Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-14
Monmouth Academy Alumni
Reunion Just Right

Again the midsummer sky was
bright and everything in nature join
ed to make glad the hearts of the
alumni and friends of Monmouth
Academy meeting for their 9th an
nual reunion Wednesday, Aug. .. 1t
YVES just our kind" of day. the kind
we expect and almost invariably
have We say each year "this is the
best reunion ever" and this year
marked still another step toward
perfection. Those who are inclined
to scott at academies, as some people
do today, should have been at this
festival on the 120th birthday of this
famous old institution which so
many men of note have been proud
to call their alma mater. After the
singing OF America and invocation
by Rev. /. A. Bean, Justice y. NJ.
Spear greeted the alumni in his
graceful, friendly manner, showing
in every sentence his love for the
school which had welcomed him as
a pupil and flourished under him as
principal. He spoke tenderly of the
old days and old schoolmates, sew
eral of whom were present. While
many more had passed on across the
river. The "Clionian," the literary
society of the school many years
ago, was ItIGIICu u do oliC VI liIS
important and helpful factors in the
education of the boys and girls.
More than one who has been able
to hold large audiences looks back
to the starting point in his public
career in the old Clionian debates.
Justice Spear brought with him and
presented to the Association a bound
volume of THE Clionian," the week.
~ school paper of those days, say
ing he had found ii among his books
and thought it should be preserved.
The date is 1856 and it contains
many copies of the paper. The great
National sorrow which has just
fallen upon us was touchingly refer
red to by Justice Spear and fitting
tribute paid to the man and the
President, whom he compared with
President Mckinley as having
similar characteristics. After a
vocal solo by Miss Florence Turner,
with encore the secretary's report
was read by Miss Nellie Marston and
accepted. A short business meeting
preceded the picnic dinner on the
campus. In the afternoon a short
time was given to singing old songs
under the leadership of DR.. Charles
Cumston of Bruins wick, who protest
cd that he had not sung for twenty
five years. Judge Spear, however,
gave him his choice to sing or to
join in the debate which was to fol-
low and he chose what he considered
the lesser of the two evils. Letters
were received from a number of
alumni in distant states, some of
which were read. The report of the
nominating committee was given and
officers for the ensuing year an
nounced as follows: President, A.
NJ. Spear; vice president. F. b.
Richardson; secretary, Nellie +.
committee, Mrs. Elizabeth Woodbury.,
Mrs. Carrie Blue Deane, Mrs. Anna
Blake Flanders; dinner committee,
Mrs. Margaret Bates Smith, Mrs.
Eta Prescott Cooling, Mrs. Ida Colt
Cochrane.
The principal number on the after
noon program was the "Clionian
Meeting" conducted after the fashion
Of the old days, Rev. c. l.. Owen of
Waterville presiding. There is al
ways something to listen to when
ever DIR. Owen and Justice Spear
meet, for they have practised upon
each other ever since their school
days at the Academy. and as their
hair grows whittier their wit sparkles
the more brilliantly. The Clionian
opened with a piano solo by George
Albert Randlette, which was encored
followed by reading by Miss Fannie
e. Cunningham, one of the older
plause. The subject for debate was