Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-28

NEW SWEDEN.
you should have seen the vehicles which were
satin to convey us to New Sweden. II would take
an artist in language to describe them. There were
nav racks coaches which looked ii they hal come
over in the Mayfower, carts. and numerous monde.
scr;pt wagons. The fare was in every instance 81
sniece for the eight miles ride between Caribou and
New sweden AT last a party of us az
.oced win, C. =. Hanson who handles the ribbons
rangea charge of ITncie sans mail he ao IONS
caribou to Van Buren,, to take out for a reasona
bic compensation: Hanson is a stalwart young re-
nublican, a splendid fellow, and advise all who visit
hat lection 10 make his acquaintance.
I shall always remember the rice from Carbon to
New sweden with unalioyed enjoyment. What a
wonderful country never such land and such
evidences of thrift and happiness. Those who think
Aroostook is wilderness should take trip up there
AT the first opportunity. l am going to prophesy
That in Is wears from now the county will have q
nopulation of 100000 or over. Such fields OF whea
a and Comfortable houses. Jones Band from Carbon
made sweet music for the party as we drove along
+ seemed as il the whole world were going to New
Sweden that day.
The Swedes are pretty "welI fxed' They all have
comfortable residences and fertile farms which pro-
duce great crops of hay, oats, barley pOtafOes
e,c In the ten ears that they have been at New
sweden they have cleared 400 of land. Their
houses are made Of hewn timber dove tailed together
They have eleven miles OF turnpike, and thrty-three
miles of passabe roads About 700 horned cattle are
own.d By the colony, and every swede has one or
more horses. Last ear among the productions of
the plantation II $50 pounds Of butter; 20oO
mounds of che Sc beside milk used of which no ac-
count was made; $3.50 dozens Of eggs; g7l tons of
bav: 3Oi bush Is of wheat 5,2s7 bushels of rye S.
I2e bushels Of oats ~ 1872 bushels of potatoes The
value of the farms is ss7 $50; of farming utensils,
ss3g5 of live stock, sl6,455. The United states cen
sus places the value of their farm product for last
wear at S23 $50. There are ~ swedes in New Sweden
and the adjacent settlements. The first public school
was opened in 1871. fine Lutheran church, costing
about g. 600, with musical toned bell TO call the
people to worship, was dedicated on Friday. This
church will seat some 400 persons and is a little gem
of an ecclesiastical eiiiice. The land which the
swedes situated is strong cayey loan resting
on perpendicular layer of slate which breaks up
quite easily when exposed to the elements. In the
ten years there have been u marriages, 65 deaths
snd o6 births Nearly every cabin has two or three
neat aaxen haired, redcheeked young Swedish.
American babies PLAYING around il. And that's the
wealth of New sweden. ! wish We Americans had
more of them.
When we got TO the Swedish settlement we found
an archway of evergreen built across the road, with
flagstaff either side The Swedish military
company drawn up in line, in uniforms of blue
trimmed with yellow. Soon the drum tap announced
the advent OF Hon w. w. Thomas, Jr., and party in
carriages. swedish and American flags run up
on the stats amid the OF musketry and the ring
ing of bells In front of the Capitol, Mr. Thomas
addressed the >wedes in their vernacuar and
was received with thunders of applause. He then
introduced
GovERSoR DAVIS,
who said 6" assure you that it gives me great pleas
ure visit your beautiful town, and to meet you all
a. do today; to see what have long known about
but have viewed with my eyes before. Its
an occasion OF the greatest Importance Won. For
the many blessings and privileges which You eniov
for your fertile arms: and happy homes you must
thank the country and the gentleman who has Just
spoken to You in your language To him you
owe it all. Now my countrymen (for I greet YOU as
such and was particularly Impressed as rode along
and the colors of Sweden and of the United States
blending together in graceful harmony it is the
boast of our institutions that able to make
citizens with common reverence for the stars and
stripes out of all kinds Of material. Over every foot
of territory the stars and stripes peo
pie with equal rights before the law. I congratulate
YOU upon the which has attended your efforts
and has greeted your industry and perseverance
since you came 10 Maine and also for your good be-
havor. want TO say one word more in regard to
our country We have Sta'e government to
which owe allegiance, but over that and grandcr
than that an allegiance to the great Nation
of which the State is only part. | want to impress
upon you other point, our law gives to your boy
equal chance with my own. In this land of lber-
" Of there is resting upon individual
whether Of native or foreign birth, burdens
surate with liberties. See that the sta and tbe
Nation suifers no wrong from your hands. wish
YOU joy and happiness upon this occasion, and a
prosperous future"
After three cheers had been given for Governor
Davis, rush was made for the new church. which
filed to rcpletion-aisles and ALL The windows
all open aud crowds of people stood outside.
The church choir, composed Of young men and wOn-
en- of swedish birth, sang songs in their native Ian
guage aud Jones Band PLAYED with their customary
good taste and excellence. Rev. Andrew Wren, the
pastor of the church, called upon Rev Mr.. Park
offrrsqne l.le who offered prayyT The good pas,
tor then introduced Hon. W W. Thomas, .'r. of
Portland. the founder of the ''chdrcn in the
woods" believe that the journal has nj ready pub.
-hed flll account Of Mr. Thomas address, ard 80
did not bother TO take notes. Fine sp, eches
then made BY Gen Joshua l. Chamberlain and Hon.
James VI. Ston. ol keIr.bunk.
THE OLD NAN ELOQUENT
Mr.. Thomas called upon Hon. Hannibal Ham'in
for an address. Mr. lIainlin at first excused him
self, and then graciousy came forward and said that
he came TO testify by his presence the interest he
felt aud had always felt in the colony. Dean swift
said $50 years ago that he who made blades
of grass grow where but one grew before was aben-
efactor OF humanity. Mr.. Iamn referred 10 the
value of Swedish labor upon the Aroostoek land.
Where the mountains point to Heaven the lovers of
freedom have always dwelt. We know that in the
scandinavian Peninsular we shall find Il people who
would readily aSsimilate with institutions
than the citizens Of SUMMER chimes The countrymen
ofSt. Olaf, Gustavus Adolphus and Charles MI.
have much in common with the countrymen of
Washington; aud we invite You to partake with Us
of our advantages. When see what has been
done by Scandinavian labor up here in this little
corner of nv native State, rejoice to welcome
YOU. l know If ever conflict aris the land OF
Charles MI. will furnish his descendants for the de
fence Of liberty in the new world
Then came the singing of America by the Swc
dish choir. don't know how Others felt when that
sweet wave of sound went rolling out of the win
dows the fields, but realized more deeply than
ever before that God has made OF one blood all
the nations of the world.
Mr.. Thomas than paid a glowing compliment 10
the power of the press. and called upon Hon Chas
A. Boutclle of Bangor, who, in Il few delicious
marks said that in behalf of the newspapers of the
land he gladly welcomed to our shores people 81
thrifty and patriotic the Swedes.
Daniel Stickney. the historian of New Sweden
then introduced. and said that the only mis-
take he ever knew Mr.. Thomas to make was when
he called upon him to make n speech, and TO save
that gentleman from modification he would respect
fully decline TO utter a word
Hon LEWIS BARRIERS SPEECH.
When Mr. Stckney had concluded, some one call
ed out Barker" and in moment thousand
voices caught up the refrain. There resist
ing such a tide of invitation, and that gentleman
pressed his way through the crowd and said: 'My
horse is a the door, and wife Is out there waiting
for me- But Twill say word to you. One who was
as dear to me rs the rudy drops of blood which
warm my heart once wrote
Had this tough old world TO rule,
NV cannon, sword and mallet
should be the dear old district school,
Gods Bible and the ballot
When drove into your settlement and saw yeur
little rcd school house by the roadside, said to my
elf .You are all right up here Ia your little Scandi-
uaya' That is the one thing that marks our New
England civilization The Bible Is with you, ana
he ballot YOU have. Thank God you are being
taught the value of the ballot. II is and should he
held as your HOLY Bible IL is as sacred as soldier
grave / am not speaking for political ends nor IN
party sense Mr.. Scandinavian and MT Yankee,
up here in your Ultima Thule. this little piece OF
paper is the telephone which Won shaii put 10 You,