The Portland daily press., 1881-06-25
Graduation at Gorham.

Nj oStocsolOl csO dOIA1tsL
The first reunion of the Alumni of the Nor
NAL School at Gorham was held at Redlon's
Hail. Thursday evening. Each of the three
classes was well represented, nearly one half
of each being present, and warm greetings
were exchanged with the members of the
present graduating class, the teachers and
trustees of the school, and with many of the
citizens of Gorham. The smiling faces OF
these teachers from all parts of our State
showed that all school cares for the present
were laid aside, and recollections of school
days at Gorham were the order of the day.
Nothing concerning the bounteousness OF the
repast, or the beauty of the table decorations
need be said other than that the supper was
prepared by the ladies of The Village I'M
provement Society in their usual charming
manner. A social time was spent in the dis
cusson of these dainties, after which toasts
were proposed by the President, which were
responded to by different ladies and gentlemen
present His Excellency Gov. Plaisted being
absent, ''Our State" was very acceptably re-
sponded to by Gorhan.'s distinguished son,
Col. Robe. Mr.. Luce, in response to sour
Common Schools" kept the company con-
vulsed with laughter by his lively illustrations
of what the common schools had done for the
company present. If the State Superintend-
ent in his official visits is accustomed to raise
so great laugh at the expense of his associate
brethren, it would not be surprising should
they desire, even demand, a man possessed of
less witty tongue to fill his place. Mr.. Cor
thell, ia short speech, spoke affectionately of
his large family present. and judging from the
beaming faces which greeted his remarks none
were offended at the allusion to the relation
ship. After other speeches the social exercises
of a very pleasant evening were closed by the
reading of class histories. A business meeting
was then called for the purpose of electing
officers of the Alumni Association for the en-
suing year.
The exercises OF examination and graduation
commenced Friday at o'clock. A more suita-
bic day could not have been desired, and the
constantly increasing company OF attentive
listeners showed that the interest Of the peo-
pie in regard to the Normal School has in no
way declined. Among those present were N.
r. Luce, Trustees Rowell, Plummer, Hinck
ley, Philbrook and Severy. The graduating
class numbered eighteen enthusiastic young
men and women, who gave evidence OF their
excellent training in the several examinations,
teaching exercises and essays, and cannot fail
in its future career to reflect credit on the
school and teachers, and SO add another ray to
the bright light which has already been seen
and felt in all parts of the State. Lack of
space forbids allusion to the many indications
of hard work and study of the pupils, but the
decorations of the boards by them speak very
highly of the work done in drawing, and the
thoroughness with which this art is taught.
The friends and patrons of tn school cannot
fail to be pleased and satisfied with the work
of the school the past year, and with the sue
cess of these graduating exercises A univer-
sal desire seems to prevail that the Gorham
Normal School may contine to flourish in the
future as it has done in the past. The exer-
cises of the day closed with the comforting of
diplomas
The class exercises, in the evening at 73O,
closed the fourth graduation of this school.
The following was the programme:
Essay Methods of Teaching
Dorcas ID. Titcomb, North New Portland
Class History. ......: Geooge E; Merrill. Gray
tbrnnicies ai;cc Nc,1 Esna .o, heed
EssayN"Infuence of the Teacher '"'' 1A'n''''A
Mary H. Kimball, Alfred
Prophecies. Ellen j. Byrne. Robbinston
Address to the Glass ................W. j. Cortheu
The following are the names of the members
OF the graduating class:
Irving Blake, Geo. e. Merrill, Alice NJ
Bradstreet, Eva w. Brown, Ella J. Byrne,
Georgianna Cobb, Cyrus A. Jordan, Mary H..
kimball, Abbie G. King, George Leighton,
Alice Rowland Ermina j. Reed, Clara E.
Staples, Jesse w. Sanborn, Eta L. Sanborn,
Lois A. Thompson, Dorcas D. Titcomb, Ma
rilla Whitman.