he wondered if they were such Aldermen as those of to-day, which called forth some merriment. Continuing, he said: — We have made a mistake in one of our great public improvements; I refer to the State House. on Beacon Hill. As I walk up and down our streets, and see the tall buildings towering in the air and changing the sky-line of Beacon Hill immensely, I feel that the situation is so changed from what it was when the Bulfinch State House was erected, that we have made a mistake in not carrying that gilded dome fifty feet higher; I should like to have it a crowning landmark to be seen far and near. He called attention to the approach of the twentieth century, of progress in the past, and of the successes which point to still greater achievements in the future; one of these was rapid transit. He had faith in the Subway. He wished to see the accomplishment of a proper method of taxing personal property; also a better method of municipal administration. We may even now conclude that the City Council is writing its valedictory. Our defeat in the matter of biennial elections is not discouraging; it will come up again, and Massachusetts will exhibit common sense, and establish a policy by which we shall not be compelled to choose a Governor every year, but for a longer term; and the same applies with equal force to city elections. Mayor Quincy was introduced and spoke of the various improvements which the City has recently undertaken; the Park system, the play grounds and public baths; inestimable possessions of the present and a glorious inheritance for the future; these re sults have followed an awakened and enlightened public sentiment, and made Boston a city of renown. President-elect Henry B. Metcalf was introduced and thanked his comrades for the honor conferred by electing him their President, without cost, or the assistance of Mark Hanna or Senator Jones. He spoke of the wonderful changes which had attended the city in the enlargement of its area since 1822, and the expansion of its public school system. In closing he said he favored extending the term for all officials from the President of the United States to the Common Councilman of Boston, and no reelection. Mr. E. D. Eldridge was called upon and spoke at some length upon the life of Ezekiel Cheever, and his remarkable career as a schoolmaster for a period of seventy years. In the year 1670 he became Head-master of the Boston Public Latin School, and continued in charge to the end of his life in 1708, at the age of 94; his funeral services took place in the school room so familiar to him in life. Mr. Eldridge was pleased to state that he was a descendant of that eminent teacher. Wm. W. Doherty, Col. L. B. Marsh, Frank A. Hall, Curtis Guild and S. S. Blanchard contributed to the pleasure of the hour by brief but acceptable remarks; in conclusion all joined in singing “ Memories," and looked forward cheerfully to the next Reunion. EIGHTEENTH REUNION. THE annual meeting was held at Young's Hotel, Nov. 18, 1897, President Henry B. Metcalf in the chair. The routine business was transacted and the following officers were elected to serve for 1897–98. S. STILLMAN BLANCHARD, President. Directors: Albert J. Wright, Robert C. Billings, George F. Pierce, Alfred T. Turner, Ebenezer Alexander, Richard J. Monks, William T. Eustis, Benjamin B. Whittemore, Nathaniel H. Henchman. On adjournment, the company proceeded to the tables and were called to order by the President; after an invocation by President Capen of Tufts College, the dinner engaged attention for an hour. The exercises were opened by Mr. E. H. Dunn, who read a Eulogy on the life and character of our late member and Ex-President, Mr. George Oliver Carpenter. Tributes were offered by many members who had long been intimately associated with him in business and social affairs, all sincerely lamenting his departure. Benjamin F. Stevens was then introduced, and said he was a native Bostonian, educated in the public schools, and was graduated at the English High School in 1838. A few years later he entered the United States Navy as Captain's clerk, under Capt. John Percival, known as "Mad Jack," of the United States Frigate Constitution, in which he made a three years' voyage around the world; he said he knew of but three survivors who served with him. Joseph Davis Jones, our oldest member, was present and in such good health as permitted indulgence in the luxuries of the table, and the exercises of the occasion. He was born Dec. 30, 1797. He received the marked attention of the members and their hearty good wishes and hopes that his centennial birthday so near at hand would find him cheerfully receiving congratulations from a host of friends. The company then parted for a year. NINETEENTH REUNION. THE annual meeting was held at Young's Hotel, Nov. 17, 1898, the President, S. Stillman Blanchard, in the chair. The principal business transacted was the election of the following Board of Officers for the year 1898-99: GEORGE F. PIERCE, President. ALFRED T. TURNER, Vice-President. Directors: - Ebenezer Alexander, Richard J. Monks, William T. Eustis, Benjamin B. Whittemore, Nathaniel H. Henchman, Lyman H. Tasker, L. Foster Morse, Spencer W. Richardson, George W. Armstrong. The after-dinner exercises began by singing "Memories." The President read a letter of regret from Mr. Baldwin, and then gave the following address: There could be no greater illustration of the superior advantages of the Public Schools than is seen in the recent war with Spain, where the skill of men behind the guns showed to advantage as against the ignorant and slipshod methods of the Spanish |