An examination of the foregoing, discloses the fact that while all of the cities but two, Augusta and Saco, have availed themselves of the privileges of the free high school act, a large majority of the above are towns of medium population and wealth.

It will be seen that even two plantations established successful schools, raised necessary funds and obtained the gratuity of the State. From personal observation, I feel assured that the school thus maintained in one of these plantations met the urgent educational wants of the pupils between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one, as no other school possibly could. Too old to take their places with the primarians, so to speak, in the common school, with too limited attainments and means to enjoy the privileges of the ordinary academy, they very cheerfully and readily, as neighbors and acquaintances sat down together to enter upon studies from which hitherto, their pride-false pride, albeit had kept them. It was a cheering sight to see these "large boys and girls" enthusiastically engaged in pursuing advanced courses in language, mathematics, and the natural sciences, and in process of development for better thinking and more intelligent action. Especially pleasant was it to hear from parents expressions of hearty gratitude to the State for her benefactions in this direction. Under the elastic provisions of the law by which the State responds to the action of town or towns, district or districts, individual gifts, donations, bequests, subscriptions, etc., it seems hardly possible that there can be any town or community in the State, which can not avail itself of the privileges under this act of legislation. One district maintained a very respectable school ten weeks for the sum of ninety-five dollars, one half of which was payable from the State Treasury. A proper sentiment, coöperative effort, and an accommodating disposition will render all financial difficulties easy burdens.

In connection with this plantation statement, it will be noticed that thirty of the foregoing schools were maintained at an expense each, of two hundred dollars or less, and that more than one-half cost five hundred dollars each, or less than that sum, requiring an outlay on the part of the town or district of two hundred and fifty dollars or less. Furthermore, it will be seen that only seventeen towns obtained the maximum gratuity of the State, namely, $500, amounting to $8,500, while the high schools of these same towns cost $41,459. Hence it appears that nearly three-quarters of the awards by the State to free high schools were distributed to the