Private Lessons

August 19

Carl Robert Keyes Daily Advert Update , , , ,

What was advertised in a colonial American newspaper 250 years ago today?

Connecticut Journal (August 19, 1774).

“A School for the Instruction of Youth … in the polite and agreeable Exercise of dancing MINUETS.”

Francois-Dominique Rousseau, a “Native of Old France,” arrived in New Haven by way of the West Indies in the summer of 1774.  When he took up residence in the town, he placed an advertisement in the Connecticut Journal to inform the public that he “intends to open a School for the Instruction of Youth, of both Sexes, in the polite and agreeable Exercise of dancing MINUETS.”  The dancing master further explained that he gave lessons “agreeable to the most exact Rules,” so his charges would be proficient when they completed their studies.  Unlike other dancing masters who advertised in colonial newspapers, he specified how many lessons that would require, a total of twenty-four to be “compleatly instructed” for “the moderate Price of one Dollar.”  For those who preferred private lessons rather than have their initial awkwardness on display in front of fellow students at the school, Rousseau offered to instruct them “at their Places of abode at Nine Shillings.”

The dancing master could have chosen to migrate to one of the largest urban ports, such as Boston or Charleston or Philadelphia, in search of a cosmopolitan clientele rather than take his chances in New Haven.  Dancing masters frequently advertised in those cities.  Yet Rousseau might have been confident that he would indeed find “suitable Encouragement” in New Haven.  Perhaps he had even spoken with ship captains or merchants familiar with the town when they conducted business in the West Indies, getting a sense of his prospects before setting off for Connecticut.  After all, other smaller towns in New England apparently had some demand for dancing masters.  St. George de Viart and Edward Hackett, for instance, operated dancing academies and gave private lessons in New Hampshire.  Viart had even left Portsmouth for Philadelphia, but returned to New England after a short time.  He must have considered his prospects in the smaller town more favorable.  Perhaps he faced too much competition from other dancing masters in the larger city.  That could have been why Rousseau chose New Haven over New York.  Just as the goods associated with the consumer revolution found their way to even the smallest towns in the colonies, not just major urban centers, so did admiration for the skill and gracefulness exhibited through genteel pastimes like dancing.  Rousseau likely encountered prospective students just as eager for instruction in New Haven as any in larger cities.

September 5

Carl Robert Keyes Daily Advert Update , , , , , ,

What was advertised in a colonial American newspaper 250 years ago today?

Pennsylvania Journal (September 5, 1771).

“The French academy.”

Francis Daymon, “Master of the FRENCH, LATIN,” placed newspaper advertisements to offer his services as a tutor to the “ladies and gentlemen” of Philadelphia.  His notice in the September 5, 1771, edition of the Pennsylvania Journalfocused primarily on teaching French.  Daymon declared that he taught “the useful and polite French language in the newest and most expeditious method.”  Furthermore, he utilized techniques “agreeable to the latest improvements of the French academy.”  He made these claims in order to convince prospective students that he provided effective instruction that incorporated methods approved by authorities in his field.

Daymon offered lessons in two settings.  Students could “choose to be instructed at their respective places of abode” during the day or they could “choose to attend his regular class” in the evenings.  He described that class as the “French academy,” though his students gathered at his house across the street from the London Coffee House on Front Street.  Those lessons had already commenced, but the tutor welcomed newcomers.  He had not yet booked private lessons during the day, but encouraged prospective students who desired individual instruction “speedily to apply” in order to hire his services “at convenient hours.”

In addition to lessons, Daymon also offered to sell books to his pupils.  Most schoolmasters and tutors did not mention that sort of ancillary service in their newspaper advertisements.  Daymon, on the other hand, devoted a nota bene to informing readers that “received by one of the last ships from London, a choice collection of French, &c. books, very suitable for his scholar.”  In addition, he expected another three hundred volumes to arrive soon via another vessel.  Prospective students did not need to visit booksellers seeking out books appropriate for Daymon’s curriculum.  Instead, he acquired and sold them as a convenience, one that made his lessons even more accessible for his scholars.

In his efforts to cultivate a clientele, Daymon promoted his methods of instruction, offered lessons in multiple settings to suit the preferences of his students, and supplied texts (at an additional fee) to aid his pupils in their studies.  He promoted these various resources so prospective students could envision successful language acquisition if they gave the French tutor a chance.