Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-08-14
GOULD'S ACADEMY.
A REUNION THAT EVEN SURPASSED
EXPECTATIONS.


A REUNION THAT EVEN SURPASSED |
EXPECTATIONS.
rRIENDs GREET FRIENDS, AND OVER
SEVEN HUNDRED SIT DOWN TO THE
BANQUET AND THE FEAST OF REASON
WHICH FOLLOWED.
You would hardly have believed Il |
possible that 30 many Of the teachers
and students of old Gould's Academy,
Bethel, could have been brought To-
gethcr at the old school. Il can only be
explained by q combination Of the spirit
Of devotion TO alma mater and the Old
Home spirit. But Il stands a q fact
that the Gould's Academy reunion o
last Thursday surpassed the expecta-
tons even of It's projectors.
The morning Of the reunion day was
beautiful. The clouds that had made
the rain the preceding day cleared away
with the sunrise. The dust was laid,
and the heat of the sun which once more
cious breeze. Everything was fresh and
bright, and lovely Bethel Hill never
looked more lovely than then.
From Boston and other more and less
distant points the old students had been
coming back for q day or two. The
morning saw others pouring In from all
the surrounding country for miles, and
the forenoon trains brought still more.
Psyne's Second Regiment Band Of
Lewiston, engaged for the occasion, ar
rived on the forenoon train and marched
at once 10 the academy yard, where they
gave band concert of about an hour.
this was perhaps the most precious hour
Of the day to many Of them. Old friends
and acquaintance met who had not met
for years before, and clssped hands, aud
talked Of the past. II was q lively,
bright, soul-warming scene.
The main school room had been spe.
cially decorated for the occasion, and at
the desk was the register, where each
old student was supposed TO write his or
her name, date Of attendance at the
academy, and present occupation. As Il
was found that one book could not take
care Of the visitors In the time avsilsble,
an auxiliary registering station WAS es-
tablished outdoors, and both here and
at the desk inside portion of the guests
were allowed TO register on separate
sheets OF paper, the names 70 be copied
later into the registry book. By this
means the task was completed before
noon.
A representative Of the Democrat was
possessed Of an insane idea In advance
that he wanted to get hold OF the regis
ter and publish the list, but on being In
formed by those In charge that some
over seven hundred had registered and
secured tickets for the banquet, and
realizing that the Hat would make nearly
three columns OF nbe type, he desisted
| from the attempt 10 secure IL.
The procession was formed about IL
O'Clock In front OF the academy. An
effort was made TO arrange the students
by classes as far as possible, the Oldest
marching at the head Of the procession,
and so on down TO the youngest. After
sll were formed, the procession, which
must have been nearlya quarter OF a
mile In length, headed by the band i,
marched to the dinner tent, which was
pitched on the upper end Of the COM
mon.
| The dinner was served In q tent Sc
cured from Boston for this occasion,
60x200 feet, arranged TO seat 600 at the
tables. The banquet was collation.,
contributed by the people Of Bethel, and
the affair was In charge Of Caterer J, J.
Pooler OF Portland. IL would be diff
cult 70 imagine any more genuinely at
under the cool tent, set with appetizlng
viands and tastefully decorated with
flowers and greenery. And when the
guests were seated, 1t needed but brief
glance down the tables to show the OBJ
server that these were men and women
above the average In Intellect and cult
ure, that they were, In fact, men and
women Of that sturdy New England
stock which In these days comes very
near to shaping the affairs Of the world.
| A table for the accommodation OF the
speakers and special guests was set
across the upper end OF the tent. From
this, when the repast was finished, Prin-
clpal +. K. Hansc0me OF the academy,
president Of the day, called the assem-
bly, 10 order, and In 3 few words well
coined all, and Introduced as toastms ster
Hon. Charles II. Hersey Of Keene, N.
H., former principal Of the academy.
Mr.. Hersey graced the position OF toast
master, and In all he had TO say gave ex-
preston to that happy combination OF
ideal In postprandisl exercises.
Il
upon the educational need of our state.
Captain r. B. Grover Of Brockton,
Mass, q former Bethel boy, spoke In
the interest OF q fund for the acsd-
envy to be raised by the alumni and
friends of "Old Could" $500 was
raised In cash and pledges, and many
more will respond. Mr.. Gustavus A.
Robertson Of Augusts spoke for the
famous "United Brothers" Society, and
was followed by Cullen c. Chapman,
Esq, Of Portland, Judge Foster, Gen.
A. 5. Twitchell, Professor Fernald, j..
w. Merrimsn, Esq, Of New York, Rev.
Geo. Dodge of Massachusetts,, Professor
Stephen Thurlow OF Pottsville, Pa,
Wesley Woodbury., Of Pottsvllle, Ex-
Gov. Sidney Perham.
The one sentiment WAS loyalty to the
academy which has sent out so many
noble men and women, and the deter
minstion that the academy should still
live and prosper. During the speeches
many pleasant "reminiscences were given
and sometimes fash Of humor would
remind one that ''men are only boys
grown TALL
In the evening q reception was held In
Odeon Hall from s to 1890, where old
friends met to renew acquaintance and
make new friends. Seven former prin-
cipals were present and several assist
ants, and many OF the former pupils
came home to this reunion, thus adding
one more pleasant memory to carry to
the distant states from Old Home Week.
II was very happy and successful
occasion. In the evening an alumni as
ISOLATION was formed, which will serve
to keep alive the interest awakened BY
this reunion.
After the reception Odeon Hall was q
place for retr0spection, and one could
not desist from desire to peer into the
future. There quiet reigned. The walls
were tsstefully decorated with the
Gould Academy colors-blue and yell
low-and the national cOlors. Upon the
stage was beautiful picture Of DR.. N.
T. True, who for 80 many years was the
beloved principal of the school, and It
was easy to predict prosperous future
for Old Gould ss the good-byes were
said, and loyalty to dear old Bethel and
the academy WAS 40 enthusiastically ex-