The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-30
TOM PAINE's BIRTHDAY.
Peculiar Cerem onies Commemorative OF the
Great Patriots services.

Great Patriots services.
Yesterday being the l30ih anniversary OF
the birth OF Thomas Paine, one OF the leading
patriots OF the Revolution, and the pioneer OF
free thought In the New World. the day was
celebrated at New Rochelle by the Tom
Paine Association, In the Town Hail. The
association was represented by Capt. George
LLOYD, white-beardcd disciple OF the
great skeptic: but the independe mt public.
In the shapa OF a dozen fuli-Rrown men and a
hundred obstrcperous boys made up for the
apathy ofthe heo-philanthropists by an enthu-
.iasm that was only equaled by tho inconsisi-
cncy of It's expression. Among tho attentive
and appreciatlve listeners to what was said dur
inc the evening was n broad backed brindle dog,
who answered to the name of Phospnoskiptuck,
but who frequently answered without being
In the absence Of a distinguished New York
orator, VINO had soiemnly promised 70 be Ures-
ent, Capt. LLOYD after electi9Gg G Gen. David DAVE,
President. and himself Secretars opened for
midabe roll Of manuscript and read his speech,
OF which, with the comments made by the au-
dicnce, including rhusphoskip uck, the follow
Ing IA truthful report AZ far az II goes:
After making known the fact that he was n
revolutiuni.t from childhood, having been one
of DORIS men in Rhode Island, and having had
a difficult time In skipping out oi that little
State into New York to evade the onlcers OF the
law. tho Captain said +:
Thomas Paine sa patriot. tApplause.1 lie
applauscl His father WAS Quaker. Here the
enthusiasm Of the audience ". = irrepressiole,
and the nrlndlc dogs bark WIS Ike thst in M ,hs
mercy OF the wVYes OF audible feryor that en-
comossseaHl lie be{S9me an eyclsscman, ard
gave up stay making. lSen 'ation.l On going to
London he fell In with lIenj ,miu Franklin tcries
Of " Bully for Ieul, from tho audiencel, and,
taking the advice OF the philosol her, he came
tYuu bet he dbl to- Amcrica. where he edited
the PennsUlrdntd Mdg1zinc. lSo tremendous was
the spplasis on me LIST word that the dog
most thrilling yawp, which was received with
hpi lause, whereupon Ca {. Lloyd bowed his
acknowled edgments and continued with the story
Of Panes career, from his arrival In America
TIL his death In 1sO9l
When he was about half through, the room
began to I'LL with vapor that had the odOr of
scorched pepper, and the stcrnutations OF the
Younger members OF his audience were so vio-
lent that the hearty applause Of the elders was
almost drowned. Every voey Of sneeZes
signal for Phosphosrtptuck to ex-
press himself. and he did SO with a
dog worthy OF even better name. IL Is un-
fortunate that the appreciation OF the audience
VA, va: ehapIesseu Mn h sen n,Jns Ha ,i
not be distinctly understood hut enough was
gathered from whit he 80 earnestly scattered,
to satisfy every henrer that In his hands the
name aud fame Of Thomas Paine were safe for
ever.
New Rochelle In 1909. and "A beautiful monument
was erected to his memory thirty years after
ward tut It has been chipped to pieces by relic
he farm was presented to him by the State
OF New York as token OF the appreciation
with which his public work was regarded
In 1919 his -. bones were removed tc
England by william CObbett. the incon
sistent and unstable politician. the
vigorous writer and the uncOmpromsing re-
former. Wncn the remains reached England
| Byron, who, in common with the rest of al:
| countrymen. looked upon Paine as an inhdel Il;
| well as a traitor, wrote these lines:
In ndiggng up your bone- Tom Pane,
win CobbcU has done wei,
YuuVlsit him once more on carth
He'll visit you in hell.
Paine's birthday was celebrated in Ecclesii
| Hail, in this CT y, last evening. stephen Pear
| Andrews said Christ was " a cantankerous re
former, and so was ThUs. Paine" lhe speaker
wanted this generation to heat toem both In TO
| forming the world. Paine was pOntUcr ndIinus
| Tue words meant greatest bridge builder, anC
| TnomBs Paine nvenled the iron bridge. " H'
| did more he built the bridge Of common sens'
| and reason. which spans the chasm from anti
| quity to futurty. He was the nrst salarie1
| editor In the United states. lie wa the fouD
| der OF the spirit Of modern times, the aroma U
| whose blossoms and the sweet tastes OF wnos,
| fruits would be extended all over the earth.
| ID. NJ. Bennett euloeized Paine, and attacked
the clergy and Congress.