Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-09-16

muCn eSteen1eus Is lotScu' piePhNNi -"
granite, he says, is likewise found here
ut consists, he says, ''of minute grains,
Is nearly iron black, and Is easily scraped
with knife. Pulverized, mixed with OIL,
and applied to stoves, 1t secures them from
rust and gives them gloss; and COM
pounded with clay, IL Is formed into the
best crucibles. The purest kind is manu-
featured into lead pencils" These facts
gathered from the Congressional Library.
Since my arrival in town, DIR. A. {. Ham
lin of Bangor, has kindly furnished me
with the following communication on this
subject
mt. Mica, which is regarded as one OF
the most remarkable deposits of rare min
erals i'm the world was discovered by Eli
jah l.. Hamln in 1920. At that time and
in subsequent explorations, some beautiful
crystals of red, green and blue tourmalines
were discovered, of fine color, Transparent
cy and size. These crystals were found
in the decomposed rock, or in cavities
exposed by blasting. Besides these re-
markable stones, the deposit yielded many
other minerals, some of which are inter
esting and rare. Among them may be
mentioned Cassiterite, Amblygonite, Lep-
idolite, Clevelandite, Spodumene, Zrcon,
Garnet, Smoky Quartz, Apatite, Rose
Quartz, and other varieties of minerals.
In fact, IL great number Of varieties of min
erals discovered here, some of them re-
markabe on account OF their variety aud
their beauty, will always give the name Of
Paris Il distinguished page in mineralogy.'
This town Is favored with a good num-
Der OF water privileges, OF more or less
81. La Mt Durfa
West Paris, Shows Falls, and at two or
three other points on the Little AndrO-
scoggin; and Stony brook, Smiths brook.
and Moose pond stream are also utilized
for mill purposes at several places. In his
history Of Norway, Mr.. David Noyes says
that during the early settlement Of that
town there was no grist-mill in the place,
and that settlers were Obliged 20 20 TO
Jackson's mill, in Paris, on the Stony
brook, which he says was but poor apol-
ogy for a mill or TO what has been since
called Rays mill in what Is now Otishcld,
where they some times, in the winter,
went on snow shoes with q bushel or
two OF grain on n hand sled
Jackson's grist-mill and saw-mill the
first in this town, were located on the
StonybroOk, at the foot of the Fobcs road
lage. They were built by Lemucl Jackson
about 1888, prior to which the settlers
were Obliged to go for these sccommoda-
tiOns TO New Gloucester Taking bushcl
Of corn or grain on his back, the sturdy
pioneer made his way by Il spotted line
twenty-five or thirty miles through the
forest To that town, had il ground, and in
like manner, returned with his griSt 20 his
Durcll was proceeding through the woods
on this crrand, he was suddenly confronted
by huge bear, which disputed his pas
sage until dubbed Off by force OF arms.
have this fact from my brother Alouzo. To
whom it was related by Mr.. Durcll him
| self In these days there were few roads
in this section % admit Of the passage Of
horse, much less wagon. Boards for
tablc-leaf or shelf, were lugged many
miles upon the back; and il was long be-
| fore horses, even for horseback riding
could be ayailcd Of 10 any great extent
Then, the women used often 10 ride be-
hind the men, or they would take one or
more Of their children aud travel long dis
tanccs on horseback To visit their fricuds
The population of this town appears 10
have been steadily on the increase probab-
ly from its first settlement up 20 1850
but the census of 1850 shows decrease
OF tfty-tyc in the preceding ten years,
aud the falling of In the next decade WAS
>iXty-ive doubtless partly owing to the
war OF the rebellion. BY the census, the
number OF inhabitants of Paris was. I'm
1900, eight hundred and forty-four; IN
1910 thirteen hundred and twenty; in lo2O
eighteen hundred and nnety-four; In 1890,
two thousand three hundred and seven in
1870 two thousand four hundred and my
four; in 1850. two thousand eight hundred
and eighty-twO; in 1860, two thousand.
eight hundred and twenty seven and in
1870, two thousand seven hundred and
siIty-iiyc. We have not time 10 inycsti-
gate the causes OF this decrease; but |
venture the opinion that a majority, at
least, OF our native citizens, who have
left town TO seek their fortunes in other
places, would have been happier and better
of, probably, in nearly every other respect,
had they settled down cOntentcdly at home.
History tells Us that the earliest people
OF whom we have any record regarded ey-
crything ancient rs venerable and sacred.
When a Greek or Roman wished 20 say
that anything WAS dear TO him, he said
That is ancient for me-" We read also.
their past, because they found in the past
all the motives as well a. all the rules OF
their religion. "a city did not believe il
had the right TO allow anything 10 be for
gotten, for everything in its history was
connected with its worship" So, in
founding a city. religious ceremonies OF
marked character were observed. First,
sacrifice was offered. then fire OF brush
lfsrbt mi Of,
cation, the companions OF the chief each
leaped through the flames. Next, in a
small trench Of circular form, each per
son deposited little earth brought from
the country from which he had come, and
in which he believed the souls OF his an
cestors were inclosed. On this spot An
altar was set up and a fire lighted upon il.
This was the holy fire OF the city, the
bounds of which We're next marked by q
furrOw made with a copper ploughshare,
the plough being held by the founder in
priestly robes and yelled head, chanting
prayers, while his companions followed
him, observing a religious silence
Although the first inhabitants Of our
town found its boundaries traced TO their |
hands aud therefore had no need Of special
ceremonies to fix its limits, like the |
ancientS, they gave heed to all the sacred |
memories of the past; and if they did not
bring deposits ofconsecrated soil and Kindlc |
thereon their altar fires, many OF them |
knelt in daily worship around the domestic |
hearth and joined in the erection of tenn
plies TO the living God.
We, too, who are here today, entertain |
for our predecessors, who have passed |
from us feelings of respect not unmiXed |
with brotherly friendship, and love that |
can never cease. We, too, would gather |
up as far as in our power, the leading i'll
cidents attending the origin and progress |