The Press., 1909-03-03
HOME NEWS.
STAFFORD SPRINGS.

MT. Parkhurst gave a short talk on what the town owes the boys and what the boys owe the town. He said that he hoped that the time would come. and very soon. when the men and boys of Stafford would be better ac. quainted and in a position to hell each other, and that he felt sure that the banquet to be given Monday night for the patrons of the reading room was 8 step in that direction. and in. vited the boys, as many as could, tc attend A more enjoyable and more significant occasion has rarely takeL place in Stafford than was the banquf given through the courtesy and generosity of O. F. Beckwith to tic patrons of the free reading room. Tue banquet W as held in the Oongrt
 agtional church vestry Monday even. ing Promptly at o'clock Father" Parkhurst gave the order to fall in, and in less than minute three score happy and hungry boys and youl g men were coiDg justice to the excel: leLt supper served by the ladies oi the church. It was one of those oo- casions where the guests, not unmind' full of the excellence of the feast, were so animated by common spirit of good fellowship and cheer that hardtack and cheese would have passed as feast. And this was precisely the end aimed at by the committee to give the "boys'' royal good time. The writer has seen nothing approach ing it since his college days, when the large gymnasium was filled with the flower of youth and perm meated by the spirit of rollioking good nature and mutual good will During the feast Miss Harriet Werner and Carl Oonverse, together and separately, led in singing popular college songs and Ipatriotio airs. The hearty chorus of the company will not soon be for gotten by those whose privilege it was to be there. Again and again did "Father" rise and lead the chorus, and then with equal vigor quiet the singers. It was literally true that they had rather sing than eat, but. thanks to wise management, they did both to perfection Miss Ethel Moore presided at the piano. When the tables had been sufficiently cleared the toastln aster, Father Parkhurst, called the banqueters to order, and first introduced MT. Beckwith, through whose generosity and spirit the ocuas- ion was made possible MT. Beck with,- after saying that he was no speech maker, delivered an informal but telling and forceful address straight from the shoulder" calling upon the boys to bring out the bess that is in them for their own and their towns benefit. He laid great stress upon the importance of starting right in youth, of laying proper and solid foundations. He spoke of the interest of certain citizens in the boys of the town; how they were already planning to give them larger and better quarters; how some citizens, nevertheless, were standing by wait ing to see how the "thing turns out. '' It was a most genial and optimistic speech, strong in it's human appeal. "One thing at least every boy here can do at once," said he, land that is to keep his own speech clean. '' MT. Beckwith was heartily applauded both by the boys and by locomotive whistle kindly timed by the toast master to blow at the right minute. J. H. Valentine was called upon ae being one who had not appeared very much in the light of publicity, but who had been closely identified with the work at the free reading room, and who had given of his time, energy and money without stint to see it suc. ceed in providing respectable and comfortable place for the boys. Rev. H. A. Hersey, who had been sum moned from Boston to attend the ban. quet, expressed his great satisfaction at being present. After indulging in a few "hits' and relating some stories, he spoke directly to the boys as to their possibilities. He said that he had only one criticism to make on the work done and work proposed, and that was it's emphasis upon giving every thing to the boys
 He believed it would be wiser, and more in accord with the principles oi successful work, and more conducive to manly spirit, if the boys them selves were given the privilege oi paying annual dues to help support the organization He locked forward to the time, in the immediate future, when the splendid spirit manifested by the boys and their friends should result in adequate quarters, eventual. ly i'll special building, where a gy III. nasium, swim miUg pool. bowling alley, pool tables. reading room, even ing classes, etc could be ins6ltuteG
 He spoke of the work Icing done in helping boys in the large cities tC vanced position in the world. Enter. tainment is a large and legitimate pursuit for boys and young men, but it need not occupy all their time. Perchance some would like to study law, or mechanical drawing. or take advantage of correspondence courses. All this would easily be possible ir an organization such as we have reasonable grounds for expecting to grow from the present small begin. nings. The free reading room was a good beginning, yet we all know that not everything that has gone on there has been uplifting in it's nature. Nc boy has right, even in his pleasure, l A q GA