Military College of the State of Vermont," in recognition of its record in the Civil and Spanish-American wars.

Colonel Truman B. Ransom.--Truman B. Ransom, born in Woodstock, Vt., was for many years closely identified with this institution. He was graduated from the Academy in 1825. Soon after its incorporation as Norwich University he became its vice-president, and in 1844 succeeded Captain Partridge as president of the University.

On the breaking out of the Mexican War, he resigned his position and volunteered for service. He was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the New England Regiment; and under his command enlisted many Norwich University men. He was a brave and gallant soldier; and during the storming of Chapultepec, he fell mortally wounded at the head of his regiment.

School Supervision. -When Mr. Butler was elected Governor of the State in 1827, in his

speech before the Legislature, he called the attention of that body to the need of legislation on the subject of education. In consequence of his suggestion, a plan was adopted, providing for the appointment of a committee

annually in each town, whose duty it should be to examine and license the teachers-though we are led to believe that the examinations of that day were not very rigid in general. It also provided for the appointment of five school commissioners to select the text-books to be used in the schools, to study the educational needs of the State, and to report annually to the Legislature. It was a step in the right direction; but six years later these provisions were repealed, and it was some years before there was again any general

supervision. As late as 1842, Zadock Thompson, in that year's issue of his Vermont History, deplores the lack of efficient supervision. Three years later the Legislature again took up the subject of school legislation, and now made provision for town, county, and State supervision, though the office of county supervisor was soon abolished.

This had no very marked results; but in 1856 the first great step toward educational advancement was taken, in the forming of a State Board of Education with power to appoint a secretary, who should devote his whole time to

educational matters. The appointment of J. S. Adams to this office proved a wise one on the part of the board. His term of service lasted nearly a dozen years, during which time the schools throughout the State were much improved. Indeed, through his efficient service, the whole school system received such a tremendous uplift that its effects were lasting.

School Maintenance.-In each of the school districts was kept a winter term of three or four months, and a summer term of six months. The teacher for the winter term was usually a man; for the summer, a woman. These schools continued to be maintained, partly by the income from the rental of school lands, partly by the taxation of the people, and partly by the tuition collected from the pupils. In 1837 Congress made provision for depositing the surplus revenue, which had come principally from the sale of public lands, and was not needed for the support of the Government, with the States. This was to be apportioned among the States according to their representation in Congress. Vermont's share was something over $669,000, and was distributed among the several towns of the State according to their population. The towns were to loan this money, on sufficient security, and its yearly interest was to be used toward the support of their schools. This money and also that for the rental of lands was at first apportioned to families according to the number of children they had of school age. As there was no restriction with regard to attendance or use of this money for school purposes, it did not greatly further the cause of education. To the largest families fell the greatest share of the school money; and it then rested with the parents to send their children to school as much or as little as they pleased.

Newspapers; Literature. Nearly half a hundred newspapers came into existence during this period, some of which are still issued. Among these was the Vermont Patriot, now the Argus and Patriot, of Montpelier, first published in 1826 and afterward edited by C. G. Eastman, a poet as well as journalist.

In the year 1828 a young man by the name of William Lloyd Garrison came to Bennington, and there began the publication of a paper, which not only advocated the principles of the Whig party, but also temperance, the abolition of slavery, and moral reform. The paper was short-lived, but its influence was felt for a time.

The literature of the age is worthy of notice. The theological and metaphysical works were numerous; and there were also several school text-books which, no doubt, were of more or less use in their day.

There was also much written on Vermont history. The best and most reliable works are: Slade's Vermont State Papers, which are invaluable for their documentary history; Zadock Thompson's Natural, Civil, and Statistical History of Vermont, a complete history of the State up to 1842; and B. H. Hall's Eastern Vermont, which contains valuable information concerning the history of the locality of which it treats.

Nathaniel Chipman's work on Principles of Government is valuable for its sound views; and Daniel Chipman's Essays on Contracts is still admired by such as read that class of literature. D. P. Thompson, of Montpelier, the author of the well-known novels, May Martin and the Green Mountain Boys, was practically the only successful Vermont writer of fiction of the time. Before the end of the period two bards of more than ordi

nary repute in their day and of whom Vermont may still be justly proud, had added somewhat to the literature of the State.

Poets. One of these was Charles G. Eastman, of whom previous mention has been made in connection with the Argus and Patriot; the other, John Godfrey Saxe, was a humorous poet of no small fame throughout Europe as well as America. Both were educated in Vermont colleges Eastman, at the University of Vermont; and Saxe, at Middlebury. Their first poems.

were published at about the same

John G. Saxe.

poems, sparkling with wit and humor, were refreshing to the reader in those days when verses were, as a rule, on themes of a serious nature.

An Artist.-Vermont produced also a famous artist in this period in William Morris Hunt, who was born in Brattleboro in 1824 and spent his early days there at his father's home. Going abroad he studied under the famous teacher, Couture, in Paris; he was afterward a follower of Millet, who greatly influenced his style of painting. Most of his work was done in Boston, where he opened a school on his