News Items

These items filled more than a column on Page 13.

Presentation to Principal Hardie.
Principal Hardie of the Collegiate, who is leaving Perth for Ottawa, was taken by surprise on Tuesday morning, when, after prayers, with all the students and masters assembled in Form B., the accompanying address was read to him by Miss Spalding and a presentation of a set of selected poems was made him by Mr. Hubert Allan. Mr. Hardie‘s reply indicated how deep he treasured the mark of esteem and affection manifested to him by his pupils and associates:
William Hardie, Esq., B.A. Dear Mr. Hardie: —            It is with feelings of deep regret and a keen sense of personal loss we have learned that you will soon sever the tie that has long and honorably connected you with the Perth Collegiate Institute.
During the years you have taught us classic lore or exerted your larger influence over us as Principal of the school, pupils and teachers have come and gone. They touched our lives and left their impress upon us more less abiding. Others came and filled their places. But, in the midst of these minor changes incidental to school life, it was always a source of increasing satisfaction that you remained with us, growing in our esteem and rooting yourself more deeply in our affections.
Ours, however, are not the only eyes that have followed your career with admiration. You have been called to a larger field of activity where qualities of mind and heart that have won the honorable place you occupy with us, will find ampler opportunity in the cause of education, and we believe, still fuller recognition of their abiding worth in the cause of mankind.
To the home fireside, to the haunts and friends of your boyhood days, and to the larger life of your native city, your removal from us will be great gain. We feel only the loss. in our loss it is difficult “to find a grain to match.”
You have taught us to love classic literature, or, the literature of our mother tongue in our own feeble way. But you have taught us more. From you we have learned something of the worth and beauty of a well balanced life. You have been to us a living illustration of the essential characteristics of a gentleman Suaviter in modo fortiter in re. The classical learning you have so patiently imparted to us may grow dim and fade quite away, but the higher lessons you have unconsciously taught us of the supreme value of life and of all that makes for its uplift and happiness, will, we trust, never be forgotten. When our waywardness or thoughtlessness has drawn down upon us your severely gentle rebuke, we have felt that it fell far short of our just expectation and desert. What you left unsaid impressed us quite as much as what you said. Your invariable kindness and forbearance, even in rebuke, left with us thoughts more troublesome than your plainest speech could have aroused. Of you we can always say, in days to come — “Yet he was kind, or, if severe in aught, The love he bore to learning was in fault.”
In the memories of your pupils, you will long live as a faithful and inspiring teacher, a firm but gentle ruler, and a courteous friend.
To those associated with you as colleagues, the loss is not less. They too have often had the rough places made smooth and the tangled skein of professional perplexity unravelled by your prudence, tack and forbearance. They feel keenly the loss of your wise councel, genuine friendliness and good fellowship.
We ask you to accept at our hands this set of the poets as a visible and tangible token of the esteem and affection in which you are held by the pupils and teachers of the Perth Collegiate Institute. As often as you open these pages, in leisure, or in solitude, to refresh your mind in their store of learning, or to bathe your spirit in their sweetness and light, may they serve as a living link between us, binding you in pleasant recollections to those who esteem it one of the chief privileges of life to have sat at your feet as pupil or, to have been associated with you as teacher.
Wishing you many happy years of increasing usefulness in your new sphere of labor, we would respectfully subscribe ourselves your devoted friends and admirers.
Signed On behalf of the pupils, WINNIFRED SPALDING,
On behalf of the teachers, W. J. PATTERSON.
The Collegiate Institute, Perth, Ont., June 27, 1905.
Rideau Ripples.
The Rideau which of recent years has steadily grown in favor as a summer resort promises to become increasingly popular this season. Its situation, convenient to Perth and Smith’s Falls, commends it to the people of these towns but its natural beauty claims a much wider circle of admirers. Those who have once yielded themselves to its charm rarely withdraw their love for its beauties but again and again seek out the bays and islands and groves where pleasant memories draw them. Whoever has spent a week or two at this most beautiful of waterways will understand.
The new manager of the Coutts House evidently intends to spare no pains to make his guests comfortable and it is quite evident that his efforts are appreciated. On Sunday last he furnished meals to seventy people, of whom about twenty-six remained over from Saturday until Monday. Already Mr. King has received numerous tributes to the excellence of the meals supplied by him, and they have been well merited. Most of his rooms have been engaged for July and next week his rush will commence. One gentleman who has been at the Rideau for eleven or twelve seasons in writing for rooms said that he intended coming by train this year so that he might have two extra days at the “Ferry”. “The Coutts House” will be a great favourite this year.
Mr. Northwood of Ottawa, a lover of Rideau waters, has erected a pretty cottage on the island immediately below the bridge. It is attractive both in appearance and situation. When the island is brushed out and the grass appears Mr. Northwood will have one of the neatest places at the lake.
“Courier” Welcomes Old Boys.
The Courier is pleased to welcome back our former townsmen and their friends and extends an invitation to all to call and see us. Our printing establishment may be inspected and viewed at any time, and our office is willingly placed at the service of Old Boys and Girls who desire to do any correspondence.
TWO FARMERS DROWNED. — Word was received here on Monday of the drowning of Mr. John White, of Lanark, and Mr. Isaac Manary, of Darling Township, two well-known farmers, on Sunday morning. They lost their lives in about ten feet of water above Drummond’s Rapids on the River Clyde. The bodies when found were only two feet apart. Mr. Manary went in bathing and it is supposed was seized with cramps. His companion went to his rescue, and both were drowned. Both were young men, Mr. White 29 and Mr. Manary 31 years old. The former was twice married and is survived by a wife and three children. Mr. Manary was unmarried. His home was in Darling Township but he was working for a farmer in the neighborhood where the drowning occurred.