St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-05-21
NOTABLE REUNION.
Banquet Of the Caledonia County Grammar
School Alumni Association.
Correspondence of the cALHDoMASo


con street, Boston, upon Saturday, May
18th, at 4 p. M, to hold the first ban
ouet OF the Alumni Association of the
Caledonia County Grammar School,
located at Peacham, Vt. An organza-
ton had been formed on this centennial
year for the purpose Of social reunion,
and to obtain papers from the older
teachers and pupils, in order to form
continuous historical outline OF the
Academy from its. inception. 1t was a
noticeable fact that there had been an
effort made to have representative
rather than very large assemblage OF
the descendants OF the early founders.
trustees and teachers of this school.
Among them were descendants and con-
nectons Of the first president, Col. Alex
ander Harvey of Barnet; the first treas
urer Gen. Whitelaw of Ryegate the first
secretary, Gen. VIM. Chamberlin Of
Peacham; the first teacher, Ezra Carter
of Concord, N. H.; the first settler Of the
town, Dea. Jonathan Elkins; the first
missionary from the town, Ephraim
Clark; the first editor connected with
an anti.slavery newspaper, Oliver John
SON., OF the writer OF the famous "ox'
sermon" Rev. David Merritt; and Of
other highly-esteemed, wel-known resi-
dents, who live in Boston and neighbor-
ing places, as well as former teachers,
who favored the meeting with their pres
ence. The guest Of honor was Dr. Samuel
Bartlett of Dartmouth college, who came
down by special invitation to be present
on the occasion. The president of the
society, DR.. E. L. Strong and his wife
were assisted in receiving the guests at
the social hour, from 4 to 5 p. m, by
former teachers, Dr. Bartlett Mrs. Abby
H. Tyler, Hon. Charles 9. Tirrell and
wife, and Miss Jane E. Chamberin.
Messrs. Samuel Harvey and A. II. Ken
erson acted as Introductory committee.
An elaborate menu was served from to
6 p. m. The table was ornamented
with ferns and beautiful bouquets OF
flowers sent by Mrs. A. II. Tyler and
Miss l. E. Chamberlin. The souvenir
cards at the plates were painted by the
pupils OF the Cowles Art school Of Boston,
with the motto of the Academy, LUX
scientiae semper lucit," Inserted DR..
Strong was in his happiest mood in his
introduction OF the speakers and in call
ing for "reminiscences. He stated that
ex-Presdent Bartlett, a graduate Of
Dartmouth college at the age Of 10,
became the principal of the school over
60 years since and would tell us some
thing of the early preceptors who pre-
coded him. DR.. Bartlett recalled wildly
the novel experience OF his youth, when
he was not only asked to assume charge
of the school,, but sometimes read SER
mons in the absence of the minister upon
Sunday and took charge of the Sabbath
School, or gave an address upon temper
ance, as at meeting in st. Johnsbury,
when SO couples of young people from
Peacham attended the meeting Sir
Thaddeus Fairbanks recalled it in later
years, but fortunately for him he was not
here to .ell tales. He Interested the COM
pany deeply in his Characterization OF the
different men who had been early instruc-
tors, the "Phi Beta Kappa" men Of Dart
mouth college, tracing out their subse-
quent career, which was quite unpar-
allelled in the history of academies. As
there is request to have his paper pub
lished, we will pass it with only refer
ence to two men. Prof. Noah Worcester
and his brilliant career, and he paid a
noble tribute to Rev. David Merrill.
There was a general desire expressed by
the members to urge him to accept the
invitation to write historical sketch OF
the early history of this Academy for
future reference. A halt promise was
gained after urgent entreaties from the old
Alumni, before he left on an early train
for home. Hon. Charles Q. Tirrell, a
former principal of the school, followed
him, speaking highly OF the people during
his sojourn there, of their treatment Of
him and of his pleasant relations with
pupils, when he was called to fill q
vacancy at ST. Johnsbury, and Of the
pleasure OF meeting some Of them at thi:
reunion. Some of the members had
requested that a paper relating to the
early history of the school should be pre-
pared so that they should be well in
formed before the centennial in August
A paper was given by Miss A. M. Cham
OF Washington, d. c., upon "The Found
ing of the Academy and the Early Trus
tees" DR.. Edward Cowles, superintend
ent of the Mclean institute at Waverly
Mass, referred to his first impressions Of
the place, schoolexperiences and pleasant
instructors with much feeling. Mrs
Abby II. Tyler's paper was bright and
short. Having been a teacher there 45
years since, she expected to be introduced
as an old lady in this age OF The Coming
Woman" when child of seven years
could write an essay on John Adams. She
paid high compliment to Thomas Scott
Pearson, as faithful, teacher, aud