Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-03-14
ness of the hour. The following is an alb
stract OF his remarks:
or WELCOME.

ADDRESS or WELCOME.
He expressed regret ut the absence o
Gov. Washburn, who was expected to pre-
side, which was accounted for and his In
terest in the occasion attested, by readin
a portion OF his letter OF regret from Kan
sas, where he Is necessarily detained. The
responsibility of placing the presiding OF
icer where he was, rested, Mr.. Emery
said, OH others, and the risk more or less
was that OF the committee and the constit
uency it represented. lie entrenched him
self behind an Oxford patent furnished by
Elder Hooper, the first settled minister OF
Paris, the specification of which ran some
what thus:
One day he invited friend home TO dine
with him. The invitation was accepted
Ii happened to be on Monday, a day moi
very favorable for generous hospitality,
especially when guests were unexpected.
On being seated ut the table the only vi
auds appearing upon II were mush and
milk. The hostess was abashed but the
Elder was always equal to any emergency,
proceeded to say grace, and addressed his
guest thus: "You see, my friend, we have
rather frugal dinner to-day, but II you
not it is too good!"
II, then, the committee had made q mis-
take the chairman, under this coat OF mail,
which had often been found useful, felt en-
tirely armed against assaults.
Nr. Emery took pride and pleasure in
rendering all most hearty welcome, aud
was glad to mingle his congratulations
with those Of the company that so many
OF the sons and daughters Of our native
county have united in this movement TO
revive pleasant memories, renew old as
sociatlons, and cultivate the spirit OF fra
ternity as hand In hand we revisit the old
hearth stone endcared to US by so many
ties OF interest and affection. II any are
absent who would be here, our hearts
take them all in, and we regret that the
inn is not large enough to do the same.
To those not natives or former residents
of Oxford we tender our sympathy, COM
miseratiug them for having been born out
OF due place, aud regretting that nature
did not deal more kindly with them.
Permit me also to add that amidst the
wealth of resources for speeches on this
occasion, as all cannot be heard now for
lack Of time, The best OF the wine has been
preserved for future use, this being but
the prelude TO more brilliant displays OF
wit, fun and sentiment hereafter
Oxford county was Incorporated March
{, 1905, and was the seventh TO take her
place In the sisterhood OF counties then
comprising the State. Its elevated noun
tains, rugged hills, sturdy forests, and
rough soil symboliZed a noble and vigor-
Gus manhood. Its, generally, peaceful
rivers, picturesque lakes, and smiling wales
be.oken a womanhood worthy to be It's
complement. These ideals have been
abundantly realized. The first settlers
were hardy, poor, but enterprising, mainly
from old Massachusetts, and bringing
with them matchess energy high in
tellgence, aud a spirit OF manly independ-
ence. These characteristics combined
with habits OF Srugality and industry, con-
stituted their principal capital. The gen.
eral character OF the population has al
WAYS been quite uniform and homogene-
Gus. Education and Christianity were
two main pillars on which the structure
OF oxford society was based. Hence
common schools, and higher education
early provided for at Fryeburg and He
bron academies, were cherished with pc
culiar interest, and, in most towns,
settled minister was deemed indispensa-
bic. Town libraries were very early es-
tabished. Literary associations were
formed embracing both sexes, combining
intellectual culture with heaven-born char
ity. The village lyceum was also fire.
quert feature, TO participate In which, as
in my own native town, men would travel
i've miles over rough hills and through
drifting SHOWS 10 discuss all important
questions OF the day. The district school
meetings aud frequent town assemblies
were also factors of present blessing and
future promise. The fruits of such q civ
ilization could not fail 10 be abundant aud
beneticent. Nature is always true to her.
self. Accordingly In most all departments,
and scattered far and wide are 10 be found
oxford sons and their most lovely daugh-
tiers, the memory OF whose parentage and
whose homes we, at least, shall always
cherish with pride.
A single man, or town, or county, makes
apparently but q meagre show in the
worlds history. In the vast universe OF
mind and matter these seem but specs in
the horizon, appearing for an instant, aud
soon their names are lost in oblivion. The
reason is, that, except in rare instances,
the eye is unable to trace the connecting
links between the effects OF individual life
and the head or hand which produced
them. Were | to say that there Is hardly
any spot on the globe that has not been
affected for good by the lives and works OF
Oxford men It would be regarded as an
extravagant statement. But 1t Is literally
true, for If they were to be imagined as
electric batteries, and connecting lines
were TO DO seen uniting them with the
fruits OF their life and labor, these links
would be found almost as numerous as the
sands on the seashore or drops or the
ocean, and reaching also to the farthest
extremities OF the globe. How many
buildings, and where are they, think you,
which were in part constructed from lum-
Der manufactured by our Herseys, Strick-
lands, Morrisons and Walkers? How many
morning breakfast tables, and where are
they not, which have been spread with
rolls made OF flour from the superb Wash
burn mill in Minneapolis-the grandest In
the world-or from wheat cultivated on
lands all over the west, represented by az
ricultural implements, manufactured or
sold by William Deering? How many
have rode, or will ride over the Grand
Trunk railroad, originated by John A.
Poor. or have been connected with Its
construction and management, its freight,
its rolling stock, its connecting lines, and
all these with more OF other roads on
which are to be found engines and machin-
ery constructed at the works Of the Port
land Company, started by him. Or how
many railroad lines, offices, stockholders
and banking houses, and holders OF bonds
could be reached throughout Europe, as
well as America, by links connecting them
| with the railroad manuals OF Henry V.
Poor? Or, how many persons have rode
In carriages manufactured or sold by the
Kimballs; or have been, or will be, affect
ed by the late Atlanta cotton exposition:
or, once more, conceive If You can, how
many sides have shaken with laughter
over the jokes and inimitable humor, as
| Whittier stvled IL of lrtemus Wardp How