The Somerset reporter., 1898-06-30
For THE REPORTER.
Eaton School Reunion.

| lOT Iuc thptCldl DeueHL OI tIlc stcOuu
annual reunion Of the Eaton and y. II.
). alumni meeting. Early in the day
former scholars began to appear from
all directions, and by the middle Of the
afternoon our streets were alive with
former members OF the school. Some
tall, some short, some stout and others
thin, but all good looking. At o'clock,
the time mentioned in the seeretary's
call, all met in the high school building
and spent a pleasant hour com pairing
notes OF their lives since leaving school,
and from what we were able to observe,
they had met with more than an average
degree Of success. At o'clock, Presi-
dent Walton called the school TO order
with the remark that he thought even
palled TO have faced such q school as
that.
What made this meeting Of special
importance was the presence of the
founder aud former teacher, II. F. Eaton
of Ludden. y. d. As soon as the school
was opened the scholars demanded the
presence of Mr.. Eaton on the platform,
where he remained during the business
meeting. The election of officers fol-
lowed: L. L. Walton, president: Miss
Henrietta +. Danforth, vice president :;
Mrs. Blanche Tobey Ward, secretary
and treasurer, being reelected with the
addition of Mrs. Mary Hilton Carr as
assistant secretary, followed by private
business Of the society, after which a
line Of march was formed to the Congre-
gational church, where In the vestry and
, town hall covers were set for an excel
lent supper, seating l6S at one time.
Nearly $50 took supper which was
splendidly served by young ladies and
{ gentlemen of the n. II. S., and furnished
by members of the alumni.
The evening exercises were held in
the audience room of the church. which
was crowded, 400 at least being present.
| The meeting WAS opened by the presi-
, dent, Mr.. Walton. in his usual happy
manner, his remarks ending with an
original poem. He spoke in a feeling
: manner of the meeting with Old teachers
who had come many miles to see them,
and of his gratefulness to the Eaton
school for what 1t had done for him.
His remarks were well applauded.
The president introduced the guest of
the evening, Hamlin F. Eaton. Mr..
, Eaton remarked in regard TO what Mr..
Walton had said in his opening that Mr..
Eaton had told him that he had too much
conscience, that it WAS sometimes worse
/ to tell half truth than to not say any
thing. He thought that what he really
: did tell Mr.. Walton was that he had too
? much conscience to make lawyer, but
as he understood ne had become a very
successful lawyer he did not feel so sure
about it, He gave brief outline of how
the school came to be founded. 1.-The
original school was commenced at Kent 8
Hill in 1865, and was afterward sold to
2 man from the south and quickly went
4 TO pieces. On the 4th of July, 1860,
had been visiting in Mercer and came to
; Norridgewock to see the celebration
After tea At the Sawyer House, | follow
. ed the people down TO the bridge and
f was struck by the beautiful river As
. stood there, stranger and alone, look
ing out upon the water, | decided thet
and there to open school in Norridge
= wock. | stood there thinking until mid
. night. then made my way back TO the
Sawyer House where | was met with NJ
: pleasant reception for keeping them ~
81 ldlt. ltdGutN Ihitl ny SlI duS'
coincidence that the town had held &
[ mass meeting and had chosen a com
p mittee consisting of Mr.. Edward Peet
John Hilton. Joshua Hilton and another
: man, whose name do not remember, Il
j correspond with me for the opening of 1
school here. On Aug. Il called OF
them and found them all ready to re
ceve me. From that time for Is year,
: | had the cordial support of all the PEG
: pie of the town. Sometimes some o
them did not think my methods were o
the best but were willing to leave it Il
t my Judgment. Success was largely dn,
to my assistants. am proud, pleased
and happy over my visit here and look
: ing into the faces Of so many of the for
. mer pupils to find such noble men ant
women. The impressions received dur
ing the last three days will always bi
: remembered and amply repay me TO
time and money spent 10 be here. Mr.
Eaton's remarks were roundly applaudcd
The next speaker was MI Amo
: Eaton, also Il teacher of the Eatol
e. school who said he had come $50 mile,
to see the hills, trees, river, and thu
; familiar faces once again. +. Nj. Rich
; ardsOn WAS the next speaker. The re
, mainder of the program was taken up II
, the following order: Duet by Misset
Berle and Elsie Walton, mandolin ant
piano; paper, history of the scholars by
o Mrs. Kate Watson Brackley, in which
she gave the present residence, occupa
ton and condition of very many of th'
old scholars; music; poem by Arba kn
e gene Powers; duet by Mr.. and Mrs. {
l.. Carr. Speeches by the following
Robert Chase of Belfast; Benz. =. Col
} Inns, North Arson; w. II. Baker, Bos'
ton; Mr.. A. b. Allen. one of the former
l teachers; Chas. A. Marston, Skowhe
gan; Chas. A. Davis, Waterville, witt
. closing remarks by Mr.. Eaton. Ken
dalrs orchestra furnished eXcellen
music throughout the meeting. Tn,
{ Eaton school had many Cuban scholars
some of whom are at this time busy
making history.
The officers wish to thank the ladies
who assisted in making preparations II
= the afternoon, and the young ladies ant
, gentlemen who assisted in decorating
and acted in the capacity of walters
ushers, etc, during the evening, and fo
D the kind courtesies extended by the
e citizens.
Letter to MIR. X. w. Brown.