Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-26
First Governor OF Squirrel Island,

|; may be interesting to some of our readers
who have an attachment for the Island named
above, to know something concerning It's first
governor. and so we make this extract from the
Squd;
books. lie took to learning uncommonly that
il was predicted Of the hoy that he would become
a scholar Of distinction. He educated at
Wsterville College, and for years followed the
profession of a teacher. The older inhabitants
remember that he once taught school in Lewiston.
In course Of time he was married His wife also,
had some traits of character which have caused
her to be immortal in the recollection Of the
Southport people She was well educated and a
very intelligent woman. Her dowiy was Squirrel
Island and much kline tbereunto belonging, so
that newlv-wedded bliss in the persons of Mr..
and Mrs. W ,llam Greenlief retired from the busy
world to this Island, now about ten and forty
years ago.
To this then unnvaded spot, Mr.. Greenlief adj
dressed himself agriculturaly In due time, little
Greeneaves grew, and the girls and boys, two of
each, grew to womaI hood and manhood. Great
, care was taken of their education.
He. who more than quarter century ago. NAV
have visited this island, knocking at the mansion
which at present does duty the royal palace,
would have received a right courteous welcome
and The outstreched hand Of William Greenlief.
He would not only have been welcomed to seat,
but soon as he had entered, he would have seen
a big, billowy bottle, the most orthodox of old
fashioned 6ecanters the sidebosrd The con-
tents tf This decanter were invariably brandy.
The bottle was never allowed to be empty. The
first act Of this gentleman Of the old school was
wont TO he to invite the guest to share with him
portion Of the content. of the decanter in one or
two three-hngered drinks eisurely decanted as
the master of the house discus red the latest mag
All ne article, or the newest book, or the Homeric
verse. The brandy was slipped methOdically. 1t
trick led II never flowed, down that classc throat.
The Squire, as he was called, was then mellow,
yet festively tsciturn. The eccentricitv of WIN.
Greenlief, the first governor of this Island, NAV
be seen in the way in which he takes bis brandy.
! IL the kind reader will observe, he will see that
! the Governor gives brandy to others in glass
but as fo- himself, his besker is always cup, and
invariably the same cup. lie usually takes his
brandy straight, and YOU can perceive that he re-
CARDS the modern beresy of mixed liquors. even
10 aqueous dilutioB, with sincere aversion. He
takes his brandy regularly, and obviously from a
conscientious sense of duty, but he never Il au-
scends the limits Of level headed, social exhiara-
ton.
William Greer never used any other beaker.
He objected to any profane hand washing that cup
with water, and was wont TO quote Latin phrase
to all vain persons who thought brandy needed
the washing Of water. This phrase, translated
| reads, Far away, far away, We profa ne! %
| In this golden age of the world, when Willism
| Gieenlief read Horace in the original, before a
blazing open fire, in what is now the dining room
| of the Island palace, the guest would have seen
on the table not only h APPS of current literature,
bnt also the English and Latin classics. Greatly
addicted to scholarship the entire family, and
the children, now mddle-aged men and womeu D,
are at this time residing at Boothbsy, Lewiston
| and elsewhere-re>pected, we'll to- do and cult
waited ladies and gentlemen.
In politics, Squire Greenlief was of the Jeffer-
sonian school. He thoroughly informed in
political history freely quoted Hamilton and the
Federalist, and had Washington's farewell address
al his tongues end. He was loyal and when he
heard they were firing at Sumpter, it is said be
took down his old fint-lock, went out to South
Shore and blszed away at ses-gull flying in a
sontherly direction.