SIXTEENTH REUNION. THE annual meeting was held November 19, 1895, at Young's Hotel, Curtis Guild, President, in the chair. George O. Carpenter suggested that instead of calling for voluntary contributions from the members for extra expenses, an annual assessment of one dollar be levied. After discussion, it was unanimously Voted, That voluntary contributions to the treasury be continued, not to exceed one dollar by any member, and may be made at any time during the year; but no assessment shall be levied. In accordance with this vote, the sum of twentysix dollars was then contributed. The election of officers for the year 1895-96 was then in order, and a choice made by ballot as follows: JONATHAN A. LANE, President. EZEKIEL R. JONES, Treasurer. WARREN RICHARDSON, Historian. Directors: Henry B. Metcalf, William G. Brooks, Robert B. Williams, Samuel N. Brown, Greenleaf C. George, Charles A. Hewins, Horace Dodd, Albert J. Wright, S. Stillman Blanchard. The business meeting then adjourned, and the members assembled, after the social hour, in the banquet room. When seated, a blessing was asked by Mr. J. H. Upham; then all arose and sang America," out of respect to the Rev. S. F. Smith, D. D., whose funeral took place this day. When the tables were cleared, President Guild called the company to order, and said: · 66 an oc It is well to have anniversaries like this casion when we may halt in life's rugged journey, greet lifelong friends and school-fellows, and recall memories of school days and pictures of the past. The fact that a man of our years was a graduate of the public schools of Boston fifty, sixty, or more years ago, is significant of his having had a good education for the practical work of life, and often also that he had to make his career without the advantage of a collegiate course, so that whatever success he may have attained must be largely owing to his capabilities, force of mind, and personal exertions. The public school-house, whether little or red, such as the political speakers of late delight to bring into their speeches, or those brick edifices of the city of Boston to-day, that accommodate five hundred scholars, were and are alike a boon and a blessing. In either, the humblest child might quaff at learning's fount; there all could obtain that knowledge which unlocks whole storehouses of intellectual wealth, that changes timidity to confidence, fills the mind with aspiration and ambition, and invites advances towards new power and intellectual strength. In former years the full course of a Boston grammar school required about seven years, and a fairly apt pupil would learn to read English prose and verse creditably, spell and write correctly, and gain a fair knowledge of arithmetic, geography and grammar. In our day the public school pupils were, with few exceptions, of Anglo-Saxon stock, but to-day that is changed. A recent writer, in giving a sketch of the Eliot School, stated that the foreign element took possession of that district many years ago; to-day it is doubtful if one single scholar in the Eliot School can trace his ancestry directly to the English settlers of Shawmut. There are now 1,800 pupils in that district, representing almost every nationality in Europe, and many born there. Italian and Hebrew children predominate; their first lessons are given in the English language, an unknown tongue to the majority. The progress they are making is an evidence of the sagacity and fidelity of the teachers, who are leading them to enter their future life with the spirit of an American citizen, well equipped for its trials. Hon. Jonathan A. Lane was introduced as the President-elect, and was cordially greeted. He made some interesting remarks, expressing his thanks for the honor conferred on him, his interest in the Association, and his confidence in its continuance and success, based on the regard of its members for the public schools. Mr. Martin L. Bradford was called on, and spoke of the old hardware trade, with which he was identified when a young man, and said there were then no elevators, no gas, nor any of the modern devices that facilitate traffic. There had been a corresponding change in the schools, and he feared that there was a tendency to crowd so many new studies into the short time of school life, that there may be a lack of thoroughness in those most necessary for the ordinary affairs of life. That this institution may long enlist new recruits, as the old schoolboys become eligible, is a consummation devoutly to be wished. At this point the oldest member, Mr. Joseph D. Jones (98 years), was requested to rise and receive the hearty greetings of the company, all standing to honor him. William H. Baldwin followed in his usual felicitous style, and amused the listeners with some new anecdotes, closing by reading the following impromptu tribute to the Rev. S. F. Smith, D. D., written by a gentleman at the table: Gone is the life of him whose hymn has rung From whose great heart our Nation's Anthem sprung ; Brief remarks and reminiscences were contributed by Col. L. B. Marsh, R. C. Billings, A. T. Whiting, and R. J. Monks; after a song by F. A. Hall, the meeting adjourned. SEVENTEENTH REUNION. THE annual meeting was held at Young's Hotel, Nov. 19, 1896, President Jonathan A. Lane in the chair. The business meeting closed after the election of the following officers for 1896-97 HENRY B. METCALF, President. S. STILLMAN BLANCHARD, Vice-President. THOMAS HILLS, Treasurer. WARREN RICHARDSON, Historian. Directors: — - William G. Brooks, Robert B. Williams, Samuel N. Brown, Greenleaf C. George, Charles A. Hewins, Horace Dodd, Albert J. Wright, Robert C. Billings, George F. Pierce. After the social hour, the company, numbering 114, gathered at the tables in the banquet room, and Rev. J. P. Bodfish asked a blessing. At the close of the dinner, President Lane opened the proceedings by giving an interesting glimpse of the ways of the old-time school boy; he read an old ballot of candidates for the City Government of 1848, with the name of Josiah Quincy, Jr., for Mayor, and the names of Aldermen for that year; |