The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-14
SCHOOL BOYS OF LONG AGO.
Survivors of the Old Seminary Classes
Happily Spend Day Together.
COL Saniael Merrill's "Reminiscences of Lit
tie Lie-A Ten Year-Old Boys Compo-
sitiOn of Half a Century Ago.


that it took the frosts of at least twenty winters
out of the bones of the Old Seminary boys who
met at the State Fair grounds, and for time
they quite forgot they were grandfathers. The
first reunion was held in 1873. and though there
were fewer in attendance than last year, there
were enough to mako the time a thoroughly en-
joyable one, though much regret was expressed
that DIR. Kemper, of South Charleston, o., the
sole survivor of the eight principals Of the old
school, was not present.
While the "Old Seminary girls"-that is, the
ladies who attended Miss Axtells school-were
preparing dinner, short business meeting was
held, Austin H. Brown presided. B. r. Sui
grove, necrologst, made report, citing the
death during the year Of William Sullivan,
eighty-three years old, the last of the principals
of the Seminary, save DIR. Kemper and three of
the boys, Dr. Thad NJ. Stevens, Douglass Ma
suire and DR.. Mansur II. Wright.
The following officers were elected for the en-
suing year
President-Henry Coburn
ce-president-Fieding Bieler.
Treasurer-Frank w Hamilton.
Necrologist-B. r. Sulgrove.
Philip Giett, who had never before met with
this association Of his old schoolfellows, made a
pleasant speech. He is now superintendent of
the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Jacksonville
Ill. Gen. John Coburn made the suggestion
that the constitution be amended so the de-
scendants of the old semnarians may be made
members. in order to perpetuate the society.
This suggestion was referred to committee to
be acted upon.
Col Samuel Merrill remembered the time
when he was in the baby room, and the big boys,
John Coburn and Joseph English, would not let
MIN play Antony over" He remembered that.
while mischievous enough he had been so drilled
that whatever he did he could not lie about it.
Once, however, when playing "bull-pen,
the ball had touched him very lightly
upon the sleeve. Mr.. Kemper was playing on
mined way, lit didn't hit you, did it Sammy2"
Little Merrill. without hardly intending it,
said, mo, sir" Somehow" said the Colonel,
shat little lie kept coming up time and again in
my mind. At the battle of Peach Tree Creek
at Atlanta, by coincidence. bullet touched
my sleeve in the same spot 1t may be that the
recording angel blotted it out that day." The
Colonel continued, and made beautiful and
tender speech, stirring up the memories of long
ago:
Short speeches were made by Judge n B.
Taylor, Henry Coburn, Sanford Morris, of
Shelbyville, and others.
The following, on time-stained sheet of pa
per, was produced ana read as a composition of
half century ago. the author being at that time
OF the tender age of ten years:
EAGLE AND LION.
A eagle and lion is the king of birds and beasts.
They two knes of eagle the ball eagle and the gole
They was wunce COLE eagle here on stemebote and
day. They bill thare mes on the pint of the Aligane
nountanes. fur John Elder toe me SO. out of shnny
clubs. l wisht they on Mobiles hill so we
Good git clubs esy. Wunce bail eagle took boy to
its mes in pants. and its papa and mamma ran up
thare and foun him nockn the yung eagles about with
achiT nl. and as,. Al
about eagle. Now will tell you about lion Bufin
Says lion kin kill lefant with his pa and kin etc
body less his name is danne 1 wisht they had caid
me dannel, then Ike Keys dog lion cuddent bite me-
and that is all about lion G. FLETCHER, Jun.
The following Old Seminary boys were pres
ent William Wallace, John Coburn, Samuel
Merrill Henry Coburn Austin H. Brown Rob-
ert E. Smith Joseph K. English, Philip Gillett,
Sanford Morris, George W. Pitts, Samuel "
Morris, George W. Sloan. George P. Anderson,
Ignatius Brown, John NJ Dunlap. John w.
Blake Fielding Bieler, Thomas McClintock, B.
r. Suerove, Bishop Osborne, D. w. Brouse, L.
M. Phipps, Hannibal Taffe. B. F. Haugh. Geo.
Taffe Alex Wood, N. B. Taylor, Calvin Fletch-
err Elisha Rowland. William W. Sickles, Samuel
Delzell Pleasant Grffths, Robert Bacon. Gil
more Jordan, William Bacon, Frank Hamilton,
James G.. Douglass Ira williamson
Among the ladies were Mrs. Whitehead for
merly Miss Griffith; Mrs. Huntington, Mrs a.
ii. Lee, formerly Miss Wood; Mrs. Jacob
walker, formerly MISS LupCOn: MRS, Glllerto, or
Jacksonville, ILL.,. formerly Miss Phipps; Mrs
Ketcham, formerly Miss Jane Merril Mrs Nc
Cready, formerly Miss Davis; Mrs o. A. Elan
ner, formerly Miss Tyler: Mrs. Jordan, formerly
MISS Mclaughlin; Mrs. John Coburn, formerly
Miss Test; Mrs. John Foudray, formerly Miss
Greene: Mrs. Calvin Fletcher, Mrs. Fielding
bieie: mrs. 1ene. Ms. Ms EEcaort Mrs. Mckinney,
Mrs. Billiard. Mrs. Claypool, Mrs Henry Co
burn, Miss Lille Lee Wood. Miss BERTHE Bloom
err, Miss lone Haugh, Miss Ida Haueh, Miss
Mary Heron, Miss Julia Graydon Miss Sallie
Ancony. Miss Lizzie Morris, Miss j. Moores, and
others.
All did ample justice to the dinner which had
been provided by miss Axtell's girls and even
then there was enough left to fill many baskets.
After dinner the boys and girls sung the old
songs, and gave "reminiscences of school days for
an hour more. Later in the afternoon the
boys chose sides, shigh buck or low doe" for
Shiny, ana that game and town bali were kept
up until late In the day.