The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-06-09
COMMENCEMENT AT ANSON
ACADEMY
Second Annual Reunion of Alumni,
May 26

May 26
The commencement exercises of An
son Academy began Sunday, May %,
when Rev. George E. Paine delivered
the baccalaureate sermon before the
graduating class, being one of his ex-
cellent, thoughtful addresses.
On Wednesday evening, May 25, the
graduating exercises were held in
Carrabassett Hall in connection with
the Junior reading. The hall was
prettily decorated with the class col
ors, green and white, and the follow
ing program was given interspersed
with music by Kendalls orchestra.
Salutatory address, The Value of Co
operative Labor" Ben Steward Col
Inns; Aunt Melissa on Boys, (Junior
part), Edna Winnifred Nicholson i;
Glass History, Lawrence Smith Beale /;
My Lost Youth, (Junior part)
Helen Badger Holman; Prophecy
Addie Ella Fletcher; Lady Macbeth"
Velma Agnes Barbeaux; The Puritan
in Literature. Clara May Parker; Pre-
sentation of Gifts, Lizzie Rebecca Gift
ford; THE Generals Client, (Junior
parD, Raymond Leigh Whitney; Val
edictory, Mildred Deltena Perry. Pre-
sentatioH of diplomas by Prof. w. E
Holman.
Shortly after the noon hour, Thurs
day, the Odd Fellows new reception
hall was the scene of happy company
WHO had gathered for the second an
nual reunion of Arson Academy. Ken
dall's orchestra discoursed sweet melo-
dy while happy hearts kept time to
the music and the whtehaired stu
dents of former years mingled with
the young graduates of 1910. Among
them was one who had come back to
the old Academy home after over half
a century had elapsed, besides others
whose lives had passed through sever
al decades since as pupils they met in
the Academy hall. Old classmates
clasped hands once more but Times
cunning fingers had wrought such
changes In form and feature that there
were many guesses before some could
be recognized. At l o'clock the BAN
quet hall was filled when the alumni
with their husbands and wives sat
down to sumptuous banquet served
by Caterer Grant of Lewiston. Follow
ing this came the feast of reason and
the flow of soul, when Hon. Cyrus N.
Blanchard of Wilton presided as toast
master. After a cordial facetious
greeting. in his own inimitable way,
he called upon Perley B. Thompson of
Norwood, Mass, who was greeted with
much applause and made merry with
the Toastmaster's hot air" speech
The next on the program was the re-
cital of an original poem THE Plant
of the Pines" by Mrs. Helen A. Prince
of Portland, better known to the Aca-
DENY students as Nellie Allbee. VIM
L. Walker of Skowhegan next spoke
on the need of a new Academy build
ing and urged upon the Alumni the
necessity of raising a fund for this
purpose. Mrs. Geneva Allbee Hilton
gave brief history of the Academy in
thesdays of Preceptor Hall and appeal
ed to the Alumni to care for his neg
lected grave. L. E. Bailey spoke upon
character and the formation of good
principles in school life. Daniel
Steward, ESQ.,, of Bingham, likened the
Alumni to a feeble child of two years
growth and humorously told of various
ways in which the child might attain
wisdom, strength, and wealth. Mr.
Steward received many letters from
former pupils regretting thaat they
could not be present George Whitney
of Lewiston spoke of the financial
needs of the institution. Mrs Evie
Gray Robinson alluded to the high
standard and excellent reputation OF
the school. Charles Wilson of Port
land, a student at the Academy about
thirty years ago, related an amusing
incident that was we'll taken. F. w
Bunker set forth the urgent need of a
new Academy and placed a subscrip-
ton paper before the Company on
which one hundred and sixty dollars
had already been secured. W. E. Hol-
man, Principal of the Academy, made
very interesting remarks. Miss Paul
enah Simmons, Preceptress, gave
tender "reminiscences of former teach
ers and school life and paid touch
ing tribute to the teacher-soldier, Prof
Walter w. Poor. Mrs. H. May Hilton
Lawrence of Waterville read an origi-
nal poem, "The Sword of Conquest. y
Rev. G. E. Paine, President of the
Trustees, gave an interesting account
of the work in the school room and
spoke of the practical value of manual
training. Mr.. Paine read telegram
of greetings from former teacher of
the Academy. Prof. G. A Stuart of
Rockland.. Hon. S. j. Walton of Show
hogan was next introduced and said