USA > Maine > York County > Eliot > History of the centennial of the incorporation of the town of Eliot, Maine, August 7th-13, 1910 > Part 5
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Tobey's Landing
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Then there is the satisfaction of the physical want. We have been taught in times past that the body was not worthy of attention ; that we must subdue appetite .- Obviously it is equally true today that we must subdue intemperance. But we cannot despise the body, even though we have sometimes magnified it unduly in impor- tance, until we have almost elevated the care of it into a religion. Eating is not a pretty function at best ; yet we make it the basis of some of our most desirable fellowship.
We must remember that in gathering about a table at a
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dollar dinner, we each pay the same price, and that puts us on a level. Neither can we forget that the breaking of bread together is one of the most beautiful of the sacra- ments of the great religion that has dominated our civil- ization. But instead of satisfying ourselves normally, and all having good, sound, healthy bodies by the appli- cation of the principles of modern science, we suffer through carelessness or indulgence, and all the billboards bear witness to it, by inviting us to have all kinds of ailments, for which they have some kind of remedy at hand.
The training of the children in dancing, even more than any other form of exercise or class recreation 13 0: 03 obligations of the public school, so important is it that young people should be taught to dance. Though not exactly in the religious sense, it may be called a bitals vi grace. These contributions to our physical nature are always, of course, in danger of being on the verge of misuse. But that does not make them unworthy, any more than the functions of vision or hearing are unworthy because they are sometimes misused.
We are constantly threatened by our social insecurity, which is due to the fact that we are not big enough to embrace humanity in our fellowship, which can only be done by forgetting social distinctions, and being human beings.
Our chief characteristic in education is over specializa- tion. We all read a certain number of books of a certain kind. There are the six best sellers, and of course we want them. We are a little ashamed if we are unable to
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talk about them. Then each 'class has its newspaper, which expresses its own ideas as nearly as possible .- There are people who can write a perfectly correct letter without saying anything. Our class standards enter into our religious life, and determine with whom we shall affiliate, and what we shall do. One hears many men argue seriously that whatever is the common practice in business is right because it is the common practice.
As you gain modesty by contact with the common life, by sharing those things which are common, so you also become tolerant and respectful of others. You find that your particular foibles are not theirs. Why should you dis- parage weaknesses because they are not yours ? You care- fully conceal yours, while you expose theirs. Only through this process of sharing the common life, may we relieve ourselves of the prejudices which hinder fellowship.
There is the curious friction of sex. When can we subjugate passion, and substitute companionship? We cannot build up companionship until we have shorn man of this peculiar power which he wields by tradition and purse. Then perhaps we will get to the point where, after dinner, the women will not go off by themselves, and the men also, where they can open up their hearts, since they have been playing at conversation, shamming during din- ner. And then, when the men join the ladies, they will not stop talking business, and start talking art, but prob- ably continue discussing the things common to all, because they will have common interests.
Perhaps in our day the most serious of our prejudices of which we need to relieve ourselves, is that in regard to race. To some people it seems as though race antagonisms were instinctive and natural. The best way to relieve ourselves of this prejudice intellectually, is to discover that the race to which we feel an antipathy is not the race ' to which some other people feel antipathy. If you go out to the Pacific Coast, you will find that the ordinary work- ing man there, has the same attitude toward the China- man that the same kind of workingman in the South has toward the negro.
Miss Sarah J. Farmer
The Nightengale
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We shall lose our religious prejudices when we come into contact with the common life. Genuine religion ought to remove all barriers; but sectarianism erects barriers. The more we believe in a common life, the more likely we are to believe in a genuine world-wide religion. The biggest man in the world of our day, was our greatest religious example, Count Tolstoi. Why did he have a world-wide influence, that knew no barriers of race or nation or language? Because he had a genuine religion. It is just as true of Jesus. Jesus did dine with saloon- keepers and prostitutes, because his character and position were so unassailable, it did not matter. Whatever your theology, when you come to study the common life, you will better see the effulgence of that character that knew no blemish, who entered into all walks of life, because he apprehended more than any other man, the common life, and comprehended fellowship.
It was indeed a fine and thoughtful address ; and closely followed by the many who had assembled.
And not alone was the address an attraction to the gath- ered Centennial company : the location,-the pleasant Green Acre,-was an atmosphere of historic interest. It is a widely known retreat, founded by Miss Sarah J. Farmer. And the yearly assemblies have made the Green Acre of Eliot, by the broad riverside, truly a summer joy .- Even from across the ocean have many visitors been received and heard.
No, Green Acre is not simply a summer resort. It has historic interests. The very spot where the Centennial address was this day delivered, and where the company assembled, has the memory that besides many other ships, the beautiful Nightingale was built there. The locality is the attractive bank of the river ; and the date was when the great Swedish singer, Jenny Lind, was in this country -more than a half century ago. The vessel was named in her honor, and the original intention was for her to return in it to her home in Sweden.
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The session closed with another solo by Miss Melrose. Her accompanist,-Miss Mabel Stone.
The green, in front of the Eirenion, was the scene of the folk dances, under the direction of Miss Torrey of Boston. Music for this dancing was by Mrs. W. A. Ran- dall, of Swampscott.
The first was an old folk dance; followed by the semi- modernized, or modernized folk dances, Maypole, Brownie Polka. Bean Porridge, Chimes of Dunkirk. They were given by sixteen young women :-
Misses Moore, Martin, Whitmarsh, Upham, Warren, Davis, Fellows from Moore camp ; Misses Melrose and Stone from Green Acre; Edith and Harriet Magee of New York ; Misses Hammond, Cress, Adlington, Brooks, Bridges of South Eliot.
" The Luby Lu" dance was given by the children of the neighborhood : Howard Staples, Isabel Staples, Albert Dixon, Ruth Spinney, Dorothy Junkins, Meda Spinney, Lydia Morse.
In the evening, at the Eirenion, there was a reception and dance ; with music by Miss Asunta Michelina, pianist, of Boston.
There were also readings by Mrs. Charlotte Sully Presby, of New York.
+400)+
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General Committee and Guests
Moses E. Goodwin
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FOURTH DAY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1910,
-0- CENTENNIAL EXERCISES. Wm. Fogg Library Grounds.
Today the town commemorated its First Century as a separate town; and huudreds of her sons and daughters came home to do honor to their mother town.
Among the guests were men and women who have won distinction in every walk of life : Governors, Congressmen, Legislators, Professors, Mayors, Judges, Authors and professional men,-all came to honor their native town .- Nearly every walk in life, and every state in the union, were represented.
The town was in gala dress :- A memorial arch at the south part of the town, all the public buildings, and nearly every dwelling house, decorated with flags and bunting.
Ou the grounds in front of the Library was erected a tent, accommodating a thousand or more people. A large platform was at one end, occupied by the speakers and the committee; while the sides looped up, enabled the overflowing audience to see and hear.
The following was the
Program;
MUSIC. Hoyt's Orchestra.
INTRODUCTION OF PRESIDENT OF THE DAY,
Dr. J. L. M. Willis, Chairman of Committee INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS,
Aaron B. Cole, Esq., President of the Day MUSIC.
ADDRESS,
His Excellency, Bert M. Fernald,
Governor of Maine
ORATION,
Hon. James P. Baxter, President of the Maine Historical Society
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Program continued :-
MUSIC.
POEM, Dr. William Hale REMARKS by Hon. John F. Hill ; Hon. Amos L. Allen; Mayor Edward H. Adams, Portsmouth ; Dr. William O. Junkins, Portsmouth ; James R. Philbrick, Esq. Kittery ; Asher C. Hinds, Esq., Portland ;
ODE. Rev. Augustine Caldwell, Sung by Children. BENEDICTION, Rev. William B. Eldridge.
The honorary Vice Presidents of the day : Hon. John F. Hill, Augusta.
John W. L. Cram, Newton, Mass.
D. J. K. P. Rogers, South Portland.
Dr. William O. Junkins, Portsmouth.
Mrs. Laura E. Merrow. Omaha, Nebraska.
Mrs. Emma F. Sewall, York.
Hon. Edward H. Adams, Portsmouth.
Dr. John Neal, Washington, D. C.
Dr. L. H. Gnptill, Boston.
Alfred Emery, Evansville, Indiana. Ralph S. Bartlett, Boston.
Mrs. Mabel Baker, York.
C. W. H. Moulton, Cambridge, Mass.
Dr. E. H. Dixon, White Plains, N. Y.
Alfred Bartlett, Boston.
THE PRAYER. Rev. George W. Brown.
Our HEAVENLY FATHER : We look up to Thee as humble suppliants to thy mercy, and thank Thee that we are living in this 19th century. We thank Thee for the privilege of coming together and celebrating this Cen- tennial Anniversary.
We pray Thee, dear Lord, that Thou look upon us with mercy, and help us to honor Thee in all we have, in all our efforts. We desire that all the good citizens of Eliot may open their hearts heavenward to receive Thy blessing.
O Lord, wilt Thou help us to honor the men gone before.
Rev. Geo. W. Brown
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We come here to speak of the worthy deeds of our fathers, and those who labored for us many years ago. We thank Thee that they wrought worthily. We humbly look to Thee and bless Thee for the fathers that they were filled with patriotic spirit for their Country and for their State. We thank Thee, dear Lord, that those men had such a strong love for liberty, and such a desire for good govern- ment, and that the blessings of God rested upon them ; that they built better than they knew, and the benefits have come down to us, and our lines have fallen in pleasant places.
Bless all this company gathered here today. Bless the inhabitants of the town of Eliot. We pray not only for the inhabitants of our town, but we pray for those who have gone out from us to build their homes and become good citizens of other towns. We ask that thy blessing may be upon them. Many of them have returned to us during this Home Week. We pray that Thou wilt extend to them the cordial hand of welcome and blessing. in the services that may be held in this Centennial time.
We ask thy blessing upon our Anniversary, and upon our friends around ns. Remember those from our neigh- boring cities and towns who have come to rejoice with us. We pray, our dear Father, especially for those who have come to speak words of comfort, cheer and encouragement. Wilt Thou bless all the speakers of the day, from the Governor of this beloved State to the very last who may speak on this platform, that they may help us, and en- courage us, to do our duties wisely, in time to come.
We pray, dear Father, that as these dear, youthful hearts before us join in the services, that they may remem- ber their Creator in the days of their youth. May they listen to the voice of Him who spake as never man spake, and so live that they may have the favor of God along the "line of Life. We humbly ask that Thou grant them Thy blessing; lead them to give heed to the words of encouragement ; grant that they all may so live that we may be a happy, prosperous town in the time to come.
Dear Lord, we would especially hide Thy Word in our
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hearts, that we may not sin against Thee. May the Word teach us how we should live in the present world to the praise of Him who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity.
Now, dear Lord, we pray Thee to help us live and finish our work ; and when our day is done, we shall be gathered unto Him who loved us and washed us in His own blood ; and unto Thee will we ascribe the praise,-both now and forever. Amen.
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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
DR. J. L. M. WILLIS.
Ladies and Gentleman, Sons and Daughters of Eliot, Friends :- We are proud to welcome you here today ; and assure you the mother town has a warm place in her heart for you all.
This is the One Hundredth Year of the town's incorpor- ation ; and it seems especially fitting that you should join in its commemoration.
But we are more than a hundred years old today. We have records of continuous settlement for two hundred and eighty-seven years; and the knowledge of white men -sailors and adventurers,-having been here more than three hundred years ago. And our church records go back more than two hundred and fifty years.
We have a right to say Old Eliot ; and we are proud of our records and traditions. We have sent out boys and girls, men and women, who have filled places of honor and truth throughout the land. Men who have won dis- tinction in the defence of their country, in the legislative halls, in the management of great industries, in ship building, and in inventions that have revolutionized the * world's commerce and manufactures.
We wish all these old friends could be with us today. We know you will all miss some hand clasps, will all have some heart aches when you think of those gone before.
But we hope here with us you will feel that you are with the old friends at home.
It becomes my duty, and it is with great pleasure that
Dr. J. L. M. Willis
Home of Dr. Willis
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I introduce our honored townsman, Aaron B. Cole, Esq. as the President of the day.
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS
BY AARON B. COLE, ESQ., PRESIDENT OF THE DAY Ladies and Gentlemen, friends, fellow citizens :
I am not unmindful of the honor of being selected to preside over the Centennial Celebration of one's birthplace, for such an honor can come but once in a lifetime. When we realize that the most of us who are taking part in this celebration, are the third and fourth generations from those who were active in life In r810, we are reminded of the mutability of human affairs, the evanescence of human life. Our grand-children and great-grand-children will take part in the Bi-centennial Exercises, one hundred years from now. . Historically one hundred years is but a day ; and the life of man but a short span.
The town of Eliot for more than fifty years progressed not forward, not backward, but in a circle. It reminds us very much of the driftwood in the Piscataqua. . The tide moves it down a little way, and the tide brings it back a little way. You see that same little piece of driftwood going and coming, from tide to eddy and eddy to tide, but making no progress.
When Eliot became a separate town, our country was but just reaching its majority as a constitutional govern- ment. The people in Eliot at that time were no different from those of other towns in New England ; the great tide of industrial and commercial activity had not set in, and the principal occupations were farming and fishing. For fifty years the character of the town remained unchanged until the great American Merchant Marine made a demand for shipwrights ; then those who had followed the fishing trade deserted that business and became mechanics.
The early settlers received grants from Massachusetts
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and from the town of Kittery ; and their descendants in- herited these grants, and added to them by purchase ; and even now it is not an unusual thing to find large tracts of land still in the families of those who received the original grants. On these farms were reared large families of children. There being no manufacturing industries in town, there was no opportunity for the foreign born to enter; consequently we find the blood in Eliot free from the Celtic and the Mediteranean strains.
Those early settlers in Eliot were men of good character and sterling worth; many of them held high positions in the government of Massachusetts, and at the time of the incorporation of Eliot, several of them were officials in the Province of Maine. They were interested in education and sent their children to the higher institutions of learn- ing. The qualities of the fathers were transmitted to the children; and the town has been a law-abiding, peaceful community.
There are few New England towns that do not owe their growth to some one individual who settled there- Eliot owes its growth to no one man; but to the character- istics of the people at large, who have settled down here and have lived their lives as good citizens ; and I am hap- py to say we have here in this town all good citizens.
It is a strange fact that in the One Hundred Years of the town's existence, not a wheel has ever turned or a shaft been driven in any industrial enterprise, save brick- . making and lumbering.
The families are nearly all connected, in some degree, by marriage ; and through us all courses the blood of the Shapleighs, the Frosts, the Hammonds,' the Hanscoms, the Tobeys, the Pauls, the Dixons, the Staples, and other common Eliot names.
As a town, we have sent out into the world many trained business and professional men, who have been successful in their chosen lines. As Green Acre, I doubt not that the town is 'as well known in the artistic and literary centres of the world, as are Newport and Bar Harbor in the salons of the "four hundred."
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Aaron B. Cole, Esq.
Near A. B. Cole's
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Rosemary Cottage
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We ought to be proud of the men who have gone out from Eliot ;- that Eliot, ourown humble town, is regarded by those who go out of it as a centre of interest which calls them back year after year. I can only say that the character of our fore-fathers, developed by hard labor and thrift, has descended from grandfather to father, and father to son,-none rich and none poor, but all of that middle well-to-do class which forms the basis of our Democratic institutions.
There are no social strata, but all are working in unison for the common good. Nearly every man owns the home in which he lives, and his ambition is to imbue his chil- dren with the spirit of his forefathers. As I have said, our ancestors lived the simple, unsullied and unspotted life. They were patriots ; and when the call to arms came, they responded. In short, they fulfilled their mis- sion as true American citizens. Interested in education, they sent their children to the old academies and colleges, and that spirit is still with us. It is a matter of local pride that out of a school population of only four hundred and one, between the ages of five and twenty-one, we have enrolled in our local High School, forty-five pupils, with probably twenty more in the surrounding preparatory schools and colleges ; showing a very large percentage of our boys and girls pursuing a higher education. The influence of the old Eliot Academy, though it was burned more than & quarter of a century ago, still lives.
A concrete illustration of the spirit of the fathers trans- mitted to the children, is to be found in Rosemary ; and at Green Acre you find that adaughter of Eliot established the Green Acre movement ; yonder Library is a record of that sort. Our electric road is the offering of an honored son of old Eliot to his mative town. Vonder unfinished Hall, [Grange Hall, ] is due to his kindly offices, and at this Centennial, through his generosity, we have dedicated tablets to some of those ancient and honorable worthies,- noble ancestors of a noble son.
To the young man full of ambition to do great things, Eliot offers few advantages, though it is said that a truly
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great man will be great even in the solitude of the primeval forest.
But I am speaking now more especially of financial returns and political preferment. But " To him who in the love of Nature holds communion with her varied forms," to him, who, having earned his competence else- where, can lie back in ease; to him who, sick in body and mind with the Twentieth Century hustle and rush, desires a haven of rest, Eliot, with her fair fields, - her green hills and her clear skies, beside the restless waters of the Piscataqua, opens wide her arms, and her people with one accord, bid a cordial welcome.
Tothose of you who remember the old town only as childhoods happy playground, we say :-
"Come back, tarry awhile, and learn to live again the simple life."
AARON COLE, Esq. President of the day, said :-
Some four weeks ago I stood-one of a thousand or more people,-and heard an old-time village schoolmaster, from an old town like ours, extol his own teachings ; and there was present one who had been a pupil in that old fashioned district school. He is of the same type as the old-time schoolmaster, who embodies those principles which I heard so well expressed, -honest, clear cut and fearless.
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It gives me great pleasure to present to you that former pnpil, a man of the people, elected' by the people, the - Hon. Bert M, Fernald, Governor of Maine :
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Gov. Bert M. Fernald
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ELIOT CENTENNIAL.
ADDRESS OF HIS EXCELENCY BERT M. FERNALD, GOVERNOR OF MAINE.
Mr. Chairman, and
Sons and Daughters of Eliot :
Some of you have returned today from distant cities .- I wish to say first, to all, that I feel a rather close attach- ment to these men and women, because my great, great grandfather was born in this town when it was a part of Kittery, and the first Fernald that ever landed in the New World came to these shores within six miles of the spot where I now stand. Those traditions and the history of my family, naturally draw me a little nearer to this region than to many of the other sections of our State. The sunshine and shadow of one hundred years have not obliterated the history, nor diminished our interest in the struggles then transpiring.
The first century of your corporate existence has now passed. The early struggles, toils and hardships of your fathers and mothers are a history of the First Settlers of all New England. The century to them opened in gloom, but they fought their way to splendid triumphs and de- serve the approbation that you are today so generously bestowing.
From the first history of this Republic, the first people were the Frosts, the Bartletts, the Leightons. the Tobeys, the Foggs, the Libbeys, the Hills, the Fernalds,-and they were names of the men who sprung forward to pro- tect the old Flag ; and from that day to this Eliot has not faltered in her duty.
Not only at Lexington aud Bunker Hill, but in the civic duties of the State of Maine, Eliot has furnished her quota ; and in looking over the records of those who pre- ceded me, none stand out more honorably than your old fellow-citizen,-Governor John F. Hill. It gives me a gratifying pride to speak in his old town, knowing him as I have,-knowing the little appointments and courtesies
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that go to the town when hinted at by any Eliot citizen, - knowing Governor Hill is true to Eliot, and Eliot should be true to him.
Another loyal, honest and honorable man of Eliot, is doing public duty in the State of Maine ; I refer to Colonel Francis Keefe, the State Superintendent of Public Build- ings and Grounds.
In all history and traditions of the past, Eliot has done her full duty ; and we look back to them with gratifying pride as citizens of Maine, and we enter the coming cen- tury under the most auspicious conditions.
I have thought as I sat here this afternoon, what if some seer, endowed with prophetic vision, could look down and tell us what this town, and what this Republic would be at the end of another century! I am aware that some of our pessimistic fellow citizens, in their gloomy papers, have pictured this Great Republic, in the year 2000, in far from glowing colors. I am aware that they have predicted that our institutions, which we have so firmly established, will moulder and perish and decay. I have lived long enough to believe that such prophesies will come to nought, when I recall that the Flag of this Republic a few years ago had but seventeen stars, and today has forty- seven ; when I recall that in the year this town was incor- porated, we had but few more than seven millions of . people, and today we have ninety-one millions. We have sprung up and grown in the last century. . When I recall that we have two and onehalf times the territory'we had in 1810, I am convinced that no man can conceive the great- ness of our country one hundred years hence.
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