The Newtown bee., 1904-10-07
Ten Pages
LITCHFIELD COUNTY
WASHINGTON.
GUNN MEMORIAL TABLET.

The Gunnery Association and veil the tablet placed upon the main building of the school in memory of it's founders, MT and Mrs Frederick Gum. Rev Elijah Woodruff opened the cere- mOny with prayer. Following is the interesting speech of the president of the Association, A. D. Woodruff:
 Mrs Gum, members of the Gunnery Association, undergraduates, friends: I am placed this present moment very much in the same position as cele- brated after dinner speaker was, when first called upon to speak. He arose, looked in very frightened and en- barraSsed way around the room filled with people and meekly said, "Friends 1 had prepared most elaborate and beautiful speech to deliver on this oc- casion, which only God and myself knew. Now God alone knows what it is," and sat down. Now I haven't prepared an elaborate speech, but have set down few sentences which l will read to you in connection with this little ceremony. We are met to- before and to one, whom we hope to have with us for many'years to come
 who together, in 1850, founded this in- stitution of learning, which now has worldwide reputation as 'The Gun nery." We, members of the Gunnery Association, wish to commemorate this event by placing a tablet on this we'll loved old building, not so much honoring the founders, as ourselves. For who of us, that had the privilege and benefit of being fathered and mothered by this most wonderful cOn- pie did not receive great honor and are I fo fn ho oh Nn are Gunnery boys." A large and grow ing number of the younger members of this association never had these privileges precisely in the same way that we older ones did, but they have received them and the traditions in the next best way, through the founders s | most worthy successors. l wonder how many of us ever stop to think
 what a tremendous thing it is to found school, the responsibilities and anxieties connected with the
 moulding of character in youth at that age, when everything done makes for lieve MT Gum ever thought about it
 especially he had to teach. He was
 like the great musician Schubert, who
 had to compose or burst, he cOuldn't
 keep it back. MT Gum had to found l a school. He was born teacher and
 couldn't help it any more than water
 can help running down hill. What a
 unique teacher he was, let us rather
 say, character builder, for the req
 school teaching part of it was almost
 incidental. He turned out manly young men with courage and honesty
 written on their faces. Did you have
 physical makeup? How soon he
 would bounce upon it and by his owr
 methods build up that place to {
 healthy growth. ''He was to the Man
 or born.'' We all know the huckle
 berry pie incident in the old wash
 house, now the "Hexie," when M
 Gum called on the boys just at feas1
 time and spoiled the feast, incidental
 ly the bed by sitting down on both
 He didn't know the pie was there, bu
 instinct made him sit on that pie, h.
 man like MT Gum help founding school that would live for many gen erations, as this one certainly will
 Seed, such as he planted and tended [ and passed on down to skillful sue cessors trained by himself, to culti vate with the same traditions mus surely bear fruit for years to come A Again, I say, we are honored In doin, honor to MT and Mrs Gum, the found
 CTS of this glorious old school, by hay J ing the privilege of placing this table on "The Gunnery." Therefore it be comes my duty and great pleasure a
 President of the Gunnery Association to present this tablet to the Gunner school.
 A MT Brinsmade responded to this ad dress with few we'll chosen words \ Clarence Demming. we'll known as J writer op athletic subjects, addresse his remarks to the boys, begging tn 3 youth to give less attention to athlet ics and to hold sacred the coming du ties of citizenship. After singing tn Nations hymn the guests were invi1 \ ed to see the new dormitory. Coffe and doughnuts were served in tn s reading room. Every one expresse J their admiration of the new buildin \ with it's 30 pleasant sleeping rooms Bath and shower bath on every foo |, add much to the boys comfort. Ma 1 this famous old school have a long an 7 prosperous career.