The Newtown bee., 1892-02-05


 HORACE sTAPLES's DOTH BIRTHDAY.
 Another year, as we respond to the kind invitation of MT Horace Staples to meet with him on Tuesday, February ?, Founders day, we behold his wonderful preservation, both in mind and body. His cup of joy and pride are full as he watches with interest the development of talent in the rising generation who are being trained at Staples High school, un- der the careful and thorough instructions of it's teachers: Henry 5. Pratt, princi- pal; Miss Bessie R. Taylor, Miss M. Lou ise Clute and Miss Anna G. Bradley, as- sistants. One hundred and fifty invita- tions were sent out and nearly all re- sponded in person. At l2 30, the an- nouncement for dinner was made and MT Staples was escorted to the head of the table by Rev B. J. Relyea, officers of the school, parents of the children and mem- bers of the press following. After all were seated, Rev B. J. Relyea invoked the divine blessing. Four long tables were arranged, two in the library room and two in recitation room No. l, with seating capacity for 130. All seats were taken and all did justice to the bountiful spread, consisting of cold meats, turkey, boiled ham, chicken and lobster salad, biscuit, oranges, tangarines, grapes, figs and everything palatable and tempting to the appetite.
 At ? o'clock, the exercises began with the opening hymn, "The Lord is My Shepherd" Miss Laura D. Gorham did herself great credit at the piano. Then followed the reading of the Scriptures, Psalm l, after which prayer was offered by Rev MT Still. The following rever- end gentlemen were called to occupy the platform with Mir Staples; Revs B. J.. Relyea, J. K. Coley, J. Backus, II. S.. Still, H. N. Wayne, Henry Davies; with the executive committee. The CXII Psalm was sung. A recitation, "Wel- their verse till the word ssWelcome" was spelled.
 A dialogue, "School as it Was" was pleasing to the audience. Frederick A. Raymond, Harry T. Wayne and Samuel c. Meeker acted as school committee. Annie Warren made application to teach and was finally hired for soc a week and boarded around. Between the acts, Miss Elsie Sherwood beautifully rendered a piano selection. In the second act, the teacher rapped at the windows to call the scholars in; heard lessons amid an uproar and confusion; visiting commit tee called and examined scholars; prais- ed the teacher for her wonderful ability and spoke encouraging words to the school.
 Piano duet by Misses Bessie Smith and Martha Pignol was listened to with rap- ture.
 Dialogue, "The Lunatic,' Misses An toinette c. Cable, Alice D. Parsell, Laura D. Gorham, Christine A. Upson, Edith E. Salmon, Annie T. Sherwood, Stanley W. Pillow, Samuel c. Meeker. The moral lesson drawn by Miss Cable in her closing remarks ought to be eff fectual.
 The prize spelling match was of great interest, between 15 from middle and sen- for classes; 250 words were prepared. There were three prizes. After 200 words had been spelled, six remained; after the 25O words were spelled, four remained: Miss Elsie Sherwood, F. A. Raymond, John l.. Coley, F. c. Filley. They had to draw for first prize, $2 50 gold piece, which fell to John c. Coley. The second prize went to Miss Elsie Sherwood, a pearl handled pen knife and the third to Miss Grace D. Meeker, a handsome book, Golden Treasure" Then came the presentation address by title four-years-old Miss May Staples, presenting her great grandfather with wo handsome pictures, entitled, "Phar- Ioh's Horses" and an ancient domestic cene with spinning wheel, etc. Rev H. N. Wayne delivered the con- address to Horace Staples in very pleasing and forcible manner. REV IN. wAYNE's ADDRESS OF CON-
 GRATULATIoN. f To me has been assigned the pleasant ask of congratulating our friend upon he completion of the 90th year of his fife. Sure I am that all will unite with ne in these congratulations. We con- { ,ratulate him because of his age flor Ho- ( y Writ tells us that the ''hoary head is crown of gloryr and it is our duty and { hould be our pleasure to pay reverence { o the one whom God has blessed with } ength of days. But there is another req { on; we offer our congratulations be- z ause of what he has seen. As we look t him, we see one almost as old as the ( Iation; 116 years ago, our forefathers 2 eclared themselves free and independ- I mt, bot it Is but 109 years since that i'm ( ependence was acknowledged and we ook our place among the countries of , he world. The government had not cached it's majority when he was born ! nd he has seen 1t grow from boyhood, q III now he sees 1t among the mightiest ' f earth. And what must be his recol- f ,ctions as he recalls the discomforts and i of yesterday, with the Dmforts and conveniences of to-day. a To be sure, we can read history and il ,om 1t learn how people lived and what y