The Newtown bee., 1896-02-07

ident of the day. The invocation was of fered by Rev E. c. Norton, which was followed by the singing of the doxology. Next came the reading of the Scripture by the principal, MT Pratt, and the pray cr by Rev B. T. Abbott. Gen Couch, a former resident of WestDort, was called nn and spoke briefly of thes pleasure it always gave him to look into the pleas ant faces of the people of Westport. He depressed on the minds of he children tae importance of having an object in view as they approached manhood and womanhood.
 Rev F. E. Robbins address to the foun- der was very interesting as well as his .prical, He commended the heroic ac- ion ia placing the high school in West port and mentioned few of his many noble deeds, all of which were worthy of imitation. He showed how Mir Staples had used his money while he yet lived to see the good it was doing. You have llved," said Mir Robbins, ito see 2l pres idents and 35 governors since you were born. You have voted at 19 presidential elections. You were seven years old U hen Abraham Lincoln was bOrn." He then told of the great statesmen Mir Staples had outlived. When you were 8 boy the population of the United States was but 6,O0O GOO. You have seen it grow to number 7O,000,O00. You have watched the development of steam and electricity.
 Owing to MT Staples feebleness Rev Mir Mackenzie read the address, written by the founder, as follows:
 My Friends: The Giver of All Good has told us Eff by reason of strength the days of our years be four score years yet is their strength labor and sorrow and is soon cut off and we fly away" In 1883 the foundation of this house was com- meDced. Early in the summer of 1884 the corner stone was laid, and the best demonstration of united effort of the people of Westport was exempli- fled. In the fall of that year this schocl was commenced and has to our great joy been improving ever since. Principals and graduates have become heads of families, and are re- IJicing here with us to-day. Our trends commendation made to-day can 1 only add vanity to the founder, or joy l iuexpressible. l can only thank him for his kind remarks, and rejoice with him and every person in this house that we are permitted by Divine Goodness to meet together.
 1 Most of you my friends have heard me tell of my school advantages The school house 16z1S and stone fire place in one corner with chimney nine feet high. The school was taught by ar n,d man by the name of Wskeman, who also taught my father. went to thi: school until became 10 years old, ther
 aorked on our farm summers. l wen l to this same school four or five months ir winter until I was l6. There neve1 1 uas seen in that school to my knowl ] t-Clge a grammar or atlas. The winter O | 1877 1 went to another district school eas uf my fathers house, these two school being equal distances. The school wa taught by MT Glover, who was we'll edu cated for the place at the Staples Ere school in Weston, now called Easton Two winters I went to his school and il 1919 finished my education at the Green field Bill academy, taught by Rev Will liam Belden. 1 finished my school edu cation by attending this academy 4
 days. After teaching until 1927 I com
 menced business here ina very small wa,
 and continued here without ever chang
 ing my residence until the present day
 The coming August will be 69 year
 since my location here. Forgive m
 taking of myself and when you get t
 be old you may do the same. Allow m
 to say on my beloved mothers side ca
 trace my ancestors back seven genera
 tion's. My great grandfather. Beniami
 Banks, was born in 1701 and died 1s0s
 He was the grandson of John Banks
 who settled in Greens Farms in 165l On my fathers side, by deeds of m
 grandfather's, my descent was froi
 Thomas Staples who settled in Fairfiel in 1632.
 We are sure our days must end her
 on earth. As age creeps upon us natura ] ly we think over our past life, what hay NC baen living for. If our deeds hay