USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Jaffrey > Jaffrey centennial : proceedings of the centennial celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Jaffrey, N.H., August 20, 1873 > Part 6
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or of not being entirely outside that circle of which Boston is the centre and the ' Hub.' And she is justly proud of the distinc- tion which New England's largest city has in the past given to many of her sons." I have the honor of presenting to you the HONORABLE HENRY L. PIERCE, Mayor of Boston.
MAYOR PIERCE'S RESPONSE.
LADIES AND GETLEMEN : - I did not come up here today to address you, or indeed with any desire to do so. In fact I shrink from making an address, but I came on the invitation of my friend Alderman Cutter, whom Boston knows and respects, to meet with you on this day so interesting to you and all of us. The close of a century in the history of the world, the close of present century is one of the most interesting and among the most eventful of any that have marked the progress of the race. When we look back and see what has been accomplished in the world, and even in this country, and see that during that time we have separated from the British crown and observe the im- provements that have been made, and which affect the welfare of the world at large, we must look back upon it with the greatest satisfaction. But we must also look forward and hope that the century to come will be crowned with equal results. Boston is proud of being considered the metropolis of New England, and she desires to express her hearty thanks for the many good, sound men who have been sent to her from New Hampshire, and who have helped increase her prosperity. She hopes she is worthy of what New England has made her in the past, and she hopes to be worthy of the support of New England in the future, and now ladies and gentlemen, I will only say I thank you all and thank my friend the son of Jaffrey, the Alderman. for the great pleasure he has given me in inviting us to be present on this occasion.
SENTIMENT NO 2: - "We welcome those who having gone from us have aided in sustaining the charater of the noble sons of New Hampshire for integrity, enterprise and success in busi- ness, in every part of our land." Having read the above senti- ment, the Toastmaster introduced the next speaker : -
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I have the pleasure of presenting to you as a respondent to this sentiment a gentleman of whom nothing need be said by me. He his known to you all. His native town is Jaffrey, where he is always warmly welcomed. In Boston where he has resided for a number of years, he is noted as a gentleman eminently successful in business and one whom his adopted city has de- lighted to honor for his superior ability and sterling integrity. I refer to the Hon. Leonard R. Cutter, Chairman of the Board of Aldermen of Boston.
ALDERMAN CUTTER'S RESPONSE.
You do me great honor, Mr. President, in asking me to re- spond to the sentiment just read. I sincerely regret that I am not better qualified to do justice to the subject. I can truly say that whatever of success has attended the efforts of those sons of New Hampshire who have sought fame or fortune in other States and other countries has been largely due to the honorable distinction in which their birth-place is held. The old-fashioned standard of morality and integrity has been so nobly maintained by those who have remained at home, that the wanderers carry with them a certificate of good character in the name of the State from which they hail, and that goes a great way toward assuring them success even among the Philistines. While our State has not, for obvious reasons, increased so rapidly in wealth and popula- tion during the last fifty years as some other sections of the country, it certainly has not fallen behind any section in those things which tend to a higher state of civilization, good govern- ment and right living ; and in the mean time it has been furn- ishing in larger proportions, I believe, than any other New Eng- land State, the intelligent enterprise which has, as it were, anni- hilated time and distance and enabled us to do our missionary work in the far West, and at the same time keep good hours at home. There is one advatage, Mr. President, which we who go away from home have over those who stay, and that.is the plea-
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sure of returning ; and we also acquire a keener appreciation of the natural beauties of our native place. Although I spent my youth here in the shadow of Old Monadnock, I never knew or imagined the grandeur of the scenery I was daily looking upon until I had an opportunity of comparing it with other places. There is something enobling in the presence of this scenery be- yond the power of any works of man. And, living in these Pa- cific Railroad times, it is a sort of satisfaction to reflect that the works of nature here are upon such a gigantic scale that the pro- faning hands of railroad contractors are almost powerless against them. But, Mr. President, the occasion on which we have met brings up other scenes and other events than those which are mere- ly amusing or ridiculous. We have, this day, together, turned our eyes back upon the places that knew us in our infancy and youth. To us New Hampshire presents something other than her granite hills ; yes, sir, and something more interesting even than the grassy vales or the pearly brooks, or the silvery water sheets, that are associated with the past time of our early days. Dearer to us still than the imagery of those bright scenes is the memory of the friends that we first loved; those who nurtured us in infancy, who guided us in youth, who opened to us the av- enues of knowledge, who warned us of the miseries of vice, and presented to us the inducements of virtue, and who made us what we are. Perhaps they still live to greet our occasional returns to the paternal home; or, perhaps we have been called to com- mit them to the silent bosom of earth. Be that as it may, our relation to them is sacred, and while the power of thought shall endure, the memory of their kindness will abide. In conclusion, Mr. President, I give you as a sentiment (and I do not expect any one to respond to it unless the Old Man of the Mountain should happen to be present), "The Hills of New Hampshire. If Napoleon could incite his soldiers to greater deeds of valor by the thought that forty centuries looked down upon them from the pyramids, how much greater should be the inspiration and the achievement of the sons of New Hampshire from the thought that the centuries from the begining of time, looked down upon them from their native hills."
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SENTIMENT No. 3. - " The day we celebrate."
Response by Rev. Moses T. Runnels, of Sanbornton, N. H.
Mr. President, Sons, Daughters und Citizens of Jaffrey: - I confess to a strong, inherent partiality for Centennial days, like this. The Centennial celebration of old Peterborough awakened my childish enthusiasm, at the age of nine years, and I have since labored hard, as a resident of those places, to secure simi- lar centennials at Orford in 1865, and at Sanbornton in 1871. But this, Mr. Chairman, is the first Centennial Day I have ever really celebrated " con amore." For I do love old Jaffrey, having claimed a residence here for twenty-five years from infancy. I gazed upon that noble mountain, from under the old pine tree on the hill-top of my grandfather's farm, as one of my earliest remembered acts ; and, having found it the chief outward attrac- tion of my home the last eight years, that I could there view this same Grand Monadnock from garden walk or study window, at the distance of 60 miles, it is not strange that the promptings of my heart would not suffer me to be absent from this place to- day ;- that neither the most pressing engagements at home, nor yet the appalling announcement that I might be called upon for a speech, could deter me from this family gathering of the sons and daughters of Jaffrey.
As we have listened, with so much interest, to the able histor- ical address, it has been your privilege and mine, brothers and sisters, almost to exclaim with Virgil's hero, " Quorum purs fui !" -" of which I. was a part,"-our individual life,-our vivid remembrance, sweeping back, as it does in my own case, over two fifths of the century now passed. And I can tell you, sir, from my experience here today, as compared with that on other similar occasions, it makes a difference whether a man engages in a celebration like this, as a mere spectator, or as an actor in the scene ;- as a temporary resident, or as a son of the town whose festivities he enjoys. And while these rare entertainments for mind and body (as I was about to say, expecting to speak after dinner) have been spread before us, and I have felt that I might turn to this presiding officer - or to others of the committee of arrangements, - and say to each, " you and I, sir, were playmates
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together ;' or might add to many others in this vast assembly, ' with you, your brothers, or your sons I sported in artless child- hood ;'' with you, your sisters or your daughters, I attended school in the happy days of youth ;' 'your children I remember as among my favorite pupils in that old red school-house under the hill;' I can assure you, Mr. President and gentlemen, that I have found myself all the more ready to rise and at least repeat the senti- ment you have so kindly given me, if I did not respond to it, " The Day we Celebrate."
And what do we mean by ' the day we celebrate'? The actu- al day of incorporation as it was ? Or this glorious day as it is ? Perhaps we ought to claim that we are "celebrating" both days ; the day that was, and the day that is. What that day was, we can not know beyond what the distinguished orator of today has told us. It is like our birthdays in this regard; with the important difference that we were not any of us there at that time to see ! Each one's imagination must help him to picture a scene in Jaffrey 100 years ago ; - and as the beautiful banner we have scen borne before us today reminds us that Jaffrey was incorpo- rated " August 17, 1773," I have thought that the few scat- tered settlers then in town might have come together about three days afterwards, on the day exactly corresponding with this, to hold a sort of congratulatory meeting ! The news of the " act " of incorporation has just reached them! They have gathered in their rough suits of skins or home-spun from their scattered log cabins, perhaps to some central cabin near this spot. From how different scenes, and in what dissimilar appar- el have we assembled, at our congratulatory meeting ! They came, on foot, or on horse back, at the rate of two miles an hour, through pathless forests or guided by scarred and jumping over fallen trees. We have come in our light pleasure wagons at the speed of six or eight miles an hour, or, upon the wings of steam . at the rate of 500 hundred miles per day !
Those strong minded fathers, as they passed their hearty con- gratulations on the incorporation of their town, may also have spoken together of those ominous mutterings of an approaching revolution of which they were hearing from week to week, from the then distant city of Boston, - perhaps of the late tea-party
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there. We, their descendants, if we think of any centennial be- sides our own, are perhaps letting our thoughts go forward to that grandest of all the days in our nation's history, if God per- mit, the approaching hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of her Independence. And of what surprising changes are we thus reminded, as occurring between these " days we celebrate," in the nation, in the town and in social life !
But on many other accounts is this " day we celebrate " inter- esting and valuable to us all.
It affords an opportunity for the renewal of old associations, - the fondest and dearest of our earthly lives, in those scenes and times of our earliest recollection when we could speak of joys unmingled with sorrow. Who of us does not hasten to recall the loves and friendships of those early days, so pure - so pro- ductive of a happy state - so free from the alloy of selfishness !
For how many reunions of later friends, long separated from each other, does this day also afford the glad occasion. It would seem as if the orbits of our lives, having run for many years at a distance from and out of sight of each other, were now brought into a mutual and delightful juxta-position ; or, like vessels at sea, bound on the same voyage, after having, in separation, out- ridden many of the storms of life, we are today permitted to course for a few hours within " speaking " distance of each oth- er, - to compare notes on all the way in which a kind Provi- dence has led us, each in our several spheres of duty, -to re- joice in each other's prosperity, - to sympathize with each oth- er's griefs.
And this reminds us, again, of the dear ones " not lost," as we fondly hope, " but gone before," with whom we formerly " took sweet counsel together, and walked," it may be, "to the house of God in company." Does it not seem, my friends, as though their spirits, if aught on earth can afford them happiness, might even now be the unseen witnesses of this joyful re-union ? At least, are not their countenances, their loved or venerated forms, their winning voices all fresh in our recollections today ? Is not our communion with them almost as palpable and as marked as that with one another ?
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Once more " the day we celebrate" bespeaks our great in- debtedness to the ancestral fathers and guardians of the town in all previous years.
What this age is especially deficient in, is a respect for the past. But the celebration of this day is a practical application of the noble sentiment of Burke, -" Those who do not treasure up the memory of their ancestors, do not deserve to be remem- bered by posterity ;" - though by no means exposing us to the quaint sarcasm of Sir Thomas Overbury, that " those who rest their claim to consideration on the merit of their ancestry instead of their own individual worth, are like a hill of potatoes, - the best portion is under ground."
And how, in this connection, did time permit, would I love to pay my humble tribute to the fathers of Jaffrey, whose very images are now so vividly before me, as having been upon the stage a third or half a century ago! How many honored names do I recall! The Ainsworths, the Parkers, the Spauldings, the Gilmores and the Howes ; the Cutters, the Baileys, the Law- rences and the Emerys ; or in the other part of the town where I lived, the Prescotts, the Spoffords, and the Joslins ; the Pierces. the Bacons, the Mowers, and many others all over town who might be mentioned; with others still who hardly yet have passed from our view ; and especially that prince among New Hamp- shire farmers, *- that prince among the benevolent benefactors of the town and the State at large, to whom you and 1, Mr. Chairman, feel ourselves personally indebted for those habits of industry and that spirit of energy and enterprise which he ear- ly instilled within us, tempered ever with the most excellent counsels and confirmed by a most laudable example.
In view of all these noble men and women too, who have giv- en character to the Jaffrey of the past, moulding her institutions, establishing her educational and religious privileges and adorn- ing her homes, we can only exclaim, what a rich legacy is here ! What cumulative influences and forces for good have come down to us from the record of the last century ! How should this
*The Hon. John Conant, who, from feeble health, was unable to be pres- ent.
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stimulate our gratitude for what the fathers and the mothers were and for what they accomplished in our behalf! And how zealous should we be to transmit what we have received; unim- paired, to those who shall come after us.
For, while to the aged, and those who review the past, the " day we celebrate" is so full of rich satisfaction, with how much. of value is it also freighted to the young -even to these little children who have formed, in many respects, the most at- tractive part of our procession today ! How much useful infor- mation may they gain from the day itself, its teachings and its suggestions ! How much, otherwise unknown, may they learn, even respecting the fathers themselves. What insight will be afforded them into the habits of life and social ways of periods long past ! And when they reflect upon the changes since ef- fected, -the new discoveries and inventions, -the improve- ments in agricultural and mechanic arts and implements, - the increase of books and other appliances for obtaining and diffus- ing knowledge, - the improved facilities for travel and inter- communication, - the bringing together of the nations, and the progress and elevation of mankind, - all of which have been lit- erally crowded into the space of the hundred years now closing ; - let them be encouraged to graft upon the moral and religious principles the sterling virtues, the heroic qualities of mind and heart which belonged to the fathers in the century past, -to gruft upon these, I say, all that is inspiring, hopeful, and health- fully progressive in the new century of our local history now commencing.
Which leads me to add very briefly in conclusion ; "the day we celebrate " is especially valuable to the town historian. I rejoice that old Jaffrey has one from whom we are to hear on this occa- sion. This day may well afford to him a fresh neucleus, -a new starting point, as it were ; and the success of our historical ora- tor today may give him new aid, impulse and encouragement to press forward in his noble work. Many are the difficulties which beset the path of the town historian. Great the apathy which broods over many minds ; surprising the indifference which many manifest as to all, or aught that pertains to the past
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history of those localities -of those families, even, in which they themselves should naturally take the deepest interest. The dark clouds of mystery and uncertainty which are found hang- ing over the facts and records of the past are also quite disheart- ening at times : but these will usually be found lifting and un- veiling themselves before the patient persevering historian, as he plods along, and often from the most unexpected sources and in ways before unthought of. The satisfaction and reward (not pecuniary) of the local historian's work are therefore very great. Its importance cannot be over estimated. It must be done quickly or it will never be accomplished ; and when once done and well done, it is done for ever ! Let facts, therefore. respect- ing the men and the things which ever belonged to this good old town be industriously collected and properly arranged. Let the genealogies of the old families be traced out, even into other towns and other parts of the country, so far as possible, for thus, much may be learned throwing light upon the history of the town itself. It will thus be known what an aggregate amount of influence the town has really exerted in building up other communities and moulding society in other localities. The grati- fication of all concerned will be great and ever increasing as years and generations in the future roll away ; posterity will ap- prove the sayings and the doings of the faithful annalist. The stores of actual knowledge shall be increased ; different parts of our country shall be more effectually cemented together ; man- kind shall be elevated, and the great God who has " been our dwelling place in all generations " shall Himself be glorified.
SENTIMENT No. 4. - " Jaffrey : Her Scenes and her Scene- ry." Response by Rev. J. M. H. Smith, of East Jaffrey.
An hour having been spent in social intercourse, and distribut- ing among the many from the inexhaustible store of provisions until all were satisfied, the Tent Programme was resumed by the band's playing the " Ella Polka," after which Prof. George W. Foster sang a taking ballad-
" Dinna forget yer mither. Sandie."
with brilliant success, when Tostmaster Parks proceeded to say ;
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Ladies and Gentlemen : - After having partaken of the mate- rial benefits so bountifully provided for the inner man on this oc- casion, it is proposed that we resume again that other feust began before dinner, to wit: "The feast of reason and the flow of soul."
SENTIMENT NO. 5. - " The Orator of the day. - We have hith- erto been proud of his name and reputation as one of the great lights of the legal profession; he has today placed us under in- finite obligation for his interesting and eloquent address." Hon. Joel Parker rose and expressing his gratitude for the honor be- stowed upon him, said that another speech would not be expect- ed from him today. He asked leave to place in the hands of the Toastmaster the following Sentiment :- "The inhabitants of Jaf- frey -- Steadfast in their principles - Untiring in their Indus- try."
SENTIMENT No. 6. -- " Our Common Schools."
Response by Rev. D. N. Goodrich, Sup't School Committee, Jaffrey, who said that while he need not remind a New Eng- land audience how highly THE FATHERS valued common school education, how they built the school-house close by the meeting- house to show, that in their opinion, religion and education should go hand in hand, he would mention some facts which in- dicate that the people of this generation value these interests just as highly as their fathers did, and are disposed to guard them with a jealous care. Among other things, the speaker re- ferred to the large number of schools in the town; the amount of money expended for their support, the average expense for each scholar being $5,25 and in some districts $16,45 ; the whole number of scholars being 360. He mentioned also the fact that ' the schools were so frequently visited by the people in the vari- ous districts ; that so much pains is taken to procure good teach- ers ; that the teachers employed have generally been so well qualified, and that so many of them have received a large part of their instruction in our schools. In conclusion the speaker thought the facts of the case and the views of the people might be expressed by offering the sentiments in the following form : -" Our Common School System a priceless legacy received from
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the fathers, perfected by the wisdom and experience of succes- sive generations, and supported by the intelligent patriotism of our people ; our teachers thoroughly competent, efficient, and devoted to their noble work; our school officers, assiduous- ly guarding the precious interests committed to their charge ; our scholars, the good material out of which intelligent, useful, and honorable members of society are to be made."
SENTIMENT No. . 7 .- " East Jaffrey Cornet Band : They may write ' Excelsior' on their escutcheons." Music : " Lepitit Pol- ka."
SENTIMENT. No. 8 .- " The Mothers and the Daughters ; the Joy and Sunshine of our Homes and the Pride of the Century." Response by A. S. Scott, Esq., of Peterboro', N. H.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen ; - When I accidental- ly read the announcement in our village newspaper by your Jaf- frey correspondent, that I had been invited to respond on this occasion to a sentiment to the Ladies of Jaffrey, and had accept- ed the invitation, it was to me a matter of surprise, because it seemed to me more fitting that to one of the sons of these Jaf- frey mothers, or one of the husbands or suitors of these fair Jaf- frey daughters should have been assigned the privilege to speak to a sentiment so suggestive of all the sweet and dear remem- brances that cluster around your old family homes among your hills.
Then, I should be excused from speaking here today, because of the acknowledged ability of these ladies, if this assembly could be resolved into a tea-party and they should once get their tongues loose, to speak for themselves.
But mothers and daughters of Jaffrey, discarding all empty compliments and flattery, so repugnant to your good sense, you will permit me to say that in these old family homes among these hills, presided over with such matronly dignity by the inothers, and made sunny and happy by the genial presence and affectionate smiles of the daughters, has been nurtured all that is good and memorable and great in the history of the century that has passed.
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For these New England homes watched over by pious and de- voted mothers are conceded to be the best manufactories of men. - But there is now very serious danger that this work of grow- ing and training men must cease for lack of material. No one can have failed to observe the difference in the size of the fami- lies of the early mothers and the families of the present day. The former numbered from six to sixteen, and the latter from one to four.
In your school districts which were formerly densely popula- ted with scores of ruddy boys and girls, you now are indebted to the Irish emigrants for children enough to make a school.
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