The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-03-27
Alu mi B.nluet.

the annual banquet Of the a umni The
walks that lead to the school building are
in imagination retraced. The kindness of
teachers and classmates predominant In
these memories and whatever was harsh or
unpleasant Is Oblterated by time.> 1t is this
attitude and this frame of mind possessed
by the culture brought out by school life
that lends the charm to the annual banquet.
A preliminary meeting to arrange for the
banquet was held but a week previous and
SO we'll had the plans been made that no
misunderstanding resulted. The reception
room in the Odd Fellows building was 6lled
with guests welcomed and acquainted by
the reception committee until 1t was an
. nOunced to ''fall in line." Then to the
strains of march music from the violin and
harp the long and brilliant procession led
by Stanley X. Parkill and Miss Hattie
Evans, wound its way around the banquet
tables assigned them. President Mcbride
announced that all would join in singing
''Aud Lang Syne," and led by G. g. Duff
the hall resOunded with the favOrite Scottish
air. The Rev. e. b. Bancroft most i'm
pressively pronounced the invocation and
then the banquet began. 1t was a brilliant
scene, the banquet tables glistening In china
and silver, fruits and flowers, the rich cos
tunes of the ladies and above the subdued
din incident to the banquet, sounded the
sweet strains of music from the harp and
violin.
When the feasting had ceased, Duff's
octette sang "Eyes that stole my heart
away" and other selections. Stanley K.
Parkill, the prince of tOastmasters, arose
unannOunced and stated that his charitable
disposition had led him to act in that
capacity since the president now, had per-
formed the duty for the president one year
ago. Mr.. Parkill jOcularly referred to the
Smiths, unnumbered and unsung, so numer-
Gus in OwOssO that instead of Smithsonian
institute being established one of the Smiths
had been put on the school board as the
next best thing. X. V. Smith responded,
saying that he never knew from whence so
so many Smiths came until he one day saw
factory with the sign "The Smith Manu-
featuring Co." He no longer wonders why
they are so plenty. What to talk about had
bothered the gentleman for some time, but
he had consulted his wife and she had ad-
vised him to talk about - q minute. The
schools now enroll 1,700 pupils, against
LOO FIVE years ago. and the Board were
considering the question where the large in
crease could be accommodated next year. 1t
was strange fact that the girls were vastly
Outstripping the boys In the number of
graduates. Mr.. Smith at this point read an
advertisement from Tie TINES asking for a
man who could milk, saying that the presi-
dent of the association probably desired
some one who was better mixer than he.
The toast master referred to the Press as
the weakly Squeeze" title no longer APP
plicable since the presiding genius of such
literary name as Henry Kirk White fur
nished the brain matter. Mr.. White is not
the typical editor with frlnged pantalOOns,
seedy coat anu cadaver0us expression, but
wears a pleasant smile shaded by heavy
English chop whiskers. and full dress
suit, showing an expansive shirt bosom un-
equalled only by President Angel. Like
Mr.. Smith, Mr.. White had consulted with
his wife aud said that the successful news
paper man should know prices and poll
tics, must please all and offend none.
The American people were educated by the
newspapers which were scattered as widely
and thicklv az the loavea Of the forest