Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-06-18
Tribute to Dearly Loved Teacher.

lnDote 20 UearJy L0ve0 teocueEs
The reception room at st. AarIe's
Hospital, Lewiston, was the scene OF IN
unusual gathering Saturday afternoon,
Juno 8, when committee, representing
| the huudreds of alumni Of Hebron Acad-
emy, paid visit to Miss Nellie L. Whit
man, . patient Of the hospital, who for
nearly forty years was dearly loved
teacher at Hebron.
The committee consisted of James w.
Hibbs, Esquire, of Reading, Mass, Miss
Eva NJ. Barr0Ws, . teacher In Boston,
add Principal Frank E. Hsnsoom of
Gould's Academy, Bethel, where Miss
Whitman Was teaching at the time of
her unfortunate accident some three
months ago. Other friends accompanied
the committee. and the hospital author.
tiles waived their rule of admitting but
two visitors ct one time and ushered the
company into Miss Whitman's presence
In the reception room.
The object of the visit was the pre-
sentation Of gift to Miss Whitman, as
token OF the love and esteem In which
she is held by Hebron alumni every
where. 6.I
The gift consisted of scrap book con-
tanning several hundred autograph let.
ters from her former pupils, men and
women representing almost every walk
10 life and nearly every state In the
union, and check running we'll up into
the hundreds. The scrap book was an
afterthought OF the committee, as all
the letters we're written to Mr.. Hibbs,
the chairman, and the writer's bad no
thought that they would be seen by Miss
whitman. but they contained such trib-
utes to her wise teaching and uplifting
influence, and expressed such pleasure
Ia being permitted to participate in this
tribute of appreciation, that the COM
mittee knew they would be priced more
highly by Miss Whitman than any
pecuniary gift however large. Accord
ingly they were censored to the extent
of cutting out any mention of the amount
enclosed, and then made into q scrap
book by Mrs. James w. Hibbs, who was
member of the party.
On the first page was copy OF the
circular letter sent out by the committee,
and this was followed by the following
letter addressed to Miss Whitman, and
signed by the members OF the committee,
for the alumni:
Dear Miss Whitman:
Ever since you ceased to be q member
of the Hebron Academy faculty, the
alumni of old Hebron have sought an op.
portunity to express to you their undy.
ing loyalty and affection, together with
their heartfelt appreciation of ell that
the influence of your beautiful Christian
life and chaIacter meant to them when
their own characters were being moulded
for manhood and womanhood.
When the intelligence of your un-
fortunate accident caused great tidal
wave of sympathy to flow toward you
from the hearts of your boys and girls
In all parts of the country, the time
seemed ripe to give to this feeling some
outward form and expression. Accord
ipgly hasty canvass was made with the
results herein indicated.
We wish you to accept this gift, with
no consideration whatever for it's pecu.
mary value, but as very slight express
sion of the love and esteem 10 which you
are held by Hebron alumni wherever
found, and with the full assurance that
our affection for you is az lasting as the
eternal hills which Surround the old
school. ta
Whoever in the future may lose
place In the history of Hebron Academy,
be assured that you will ever retain
yours. As when pebble is dropped
into clear, calm lake, ripple is started
which broadens aud widens until II
reaches the shore, 80 the wave of influ.
ence which you set in motion at old
Hebron is still vibrating in the hearts
and lives of your boys and girls, and
will continue to expand and widen until
It breaks at last upon the boundless
shores of eternity.
1--WE may build more splendid habitations.
FIJI our homes with painting and with sculpture,
But we cannot buy with gold the old associa.
tons."
Yours in memory of cid Hebron days,
JAMES w. HIBBs, '91,
EVA NJ. BARRows, 80,
FRANK e. HANsCOM, '85,
For the Alumni.
Rarely, If ever, has teacher, while
living, been paid such tribute, and the
hundreds of men and women throughout
the country. and even across the sea,
who have sat under her. teaching and
felt the uplift of her beautiful Christian
life and character, know how we'll this
tribute Is deserved.
The presentation was made by Prin.
cipal Hanscom In behalf of the COM
mlttee. Miss Whitman was taken COM
pletely by surprise, and at first was
quite overcome by emotion, but sue
ceeded In expressing her hearty appre-
citation In the same sincere manner which
her old pupils remember 80 we'll.
Miss Whitman's friends will be glad
to know that she Is recovering from her
injury, can now walk very well with
crutches, and can bear some weight up
on her foot. She expects to leave the
hospital soon, and is given the assurance
that she will probably be able to resume
her work at Gould's Academy with the
opening of the new school year in
SNnkam har