width, and set perpendicularly. That on the back Wall is to be fitted to the Slates in that wall, which are to rest on the Capping. That in the first story is to be of cherrywood, the second story of maple, and the third story of white-pine, wrought and fin ished smoothly, suitable for being stained and varnished without painting.

Floorings, &c.

The Platforms are to be furred up, as shown by the Drawings, and the Stairways, Platforms, and Hearths, are to be bordered, and the Floors to be laid, with narrow hard-pine floorings, perfectly jointed and thoroughly nailed. The Strips are to be gauged to a width respectively in the schoolrooms, and the joints are to be broken, at least three feet, so that no two strips of different widths will but on to each other.

Cabinets, Closets, Clothes-Hooks, &c.

There are to be two Cabinets, in each Schoolroom, between the windows, above the skirting, and as high as the windows, with double cherry Sash-doors, each hung with three Brass Hinges, fastened with Thumb-catches and Locks, and fitted with Rosewood Knobs. There are to be twelve Shelves in each, and immediately below them are to he small Closets, with four Shelves in each, and double Doors, hung and fastened in the same manner as the sash doors. The shelves are to be placed as directed by the Committee. Six of them are to be inclined, with two narrow ledges on each.

There are to be two Closets in each side of the Ventilating Pier, in the First Story, and two in one side in the Second Story, as shown at oo, in the diagram on page 183. Each Closet is to be fitted with three shelves, and the doors are to be hung and fastened in the same manner as the Closets under the Cabinets.

There is to be for each Schoolroom, where directed by the Committee, a Presscloset, having three Shelves on one side, with six brass double Hat-and-Coat-Hooks, on beaded cherry-wood cleats; the Door to be neatly hung, fastened, and trimmed, similar to the other doors.

There is to be in the entry of each Schoolroom, where directed by the Committee, a Closet, for brushes, brooms, coal-hod, &c., two by three-and-one-half feet, made with matched boards, and fitted with three Shelves on one side, and eight Hooks on the other side and back. The Door is to be made, hung, and fastened, to correspond with the other doors.

There is to be a Sink, attached to each Schoolroom, where directed by the Committee, made of two-inch pine plank, the top hung with stout hinges, and with Drawers and Cupboards below. It is to be fitted with a Composition Sesspool, lined with zinc, and a lead Waste-pipe, leading to the vault. Suitable Pipes, to lead the City water into the sink in each story, are to be provided.

There is to be a Dumb-waiter from the cellar to the third story, opening into each story, for raising coals, wood, &c.

There are to be seventy extra-stout iron double Hat-and-Coat-Hooks, to each Schoolroom, put up on beaded cherry-wood Cleats, as directed by the Committee.

There are to be two Umbrella-stands, in each Entry, to hold six umbrellas each.

Coal-Bins, &c.

There are to be three Coal-Bins in the Cellar, each capable of holding three tons of Coal, having Covers hung with strong wrought-iron Hinges, and sliding Gates, with boxings around them to keep the Coal from the floor. Also, three Closets for Kindlings, the doors to be hung with iron Strap-hinges, and fastened with iron Buttons. There are also to be in the Cellar, two large iron-bound Water-butts, with metal Faucets.

Privy-Finish.

The Privies are to be fitted with pine Risers, Seats, and Covers. The Covers are to be hung with stout Duck, or India-rubber cloth, instead of metal Hinges; the edges of the cloth to be covered with narrow slats. They are to be so arranged, that they will fall of themselves when left. There is to be a Box for paper in each Privy, and the Boys' Privies are to have Troughs, lined with zinc, with Sesspools. The whole finish of the Privies is to be equal to that of the other parts of the building.

Painting.

All the Hard-wood Finish, (except the Skirting of the first and second stories, which is to be varnished,) is to be oiled, with two coats of boiled Linseed-oil, well rubbed in with cloth.

All the Outside wood-work, the Copper-trunks, and the inner walls throughout, are to be prepared and painted with three coats of Oil-and-Lead paint, of such color as the Committee may direct. The Outside-doors are to be painted Bronze.

The Insides of the Closets and Cabinets are to be painted white, and the Teachers' Platforms in imitation of Marble. The Blinds are to be painted with four coats of Paris Green, and Varnished. The third-story skirting is to be stained with asphaltum, and varnished. The rest of the Inside Pine Finish is to be Putty-stopped, Primed, and Painted and Grained, in imitation of Oak, Maple, or other color, as directed by the Committee, and Varnished.

All the Painting and Varnishing is to be equal to that of first-class dwelling-houses.

Glazing.

All the Sashes, throughout, are to be glazed with Crystal Sheet Glass, of double thickness, and of the best quality. Each light is to be properly Bedded, Sprigged, and Back-Puttied.

The Windows are to have Lights of the following dimensions, as shown in the Drawings:

First Story, Front Windows, eighteen Lights, each eleven by fourteen inches. First Story, Rear Window, twelve Lights, each eleven by sixteen inches. That in the west wall, eight Lights, each eleven by sixteen inches.

Second Story, Front Windows, eighteen Lights, each eleven by fourteen inches. Second Story, Rear Windows, eight and twelve Lights, each eleven by sixteen inches. Front Window in easterly Projection, twelve Lights, each eleven by fourteen inches.

Third Story, Front Windows, twelve Lights, each eleven by nineteen inches. Third Story, Rear Windows, eight and twelve Lights, each eleven by fifteen inches. Front Windows in easterly Projection, eight Lights, each eleven by nineteen inches. The Cellar Windows, eight Lights, each eight by ten inches.

The Sashes over the Doors, each six Lights.

The Skylights are to be two feet six inches by three feet six inches.

Ventilators.

There are to be two of Emerson's Patent Ventilators, of galvanized iron; one on the Roof of the Main Building, twenty-five inches in diameter, and another on the Roof of the Privies, twelve inches in diameter.

Furniture.

Each Schoolroom is to be furnished with sixty Small Arm-Chairs, of Mr. INGRAHAM's pattern, such as are used in the other Primary Schools in the City.* Also, with a Table, for the Teacher's Platform, four feet by two, (made of Mahogany, Black Walnut, or Cherry-wood, as directed by the Committee,) furnished with two Drawers, and fitted with Locks, Keys, and Rosewood Knobs, of the best quality.

Memorandum.

No bricks, stone, lumber, or other building-materials, of any description, are to be placed on the garden-plat; and the Trees and Garden are to have a rough box built around them, for their preservation from injury. No lines are to be fastened to the Trees, for any purpose whatever.

All the Lumber is to be well and thoroughly seasoned; and all that is in sight is to be free from Shakes, Sap, and Knots; and that and every part of the work is to be equal to any used in first-class dwelling-houses.

MR. INGRAHAM'S COMPOSITION FOR BLACKBOARDS.

Lampblack and Flour of Emery, mixed with Spirit-Varnish.

No more Lampblack and Flour of Emery should be used, than are sufficient to give the required black and abrading surface; and the Varnish should contain only sufficient gum to hold the ingredients together, and confine the Composition to the Board. The thinner the mixture, the better.

The Lampblack should first be ground with a small quantity of Alcohol, or SpiritVarnish, to free it from lumps.

The Composition should be applied to the smoothly-planed surface of a Board, with a common painter's brush. Let it become thoroughly dry and hard before it is used. Rub it down with pumice-stone, or a piece of smooth wood covered with the Composition.

Boards prepared in this way are almost equal to Slates, and will last for years; and they can be used with slate-pencils, which are much better than crayons or chalk, on account of their freedom from dust and dirt. Crayon or chalk dust is deleterious to health, as well as to cleanliness.

This Composition may also be used on the

walls.

PLANS, &C., OF 3RIMMER GRAMMAR SCHOOL, BOSTON.

This building was erected in 1843. It is situated on Common-street, near Washington. It is 74 eet in length on the street, by 52 feet deep, with three stories. The entrance is in the center of the front into a hall 8 feet wide, leading through into the yard in the rear, which is divided by a wall into three portions. The passage to the second and third floors is by a double flight of stairs near the front door.

The first floor is occupied by two Primary School-rooms, each 30 by 22 feet, and 11 feet high; and the Ward-room, 30 by 50 feet.

The school-room on the second floor is 70 feet by 37 feet wide, and 14 feet 6 inches high between the bays. The ceiling is plastered up between the bays, (cross timbers) by which eighteen inches are grained in height, dividing the ceiling into equal compartments. There are two recitation rooms, one

on each side the entrance, 17 feet 6 inches, by 11 feet 4 inches each, with two windows in each room, and benches on all the sides for the pupils. The school-room is lighted on three sides, and contains 118 desks, and 236 chairs, two chairs to each desk, the desks and chairs being of four sizes. The tops of the desks are cherry wood, and the chairs are Wales' patent. The desks are separated by aisles one foot four inches in width, except the center aisle, which is two feet wide.

The aisles on the side nearest the recitation-rooms, are three feet wide, and those at each end, 2 feet 6 inches each. The platform on which are the desks of the master and assistants, is eight inches high, and 6 feet 6

inches wide, and the desks are so placed that the pupils sit with their backs to the platform; and the pupils are so arranged at the desks in classes and sections, that when one class is reciting, the desk is only occupied by one pupil. The windows are shaded by inside blinds painted green.

The school-room on the third floor is of the same size, having an arched ceiling 13 feet high in the center, with recitation-rooms and other arrangements similar to the school-room on the second floor.

The building is warmed by two furnaces, and ventilated by six flues, discharging into the attic, from which the impure air is carried off by copper ventilators in the roof. The openings into the flues in the school-rooms are controlled by Preston's ventilators.

The frame of Preston's Ventilator is made of a flat bar of iron 2 by inch, framed at the corners, the end at each corner running by in order receive a clamp to screw the frame to the brick work; the door is of plate iron, (wire gage), with a rod passing down the center of the plate, on the back side, each end of the rod running by the plate and entering the frame, forming a pivot on which the plate or door of the ventilator turns. door shuts against a projection in the frame.

The

The Brimmer school has two masters, one in each room, and each with an usher and female assistant.

[Since the above description was first published, (in 1843) the seats and desks have been reversed, so that the pupils sit with their faces to the platform. The former method was found by the teacher to be " very inconvenient, and wholly impracticable. The scholar should see the face and hear the voice of the Principal as much as possible.”]

200

The second and third stories are furnished with Wales' Patent American School Chair, which has been very extensively introduced into the public schools of Boston and vicinity.

WALES' AMERICAN SCHOOL CHAIR.

The seat of the chair is based upon a pedestal of cast iron, having no joining to get loose or come apart in the arm, and is made fast by screws both to the seat and to the floor. The back of the chair is firmly supported by the middle piece, which passes directly from the top through a dove-tail in the seat into the foot of the pedestal. These chairs are manufactured by S. Wales, Jr., 66 Kilby street, Boston, of any height from 8 inches to 17 inches from the top surface of the seat to the floor.

Mr. Wales has, during the present year, (1848,) greatly improved the style of his chairs, and now manufactures a desk with iron supports of new and improved construction. For description, see p. 202.

The desks in the Brimmer School are more like the one represented in

the accompanying section of desk and chair used in the Eliot Grammar Sol.

The cut below represents the bench used in the Primary School. The scholars are separated by a compartment, A, which serves as a rest for the arm, and place of deposit for books.