The Portland daily press., 1870-11-21
DAILY PRESS,
MD
Monday Morning, November 81, 1870.
The Wen We Raise.
JOHN ALBION ANDREW.


Gov. Andrew was born in South Windham.
1919. When but lad he was a great favorite
in the district school, and in the families OF
the neighborhood. 1t was from his confiding
character, his affectionateress and genia
good nature, with overfowing humor. His
sky was always cloudess, the winds of his
early youth were west winds. There was no
sting in his tongue or heart. On the other
hand he was deemed a prodigy for sparkling
expressions, humorous hits. and aboundng
pieasantries.
He sustained the same character at the pre-
paratory school. No one equaled him upon
the stage on Wednesday afternoon; no one
approached him in general magnetic power,
in sportiveness, harmless repartee, or genuine
wit. He was careless about excelling in the
class. 1t satisfied him to be the most popular
and beloved of all the boys at old Gorham.
1t is worth stating here that much of the
time while at Gcrham Academy he boarded
at home, some four miles distant. This
length of distance the stubbed youth was ac-
customed to walk, cheering every house as he
passed, and every one he met, with a pleas
ant smile or word.
In 1888 he went to College; was about the
briefest in stature and youngestlin years ofhis
whole class. He stood in the seat with some
who were twice his age and pretty nearly
twice his height.
Young Andrew did not greatly distinguish
himself as recitation scholar in College,
He did not quite love his books, yet he could
extemporize his recitation and get more cred.
it than some others, after hard study. Blu!
he was student of the world. Men and
things he loved to study and scrutinize. He
was wont to look at things III their grotesque
or ludicrOus aspects. Almost everything
ministered to his mirthfulness and humor
Nothing escaped his keen eye, or his harm
less but shining arrow. Though his scholar
ship did not give him place upon the plat
form at graduation, yet he was by far the bes
orator of his class. Call ON him for a speecl
at any moment, and his fertile mind of sur
prising spontaneity would throw off one with
out moments preparation.
He went from College with good lessons Of
experience. He saw that if he would excel
he must apply himself to study, and make q
covenant with labor; that a perpetual evapo
ration from the surface, though sparkling and
brilliant as rainbows, would fail of reaching
life's graId purpose without thought, menta
replenishng and discipline.
He chose the profession of law; studied in
Boston, perhaps part Of the time in connec-
ton with the Cambridge school and finally
went into partnership with his superiors.
Not much was heard from him for the first
twenty years after graduation,-more than
that lie had become close student, vigor.
Gus thinker and worker, popular pleader at
the bar and fine public orator. During
these years he laid the foundation for his
sudden eminence at the last. His careless
carefulness in society with his equals and in
feriors; in other words, his careful careless
ness helped to give him influence, and throw
charm around his strikingly majestic per
son. The time could no longer be delay ed
when his fine qualities, exuberant imagina-
ton and great popularity should be signalized
by public promotion and distinction. He wa
elected to the Legislature of Massachusetts
was delegate to the Convention that nomi
mated Lincoln for the Presidency and gave g
report of the Convention in speech of won
derful power.
He was elected Governor of Mass, in 1850
just in time to distinguish himself as states
man, during the civil war. 1t is no more thar
truth to say that while other Governors die
nobly in the crisis, Andrew excelled them all
think he was the only one that held hi.
place throughout the war. The work he die
in those years was incredible. Naturally fond
of ease, and aveise to exhausting effort, he
forgot everything in that terrible crisis bu
his country and its defenders on the battle
field. 1t is not understood by this that hi
neglected the interests of the State mean
while; his care for everything that touched
its honor or welfare was unceasing.
1 go into no particulars of these last year.
of his life; have no need to. His record is
familiar to every one who cares to read this
notice Of him. Death, hastened bv the bur.
den OF labor and anxiety, took him from fal
higher hOnors that awaited him. say high
er honors. Perhaps no promotion could have
added TO the public estimation of Andrew, OF
the fame that will be his as long as the histo
ry of his country and of the events of tha
crisis wherein he most distinguished himself
shall be read. WV.