Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-12
THE DALE CLAN.
Maine Has Club Founded on Rules of
ChiValry.

The Dale Clan of South Mentville,
Me-. whose members, although gray
and time-scarred, still keep alive the
idealism of their youth.
The district school, which stands at
the forks of the roads connecting ad-
jacent townships, is much the same as
" hen, 40 years ago, at the opening OF
the winter term, great, strapping farm
er lads assembled at daybreak to climb
in the windows, locate their seats anG
ioin in noisy celebration until the
ringing of the masters bell brought
al in the tumult
Nor were feasts of reason lacking.
The Dale clan still loves to recall the
famous debate in which Alec Wood
man. the beloved schoolmaster, and
stanch OLD Tom Morrow, who went to
the Legislature" debated long and
elouuently as to whether Whatever is
IS Right
Those were rough and ready days,
and although the old school bears the
marks of many a stormy session. with
i'm it's walls the spark of poetic ire
burned as bright as in more favored
halls of learning. Novel reading was
irowned upon in those days; perhaps
chat is why a single work of Scott's
had more power to thrill than a doz-
on romances crammed down the UNI
willing maws of the youngsters, today
In the few hours of leisure of the
farmer students. the favorite sport
became TO play knight and many
Gallant ioust was fought, and many
daring feat of arms accomplished by
filters in fustian and red wristers.
4 G., xf Iani. nj
cessors, the weaker fellows became
snuires and henchmen, and often I'M
sympathetic Dobbin, after his days
work, was called upon to lend his aid
10 some knightly enterprise.
Years passed and the sehoolmates of
The COS drifted apart. as is the way
of the world, but the glamor of the
old sport never quite faded.
In the summer of $780, Franklin F..
7hillips, now of Cambridge, was pass
ing the season in Searsmont, AT the
old Hazeltine mansion, a massive, hip
rooted. wide-chimneyed edifice. and
there his old schoolmates were his
guests for the day. 1t was hitting
place to renew old memories. which
the lapse of 20 years had only sweet
ened. and to perpetuate the old ideals,
the Dale Clan was organized.
shades of doughty knights. from
Charlemagne to Don Quixote!. was
ever a more incongruous band united
to your number or one in whom the
nightly virtues shone more clearly
In solemn conclave Mr.. Phillips was
hailed as chief of the clan, ana the
GLOWING titles conferred: Grand duke
Charles F. Conner; duke of the mills
charles s. Adams; duke of Edge Hlil'
q. w. Ripley; duke of Knox, f. M
Stubbs: baron of East Ridge, {. a..
Mcclure; duke of Johannesburg, VII
liam Prescott; duke of Shadagee, JohI
Prescott: earl of Cartersburg, George
f. Randall: duke of Bachelors Daie'
Edward y. Malley: duke of Pedagogy
Herbert Bates.
The Dale Club has steadily grown
in strength and Importance, although
time has reduced its membership from
20 odd to barely dozen. Much Oh us
success is due to the delightful zeal
and enthusiasm of its chief in whose
mind the zest Of the game Is stil
lyecn and in whose heart there is no
place second to The beautiful valley
| of the Georges.
| Early in the day the titled gentle
| men and their guests, for all are Well
| come at the Dale Clan from the grand
parents Of 30 to the children In arms,
assemble, either at the Grange nails,