The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-28
HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI TALK
 ABOUT OLD TIMES AT BANQUET
Big Gathering at The StratfeId Hears Promi- nent Graduates Speak In ReI1i-
 niSCent Vein


 comedy matrons of 'S4. the old boys of &S. and the young bucks of 10 were a,,ngling at the first annual banquet ef the Bridgeport High School Alumni. held at the Stratfieid. The spirit or jollity was rampant everywhere and J wasn't due to any excess beverages, either. because nobody drank anytnlnE stronger than spring water.
 While Bentley's orchestra played such good old college tunes as That Mysterious Rag, "oh, You Beautiful Doil'. and "A'exander's Ragtime Band". the gathering joined Justify in the chorus. humming the, tune when they didn't know the words. Between songs they talked of the happy days when they grarpled with Caesar at the Congress street temple of learning. Remarks like So you're married. Lu- cile? Isn't that lovely, and II saw Grace the other day and she's grown awfucly stout. were heard above the general hum of conversation.
 Previous to the banquet reception was held in the colonnade and PrinSt- pal H. D. S!monds save the g.su @ mana to ali corners after the reception com mittee had welcomed the guests ana pinned badges on them. 1t was a fine reunion for the graduates and the crush was so great that many in nocent hystanders were in danger of being crushed.
 But most of the speakers agreed the idea of an alumni banquet was the proper thing. and it was proposed to make 1t an annual event in the future One thing that provoked comment was the way the men were outnumbered by the feminine graduates. The la dies were certainly out in force and their gowns were the last word in style. When they tell what a good time they had the male graduates will resolve to be on hand next year. About 400 were there last night.
 At o'clock the party sat down to an excellent banquet. which was well served under the direction of Head Waiter Max Rinck. After the guests had done justice to the viands, Will liam E. Davenport, who acted as toastmaster fn his fnirnitable style, in troduced the first speaker ot the ev- ening, Mayor Clifford B. Wilson. The Mayor said: "Mr Toastmaster, and I ought not to say fellow citizens. AL though it may be that in the course of time that you will be fellow citizens. And I can see how some men are going to vote on the question. It is not necessary for me to extend well come to you, although that Is the us- ua. function of speaker In case like this. needn't extend the free- been my observation of the High school students that. with the excep- ton of the class of '9S. they always took it anyway. MT. Simonds says SO too.''
 Then Mayor Wilson went on to say that as a general rule he didn't like banauets anyway. He liked reunions where the folks could get together and talk over old times. renew the deeds of daring while in High school and also tell about their defeats. The speaker said he had made several {vgn 1rrvin a where his class was seated and he had enjoyed talking over old days. The mayor congratulated the commit tee upon the manner in which the af- clared that the banquet should be an annual event.
 David F. Read of the class of '7s made the hit of the evening in an ad- dress which sparkled with wit. He said. Fellow alumnae and alumni. Davenport and Mayor Wilson. but every time I laughed I shook so that I simply giggled. As one of the pre- ,vious speakers. said d like to know everybody here but if that is impos- sible why the class of 1911 looks pret- ty good to me-"
 MT. Read then told something abou, the early days of the High school. He said the first class was '78. ''There never was a class like tand I doubt iar,sir II there c,sss eyer m"tta mo was ..ssnns, s,s Idem'' which has been translated 'Pachelor Girls Forever" Mir Read then told about the class of '79. which as he proudly related. 'sent four boys to college" three of them withou, the boys of '7s to speak at the '7s commencement exercises. Mot that we need you" as the girls remarked "but just for the looks of the thing" "On that occasion your humble ser want talked on "Heroism" and there was a lively debate on the subject Shall Church Property Be Taxed"
 In closing the speaker said he was delighted to see so many present.
 He liked to see so many showing loyalty to the old institution and de clared that the schools development depended on the graduate body which moulded public opinion so that ii could advance public educa tion. MT Read was given an ova tion at ths close of his speech and the proud class of II roared out the class cheel in his honor.
 Mrs. Charles H. Armstrong. 'St wa, the next speaker. She caused laugh ter by remarSing that she would giv, facts instead of relying upon pleasan memories as some Of the previous explained that there was no higl school previous to 1876. Then a room in Prospect street was set aside ana Francis Peck was made principal. H, was assisted by the Misses Marble ant Miner. In 1882 the building on Con gress street was completed. Less thar 200 scholars attended the institution then but now every room Is fillet and there is a corps of teachers sec ond to none in the state
 Judge William H. Comley. IT,, gav' a fine address the subject "The Out! of the Educated is Service" He said Three weeks ago I promised to mak, a speech here tonight, it seemed s, far away. I thought by some pos prandial piracy I could get by. Ru now I'm afraid the speech composed by my wife won't do. As I was en tering the lobby this evening I hear, a man ask. Does Mrs. Pankhurs speak here this evening?' No h. was told. This is no woman suffra q meeting. This Is a reunion of tn wives and sweethesrts of the B. H S. The speaker then launched int ~.ore serious vein. He remarked th" those who are educated at the ex pense of the state, owe a certain dut to the community and they should ac knowledge the benefits they have re ceived.
 Principal Henry D. Simonds wa heard in a few remarks in which touched upon the need of new His school. He explained that in the ol days there were 14 rooms and min teachers. Then Madame Monde taught French and German. Nov there are six teachers giving instruc