Connecticut western news., 1903-06-25
Girl Graduates.

Girl Graduates.
 The commencement exercises of the Canaan Graded School were held at the Town Hall last evening. The condition existing was that the graduating class of 1903 consisted of four young ladies, but though a small class they acquitted themselves creditably. The class con- sisted of Misses Howell, Lee, Mcclure and Gaylord, but Miss Gaylord was pre- vented from taking part on account of recent illness. Good music was furnished by Slye's orchestra of five pieces. A large audience listened to the following program: Overture-Lustpiel ......... Orchestra Class Song of Welcome.
 Song-In the Highlands Miss Keefe Invocation ............ Rev. M. H. Mill Intermezzo-Birds of Paradise Orchestra Class History ... Mary M. McGuire Concert Valse-La Susana Orchestra Essay and Recitation prepared by Ruth Gaylord, belivered by Margaret Collins. Song-Night .............. Mary c. Lee Summer Idyl-Hiawatha Orchestra Glass Prophecy ...........M Mary c. Lee SOng-June .:.............. Class Essay and Valedictory. Adella A. Howell Waltz-Roses and Thorns. .. Orchestra Presentation of Diplomas s. A. Eddy Parting Song ... ................ Class Benediction
 The class and Miss Roraback, the teacher, were remembered with a pro- fusion of flowers; and Mrs. Bierce, the pianist was the recipient of two nice presents.
 The First Temperance Society. From the Litchfield Enquirer, June IS,
 1903
 In another column will be found very interesting article from the Con- necticut Western News, on the subject of the first temperance society in the world, which closes as follows: "This seems to prove cOnclusively that the first temperance society in the country, and probably in the world, was organ ized ill Norfolk and by Norfolk people" We are sorry to be obliged to dispute this claim but Litchfield had not only the first Law School and girls Semina- " in the country but also the first tenn perance society. It was organized in 17S9, at least B years before the one in Norfolk. We are not sure that it was a total abstinence society but it was a temperance society ill the best and tru- est sense of that word. Our evidence is unimpeachable. On page 252 of Payne Kenyon Kilbourne's history of Litch- field will be found the following:
 TEMPERANCE IN LITCHFIELD SEVENTY
 YEARS AGo. TSaid to have been the earliest Temper
 ance Organization in the world.[ "So many are the avenues leading to human misery, that it is impossible to guard them all. Such evils as are pro- duced by our own folly and weakness are within our power to avoid. The inn moderate use which the people of this State make of Distilled Spirits, is un- doubtedly an evil of this kind. It is ob- vious to every person of the smallest observation, that from this pernicious practice follows a train of evils difficult to be enumerated. The morals are cor rupted, property is exhausted, and health destroyed. And 1t is most sincerely to be regretted that from a mistaken idea that distilled spirits are necessary to la- boring men, to copnteract the influence ,.,, ,nF C., tigue, that a most valuable class of citi- zens have been led to contract a habit of such dangerous tendency. Hence arises the inability to pay public taxes, to discharge private debts, and to sup port and educate families. Seriously considering this subject; and the frowns of Divine Providence i'll denying many families in this part of the country the means of comfortable subsistence the present year, by failure of the principal crops of the earth; we think it peculiar ly the duty of every good citizen to unite his efforts to reform a practice which leads so many to poverty, distress and ruin. Whereepon we do hereby associate, and mutually agree that here after we will carry on our business with out the use of distilled spirits as an ar ticle of refreshment, either for ourselves or UnOSS WnOIn we eInplOy, dllu IldG H. stead thereof, we will serve our work men with wholesome food, and con- mon drinks of our own production.
 Ephriam Kirby, Timothy Skinner, David Buel, Julius Dining, Benjamin Tallmadge, Uriah Tracy, Ebenezer Marsh, Moses Seymour, Samuel Marsh, James Stone, Samuel Seymour, Daniel Sheldon, Ozias Lewis, Lawrence Wes- sells, Elijah Wadsworth, Alexander Cat lin, Reuben Smith, Lynde Lord, Archi- bald McNeil, Abraham Bradley, l. Bald win, Jr., T. Reeve, Collier & Adam, To bias Cleaver, Amos Galpin, Thomas Trowbridge, s. Shethar, Solomon Buel, Bryant Stoddard, Abraham Peck, Fred erick Wolcott, Nathaniel Smith 2d, John Allen, John Welch, Arthur Emmons.
 By Necessity and on Principle, in consequence of little experiment. and much observation, I have effectually adopted and adhered to the salutary plan herein proposed during several months past, and am still resolved to persevere until convinced that any al 1 iteration will be productive of some greater good; whereof at present I have no apprehensions whilst Human Nature remains the same. J. STRoNG."