New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-27

EXERCISES AT STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY.
AN ADDRESS OK HIS WORK AND CHARACTER
WILLIAM WINTER.

AN ADDRESS OK HIS WORK AND CHARACTER
RY WILLIAM WINTER.
Saturday. February o. was the anniversary Of
the birth of the late George William Curtis. Sim
pie exercises commemorative OF that honored author
and gentleman were held yesterday. in the staten
Island Academy. II had been intended that the
exercises should be held in the theatre OF the Ger
man Club Room, which is opposite 10 the Academy
at Stapleton. but the severe storm somewhat IN
terfered with the arrangements.
The students and some of their friends assemplen
in the hall of the Academy at i030 a. IN. Mr.. Par
tington the principal made an Introductory speech.
saying that II intended to celebrate GURUS
Day each year-Alr Curtis having been a great
friend to the Academy. and being rghtfuy remem-
bered as the most lllustrious citizen OF staten
Island.
He then introduced William Winter. who Is
president of the Board Of Trustees Of the Academy
and Mr. Winter delivered address. which was IN
part. follows:
This occasion is one alike Of sorrow and 81 Joy.
II is an occasion Of sorrow because, 'as oittn az
this anniversary recurs. are forcibly reininl-l
0 mnait p'' and fang With pecG4r force upon u.s.
his nelghbors and friends, ana upon tnis AcaHeiy;
one Of US may say, in the lovely language OF
Shakespeare:
81 cannot but remember such things were,
That most precious.
1t is an occasion Of jov because while We realiz'.
our rreparable loss. VIC also reflect mat ~ hi S
I
| ful character and noble example
In the time Of my boyhood. when ! was a pupil
at the High School in the old city Of CambrdS'-
! forty-fOur years agO-thcre came a day Wh'h lh,
| students were assembled. as YOU are as-einD','l
now. AMI when the principal, with deep ana 90.
t,r:.b No.. Iyifia,, Word s,,orfh / was not then
| acquainted with WOrlsWOrth's poetry, but whcl,
in after years. | came to read IT, In the ught OF
observation and experience ana - petc'lEe "i ~
a bencfactOr he was 80 the human race under
stood fun wei the sorrow with when ms H,t n
va c1..u hgg flN
our minds with its solemn significance that gr ~
Z man had fallen No other poet has done 50 much
/ to soothe and cheer the human race through ~
ordeal OF toll and suffering by the celestial al
rnonitlons Of duty pa lence and hope. No other
and magic Of inspiration that our final refuge ana
our unfaling strength are in the beniShity OF
Nature
As it was on that defiant OCCASION 50 Is 1t to-
dav-whcn for a moment we pause in our occu-
pations to think of noble gentleman who was
once our companion. and Of his shining example.
row ne would have reached the Tsalmists limit
three score years and ten. He has been gone only
a little while but in the light Of this reflection we
are able to realize that he was taken from us by
no untimely stroke but in the fun maturity OF his
powers and achievements. His work was completed
His course was run As esSayist he had written
his name with that Of Addison. As an orator he
nure and stately standard OF Everett and Sumner.
As a citizen he had sustained. In spotlcss integ.
rity, the glorious tradition Of Washington ana or
JAY His public was without one blemsh. Ills
private life all gentlcncss, charity. patience
and love. If there were sacrifices 70 he mao M II
there Obstacles to be surnountei II ,therc
were burdens to be borne. If there were hardshlps
10 be endured, he kept all such things chtlrcN 10
himself: and there no trace OF trouble IN ms
fine derncanOr any more than there was OF cnort
in his exquisite art. Nothing now can taint ms
honor or lessen the glory Of his name. The re-
nown Of such n character and such life can only
be inaenned in the drift Of years. until his serene
and benignant figure towering remote over the
troubled sea of time Will realize the poets VISION
and be
"As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form
Swclls from the vale and midway leaves the storm.
Though round It's base the rolling clouds are spread
The address was devoted to enforcement OF the
value Of high examplc-which said the speaker,
is practical admonition as 10 the importance OF
life There was much applause at the close.