The Newtown bee., 1901-06-21

The Town hall was crowded, las
 week Thursday evening, at the closing
 exercises of the Newtown Academy
 which were of an especially pleasing
 nature, and highly creditable to Prin
 cipal w. w. Gardner and his pupils
 The baroness of the stage at the Towr
 hall was relieved by the tasteful deco.
 rations, the background being a bank
 of hemlock. The program passed of
 without hitch. The opening numbel
 was violin solo by Edward Pitzschler
 who showed marked proficiency. He
 was accompanied by Rowland Clark
 The next was a musical exercise en
 titled ''Topsy Turvy," the parts being
 taken by Misses Lillian Mott, Eva
 Blackman, Pearl Parsons, Ethel Peck,
 Messrs Rodney Shepard, Harley Peck
 Carleton Smith, Edward Pitzschler,
 Cecil Wright and Rowland Clark
 Miss Agnes B. Platt, Newtown's ac-
 complished elocutionist, recited "A
 Sweet Girl Graduate,' ana was gener-
 ously applauded. A solo, "Face tC
 Face" was sung by Rowland Clark
 The exercises had a pleasing conclusion in the very pretty cantata, "The Queens Surprise, and the young peo- pie certainly acquitted themselves re- markedly we'll. Miss Ethel Peck as the queen, was arrayed in brilliant and handsome costume, that might we'll have graced the form of queen. The other characters were as follows: | "Dame Watchful," Miss Pearl Parsons; the huntsman, Carleton Smith; the misers, Edward Pitzschler, Cecil
 Wright; the elves, Misses Edna Smith,
 Eva Blackman, Laura Nolan, May E. Hoyt, Anna May Betts and Lillian Mott; the gnomes, Messrs Harley Peck, Rowland Clark, Wallace Mitchell,
 William Betts and Rodney Shepard. The elves were gowned in pink and looked beautiful in their dainty cos tunes, while the gnomes were dressed in brown suits. Miss Mabel Morris presided at the piano in a most accept able manner. At the conclusion of the cantata Rev MT Linsley, president of the Academy association, stepped forward and spoke as follows: "I feel sure that l voice the unanimous sen- timent of the whole audience when I say that we appreciate most entirely the excellent entertainment which has been given this evening and recognize the great pains and diligent work during the period of preparation which have made this splendid success possi- ble. And on this occasion I wish, as President of the Board of Trustees, to bear public testimony to the very ex- cellent work which has been done by MT Gardner and his capable assistant in the teaching and discipline of the Academy. MT Gardner'S influence has been not intellectual only but he has exerted a wholesome influence for moral good upon all the pupils in the Academy and especially among the boys. This has been done in a manly, straightforward way. We are making efforts to keep MT Gardner with us another year and are encouraged by the result thus far, and with the ready cooperation of patrons of the school and others we hope to be able soon to announce our success" MT Linsley then requested MT Gardner and Miss Briscoe to step to the plat form when Miss Ethel Peck, on behalf of the pupils of the Academy, present. ed Principal Gardner with a book on botany and Miss Jennie Briscoe, the assistant teacher, with a handsome gold brooch pin.
 Principal Gardner in acknowledging the gift said it was far easier to stand behind the scenes and direct the en- tertainment than to be called forward in th1s public way. He said his year at the Academy had been a very pleasant one. When he came to New town he said it was in the DOW CT of the pupils to make it very pleas ant or disagreeable for him, but they had chosen to do the former thing. In closing he thanked them for the gift. Miss Briscoe also with gracious word of thanks. At the close of the exercises dancing was enjoyed. The dance programs were made of especial in- terest by pen and ink drawing of | the Newtown Academy executed by Edward Pitzschler.