The Portland daily press., 1878-12-31
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE

and contingent engagements to attend; bus
somehow or other there has always been some
obstacle intervening at the critical moment 10
prevent his co ming; this has grown to be %
invariable sequel Of the negotiation that hs
was not expected this time; he was announced
as one Of the gentlemen from the Capital who
might come, bat the notice was qualified by sA
"if'' that had considerably more than doubt
in it. When he did arrive he received vel
come which must have convinced him that tsa
New England residents OF our city are de-
cidedly cordial and warm .hearted set Of fsk
lows. They created him with vigorous aD-
plause when his name was first mentioned, aud
with ringing cheers when he rose to speak.
and his speech was listened to with marked
interest, interrupted by many demonstrations
of approval 1t was thoroughly in keeping
with the occasion, and rather think some Of
his statistics in respect of the means Of the
Puritan fathers were new to most Of the audi.
ence. 1 confess they were to me. History has
dwelt so exclusively on their moral qualities,
and given us SO little information in regard "
their worldly possessions that one might b
excusable in the absence of any positive knowl-
edge on the subject for adopting the idea that
they were seeking q new and distant homs,
because they were not thriving very well where
they were. But he held the ground that ne
alloy Of sel6shness mingled with the devotisn
to the principle of civil and religious hbsrH
which impelled them to forsake the land Il
their birth and their friends and kindred in
furtherance of what they conceived to hs
great cause and sacred right.
.-xuL-- AZ. Dt~s.s-~sspaoa " yi.o popalar de-
mand for an honest dollar and coupled with
it the declaration that ''the people bslieve viii
equal faith in an honest ballot" there wsrs
occasional glances at each other amorg the
auditors as If of inquiry whether this WAS NOS
trenching upon that obligation of neutrality
which is the unwrittsn law binding upon the
dispensers of hospitality whsr the guests en-
brace all varieties of political bias But the
sentiment itself was SO Just that no fair.
minded person could take exception 10 II, and
after second or SO Of silence 10 was greeted
with lively round Of applause.
The principal toast-'The day we celsbraSs''
was assigned to Mr.. Evarts, who led Oh In
the oratorcal exercises after Mr.. Appleton had
delivered his brief introductory address Nr.
Evarts is thoroughly at homo In the New Eps-
land Society. He was long an officer Of 10 and
held the position Of President from 1883 10
1862. He is never ct loss for material for
speech, and never 10 doubt 90 10 having stsen.
tive and interested listeners when he stands
before his old associates on forefathers' dsy
He was perfectly at his ease and delivered his
address with as much cdmposure and self-pos-
session as il he had been putting q case 10 Q
petit jury
Chauncey NJ. Depew followed Mr.. Evars
His toast was "Ths State OF New York"
Mr.. Dspsw Is . natural orator. He is equally
effective on the stump or In the festive hall
before q vast multitude or select few. There
is no theme which he cannot decorate with
choice flowers Of rhetoric, no occasion to which
he is not equal. He never makes failure; no
surroundings can disconcert him, no untoward
circumstances disturb the silvery thread Of his
fluent discourse. This speech was one Of his
happiest efforts, and fully sustained his high
and well-deserved reputation.
The Secretary Of the Treasury spoke for ma
tional Honor" DR.. Storrs for the 'Clergy Of
New England" Dr. Potter Of Grace Church
for "The Church" President McCosh Of Prince
ton and President Seelys of Amherst for "rhs
College and Common School," Commodore
Nicholson for "The Army and Navy" Gov.
Van Zsndt of Rhode Island for "rhs New Eng
land States," and the Presidents Of st. Geores
and st. Andrew for sour Sister Societies" {"
The intellectual regalement lasted till quarter
to one O'Clock, A. NJ, and the appreciation Of
| it was continuous from beginning to end. The
speeches were all carefully taken dova In
short hand by an experienced stenographsr,
ana WIN presently 10 embzlmed In o tasteful
phamphlet issued by the Society, for gratui-
tous distribution among the members and their
friends. g
The Society has permanent fund Of nearly
$50.OOO and an annual income Of some $1,000,
three fourths Of which Is applicable to chari-
table distribution among INDECENT persons Of
New England origin. The widow and chill
dren Of q deceased member il In need are en-
titled for five successive years to an annuity
from the Treasury, to be fixed BY the board Of
officers. Happily the number Of benedciarss
of either of these classes is inconsiderable, bus
the city is divided into districts, and the duty
of looking after the wants of the necessitous ls
assigned to the several members Of the Charity
Committee selected from among the gentlemen
who constitute the Board. Their annual dis
bursements amount to several Thousand dollars
The expenses incurred In commemorating the
landing of the Pilgrims are defraysd by the
sale of tickets for the festival, and are always
enough in excess Of the actual outlay to leave .
residuum for deposis with the treasurer, In
creasing thereby the means for carrying out the
benefcent objects of this most patriotic and
deserving Association. YARMOUTH.