Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-06

liz,
found able to invite litigation sufficient to fur
nish him the most meagre support. 1t is also
healthy town; SO that a physician, however
skillful, must, to a great degree, rely for sup
port on such practice as may be obtained out
side of its limits. He offered the following
sentiment: THE towns OF Leicester, spencer,
Paxton and Auburn. May their prosperity be
secured for the future by their continuing their
habits of industry, and their regard for moral
and religious principle"
7. "Our Soldiers in the Late WaT'-We de-
light to cherish the memory of their deeds,
with those of their revolutionary sires. May
their example ever inspire their countrymen in
the hour of peril; may they live well rounded
lives, as happy in the future as they have been
glorious IN the past, AMI find in the honor and
prosperity of their country their highest re-
ward.
Lieut.. Col. j. A. Titus, Esq, of Worcester,
responded in eloquent words, closing as follows:
"FellOtC Soldiers: Fame has bestowed on us
her richest praise. Our unsuiled flag, waving
serenely over our country and her commerce,
our laws assuring justice and equality to every
son of Adam, our institutions of learning, scat
tering their treasures among all classes of our
busy population, these and the thousand other
blessings clustering about our government, all
saved by us, shall, by their benificence at home
and their power abroad, perpetually repeat
through coming generations the encomium
which is the reward of the sincere and faithful
citizen"
A choir of singers, on a raised platform at the
west end of the tent, here sang the Star
Spangled Banner" accompanied by piano and
several band pieces, with fine effect Mr.. and
Mrs. Munr0e and Mrs. Titus of this city were
noticeable among the singers.
s. "The orator of the day-A son of Leicester,
who, in the Legislature, at the bar, on the tench,
in the chair of the chief magistrate, and in that
nf nf nv has
tlected honor upon the place of his birth. We
rejoice that his proudest memories linger here,
and that through his living efforts our local his
tory has been preserved to posterity."
Hon. Emory Washburn spoke briefly in re-
Spouse to this, recounting his early days, when,
an orphan, he was kindly encouraged and
helped by the good people of Leicester. He also
paid high Tribute to the memory of his mother,
and closed by offering the following sentiment
THE memory of our mothers, their influence
has sanctified and their wisdom has helped to
guide the policy which has made Leicester hon
ored among her sister communities"
8. "The clergy-New England owes much of
her greatness to their liberal and scholarly
Christian spirit, and Leicester, on this anniver-
sary, gratefully recognizes her Indebtedness to
her own ministry, whose interest is manifest in
her character, and in all her best institutions"
Joseph L. Partridge, Esq, responded to this
by reading the following letter from DR.. Nelson,
FeiLOO IOt1nSnlen and Friends: Leicester
has been settled as q town one hundred and
fifty years. Ten years more than half of this
whole period have lived in the world; and nine
years more than one-third of it | have been an
inhabitant of the town.
The first time saw Leicester, in about 1900,
rode on horseback from Worcester behind my
uncle who was then attending the academy. |
went into the academy building with him, which
was long and shapeless in its form and situated
quite down to the road. 1t was interesting to
me, as Leicester academy was then famous, not
only in the county but throughout the common
wealth. Besides, the building, as | understood,
had been the trading house of Il rich company of
Jews during the revolutionary war, of which
had heard marvellous stories.
In 1872 l began my permanent residence in
Leicester, and now the memories, the associa-
tons, and the attachments ofall but sixty years,
from that date, cause me to feel as it were fused
into it and to become almost native. 1t is in
deed trial that age and weakness must prevent
my being present with the family gathering to-
day, if only as specimen of its antiquity. Much
more regret it as these infirmities must prevent
my expressing by the living voice the many
good things l would be glad to say Of the old
homestead
Certainly it would give me pleasure to call at
tention to few of the interesting occurrences
and changes that have taken place during the
long time of my residence in the town. But
this, if it were otherwise desirable, is rendered
unnecessary by the fact that the orator of the
day, always interested in his native town, and
always devoted TO its honor and welfare, has
gone side by side with me in his observations
and put on record more of the history of Lei
cester than l could have gathered from the fail
ing store house of my memory. But the old
man and the scarcely less aged companion and
fellow pilgrim of his long and favored life can
and do unitedly send their cordial greetings to
Leicester's gathered sons and daughters with
their friends and guests. May Heavens choicest
blessings rest on them and the coming genera
tons thar may dwell in these valleys, or that
may emigrate from them.
Rev. A. e. Dennison also spoke, in response to
the same toast, in enthusiastic eulogy of DR..
Nelson. He was followed by Rev. Samuel May,
who spoke of the clergy of all sects and their
influence for good in the world in the past and
present.
10. Leicester Academy-Coeval in its origin
with the American republic, and like it still
hourshing in vigorous and useful life, its be-
nign influences have been felt for nearly CEN
fury in every part of the land. May it remain
TO tell future generations of the wisdom and lib
erality Of its founders"
Joseph L. Partridge, Esq, of Lawrence, re-
sponded, in the absence of Judge Chaplin, whose
presence was hoped for. Mr. Partridge is the
oldest surviving principal, and spoke interest
ingly in relation to the school, saying that we
have but to consider the intelligence and virtue
of the people of the town to know the influence
of this honored institution OF learning.
The band was called upon to play at this
point, the regular toasts having been disposed
of, and voluntary sentiments and speaking were
called for. Several lively speeches were elected,
among the best Of which was that of General
Edward f. Jones in response to the sentiment,
The sons of Leicester in the Baltimore mob!"
He did not dwell upon that scene, in which he
took such active part, but told humorous anec-
dotes of his early recollections of Leicester
and the old inhabitants.
Hon. Nathan Sargent, of Washington. smoke
in response to toast to the Sargent family,
going over their history briefly. He also told
the story of his grandfather and grandmother
melting over the clock weights to make bullets,
and produced one of the identical balls of lead,
which had been at the Bunker hill fight. He
remarked that if any one present doubted that
it was one of the identical bullets he would be
pleased to have them prove to the contrary.
The toast, Mulberry GroYe-The home of
the Friends. Their fireSides were love and af-
lection; their thee and thou the ever ready well
come" was responded to by t. X, Earle, ESQ.,,
of this city, who told many interesting things
in connection with the Quakers, who were once
numerous in the town OF Leicester.
Hon. Emory Washburn said few words in
reply to the sentiment: missouri sends cordial
greeting to the sons and daughters of Leicester
gathered at their 150th anniversary. May the
lnuuence OI new England institutions extend
until the mighty west becomes what New En-
gland is from S D. Eaton of Hannibal, Mo-
After comparing the early manufacturing facili-
ties of the town with the present, Mr.. Washburn
offered as a sentiment: Samuel Watson-Ihe
father and founder of the wooden manufactur-
ing of Leicester; let his name be honored, for
his enterprise has blessed his native town."
5. b. Hastings, Esq, of Philadelphia, made a
a short speech in response to call for him by
the chairman, who also called upon Mr.. Albert
Warren of Spencer, in reply to which that
gentleman said few words. Isaac T. Hutchins,
Esq., of West Killingly Ct, whose wife is a
daughter of Samuel Watson, alluded to above,
made short voluntary speech. Other senti-
ments were read as follows:
From Rev. James Thurston, of West New
ton: The good town Of Leicester, one hun
dred and fifty years Of age, her sunny hills, her
shady groves, her fertile fields, her happy and
cultured homes, her sons and daughters far and
near-may her future prosperity be as conspicu-
GUS as her hills, as refreshing as her groves as
fertile as her fields, as lovely and attractive as
her homes, as honorable to the community as
her sons and daughters"
From Mrs. Pbilena Upham, of Leicester:-
when Gov. Corwin, Of Ohio, returned after a
long absence at Washington, he thus addressed
a gathering of neighbors: L rejoice once more
TO battle in the face of the people, The crown
and comfort of this exultant day to us is de-
rived from our expectations fulfilled and our de-
sign accomplished. The sons and daughters of
Leicester who from time to time have taken
flight are now returned to the parent nest, and
once more ere we enwrap the drapery of our
couch about us and lie down to pleasant dreams