USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Woburn > Proceedings 1892 at the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Woburn, Massachusetts > Part 10
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" Men the workers, ever reaping something new; That which they have done but earnest of the things that they shall do."
These changes in policy brought in their train changes in population. The increase was no longer natural; it became artificial. Immigration set in and large numbers came hither seeking employment. It was a heterogeneous mass, some good, some bad, and much indifferent. As a legitimate consequence labor was divided into departments, where each workman learned only his own little part, instead of mastering the entire trade from beam house to measuring table. Skill and intelli- gence sought and found its level. The ignorant and inefficient workman went in at the bottom and crowded out his more intelligent and skilful competitor. Paradoxical as this may seem it is strictly true ; crowded him out, but forced him up higher. The bright workman became an overseer, the overseer became an employer, and thus the strife rolled on, intelligence
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and skill ever finding a higher and a higher place, and com- manding its premium in the open market.
It must not be supposed that these great, even radical, changes took place without considerable opposition in the community. Land-owning classes are generally conservative. The farmer moves with his seasons in slow but methodical order, without haste, without rest. To him the hurry and the bustle of the factory was "flying in the face of Providence "; new faces in the community disconcerted him, and habits and customs different from his father's were to him an abomination. To-day this feeling has almost wholly passed away. The common sense of the majority prevailed, and Woburn held out her hands to the laboring man, however lowly he might be. If he was ignorant, she gave him bread in exchange for the work of his hands, and freely educated his children that they might be better equipped for the struggle than he. If he brought with him any measure of ability or ambition, she gave him the fullest opportunity for its accomplishment.
Well may those who bear the names of Woburn's early settlers look back with pride and reverence toward the ancient town ; but with even greater love and veneration should she be regarded by those to whom she has been a generous foster-parent. Her success has meant their success ; and in her prosperity, to a marked degree, has been wrapped up their fortunes. The city is not the possession of any class or race, all can unite to-day, and the sole contention shall be in paying honor to the common mother of us all.
If upon this occasion some intelligent citizen of Woburn, England, should visit us, we would all take a personal pride in unfolding to him, step by step, our progress. We should read to him the record of our past and dwell upon the different stages of our growth; we should spread before him the best that our present could afford, showing him the perfection of our ma- chinery and the marvellous ingenuity of our industries. When he had seen and heard all that we could do or tell, what would he say was the strongest and most marked characteristic of the people upon whom he has chanced ?
Character is revealed by deeds, and motives can best be judged when crystallized into actions. What was it that tempted
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our fathers up into this wilderness which they themselves thought hard to traverse ? Was it a religious motive, and were they sus- tained in their labors by the zealot's faith that drove the Pilgrims across the sea to Plymouth sands, or that afterwards upheld Roger Williams as he fled through Massachusetts forests, an outcast from her borders? No, their religion was that of their neighbors ; hard, uncompromising, iron-bound, if you will, in creed and catechism, but linked in spirit to the parent town. No difference of opinion, no rebellion against dogma was the cause of their removal to this territory.
Did they come haunted by visions of wealth beyond the dreams of avarice, mountains of gold and valleys of gems, as did the Virginians, or were they searching for the fountain of eternal youth, the miraculous spring that tempted the Spaniard through the malarial swamps of Florida? No, the hard-headed New Englander was not led astray by any such chimeras. Was it simply the spirit of adventure which, urged on by curiosity, ever goes about to hear or tell some new thing? Adventurers did not lay bridges, build houses, enact codes of law, install ministers, and establish churches and schools.
Religion, wealth, and adventure ; no one of these was the con- trolling motive, although all three entered into the work. Their dominant thought was development, development of territory, of resources, of self. Your true New Englander loves not a crowd. As soon as he feels his elbows pinned to his sides, he resents the pressure and looks about him for more room. The spirit of organization is hot within him, and where his natural eye sees only forest and swamp, his imagination plans villages, builds houses, plants farms, and starts the wheels of civilization. Horace Greeley seized upon and epitomized this spirit, and his curt advice, " Go West, young man," aptly hits off the disposition of our ancestors. Two hundred and fifty years ago the land where to-day we stand was the West, the far frontier, and here began the development which has resulted in a mighty nation. New England men with stout hearts and New England women with helping hands have resolutely pursued their westward way, surmounting every obstacle. The fathers plunged into the forest and left behind them the roar of the Atlantic upon its storm-beaten shore ; their children crossed the mighty Father of
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Waters, and their children's children stand on the surf-smitten sands of the Pacific, where with longing eyes they look out through the golden gateway, and send forth their argosies of trade to lands beyond the sea.
Such development as they planned called for work, -hard work; and they were willing to meet the issue. They did not quail before work, providing the final reward was success. " Will it pay?" became their watchword, and every proposition was met with that incisive question. They did not hesitate to face themselves or their neighbors. Every man's action was exposed to the most searching criticism. Nothing was left to chance or dealt with in glittering generalities. He who aspired to lead in the community must be sincere in his motives, dispas- sionate in judgment, and able to show a reasonable probability of success before he could secure a following. The cautious free- man and voter did not blindly commit himself on any question of the hour. He sought light and detail. Convinced, he was a tower of strength ; unconvinced, he was a foe to be feared indeed.
All through our history has run this trait of character. "Will it pay?" is the question oftenest on the lips of our fathers and ourselves, and has built up in our midst a spirit of materialism, a desire for success in visible things, and a measuring of endeavor by the fruit that it produces. Is this characteristic to be cher- ished and cultivated, or is it to be discouraged as sordid and base ? Does it stamp out the finer feelings, the more elevated sentiments of our nature? Will culture languish under such a stern censor? Let us see. " By their fruits ye shall know them." What have have been the fruits?
In the early days when toil was hardest and time could ill be spared for anything which did not directly concern the material progress of the settlement, it was proposed that a church should be founded and a minister called. What ! is a church material? Will a minister help in laying bridges and breaking up the soil? Will it pay for a feeble and struggling community to burden itself with the machinery and expense of an ecclesiastical establish- ment? The community answered back as one man, " It will pay," and rested not until it had accomplished its purpose. Whatever may be his opinion upon their doctrines, there is not a man within hearing of my voice who would venture to question their
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judgment and declare that the investment had not been a good one.
Again in 1861, when a bit of bunting had been torn away from Sumter's flag-staff, Woburn heard the call of her country to help put it back for Honor's sake. Honor ! what is Honor? Can a man buy Honor or sell it? Will it pay to lay aside business, to bear hardship and hunger, nay, to risk life itself for Honor? Again the community gave back its solemn answer, and sent forth its money and its men. It fed the hungry widow and clothed the orphan ; it gave without murmur, or repining, or stinting hand, until the flag was again unfurled in peace from the lakes to the gulf, and Honor was redeemed. Who will challenge their deci- sion that it paid, and who will declare that the investment of life offered up and blood poured out in those four dreadful years has not already paid dividends as real as those of any bank stock or railroad bond ?
This same material spirit has been prominent in our municipal expenditure, and yet it has not held Woburn back from a pro- gressive policy. Half a million dollars was a large sum for her to invest in a system of water works, but we say that it has paid. The education of her children draws heavily upon her purse, year after year, but as she looks with pride upon the product, estimates their worth to herself, and reads of their honorable achievements elsewhere, with a smile of calm content she declares that it has paid.
Yes, business judgment and lofty sentiments, religious, patriotic and liberal, can and ought to go hand in hand. An individual or a corporation is not necessarily sordid and grasping because of a desire to examine the accounts and find the balance on the right side. Future generations will do well to bear in mind the exam- ple of the past, and as they advance along Time's highway, lined with ever increasing opportunities for expenditure, let them, like prudent shoppers, count well the cost, and ask, as did their fathers, "Will it pay?"
Such are some of the reflections which most naturally arise as we turn and gaze backward over the course we have run. Behind us lie the fruitful fields of the past and over them winds a long procession. Two hundred and fifty years come marching in
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single file up the height on which we stand, each bearing its load of achievement. As year after year drops its burden at our feet and vanishes away into the past from which it came, what a mighty offering is gathered ! What infinite patience and labor has it cost ! When the days of all these years are gathered together and each is multiplied by its weary hours of toil, the product assumes such huge proportions that even the most frivolous must be sobered by its contemplation.
The self-denial, the sturdy honesty, the patriotism of other men in other times, speak to us with eloquent words and say : -
" The past has a lien on thee; the future has a right in thee."
To-day and to-morrow we shall be prone to dwell upon the past, and it is fitting that this should be so. Let us have the fullest and most complete conception of the tiny hamlet and its brave struggle for existence ; but then, having learned all the les- sons it can teach us, let us set our faces resolutely to the future.
This is our Woburn. Ours is the joy of possession ; ours will be the burden of responsibility.
Standing here on this occasion I could wish for the skill to portray each scene from our early history in such vivid dress and color that it might seem a living reality; I could wish for the ability to speak such words of eloquence as should thrill you with their appropriate dignity; but higher far should I count the power to stir the heart of a single listener to a deeper and truer sense of his duty toward the city of his birth or adoption, and arouse within him a determination to act for her intelligent advancement and honor.
We know not what the future has in store. No human hand may part the curtains that hang before us ; but whether there be prosperity or adversity in our pathway, duty remains the same. It is still true that " honor and shame from no condition rise." If our city is to maintain a municipal reputation for high charac- ter and lofty achievement, it will be through the co-operation of all her citizens of every class and party. The city is ours indeed, but it is ours in trust, - a trust upon which labor and agony and life have been expended, - a sacred trust, for which we shall be held strictly accountable. We shall be expected to fittingly sup- plement the work of those who have gone before, and that we
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may bring our task to a successful close, let us hold fast to this central truth of personal responsibility ; let us remember that " no mere forms of government, no machinery of laws can give dignity to society without unspotted purity of public faith, and without sacred principle, fidelity, and honor among the common people."
VII. ORCHESTRAL SELECTION. BY BALDWIN'S ORCHESTRA.
VIII. COMMEMORATIVE HYMN.
BY FRANK EUGENE WETHERELL.
Music by HON. C. C. CONVERSE, Erie, Pa. Within the unknown wilderness, 'Mid scented fern and tangled wood, Glorious types of fearlessness, Our fathers stood.
They halted near the wooded height, Where flows the placid, winding stream, And hills and dells were all alight With autumn's gleam.
A land of promise here they found, A restful calm for lives well spent, Where homes might rise, and peace abound, And sweet content.
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Like beacon ray from darkest shore, Straightway the glow of fireside flame Shone brightly from each humble door In welcome's name.
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FRANK E. WETHERELL, Author of Commemorative Hymn.
October 6.]
No wav'ring doubts, no fear assailed These men of grand, heroic mould ; Of purpose strong, their faith prevailed And made them bold.
To-day, with rev'rence let us turn Unto the faithful toiling few, Who wore beneath a visage stern Warm hearts and true.
Sung by the TEMPLE QUARTETTE.
IX.
POEM.
THE INTRODUCTION BY MAYOR THOMPSON.
Mayor Thompson then introduced the poet of the day in these words : -
When the late rebellion broke out, and our town among others was called upon to send to the front large numbers of men to defend and uphold the grand old flag, there were none who responded more earnestly and courageously than those who had come from older countries and had made our town their home by adoption. If you will examine the tablets on our soldiers' monument you will find among the names there in- scribed many who fell in battle having Celtic blood within their veins. The Celtic race has ever been ready to defend its rights, to act the part of the patriotic citizen, and its poets have sung in praise of heroic devotion to duty and sacrifice. We have with us to-day a gentleman in every way representing that brave people, and one who is a fit successor to that friend of humanity, John Boyle O'Reilly. I have the pleasure of intro- ducing to you, as poet of the day, James Jeffrey Roche.
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THE POEM BY JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE.
Need we tell the stirring story of the builders of the town, Where the record of their glory every stone hath written down? Do we look beyond the ripeness, to the sapling or the root? Nay, we know the tree is healthy - we have tasted of the fruit. Fair and stately is the city, from the lowly hamlet grown ; But its strength is ruled and measured by the hidden corner stone.
Not in darkness, but in wisdom, wrought the prescient pioneers, Hewing pathways, building bridges, for the marching of the years, For the glorious procession, that their eyes might never see, Of the serried ages moving to the light of liberty ;
Moving slowly, footsore, weary, for the road is dark and long, Every passage barred by power, every hilltop held by wrong, Till the dawn of freedom breaketh, with the promised land in view,
Where the simple many toil not for the strong and cunning few, - Where the worker knows no master, and the thinker takes no heed
Of the morrow, lest he perish in the selfish game of greed.
Naught the fathers wrecked of hardships, naught of triumphs sorely won ;
They but saw the day's endeavor and the duty to be done,
For they said : "The sum we know not, but God keeps the score in sight ;
Every cipher makes it tenfold, if you place it to the right."
Who hath faith may move a mountain. Aye, for faith shall move the man,
And the strong arm of the righteous carry out the heavenly plan. So in sacrifice and travail, as a coral island grows
With the builders for its ramparts, line by line the structure rose. Not on perishable columns be their faithful names enrolled ; Not in fleeting song or story be their valiant actions told. But by sons who stand for honor, in the council, on the field ; By unspotted civic virtue, freedom's sword and spear and shield ; By the simple faith and courage left in heritage and trust, Shall the city hold its charter when the parchment turns to dust !
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JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE, Author of the Poem.
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October 6.]
X.
SINGING.
BY THE TEMPLE QUARTETTE.
XI.
ANNIVERSARY HYMN.
BY REV. DANIEL MARCH, D. D. Tune : " AMERICA."
( The hymn was read by REV. HENRY C. PARKER, and the audience joined in the singing.)
God of our fathers' days, To Thee glad song we raise, With voices free. For their brave deeds of might,
For their firm faith in right,
When girt with cloud and night, All thanks to Thee.
Through Thee they won this land, They saw Thy guiding hand, And followed Thee. Thy might did make them strong, Through Thee they conquered wrong,
To Thee they raised their song, When they were free.
For this good land we hold, More precious far than gold, For shore and sea, For mountain, hill, and flood, For fields where forests stood, For freedom bought with blood, All thanks to Thee.
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Let peace pervade our land, And duty brace our hand, For deeds of right. Let every nation see The truth that makes us free, And error's darkness flee Before Thy light.
XII.
ORCHESTRAL SELECTION.
BY BALDWIN'S ORCHESTRA.
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JOHN R. CARTER
Chairman of Committee on School Children's Entertainment.
CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT.
In the preparations for the celebration the school children were not forgotten. A committee of ladies and gentlemen under the able leadership of John R. Carter, Esq., vice-chairman of the school com- mittee, laid out an excellent programme for the twenty-five hundred pupils of the Woburn schools. In the afternoon, in Lyceum Hall, the younger children were delighted by a miscellaneous enter- tainment of instrumental music by Sawyer's Orches- tra, a Punch and Judy show, and Prof. Mohr, the magician and caricaturist. The shouts of laughter and exuberance of applause testified to the little ones' appreciation of the committee's efforts.
The evening entertainment, also in Lyceum Hall, to which the pupils of the upper grammar, and high schools were invited, was of an appropri- ately higher character, as the following numbers show : -
ANNIVERSARY GRAND MARCH (original), Miss Belle Menard.
SELECTIONS FROM " ERNANI " (Verdi), Woburn Orchestra.
TABLEAU : "Spirit of '76."
Mr. John Johnson, Mr. Edward F. Johnson, Master Edward Johnson. DAVID GARRICK .
Mr. Leland T. Powers.
Act I. - " Ingot's Drawing-Room before the Dinner."
SAILOR'S SONG. (Arranged) . Apollo Quartette.
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DAVID GARRICK .
Mr. Leland T. Powers.
Act. II. - "Ingot's Drawing-Room after the Dinner."
SNEIDER'S BAND. (Jordan) Apollo Quartette.
DAVID GARRICK .
Mr. Leland T. Powers. Act. III. - " Garrick's Study."
THE LITTLE BEARD. (Riley)
Apollo Quartette. TABLEAU : " America, Liberty and Peace."
Mrs. Nellie T. Gilbert, Miss Ida Ellard, Miss Frances S. Jones.
The programmes were daintily designed, the front cover showing a beautiful view, in tint, of the Public Library, and were treasured up by the chil- dren as a souvenir of their own particular part in the great celebration.
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WILLIAM F. DAVIS, Chairman of Committee on Ball.
RECEPTION AND BALL.
The general programme of the celebration was substantially determined upon before it was decided to add a reception and ball, but the committee in charge, under the efficient chairmanship of Wm. F. Davis, Esq., made up for the shortness of the time at their disposal by their indefatigable efforts. A wise choice was made in Alonzo T. Young, Esq., as floor director, who selected the following repre- sentative corps of aids : -
MARCELLUS LITTLEFIELD.
H. EUSTIS SMITH.
WINTHROP HAMMOND.
J. LAMBTON SKINNER.
E. J. GREGORY.
ELLIOT F. TRULL.
PATRICK KELLEY.
THOMAS J. Fox.
H. H. YOUNG.
CLARENCE PIERCE.
JOHN DUNCAN, JR.
E. B. BLANCHARD.
GEORGE L. TEBBETTS.
DENNIS DOHERTY. F. F. DODGE.
C. H. ARNOLD.
D. W. BOND.
J. F. DELORIEA.
H. B. CLEWLEY.
R. J. W. PHINNEY.
JOHN I. FRENCH.
THOMAS J. FEENEY.
J. H. PARKER, JR.
H. M. ALDRICH.
A. T. WEBBER.
On the evening of Oct. 6, 1893, the guests assembled in the reception rooms of the new armory, from which a covered canopy across Mont- vale Avenue lead to the Skating Academy. As they entered the spacious academy a picture of fairy
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beauty greeted their eyes. The walls, the galleries, the broad canopy of the roof were hidden by the masses of bright festooning softened by feathery draperies of lace, while suspended from the lofty arches eight arc lights of largest size lent an inde- scribable splendor to the scene. A little after eight o'clock, the familiar strain of " Hail to the Chief" announced the approach of His Excellency Gov. William E. Russell. During the brilliant reception that ensued, Baldwin's Boston Cadet Band rendered the following choice programme : -
I. MARCH, "Forward" . Gungl.
2. OVERTURE, " Raymond " Thomas.
3. CONCERT WALTZ, "Sweethearts " Strauss. -
4. CORNET SOLO, " Frolics " ยท Waldteufel.
Mr. Frank E. Partridge.
5. GRAND SELECTION, " Amorita " Wiegand.
6. GRAND FANTASIA, " American " Bendix.
7. FINALE, "Scherzo " Baldwin.
At half past nine o'clock was started the grand march led by Floor Director Alonzo T. Young and Mrs. Russell, followed by Gov. Russell and Mrs. Young, Mayor and Mrs. Thompson, and others to the number of three hundred. The order of dances was an exquisite piece of art, in white and silver, with the seal of the city blazoned on the cover and bits of local scenery in half tone scattered through- out the order. " The numbers were as follows: -
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BALL ROOM.
d d 's. to es er, nd En
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I. GRAND MARCH AND CIRCLE.
" But old recollections are active to-day."
2. QUADRILLE, " ANNIVERSARY" Strauss.
3. WALTZ.
4. POLKA, " WOBURN." " How fading are the joys we dote upon."
5. VIRGINIA REEL.
" Oh, call back yesterday; bid time return."
6. SCHOTTISCHE, " NEWPORT."
7. LANCIERS, " PHALANX."
8. PORTLAND FANCY.
" When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."
INTERMISSION.
" Let good digestion wait on appetite, and health on both."
9. GALOP, WALTZ.
" Like angels' visits, short and bright."
IO. FANCY MEDLEY. " Mirth shakes the hopper in the mill of digestion."
II. SCHOTTISCHE, POLKA.
" Strong friendships cannot live without little graces."
I2. QUADRILLE. "LEAP YEAR." LADIES' CHOICE. " If music be the food of love, play on."
I3. DOUBLE LANCIERS.
I4. QUADRILLE, SCHOTTISCHE.
15. WALTZ.
" Eyes, look your last ! Arms, take your last embrace."
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At intermission an elegant lunch was spread in the broad drill hall of the armory, which had been made bright and beautiful by the hand of decorator and electrician. Dancing continued till one in the morning, when the last strains of the final waltz brought to a brilliant close the first day of the celebration.
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EDWIN F. WYER, Chief Marshal.
FRIDAY.
THE PROCESSION.
The most striking feature of the entire celebra- tion and the one about which centred the greatest popular interest, was the grand military, civic, and trades procession on Friday morning. Its com- posite character called for an almost endless amount of perplexing detail. Each division received full attention and thoughtful consideration, and, as a result, the following order of the Chief Marshal appeared as early as Sept. 30, 1892 : -
OFFICIAL ORDER OF THE CHIEF MARSHAL.
All organizations and societies intending to participate in the parade Oct. 7, 1892, are requested to report in writing to Chief of Staff Horace N. Conn, on or before Oct. 1, 1892.
The Escort- Fifth Regiment of Infantry, M. V. M .- will form on Main Street, the right at junction of Lowell Street.
The First Corps of Cadets - escort to his Excellency the Governor - will form on Lowell Street, the right at junction of Main Street. Carriages containing city officials and guests of the city will form on Lowell Street, the right at junction of Wyman Street. The High School Battalion, escort, and the G. A. R. Posts will form on Clinton Street, the right at junction of Main Street. The section of Battery C, Light Artillery, will receive special orders for formation.
The Civic Division will form on New Boston and Beach Streets, the right resting at junction of Main Street. Floats and special features will form with the civic division. Positions in line of societies and floats will be hereafter announced in special orders.
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