The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1891-02-06

am dead
ADDRESS ON FOUNDERS DAY, STAPLES HIGH
SCHOOL, FRIDAY, JANUARY 81, 1890.
My Honored and Dear Sir The executive
committee have this year seen fit to assign
to me the novel and somewhat difficult but
altogether delightful duty of addressing con-
gratulatory words to the founder OF this
school. A year ago, when hardly initiated in
the ways of Westport, received kind note
OF invitation to be present at the banquet and
participate in the public exercises in COM
memoration of Founders Day. l freely con-
TESS that was somewhat confused. In calling
up great men and great deeds OF past history,
1 could not make their birth their deeds
tally with the date assigned tor this celebra-
ton. 1 found that Columbus discovered
America on October II, that the Pilgrims
landed some time in December; could recall
that Washington was born on the ed of Feb
ruary and ascertained that the new republic
was founded on the Both OF April, 1889. But as
you see, none OF this research gave me the
slightest clue to the nature or significance
of the festivities in which l was to share.
Thanks to my near neighbor at the time, who
was also a member OF the executive commit.
tee, L was not left to grope in such ignorance
i0t any lcHStl Vi tlLlc "A Df1Gl explanation
made all plain. And congratulate you, sir,
first of all, tor having given to Westport a
day, marked and set apart from all other
days and that will be memorable in the an
nails of this town. 1t is of great advantage to
community, to have localized within its
borders a central fact OF peculiar interest, of
signal Importance, around which, once a year
at least, public attention centres. We have
our national days that foster patriotism in
the country at large. We cannot overesti-
mate the advantage that accrues in the
nature of loyalty among the youth OF this land
by the observance OF the 4th of July and the
Both of May. No one with drop of Puritan
blood in his veins will deny the inspiration
that he has derived, and the help toward en-
uiating the virtues of the forefathers, partici-
pating in the services and partaking OF the
dinners OF our national hanksgiving day.
But our intensest life, and that which is of
most concern to US, is not that which we share
with the country at large, but rather that
which we live in our own homes and share in
our own community; and repeat, it is
great thing for a local community to have a
day significant To every man, woman and
child tor that which it commentaries. And
your birth, sir and your deeds have given
this town of your adoption this significant
day. l congratulate you upon having been
e DoIh. Iou were UOEIl ht d SoOd tlue lSUZ Is
further back than many OF us here can recoI-
lect, but know something about those
times. The republic was only ID years old.
Washington had been dead but two years.
Those who were men had been frighting in
the Revolutionary war for independence,
Tor freedom for themselves and their child
rem. Those were of necessity stern times.
The children were in no sense of the term
Tapped in luxury There were no stoves in
the homes for warming or for cooking. Sell
dom was there any carpet on the floor. There
We're no lamps for lighting Those who read
in the evening must do so by the feeble flicker
OF a tallow candle, the treacherous blaze
OF pine knot. The clothes worn were
durable than tanciful. The pants were
homespun and have heard it remarked that
the fit was often of such nature that it was
difficult to determine whether the boy was
going or coming from school. The father or
elder brother made the shoes when the
weather was too bleak Tor out of door work
and doubtless the ftwas rs questionable as
that of the pants. The food was as home
made as the clothing and there was little
danger OF the constitution becoming ener-
waited by eating candy or the use OF sweet
meats of any kind. The children here will
wonder what mean by the remark that it
was good time in which to be born. 1t was
q time favorable for setting out some of the
most stalwart youths that the world has ever
seen Youth who should live and grow to
be men, stalwart both in body and in mind
And congratulate you to-day, sir, upon
those habits formed in calildhood of early re-
firing and early rising and wholesome living,
which have gone far toward the maintenance
o. that yigor 50 remarkable to one Of your
years. The only rebuff that ever received
from your venerable self was upon our first
meeting, when, as we were about to board a
horse car, supposed itallowable to assist a
man of 81 years. shall never attempt it
again, until the signs Of cnfeeblement@ are
more apparent than they are at present But,
i mistake not, the proper sphere Of my re-
marx at this time is not 80 much In the line
OF addressing Horace Staples as 4 citizen
held In high esteem, man whose health.
prolonged life and great activity Is 8 matter of