The Newtown bee., 1895-02-08
NUMBER 6.
your decided object, you will reap ever lasting satisfaction.

|
 tion may be given by the executive com
 mittee and the town of Westport, to the
 enlargement of this building, when the
 growth of the school and library require
 it, should it not be done in my lifetime. | One of the most important departments
 of this school is it's library. It is quite
 gratifying for me to say that my friends
 have contributed literally towards ad-
 ding to our number of volumes. They
 have cost about s1500. one half of which
 has been given by our friends. This
 makes it a public institution. The room
 has always been free, and all contributions
 will tend to make it free library, for
 the whole town. We rest in hope that
 the number of volumes may be SO in-
 creased as to require an addition to the
 building. We rejoice to see from 30 tc
 100 volumes taken out on library days by
 the scholars and citizens who have be-
 come members. So far, our books are first class, and my great desire is that all
 who are here to-day will feel an interest
 in seeing my successors carry out the in-
 crease of the library and in using every
 effort to make the school equal to the
 most popular in the state. Accept now,
 my friends, the kind regards and best
 wishes of your oldest earthly friend.
 Next followed the singing of the Foun-
 der's hymn from the 112Ih Psalm. Rev
 MT Robbins of the Norwalk Baptist
 church said the honored gentleman, MT
 Staples, had written him letter asking him to give few points as to the reIig- | ious character of his ancestors. His great grandfather was the founder of the | first Baptist church in Stratford. His grandfather and father were for 50 years each deaeons of Baptist church, show ing that their regular line of ancestry
 had been of the Baptist faith.
 Rev Mir Mackenzie said he had his text
 given him to speak on the library. It
 was rather embarrassing to him, living | on the West Side, and knowing the feel | ing that existed between the East and West Sides and all on account of the un- fortunate river. I feel deep interest in | this library. I espouse the Staples high school library, and is quite possible that | we can support two libraries. It is very
 nice to grow old in the right way, but
 not to grow old grabbed. I want to grow old and broad with smile on my ldCC. 1hc udEtcst IS SOu3iuk U1 auu U1. All our deeds will sometime express
 themselves. l want to-day to grow in 6 | we'll developed manner. I want to be 8 | flying eagle that may be unable to see | the faults of others.
 Rev MT Abbott said on occasions like this one becomes inspired. Had not old age ought to be the happiest time of life? Blessed is that man who walks in the path of virtue. I am glad we have such | in nm Whan ha haf have passed on, that name will not be forgotten as long as the world stands. | Rev MT Hamilton said no one realizes
 more the importance of good education | than country parson, as he goes about | among his people. If you could go with ] me among the people of Easton and Wes- | ton, you would realize more and more
 the name of Staples as seen upon the diff | ferent tables. In Easton stands the cele- brated Easton academy, we'll known for
 it's good work in the advancement of the cause of education. Therefore bring to | you the salutation of Easton academy. Letters of regret were read by Prof Pratt from Prof Jessup of Dartmouth college, Dr R. .. M. Page of New York,
 Morris K. Jessup of New York and Rev B. J. Relyea, who is in Washington, D. IC.
 Rev Mir Backus announced that this | ud1 was d ud1 cCN hHott lLloukuOQl luC state as & day of prayer for all education | al institutions and called on Rev MT Ab- | bolt to offer the closing prayer in behalf | of the institutions. Rev MT Mckenzie
 pronounced the benediction.
 Rev MT Relyea's letter, which has been
 referred to, was as follows:
 | Kind Friends: It is matter of much | regret that am unable to be present at
 the celebration by the Staples high school of Founders day and take a part | in the exercises on that occasion. From
 the very first, even from the laying of the corner stone and the dedication of the | building, have been deeply int rested | in the institution and from year to year l she occurrence of this anniversary has been to me source of pleasure and grat- | ification.
 To my friend, the founder, venerable by reason both of age and usefulness, I am happy to send my congratulations | that his life has been preserved and that | he has been permitted to behold through | another year the prosperity of the school
 which by his beneficenee he has estab- lished and which by his generosity he has so literally sustained. It was indeed l happy impulse that led him during his | life time to put the school in operation on account of the good it has already &C., | complished and that he during his clos | ing years should witness it an assured success. May he long live to reap the | sulting from the wise provision he has made for the youth of the town.
 | To the members of the executive com mittee who with SO much faithfulness and interest have been ever ready to give their counsel and assistance to promote | the welfare of the school, to the principal and his capable assistant teachers through whose fidelity and efficiency in | their service the institution has continued | in it's fiouIishing condition, to the pupils | of the school also send my greetings,
 congratulating them on the eminent suc- cess which has attended their work. To anything to do in promoting the interests of an institution like this. Each of us in
 his own sphere has work to perform
 and an influence to exert. Those of us
 who are now engaged either in giving counsel or in teaching will each in turn pass away but the institution thus found ed will remain. Others will take our place and carry forward the work.
 Students in succession will follow those
 who now enjoy the benefits of the school. The time will come when the reputation | of this high school will depend largely ( upon the character, the sc olarship and
 the success in life of those who shall have received it's instruction. And 1t is
 only through them the widest and most extensive influence will be exerted oupon the community and the world at large.
 They will carry with them into their re-
 epective families, neighborhoods and
 spheres of usefulness the instruction, the culture and the mental discipline hero re-
 ceived. Each one according to the use
 which is made of the advantages t con N e-z-- -~ |