BOSTON AND ITS ENVIRONS, 55 



tfition. The founders of Boston^s greatness placed the 

 two influences side by side in importance, and their 

 wisdom in doing so has had its justification. The 

 current " poking of fun " at the '^ Boston scliool-ma'am," 

 her glasses, her learning and her devotion to Brown- 

 ing; and the Boston infant, who converses in polysyl- 

 lables almost from his birth, has its foundation in the 

 fact, everywhere admitted, that nowhere are intelli- 

 gence and culture so widely diffused in all ranks of 

 life as in Boston. The free-school system, an experi- 

 ment which she was the first American city to inaugu- 

 rate, is considered by educators to lead the world. Tho 

 city^s annual expenditures for her public schools, of 

 which there are over 500, amount to about $2,000,000, 

 and from the kindergarten to the High School, where 

 the pupils can be prepared for college, the youth of 

 the city are carefully watched, trained, instructed, and 

 all that is best in them drawn out. Even in summer, 

 " vacation schools " are held, where the children who 

 would otherwise be running wild in the streets can 

 learn sewing, box-making, cooking and other useful 

 branches. 



The English High and Latin School is the largest 

 free public school building in the world, being 423 

 feet long by 220 feet wide. It is a fine structure in 

 Renaissance style, with every advantage and improve- 

 ment looking to health and convenience, that even the 

 progressive Boston mind could think of. It would be 

 a sluggish soul indeed that would not be thrilled by 

 the sight of the entire school-battalion going through 

 its exercises in the immense drill-room, and realize the 

 hopeful future for this vast array of coming citizens. 



