Connecticut western news., 1886-08-04

ably the first affair of the kind ever held in Connecticut If not in New Eng land.
 The idea of holding such reunion originated in the fertile brain of Miss Almira Cleaveland of Lakeville, and al- though her proposition and subsequent suggestions met with ready response from Prof Hurlburt, Miss Sarah J. Roraback, Miss Hattie Ensign, Miss Cora E. Potts, Miss Carrie Conklng and other Salisbury teachers, yet to Miss Cleaveland's executive ability, untiring energy and attention to details the suc- cess of the reunion Is in great measure due. True, her efforts were nobly seconded, and memorable and pleas ant occasion was the result.
 The teachers and invited guests began to arrive at Twin Lakes picnic grounds early in the forenoon, many coming with carriages from all directions, but the greater number coming the the trains from the west. The noon train from the east brought reinforce ments and quite number arrived from each direction by the trains later in the afternoon. The forenoon was spent in exchanging greetings, renewing old &C., quaintances, visiting, and in placing a sumptuous collation. on the table in the pavilion.
 THE EXERCISES.
 About one o'clock, Prof J. H. Hurl- burt of Lime Rock, president of the Teachers Mutual Benefit Association, called the assemblage to order,
 Rev Lyman Warner of Salisbury read selections from the scriptures.
 Rev J. H. George of Salisbury offered prayer.
 Prof J. H. Hurlburt delivered the ad- dress of welcome, as follows:
 Prof Hurlburt,s Address.
 FeQo,c Teachers, School Officers and Fraends:-
 As president of the Teachers Mutual Benefit Association of Salisbury, the pleasant dutys bidding its guest of vel come to this reunion has devolved upon me. This duty Is doubly pleasing, by req son of the relations which have so long borne to both public and private instruc- tion In this town. For fifteen years have been an active member of the school board and in hearty cooperation and sympathy with every effort to advance the cause of public instruction, and for more than twenty years the principal of private school. As I look into the faces of this assembly. I see so many who have been associated with me as teachers and pupils that I look upon you with a regard borne of long and dear association.
 We extend today welcome to those who years ago presided in our school rooms, and directed the youthful mind along the pathway of knowledge. It is pleasure and a delight to see so many of you here, and to take you by the hand and, as 1t were, to link the past with the present. You have made and left your impress upon the present gen. eration, and no one has any but the kindest recollections of you and your work Of your number there are not a few whose connection with the schools was that of professional teachers and whose names are frequently heard from the lips of former pupils in honorable and loving mention. Under your in- struction many were started in useful and honored careers in life Welcome, thrice welcome these honored men and women May your lives be prolonged to green and happy old age, and when you come to stand before the great white throne, we feel assured that no brighter jewels will glisten in your crowns than those you won Tn your efforts to unfold the moral and intellectual buds confided to your care, into the full bloom of a higher and better life.
 To you who have more recently toiled in this great and holy work, we bid you & welcome begotten of mutual co-opera- tion and sympathy in pleasing paths of duty and responsibility. Your lines are cast in pleasant places today. Your profession always noble has in these days been greatly elevated by reason of increased interest in all educational matters. More Is demanded of you, and when that demand is met, so much greater respect Is felt for you and your noble calling. Go on in your good work and heavens blessing will rest upon you.
 To those in this assembly who are ex- pecting to enter upon the teachers call ing, we bid an heartfelt welcome. You are to enter upon the highest and holiest relation man can bear to his kind. Weigh we'll the solemn responsibilities you are to assume and accept all it's du. ties in an earnest and God-fearing spirit
 To the honored few of all the memb bers of the school board who survive and are present today we bid warm and earn est welcome.
 We miss from the number of teachers aA, T have gladdened all our hearts today. Some are in distant homes; others, in the blest paradise above, are joining in in the sweet strains of adoration to him who guides all our hearts to do his ser vice.
 What shall say of that goodly num- Der from our ranks, who live only in the golden memories they have left behind them and the good work whose impress is plainly seen upon the lives of so many we daily meet They have heard their welcome to the glad reunion of those who gone before, ''have finished their course with joy and now rest from their labors." The lessons of their pure and holy lives are ever before us, and speak in tones we must hear today in this open and beautiful schoolhouse of God, in which every grand and beautiful ob- feet breathes lesson we may and must carry with us.
 To this large company of friends, who have SO kindly joined us on this occasion we raise our united voices in enthusias- tic welcome. Your presence and happy countenances on this occasion belle the oft repeated expression that there IS TO public interest in our schools. We thsuk you for the hope and encourage