Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-15
Mr.. Eiwell's Lecture.

Mr.. E. H. Elwell, editor OF the Portland L ans
cript, lectured last evening at the Free Baptist
church, in the Popular course, on "The Poetry
and Humor Of Dia'ect" The audience was large
and appreciative. Mr.. Elwel stands in the front
rank Of home lecturers, and the lecture last eve
ming was among his most pleasing efforts
The lecturer began with the remark that speech
Is the necessary result of the consultation Of man.
and especially of woman. Eve fell into a ilrta-
ton with Satan, simply from the want of some
body else to talk with, which shows how danger
Gus 1t is for married men to neglect conversation
with their wives. Language being thus thing
OF growth, sprlnglng spontaneously from the
ground of human nature, it follows that the speech
of the common people must have the natural ia
vor of the soil in which it has its origin. Thus
we find in the speech of the people of whatever
race, vigor of life, raciness of idiom en- apt
ness and ginality, picturesqueness of express
sion, which we look for in vain in the languages
of refined society. AS a language becomes liter
ate, it grows pedantic and foreign and loses much
OF its native strength. The strength of every lam
guage lies in the dialects in which it has its roots.
No language after it has faded into dcton, can
bring forth sound and lusty book. Just because
OF Its limitations, the speech of the common peo-
pie is full of metaphors. When a Yankee, after
drinking glass of soda water for the first time
says, sit tastes like sweetened wind )" he is un-
consciously exercising the poetic faculty.
After touching upon the dialects of the English
language. the lecturer passed to the consideration
of the Scotch speech, and quoted selections of
Scotch poetry to show the wealth of e pres sion in
its diminutives. Many Scotch anecdotes were al
so given, to show the quaintness OF the Scotch
speech. Specimens Of English dialects were also
given, and Hoods Lost Herr" was rocited
American dialects were then considered and Illus
trated by many anecdotes, and by quotations
from Lowelfs Bigelow poems. Passing then TO
the consideration of the Dutch dialect recitations
were given from CLANS Breitman," and the lee
turer concluded with glowing tribute to Abra-
ham Lincoln, as man springing fIom the com
mon people, and illustrating their raclncss of
speech and strong common sense.
Belgrade Locals.
The late snow storms have proved great dles-
sing to the farmers ard they have improved it in
getting up their winters supply of fuel
The diphthera is prevailing in the southern
part of the town,on what is called Bckfords Hill,
next to West Wateryie, to considerable an extent
One family by the name of FORK buried one chill d
on Thursday last, another Saturday and still
another lay at the point of death on Sunday, by
this much dreaded disease.
The schools in town nearly all in successful
operation but at present their numbers are some
what diminished by the prevalence of tae
mumps.
Mr.. Edwin +. Yeatsn is teaching a successful
term of singing school at Belgrade Depot, with
some fifty scholars in attendance.
Mr. Frank Ellis recently fell from load of hay,
by the horse starting while he was unloading, and
his collar bone was broken by the fall
Mr.. Albion Lockwood has bonded portion of his
farm to parties in W sterville who are to open and
develop slate quarry upon the bonded territory
Some excellent specimens of slate have been OBJ
tanned, and it is the opinion Of many that some of
the best slate to be found in Maine lies in this
quarry. II has advanced the price of real estate
considerably in this section as it is supposed to be
quits extensive