Morning journal and courier., 1894-05-05
ARR0R DAY.

SSAAU~A-AA4 AOA1Cbo " = Thomas-The Day Observed In Sur rounding Cities and VillsgeA.
 Arbor day was celebrated at the public l schools yesterday, it being the arst gen. eral celebration of this character ever held in this city In many of the schools there were readings. declamstions and songs. In the welch school the arrangements were made by Miss Webster, the principal. In .he exercises there was very interest ing account of the origin of Arbor day.
 At the Hillhouse high school the day was observed by exercises held in the dif- ferent rooms, but was especially celebrated by the senior class. Great interest was manifested by all in this somewhat unique celebration. Immediately following the devotions MT. Thomas took few minutes Thomas explained as follows: "The cus- tom of Arbor day originated in Nebrsska in 1879 at the time when Hon. Sterling Morton, now secretary of agriculture, was governor of that state. There was an ex- to break the strong winds which often rushed across the open plains and caused great destruction at times.
 "A citizen of Nebraska suggested that . day be set apart by the state for tho ex- press purpose of planting trees all over the state: The department of agriculture of the state took the matter up and re. ferred it to Governor Morton, who ap- proved of the plan. A day was appointed, and in each succeeding year which should be employed in the planting of trees. The result is that there are in Nebraska at the present time FOG, GOO trees set out by the hand of man. Y
 'About ten years later Ohio, Wisconsin and various other states began to observe Arbor day, all having some reason for using such day. But of late years the custom is employed chiefly to beautify the differ ent sections of each state. Ohio was the first to make the day festal day for the schools, and this custom was also taken up by the states. There are thirty-seven states and territories now celebrating Ar bor day.
 "There is somewhat of an educational sd : vantage attached to the observance of the day, inasmuch as 1t causes the pupils to search in various literary works for arti- cles relating to trees, and they thereby reap much benefit"
 Following Ar. Thomas address four young ladies and one gentleman read es- leotions written about trees and showed that the universal planting of them in the United States was @ worthy obisck. This concluded the program for the time being.
 At 11:30 school was dismissed and the class of '94 assembled around the front entrance of the school, at the right of which the ivy was to be planted. Besides the class about 200 others gathered.
 MT. Thomas delivered an address similar to the one earlier in the day, after which the chairman of the ivy committee, E. J. Savage, covered the roots of the plant with the soil. He next presented the trowel to Q. F. Williams, representing the class of '95. MT. Williams responded in a neat speech and formally took charge of the in strument, which, it was the wish of all, should be used for . similar purpose by future classes of the high school. The last number of the program was the singing of the "Ivy Ode," composed by an anony- nous member of the class. The ode is as follows:
 IVY ODE.
 Tune America.) This Ivy here we place, Love beaming in each face Green may it's leaf Ger bel Green as the memory Of all the happy years Soon-too soon-o'erl Plant we this root today, Emblem of unity
 Ours evermorel While we our grateful song Raise high to Heavens dome, Asking Gods blessing on Dear Ninety four! Principal Dickinson of the Grand avenu, l school held special exercises in his room No. 8, in the morning. An eloquent ad dress was delivered by Hon. N. D. Sperry | At 11:30 all the pupils assembled on tn, lawn and planted an elm tree. | AT DWIGHT SCHOOL.
 Arbor day waa appropriately celebrated
 by the pupils of Dwight school. At tn
 conclusion of the exercises in the differen
 rooms of the echool, the pupils assembled
 in the yard to witness the planting of al
 elm tree which had been brought from Ar
 L. L. Camps by the graduating class
 the calisthenio class. The program of ex
 ercises, arranged by MT. Camp, was excel
 lent and was well carried out by member
 of the class of '94. A sealed bottle con
 taining the names of the graduating clae
 was planted with the tree.
 By unanimous vote of the pupils, tn
 tree was named "The Camp Elm" 1,
 honor of the principal who has done 8,
 much for the echool and who has the low
 and respect of his present as we'll as of hi
 former pupils.
 Seeds were planted by pupils in some O.
 the primary rooms and the children il
 Room planted an ivy in the front yard.
 AT WASHINGTON SCHOOL.
 At Washington school the program wa | as follows:
 1 Reading the governors proclamation-Prinoi
 ,sThe n Star spsngled Banner" by school. . bert Beatty, Oscar Batchelder, Florence Bontise James Sullivan, Eddie Boyle, Helen Lawrence James GaRney, Grace Ruth, Ella Abeles, Franl Bowman, Mary Brown, Julia Mooney.
 Wade; recitation, 'song of Arbor Day." Honol ndIss "Tss Little Es Tree Room s-Recitatioa. ..The Tree" Edgar Park Tracy. IF ye'''"''0n' in' use or f'0"er'' May Room s-Recitation, ''Plea for the Tree, "Rob % pie Tf.yers; recitation, "Planting the Apple Room lo-RecitaSion, "woodman, Spare Tha, Tree, George Allen; recitation, "Plant a Tree, Alelne Chapel:
 SotRy bsR9 bRHR: 1ssor quotations, Frank Mcaa.vey, Etta Poole, Molie Roo a4sa RsIsasf desIx 5 TsS Iris of rhee.''
 IN OTHER PLACES. The day was also observed in the cities of Meridsn, Hartford and Ansonia and the villages of Branford and Clinton. High School Reunion. A reunion of the class of '87, H. Fl. S., will be held at the residence of Miss Rob tnson, 239 Bradley street, next Wednesday