Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-08-15
HetaI Sktttbes.
Waterford--its Emrirons, dc.

Odell OF the Chicago Republican, Sovcr-
al year, ago, but never published here.
is interesting enough to be repu6lished,
under our head of Local Sketches; = and
we accordingly set it before our readers.
The writer married a Waterford lady,
well known in that vicinity;
There are numerous places not put
down on the maps of common summer
tourists that to their quiet beauty have
the added charm ofpersonal Renaissance
which hallowS them in the minds OF those
capable of deeper pleasures than are de
rived from the contemplation OF mere
size. color or variety of physical aspect !;
and such an one have found in this re.
markable old town (you would say town
ship of Waterford,
Coming down the Grand Trunk rail-
road, from Montreal 10 South Paris, /
took private conveyance to visit the
grave of 'Artemus Ward" After 4
pleasant drive OF thirteen miles through
a poor region Of country and overa sandy
road ungelieyed by the usual variety Of
clean white New England farm houses,
l came TO 4 neat little village in a rich
and picturesque basin twenty miles in cir
cumference, and surrounded by 4 COM
plete rim of hills cultivaled-many OF
them-to their SUBMITS. On the right
hand side of the road, in the center of
this village of not more than score Of
houses, is the home of Mrs. Caroline +.
Brown, the stricken, widowed, and now
childless mother OF Charles +. Brown.
Ii is a square, white two-Story mansion
with green blinds. Entering, | found
Mrs. B. and made myself known rs one
who had called to pay tribute to the
memory of her loved and distinguished
son. She received me most warmly, and
entered at once into unreServcd CONVEX.
sation upon the topic nearest her heart.
Youthful in appearance, for a lady OF
sixty, Mrs. Brown impreSSes one rs being
Il person Of rare vigOr OF constitution.
She is rather corpulent, and suffers from
recently broken wrist As She dwolt
upon Charles" last visit, before sailing
for England, reciting with minutcness
her conversations with him in regard 10
his health how he was worn down by
labor, and enfeeblel by disease; how
tenderly she nurSed him; how reluctant
~ and forebodingly she parted with HIM
how hard it was 10 realize that he was
soon TO make thousands laugh, while her
own heart was breaking and his own soul
passing. each night, deeper and deeper
into the shadow Of death and then how
terrible the news that he had gone for
ever from her and from the world OF his
admirers, felt. dear to him rs was the
applause of the multitude and the APPROX
al Of his hundreds of devoted friends,
.Artemus Ward" must have esteemed
his mothers love more priceless treas
IRE. And he did No mother ever had
more affectionate and faithful son.
Mrs. Brown has received nothing from
his eState-not even the iewclry he woJe
upon his person, which she desired to
possess as precious mementoes. Who
is 10 blame, if anybody, for this. | do
not pretend to say; but the public will
not fail TO visit It's severe condemnation
upon those who are found TO have misap
propriated funds that should have been
sacredly devoted to the purposes distinct
~ indicated in the last will of the renown-
ed humoriSt.
About mile 10 the west OF the spot
where he was born is Elm Vale Cemetery,
where lie his remains 1t is entered from
the public highway through a wooden
arch inscribed with its name, and slopes
down to a lovely little lake two miles
long and one wide, enclosed on three
sides by green hills, one or two of which
would be mountains in any less broken
country. The graye-Stoncs are all plain.
Well up to the right of the entrance
there are tour marble slabs, about three
feet high, the respective inscriptions upon
which are given below: Levi Brown,
died Dec. %, 1917, 1t. 81" is cut in
plain letters upon the first. The next is
q little more ornate, but St:ll simple.
The inscription reads thus: BEST beloved
one, rest. Charles F. Brown, known as
'Artemus Ward died in South Hampton,
England, March 6, 1867. 1t. 81 years.
His memory will live a sweet and unlad.
ing recollection" Next is the grave of
his brother, who was also q printer. The
following is upon his head-stono: Cyrus
w. Brown. died April y, 1864, -Et. b.
Thy memory will be Inscribed IN the
hearts of those who knew thy worth.
Then comes the fourth and last OF the
series, upon which are these words:
Maria A., died Feb q, 1888, -Et. 4
years, months. Ellen E. died March
4. 1884, -Et. year months. Children
of Levi and Caroline Z. Brown"
In all this country grave yard, there Is
not monument, in the common accepta-
ton of that term; with but 4 single feeble
exception there is not even plain shaft
or broken COMMUNICATING but eXccS-
sively plain stones-yet who shall say it
is not 4 fitting place in which to lay away
the mortal remains OF Charles f. Brown
Simple in his tastes, pure in his life,
quiet in his humor, hating all shams and