The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-04-30

store for the mailbag he loftily inform.
ed the crowd of loungers that Ridge
vale was preparing an intellectual treat
that would cause such commonplace
thing as circus parade to resemble {
stranded minstrel troupe counting III,
ties toward home.
The secret was pretty well kept, bu
toward the end all Harrison knew tina
Gregory Klnsman, the schoolmastel
had written n little play to be perform
ed in the schoolhouse yard. Georg
Hasklns, Seth's youngest son, was 4
impersonatc the Father of His Country
while Dan Smith was to be the eide
Washington.
For this reason they were not surprls
ed on the morning Of the ODD when they
! trooped into the schoolhouse yard &c
| find the benches and some extra chairs
arranged in rows in front of the build
ing At the farther end the snow had
been shoveled from the frozen earth,
forming a sort Of stage. Branches of
cut evergreens masked the bare brown
fence boards, and In the geometrical
center of the cleared rectapgle a single
small evergreen was firmly planted.
Around the lower part of the tree a
band Of bark, wired on, showed where
the shrub had been nearly chopped
through. 1t had been demonstrated
when the boys were over in HaskiDs'
lot for the evergreens that, with the toy
Ratchet furnished young Haskins, the
demolition of the tree would require
something like an hour and n half.
This would have greatly retarded the
crispness of the performance. A piece
of white cloth fastened on the side far
thest from the audience showed the
little fellow where to make the initial
attack.
Most of the Ridgevale people had al
ready gathered in the Enclosure when
the guests from Harrison began to ar
rive. But seats had been saved for the
visitors When the last sleighload had
driven up, Klnsman, who was called
professor" In Rldgevale and plain
"Greg" over in Harrison, opened the
proceedings with an Grafton which had
originally appeared as an editorial in
New York paper two years before.
Silas Hopkins followed with an extern
poraneous address punctuated by Ter"
and "as | was saying" The First
Reader class sang an ode to Washing
ton composed by Kinsman and set TO
the tune of bringing In the Sheaves."
Ella Garrison, who was known to fame
as u child elocutionist, recited poem
on Washington from Spellmans Fourth
Reader. There was quartet by the
choir Of the First M. E. church, and
then the stage was cleared for the
event of the afternoon.
Around the corner Of the woodshed
strolled Master Haskins in q gorgeous
Continental costume. A bag wig OF
cotton batting was surmonted by his
Sunday hat Of black felt, carefully pin
ned into an imitation of cooked head
gear, while he wore the patent leather
pumps that the previous June had been
the admiration of all on the occasion
| of the annual school commencement
and exhibition"
Fully conscious of his Importance as
historical parsonage. Master George
strutted forward and In childish
| treble informed the audience that this
was his birthday and that great Joy
| had been brought to his heart through
the bestowal Of many gifts. His JOY
| was not In that he valued the intrinsic
rorth Of the offerings, but In the kindly
sentiments Of the glvers. This view or
the matter was heartily applauded, ana
then through the gate came Dan Smith,
| who had scorned the use Of paper cam
brio and had devised a costume that
was startling, IL not historically cor
| reef.
Under his black getaway coat he
sported a yellow vest, cut into squares
by red and green stripes and set OH by
massive brass watch chain ana q
flaming red necktie. His legs were In
cased In a pair of blue bicycle knlcker-
bockers, the extremities being clothed
with a pair Of white stockings, which