Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-08-29
9f(isttlIanp.
Orford Comntn Girls.


Oxford County has long been noted
not only for lis excellent schools and
educational institutions. but for the high
literary a'tainmeutS OF lis young people.
Tnc pas, summer has added new laure's
To her wreath. ami has proved to the
great outside world that Maine is not so
far behind the times As many have al
ways suspected would be necessary
from her location. \, the graduating
exercises OF Vass4r, 10 June, Miss II. +
Hersey. daughter of u. \. J.. llcrsey OF
Oxford. read m essay entitled The
Zoe Of our leuers-.he hjeud Of our
government |. was considered one OF
the most mastery productions of The
occasion, and Was published the day
after is delivery in the Pougbkeepsic
Daily Nsirs. /, reads more Ike the
production OF an experienced writer for
the press thlu a graduating essay. w
re-pu5,i,h IL, IS an Incentive TO our ~ ny
Young readers who are struggling I"
secure a hi.her education.
immediately alter her graduation, Ms
Hersey was invited to assume the posi-
ton OF LADY principal At Cook Academy.
Havana. New York "a fitting school Tor
Vass4r. She has accepted the position,
and will soon leave for the scene OF her
future labors.
Miss HERsEY's Essay.
IHE loE OF OUR LETTERS THE FRIEND or
OUR GOVERNMENT.
Tue newspaper is the regent Of soyer-
eigns, the servau, OF people, the aver ger
/ of wrongs, the protector ot social, pOli'l-
cal and religious rights; now the critic,
now The poet. always the novelist ana
dramatist, Tor IL deals with lite; the
| Mercury with breath ut steam and tongue
Of lightning, by whom man, the modern
/ Jupiter, daily speaks bis thought to
/ millions.
journalism may be recSonod con-
slant factor in the troublesome equation
of national lite From the hour when
the first newspaper was published, the
| scholar aud not the despo., thought aud
not passion was 10 hold sway in empires
Armies were TO appear on The world 5
battle field, equipped wiki weapoUs rs
keen as light and as strong as truth, not
TO conquer kingdoms. but 10 Tree slaves
More than century and q halt ago
London WAS surprised one l orning by q
rain of little printed sheets, coutaluing
$. me racy smaI!-lalk and some appropos
criticism ln . month, every breakfast
table and coffee house had It's copy, us
contents We're discussed in every draw
ing-room, and the "rattler" had q
friend in every Euglish reader. So in a
day. journalism stepped into an empty
niche in the Temple OF LiIeratur-.
10 lew years the press invades the
realm OF politics. Here. Instead OF cor
dalty and confidence she meets suspicion
and ireachery. N4poleon's sentiment
-four hostile newspapers are more 10 be
dreaded than four hundred thousand
b.yoneis," found an echo in every court
m Europe. Journalism was The gun
powder which was iItalto the distinction
of rank. The steel amor OF nob'eman
and statesman was not proof against the
bullet sped by the hand Of The commoner.
But the battle between journalist and
legislator was not fought oul upon Euro
peau soil. 10 our own more liberal govern
ment the free press was at trsl branded d
dangerous element. Only fifty yeaI ago
one of our own states stabbed at her In
tragedy more cruel Than tha' o. julius C@
sar. An honest man.lhe editor Ola rehg-
ious paper has laid down The pen and has
taken up the gun. With lew friends he Is
ouardiag Warehouse where is stored
hooty for which a mob outside clamUrs
gilh insane fury. The Dynamite whose
explosion Is Ia shatter the foundations
of y peculiar institution" is printing
nress! This man hss dared publish his
ooiuions on any sutject-even that ol
slavery. Down with him-.ploter OF Sc
ditious. abolitionisI, traitor! The sssail'
ants increase, the house is fired, the
defenders of the engine of destruction
are forced from their positions and shot
down ike dogs. With one iHsiant's