The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-03-24
THE HISTORY OF DODDLEToWN.

"a History of Doddletown, its surroundings, &c..
and in an evil hour for me accepted the invitation.
1t was my purpose, at the time, to assume the
attitude of the historian and divide my history in
to chapters. according to the approved custom of
my friend, I. Darlington Macaulay author Of the
" History of England and of my earlier friend
Edward Gibbon, Esq. author of the !" Decline and
Fall Of the Roman Empire"
On mature reelection, have concluded to adopt
the epstolary style, in imitation of our old and mtl-
tual friend, Marcus Julius Cicero. NY principal
reason for so doing is, that | may in that mode
more readily mingle in the same web, the old and
the new-the antique and the moderll-than in any
other might adopt.
With this brief apology tor my apparent disre-
gard of your wishes, as expressed i'll your invita-
ton, commence my HISTORY OF DopDr FLOWN
my starting point is concident with that Of the an
thor of the 8 Pentateuch.''
DoDDLETOwN: ITS ORIGIN.
| At what period in the process of creation, in
which one Of The six days devoted to the work
that portion of this globe embraced within the
territorial limits Of Doddetown was shaped and
moulded in question which, although often dis
eussed in our Forks Lyceum" and in the "Swamp
Hollow Debating Club" has never yet been salts
factorily settled. The popular theory is that the
work Of creation began in Doddleown; Just little
south of an air. line from The Forks to Swamp
Hollow.
The argument in support of this theory is, that all
that portion Of the town lying south of the line
named is well finished mp the surface gently undu-
ating, free from bouders and rayines, in fact iu~t
such piece Of work as man would make who
started fresh on Monday morning, with
seriousness that he had the whole week before him;
while all that portion lying north Of that line is
rough, stony, jagged, intersected by deep ravines
through which the streams rush and arther way
as if mad-juSt such a piece of work as a man
would make late some Saturday evening, when
completely worn out and tired almost to death with
the weeks work.
Aunt Bethiah Green-who is aunt to everybody
young and old living within radius of three miles
from her spinning wheel-insists that this theory
cannot be sound she says ''f it there would
have been a sort of sean, where the last part
made Joined onto the first
Professor Agassiz, who has examined the local.
Fly, is Of the opinion, it is said that the objection
raised by aunt Bethah doesn't amount to a d0rR
He is not entirely prepared to say that our favore
Theory is unquestionably in conformity with the
fact but he does say that he knows no reason that
can be assigned to prove that it is fallacouS The
work of creation commenced s0mewhere; why not
in Doddletown? We assert that it did; let the
eminent diyines and learned geoogists prove to the
contrary, if they can.
Be this as it may, however, without intending to
Yield our priority of claim, we do most confidently
maintain that the territory of Doddletown is rs
old, to say the least as any Of that surrounding it,
f We have not yet discovered in its soil any ante
diluvian remains of man or beast; but feel very
conldent-our confidence amounting almost to a
conviction-that before the Nutmeg Ridge folks
strike water in the well they are digging they will
turn up Cardiff Giant; perhaps the homes of
Moses.
Why not? ''No man knoweth of his sepuchre
unto this day says Deuteronomy. Why may it
not have been on Nutmeg Ridge? The only answer
: is that the same authority declares that he was
''bured in valley" that rather hits the case of
} Swamp Hollow; it matters but little however, for
a valley is the next thing to ridge.
IT'S GEOGRAPHICAL STATUS.
The exact latitude of Doddetown has never vet
been ascerained. For several years we have been
petoning the Legislature to pass an act establish
ing it. We began when the Democrats were in
power; but being an euphaticay loyal people, our
petition was 'Spurned from the foot Of the throne
When the Republican party came into power we
became more hopeful
At the first session of the Legislature, after The
commencement Of the Republican Era, at which
our petition was presented, il was referred to TIE
Committee on Interior Waters. We had several
hearings, and at the very close Of the session the
/ Committee made their Report asking TO he dis
charged from the further consideration of the mat
ter embraced i'll the petition, assigning reason
that the water ut Skunks Landing was found to be
In IisI o,Jt1 hat NOT
legitimately before Committee on Interior Wa
tiers. We always suspected that Old Skunk had
something to do with bringing about this result;
but by what process remains mystery to this day.
At the next session our Petition was referred 10
the Committee on Foreign Relations. Persons and
papers sent for, and it was ascertained on cX
animation of Checklist that it did not contain
the name of a single voter whose Christian name
Hans Michael, or Patrick; and as there was moi
single petitioner who was willing TO admit that he
had relation in the world outside the town lines,
this committee also dismissed it, or rather st1ed it,
on the ground that Committee on Foreigu Re
ations had nothing to do with the rights or gricy-
ances of native born citizens, except of African
descent
Weared with these repeated applications to the
Legislature, all of which had proved fruitess. we
! finally applied to the Governor and Council and
sent our First Selectman, Deacon Tobias Lumpkin.
at the towns expense, to urge the justice of our
| claim and to impress on the executive mind the
forlorn condition of town that had no latitude.
| Deacon Lumlliin passed the winter at Augusta,
| returning just in season to commence Spring-work
| and reported that the Governor and Council de-
| dided that the Constitution expressly prohibited
| them from acting in the matter, and advised rs to
| apply to Congress to be Reconstructed; and as
| sured us that in that event, being, as we are. b
truly loyal people, we might get almost any lati-
tuae we asked for, Deacon l.. brought home a
Justice of the Peace Commission in bis pocket and
| has since been known as Squire Lumpkin,
| When DOddletOlcn knO,cs she's right she dOnt
| back dorm" that's the motto our Town-Seal.
| At the next session of the Legislature renew
ed our petition; it was referred TO the Committee
| on the Judiciary. Instead of sending Lumpkin to
look after interests, sent large delegation
of our most respectable citizens, who, to their hon
or be ii said, paid their own bills
Several hearings were had before this Committee |
and they invited to visit the room occupied |
by our Delegation at the Bushknock House. AT |
all of the interviews held there-some Of them |
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