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Literary
September 5, 1890
Idaho Semi Weekly World
Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho
What is this article about?
In a 1756 letter to Judge Richard Cranch, John Adams vividly describes his school in Worcester, Massachusetts, as a miniature society of young 'generals, politicians, and divines,' expressing delight in shaping their characters and instilling virtues.
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JOHN ADAMS' PUPILS.
A Lively Description of His School and Certain Thoughts Thereupon.
After taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Harvard, John Adams taught school at Worcester, Mass. In the following letter, written March 15, 1756, he gives a lively description of his school and certain thoughts thereupon. The letter is to Judge Richard Cranch, of Boston:
"I sometimes in my sprightly moments consider myself in my great chair at school as some dictator at the head of a Commonwealth. In this little State I can discover all the great geniuses, all the surprising actions and revolutions of the great world in miniature.
"I have several renowned Generals but three feet high, and several deep-projecting politicians in petticoats. I have others catching and dissecting flies, accumulating remarkable pebbles, cockle shells, etc, with as ardent curiosity as any virtuoso in the Royal Society.
"Some rattle and thunder out A, B, C, etc., with as much fire and impetuosity as Alexander fought, and very often sit down and cry as heartily upon being outspelt as Cæsar did when at Alexander's sepulcher he recollected that the Macedonian hero conquered the world before his age.
"At one table sits Mr. Insipid, foppling and fluttering, spinning his whirligig or playing with his fingers, as gaily and wittily as any Frenchified coxcomb brandishes his cane or rattles his snuff-box. At another sits the polemical divine, plodding and wrangling in his mind about 'Adam's fall in which we sinned all,' as his primer has it.
"In short, my little school, like the great world, is made up of kings, politicians, divines, LL. D.'s, fops, buffoons, fiddlers, sycophants, fools, coxcombs, chimney-sweepers and every other character drawn in history or seen in the world. Is it not then the highest pleasure to preside in this little world, to bestow the proper applause upon virtuous and generous actions, to blame and punish every vicious and contracted trick, to tear out of the tender mind every thing that is mean and little, and fire the new-born soul with a noble ardor and emulation? The world affords no greater pleasure."-Youth's Companion.
A Lively Description of His School and Certain Thoughts Thereupon.
After taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Harvard, John Adams taught school at Worcester, Mass. In the following letter, written March 15, 1756, he gives a lively description of his school and certain thoughts thereupon. The letter is to Judge Richard Cranch, of Boston:
"I sometimes in my sprightly moments consider myself in my great chair at school as some dictator at the head of a Commonwealth. In this little State I can discover all the great geniuses, all the surprising actions and revolutions of the great world in miniature.
"I have several renowned Generals but three feet high, and several deep-projecting politicians in petticoats. I have others catching and dissecting flies, accumulating remarkable pebbles, cockle shells, etc, with as ardent curiosity as any virtuoso in the Royal Society.
"Some rattle and thunder out A, B, C, etc., with as much fire and impetuosity as Alexander fought, and very often sit down and cry as heartily upon being outspelt as Cæsar did when at Alexander's sepulcher he recollected that the Macedonian hero conquered the world before his age.
"At one table sits Mr. Insipid, foppling and fluttering, spinning his whirligig or playing with his fingers, as gaily and wittily as any Frenchified coxcomb brandishes his cane or rattles his snuff-box. At another sits the polemical divine, plodding and wrangling in his mind about 'Adam's fall in which we sinned all,' as his primer has it.
"In short, my little school, like the great world, is made up of kings, politicians, divines, LL. D.'s, fops, buffoons, fiddlers, sycophants, fools, coxcombs, chimney-sweepers and every other character drawn in history or seen in the world. Is it not then the highest pleasure to preside in this little world, to bestow the proper applause upon virtuous and generous actions, to blame and punish every vicious and contracted trick, to tear out of the tender mind every thing that is mean and little, and fire the new-born soul with a noble ardor and emulation? The world affords no greater pleasure."-Youth's Companion.
What sub-type of article is it?
Epistolary
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
John Adams
School Teaching
Worcester Massachusetts
Letter 1756
Moral Education
Miniature Society
What entities or persons were involved?
John Adams
Literary Details
Title
John Adams' Pupils.
Author
John Adams
Subject
Description Of His School In Worcester, Mass., March 15, 1756
Form / Style
Reflective Personal Letter In Prose
Key Lines
I Sometimes In My Sprightly Moments Consider Myself In My Great Chair At School As Some Dictator At The Head Of A Commonwealth.
In Short, My Little School, Like The Great World, Is Made Up Of Kings, Politicians, Divines, Ll. D.'S, Fops, Buffoons, Fiddlers, Sycophants, Fools, Coxcombs, Chimney Sweepers And Every Other Character Drawn In History Or Seen In The World.
Is It Not Then The Highest Pleasure To Preside In This Little World, To Bestow The Proper Applause Upon Virtuous And Generous Actions, To Blame And Punish Every Vicious And Contracted Trick, To Tear Out Of The Tender Mind Every Thing That Is Mean And Little, And Fire The New Born Soul With A Noble Ardor And Emulation?