davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15
AWARDING OF DIPLOMAS.

Rev George T. Lin sley, president of diplomas said:
 l speak very briefly this evening to the members of the graduating class, to the teachers and pupils of the Newtown Academy, and to their many friends who are gathered together here on this 57th anniversary of the Institution.
 nificant one-important because it gives all those who are interested in the cause of public education an opportunity to manifest that interest by their presence here-significant because this is the first time during the more than half-a-century of the Academy's existence that com- mencement exercises have been held under it's auspices.
 I suppose one cause for this has been the frequency in changes of principal ships which made it impossible to have any permanent course of study-perhaps another cause has been she fact that very few of the pupils remained long enough in the school to make class graduation possible. Celebrations have been held to mark the closing of the school year, but tonight for the first time we join with other educational institutions in having our commencement exercises and the graduation of class.
 The present condition of the Academy makes this possible.
 1t was never on a firmer and surer basis, it's prosperity for the future was never fairer. The interest in it's welfare on the part of it's patrons is general and sincere, the harmony shown by the teachers in all their plans and purposes is most commendable, the spirit of fel- lowship and friendly feeling among the pupils is most noticeable and pleasing, and the ability and fitness of him wto has held the position of principal during the last four years, are attested by the constant progress and the increasing suc- cess which have attended all his efforts. This graduation means that seven scholars have completed the prescribed four years course of study or it's equiva- lent and receive diplomas as testimonials of their faithful work. Let their ex- ample be henceforth the standard of achievement set for others.
 They have not yielded to the tempta- tion felt by many growing boys and girls
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15
WINNERS OF THE PRIZES.

The presentation of the prizes came next. Rev c. T. Linsley announced that prizes had been offered for competition in nine of the studies in the academic de. partment and the result was determined in the terminal examination held two weeks ago. He then presented the fol. lowing prizes with few appropriate re- marks addressed to each of the winners
 Vergil prize, handsomely bound edi- tton of Robert Browning's poems, won by Miss Nellie c. Hubben.
 Mathematical prize, 16-mo edition of 1.-The world we live in,'' won by James Betts.
 German Prize, an illustrated edition of Milton's Paradise Lost, won by Miss Bessie l.. Beers.
 Prize for best essay, a handsomely bound edition of 'Favorite Poems," won by Miss Florence A. Warner.
 Prize in study of authors, two volumes, Goldsmith's complete works and ssPoets of America, won by Clarence Burr of Monroe.
 flrsC prize Ill second year Latin, ''The Golden Treasury, won by Miss Laura A. Mitchell.
 First prize in first year Latin, the large library edition of Oliver Wendell Holmes works, won by Miss Florence Lake.
 First prize in second year literature, Longfellow's complete works, won by Miss Edith Minor,
 Prize for best composition, ''Advanta- ges Of Newtown as a summer resort" an illustrated edition of Dantes works, won by Roy Platt. /
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15
THE YALEDICTORY,

The valedictory by Bradley c. Rodgers. which followed, was one of exceptional merit and well delivered. He we'll de- serves the high compliments he has re- ceived for his splendid effort. As he ad- dressed the teachers, his schoolmates and finally his classmates, each in turn rose to greet his remarks. Mir Rodgers spoke as follows:
 Revered and honored Principal and Teachers Those whom your watchful care and solicitude have armed for the battle of life and whose minds have been prepared by you properly to undertake and accomplish the heavier duties soon to be laid upon their shoulders, stand here to speak, through me, few words or thanks and a regretful farewell. For some years we have travelled along the path of knowledge, holding pleasant and profitable converse with you, while en- deayoring to understand and receive the words of instruction that have fallen from your lips.
 We came here faltering in our weak
 
 many times we have been needless of the care which you have bestowed upon us perhaps even stubborn and hard to man. age, in our ignorance of the good being done for us; but we are confident that you have forgotten these shortcomings of ours, since you remember how mex perienced we are. By your firm hand we have been safely guided by the dangers that threatened us when we came here, and now our steps have grown strong, and we begin to feel the power awaken ed in us by the learning received in this school. But indeed, as you have told us, we are just beginning to learn; yet I trust that we have mastered, to some ex- tent, the great underlying principle of all true knowledge ,and that is, to know how to learn.
 Tonight we stand here to bid a finger ing farewell to their school, in which we have toiled so many hours, and to break the ties created here during our term of study. We are now about to sever the bonds between teacher and student, but those of memory can never be served, and as each succeeding year rolls away, it places upon us the increasing obligation to make our lives living models of the highest type of true manhood and true womanhood. To accomplish this result is the only way in which we can requite you, And, while we bid you farewell, l,
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15
GLASS SONG.

Following the class history, the beau tiful class song, composed by Miss Helel M. Beers, was very prettily rendered tt the German air Die Lorelei. The son. was as follows: Our days of school are over
 The class ot '94 Has finiaiied them with s2rrow, 70 To return to them no I9e3-a t"@ But wherefore spend this evening ..
 In useless sighs and tearsy For we are looking forward
 To future happy years. The mem'ries of our school days
 With us will finger long, When we brave1y fight lite's battles,
 And strive against the wrong; Tho happy days await us,
 Tho troubles hover round, No feeling but Of pleasure
 For school-days can be found Let us then take up our watchword-
 ''No day without it's mark" And strive with faith and patience
 To shine, lights in the dark. The friendships formed in school days
 We hope will ever last, And brighter grow as life wears on,
 Till toll and care are past.
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15

The male quartet, "Return Soft Gen. tie Evening, sung by Messrs Bradley c. Rodgers, Harry c. Beers, Harry Taylor and Richard Reilly was we'll rendered as was also the chorus which followed enti- tied "Pretty Village Maiden" The music, as well as the literary exercises, showed careful preparation.
 Miss Edith M. Peck recited very beau- tifully the motto poem and drew the at tention of the audience to the class mot to over the stage with it's full signfti- canoe. The closing stanza of her poem was:
 Thus, till all Lite's school is ended, all it's
 lovely lessons done, May we see some good accomplished every day at set of
 When we go at last to enter in the higher school above,
 May we win "WelI done" in Heaven, from the Masters lips Of love. Till that joyful day shall greet us, endless day that knows no night,- Hulla dies sine linea, our motto grand we write.
 "What Might Have Been," was the subject that Miss Hattie l.. Ferris had for her essay. In the course of her re-
 marks she too referred to the class mot to and drew some lessons there form. She said 'EThe motto chosen by my class is, think, an inspiring one and one that should possess dominion over us all. Stripped of it's Latin and l VlnthSr1ar fa arIc rir al everyday Saxon. tsAo 0 day without some thing accomplished. Should all the
 members of the graduating class eontin- l ue to cherish this thought and act on its
 precepts they need have no fears of fail- ures and regrets of what might have
 been. And should all the members of l the Academy who remain behind us, and whose happy privilege it is to attend such worthy school, keep in mind this maxim of the first graduating class of the school, in their daily work, there will be no occasion of tears of regrets and sighs of might have beens" when lit comes their time for graduating. In lclosing her essay Miss Ferris said If J we mourn for the past we shall waste YalRaple moments. Let not it might have bes4" be einscribed over our tomb- a,tones when 4A,e die, to prove that our 'fe was a failure.
 rb. singing of aGoae to the fair by oh, rus was good. This oheery song z follt wed by Miss Kitty Frenehss re- ., ,ion <, the dramatic puena of Mary $. n of s. ots.s The seven scenes in , fe of Il 'is celebrated queen were rtr ayed witL dramatic effect and to j elight aud Interest of all. Miss enc h was psrtic> llarly good irf depict 7 M; Ery1s farewell to France and also a clo ssaag of the eM ecution scene. Sfae owed rare ability as an elocutlonist q wo n the apElaus, of the audience f her remarkable effo Tt.
 sBlue Bells of Scotla1 i'd F was sung by 3 cho rus and it's rend ition was thor ghly enjoyed by the au, Hence. Erne < 0. Sanford in h IS oration on he sIide of Ancestry" brought re VII lpon himself and CT sdit to his nool. He had q great IL any good ings 10 say, both logical A1ld Wltty'
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15
THE MORNING EXERCISES.

The public closing exercises whic h were held in the large room of the Aca- demy, on Friday morning were attended by nearly 100 visitors. The first part of the program partook largely of relig- lous character and was conducted by Rev G. T. Linsley. The school sang several selections from 'sThe Morning Hour" After the responsive reading and prayer, Rev Otis W. Barker was called upon and delivered an excellent address to the students. An outline of MT Barker,s address follows:
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15
REV 0. W. BARRIERS ADDRESS.

He said he would not be so narrow in his remarks as to address them only to the class that graduates from the Aead- emy to-day; nearly all these boys and girls would some bright day have com mencement day of their own, therefore take what he had to say as applying to them all.
 The eventful day is over, the orations have been delivered, the essays read, and amid shower of flowers and congratu- lations and good wishes, the noble aClass of '94" has stepped forth to take its part in life's tremendous struggle. The day after commencement is good time for
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15
THE CLASS HISTORY.

Following the presentation of prizes the school sang "Shepherd of the val ley," and then Miss Grace NJ. Goodseu, the class historian, added more laurels to the graduating class by her class history. The production was good and it was read with that ease and graceful manner and fullness of expression that charac- terized nearly all the efforts of her class
 We, the class of '94, being the first class in town to graduate, have had an eventful history. And yet, looking
 backward now, it seems but a short time since our first day at the Academy. And how much
 we enjoyed that first climb to the top of
 Sunset hill. For it was lovely autumn day and the view of the lake, the station
 half hidden among the trees, the winding
 roads and the wooded hills, was one that could not be equalled anywhere except.
 ing in old Newtown.
 But when the storms of winter came
 and the winds blew, the grandeur of it's
 lofty view was lost amid the mutterings
 and meanings of those of us whose lot it
 was to grapple with knowledge on such slippery heights. It had been but a short
 time that the school had been removed from Newtown Street. The corporation
 managers evidently did not think that the
 Street was high enough for us to take high school course there. They prebab- ly thought that daily climb up the ma- terial heights of the hill would enable us to attain greater intellectual heights than could be reached while we dwelt in the | valley. However, here were spent two very happy. and we trust, profitable years years in which the Academy was constantly improving and increasing in
 numbers and influence under the untiring efforts of our present honored principal. Under his unceasing care we have seen l the school increase from 19 pupils to a
 membership of l26 the highest record
 reached in the past half century. For the first half of our high school course it ] took but one teacher to control us; but
 whether we became more unruly and un-
 manageable than we were then, or what ever the reason, for the last half of the course it has taken half dozen teachers to guide our footsteps in the paths of
 knowledge. At the end of the first two years, it seems that the building had de- eided to keep progress with us and to
 move down nearer OUT neighDors in the eastern part of the towri
 l So one day during the summer of 1852, 1 it started on it's dangerous journey down the hill that we so often climbed. It was T perilous voyage, we know that from l our own personal xperience, ,and at times | it seemed that 1t could but end in failure. When opening time came the Academy had not yet reached it's destination. So, through the kindness of it's owners, the school was re-opened in Et Patrick's hall. Here we had many joyous moments and our teachers must have found many new experiences in teaching, and hard ones, too, for merriment bubbled over at every
 chance; and whenever they left the build~
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15
VIEWPOINT, CONN, FRIDAY,

and ae said them in q manner that all present received and enjoyed tue iull benefit of them and showed their appre- citation by repeated applause. His man. ner of delivery was good and he gave that expression to his ideas which fndl-
 eated originality and genius. Amons
 other things, he said, "When l near u
 man talking too much about his anees-
 ~, | begin to think the best of his fam' tt. ,der the ground; and l always i!v ian, d man who died before he fell sorry foA only in the deeds and ,,,og horn .nd liv. ,ndfather. Don1 -,,o,da of his rreat-or.~ ions beforC
 two or three general " XIII lia o,. Live your own life il -.@
 'ou begin. VII Soiiie ni'" Ii1D o,, on. l have ku; 'oA9, ,.,,I, cry proud of their an. 4o ho
 """io nave been nl ~n shahed Of them. If you wal
 )mebody in the world you must he,
 Sotneoody. If you have family tree {. lat reaches to the stars, draw vour pen 2 lrough every name on the record until Q ou nave come to your own, and stand iuarcly on that. If you assert your. < 'lf that is all the world asks of you. If f, Ie world has work for you to do, if it f, ants you and needs you it isn't going
 bark up your family tree. Who asked Il bout Lincoln's ancestors? Who stopped D
 1863 to ascertain if Grant's family 8, me over in the Mayhower? What ti 'eat-grandfather invented the tele- h, none? OF A quartet followed, entitled, "Day in SC splendor," which was very nicely ren- it red by Miss Florence A. Warner, Miss tf ellie c. HubbelI, Miss Bertha I. Croffutt b, Id Miss Fannie NJ. Beers. q,
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15

ing very plentiful
 who. to add to the ge.
 the drums of the St RL
 : And here it became no unc,
 to see, when school closed, eacs : up his desk and walk. For wh- Nur scnoolroom during the day bee, a the fair ground for the night. And wo. l. to those who remained in their seats af- i. l ter closing bell rang, for their desks 8 would suddenly disappear. It was while Q here that new member was added to q our class, a young student from Brook t lyn. and as he wore eye glasses, it at once @ became the prevailing fashion of the Is school. Even the small boy. up stairs, -n studied his multiplication table by the 3. - of bent wire eye glasses. But at the AL. school conveniences were some hall ou, md the day on which the 9 what limited e.~ wanderings was hail. f, Academy ceased it's '~ had trayeied
 Il with jay. The bpildlas " seemed
 -nce of G450 feet and np,>, N.
 est on it's new foundatio@~ dist owed from the hall to the content to Ns red letter day
 The day we Il. s>'''' Academy buildirg W . for the old Academy and .- Nills for our class.
 The event was celebrated by ' hree cheers, wi h the tiger included. ,. proceeding not often witnessed in ly chool room, but one which the condi- lons certainly justified. Here, the mem v 'ers ot thisgelass, as well as all the class. h. S Ill the school, enjoyed advantages in di, chool study they never before had. and h., Is oouDtful Ii any other class had since E ne institution was founded. We have - 'een a.class of many and varied opinions ho nd nave caused much merriment in the - chool oy the large number of class meet +o ngs we have held" Here the essavist e1 'aused Tn her historical research and poke of the various propensties of her oc lass, applying number of local indi- Ch ldual hits. In the matter of color she -. bought their tastes differed. "As a the historian went on. i've ne hose yellow and white for our class col ,+ IS. And now our school work here is tI. nded. And have we not indeed had an L., Ventful history? We can hardly lead our oo, elves to believe that it is the same school a1r which we began our high school study. 60, 'lth the advantages of the central loca- bo. on ot the building which our principal mo 'orked so hard to attain, with the new ,,1r nd improved methods of teaching. af 'ide-reaching course covering physical +o ulture, painting and music, the new ap- aratus and facilities for school work nat has been and is still being continu- llo fly added, the latter period of our ols ;hool work here has been rendered |. n' oubly pleasant and profitable It has nv nabled us to fulfill our class motto, No l, CTS ay without it's mark" and we the class Ill '94 are proud of our Alma Mater" srS
 |
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15
Acadel uy'S Great Day. THE CoMMENt, 'EMENT EXERCIS-
 ES A sPLEND. ID SUCCESS.
Excellent Essays Fire Grafton Good singlng Amid Flowers and Pretty Dec. ratlons
THE PRIZE WINNERS GRA4Nh RE- CEPrlON.-TuE MORNING. ENERCIs. "S' WITH ITS EXHIBITION OF rIlYSI-
 CAL CULTURE AND ACAD-
 ENIN HISTORY.

Never before was Town hall as pretti-
 ly trimmed aud decorated and the occa-
 sions have been few in which such a
 large and representative audience has
 assembled within iCs wall as at the com
 menccment exercises of Newtown Acad-
 emy, on Friday evening, last. The hall
 was packed, even standing room being
 at premium. The closing exercises
 proper of the school began at 10 o'clock
 in the morning when the large room of
 the Adademy was crowded with visitors.
 The exercises throughout the day were
 of unusual merit and interest, but the
 greatest interest was manifest in the
 graduating exercises in Town hall in the evening.
 On entering the hall, which was c.reN ded before o'clock, one was sur pqdsed at the beautiful decorations. The
 lass co. 'ors yellow and white predomi-
 ted. T he class motto "Nulla Dies "' ~" Lipea., in letters Of daisies with ,,rso, p,"e backgrt und, occupied prominent ,r".o ar the sl age. The school motto, r'eo o' nd win te letters, "Mens Sana in Corno 'auo," A dorned the balcony front. The Q, age new T appeared better than it did on tl 10 'Se .t ..a,1,. a,,,, whito .traa ng iron. fhe ceiling ~ hu ,iGe curtains, from to the top of the , ,,hoI,s of which were suspenl 4f, ole of daisies and buttercups Wa ;th the front of the stage wa aH'olhea W
 a variety of palms and "Io o'hteFes ST | Terms, daisies and other fl '"eFs' The stage appeared like fine c'uIe, the beautiful floral and evergreen decora l. tions' the pretty, youthful ia, eS' the Whtc dresses all lending beauty the scene. Great credit is due to Miss N abel Cummings and the other members of the decorating committee for the han l. some appearance of the hall. Even the r windows were stripped of their dingy 1l shades and were draped with curtains of the class colors. The graduating class te was seated in semi-circle on the stage la and behind them on elevated seats was a pc chorus of 40 or more students. The Ul teachers occupied seats to the right of te the stage and the board of trustees, Rev q. ". Iinsley, Daniel G. Beers, Prof c. al !. Platt, Homer A. Hawley and Henry fe !. 'Urtis on the left. lin Prin, "ipal Clil opened the program by tn equestil. z Rev George T. Insley, pres tl dent of The board of trustees, to lead in of prayer. The prayer was followed by ar ,hant, 'In Mercy Hear Us,' which flo was very eilec lively rendered by the pr school of
The Newtown bee., 1894-06-15

tbe angel Gabriel took flageolet, and
 sittine down near the head of the inahi- { Adam. played such exquisite
 1 msta hat the soul descended to iis-
 meioGsess .uent of ecstacy entered t ten, anG in a. m,~ VI immediately to
 the clay which begA- Il was given
 tmove. Thereunou sha sos. ne body
 >mmanG by Afaah ,noS.s lssVe t.- it e. til special permissieh ,Ws.s given again ,'eSt High. Music more shan by the M e3a earth presents to us anything els >" x,-a fain to nope TOT foretastn Inf yh, %,.. to,,oI ~"ry .chouI. Not merely for .1 b,t e which may be derived from ''i influence over character, and for ''9DJN meut. ''Would~'t thou understand @'' ) universe ?-said the ancients-then look t into thine own soul. Woulds't thou .4n- C drr~tnnd thy soul:--then hearkea tS a music What different effect different S instruments have over the human race. q While some are shrill and harsh, grating u on the ear, and bringing forth by those u rough sounds, only the misery and dis Y cord of human nature. there are others. si which by their sweet and pure tones, S, show us that which is only good and u beautiful, enabling us to be more closely W drawn to those we love. How often we tC see 9sausic compared to the arts of paint al ing, sculpture and architecture. Music fl to be Beautiful must be scientific. It G must f0ii0W the fundamental laws, just 2 as all those other arts do, to be perform D ed with skill. IL embraces all those in- ward feelings, which those other arts it only produce in effect. Let us for 6 d. moment think of the music of nature. N How the little rippling streamet winds al it's course over moss aud pebbles into the river, and from thence mingles it's music, lost to us, with the grand roar of the ocean. The moaning and signing of the wind is a most doeful sound to some ne while others enjoy it. The most cheer pr full of natures music is the twittering of m the birds, who sing from early morning pa until night, never seeming to tire of their in songs. w
 In all the fables of mythology, music m s represented as soothing and ins bring, md possessing some mysterious power. Fl, t is said that Apollo played the Tyre so hr weetly, that all the gods and even the 'attle of the field stopped to listen. ,sr says, "Music is more de- R. mite than words, and to seek to explain
 ts meaning in words, is to obscure it. M Words have many meanings, but music, Re we can all understand correctly" May NC never lose it's influence. May it ever bo make us tend not downward and bac k hv ward, but upward and onward. The il-
 ustrious poet, Shakespeare, thus sweetly Cc expresses to us the power of music: of OIpheus with his lute made trees,
 And the mountain-tops that freeze,
 Bow themselves, when he did sing. GC [ his music plants and flowers Mi Gver spring; and showers
 There had made lasting spring. that heard him play, wr 1ven the pillows Of the sea,
 Hung their reads, ~nd then lay by. Il sweet music is such art l4o Killing care and grief ot heart Mi
 Fall asleep, or, hearing die"