The Newtown bee., 1906-07-13

,oln he acquired a profound knowledge )f words and their use and in later years could and did arrange them in a best fitted to impress, concili- ate or convince his hearers. He never any of the school rules, which were none too strict, it being evident to the rest of us that he was of seri- ous nature and bent on making the most of his opportunities. He was a fellow, having large dark eyes and a comely, though at that in- mature time rather ungainly, figure. 1 remember now as seated at a desk directly behind him, envied him his beautiful, black, glossy curls that flowed down over his neck and shoul- ders. As a writer of ''compositions" on different subjects given out by the teacher, he was original, concise and strong-more logical and arguments tive than literary in his style and treatment. His papers were always successful and elicited we'll deserved praise.
 At intermission when the boys with gleeful shouts bulged out of doors, there came the sliding down hill on shoes and sleds, or the more exciting rough and tumble contests in the snow. Of course Orville was in the scrimmage. Many a tumble has he given me though he has got quite as many in return. In these snow bouts there was plentiful exercise and much fun.
 ''Mirth that wrinkled care derides
 And laughter holding both his sides."
 Baseball was even then an interest ing game, but not so exacting and in. tricate as now. Orville was a good runner and catcher, but when it came to hitting ball he lunged at it with terrific force. If he hit the sphere 1t scared skyward. But quite as likely he missed and his long arms and legs were so incongruously mixed up that the bystander had to look sharp that he didn't get knocked out. At such critical moments most of us gave him the benefit of a respectful distance. In football (though youth verging on manhood but not there yet) Orville was a towering, dominating figure. Some. times he could be tripped or out generated but once under way with the ball in advance, he followed it up with the tempestuous force of an avalanche. If one foot missed the other was landed. If both feet kicked wide then his arms and hands came into play. Like Briareus he seemed to have a hundred arms, like an octupus as many project feelerS.
 remember, in our last game, at tempting to oppose his mad career. He was rushing the ball furiously to the goal. managed to get before him to check his advance and divert the ball from it's direct course. No use. Orville sped on with the momentum of of locomotive. His last kick hit the the ball squarely sending it over to Gershom Fenn's fence while with the same impact his knee caught me be- tween the legshurling me over ditch in the same direction. was dazed for a few moments and was all the more discomfited when I heard the merry laugh of group of pretty girls in Gen Brinsmade's yard who were looking on and rather enjoying my sorry plight. Nor is it humlliating for me to recall another defeat at his hands, or rather feet, when we had reached the stature of full-t1edged youth. rather prided myself on my jumping pranks. With some satisfaction 1 set the mark of II feet for standing jump. None of the other fellows could beat that or even approach it until Orville came into the fracas and after coolly looking over the situation, hraced himself, threw his long legs into the air and landed 12 feet from the point of depart are. was astounded, and like the famous frog of Calaveras when loaded with buckshot, declined to make an other effort. Orville was always fair and square in all our boy games and if he accidently kicked, stepped on or rolled over anybody he was as sorry as his limping or disabled com petitor could be.
 MEMOR1ZINa AND OTHER TRAITS.
 1 don't think Orville ever foreot a word or circumstance he wished to re- or what pleasantly or other wise left an impress on his mind. One (when beys) we were at the house for call. The ladies ang and played the piano. I twiddled he guitar a little then, as beginner md on request sang a foolish little ong that l have never thought of ince. Judge my surprise when in Senator Platt'S rooms at the Arlington he year before he died, he requested ne to repeat the song I once rendered n his presence more than 50 years previous. When I said l had forgotten he song and words referred to, he ,egan:
 "Oh, Toms a youth of talents rare
 You really ought to know him:
 But he bluShes so when people stare,
 He seldom lets me show him." nd repeated the entire lot of verses
 N*,.