The School Mirror

While looking through a stack of old newspapers at the Museum, we came across the very first issue of The School Mirror, the paper for Litchfield High School, dated December 13, 1893.

Original Litchfield High School, c 1890

The paper was to be published twice a month. Orrin Nelson, a senior, was the manager; Allison Brokaw was editor; and Ernest Lofstrom was assistant editor. Twelve issues were scheduled to be printed that school year and subscription was 25 cents, with payment required in advance. The paper in the museum is marked “sample copy,” and would have been given out in hopes of increasing subscriptions.

The paper itself was six pages and measured 11 by 8 inches when folded. On the front page are several riddles and word games. Can you solve this enigma? “The beginning of eternity. / The end of time and space; / The beginning of every end. / And the end of every place.” Or give this tongue twister a try, “A growing gleam glowing green.”

Page two opens with a salutation from the paper staff, welcoming readers to the paper and encouraging everyone to subscribe. This is followed by short news tidbits such as tea parties hosted by Miss Evers after school and the dates of the upcoming Christmas holiday.

Perhaps the most eye-catching piece of news in the paper was about the death of former principal Van B Baker. He had been principal from 1885 to 1886. In 1887, after leaving Litchfield, he was convicted of killing his wife and mother-in-law in West Virginia. He was mentioned in the school paper because he had died in prison the month before.

The paper includes two lengthy articles. Orrin Nelson wrote about the evils of gambling. And not gambling on cards or dice, but instead gambling on crops, stocks, and other business ventures. Another article was about author Louisa May Alcott, “written from the memory” of Mabel Davis, age 13 of Lincoln school.

There are also tips on how to best debate, including: Study both sides of the question. Be brief in refutation. Treat your opponents with respect. The school’s Literary Society might have put those tips to good use during their debate “Resolved, that war has caused more misery to the human race than liquor.” The judges ruled two to one that war was the greater misery.

There were several advertisements in the paper. Ads for real estate, insurance, and attorneys were probably included in hopes the parents would read the paper. Advertisements for clothing, confectioners, and school supplies would have been sure to catch the students’ eye.

This is the only issue of The School Mirror found at the Museum. Were there other issues published, or was this the only one? The Litchfield Saturday Review reported on the first issue of the Mirror, but nothing more was said of the school paper in the following weeks. If this was the only issue, we are glad to have a copy preserved at the Museum!

By the way, the answer to the enigma is “E.”