Putnam patriot., 1925-06-26
Woodstock Academy Graduates Listen to Excellent Talk By
 a Former Graduate
Horace D. Taft, L. II. D., Speaks and
 Presents Diplomas


 The graduating exercises of Wood stock Academy, last Thursday. were made especially interesting by the nresenee and address of Charles E. Chandler of Norwich. an alumnus of the Academy. Hsag The graduates of the class of 1925 were. Classical course, Miss Gladys Harrington, Miss Sarah C. Pike and Miss Marion A. Stahl; English scien- fife course, Walter H Anderson. Clara Baker. Arnold F. Johnston. Gerald r. Phaneuf, Harry W. Rutishauser, Henry 3. Stafford and Donald B. Vii. Hams.
 Miss Pike had the highest scholas- tie honors for the four years course and Miss Stahl, second highest.
 Walter chyran, member of the fresh man class. was awarded prize of Sl0 for having the highest average marks in the whole school. Vera Cross was awarded a prize of s5 for the best essay.
 Program
 The program as arranged and car eied out was as follows:
 IroceSslohai Ht~fN @ v VI
 Rev. David P. Hatch Chorus. "Oh Italia, Italia, Beloved
 Charles E. Chandler
 of Norwich
 Chorus, "The Lord Is My Shepherd" Overture
 Orchestra
 Address and Presentation of Diplomas
 Horace D. Taft, LID.
 of Watertown
 Academy Chorus, "Carmena" processional March Waiter Wolfe
 Tree Exercises
 The Tree exercises then followed and began with the song. Woodstock Academy," music by Berniee Leavitt, words by r. F. Rockwell.
 Glass Grafton Gerald Phaneut Class Poem Arnold Johnston Tree Grafton Clara Baker Glass Songs
 Alma Mater. Fair Woodstock" music by Agnes Child Paine, words by A. H.. Hay Gaylord. The motto of the class of 1925 is sFaimus sed ineipiamas'
 Mir. Chandler's Address
 Before I begin to try to make a few remarks, wish to publicly thank Mr. Bowen and others Tor this oppof- tunitY.
 And I also wish, in fairness to Mr. Bowen. to tell you that when he eX- tended the invitation he had never heard me make single remark, in public or private, so whatever you Fsfa Hn mt lay it up against Mir. Bowen.
 It is certainly pleasure to be here today. because the years. portions ot which l spent at this Academy, were pleasant and profitable. At first 1t was my idea to speak of myself as an antique, as an excuse for speaking at all. and tell how many wears ago l was student here, but remembering that there are quite a number of people who were Tn my classes. and who might be here today, l began to doubt the wisdom of the idea.
 When I also remembered that some of them are ladies, the matter began to appear serious, and when It further occurred to me that one Of my favorite teachers was a lady and is still q single lady, l made up my mind to avoid any suggestions or an tiquity-except my personal appear ance.
 As long ago as 1 remember going anywhere, l used to go to Woodstock from Pomfret to listen to distinguish, ed men from all over the United States, brought to Woodstock by MT. Bowen's father.
 You will soon discover, if you have not already done so. that l did not learn from those men how to make an address.
 Blank wears ago lived in the Gary District in Pomfret, and one day ! saw Deacon Abel Child of Woodstock go into q field where my father was working and solicit money toward the expense of making Woodstock Aca- demy more useful to the children oi Woodstock and other towns. Ills et. forts were successful and his son and nay fathers son attended Woodstoek Academy together. The Deacon's son became :. judge and is fi0~ q senator and my fathers son Is neither.
 Mir Bowen wrote me that he would ask me to say something regarding my experience as student at w ooa- stock Academy. After I had attended the Academy quite a while Mir. Cook the principal, asked me to meet him in the hall over the brick store, to rehearse a Reclamation. After the rehearsal he said that l was not very strong-that outdoor work would be good for my health that 1 was good at igures-and on these accounts he advised me to take up civil engineering and surveying. That put me on the track. and am still on the rails and have never want ed Co get off.
 l feel thankful to Mir. Cook for that advice, and also for his weekly men tal arithmetic class and his spelling for the head class. which were inter esting, profitable. and even exciting One of the most delightful Of my experiences at the Academy was that of being taught by Miss Beach. The only thing that marred this deligh' was the time limit for recitations We hated to move on and give the other classes a chance.
 The ability 10 command the ioNe and respect of students seems to me to be one of the most important qaAii' fcations of teacher. t.f