Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-01
SURPRISE PARTY AT THE SACRA.
MENTO GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Professor Babcock Bids Farewell to
His Six Hundred PupiIs-In-
teresting Programme.
Fare thee well ! and If forever,
Still forever fare thee well


ter around our school days and happy
childhood hours, still remain fresh and
will continue until our latest days. The
position of teacher and pupil in many re-
spects is similar to that of parent and child,
and a separation in either case is always
attended with sadness. One of the finest
educational institutions in this State
is the Sacramento Grammar School. l.
has corps of fourteen capable teachers. an
attendance OF over 600 bright-faced intelli-
gent boys and girls aud is the pride of our
local educatioral system.
For the past two and One-h half wears this
model school has been under the principal
ship of Prof Madison Babcock. He came
among US stranger, soon won the con-
fidence and admiration of the pupils under
his charge, and the respect of the entire
community. A few weeks since Mr.. Bah
cock was chosen Assistant Superintendent
of the public schools of San Francisco, and
with profound regret he rendered his resig-
nation to the Board of Education of this
city. While his many friends regretted to
lose his valuable services as teacher, and
his presence as good citizen, they con-
graduate him upon his success abroad,
which is but a just appreciation of his
merit and ability.
Miss NJ. j. Watson was elected as Mr..
Babcock's successor, and yesterday the lat
ter served his last day as Princip L. Wish
ing to have appropriate ceremonies, and at
the same time give the retiring Principal
an agreeable surprise, the teachers arranged
an excellent programme and called an as
sembly for 1:3O P. NJ. to which the Principal
was invited Miss Lizzie Griffin presided
at the piano and was director OF the exer-
cises, which were appropriate and highly
creditable. The programme was as fol-
lows:
Song, by the school; recitation, Daisy
Siddons, Drifted Out TO Sea ~ recitation,
Mamie Kimball, Farewell" declsma.
ton, Harry Stautfer, " Greatness - song,
by the school; recitation, Cassie Caroan,
only Dog" piano solo, Emma Foster
recitation, Maudie Pritchard, The Arrow
and the Song; vocal solo, Irns Fitch,
"A Bird from Ger the Sea" recitation.
Maggie Burroughs, "Nobody's Child .
recitation, Eva Brown, 1.-THE Poor Mans
Sheaf;" song, by the school; recitation.
Mabel Johnson and Laura Cooper, Deeds
of Kindness" vocal solo, Hattie Wheat,
Come to Ne, jamie Dear ;" defamation,
Ferdinand Billingsley, The Union :"
farewell song, by pupils of tine first grade
At the close of this programme, Miss
Griffin called upon Professor Babcock,
who was a mere spectator, for few re-
marks. When he started from the rear of
| the room for the platform, the six hundred
little people commenced clapping their
hands, and it is safe to say he was never
before greeted with such hearty outbursa OF
applause. He said this was the first time
he had been down on the programme, and
hoped he could do half so well as the
little boys and girls that had preceded him
This too, was the first time that he had
been simply a spectator. He believed that
he had been the victim of a conspiracy, and
he congratulated the school in their ability
to conspire so successfully. When some
little girls" said he, came into my
room this morning, and asked that the
school be allowed to assemble to sing few
songs,
WISHING TO PLEASE MY PUPILS
On this, the last day, l assented and re-
marked that l would graduate l did not
then know how appropriately l had spoken,
| thought nothing strange of their request,
however, but when, Just as all were seated
in the assembly-room, | noticed a reporter
| walk in aud take his seat, [ knew some
thing was up. | had no idea there was
more to be done that to say good-b by The
| little girls that called upon me acted well
| their part. They wore long faces, and gave
me no grounds to suspicion that they were
! getting up surprise party. | congratulate
you one and all. have heard no singing.
no rehearsing of recitations-knew nothing
| of this whatever-but you seem to have
been well and thoroughly prepared.
have felt proud of every boy and girl that
comes or has come to this school during
the past two and one-half years They are
bright, intelligent. seem endowed with SO
much good sense,
ARE so KIND AND oBLIGING,
So ambitious to master their studies. have
such golden prospects before them, that it
is no easy matter, assure you, for me to
say gOod-by. l love Sacramento; have
become attached to this school, to the peo-
pie generally, and must say that all, and
particularly the press, have treated me
kindly. II there is 9 boy or girl in this
school that thinks | have not treated them
right | hope they will not hold it against
me. Whatever | have done, my every act
has been for their best interest This a
faithful teacher tries to do on every and all
occasions. The teachers | leave behind
have
YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
You may think al times that you are
abused You don't know what is best for
YOU. Remember these words. Be obedi-
ent under all circumstances Boys, if you
are friends of mine, be gentlemen every
where don't forget under all circumstances
| to be manly boys. 1t is not necessary to
say to the girls be ladies, for the
| girls of this school are all little
| ladies. / am proud to say that during the
| time had charge of this school-nearly
| three years-not one pupil has been sus-
pended. l am proud of it on your &C
| count; it is credit to your CITY and a COM
| pliment to your teachers. As you pass out
of the assembly-room to-day | want to
shake hands with each one of You and say
good-by" Continuing he said he had an
autograph album containing GOO neatly
| written signatures, the names of the
| scholars in the school, When in
years from now l gaze upon the
signatures l will see in memory what
| behold before me now, 600 upturned faces
Of bright and promising boys and girls, the
| flower of Sacramento" He closed his re-
marks by paying high compliment to his
successor, Miss Watson. and asked the
scholars one and all. particularly the boys
in the first grade, to stand by her and assist
in maintaining the high standard of the
| school.
Prof. Babcock then introduced Miss Wat
son as his successor. The lady was greeted
| with rounds of applause by the little folks,
who clapped their hands most gleefuly.
Miss Watson, after addressing the assem-
blase for moment, turned to Professor
Baboock and said: 4" Mr. Babcock, for
nearly three pleasant years you have been
associated as Principal with the teachers
and pupils of this school. Six HUNDRED
young people have during each year been
under your care. and each of the six hun
dred has been the subject of your special
| thought. Your aim has constantly been
to aid these boys and girls to become hon.
orable, selfreliant men and women, fitted
to take their place in few years among
the men and women of the world. All OF
them have been encouraged by your advice
and benefited by your example. Your
! connection with them will form one of the
bright memories OF their young lives. The
| teachers have always been met with kind
ness, impartial justice and unvarying cour-
tesy, and have been aided in the right way
when sid was needed. To me they have
assigned the pleasant task of presenting
you q souvenir from them, not that we be-
ileve you will ever forget us. One that has
taken such interest in others as you have
taken in this school can never forget.
Wishing you all happiness in your new
work, We say goodby with the olden mean
ing, May God be with you
The souvenir consisted of a handsome
gold matchbox. beautifully chased and
appropriately engraved.
After short and appropriate response
! by Mr. Rahronk The school SANG a ms. &c,