USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Winthrop > An Account of the centennial celebration at Winthrop, Me., May 20, 1871 : embracing the historic address and poem in full > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 3107
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/accountofcentenn1871wint
AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
AT
WINTHROP, ME., MAY 20, 1871,
EMBRACING THE.
Historic Address and Poem in Full.
THE NEWBERRY LII RARY CI. CAGO
"Sweet clime of my kindred, blest land of my birth, The fairest, the dearest, the brightest on earth; Where'er I may roam - how'er blest I may be, My spirit instinctively turns unto thee."
AUGUSTA : SPRAGUE, OWEN & NASH, PRINTERS. 1871.
08
.1.70109
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION AT
WINTHROP, ME.,
MAY 20, 1871.
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Winthrop, Me. An account of the centennial celebration at Winthrop, Me., . May 20, 1871, embracing the historic address and poem in full ... Augusta, Sprague, Owen & Nash, printers, 1871.
69 p. 23cm. Historie address by S. P. Benson ; poem by J. W. May.
CHELF CARD .
1. Winthrop, Me .- HIst. II. May, John Walker, 1828-1809.
I. Benson, Samuel Page, 1804-1S76.
.
1-0035
Library of Congress
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
Origin and Prior Arrangement.
On the fourteenth of March, 1871, by invitation of Rev. Edward P. Baker, there assembled at a private interview, a few citizens of Winthrop village, to consider the question of celebrating some- time during the current year, the one-hundredth anniversary of the town's incorporation or first organization .* At this meeting it was agreed that it was desirable to have such a celebration, that the twentieth of May following was the most suitable day for it, (that being the day, one hundred years ago, when the first town meeting assembled,) and that the first step to be taken in the matter was to secure some prominent gentleman from abroad to speak on the occasion. Subsequent correspondence procured a promise from Ex-Governor Chamberlain to be present on the day of the proposed celebration and address the assembled people ; and thereupon, in obedience. to a call issued by the Selectmen, there assembled a mass meeting in the Town Hall, April 6th, to formally. consider and decide the question of a celebration, and to inaugu- rate whatever measures might be deemed desirable in the case. This mass meeting voted to celebrate the twentieth of May follow- ing, as the one-hundredth anniversary of the town's first organi- zation, and elected a central Executive Committee to make out the plan of the celebration and carry the same into execution, empow- ering it to raise funds, appoint sub-committees and fill vacancies. The following persons were chosen on this Committee:
At Large-Rev. Edward P. Baker.
District No. 1-Cyrus S. Robbins, Mrs. C. S. Robbins.
* At the annual town meeting, held the day before, a vote had been passed to have such a cz.rles- tion, and appropriating likewise $150 towards defraying expenses, which vote was salary, study rescinded, on the ground that the town could not legally appropriate money for such a purpose.
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
District No. 2-Josiah Snell, C. N. Maxwell, Mrs. B. P. Briggs, Mrs. H. A. Stanley, (resigned.)
District No. 3-Edward P. Whiting, Mrs. 'Martin A. Foster, (resigned) Edwin S. Briggs, (resigned) Mrs. Edwin S. Briggs, (resigned.)
District No. 4-F. H. McIntire, A. P. Snow, Henry Woodward, L. P. Moody, Mrs. J. B. Fillebrowne, Mrs. E. P. Baker, Mrs. Cyrus Bishop, Mrs. J. M. Benjamin.
District No. 5-Joseph R. Nelson, Mrs. Joseph R. Nelson.
District No. 6-Nathan Kimball, Mrs. Nathan Kimball.
District No. 7-T. W. Stevens, Mrs. Samuel Crane.
District No. 8-John K. Lowell, (resigned) Mrs. B. W. Chan- dler.
District No. 9-John P. Putnam, Mrs. Albert Sturtevant.
District No. 10-Nelson Packard, Mrs. Nelson Packard.
Subsequently added, Mr. Abial Robinson, Mrs. Abial Robinson, Mr. Samuel Jackson, Mrs. Samuel Jackson, Mr. B. P. Briggs, (resigned) Mr. Albert Sturtevant, (resigned) Mr. J. E. Brainard, Mrs. J. P. Putnam, Mr. Bradock W. Chandler.
The Executive Committee held its first meeting April 8th, and organized by choosing Dr. A. P. Snow, Chairman,* and L. P. Moody, Secretary.
The plan for the celebration finally agreed upon was (concisely stated) as follows :
A Salute of one hundred guns, fifty at sunrise and fifty at sun- set, accompanied by the ringing of all the bells in the village ; a procession, consisting of all the schools in town, in appropriate costume; antiquarian and symbolic representations and the trades ; literary exercises at the speakers' stand ; music, both instrumental and vocal ; dinner under a tent, toasts and after-dinner speeches.
For the execution of this general plan the following sub-Com- mittees were appointed :
* Resigned the office of Chairman, May 11th.
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
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COMMITTEE ON INVITATIONS AND LITERARY EXERCISES. This Com- mittee, among other things, issued the following circular :
THE WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
The citizens of Winthrop, Kennebec County, Maine, are proposing to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the town's first organization, on the twentieth of May next. Extensive arrangements are being made 80 to observe the day that it shall suitably mark the lapse of a century.
It is expected there will be, among other things, an address from ex-Gov. Chamberlain, a historic sketch of the town, a poem, music, a dinner, a proces- sion of the schools, and antiquarian representations.
It is hoped that all natives of the town, all former residents, all particularly interested in the place, and especially all to whom this circular is sent, will make it convenient to be present and enjoy the day's festivities.
C. M. BAILEY, Committee EDWARD P. BAKER, for the town.
C. A. WING,
Winthrop, April 20, 1871.
About five hundred copies of this circular were sent by mail to natives of the town, former residents and friends living in other places.
COMMITTEE ON BAND MUSIC,-which Committee was also made COMMITTEE ON RAILWAY TRAINS ;
VOCAL MUSIC;
66 " SALUTE ;
PROCESSION ;
" DINNER ;
" SPEAKERS' STAND AND TENT ;
GUEST TABLE ;
" ANTIQUITIES ;
ARCHES ;
Besides the sub-Committees above referred to, there were Com- mittees appointed in the several districts, who had charge of special departments, such as costumes, banners and dinner table.
Much effort was put forth outside of committees. The citizens of the town contributed largely to defray the expenses of the cele- bration. The amount of money contributions was, in round num- bers, $800, to which should be added contribution of time, labor,
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
influence, and provisions for the table, which were far more in value than the contributions of money. There was interest felt in the enterprise outside of Winthrop. The newspapers cordially noticed the coming celebration, and the Maine Central Railroad Company made special arrangements to run extra trains, at reduced fare, on that day, to accommodate the people.
The officers of the day, elected by the Executive Committee, were :
President of the Day-HENRY WOODWARD, Esq.
Vice Presidents-J. P. PUTNAM, J. R. NELSON and J. B. FILLE- BROWNE.
Chief Marshal-C. A. WING.
Ex-Governor J. L. CHAMBERLAIN had already been engaged to give an address.
Hon. S. P. BENSON of Brunswick, and J. W. MAY, Esq., of Auburn, both natives of Winthrop, had been likewise engaged to deliver the one a historic sketch, the other a poem.
The speakers' stand was erected in the space in front of the Town Hall, and the tent (capable of seating one thousand, and affording standing room for a much larger number) was pitched in the yard of the Congregational Church. Tickets of admission to the tent to the number of sixteen hundred were distributed to the people of the town, and about four hundred special tickets to invited guests.
The officers of the town appointed for the occasion a special . police force, for the preservation of order.
Public interest in the celebration steadily deepened as the time drew near, and it was generally conceded for days previous that on the coming 20th, should the weather be favorable, Winthrop would witness a gathering of people in its streets such as it had never seen before, and would probably never again .*
* On the evening preceding, Chandler's Band of Portland, gave a concert of rare artistic music, in the Town Hall, which was well filled with a select and appreciative audience.
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
The Day
Was the finest of the spring,-a summer day in fact, as regards temperature and beauty. A gentle shower of the preceding night had laid the dust and enlivened the air. The weather-wise who had for weeks before been predicting that the day would be rainy, were this time shown to be false prophets.
The hour of sunrise was signalized by the firing of fifty guns on Town House hill, (a brass twelve pounder having previously been obtained from the polite and patriotic Commandant of the U. S. Arsenal at Augusta) and the ringing of all the bells in the village.
The hours of early morning witnessed the advent of the citizens of Winthrop and their families to the tent, bringing provisions for the tables, the gradual accumulation of people in the streets, and the hurrying to and fro of officers and committees in the discharge of their respective duties.
At nine o'clock, the procession commenced to form, under the supervision and direction of Chief Marshal C. A. Wing, aided by Marshals L. P. Moody, C. B. Fillebrowne, B. S. Kelly and A. C. Carr; it began to move about ten o'clock, and proceeded the fol- lowing route :
Starting from the Railway Station, it moved south along Main street; thence east into street leading by Oil Cloth Factories to Royal street; thence north on said street to Main street; thence down Main street into Bowdoin street; thence along Bowdoin street into Causeway street ; thence into the new street west of the railroad ; thence to the Railway Station, again into Main street ; thence along Main street into Elm street ; thence up Elm street, round through Bowdoin into Main street again, and thence to the speakers' stand in front of the Town Hall .*
* On its final passage through Main street, its centre being opposite the hotel, the procession halted to receive into its ranks the officers of the day, the orator, poet and distinguished guests. Among the gentlemen present, were His Excellency, Gov. Per- ham ; Ex-Gov. Chamberlain ; Mayor Garcelon of Lewiston ; Judge May ; Hon. S. P. Benson ; Brown Thurston, Esq., of Portland, son of " Father Thurston"; W. S. Noyes,
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
The procession was three-quarters of a mile in length, and moved in the order of the School Districts, as follows :
1. Winthrop Brass Band.
2. Twelve aged citizens of the town, riding in a carriage, bear- ing a banner inscribed-"18th Century."
3. Town officers, bearing a banner inscribed-" 19th Century."
4. A banner inscribed with the names of the officers chosen at the first town meeting, borne by a lineal descendant of Timothy Foster, one of the first selectmen.
DISTRICT NO. 1.
1. A banner, on which was inscribed-" District No. 1, the Earliest Settled."
2. A carriage with Robbin's nest, containing the four little children of Mr. C. S. Robbins, a descendant of the first settler, in a carriage with banner bearing these lines :
" The best laid schemes o' mice an' men .
Gang aft aglay,"
But Robbins sing and build their nest For our centennary.
3. Carriage containing school children of the District, the girls wearing blue sashes, and the boys with a blue stripe on their pants and figure "1" in blue on their shoulders. The carriage had a banner with this inscription, " We are A,-No. 1." Across the carriage extended this motto, the only Latin motto in the pro- cession, " Hæc olim meminisse juvabit."
4. A plain carriage, in which rode the elder people of the Dis- trict.
5. A hay-rack on wheels, containing an old well-curb, sweep and bucket, a girl playing a melodeon, and people around singing the song of " The Old Oaken Bucket."
Esq., the publisher of the first newspaper issued in Winthrop ; A. S. Washburn, Esq., of Hallowell ; B. H. Cushman and A. B. Farwell, Esqs., of Augusta ; Col. F. M. Drew of Brunswick, and many other gentlemen of prominence. It was the intention of Hon. James G. Blaine to be present, but he was unexpectedly called to attend to business in the Middle States.
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
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6. An old and noted fisherman of the town carrying a banner which had for tassels on each lower corner, a cluster of one-half dozen or so of very little fish, inscribed with the words, " Codfish Aristocracy." " A few fish in town better than any caught out."
DISTRICT NO. 2.
Seventeen girls dressed in white, with blue overskirts, and white hats, trimmed with red ; twenty-two boys, with blue sashes, a gilt star on the left shoulder, and fastened with a rosette of red, white and blue. They rode in a four-horse and two-horse wagon, arched with evergreen trees, and elaborately trimmed ; both horses and wagons decorated with flags, carrying a banner with "Fidelity" inscribed thereon.
DISTRICT NO. 3.
The girls of this district, riding, wore white dresses, blue sashes, and the figure "3" on the bosom. The boys, on foot, wore a figure "3" in their caps, a rosette of Red, White and Blue, on the left shoulder, and blue sashes. The banner was white, with gilt lettering, and trimmed with green. Its inscription was- "1771-1871." "We cherish the home of our Fathers."
DISTRICT No. 4, (Village District. )
1. District banner borne by a young man on foot. On this was inscribed-"Our Common Schools. The tree our fathers planted we will nourish and protect."
2. An Indian family in a wigwam. The wigwam was con- structed of evergreen trees and boughs, also surrounded by trees. In the center was a couch made of boughs and covered with a wolfskin robe. The family consisted of two chiefs, two squaws and three pappooses. The women were making baskets, and the children played with and fed the dogs, while the men stood look- ing on, with bows and arrows in their hands. All were dressed in true Indian style.
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
3. Eight young men, dressed as pioneers, with axes over their shoulders.
4. The Primary School, accompanied by its teachers, in a car- riage trimmed with evergreen. The girls were dressed in white, with blue sashes around their waists, and white hats, trimmed with red. The boys wore white pants and shirts, blue sashes over the shoulder, and red Scotch caps. On their banner was inscribed-" We are a happy band."
5. A man going to mill, on foot, with the grist on his shoulder. He was dressed in ancient style, and, although the bag contained nothing heavier than bran, he plodded along as if ready to drop under the burden. 4
6. A barge carriage drawn by oxen, in which were represented the mothers and daughters of 1771. One was spinning on a large wheel, another reeling yarn, another combing flax, one carding wool, one at a quill wheel, another doubling yarn, two knitting and one mending. All were dressed in ancient costume.
7. Visiting in the last century. A gentleman and lady on horseback ; the lady riding on a pillion, and both dressed in very ancient style; he carried a wooden bread trough before him, to rep- resent the story in the " History of Winthrop," of Mr. Fairbanks and Mrs. Wood,-the gentleman being a lineal descendant of the hero of that story and carrying the identical bread trough.
8. A carriage with a canopy, supported by pillars, all profusely decorated with evergreen. In this were the "Seasons" and "Day" and "Night." "Spring" was dressed in white, with evergreen trim- mings ; "Summer" wore white, with pink trimmings, flowers crown- ed her head, and a large cornucopia filled with flowers, hung at her side ; "Autumn" was dressed like a harvester, and carried a sickle, while at his feet were corn, wheat, and a basket of fruit ; "Winter" was clothed in fur ; "Day" was dressed in white, with blue drapery ; while "Night" wore black covered with stars, a black veil studded with stars falling over her. On their banner was the inscription-
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
"Seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, day and night, shall not cease."
9. A woman on horseback, going to mill, dressed in antique style.
10. The Portland Band.
11. "WINTHROP" represented by a young lady dressed in pure white, with a crown upon her forehead, bearing the word " Win- throp.' She was standing in an open carriage, and supported a banner, on which was inscribed-"Winthrop welcomes her friends on her 100th birthday."
12. Intermediate School, in a large boat on wheels, drawn by oxen. The boys wore white pants, blue shirts and tarpaulin hats ; the girls were dressed in white, with blue shawls and aprons, and hats trimmed with blue. They carried a banner with the inscrip- tion-"We look to Maine for our seamen."
13. A carriage, with boys, carrying the Maine coat of arms.
14. "Going to church in 1771," was represented by a gentleman and lady on horseback ; the lady rode on a pillion, and both were dressed in the fashion of 1771. They were followed by a gentle- man and lady dressed in the latest style and riding in a nice top- buggy, representing "Going to church in 1871."
15. A country store, bearing the sign of "Nathaniel Bishop," the first storekeeper in town. It contained a great variety of articles, dress-goods, hardware, confectionery, groceries, &c., &c. The merchant, dressed in very ancient costume, was busily en- gaged sweeping his store, in imitation of his worthy ancestor.
16. A carriage with a busy company engaged in domestic em- ' ployments peculiar to ancient times. One man was cobbling, another stripping a broom. One woman was dipping candles in an old-fashioned iron pot; the candle rods were ancient, having belonged to one of our first settlers. Another woman was spinning on a flax wheel, and a neighbor was making a call upon them, wearing a scarlet cloak more than one hundred years old, and a huge bonnet and veil to correspond.
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
17. The first "Temperance Pledge" in Winthrop, drafted and signed in 1829, and containing four hundred and forty names, was nailed to a staff, and carried by a temperance veteran, on foot. The names were written in double columns, and the whole docu- ment was about six feet in length.
18. An ancient parson and lady, riding in an old-fashioned chaise. He wore a three-cornered hat, big wig, muslin bands and knee-breeches. She was dressed in a style to correspond.
.19. An ancient doctor on horseback. He, too, wore a three- cornered hat, a big powdered wig, ruffles at his wrists, and knee- breeches. His saddle-bags were very conspicuous, thrown across the back of his horse.
20. Fishermen, carrying rods, lines and spears.
21. A hay-rack containing a husking party. They were em- ployed in husking the corn and finding the red ears.
22. The Grammar School accompanied by the teacher. The boys walking, dressed as Robin Hood's archers, in white pants, green tunics, and straw hats trimmed with evergreen, each carry- ing a bow and arrow. They were preceded by their standard bearers. On their banner was inscribed :
" Bend the bow and wing the dart, Let it reach each foeman's heart ;
But the enemy must be, All that's bad in you and me."
The girls of the school rode in a carriage drawn by oxen, and trimmed with evergreen. They were dressed in white, with green waists, pink sashes and hats trimmed with pink. They carried bouquets in their hands. On their banner was the motto- " Flowers are the alphabet of Angels."
23. An old-fashioned quilting party, in a carriage roofed and trimmed with evergreen. Eleven ladies were seated around a quilt, plying the needle busily, while their tongues kept time with their needles. All were dressed in ancient style, puffed hair, high combs, large caps, short waists and big sleeves. One of their number represented a Quakeress.
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
MANUFACTURES.
From L. Whitman's Agricultural Works, were six teams. The first was drawn by oxen, and carried farming implements of ancient style. Among them were an old-fashioned flax-break, a winnowing-mill of the old style, a wooden toothed harrow, a plow and a wheelbarrow fastened together with withes. Two men were breaking flax. This was followed by a horse team with farming implements having all the improvements of the age. The next two teams carried a threshing machine. Following these was a spring rake, and the last was a revolving rake.
L. P. Moody's tin shop. This contained tin ware of different kinds, while a young man was busy manufacturing articles. Their motto was-" Labor is honorable."
H. E. Morton furnished for the procession a shoe shop of the last century, the sign reading "Butes and Shues Maid and Fixed." One man was cutting leather, another stitching with the bristle and waxed end, using clamps of ancient date, while still another was sitting on a bench with a lapstone and strap, soleing a boot.
Blacksmith's shop of S. Davis. A huge forge and bellows were in operation, and men hard at work.
John McIlroy, Agent, of Winthrop Mills Company, put into the procession a team carrying the different kinds of cloth and blankets which they manufacture. In the centre was a tall pine tree, a large eagle perched in the top, and on the tips of the branches were fastened bunches of cotton and wool.
C. M. Bailey's Oil Cloth Works were represented. Specimens of the various patterns manufactured there were displayed, while workmen were busily engaged in stamping oil cloth.
DISTRICT No. 5.
1. The school children of this district appeared in the proces- sion on foot, the girls wearing white dresses, blue Spanish waists, white sailor hats, trimmed with blue, and the boys wearing black"
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
pants with a white stripe on the side, white waists, blue badges, and blue caps. The banner was white, trimmed with blue, and ornamented with silver stars, and bore the inscription-" District No. 5-Always Ready."
2. Domestic farm-work. A team carrying two ladies, the one churning, the other making cheese.
DISTRICT No. 6.
1. A log cabin six feet by four, mounted on a cart, constructed of rough sticks, the crevices filled up with moss, and the roof covered with hemlock bark. Visible just inside the door was a man pounding coffee in a old wooden mortar, and a woman knit- ting, both dressed in the old style.
2. The school children of this district were on foot in the pro- cession, the girls wearing white skirts, red sacks, and sailor hats trimmed with red, and the boys white pants, dark jackets and red caps. The banner, which was white, trimmed with red, bore the inscription-" In God we trust."
DISTRICT No. 7.
The school children of this district, rode in a wagon, deco- rated with a tree in each corner, a flag of blue and white in the centre, and having a small banner inscribed with the word, "Friendship." The girls wore red overskirts trimmed with white, red regalia, and shade hats trimmed with red and white. The boys were dressed in regalia of red and white.
DISTRICT NO. 8.
This district went in procession with District No. 5.
DISTRICT NO. 9.
The children of this district were conveyed in a wagon drawn by four oxen, the vehicle profusely adorned with evergreens, bearing a flag and banner on which was the inscription, "St. Mary's-District No. 9."
DISTRICT NO. 10.
This district went in procession with District No. 4.
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WINTHROP CENTENNIAL.
The procession having arrived, about 11 o'clock, at the space in front of the Town Hall, and there massed, and the Chief Marshal having called the multitude to order, and introduced the President of the day, there followed the
Exercises at the Speakers' Stand,
which were a brief Introductory Address by the President of the Day, H. Woodward, Esq. Prayer by Rev. Edward P. Baker of the Congregational Church. The Centennial Hymn read by Rev. Mr. A. Bosserman of the Universalist Church, and sung by the uni- ted choirs of the town, led by Mr. Samuel Thurston of Portland. Reading of ancient documents by L. P. Moody, the Town Clerk. Singing the poem, "Marching Along," by a choir of children, led by Rev. A. Bryant of the Baptist Church, East Winthrop. Historic address by Hon. S. P. Benson of Brunswick. Poem by J. W. May, Esq., of Auburn, and an address by Ex-Governor J. L. Chamber- lain ; the exercises interspersed with excellent music from the Winthrop and Portland Bands. The parts were all well sustained, and were listened to with interest by a large concourse of people, who for three hours stood up beneath a scorching sun.
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The multitude then having formed in procession, headed by the Portland Band, repaired from the Speakers' Stand to the tent, to partake of.
The Dinner,
which was bountiful and elegant, having been spread upon five tables, each one hundred and fifty feet long, occupying the main tent, and one table, sixty feet long, occupying a wing tent. These tables were literally loaded with almost everything . could tempt the eye and palate. Tea and coffee, too, were furnished in abundance. The dinner was strictly picnic; each district of the town furnished its own provisions and had its own place in the tent. The center table was spread for the guests. The holders of tickets having been all fed, and large quantities of provisions remaining, a general invitation was given at the tent door for all
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