The Newtown bee., 1900-06-29

TOWN HALL FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE %,
FIRING OUT A LARGE AUDIENCE, DE
SPITE THE RAIN.-FLOwERs, WISDOM,
MUSIC AND PRETTY CosTUMEs-GooD
WORDS FOR THE FAITHFUL WORK OF
PROF AND MRS a. B. MCFARLAND.
The closing exercises of the year of
the NewtOwn Academy at the Town hall
on Friday evening of last week we're a
very good Illustration of how even adj
verse circumstances may be overcome
and pleasing result had from seeming
ly untoward beginnings. The heavy rain
which came a half hour or so before the
hour announced for the opening of the
program would have dampened the ardor
of less enthusiastic spirits than the young
people OF the Academy, and would have
utterly spoiled many another fair project.
But the mammas and the grsndmammas
na~sp Solno O0b W SSo sAo you1& AVlAs
graduate, let the wind blow as it might
and the rain fall as it would. Gradua-
tions, you know, do not come every day
in the year. Commencement Day,wheth-
er celebrated in the preparatory school
or at the end OF more ambitious college
course, Ia always the day of days. There
is no other day quite like it; one who has
been through the mill and looks back
upon the affair through the perspective
of years might be tempted to say that
there is no other day on which one feels
his own Importance quite so strongly or
is quite 80 sure that the world has a
high place of honor for him.
THE BEE has had occasion, several
times before this, to speak in terms of
enthusiastic praise Of the excellent work
accomplished by Prof and Mrs 81. B.
MacFarland. II Mr. MacFarland has not
carried out all the plans that he had in
view when he started his work, 1t is
through no fault of his, but simply be-
cause he had not the material to work
upon, an irresistible impulse Of late years
having seized Newtown's young people
to be educated away from home. We
repeat the general remark, that we re-
greet exceedingly that circumstances
compel these two natural and efficient
teachers from continuing with as. Their
going away is our loss and we can only
wish them Godspeed and success every
where. The Histories of Prof Fiske,
which were presented to Prof and Mrs
mcfarland at the close of Friday even
ing's exercises, by the members of the
Academy as token of their esteem and
in appreciation of the good work that
has been done, were only an Indication, a
small indication, of the sentiment that is
felt; and we dare say that many besides
the scholars Of the Academy would have
liked to have part in the gift, that In
this way they might have given material
expression to their regard for the esteem.
ed Principal and his good wife. Rev MI
Linsley made no exaggeration in saying
that during his connection of ten years
with the Academy no better work had
been done than in the time of Mr. Mac
Farland's incumbency.
The exercises of Friday evening were
good. They held the close attention Of
the audience throughout and were 6
clear index OF faithful, painstakine
work on the part of teacher and scholar
The opening prayer was made by Re,
George L. Linsley, President of the
Board of Trustees of the Academy. 1
violin solo followed by Arthur 1. Platt
whose playing Is always acceptable to
Newtown audience and whose willing
ness to give his services in any GOO
cause is thing that makes all the mem
bers of the Plstt family so valuable t
Newtown's best life. The first essay
"The Study of the Classics" was rea
by Miss Elsie May Moore. We kno'
that Miss Moore will receive 1t as a jus
compliment for which 1t is intende
when we say that she most agreeabl
surprised all her friends. They hardl
supposed that she could so graceful
and calmly face an audience, and acqu
herself 40 well in her bearing and th
thoughts she expressed: but still it WI
Just this trial that was needed to sh o
what good qualities she had. She cles
ly showed that it is not always the pra
tical thing that we should be aiming
in our study. The classics are not pra
tical as mathematics liz, but, when ea
nestly studied, they put the spirit of Q
Rome in us, we talk with Cicero and wi
Cesar, we war with the barbarians
Gaul. Miss Kathryn Eleanor Bradl
a. was fortunate in the choice of her su
ject, ssThe Importance of Trifies;" a
y she handled it in way to interest
Trifies have played most importa
part in the life Of man; indeed trif
have been the starting point for most
tha wnrld,s great inventions and trif