The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1900-08-17
A JOLLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.

A JOLLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.
August 4 dawned on Lake Waramaug
bright, clear and beautiful, just the con-
dition for the amateur regatta which was
planned for the day: However, as Rud-
yard Kipling would say, ''that is another
story" from the one started to tell. My
story begins Sc years ago when q little
lad was born into the'world and so be-
gan having birthdays. He has never
learned anything better than how to dis
till sunshine. One week ago he, now
known as J. E. Rogers of Brooklyn, join
ed his two daughters at the Loomarwick
house. Previous to his coming the
guests had been grouped in little lotteries,
not from innate antagonism, but because
no one seemed to possess the generalship
of unifying them. He came, however,
and in three days he seemed to know
every man, woman and child and all to
know each other through him as the
grand center. The men liked to get him
off for stroll, the women we're pleased
with the attention which he managed to
distribute impartially, and the children
felt that he was created solely and entire
IL for their benefit. Under this condi-
ton of things when it was learned that
be would be sc years old on the 18th all
the guests of the house joined in celebra-
ting the happy event. When he came
down to breakfast his chair was covered
with flowers arranged by fair hands, and
as he took his seat, young Herbert Goepel
placed laurel wreath on his head. In
the Civil war Mr. Rogers had known q
soldiers laurels but had never been more
eratified than with this pretty tribute
bearing this inscription:
"Laurels crown the poets head,
Sometimes we use them tor the dead.
But this shall serve happier end.
To crown the head of the children's friend"
Though evidently greatly surprised, he
adapted himself in the happiest way to
the circumstances and breakfast time was
a Jolly season. Then later when he
thought all the fun was over, he was ens
ticed into the parlor and presented with
a bath robe, gorgeous in color, Persian
in design and held together with cat-tails
as tassels. These lines served as pres
entation speech and were received by him
as we'll as the guests with jolly acclaim
There was young man named Rogers,
Not one of your "arttul DODGERS"
Tho he came to the Lake
He wasn't a "take,'
And we can prove that by the dodgers.
He was kind to the grown and the ''kids,"
And tor kind words all made a bid,
But some were so slow
That they were mo CO.,
And that's what you get for good rids.
This good man had never a bath gown,
So the fair danes sent down,
For some stuff to the town,
With roses and lilies and dafYdown dillies,
And that's how the thing is done Brown"
We tied it with silken strings,
For fear the dear man would take wings
And fly far away over Waramaug's bay,
And leave us all pining poor things
He went into the water one day,
His robe the fl he's thought gay,
so they each took sniff
And he took Whit,
And that is the end OF this lay!l
Mr. Rogers had tables loaded with fruit
spread upon the veranda during the day.
In the eaily evening he provided a |
brilliant display CT fireworks. Later there
was choice musicale in the parlor and
;ben he invited all to bowl of punch. |
Mine hostess'' OF the "Loomarwick, " |
Mrs F. 8. Brown. had provided birth.
Law cake with 81 candles. Mr. Rogers |
had been growing younger all day. He
winked at his two tall daughters and |
the situation gracefully. It is
good now and then to find one human
being who possesses the spirit and the
gift of radiating happiness to those about
him and all who have come within the
genial radiance OF Mr. Rogers atmosphere
wish him hundred more birthdays and
youthful. J. M.
AT EAGLES REST.