VALEDICTORY.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 58, 25 June 1908, Page 5

VALEDICTORY.

PRESENTATION TO MR GUY H, SOHOLEFIELD. Whon the Tokomairiro High Sohool Ex-pupils learned that before sailing to London Mr Guy Soholefield would be in Milton for a couple of days, it was deemed advisable to arrange a little farewell function. This took place in St John's Sohoolroom on Tuesday evening. Mr A. E. Stewart, president of the club, presided, and at onoe extended to Mr Scholofield, on hohalf of the Expupils and Milton residents generally, a hearty welcome back to the district.— (Applause). A short programme was then proceeded with, Miss Soanlan and Missßeid playing a very nice duet on the pianoforte. Mr Parlane told the tale of " The Broken Bowl," and Mrs Porter sang very sweetly " Adieu Marie." Mr J. B. M'Olymont sang " The Parting Hour," and Miss Francis Grant (Dunedin) was recalled for her singing of " Waiata Poi." Mr J. A. Duthie (Mayor) said they all recognised that it was very thoughtful oi Mr Soholefield to come back to Milton to say goodbye to his friends before sailing to take up his appointment in London, (Applause). Tnere was a singular appropriateness in the Ex-pupils taking up the matter of their meeting that night. Mr Scholefield's motherMarion Hardy—was one of tho fits? lot of 13 scholars who attended the first school on the Toko plain. They oou'd claim both mother and son as Ex--pupils oi the Tokomairiro School.—(Applause). It was extremely pleasing and gratifying also to thorn all to know that Mr field had boen selected for so honorablo and so desirable an appointment as Editor of the Associated Prosa News in London. Here was a young man who had no special advantages in his youth and had yet gone out into the wider world, and at an early ago had conferred on .him an appointment any journalist would be proud to hold.—(Applause), it reflected credit on the young man himself, on his school, and, he said it with all earnestness, on his mother.—(Loud applause). Mr Duthie knew Mrs Scholes' field very well and his recollection of her was that she was a lover of literature, beoause if she was not going to the library with a book under her arm when he met her she was coming back with one. There was a good deal in training, but there was something in horedity. It was his mother who instilled the love ot literature into him. He give numbers of instances where the sons of widows had got on remarkably well, and there was a field of speculation opened up as to what this might be attributed to. He (Mr Duthie) remembered young Guy m the Brugk Herald office, and he was a young chap one could not be uncivil to. He was always respectful and civil. It was tho same when Guy was in the Woollen Mill's office, and that .phase of Scholefield's character had been impressed on all with whom he had come in contact. It was pleasing to know the youug men they had sent out of Milton were a credit to the town, and they were always pleased to hear of their weltare and advancement, and especially were they all pleased to hear that Mr Scholefield had received such a good appointmont. They wanted him to take with him something to remind him ot Milton, It was a Bruce travelling rug, just to hand from tho finishing touchos at the mill, and ho hoped it would be useful to him and Mrs Scholefield on the voyage Home, and with it he conveyed to Mr Scholefield the hope of them all that ho might long bo spared to use it. —(Loud applause). Mr Stewart said the rug was made specially at the factory for Mr Scholefield. Last Tuesday it was decided on, and the wool was selected, classed, scoured, and went through all the processes and was just to band. A word of praise was due to the employes who had made a special effort to get tho rug out in tunc for the the meeting. Where there was an ex* tensive factory these things could be done quicker, but it was a record for the Bruce Woollen Mill employees to get the finished article there in the time. The factory hands were deserving of all credit.— (Applause). When Mr Schoefield got to London—the hub of the universe—it would help him to lseep in mind old Milton with its green 'fields and its open country. Mr Jas. Reid had to add his congratulations, and gave reasons for Guy's sue oess. From his father he inheritod a taste for science and method, and deftness and daintiness of hand, and adaptability for business. From his mother he I got his taste for literature, and his saneuess of judgment upon what he read. The ability and faculty to arrange facts so as to impress you v/as his own characteristic There was a flavor about Guy's writings which was not cynical, not sarcastic, nor caustic, but what he could not call by any other name than pungent. It was not the pungency of the occasional peppercorn in pickles, but the regular pungency of good Worcestershire sauce. He quoted from some of Mr Scholefield's early efforts in the School Magazine to prove this. Besides the facility' for maishalling facts Mr Scholo* field had a fine choice of words, and beyond all that he had honesty of purpose. He saw his purpose before him, and went for it.—(Applause); There was no doubt but that this honesty of purpose was one thing which was a reason for ms receiving the very important appointment ho had received.' There was another trait in his character, and that was his ability to appreciate tho work of others. Guy, as he could call him, had. admitted that he had acquired his appetito for his life's work in the Tokomairiro J)ist4ct High School. Others may have felt it, but thoy said nothing about it. Thero was a tendency in journalists to neglect the spiritual side of their nature. He might be pardoned for ref orring to that, but their friend was going to the centre of the life of a great national church, and he hoped he would take full advantage of .that great church.—(Applause). The Rey. J. 0. Small said he had known Guy and his mother for nine or tan years in Milton, and .that knowledge nad deepenod his respect for both. It was a grief to find that young men had to go away from Milton to find an outlet ior their talents, it was, however, a compensation to watch their oareor, and they wpiß always glad to hear of their well-doing.—.(Applause)' Mr Soholefield had not arrived at the terminus of his sMm t She forerngst pjea JaGwaJ

Britain in the world of literature and in other walks of life had started off as journalists in London', and Mr Soholefield was now to come into contact with that world. When the personalty of a writer was known to readers it gave an added interest. They would look now tor his letters, and also for the accounts of functions which both he and Mrs Soholefield would attend. It would not be the ephemeral work of the journalist altogether they would look forward to, but a substantial work from his pen. Their guest had the ability, now have the opportunity.—(Applause). He hailed from Tokomairiro; : that was enough. Applause). They had been sending °ood men all over the world, but after all they were only samples. They had good men here yet, perhaps better. —(Applause). Mr Stewart, after referring generally in warm terms of approbation to Mr Soholefield, said he would now have an opportunity to get his horizon widened, and they expected great things of him. The sucoess of their guest should be a stimulus to other boys of the school to persevere. Mr A. Bryoo sang " The Bandalero " in good style, and the Chairman intimated that apologies had been received from Revs. J. S. Roid and John Ohisholm and MrF. W. Riaoh.

Mr Soholefield, who was received with enthusiasm, in oponing his remarks said he thought it was remarkable that when a fellow had a piece of luck he was congratulated all round. It was not so long ago since he was a resident of Milton, and not very long ago either when he was thinning turnips at Kiness.—(Applause). It was perhaps worthy of note that the position ho had boen appointed to was for the first time givon to a New Zoalander, and also to a young man. Public foeling was undergoing alteration in many respects, and positions wore given now to candidates irrespective of their youth so long as thoy could carry out the work. Ho had to thank all the speakers for the kind words given expression to. With regard to his own career he could honestly say that all the education he got which fitted him best for his profession he got at the Toko High School. —(Applause). He referred to the tremendous courage of Ex-Rector Reid, who had established teohnical education in Milton years before it came to be recognised as a faotor in general education. (Applause). While this technical side was developed under adverse circumstances the classical 6ide was not neglected. Journalism was an accident with him. Ho woke up one morning to find himself sub-editor of the High School Magazine. That magazine was started in 1893. George Graham wrote an anonymous letter to Rector Reid suggesting it. The magazine was started and Jack Ohisholm (now Rev. Ohisholm) was the editor. It was in manuscript, and was read once a quarter to the accompaniment of the blushes of the article writers.—(Laughter). Regarding journalism he could eav that no one need bo afraid to graduate in a country paper. The most useful class of men — and he had a lot to do with selecting men—came from the country. The Brucb Herald was a good evidence of tbe training a country newspaper gave to a young man. There wore M'Kay (Wellington), Huie (Ohristchurch), Grealish (Wellington), and M'Leod (Taranaki), all men well up in the ranks oi journalism who had graduated there. Jour* nalism was a good profession. It was well paid, and the interest in it almost amounted to fascination. Journalists must not look to their own personal comfort, for their profession often called for personal sacrifice. Against that sacrifice was the tremendous interest of the work. The Ex-pupils Club was a good thing, and he hoped it would long prosper. It was an institution which would not do the sohool harm, and it could do it good in many ways. Jack Murray at Wellington was very enthusiastic over it, and Edie, two Jordans, R. Webb, aod the speaker had intended having a little dinner on the date of the annual meeU ing, but could not at the last arrange it. Mr Reid had spoken of the spiritual side of a journalist's life, and while he did not for a moment deny that there was Buch a thing, yet any journalist worth the name in New Zealand had a great regard for honesty and truth. They were in deadly earnest about being accurate. (Applause). While that existed it was a good substitute for that spiritual side of which Mr Roid spoke. He thanked them for the beautiful rug and all the kinds thingß said about himself and his mother, and tho good wishes expressed for the future welfare of himself and his wife.—(Applause). Mr Stewart said an honors' board was being arranged for at the school, and the Club would give a medal this year. The Club was open to take all the advice offered them and also all the cash,

Mr J B M'Olymont and Miss Grant sang a duet, after whioh supper was served, An hour's dancing followed and a very homely little social function closed with the singing of Auld Lang Syne,