New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-17
PEEKSKILL ACADEMY.
COMPLETING ITS FIFTIETH YEAR.

The Peebskill Military Academy celebrated tho
ffteth anniversary Of its incorporation yesterday In
way that will be long remembered by all Its pupils ana
graduates who fortunate to DO present
The literary exercises held In the gymnasium and
tho audience present included many OF tho bestknown
citizens Of Peeksbil, besides number Of guests from
NewYork Among those present ex-Cocctor
Hiram Barney and Mrs. Barney, Mr. and Mrs. Edward
Wells, Mrs. General James W. Hustled, Miss Hustled,
Miss Beach, Milton Frost, Mss Frost, Mr. and Mrs.
Calvin Frost, Mrs. George H. Stout the Rev. Dr. David
Murdock Colonel Clarence Halt Frost, Mrs. johnson,
Mrs Ferris, ex-Judge Thomas Nelson, Cyrus Frost,
Mr.. and Mrs. william Henry Pauldng, Miss Annie
Dcpcw Panldiug, tho Rev. Philip Cermond, Mr. and
Mrs Sanford r. Knapp, James II. Robertson, Mrs.
Charles H. Frost, the Misses Frost, Charles Nassau
Wells.
The cadets marched In and took their places at Just
O'Clock, while salute was fred outside The presi-
dent OF the Board OF Trustees owen T. Conn., presided,
and the exercises were opened with prayer by the
Rev. J. Richie Smith. Sergeant F. A. Smith gave
short address of welcome and Sanford r. Knapp read
Sketch of the history Of the academy, Of which tho
following Is q brief summary
A company was formed for the purpose Of found
Ing the school In 1881 and William Nelson, I toHs
After much discussion the present site selected,
the land was bought and the school was built Inc
is4l, ,he second Andrew Huntington and the ih'Id
Albert Wells. who held the position from 1872 TO
1872. 1t he who introduced military drill into tho
school After him Colonel J. c. Wright and Robert bert
Donald were associated In charge Of the school the
latter resigned In 1880, and the former succeeded
short time ago by Dr. j. N. 1fldeD
After the history short poems were madc by d. c.
Hasbrouck and Edward Wills jr. DR.. Tilden read
"reminiscences sent by Albert Wells, and Colonel
C. j. Wright spoke briefly. Most Of the speakers
were I" old boys,' but Chauncey NJ. Dcpcw, who next
spoke, spoken of The Old Boy Of the school,
His speech In substance as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen; 1 felt seriously alarmed when
Colonel Wright gave you that glowing promise Of the
majestic Grafton that to grace this
platform to-day. did not come here
to mako any such grafton; only as old boy OF
the school those ana rcconectohS
that are tho precious Of lifetime. The recollec-
Of school days when you won to-day and lost To-
morrow rivalry Of generous forgivins
loving tho looks back afterward to those
days pure without alloy came here FOR those
recoiectors thinking that out of busy life this might
be the red letter day Of 1885, 1 knew but two
schools Peeksk Academy and Yale College, and the ten
years here years there constitute all that
worth having recollection in the that are gone
II to-day there could be materazed the boys OF iory
years ago. they were uniformed at that tino wha'
contrast they would present TO these young gentlemen
Those uniforms were by the village tailor and had
been made for years Some OF them were made oy
mothers on the pattern Of the paterns garments and
the paternal garments cut down. BONE
one has said recently "reminiscences OF mo that
when was boy not good at three old cat ana
ball but assure you good deal better az thcm
then than am now. don't know how many boys graz
usted while here, but from tho letters nave re-
ceved in the days reminding me that the writer's
were here while inclined to think all the boys
that graduated from all the schools in the United States
during those ten years spent OF that time mere
MI Knapp says that there lady in this audience that
graduated forty years don't believe IL; there's no
such lady in the vsge II any Of them graduated was
within ten years Forty years agoi no" nhnJ '''s'
happen In that timei
remember the last time stood on this platform;
had young lady my eye then, and felt that could
10 through college and have her paudlts as had her
bouquet then get her too should have about every
thing But she was married before ready. And
you'll all ind It way. The girl, that boys set
your minds On first viii always be married long before
you ready.
nation or OF the world fifty years in the life Of
school is contribution history of tho country that
IL cannot afford lose Fifty years Of school sending
out every year graduates form distinct chapter In
the story Of nation those people become in the
law pulpit the farm. in the factory the leaders
of their fellows The who go forth from an inst-
tuition this trained to be leaders for good for Ill
care little what boy learns compared with the acqui
siton OF the faculty hail difficulties with aaerity and
TO spring forward with the spirit OF ono who Is sure OF
success This school is O monument TO noble purpose
carried for half century. Many others have failed
in tina. which slono keep q school alive and per-
petuate It, the true spirit education. Fifty years
Pceksiu little known any hamlet In the United
States 1t was o quiet town whore the people went to
bed early and 60. up early They did not get early
any particular purpose. There were no worms bore
that worth catching Now the 1000 people OF this
sleepy woke up one morning and said We must
have scademy and their idea Of academy that was
10 take its place among tho educational institutions Of
tho country TO raise g. goo. Now the institution
founded with e. 900 stands tho HILL while others
wrecked every sde and its glory is that 1t has
been better every day. Part Of It's due to
its situation 1t found here Just that distance from the
metropolis enable t to feel the throb Of It's busy life
and feel the influence OF Its temptations 1t had
background Of patriotism The old oak spoke every
night agones the traitor who met his death for
his treason the hills reioent with the reeoectons
OF the battles with the invader and the prouder recoec
ton that he never crossed the hills that the High
lands the bulwark Of the country. Now oil this
simply the environment. of the Peekskill Academy,
and found, in my study Of men, that environment
is everything It f. rarely that one breaks away from
the influence OF his environment
But this institution would have died had It been
for noble who infused into 1t their chsrac
ter and spirit Albert Wells tile only principal
while here he hot great scholar but he
o good There about him Just tina: sort Of
freshness and truthfulness just that muscular Chris
tsny that hated q mlksop and did love o good, manly
boy. remember that his brother. Noah Wells taught
the classics. lie excellent scholar and q good
teacher The books expurgsted in those days
II" Uncle Noah" believer in Horace. but when he
TO some OF the passages he would frown and turn
all sorts Of colos and then he would say: Chauncey
the fault with the times and with Horace
believed then that that true. do recall the
of any Of the other teachers but recall them.
and do them full tribute and abundant honor. Now.
here TO this old Institution and this youth
ful beauty, because the older she the beau
tful she gets. Elton and Rugby to great
but they convey no impression but Peekskin Academy
IL to me poem, q story. a history, lfe Peekskll
Academy is home, family. childhood, boyhood manhood
Peekskll Academy is the beginning, the flower, the
fruitage Of life. Peeksdll Academy All can say
OF her is that love her; we. her graduates thank
her for what she has been and give her God speed and
Peeksk. proud Of that which is best will cherish as
long time eniurcs this ola and admirable Institution.
After the exercises in the gymnasium there was
fine exhibition drill By about sixty cadets, under com
niand OF Major b. +. Hyatt, Captains S. Saltonsal,
julio Julbe and +: o. Smith, and Leutenants George
Ferguson, Henry Parker and +. S. Brown. The ex-
erses Of the day closed With reception gvcn In the
evening by DR.. and Mrs. 1ildcn.