Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-31
Funeral of DIR. williams Illness of Judge
Chadwick.

By the death of DR.. r. r. Williams, Gardiner
loses good physician, and citizen who possess
ed in the highest degree the esteem of all his nu-
merous acquaintance. The funeral exercises were
held in Gardiner, yesterday afternoon, in the Uni
versalist church, and were conducted by the Rev
W. w. Nutting. The attendance was large and
well illustrated the feeling of our citizens for the
diseased. Dr. Williams was member Of Gardi-
ner Lodge Knights Of p. also OF Maine Com
mandery No l, F. and A. NJ. both of which orders
Qed by Hallowell Brass Band assisted in paying
last tribute of respect TO the remains of the de-
parted.
Judge Z. A. Chadwick who for three years has
very satisfactorily presided in police court, has
been unable to attend to his duties for several
weeks past on account Of severe illness. Grave
fears are entertained regarding his recovery.
Forty Years Ago-Reminiscences of n for
mer Resident of Augusta.
Through the courtesy of Hon. Jos. W. Patterson
we have been permitted to read letter from Dam
iel Cony, Esq, formerly of this city, now Of De
troit, MINI. We make some extracts which will
amuse our readers, especially the local hits, pro-
ducing glimpse of the way our friends the dem
ocrats used 10 do it, The first part of the extract
in reference to the tax on liquors and tobacco be-
ing burdensome to the poor man, belongs to the
keenest specimens of satire;
81 object particularly to the increased tax TO be
laid upon whiskey and tobacco. Ii has become
very fashionable of late years to tax whiskey and
tobacco without stint or conscience on the prlnc-
pie that one is a luxury and the other a wee.
protest against the whole thing. The income de-
rived from these sources comes largely from the
industrial classes mawkish sentimentalism on
the subject of temperance has much TO answer Tor,
for this perniciOus legislation. mechanic earn
ing 81 per day and spending half of it for whskcy
will have but little left to buy shoes for his chill
dren. Reduce the price to the old standard, and it
follows logically that either his children will have
more shoes or he will have more rum.
"When put on my reminiscent spectaces, and
take backward look, cannot help feeling that
the palmiest days of my native State and town
were forty years ago, when Fri " ills sold pure
Santa Cruiz rum for four cents glass and when
it was the casiom for the men OF that generation to
meet at his store at about eleven A. NJ, to play
crack loo for the drinks In those halcyon days,
if one CHANGED to observe a group OF men with
faces wreathcd in smiles, vending their way IN a
certain direction, the object and purport of their
mission was well understood. No plotting or trea-
son lurked beneath their vests, no schemes Tor
railroad stealing, no shoddy jobs, were then con
templated, no bounty jumping even dreamed OF !;
the objective being merely social glass-slmpiy
this and nothing more. Then there was less
wealth, but less crime less hypocrisy, but more
religion; less pretence but honor less social
distinction, but more happiness Am right, or
do | dreams Alas! what changes forty years
have wrought Changes in everything-in modes
of travel, in methods of business, in politics and
the manner of conducting campaigns. How plain
" can recall the time when Col. Stanley was
chairman, and w. r. Smith, Secretary OF the DEM
ocra,ic town committee, and how they used to
consider Cat-town voters an expensive luxury at
seventy-fve cents head Now l am told they
are regarded as dog-cheap at four or five dollars
apiece! The extraordinary advance in the mar
is the legitimate outgrowh of those twin abomina,
tions-prohibition and whskey excise Repeal
those oaious enactments, and Cat-town and Mud
mills would revert to their normal condition. and
the democracy would be enabled to resume their
natural and best holt.