomas Humber- stone, whose spirit as an enthusiast in clay model- ling has been caught by his pupils. The room is one in which a most interesting time can be passed with profit even by a visitor who is not" up" in this particular and necessary branch of education. Models, drawings, cabinets, with drawers to keep the clay damp whilst in process of formation, all find their place here. The boys certainly model well, and it is quite possible now for some of them to bring forth original designs. Who shall say that in time they may not be, as a result of the master's persistent work, a Dolgelley School of Modellers, the artists and students of which shall command a world wide reputation? Exhibits have already gone to Cardiff and thence to Paris—including the plaster model of the district round Dolgelley, which can now be seen in the Educational Section of the Paris Exhibition. This model represents a district of ten square miles, the scale being one inch to the mile, with Dolgelley itself for the centre. The Times recently alluded to it in special terms of commendation. I May such work prosper both for the master's and its own sakes—Excelsior I The carpentery and wood carving, too, done by the boys in the classes held weekly in the evenings are also successful, and there is no chance of an empty bench place long remaining unoccupied. Practical aud theoretical chemistry and physics have due attention given them in the excellently fitted up laboratory and demonstration theatre. Quite recently a boy was successful in getting a First in Advance Theoretical Chemistry, and this after but two years' work. I cannot close this brief account of an advanced and advancing school without laying one wreath more-yea of bay and of laurel leaves-on the grave qf him whose deep insight to the educational needs of this particular district must ever remain his standing movement. In the death of Dr. Edward Jones, the chairman —loved and trusted-of this County School, it lost its earliest champion and best fighter, for to him was given the knowledge and the instinct of ever fighting on the right side—may his memory be kept green. Ur. Clendon, his staff, and his boys, no less than the Court of governors and the inhabitants of Dolgelly have true cause to be proud of their school, may we one and all remember Lord Brougham's truest of true words already used by the school in its Bazaar book:—" Let the soldier be abroad if he will. He can do nothing in this age. There is another personage, a personage less imposing in the eyes of some. The school- master is abroad, and I trust to him armed with his primer, against the soldier in full military array."

! SOME OLD RECORDS OF CARDIGANSHIRE.

BORTH.

ABERLLEFENNI.

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