The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-21
FRANKLIN SCHOOL FURNISHES
 AN AGREEABLE SURPRISE
Christmas Exercises Show Remark able and Praiseworthy Result of
 Teachers Efforts.
STAMFORD
Especial to The Farmer.)

Special to The F'armer.)
 Stratford, Dec. 21-The Christmas exercises at the Franklin school yes terday drew a large attendance of mothers and a sprinkling of men. Several features of the occasion were noticea ble. The most important was the Christmas sentiment which pro vided the place. There was no favor itism or any select few who received greater attention than the others. The school is made up of children of par entS born in half a dozen different foreign nations but they have been taught the spirit of true Americanism by the capable and painstaking corps of instructors and their conduct is a glowing example for other schools. The eight rooms of the school were all handsomely decora ated mostly with color drawings made by the pupils and teachers. The work of the pupils shows genuine artistic ability. Big Christmas trees were set up in every room and presents were distributed by Santa Claus himself or his depu- ties who were sent to do the honors for him. The teachers were amply paid for their trouble by the joy they brought to many little hearts who have not been accustomed to such elaborate recognition of the day. It has served to make their school and their teachers the most loved and re- spected things within their limited range of vision. The influence of this school will dominate the lives of these children. It is the one way of mould ing the crude material put in the hands of the teachers into good and useful ne1nbe of society. The good hibited by the children of this school was surprise to those who attended the exercises and saw the pupils un- der the excitement of an unusual pleasure. They passed the test with honor to themselves and credit to their instructors. The exercises con sisted of the usual declam ations, dia- 1ogues and music. In the lower grades the little ones were treated to re- treatments and the event was elabor- ated into Christmas feast.
 Benjamin Holmes who well from the roof of his barn on Elm street yesterday and was seriously injured is showing some improvement but the extent of the injuries will not be General Joseph Walker council,
 Junior, o. U. A. M., will install the
 following officers at the meeting next
 Thursday night: Harold Merwin 1 councillor; Frank Dedrick,, vice-coun-
 cillor; James King, recording secre- Etar; Lawrence Stevens. financial sec
 Wright, conductor; J. H. Appleby
 warden. John H. O'Brien, junior past icouncillor.
 Striking his finger instead of the stick of wood he aimed at Burton Roberts almost severed a finger or his left hand at D. c. Woods place lHOSl6IOdy. A pI1ySlC1dn was ca1I6Q stick the finger on again.
 On Friday evening of next week the consolidated committee on the build ing of the Huntington road school xyil meet and open the bids of the Con
 tractors for the work The comnii 1t tee will then obtain some idea of hoy
 much the cost will exceed the appro
 priation.
 : At the Congregational church
 Christmas music will be rendered a ) both services on Sunday. In the morn T ing Miss Elsie Smith, violinist, vii assist The anthems include Bright est and Best,' Marzo, and 9Th Christmas Message Dressler witt violin obligato. Miss Smith will pla ! Gounod's Nazareth at the offertory At the second service at o'clock il the afternoon, the choir will hay the assistance of Mrs. F. L. Curtis Miss Eleanor Lines, Messrs. Powel
 and Saunders. They will render tn } anthems, .sThe Coming of the King, Buck. and Calm on the Listenin Ear of Night" Marston, and a shor cantata entitled ''The Hope of tn , World" by Schneider.