army and navy. It has been well said, that had Spain given generous support to the public school system, there would have been no war, for liberty goes hand in hand with knowledge. At any rate Columbia and Columbus could have better understood each other.

We have reason to be proud of our New Englandborn officials Secretary Long, Admiral Dewey and General Miles, who have been prime factors in the successful and early closing of hostilities. We rejoice in the other names which shine with the lustre of honorable and brilliant services Sampson, Roosevelt, Clark and Hobson, also products of the school system. Great problems and questions are yet to be discussed and settled by our having conquered new territory. Let us not allow the President to walk alone, whose great skill and patience amid a thousand difficulties has thus far led us successfully; let us give him our support, our sympathy, and our prayers. We will have faith in his wisdom and discretion, and in our new relations as a nation, we will look to Wm. H. McKinley as the pilot safely to steer the ship of state, laden as she is with the hopes of liberty and human rights of thousands who until now have been crushed under the iron heel of despotic Spain. We can say with Longfellow when referring to the ship of state,

"Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears

Are all with thee."

Mr. E. Bentley Young, principal of the Prince School, spoke for the modern school system and the

Masters, and defended the school officials against the charges of inefficiency so often made. He maintained that while the expenditure seemed large it was fully warranted by the results obtained.

The following members offered their quota of reminiscences and pleasantries, making the occasion very enjoyable, as they referred to school matters lingering in their memories: Messrs. W. W. Doherty, Spencer W. Richardson, R. J. Monks, F. A. Hall, Charles H. Allen, George F. Pierce and John H. Buckley.

The Association heartily congratulated Secretary Lawrence on his presence after a long illness, to which he responded with sincere thanks for their kind feeling for him.

There were 83 at the table — somewhat less than at previous Reunions, but all were in harmony, and anticipated the next one with hope.

TWENTIETH REUNION.

THE annual meeting was held at Young's Hotel, Nov. 16, 1899, George F. Pierce, the President in the chair. At half past three o'clock, P. M., the meeting was called to order, and the records of the last meeting were read by Secretary Lawrence.

The election of officers for 1899-1900 resulted in the choice of:

RICHARD J. MONKS, President.

EBENEZER ALEXANDER, Vice-President.
WILLIAM C. LAWRENCE, Secretary.

ROBERT B. WILLIAMS, Treasurer.

WARREN RICHARDSON, Historian.

Directors: William T. Eustis, Benjamin B. Whittemore, L. Foster Morse, Spencer W. Richardson, Edward E. Hale, William W. Doherty, Jonathan H. Mann, Nathan Appleton, Robert Treat Paine.

At 4.30 the company proceeded to the dining room; a blessing was asked by Rev. J. H. Wiggin, which was followed by the singing of the association hymn "Memories." At the conclusion of the dinner the President made some congratulatory remarks upon the past and present membership, and hoped that each one would endeavor to induce another old

school boy to join the Association.

He adverted to the fact that the first public school in America was established in Dorchester, and outlined the kind of education he received in the public schools of that place, and fully believed that it was productive of more thorough knowledge of the same studies than obtains to-day. He then introduced the newly elected President Richard J. Monks, who appreciated the honor conferred upon him and thanked his comrades for this mark of their favor.

Mr. B. B. Whittemore referred to the introduction of the study and practice of vocal music in the public schools of Boston, beginning at the Hawes school in 1837, and the opposition and doubt which many citizens manifested as to its propriety, or feasibility as a part of the curriculum. He closed with the following lines from a poem entitled "The Model Old School Boy."

"Our model old boy makes no cry

When new discoveries meet his eye;
He does not hob-nob with Old Chimes,
And growl about degenerate times,
Nor is he wildly horrified

Whene'er his country takes a stride,
He does not claim to be a sage
By simple right of wrinkled age;
Nor that, whate'er the world befall,
He was raised up to know it all:
But rather is he more inclined
When most surprised, to be resigned,
And strive to take the modern pace,

And keep up bravely in the race,

E'en though he's hampered at some points

By shaky knees and cockle joints."

Rev. Edward G. Porter was called on, and spoke of the marvellous changes which had followed the development of Boston. He especially emphasized the way in which the children of foreign birth or parentage at the North End were being made into patriotic Americans, through the public school influence. The anniversaries of April 19, June 17 and July 4, found more flags displayed from the houses of the Old North End, now occupied by foreigners, than in other parts of the city. Such fealty to "Old Glory" is rich with promise and hope for the future.

The Secretary, Mr. Lawrence, was generously cheered as he rose and spoke of his school days which ended with his graduation from the Fort Hill school when he received a Franklin Medal. He alluded to his ill health, and feared that he might never again meet the Old Boys. As he took his seat the company rose and gave him three cheers, and sang "The Star Spangled Banner."

Other speakers were Messrs. Alexander, Metcalf, Guild and Damrell, who were no less interesting in their pleasant remarks than on former occasions. One hundred members and guests enjoyed the varied exercises and parted for a year.