USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1896-1901 > Part 6
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Flamingo Feather. Kirk Munroe 1029
Hildegarde's Home. Laura E. Richards 1031 Lion of St. Mark's. Venice in XIV. Century. G. A. Henty IO4[ Little Miss Phœbe Gay. Helen Dawes Brown IO2I
Little Miss Weezy's Sister. Penn Shirley 1035
Little Smoke. Wm. O Stoddard 1019
New Alice in the Old Wonderland. Anna M. Richards IO22
Old-Fashioned Fairy Book. Mrs. Burton Harrison 1034
One of the 28th. Tale of Waterloo. G. A. Henty 1043
Orcutt Girls, or One Term at the Academy. Charlotte M.
Vaile . 1046
87
Raftmates. Kirk Munroe 1027 Reign of Terror. Adventures of a Westminster Boy. G.
A. Henty. 1042
Saltillo Boys. Wm. O. Stoddard 1037
Seraph the Little Violiniste. Mrs. C. V. Jamison 1044 Short Stories for Short People. Alicia Aspinwall 1047
Strike at Shane's, The. 1033
Windfall, The. Wm. O. Stoddard 1039
Winter Fun. Wm. O. Stoddard 1038
Wonder Voyages. Ed. by Joseph Jacobs.
1048
L
Airs from Arcady. H. C. Bunner 3II
Architecture, History of. A. D. F. Hamlin
327
Browning, Robert. Poems. 9 vols.
331-9
China-Collecting in America. Alice Morse Earle 316 Clough, Arthur Hugh. Poems 314
Dickinson, Emily. Poems. Ed. by Mabel Loomis Todd. III Series.
340
European Architecture. Russell Sturgis
320
Fifty Years of English Song. Selected from Poets of Reign
of Victoria. Ed. by Henry F. Randolph. 4 vols. 3.22-5 Fletcher, Josiah Moody. Poems 317
Larcom, Lucy. Poems. .
315
Lusiad, The, or Discovery of India. Wm. Julius Mickle
330
Mediæval Art, History of. Dr. Franz von Reber .
32I
Painting, History of. John C. Van Dyke .
326
Perry, Nora. Poems .
313
Rhymes and Ballads. Susan Coolidge .
318
Rowen. H. C. Bunner
312
Sculpture, History of. Allan Marquand and Arthur L. Frothingham 328
Shakespeare's Holinshed. Chronicle and Classical Plays
Compared. W. G. Boswell-Stone 319
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A-Birding on a Bronco. Florence A. Merriam 882
About Paris. Richard Harding Davis 841
Academics, de Finibus, and Tusculan Disputations of Cicero. Trans. by C. D. Yonge 866
Bird-Land Echoes. Dr. C. C. Abbott
855
By Oak and Thorn. Alice Brown 840
Chat about Celebrities, A. Curtis Guild
853
Chronicle of the Cid. Robert Southey
847
Costume of Colonial Times. Alice Morse Earle 837
Critical Kit-Kats. Edmund Gosse 842
Curiosities of Olden Times. S. Baring-Gould
86I
Child World. James Whitcomb Riley 329
88
De Quincey, Thomas. Life and Works. David Masson. 14 vols. . 868-81 Elizabethan Literature and Characters of Shakespeare's Plays. Wm. Hazlitt . 865
English Poets, and Comic Writers. Wm. Hazlitt 864 English Prose Selections. Ed. by Henry Craik. 5 vols. 856-60
Florida Sketch Book. Bradford Torrey
835
Foot-Path Way. Bradford Torrey
834
House, The. Eugene Field
838
House Boat on the Styx. John Kendrick Bangs
833
Index of '95. Mass. Agricultural College
845
Joan of Arc. Personal Recollections. S. L. Clemens. (Mark Twain)
844
Kokoro. Hints and Echoes of Japanese Inner Life. Laf- cadio Hearn ·
839
Myths of the New World. Symbolism and Mythology of Red Race of America. Daniel G. Brinton
854
Old Colony Days. May Alden Ward 863
"Out of the East." Reveries and Studies in New Japan. Lafcadio Hearn . 867
Pastoral Days, or Memories of a New England Year. Wm. Hamilton Gibson 846
851-2 Phillips, Wendell. Speeches, Lectures, and Letters. 2 vols Quaint Nantucket. Wm Root Bliss 843 848
Shelf of Old Books. Mrs. James T. Fields
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley. Plays. 2 vols. 849-50
Utopia. Sir Thomas More. Trans. Raphe Robynson 883
What They Say in New England. Signs, Sayings and Superstitions. Coll. by Clifton Johnson 836
Year in the Fields. John Burroughs
862 .
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Annual Cyclopædia for 1895 165
Atlas of Classical Antiquities. Schreiber 172
Atlas, Statistical, U. S. Fletcher W. Hewes and Henry Gannett I71
Boston, Bacon's Dictionary of I68
Dictionary of Classical Literature and Antiquities. Ed. Harry Thurston Peck 173
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. E. C. Brewer 175
Historic Note-Book, with Appendix of Battles. E. C.
Brewer 174
Lowell Suburban Directory, 1896-7 166
Massachusetts in the Army and Navy, 1861-65. Prepared
by T. W. Higginson. Vol. I 163
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of Revolutionary War. Vols. I and II 169-70 Massachusetts Year Book and City and Town Register, ·
1896-7 . 167
PAMPHLETS.
A
Free Public Library Commission of Mass., report of. 1896 51 Hatch Experiment Station, report of. 1896 52 Prevention of Tuberculosis. Jas. B. Russell. IS96 ·
53 Public Reservations, report of trustees. 1895 54 · State Library, report of librarian. 1896 . 50
Statistics of Labor, Bureau of. 1875
55
B
Coast and Geodetic Survey :-
Bulletins. T. C. Mendenhall. 1-25 . 261-85
Constant of Aberration, Waikiki, Hawaiian Islands.
1893
Constant of Aberration at San Francisco, Cal., The . 287 286 Direction and Intensity of Earth's Magnetic Force at San Francisco, Cal. 1894 288 Distribution of Magnetic Declination in Alaska and Adjacent Waters. 1895 289
Fundamental Standards of Lengths and Mass. 1893 290 Legal Units of Electrical Measure in U. S. 1894 291 Methods and Results Illustrated at World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago. 1893 292 Results of Observations for the Variations of Latitude at Waikiki, Hawaiian Islands. 1893 . 293
Units of Electrical Measure. 1893 294
Code List of Merchant Vessels. 1895 295 . Consular Reports. Nos. 185-196. 12 vols. 296-307 Consular Reports. Special :
Money and Prices in Foreign Countries 308 Electric Light. Application to Lighting Coasts of France. Maj. D. P. Heap. 1883 309
Finance and Commerce of U. S. Monthly Summary, Feb .- Nov., 1896. 10 vols. · 310-19 Foreign Commerce and Navigation of U. S. 1896. 2 vols. 320-I Immigration and Passenger Movement at Ports of U. S. 1895 · Internal Revenue, report of Commissioner. 1896 322 Light-House Board, report of. 1873-8-9-80-3-5-6-7- 323
8-91-2-3-4-5. 14 vols. · 324-37
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Light-House Board :-
Aberrations of Audibility of Fog Signals. 1885. Arnold B. Johnson 338
Exhibit at World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago. 1893. Arnold B. Johnson . 339
341
342
Johnson 344
Sound Signals. 1884. Arnold B. Johnson 345 346-8
Merchant Vessels, list of. 1874-8-9. 3 vols. .
Navigation, report of Commissioner. 1884-5. 2 vols. · 349-50
Patents, report of Commissioner. 1871-94. 2 vols.
. 351-2
Statistical Abstract of U. S. 1878-96. 9 vols. · 353-61 Statistics, Bureau of :-
Cotton in Commerce. 1895 .
362
Exports of Domestic Merchandise. IS95 . 363
Imports for Consumption into U. S. 1895 364
Imports of Merchandise. 1895 .
365 Movement in Prices. 1840-94 . 366
Surgeon-General, report of. Marine Hospital Service of U. S. 1890 367
Treasury, report of Secretary on State of Finances. 1886 368
Treasury, report of Secretary on Collection of Duties. 1886 369
Treasury, report of Secretary on Commercial Relations between U. S. and Canada since 1821 370
World's Commerce, review of. 1894-5 371
M
Adams Library, Chelmsford, Finding List. 1896 5S
Bradford. Vt. Address given at Dedication of Library Building. 1896. J. H. Benton . 59
Essentials of Good Binding. John H. H. McNamee. 1896 60
61
Groton Public Library, catalogue. 1896 1895 .
.
62
Littleton, town report, 1896
63
Mass. Institute of Technology, catalogue. 1895-6
64
Old Residents' Historical Association, Lowell. Contribu- tions. 1896 . 65
Syracuse Central Library, N. Y. 1896 .
66
340
Fog Signal Experiments. Wm. R. Livermore. 1894 Lights and Fog Signals on Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of U. S. 1895 . . Lights and Fog Signals on Northern Lakes and Rivers Lights and Fog Signals on Pacific Coast, Dominion of Canada, and Coast of British Columbia. 1895 . Modern Light-House Service. ISS9. Arnold B.
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Forbes Library, Northampton, report of.
HON. J. VARNUM FLETCHER, DONOR OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING.
Dedication of the J. V. Fletcher Library Building.
At the annual town meeting held in March, 1896, the sum of six hundred dollars was voted for the dedication of the J. V. Fletcher Library. (An itemized statement of the expenses appears elsewhere in this report.)
The day appointed for the dedication was Thursday, the 4th of June. The weather was favorable, and the people of the town gladly left their work and made a pleasant holiday of the occasion. The widespread interest in the event was apparent from the large numbers who came from neighboring towns, from Lowell and Boston, and from many places more remote, to see the Library and to congratulate the people of Westford on their great good fortune in possessing it.
The inspection of the completed building and the treasures it contained, together with the fine music of the Salem Cadet Band, afforded ample entertainment during the forenoon. The formal exercises of the dedication were held in the afternoon in a large tent on the common.
When the dinner had been finished, the sides of the tent were raised, for there were many people who had gathered without, and Rev. L. H. Buckshorn opened the exercises with a prayer. William E. Frost, president of the day, made the address of welcome as follows :
Ladies and Gentlemen-The dedication of a library has ceased to be a novel event in the State of Massachusetts, or in the County of Middlesex. Within a year or two our sister towns of Groton, Chelmsford, Littleton and Carlisle have been presented with fine libraries, and have in public dedication given fitting expression of their gratitude to the donors and their appreciation of the gifts.
But the dedication of a library building in Westford has never been held before. For us, this occasion is unique and memorable, and it will always be regarded as one of the brightest and most auspicious in our local history.
In behalf of the people of Westford it is my privilege to welcome you all. To the sons and daughters of Westford who
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have come back today from far distant towns or states to the home of their childhood, to the public officers and representative citizens of neighboring towns, to the former students and alumni of the academy, to the distinguished gentlemen on this platform, whose eloquent words we are impatient to hear, we extend our heartiest greeting on this day of our pride and our joy.
Whether you now revisit the homes and friends of earlier years, whether you meet again your former classmates and teachers, or whether you have seen today for the first time the green fields and peaceful homes of our beloved town, we trust you may all bear away with you tonight pleasant memories of a day in which a gathering of happy people celebrated a beneficent institution and a noble deed. Above all do we rejoice at the presence of our benefactor. With hearts full of gratitude we welcome here the Boston merchant who has made philanthropy an essential part of his business, the wise and influential senator, the best beloved son of Westford, the honorable J. Varnum Fletcher. We are devoutly thankful that we receive our beautiful library, not through a clause of legal verbiage in a last will and testament, but from the generous hand of a living man ; that we need not gather around a grave and strive to send our message of gratitude and appreciation across the valley of the shadow of death, but that we can declare to him in person our sense of his grand benefaction to us, to our children and to our children's children .. The gift always proclaims something of the character and personality of the giver ; surely the influence of our library will be forever enhanced and dignified by the name it bears. Oak and] brick and granite are there , but they will carry to future ages no sinister suggestion of a miserly clutch unclasped orly by the king of terrors - they will perpetuate the gracious memory of munificence that was voluntary, of altruism that was pure.
But we do not meet today to dedicate a new library in West- ford, or to celebrate any belated introduction of books into our town. Far back in our history, in the year 1797, the Westford Social Library was established here; and the large number of citizens who contributed to its support affords ample proof that the love of books and an enlightened appreciation of their value and their uses existed here a century ago. The choice volumes of this ancient library are still on our shelves, bearing marks of diligent use by our forefathers and also attesting their thoughtful care. The
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first work they bought was Ferguson's "History of the Roman Republic," and for many years they chose only such books as had successfully endured the test of time and long-continued use ; thus they acted on the rule formulated by Emerson more than half a century later, to " read only famed books." Among their precious volumes were fine old editions of Plutarch and Gibbon, of Shakes- peare and Milton ; and fair hands long ago blended with the dust eagerly turned the leaves of the Spectator, and Rasselas, and the Vicar of Wakefield. Creative genius had not then enriched the realm of letters with the fin de siecle excellence of Trilby, and Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and the Heavenly Twins !
This was not a free library ; but the fee charged for the use of its books was very small, no restriction was placed on the number of shareholders, additions were made to it every year, and it was accessible every day in the week. The books were never with- drawn from use, nor sold, nor divided among the shareholders. In the year 1859, when its owners gave it to the town for the free use of the people, it contained more than 1300 volumes. The only conditions imposed by the donors were, that the library should be forever maintained at the expense of the town, and that not less than $30 worth of books should be added to it every year. For 99 years the people of Westford have had the use of excellent books; in the earlier time, for a merely nominal annual fee ; for nearly 40 years, entirely at the public expense.
At the centennial celebration of the founding of Westford Academy, held on this spot four years ago, it was eloquently said by the great orator of the occasion whose absence we regret today, that its founders knew the value of the. human soul. The estab- lishment of the Westford Social Library by the same men and their neighbors attests the truth of the assertion, and shows that they, a century ago, knew also that the library was the logical and necessary complement of the school.
Did we lay the foundation of our library a year ago? Was it not rather laid a hundred years ago by the noble men who found time, even while transforming the dense forest into the smooth green field, amid incessant toil and privation, to found and main- tain the Westford Social Library? The building is hardly less a monument and a memorial of them than it is of the donor who is the inheritor of their enlightened public spirit, their desire for a higher and purer civilization, and their unselfish devotion to every cause that seemed to make for human welfare.
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Unlovely traits there may have been in the character of the Puritan ; something of austerity and narrowness was doubtless there. Perhaps a trace of harshness is discoverable in the records of our library, as when, in 1798, they mercilessly fined Eleazer Hamlin ten cents because the book he borrowed was brought back " greased," and Dr. Charles Proctor had to pay six cents for al- lowing a leaf of his book to get "a little tallowed." Possibly both books needed lubricating. They collected ten cents from David Parker because the " History of Redemption" he had been reading was "stained"- perhaps with his tears. Even Zaccheus Wright, the president of the library, had to pay 25 cents because one leaf of the book he returned was burnt-a cruel thrust at official dignity. Perhaps he wanted to burn the entire volume. They fined William Nicholls 20 cents when he brought in " Para- dise Lost" with the cover torn. Whether the violence was done in a transport of rage when essaying to hurl the book at Moloch across
" The dark unbottomed infinite abyss,"
or whether in ecstasy at the glorious vision which rose before him when he read
" Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl,"
we cannot know. But assuredly it does not become us to belittle the men who redeemed New England from the wilderness, founded here the noblest states in the world, and made them the home of liberty, learning and law.
By unanimous vote the town has expressed its gratitude for Mr. Fletcher's gift. A century hence, ten centuries hence, his name will be remembered here, and his philanthropy appreciated. Of the fine significance of his act, of the excellence of his example, of the delights, the uses and the consolations of books and litera- ture, it is not for me to speak in this presence. The distinguished gentlemen whom you will gladly hear a little later, will discuss these subjects with wit and wisdom and persuasive eloquence which will make this day forever memorable in the annals of our town.
Again I greet you all, and bid you welcome.
After the band had played the famous " Indian War Dance,' by Bellstedt. Hon. J. Varnum Fletcher, the donor of the library, presented the building in these modest words ;
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Mr. Sherman H. Fletcher : - It is with the most profound satisfaction that I now give to you, as chairman of the Selectmen of Westford, this key, conveying with it to you and your associates and successors the possession of this library building, to be held by you and them as a sacred trust, in the strong assurance that it will be a treasure house from whence may be drawn by all the in- habitants of this, my native town, stores of wisdom, knowledge and entertainment for all time.
And in closing, I wish to thank you, Mr. Chairman, and you, associates of the building committee, for your earnest, thoughtful care, which has contributed so much to the successful completion of this building.
Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher responded as follows :
It is with sincere pleasure, as chairman of the Board of Select- men and in behalf of the citizens of Westford, that I receive from you the keys of this beautiful building. It will stand as a monu- ment to you, and old and young, rich and poor, all upon an equal footing, will drink inspiration from the fountains of knowledge stored within its walls. You can rest assured the name of the donor, J. V. Fletcher, inscribed above the portal, will be revered for years to come by a grateful people, who owe you a deep debt of gratitude for your generosity. The name of the Westford | Public Library ceases today, as I am instructed by vote of the town to accept this building as the J V. Fletcher Library.
As chairman of the building committee, it also devolves upon me to make a statement in regard to the construction of this building. At a special meeting of the inhabitants of Westford, held Nov. 6th, 1894, the town voted to authorize the Selectmen to select and take, as the place for the erection of a public library, for the use of the town, the land known as the Wright and Bancroft estates. On March 18th, 1895, the town voted to build a library, and at that meeting the Hon. J. V. Fletcher donated the sum of $10,000, increasing it afterwards to nearly $14,000, the town adding $5,000.
A building committee was elected, consisting of the following persons : - Sherman H. Fletcher, George W. Heywood, Julian A. Cameron, William E. Frost, Dr. W. J. Sleeper, George T. Day, Albert P. Richardson and Herbert V. Hildreth.
The committee invited architects to submit plans. Sixteen plans were submitted, and after careful consideration the plan
J. V. FLETCHER LIBRARY BUILDING.
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11
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of Mr. H. M. Francis of Fitchburg was accepted. Plans and specifications were given out to contractors for bids, and the con- tract was awarded to Mr. William C. Edwards, of this town, as the lowest bidder, for the sum of $13,280. The contract was signed June 28th, 1895. Work was commenced immediately, and has been honestly and faithfully done in all its particulars by the contractor. The men employed upon the building were excellent workmen, and the relations between the committee and them have always been very pleasant. In behalf of the committee, I want to express publicly our thanks to the contractor, Mr. William C. Edwards, and to his foreman, Mr. Edwin L. Wood, for the careful and excellent manner in which the work has been done.
To Mr. H. M. Francis, the architect, we are also under many obligations for his excellent plans and suggestions, and we wish to thank him most heartily.
The total amount expended under direction of the committee is as follows: Contract and architect fees, paid by Hon. J. V. Fletcher, $13,969 ; for furnaces, gas machine and fixtures, book- stacks, furniture, decorations, cementing cellar, sidewalk, grading, etc., paid by the town, $5,000. Total, in round numbers, $19,000.
The committee have worked hard and have given their services without charge in order to furnish our people a substantial and well arranged building. How well we have done we will leave it for you to say. The building is ready for occupancy, and we trust that you will find it acceptable.
Sherman H. Fletcher, as chairman of the Selectman, in presenting the keys to the Trustees, spoke as follows :
Mr. Chairman of the Board of Trustees :- The library build- ing having been completed to the acceptance of the building com- mittee, their responsibility ceases, and having been accepted by me from the donor in behalf of the town, your board becomes the custodian of the building, and I now have the honor and the pleasure to present the keys to you.
We leave it in the hands of you and your successors to keep its doors open wide to our people as an educator for this and com- ing generations.
In behalf of the Trustees the keys were accepted by the chair- man. Wm. E. Frost, in the following words :
Mr. Chairman :- I accept these keys with great pleasure, and am d'uly conscious of the responsibility the act involves. It shall
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be the aim of myself and my associates, as I doubt not it will be of our successors in office, so to administer the affairs of the J. V. Fletcher library that the wishes of the donor and the benefits of the institution may be fully realized
The Chairman : - I had hoped to have the pleasure of intro- ducing in this place ex-Governor John D. Long. You all know how highly he is appreciated in Westford, as well as elsewhere in the State and out of it. In this town all events are said to have occurred either before or after Mr. Long became Preceptor of Westford Academy, and made the institution famous. Given a Westford audience and Gov. Long on the platform, and the con- ditions of happiness exist.
But the Governor has written this morning that he is unex- pectedly detained from coming. We regret this very much ; the flow of eloquence, however, is not thereby to be stopped or stayed, but we shall go on with the programme.
You will now have the pleasure of listening to a gentleman who is worthy to speak either before or after Hon. John D. Long. The list of speakers at the dedication of the Gleason Library in Carlisle, as given in a Boston daily paper, contained the name of Rev. George A. Marden. The reverend gentleman is not with us today, but we have his namesake from Lowell, one of the brightest and wittiest of men. He is one of our young speakers. The gray matter of his brain has grown up through and is an inch thick all over his head-giving an appearance of age that is most deceptive. I present the Hon. George A. Marden.
9 HON. GEORGE A. MARDEN.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :- That welcome is "Frosty," but kindly. I wish you would go through the pro- gramme with me for a moment-after the address of welcome by the gentleman who has just exhibited himself, very properly, the band introduced an "Indian War Dance ;" after I get through they are to introduce "War Songs ;" after the Rev. Mr. Horton and ex-Gov. Boutwell (had he been here) we should have had a galop entitled, "The Night Express ;" my distinguished friend, Sherman Hoar, and the Senator from this district are named as "Twittering Birds ;" and when you get down to the venerable gentleman who represents the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the Library Commission, we are to be introduced to a jig entitled "Uncle
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"Rastus," with a wind-up, after the Rev. George H. Young, by a march entitled "The Salem Witches."
I suppose Frost made that programme; if he did, all the encomiums he has passed upon all the present speakers he should have reserved for himself.
I came over here today chiefly for two things: to ask J. V. Fletcher two questions. Of course, I came to see the town, and the library, to enjoy the ride and the season, and indulge in remi- niscence and see the folks; but I am chiefly here to ask J. V. Fletcher two questions. An old friend of mine he is. We have met-not upon the tented field-but under the "gilded dome." I am sorry that I am so much older than he is; the gray matter of his brain has got many years yet before it will climb into the prom- inence of mine ; but
Age cannot wither, Nor custom stale, his infinite variety.
I saw in the Massachusetts Year Book, day before yesterday, a list of the millionaires of Massachusetts, or rather, as it was headed, the "reputed millionaires," and one of them was J. V. Fletcher ; and with his name were the words, "Provisions and Banking." Whether he made more money on his beef, or on his bank, I don't know; I do know, today, however, there should be added to those two words the other word, "Philanthropy."
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