Fine Educator Dead

VVednesday evening last Prof. W. S. Perry died at hifi home in tbis city. He had been in steadily decliniDghealth for sorae time and the end was not tinexpected. He was born at Elk Creek, Otsfigo county, N. Y., and at the time of nis death was 66 years and 6 month of age. He gradnated at the Nornr at Ypsilanti in 1858, and frotn the erary department of the nniversity in 1861, and at once entered upon bis chosen profession of teaching. He had charge of schools in Toledo, Plyruouth, Tecnmseh, Marshall, Coldwater, aai was president of Piairie De Ctnen college in Wisconsin before coming to Ann Arbor. He was ohosen superintendent of the schools of this city iu 1870, aud he held the positiou continnouly to the time of his deatb. For more than 26 years Prnf. Perry gave his thoughts, his wise enthnsiasm, his nntiring labors to the schools of Ann Arbor. Coutinuing the work of his popnlar and able predecessor, Prof. Elisha Jones, Prof. Perry lived to see the schools to whi:;h he so conscientiously devoted his life reach the front rank of all the public schools of the state. The Aon Arbor High Sohool under his management has come to be reooguized as one of the leading preparatory schools of tbe couutry. The amber of students in the high school has increased. from 250 in 1870 to 645 in 1897. It is probable tbat no teacher in the' conntry has prepared so many pupils fur higher edacation, who have aotually entered collega or nniversity for tbat purpose during the Jast 20 years, as Prof. Perry. He had ootne to be recognized as oue of the leading educators of the country. He was highly esteerned and respeored by tbe other teachers of tbe state. He was loved by his pupils. Hundreds aud thousandsof them, many of vehom have already reaobed middle life, scattered over the conntry, will feel a little moistnre of the eye aud a little trerubling of the lips as they are reminded of the happy days wben tbey read with him the sweet lines uf Vergil,or as they look at tbe familiar signature upou their diplomas whon they hear of Lis deatta. As a man Prof. Perry was uprigbt, conscientious aad siuoere. He was modest and unassnmiag as a ohild. He was steadfast in private friendship and never vaoillated in public duty. There was do wabble in his charaoter. In politics, in business, in society, Prof. Perry was alvvays ready to do the right thing as he saw tbe right. His aid could always be depended npon in any ohatitable or other ruoveinent for the pnblic good. In 1865 Prof Perry laarried Miss Emma Blackman at Mnscatine, Iowa, wbo, with four children - three sods and a daughter - survives hira. It will not be easy to snpply the plaoe made vacant by the death of Prof. Perry in the school to which he was so deyuted.in society whicb he so ruuch bouored, iu the chnrch whioh he so sinceielv loved. As this worthy and respected oirtizeu disappears from among us we may well say of him as Tennyson says of his dead friend, "Tliriee blessed whose lives arefaithful prayevs. whose loves in hisher love endure; Wliat souls possess tkemselves so pure, dr is there blessedness like theirs?" Arrangernents fot the fnneral have been made as follows: The body of the deceased will lie in state at the Congregatioual church tomorrow from 10 to 12 a. m. The fnneral servioes will be held at the churoh at 2 p. ui., and will b'e conduoted by the Rev. J. W. Bradsbaw. The bnrial will be private. Ata meetiug of the sohool board held yosterday morning all the schools were ordered to be closed uncil after the fuuoral, and the front of the High Scohól was ordered to be draped in monrning. The board of school trustees will act as honorary pall bearers. Memorial services will be held at the Congregatiocal ohnrch on Sunday. The High Schocrl memorial services will uot be hold untli after the Christmas vacatiun is over.