The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-04-13
Speech bf DR.. Aver, at the inauguration
ofthe town of Aver, Mass.
Indies and Gentlemen:

itLopcs into the Irish Sea, river, rising
on tho mountains of the inner land, wind,
down among the hills and emptics Into the
Firth Of Clyde From remote time it has
been called Ayr.from an old Scotch word
...Ay1y meaning an eagles -nost-tlio
river Of the eagles nest. Near its mouth
and a contiguous harbor, long stood a
hamlet which b,Omo, royal burg or
town named from the river, aud now about
one.third as large as LowelI-the city Of
Ayr. For m1ro than thousand years it
has been noted ia tho history of Scotland.
During tho wars of Robert Bruce it was
one Of bis resorts, and was especially ia.
vored by him because he was there cured
ofloprosy. Oliver Cromwell made il one
Of the depOts aud headquarters Of bis orr
my in bis attack upon Scotland, and one
of his old forts is now tho Citadel of Ayr
But above all it's distinctions, Ayr was
the birthplace Of the poet Barns. And
what poet What a voice has he
given to oil the endearmonts of home!
Howhas he hallOwed the cottagoand all it
COvoB-weans and wife, patches and pow
erty, beans, barley, ale, hardship and the
poor mans toll How he wraps with ten
derness what ever he names, even bis bleak
leagues of pasture, the stubblo Geld, ice,
snow, sloct, aud rain, brooks, birds, mice,
thistlos and heather. His Benny Doom.
John Anderson. my 10 John, Aud lang
Syue, aud Highland Mary roll round the
world in ever ringing symphony with what
is purest aud best in human nature. His
songs WOO and melt the hearts of youth
and maileus, bring soaco to the sorrowing
aud courage to the ovorburdened by their
lot. His inspiration has set tho affections
to music ia strains that are immortal
NoOther one man ever made a language
classic, but he has rendered that lowland
Scotch Doric, dialect of fame. The
nsmc Of his home and his beloved river
Ayr was lifted on tho wings of MS pathos,
uud now the approaching traveller yoarns
to reach the spot of his genius has sauCti-
fed
Along the borders oftho sea in paral-
lylOgram and surrounding the town is a
couaty of the Same name-Ayrshiro.
1t would weary your patience to hear
the history of my ancestors from one an
ciont Johu of Ayr. then john Ayr, down
through the centuries to this Aver now
before you; through their vicissitudes Of
poverty and plen'y-of fortune and mis-
fortune; how they have intermarricd with
England, Ireland Scotland, and later with
the Americans, who arc an excellent mix.
ture Of them all.
Ny tifends.-yOu have chosen the name
] Inherited for your town with an extra.
ordinary uuanimity, and have thereby con.
ferrcd an honor upon me, the proper ac.
Acknowledgement OF which do not feel
fully able to express. But l beg you to
be assured that it is appreciated and that
it will be gratefully remembered with a
living interest 10 your prosperity while
life remains to me, aud. trust, beyond
that by my children after mo.
If this name has become noted among
the many that are worthier around you,
thstis g.eatly due to its publicity. May
be permitted to state whence that camel
Until within few centuries all tue civil.
lied nations OF the globo we're pent upon
the Eastern continent. Two or three hun
dted years ago they leaked over into this
few aud foarfully at FIRST, then more ant
moro but always 10 their settlements TIM
idly huggiug the Atlantic coast Within
the last two or three generations, they
have burst out. as it were. and overrur
these vast continents of the West. Nov
they are scattered here aud possess these
measureless stretches of mountains ant
valleys, hills, plains, forests and prairic
with the boundless pampas and mouutair
ranges of South America. Former gener.
atoms lived in villages aud towns, thickly
settled together where physicians wor
plenty aud near at hand, Nov, the pea
pie are widely scattered. in many sections
of these many countries For grol. uun
'bers the timely treatment Of phyjisi4n,
cannot be had, over large tracts Of c,ua.