The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-03
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
MONDAY. JULY 3, 1871.



Heathen i'm New Englaad.
A CURIOUS STORY OF DEPRAvED AND Ie-
NORANT COMMUNITY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
from the Newburpport tMass.) Herald
A few years ago there was settlement in
Seabrook, the inhabitants of which were
known in this vicinity as Algerines. Al
though but five miles from Newburyport,
this people living off from the main rond by
themselves, were but little above the condi-
tion of savages. They had no schools, no
church, no morals, no culture. They gained
their subsistence by fishing in summer and
shoemaking in winter, and their fuel for the
latter season they got by hook and by crook
generally they hooked it. The money earned,
more than was needed except for the poorest
anu most meagre subsistence, was spent in
this city for rum, and the people were by-
WORD OF ignorance and degradation in this
Whole region. Many amusing stories are told
OF the language and habits of this people, who
were as distinct from the general population
OF New England as are the inhabitants of Al
gers, from whose pirates this community re-
celved It's nick name. They had intermarried
SO That all their native trait had become in
tenslned 10 the course of few generations
and nearly one-half of the whole population
was named Eaton. They were not looked
upon with much respect, it can be imagined.
by their neiehbOrs, and the boys and the ruder
portion of our folks were in the habit of
tauntihg the Algerines for the purpose of
nearing their uncouth replies, and the curious
dialect which they used. Their way to their
settlement is, as We said, not on the line of
travel but on by-road leading to the
marshes and the sea-shOre, where there is no
thoroughfare, so that probably there are not
one hundred persons in this city who have
visited this curious settlement of Byfield. II
IS three miles from the main village OF Sea-
brook, and about the same distance from
Salisbury, and they knew even less of this
people than we did here, since Newburyport
was the place where they cine to trade and
where they bought $40 worth of rum to 81 of
any other kind of provisions The dialect,
habits, manners and whole life of this people
was worthy of the pen of Dickens, but a sad
blot on New England civilization. Rum, in
terbreeding, and being cut off from associa-
ton with the outside world, even through the
medium of books and papers, had developed
wonderfully barbarous state of society in the
midst of civilization.
-Four years ago young man of good deal
OF pluck and energy was studying for the
ministry, and while pursuing his studies it
was suggested to him that man of his quail
ities could do good work among the AIger-
ines. 1t would require courage and tact, lust
the qualities which Rev. VIM. A. Rand DOS.
sessed. He went to Byfeld, and in these
four years he has accomplished a work such
as is in the power of few missionaries to per-
form in the course of long life. He has
brought about a complete revolution in that
part OF the town. He found it without a
church or school, and still worse, without
any desire tor either. He went to work among
this people, and created a demand for instruc-
tion where there was none. He has induced
them to assist in building church costing
six thousand dollars, and has a regular Sun
day-School, in which are about one hundred
and twenty-five pupils, of whom fifty bear
the name OF Eaton. This church and school
have accomplished wonders, especially in the
manners ana morals of the young.
When Mr.. Rand first went among them it
was not an uncommon occurrence to de-
neunce his preaching as false, himself as a
meddler, and no respect for him would deter
them from any such rudeness, even if they
had not learned, as they have, that decency
which respects clergyman in the exercise OF
his Office. Indeed, in this population of fiv e
or six hundred, he has made a complete
change, not only in the moral and religious
character OF the people, but in their physical
well being. When he went among them
there was hardly anything III the shape of a
'dwelling-house other than ten feet shanties,
such as would serve fer the temporary dwell
ings of railroad hands, and under his influ-
ence most Of the people have now comforta-
BILE residences. The money formerly spent
for rum is now devoted to the comforts and
conveniences for the families, or saved for
their support in sickness and old age
Not only does Mr.. Rand exercise the pas
toral Office, but he has a commission as a
magistrate, and has born the sword not in
vain. He has constables appointed for his
district, and quells all disturbances of the
peace, although there is much less need of his
interference in this capacity than there was
before he had indoctrinated the people with
the blessings of temperance and decency
The missionaries to Borrioboola Cha might
work for lifetime without seeing the fruits
of their labors as this young man has in the
four short years he has been engaged in them
He does not propose to stop in the good work
but will continue his labors, which would moi
be overpaid with the largest salary given to
any clergyman in the country, although he
receives from the Home Missionary Society
but three hundred and fifty dollars a year
with what his people contribute, which al
trst was little or nothing.