EEMINISCENSES OF THE ACADEMY BY MR. PRATT, 



199* 



our Academy room this afternoon." This was the old case and its con- 

 tents which had never been taken from Perry street to the Library. On 

 July 28th I find : '' Worked at the Academy rooms moving the books in 

 and arranging them as before in the case." Our Trustees' meeting was 

 held there that evening, and the first regular meeiing there on August 

 20, by a little kerosene lamp, which some of us may remember. 



March 31, 1874, the diary says : "Commenced carrying our Academy 

 things to Odd Fellows building." This room we rented from that date 

 at $75 a year. On our removal here we brought only the original wide 

 case, two of the regular six foot cases, three of the closed botanical 

 cases, and the old narrow book-case, formerly belonging to the Working- 

 men's Libriary Association. All of these and twice as many more since 

 added, are now in our west room, and all in this room— ten large cases — 

 have been added during the three and a half years of our residence 

 h§re. This room was not half filled. More cases were soon needed, and 

 by a special effort, principally on the part of some lady members and 

 friends, a " ladies' furnishing fund" was raised, which soon provided 

 several cases, matting for the floor, curtains, etc. 



At the Trustees' meeting, September 18, 1875 it was decided to rent 

 an additional room, in the rear of this, at $50 a year, which we did from 

 September 1st of that year, and have occupied it until both rooms are 

 filled to overflowing. We are compelled to enlarge our borders, and 

 are happy in the prospect. Several attempts have been made, and with, 

 at first, some apparent prospect of success, to unite the Academy and 

 other associations of kindred aims and interests, in an Association 

 building, but have each time failed from want of funds, as those who 

 possessed the means, without which it could not be accomplished, did 

 not step to the front. The failure was, possibly, a blessing in disguise to 

 all the parties concerned, as each will go on independently, and their 

 several views and interests may be less likely to conflict than if more 

 closely connected. All are harmonious now. Let us hope it may always 

 continue so, for the best good of each and all. 



This little sketch of our migrations brings us to the present time and 

 place, and one more move, we hope, will locate the iHstitution, perma- 

 nently, or at least for many years. This move we expect to make within 

 a few weeks, and are enabled to do so through the large-hearted munifi- 

 cence of our respected benefactress, Mrs. P. V. Newcomb, and the 

 liberality and public spirit of a part of the members of the Academy, 

 and some of our fellow citizens, and the sympathy and encouragement 

 of many others unable to contribute largely in money, and the indefati- 

 gable zeal, energy and persistence of the two living members whom Mr. 

 Thompson and myself are so proud of having added to the roll of mem- 

 bers on that auspicious night. 



Of discouragements we have certainly had no more than a reasonable 

 share ; have been seemingly almost eclipsed sometimes, but like other 

 eclipses, these have been but temporary, and never total. We have 

 often failed to accomplish quite what we had planned, but on the whole 



