USA > Connecticut > New London County > New London > New London's participation in Connecticut's tercentenary, 1935 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
The members of the Poets' Guild, long interested in social service, have for many years expressed themselves through and in the complex life of one of our best established settlement houses in New York City, Christodora House, which, though engaged like all great settlement houses, in practical ministries to its own community, has always been mindful of the values of poetry and music as integrating powers.
Here the Poets' Guild began, as its contribution to the neighbor- hood, the publication of its Unbound Anthology, whose loose-leaf poems travel to all sections of our country. It was natural that in a settlement house which serves the needs of 27 foreign groups, the loose-leaf Anthology of American Classics should develop into the conception of the World Book, which, it is expected, will make its appearance possibly every seven years and in which it is hoped that poets in all countries will cooperate.
The World Book idea has been sponsored by official representatives of at least 63 nations - Ambassadors, Ministers and Consuls, and because of their interest and cooperation, the Consuls' Anthology was printed, containing poems representing all nations officially repre- sented in our country. The loose-leaf volume, in which each individual
47
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
poem was sponsored by the corresponding consulate, gives a concrete illustration in a minor way of what the World Book might be.
This intelligent and protective cooperation on the part of the New York Consulates, who selected poems, translated poems and made finan- cial contributions towards the expense of printing the poems, was with the understanding upon their part that the poets were campaigning into existence the World Book.
At Christodora House, in recognition of these gifts of poetry thus sponsored by the consuls, were held within the last few years celebrations in honor of the literature of 63 nations, and when the series was con- summated, there was held at Christodora House an International Poetry Festival attended by foreign officials whose consulates had extended their benefactions to the Poets' Guild.
New London with its tradition of good printers and poetic crafts- men, as a climax to its exercises in commemoration of Thomas Short and Timothy Green, awards to the Poets' Guild of Christodora House. in recognition of the Poets of Connecticut, the first imprint to be made on the newly dedicated New London Printing Press.
New London is, we think, the first town in Connecticut to extend its hospitality to a group of poets.
Students of community psychology will like to reflect upon Thomas Short who lived in New London, and was the first printer in Connecticut ; upon Timothy Green, who printed in 1725 the first book of verse that was published in Connecticut ; upon the great docks of New London, constructed for ocean liners, and upon our representatives from prac- tically all nationalities numbered in this country, tracing back to those original admixtures which created New London from very early days a complex community charged with magnetisms of various nationalities. They will reflect upon its historic whaling episode, its trade with the West Indies; and then, if they look deeply into the community con- sciousness, they will think, even if rather fancifully, of the great globe which was the very heart of old Dr. Dow's schoolroom, around which assembled New London school boys to drink richly of tales of foreign expeditions; they will remember the great map of constellations which spread out its starry pageant on the schoolroom wall, "The Heavens declare the glory of God!" and they will ponder upon the apple tree which was grown in New London under the direction of Governor Winthrop.
We cannot overestimate in the community, as in the individual, the integrating properties of symbols which the imagination has sustainedly held. We cannot, therefore, regard it as an accident that the invitation to all countries to participate in the World Book should be printed here in New London. It is the natural harvesting of seeds long since sown.
1
48
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
-Courtesy of the University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts
THE STEPHEN DAYE PRESS
The first printing press was brought to North America, from England to Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, by Stephen Daye in 1638. It was purchased by Samuel Green, brought to New London and later resold in 1773. It is now the property of the Vermont Historical Society.
So also is it the natural flowering of Christodora House in New York City which has so long directed and fostered the World Book Campaign, whose seal is the wreath of laurel with the star, to send out, from the heart of its own extraordinarily international neighborhood, the Invi- tation of the Poets of America to the Poets of all Nations.
On June 2, at 4.30, the winged torch of the Poets' Guild, Christo- dora House, sweeps through the boughs of the apple tree of New London.
Surely it is a happy omen for the World Book that the integrating power of poetry is thus able to enweave, one with another, two separate community psychologies, so that they become one, even as the word, the letter, and the type are one.
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a network of silver."
49
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
PROGRAM EARLY PRINTERS' DAY, SUNDAY, JUNE 2
Exercises, 4.30 P.M., d.s.t., at the Outdoor Theatre, Connecticut College MISS ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH Chairman of the Allied Families and Member of the Poets' Guild. Presiding
HYMN-U. S. Coast Guard Academy Band
EARLY PRINTERS OF NEW LONDON-Hon. Ernest E. Rogers, General Chairman, New London Tercentenary Committees
BOOKS OF VERSE PRINTED IN NEW LONDON - P. LeRoy Harwood
THE HALL OF NATIONS-Miss Angela Morgan, resident poet of the Ogontz School for Girls, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
The Hospitality of the Printing Press of New London is extended to the Poets' Guild in recognition of the poets of Connecticut-Miss Branch
ACCEPTANCE-William Rose Benet, New York, N. Y.
THE WORLD BOOK-Edwin Markham, New York, N. Y.
PLACING OF WREATH-Ridgely Torrence, New York, N. Y. HYMN-"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"-The Community Chorus and the U. S. Coast Guard Academy Band
THE CRAFTSMEN'S INVOCATION-Rev. J. Romeyn Danforth DEDICATION OF THE PRINTING PRESS-Mrs. Richard Mansfield and Mr. Torrence
The Printing of an Invitation to the Poets of all Nations accompanied by music of trumpets. Press work by Oliver S. Cooper and John P. Connell
Roll Call of the First Printers of the Thirteen Original Colonies -.--- Mrs. Mansfield and Joseph Auslander, New York, N. Y.
Placing of Wreath in Memory of Thomas Short-Mrs. John Brownell (Amanda Hall)
"The Heavens Resound," Beethoven -- The Community Chorus and the 1 U. S. Coast Guard Academy Band
50
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
ADDRESS
HON. ERNEST E. ROGERS General Chairman of New London Tercentenary Committees
A glimpse into the lives of early New London printers was afforded by Ernest E. Rogers in an address at the early Printers' Day exercises. He said :
The few minutes allotted to me will not allow a detailed portrayal of the very interesting lives and business problems of the early New London printers, but will permit only a glimpse into their activities. The Rev. Gurdon Saltonstall, Governor of Connecticut, residing in New London, was the projector of the movement for the establishment of a printing press in the Colony of Connecticut. Thomas Short, a printer of Boston, was appointed in 1708 "Printer to His Honor the Governor and Council." Short removed his family to New London and com- menced work in the spring of 1709. The printing press he brought with him to New London was the first press to be established in the Colony of Connecticut, and it was 45 years later before another press was started anywhere in the Colony. Thomas Short died on the 27th of September, 1712, at 29 years of age, having been printer in New London for about three years and a half.
His brief life was most interesting. His father, Clement Short, removed from Boston to his grant of land a little above Salmon Falls, Maine.
It was on the 18th of March, 1689-90 that the French and Indians fell upon the inhabitants, killing those who resisted and taking the others captive to Canada. Clement Short, his wife, and three children, were killed, and six or seven of the children were made prisoners with the expectation of obtaining ransom money for them. The funds were raised by the churches and Thomas, who was nine years of age when captured, returned home as a redeemed captive. Apparently the idea of kidnaping for ransom is not new. His sister, Mary, married Bartholo- mew Green, the well-known Boston printer, the son of Samuel Green of Cambridge. He lived with his sister, and Bartholomew Green taught him the printer's trade and recommended him to Governor Saltonstall for the position of official printer to the Colony.
Not only was Thomas Short the first printer in the Colony, but he had the honor of printing the first book produced in Connecticut, A Confession of Faith, known as the Saybrook Platform. I am expecting Albert C. Bates, Historian and Secretary of the Connecticut Historical Society, to be present. If he has arrived, may I ask him to exhibit an original copy of this first book, and also the facsimile of the first pro-
.
51
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
duction of the press, which was a proclamation for a fast day. (Mr. Bates displayed the books.)
At the time of Thomas Short's death, the book had been printed but not bound. His wife, Elizabeth, who had assisted him in the print- ing shop, which was in their own home, situated on the upper part of Main Street, bound the books in birch wood covered with calfskin (from which the term board covers is derived) for which she received 50 pounds from the Colony "for binding the two thousand books of A Confession of Faith."
I understand that Connecticut College teaches the theory and history of printing and bookbinding, but may we hope that one more step may be taken and instruction in actual bookbinding be given. There is no bookbinder in New London.
Thomas Short lies buried in New London's Ancientest Burial Ground, and not far distant are the remains of his wife, Elizabeth Short Coit, who died soon after her second marriage.
While the career of Thomas Short was brief as a printer in New London, yet when we turn to the Greens we find that family lived in New London from 1713, father, son, grandson, and the great-grandson dying in 1859, a period of 146 years. Green Street takes its name from the Green family, having been a part of the family land.
The first Timothy Green, printer in Boston, was the son of Samuel Green, printer of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who was the successor of Stephen Daye, the first printer in North America, whose press was later purchased by Samuel Green, brought to New London by one of the Green descendants, and later resold in 1773. It is now the property of the Vermont Historical Society. Timothy Green was born in 1679, began printing in Boston in 1700, removed to New London in 1713, having been appointed printer to the Governor and Council of Con- necticut, and removed his family to New London in August, 1714. Of his five sons, three became printers and two of these had sons who followed the trade.
He was one of New London's most respected citizens, a deacon of the church; and the town meeting in 1723 voted, "that Mrs. Green, the deacon's wife, be seated in ye fore seat on the women's side," which was the highest social honor.
His son, the second Timothy, commenced the first newspaper in New London in 1758, called the New London Summary. The third Timothy was a son of Samuel Green, the brother of the second Timothy, therefore the second Timothy's nephew. He improved the paper and changed the title to the New London Gazette. His son, Colonel Samuel Green, published the Gazette for nearly 50 years, living to the advanced age of 91 years, and was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery.
1. Miss Branch presiding. 2, 3, 4. Edwin Markham reciting his poems. VIEWS OF EARLY PRINTERS' DAY EXERCISES
-
----
53
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
Not only was New London connected with early printing, but in recent years printing presses have been manufactured here. The first press produced was in 1881, and is still in operation in Munda, New York.
ADDRESS
P. LEROY HARWOOD
We have just heard the story of the early printers of New London. In these days it is difficult to comprehend that there could ever have been a time when a newspaper or a book was an uncommon possession.
A few years ago it was my pleasure to compile, with my daughter, an anthology of the verse of New London poets of whom there is a greater number than could be found in many other places. The possible reason for this unusual number of poets offers a pleasant field for reflection and speculation. May it not be that because New London has always been an informal community, compared with others at the same periods ; a town not so much concerned with the monotonous repetition of ordinary events, but with imagination quickened by the coming and going of ships from all parts of the world, has perhaps envisioned the unusual and unprosaic, and has felt a freedom and enthusiasm which could best be expressed in poetry which Professor Arlo Bates of Harvard has described as "the embodiment in metrical, imaginative language of passionate emotion."
The first volume of poetry published in the Colony of Connecticut was printed and sold by Timothy Green of New London. The author was Roger Walcott, born at Windsor, on the fourth of January, 1679. Schools were then unknown and his only instruction was derived from his father, who died when Roger was about nine years old. At 12 he was an apprentice to a mechanic, and from that time was compelled to rely upon his own exertions, both for his support and his acquisition of learning. At 21 he had established himself in business in his native town. In his few leisure hours he cultivated his mind by reading and reflection. He held many offices, both civil and military. In 1711, in the unsuccessful expedition against Canada, he was commissary of the American forces and in the capture of Louisburg, in 1745, he was second in command, with rank of major general. He served as a member of the council, judge of the County Court, chief judge of the Superior Court, deputy governor and governor of the Colony from 1751-54. He died in 1767 in the 89th year of his age. This briefly summarizes the public life of this interesting character.
54
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
Of his work as a poet, Everest, in his preface to the Poets of Con- necticut, says: "He is the Chaucer of our goodly company and must lead the van of the poets of Connecticut." Self-educated, he had not the cultural background to create poetry of today's standard, and while his style is exceedingly stiff and prosaic, abounding in extravagant ex- pressions, it is comparable to that of his contemporaries. In 1725 there was printed and published for him by Timothy Green of New London a small volume entitled Poetical Meditations; Being the Improvement of Some Vacant Hours. Nearly one-half of the contents of the book is taken up by a very pedantic preface written by one of his clerical friends, and the last pages of the book are devoted to a clothier's advertisement. The principal poem in the book contains about 1,500 lines and is en- titled, A Brief Account of the Agency of the Honorable John Winthrop Esquire in the Court of King Charles II. Anno Domini 1662, when he obtained for the Colony of Connecticut His Majesty's gracious charter. In this poem the hero, Winthrop, appears to narrate to King Charles the complete history of the first settlement of Connecticut, describing the country, the fortunes of the settlers, a brief sketch of the Pequot War, and ends with the petition with which he had been intrusted by the colonists. His Majesty was favorable; conferred the boon, and the account is closed with the reply of His Royal Highness to Winthrop. The poem seems to be a feeble imitation of the epics of antiquity. The creation of poetry of this type was for centuries considered almost neces- sary to all the ventures of man, whether it be going to sea or to war, or even the planting of crops. They did not call it poetry but it was the base of what we call poetry today. With leisure and opportunity for reflection came later the poetry of literary merit. A quotation from the concluding reply of the King to Winthrop contains excellent advice which is quite applicable to present-day affairs :
"Then, Let the Freemen of your Corporation Always beware of the Insinuation Of those which always Brood Complaint and Fear ; Such Plagues are Dangerous to Infect the Air; Such Men are Over-Laden with Compassion, Having Men's Freedom in such Admiration, That every Act of Order or Restraint They'll Represent as matter of Complaint. And this is no New Doctrine; 'tis a Rule Was taught in Satan's first Erected School. It serv'd his turn with wonderful Success, And ever since has been his Master-piece. "Tis true the sleight by which that field he won, Was argued from man's benefit alone. But these outdo him in that way of Evil, And will sometimes for God's sake play the Devil."
--
55
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
Included in the volume are six short poems of a religious nature, all characterized by the quaint style and speech of the period. Needless to say that copies of this book are not often seen.
Of even greater rarity is Poems on Divers Subjects by Martha Wadsworth Brewster of Lebanon, which was printed by John Green, nephew of Timothy Green, at New London in 1757. Evans erroneously attributes the printing to Timothy Green. The edition was probably very small and the book is so rare as not to have been discovered by many bibliographers, including Wegelin. The reprint of 1758 seems to be equally scarce. Only two copies of the first edition are known to exist, one in the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the other the property of the American Antiquarian Society of Worcester. Through the courtesy of C. S. Brigham, Director of the American Antiquarian Society, I have in my hand a copy of this interesting publication. There are 35 pages. The introduction in rhyme is as follows:
"Pardon her bold Attempt who has reveal'd Her thoughts to View, more fit to be Conceal'd; Since thus to do was urged Vehemently, Yet most no doubt will call it Vanity ; Condemn the Stile you may without Offence,
Call it Insipid, wanting Eloquence. I Blush to Gaul so delicate an Ear, Which to Sublimer Sonnets do adhere; For why my Muse had but a single Aim, My self and nearest Friends to Entertain ; But since some have a gust for Novelty, I here presume upon your Clemency, For rare it is to see a Female Bard, Or that my Sex in Print have e're appear'd; Let me improve my Talent tho' but small, And thus it humbly wait upon you shall."
The principal poems in the books are of a religious nature. There are several poems dedicated to various members of her family on special occasions and one dedicated to the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, founder of Dartmouth College, on his wedding day. There are also several interest- ing and amusing acrostics for her husband and two children.
Unfortunately, little can be learned of this poet except that she was the wife of Oliver Brewster of Lebanon, whom she married in 1732, and had two children.
While my subject would confine me to books of poetry printed in New London I shall take "poetic license" and, in fairness to the many well known poets of New London, mention some whose verse has been printed elsewhere.
56
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
We cannot overlook John Gardner Calkins Brainard, a native son, who has been hailed by British critics as the first truly American poet, but whose Occasional Pieces of Poetry was published from New York in 1825 ; or Brainard's contemporary, M'Donald Clarke, the "mad poct," who achieved notoriety by his bitter attacks on Byron, but of whom all poets recall that beautiful couplet :
"Now twilight lets her curtain down And pins it with a star."
We are proud of the Bolles-Rogers-Hempstead-Branch family which has passed down the torch of poetic fire through three generations to the fourth generation, and its most distinguished member, Miss Anna Hemp- stead Branch, Chairman of today's meeting. It seems to me that it is particularly fitting that these exercises today should be on ground which for generations was owned by this family. We may not forget Dr. Henry Sylvester Cornwell whose Land of Dreams still charms the lover of poetry; and the Learned-Bunner family, well known in poetry for two generations, which has in a third generation some who will carry on the "fame of the name." Then, too, should be mentioned that group con- sisting of Professor Burgess Johnson; George Shepard Chappell, the writer ; Eugene O'Neill, the playwright; Professor Herbert Z. Kip of Connecticut College; David Merritt Carlyle; and of the fair sex, Ellen Frances Baldwin, Grace Stuart Orcutt, Amanda Hall (Brownell), Edith Newcomb, Helen Earle Gilbert (Sellers), Ruth Irving Conner, and others who are today carrying on the best traditions of New London as the birthplace and home of poets of unusual merit.
Dr. Cornwell has beautifully expressed what must be the thoughe of all writers of verse when he says:
"A spell is on my fancy. cast By wits and poets of the past, And as I turn each yellow page I dwell in many a vanished age.
I revel in the fancies fine Of all the long, illustrious line; They talk to me by day and night, And seem to watch me as I write.
So musing on their deathless fame, I think-shall I too, leave a name? Shall my poor songs, when I am dumb, Delight some heart in years to come?"
57
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
The Printing of the Invitations. THE CRAFTSMEN'S INVOCATION Written by a Printer
O thou beneficent art and mystery, whose mission is to carry enlightenment to all people from age to age, make us, thy crafts- men, worthy of thee and of all craftsmen, who in times past have glorified thee! Let thy light shine upon our lives and our vocation. May no word or deed of ours, or any of our handiwork, bring dishonor upon thee; but rather may we uphold thy dignity at all times and in all places, and in brotherly love and helpfulness advance thy fame, to the end that all men may be persuaded to acknowledge thee as the mightiest among the Arts and Crafts. So let it be !
HENRY LEWIS BULLEN Reprinted by permission of the International Association of Printing House Craftsmen.
58
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
POETS' GUILD INVITATION TO THE POETS OF ALL NATIONS
I LN ORDER THAT THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD MAY ASSEMBLE AROUND A COMMON BEAUTIFUL MOTIVE IN WHICH LEGENDS AND FAIRY STORIES MAY BE SHARED IN A FESTIVAL OF POETRY, THE POETS' GUILD OF AMERICA PETITION
TO EXTEND HIS MOST GRACIOUS PATRONAGE TO THE WORLD BOOK WHICH IS TO MAKE ITS APPEAR- ANCE, WE HOPE, EVERY SEVEN YEARS AND AS A SEAL OF GOODWILL TO THIS ENDEAVOR TO AP- POINT A POET REPRESENTATIVE TO THE WORLD COUNCIL OF POETS TO DECIDE UPON THE FORMAT AND THE CONTENTS OF THE WORLD BOOK.
A luncheon in Harkness House followed the exercises. Mr. Rogers presented Dr. Blunt, who gave the address of welcome, and there were remarks by persons who participated in the outdoor program.
59
-
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
THE PALMER LIBRARY-CONNECTICUT COLLEGE
ROLL CALL OF PRINTERS
Mrs. Mansfield then read the roll call of first printers of the 13 original colonies, as follows:
New Hampshire-Robert Fowle, 1764.
Vermont-Alden Spooner, 1778.
Massachusetts-Stephen Daye, 1639.
Rhode Island-William Goddard, 1762.
New York-John Anderson, 1771. New Jersey-Shepard Rollock, 1779.
Pennsylvania -- Benjamin Franklin, 1723.
Delaware-James Adams, 1761.
Maryland-William Nuthead, 1688.
Virginia-William Hunter, 1751.
North Carolina-Eleazer Phillip, 1732.
South Carolina-Thomas Whitmarsh, 1732.
Connecticut-Thomas Short, 1709; Timothy Green, 1713.
Mrs. John Brownell (Amanda Hall) placed a wreath at the base of the press in honor of the memory of Thomas Short, and the exercises closed with the presentation of Beethoven's The Heavens Resound by the community chorus and the band.
60
EARLY PRINTERS' DAY
EPILOGUE
Saint Brigit of Ireland was the patron saint of printers, poets, scribes and scholars as well as the presiding genius of seats of learning.
In her abbey was printed the famous Book of Kells, said by many to be the most beautiful book in existence.
To Brigit, the book lettered with religious fervor, illuminated with stars and fruit and angelic ministries, must have seemed like a sort of carnival of prayer and praise, a new kind of shrine, a sacrament rather than a book, a cosmic movement rather than a static entity.
Something like this, to the Poets' Guild of Christodora House and to their Honorary Council of Poetry Societies, is the World Book-a' book never to become the property of any individual, a book beyond price, presented only to seats of learning and culture, translated into all languages, embellished with exquisite design, adorned also with music, with imagination and with what Robert Underwood Johnson describes as "glory wrought in words," a book, luminously beautiful, which shall be like the Book of Kells, in itself a sort of shrine.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.