Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1884 — A Day Well Spent. [ARTICLE]

A Day Well Spent.

Arbor Day in Rensselaer was observed in an entirely satisfactory manner. „In the afternoon all the schools, together with a large number of spectators from the town, met before the school house and quite an extended literary and musical programme was gone through with: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was sang by the entire school. The Rev. T. C. Webster made a prayer after which the presi lent of the day, M. F. Chilcote Esq., made a few appropriate remarks. The school then sang “The Swjjet Bye and Bye” and at the same time wo beautiful trees were planted in the side of the street directly in front of the building. One of the trees was dedicated to the memory of the puet Longfellow and the other to that of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Well written essays of dedication were then • read, one for Mrs. Stowe by Nellie Kelley and one for Longfellow by Charlie Spitler. Recitations by Fannie Clark and Rosa Eaker, songs by Ora Duvall, the 2nd Intermediate, and volunteer speeches by Mrs. R. S. Dwiggius and Revs. M. C. Miner and T. C. Webster closed the literary exercises of the day. Some forty of fifty line maple, ash 1 , and elm trees were Turnished by tl\e trusti < s and the janitor and assistants during the afternoon.