Town of Arlington annual report 1913, Part 30

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1913
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 712

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Not only is this gift of great material benefit to the Town, but it is exerting a moral influence as well. The example of public spirit which it affords is uplifting and inspiring. Public spirit and patriotism are kindred virtues. The former is to the community what the latter is to the country. It is a quality in which some men, otherwise estimable citizens, are sadly lacking. Such men are somewhat like the immigrant who was advised to become naturalized in order that he might enjoy the rights and privileges of an American citizen. Asking what would be required of him and being told that among other things he would have to swear to support the Constitu- tion, he replied disconsolately, "Then I cannot be naturalized,

for I cannot undertake to support the Constitution,- I have all I can do to support myself." So men often feel that in the struggle for maintaining themselves and their families they have no time left to devote to the public. To them and to all others as well this donation is instructive and impressive. The devotion to the public welfare of the Town which it signi- fies has awakened a new interest in civic affairs among us. This was demonstrated by the Pageant, which was the beautiful prelude to this Dedication and which was devised and carried on in a manner so creditable to all concerned. I was about to say that our citizens of all classes took part in it, but I will not put it that way for I always dislike by any form of words to imply that there is such a thing as the existence of class distinctions in a town like ours. Let me rather express the idea by saying that our people, regardless of differences in race, religion, party, birth, wealth, or condition in life, heartily and enthusiastically joined in it and thereby both manifested and strengthened that sentiment of fraternity and civic unity which conduces so much to the welfare of every community where it prevails. The prominent part taken in the Pageant by the women of Arlington is worthy of special mention. The idea of undertaking it originated with that representative organization, the Arlington Woman's Club, and was carried out largely under its auspices. The author of the Pageant, who in her work displayed so comprehensive and intimate a knowledge of historic and mythologie events and characters and so happy a faculty for combining them, is an Arlington woman. The part thus taken by the women of Arlington was peculiarly appropriate, inasmuch as the three trustees who have erected this building, one of whom, a past president of our Woman's Club, will today formally transfer it to the Town, are all Arlington women. No citizen of Arlington could view the superb spectacle without a feeling of local pride that his Town contained the cultured, efficient and public-spirited women and men who were capable of designing it and making it the grand success it was.

This is not only a public, but is a patriotic occasion as well. The service rendered today by the veterans of our Grand Army Post in raising, as a part of these dedicatory exercises, the flag under which and for which they risked their lives in "the

THE HALL

الجحيب

times that tried men's souls" half a century ago, recalls the past, and in reviewing it we are reminded that during the current year occurs the semi-centennial of the battle of Gettys- burg, fought in July, 1863, and also the like anniversary of Lincoln's immortal Gettysburg speech, delivered in November of that year at the dedication of the burial ground of the patriots who died for their country upon that historic battle- field. In that speech he uttered these words which, oft re- peated and familiar as they are, I may be pardoned for repeating here as they seem to me to be capable of an application to such an occasion as this and to set forth the duty which every dedication should impress upon those taking part in it. Refer- ring to the soldiers who fell he said:

"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it cannot forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work that they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task re- maining before us; that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation shall, under God, have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth."

That speech was made when the nation was confronting the dangers of war. But as it is said that "peace hath her vic- tories no less than war" so peace has her dangers no less than war. The questions which they involve are ultimately to be settled, not by bullets, as in war, but by ballots cast in the voting places of the nation such as this in which we are assembled today. Hence it seems to me that one of the lessons of the hour may be stated by this adaptation of those patriotic words of the great President: that it is for us as good citizens to be here dedicated to the task of contributing, to the extent of our ability and opportunity, both as voters and in every other way, to the cause of safeguarding against the perils which menace it in the present the precious possession for which Lincoln pleaded in the past, "Government of the people, by the people and for the people."

INTRODUCTION OF THE GOVERNOR.

In introducing Governor Foss, Mr. Brackett said: “In meeting as we do upon this June day it is interesting to re- member that three other important events in our municipal history have also occurred in the month of June. In that month, in 1807, the act incorporating the Town of West Cam- bridge took effect. Sixty years later, in June, 1867, was held the memorable celebration of the change of name from West Cambridge to Arlington. Again, in June, 1907, the like mem- orable celebration of the centennial of the incorporation of the Town took place. At both of these celebrations the Common- wealth was officially represented, at the first by Governor Bullock, and at the second by Governor Guild. Upon this second occasion it was my privilege to introduce Governor Guild; and today it is a like privilege to introduce Gover- nor Foss, who honors us with his presence, and whom we all honor not only as the chief magistrate of the Commonwealth, but as a man, for the ability, progressiveness, intelligence, independence and loyalty to his convictions which have charac- terized his administration of the duties of the high position which he holds.

I now have the pleasure of presenting His Excellency Gover- nor Foss.

ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR EUGENE N. FOSS.

Mr. Chairman and Ladies and Gentlemen: It is indeed a great pleasure to come over here today and join with you in the Dedication of this magnificent building, a pleasure to bring the greetings of the Commonwealth to the citizens of Arlington upon this occasion. Arlington has no need of a magnificent building like this to attest its interest in public affairs. The State has turned to Arlington in the past for some of its dis- tinguished servants, and the gentleman who has introduced me here today has honored the State as its chief executive. I am also reminded that Arlington is the home of more than one justice of the courts and a short time ago when Boston needed a new justice, I came to Arlington for that young man. So I say Arlington has distinguished herself by contributing to the State her distinguished sons.

I think it was John Ruskin who said that public buildings of this character ought to be contributed by public-spirited citizens; and I think that was so to a much greater extent than it is done at the present time. I have been impressed myself in my short service in public life with the fact that the State was doing more than it should do for the good of its citizens in certain directions, that we were taking the responsibility and the privilege, if you please, from individual citizens, from

ONE OF THE MEMORIAL FOUNTAINS

groups of citizens, from towns and municipalities of contribut- ing to the public good, not alone in constructing these public buildings like this one which you are dedicating here today, but in the care of the unfortunate citizens of the State, that the State was reaching out to take charge of every individual. How much better it would be if the citizen as an individual

could fill that responsibility and care for that individual, or for a group of individuals in the giving to helpless charges public buildings of this sort. I think that the State, as I said, is perhaps going further than it safely could in this direction by exercising that paternal care which it is doing in a great many directions.

ONE OF THE MARBLE VASES

I am not here today to make any speech, as I said at the outset, I am simply here to bring you the greetings of the State. This is truly a magnificent building, wonderfully equipped for its purposes. I have been by here frequently during the course of its construction, and have had occasion

to inquire what this magnificent building was to be used for; but I did not know until I reached here today who the archi- tect was, and when I made that discovery I was reminded that it was twenty-nine years ago this month when I first saw and spoke with Clipston Sturgis on the way to England; and I don't believe I have ever seen him to know him or to speak with him from that day until this, but of course we have known of him for his works throughout the State and throughout the United States; and I want to congratulate him upon this magnificent building, as well as the citizens of the Town in having this magnificent gift which they are dedicat- ing here today. I thank you, gentlemen.

THE LABORATORY

MR. BRACKETT: It was expected and hoped that we were to have this gathering today graced by the presence both of His Excellency the Governor and of his Honor the Lieutenant Governor. I conveyed to the latter several weeks ago an invitation to be here, which he very cordially accepted, express- ing the gratification it would give him to be present; but today an important engagement has detained him, and I have received the following telegram from him:

"Regret exceedingly I cannot be with you today. Please extend my congratulations to the people of Arlington upon the magnificent gift that becomes theirs today through the generos- ity of a public-spirited citizen.

DAVID I. WALSH, Fitchburg, Mass."

STAGE SCENERY

Following selections by the orchestra, the President presented Miss Ida F. Robbins of the legatees and Mr. Frank V. Noyes, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Arlington.

PRESENTATION OF ROBBINS MEMORIAL

TOWN HALL.

MR. BRACKETT: At the Pageant a model of this new Town Hall was presented to the incorporated Town impersonated by a woman of Arlington. Today this model Town Hall itself will be presented to the Town by a woman of Arlington, to whom and to our profound obligations to whom as one of the donors of this splendid gift I referred in my opening remarks. It now gives me especial pleasure to present Miss Robbins, who in behalf of herself and her sisters and co-trustees will deliver the keys of the building, and also Mr. Noyes, the

efficient and popular Chairman of our Board of Selectmen, who will accept them in behalf of the Town, this delivery and acceptance signifying the transfer of the building from the trustees who have erected and equipped it to the Town which is to possess and enjoy it; Miss Robbins and Mr. Noyes.

---

STAGE SCENERY

MISS IDA F. ROBBINS.

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Arling- ton: It is the privilege of my sisters and myself to pass over to you this afternoon the key to the new Town Hall, the gift of our cousin, Winfield Robbins, in memory of his father, Amos Robbins.

We hope that the new building will in every way answer the various purposes for which it is intended, and that our townspeople will take a just pride in its care and maintenance, and in that of the garden adjoining, which has been established in grateful remembrance of Winfield Robbins.

Mr. Chairman, it is our desire to acknowledge here our debt to the architect, to whose judgment and taste the beauty, solidity and convenience of this building are due; and to express our thanks to the many workmen for whose labor we have only

words of praise. We would also thank the townspeople and the officers of the Town for their courtesy and consideration.

ACCEPTANCE OF GIFT.

BY FRANK V. NOYES, CHAIRMAN BOARD OF SELECTMEN.

As Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Arlington, and as a servant of its citizens, it is my great and honored privilege at this time to be the humble spokesman of all the people. No words of mine can give proper expression to the deep and sincere appreciation of this beautiful gift, so nobly conceived and fittingly bestowed by you, the legatees under the will of your cousin, Mr. Winfield Robbins, in memory of your uncle, Mr. Amos Robbins.

As we survey this beautiful building, we are impressed with its careful planning, serving so perfectly the executive and administrative requirements of our Town; the generosity of its furnishings and equipment throughout for safety, health and convenience, and the broad and liberal interpretation of the will by the legatees, again causes us to turn to you with sincere thanksgiving and silent admiration.

Assembled here in this magnificent Auditorium, with its reminders all about us of lavish expenditure, care, thought and finished study of the artistic, with its beautiful exterior and fine gardens adjacent, we are inspired by the word "character" written in every line of this fair structure.

Character, that greatest, best and noblest attribute of the human race; character, without which no great movement of reform ever succeeds, no business or commercial enterprise can long endure, and without which we cannot have a just form of government by the people; and if we do not keep constantly as our watchword "character," we retrogress and our physical and moral safety is jeopardized. Mr. Winfield Robbins, the donor of this our beautiful municipal home, was a man of character, always quiet and unassuming in his tastes, yet always mindful of the welfare of others and therefore splendidly unselfish, and though he has passed on, there remains to us this beautiful monument in loving memory of Mr. Winfield Robbins and Mr. Amos Robbins.

And now, let us not trust to human effort alone, but ac-

knowledge the power and goodness of Almighty God who presides over us all and is the great giver of character, and may his blessing rest upon our labors, and may loyalty, co- operation and courage for the right, which have formed the basis of our great Republic, so impress us at this time that we shall grow and expand along the paths of righteousness, so that it may truly be said that we are indeed worthy of this great gift.

MR. BRACKETT: Miss Robbins has appreciatively referred to the work of the architect by saying that to his judgment and taste the beauty, solidity and convenience of this building are due. In view of his services thus appropriately acknowledged and his high standing in his profession, to which Governor Foss has alluded, I know that you will be glad to see and hear him today, and I now have the pleasure of presenting the architect of this beautiful building, R. Clipston Sturgis.

REMARKS OF R. CLIPSTON STURGIS.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am not going to speak to you as architect of this building, but I am going to explain in the first place that I am here under false pretences, that I am not one of the invited speakers for this occasion, but that I especially requested that I should be allowed to say a few words to you people of Arlington, to tell you just one or two things that I believe I know better than anybody else. I want to tell you about the very unusual, the very perfect, the very beautiful service that has been given to the Town by the three who have administered this trust.

Probably all of you know that it is a very difficult thing to satisfy an owner. Architects know this. In this particular case there were two owners, he who had left the money for this Town Hall, and who was but a memory, whose wishes could be referred to only by memory, and that composite personality here, the Town, with its officers, its committees, its individuals, all of whom were to be satisfied in some way or another.

Architecture is distinctly a matter of compromise. You cannot get all that you want, and no owner is ever satisfied; and here there were two owners to be satisfied; and these

ladies stepped into the breach, to see that those two owners were satisfied. I am going to give you just two examples out of an innumerable list, to show just how they met any particu- lar proposition that came up to them. When this building was first given to me to design there was a certain definite, limited sum, and I designed a building in red brick with white marble, in a way suitable, simple in line, in Colonial style, but they remembered and realized that their cousin did not care very much for red brick, and wanted to know how much more it would cost to execute it in stone. I told them and they said, "Then it will be stone." Not the slightest hesita- tion. That is an example. On another occasion we learned when the building was pretty well toward completion, that in a Town Hall like this they ought to have a laboratory, which had not been provided for. It was a very costly thing to put in. However there was no hesitation, not the slightest; it was installed at once, just as complete and as perfect as we could make it.

Now, that is characteristic of their attitude through all, an absolute disregard of self, and an absolute singleness of purpose; and, not being content with that, to make the gift perfect and complete, they looked around to see what other things they could find to give the Town. So they gave the memorial out in the grounds, Mr. Dallin's beautiful figure which you will see presently, in its sylvan setting. They gave those two marble fountains in memory of Miss Caroline Robbins and Miss Caira Robbins, the namesake of our own Miss Caira here. And then not having yet found everything that they wanted to give, they gave the flagpole, with its marble and bronze base, which by and by will be completed and beautified with Mr. Dallin's figures.

And that is why I wanted to speak to you, just to say from my point of view, who have seen this thing grow step by step, that you had a very unusual group of sisters who have handled this work for you; and I hope the Town of Arlington will never forget the debt of gratitude which it owes to them, for their thought, for their consideration, for their devotedness.

After selections by the orchestra, the President presented Hon. Samuel J. Elder of Winchester, orator of the day, as follows:

MR. BRACKETT: When the question came up as to who should be invited to deliver the oration upon this occasion, we pleasantly remembered that many years ago when Win- chester and Arlington constituted a legislative district, a young man from the former town at one time represented the district, and represented it with such ability that his constituents would gladly have availed themselves of his continued services as their representative; but he preferred not to remain in official life, but to devote his time and talents to the practice of his profession, which he has done with such success that he has attained the very front rank among the lawyers of the land. This was notably attested by his appointment by the President three years ago as one of the counsel to represent the United States before the Hague Tribunal upon the question between this country and Great Britain relating to the fisher- ies; and there he won his country's case, as he usually wins his clients' cases in court.

Aware of his achievements as legislator, lawyer and orator, we felt that no better selection could be made for orator of the day than that of the Hon. Samuel J. Elder, whom I now have the pleasure of presenting.

ORATION BY HON. SAMUEL J. ELDER.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I observe upon the programme of the day that the words to be spoken by our distinguished fellow townsman who has just so kindly intro- duced me, and whom we formerly honored as we do now as the chief executive of the old Commonwealth of Massachusetts. are described as an opening address; and I notice also that the words of His Excellency the Governor are described as an address; and I also notice that the words of his Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, whose presence we so sadly miss, are described as an address; and then the brilliant words of the architect of this building, the delightful and charming tribute which he has paid to the donors, are described as remarks; and coming further down upon the list, I notice that those words which are to be spoken by your ever-beloved townsman, beloved not merely by you and beloved by us, but beloved by everybody through three generations of American citizens,

are described also as remarks; while the words which I am to speak are described as an oration. Well, I want to relieve your minds at once on the subject of the oration. It is a good deal as the boy said when he was asked for the core who said, "There ain't going to be no core." Arlington does not need an oration.

ENTRANCE TO BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS OFFICES

Looking back, I find that you six years ago celebrated the centennial of the incorporation of the Town, and on that date an historical address was pronounced before you. Certainly for another century, ninety-four years at least, you will not require another oration of an historical character. I do not mean that I heard that one, I give it the meed of praise that I am certain it so rightly deserved. I notice also that you have for three days been preparing the presentation of this delightful

building, so I must say to you as Mark Antony said to them in the forum, "I am no orator as Brutus is."

I am coming as a neighbor and well-nigh fellow townsman to celebrate with you the opening of this Town Hall. I am delighted to have the opportunity to do so, for we in Win- chester feel that we are pretty near fellow townsmen of yours, and we have good reason to. Why, one of the first recollec- tions I have about Winchester is having pointed out to me that great stone wall that ran from the upper Mystic up to Church Street, what was formerly known as Hufmaster's Lane, and being told that that stone wall was the ancient boundary of Menotomy, so that about one-third of the township had already been in Menotomy, now Arlington. We used to be told of one of our former citizens, now passed away, who lived in an old house now passed away also, as old houses and old citizens are apt to do, who by residing in that same house all the time lived in four townships. Edward Everett, living in that same house, must have lived, as far as I can ascertain, in at least three towns, and he never changed his residence at all. He lived in Charlestown and he lived in West Cambridge and he lived in Winchester, and he would have lived in Arling- ton if you had changed your name seventeen years earlier than you did. So that we claim, and if I may be pardoned for saying it, I myself lived on territory just across the bound- ary line, one of those invisible lines that you cannot make out on the map, just across the line in what was formerly the territory of what is now Arlington. In speaking of myself again, if you will pardon ine, the two towns were parts for many years of the same representative district, and I had the great honor as a young man, a resident of Winchester, of serving as its and your representative in the House of Repre- sentatives of the Legislature, and sitting, I won't say under the shadow, it was not under the shadow but under the brilliancy of your fellow townsman, then Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. I could not very well call myself his right- hand man at that time, because I sat on his left hand then, as I have been sitting on his left hand here; but I was under his direction and under his dominating force, as well as under his encouragement then as now.

That is not all the relationship between the two towns. The

territory occupied by each of us at the present time was formerly under the same Queen, before the days of the Com- monwealth, before the days of the Colony, before the days of the King, this territory was all ruled by the same Queen. I doubt very much if any of you remember her name, or could pronounce it if you did remember. I cannot do the latter, and therefore I will avoid the effort to do so; but here was her home, her last residence was on that hill overlooking the shore where your magnificent Pageant was displayed only a few weeks ago. Turning from the shore and looking up the hill, you might have seen the site of the last home of the Squa-Sachem who ruled this entire territory, if we may believe some of the old Colonial records. In one of those records is a plea to the old Colonial governor by other tribes of Indians for protection against the Squa-Sachem, the dominating char- acter which then ruled this territory. The teeming lake over yonder furnished her people with abundant food both summer and winter; they wandered over these hills and forests with no suspicion whatever of coming town lines, and their women toiled in the fields as our women, we must not say women, as our ladies do not, for they toil not, we hope, neither do they spin; and their Medicine Man, as the story goes, raised every herb that was known to grow in northern latitudes for the healing of his people, right by the shore of the little brook that runs through the Winchester golf grounds into your Lake and our Lake.

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Town of Arlington annual report 1913, Part 30

Author: Arlington (Mass.) Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Number of Pages: 712

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1913
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 712