The Republican journal., 1871-02-09
Mr.. DlNGLEY IN BELFAST,

Hon. Nelson Dingey, Jr., editor Of the Lewiston
Journal, is publishing chapters of observations
from the notes of his recent visit to this section.
The Brothers Dingley are natives of Unity, and
olir recent visitor writes very pleasantly of his
personal recollectous of his old home and vicinity.
We have space however, to copy that portion only
which relates to our'city. He says
There is no indication of that appearance of decay
which pervadeS so many OF our shipping and even
interior towns, but on the contrary, the wharves
aud stores give evidence that Belfast is now, as i'll
past years, one of the best and most extensive
shipping ports coast. especially for lumber,
hay, potatoes, wood, &c and the large number of
neat and even elegant residences indicate not only
thrift but wealth.
SOLID MEN OF BELFAST.
There is probably no place Of its size III the Stlle
where there are more men OF competence ana even
wealth than in Belfast Many of the names that
we read upon the signs or hear pronounced on the
streets call to mind men and families that have
state reputation. The Johnsons, the Hazeltnes,
the Washhurnes, Daniel Haraden, Daniel Lane,
{. T. Carter, Henry McGilvery, II. 0. Alden, the
well-known telegraph manager, r,-these are among
the men whom we recognize as extensive business
men, ship-owners, shipbuilders etc. We regret TO
hear that our friend, p. +. Hazetina, esq, is
seriously i'll. Another old friend, DR.. Monroe,
recognized as the leading physician i'll this section,
is absent in Florida with his family, this winter.
life-eX-Gov. Anderson (now living in Washing
tom; ex-Gov. Crosby, eX-Congressman Abbott
both still engrossed in legal business; Judge Dick
erson for many years leading lawyer and at one
time editor, but now gracing the Supreme Bench
of Maine by his ability and legal attalnment>, and
still public spirited as ever; Hon. A. G. Jewet,
familiar as a veteran politician amt lawyer; Mayor
IIaviord; and eX-Sherih McClntock, the mention
OF whose name reyives oar hoyhood memories of
the politics of that day.
''ELEEDING WALDO"
Those were the pamy days of Maine democracy,
and Waldo was then the bright, shining light of
the party-for its devotion even to DEATH receiving
the appelIation of .bleeding Waldo" We have a
dim recollection of the magnitude of the democratic
maorities cast in every town of the county, in
some sections so overwhelming that "Whg' voters
were curiosities. II is possible, indeed. that it
was one of the Waldo towns of those days, where
the selectmen found whiG ticket in the ballot box
on counting up the vote on election day. and after
each had taken look at the strange intruder. de-
eded to throw "the queer thing out for intormali-
ty." Those were halcyon days for the democratic
politicians of Waldo But the ''heshpots" of
county and State were the ruin of the great demo-
cratic party them as they are likely in the future to
be Of other parties. The struggle for office led to
divisions bitter quarrels, desperate struggles in
caucuses and finally open war at the polls.
"Ephram" had his idols, and they were sufficient
EIliots had theirs. The respective factions were
stgmatized rs "wool-heads' and "wild-cats," and
every town resounded with the batle-cres of the
clans Although a boy then, we We're by no
means an uninterested spectator of the fierce con-
fict which ragged from NJ to ';3 and which didn't
terminate when in 1856 the county was revolution
lied and Joined the republican party that had Just
arisen in the State and country.
THE NEWSPAPERS OF WALDO.
AThe old Belfast Journal bore prominent part in
the history of Waldo democracy. 1t was one of
the first political newspapers that we read and al-
though not sympathising even then with its poll
ties, We always perused with pleasure the pun
gent and incisye leaders OF Griffin, and afterwards
OF Moore. and then Of Dckerson, who has since
donned the judicial garb. The Journal during all
these wears was the abest democratic paper in the
State-always sharp, pthy, witty and severe =
and under the present able direction of w. III.
Simpson. esq, it has lost none of its ability and
pungency 1t is unusual for any paper to maintain
so high rank for nearly forty years and under so
many editors.
Waldo, handfn. i'll number and mlaence half
sustained small paper known as the Belfast
Signal 1t was to be sure. an apology for news
paper, but we remember it with pleasure because
our first contributions were printed in its columns
and many know the never-t o-be- forgotten sensa-
ton of first getting into print. We got entirely
over anything of the kind long since, and now at
the close of every working day only wish we
could keep out of print long enough at least to
have a thorough rest The Signal maintained
sickly existence till about 1856, when the republi-
can party came into power, when the Progressive
Age was established by W. NJ. Rust, esd, and Mr..
Burgess, as a republican newspaper. This paper,
which has since heen conducted with marked abil-
ity by Mr. Rust, assumed at once, and has MAIN
tanned, a high character, and attained a very ex-
tensiye circulation.
OTHER FEATURES.
Belfast has four hotels, one National and one
Savings Bank, one of the finest Halls IN the State
Hayford Hail. Courthouse and jail, several
tine blocks, and five churches-Congregatio
of which Rev. Mr.. Parker (recently resfgned) h as
been pastor for more than Ia years; Unitarian, of
which Rev. Dr. Palfrey has been pastor for %
wears; Baptist; Methodist; and Universalist.
The professions are represented by seven phys-
clans and fourteen lawyers. We find three old
college friends located here-W. G. Frye, Clerk of
Courts; S. l.. Milliken, late Clerk of Courts; and
". ii. Mcclellan, ESQ.,. son Of Or. Mcclellan of Lis
bon-a leading member OF the bar. At the Head
of the Tide three miles north of the harbor, there
Is 4 fourishing settlement. with church and
stores, and good water power on a stream with
miles from the harbor, is another settlement
Across the bay, on Goose River, the outlet of
Goose Pond, there are three paper mills, an axe
factory and a Grst mill, and surplus power for
other manufacturing operations. The harbor is
one of the best on the coast never troubled with ice
except in such extreme cold weather as affects
Boston and New York, and is admirably situated
AS shipping port and ship-building center. YES
sells can unload directly upon ears With all
these natural advantages, we think we are not
mistaken in predicting prosperous future for the
city. The centennial Of the town has been appropr-
ately celebrated the past year with historical adj
/ n
ercises; and we doubt not will mark = new and
more progressive era.
CONCERT EN HALLS BAND. The entertainment
afforded to our people by this Band on Saturday
evening, was of the most satisfactory kind. The
hall was iul and the audience sat with patient ex-
pectaon during the hours delay occasoued by the
ateness of the train which brought the band We
cauno particuarize where all was so good. Sut flee
it to say that the audience listened with ready ap-
probation and frequent applause to the successive
pieces until far toward midnight, with no thought o
the hours laeness, so completely did the magic OF
music beguile the flight OF time. On Sunday eve
ming concert of sacred music brought ont a large
attendance in one of the coolest nights of the win
ter
The Ball, on Monday evening, was Il very brian,
affair. Eighty-tive couples were upon the floor
while the galleries aud stage We're filled with spec.
tators-including in each class, many from other
places. Never have the ladies of our c,tv, on an,
occasion, been dressed with greater richness o,
more becoming taste and elegance. TO pass from
the wintry and cheerless aspect of the street to
| the warmth. light and joy OF the hall, seemed
l 1ptrn II.