Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-06-06
AN OLD PAPER.

paper ever issued In OxIoru Oouuty
Oxford Observer. 1t is the property Of
Mrs. Elias Chase of Portland, through
whose kindness we are enabled to call to
the minds of our readers, some OF the
events of the olden time, a. recorded In
its pages.
No. |, Vol. l of the Oxford Observer
was issued Thursday morning. July 8,
| 1924" by Asa Barton. 1t was printed
on heavy yellowish paper, now darkened
by age; contained four pages with
four columns to the page; the sheet
was 26 by l91 inches in size, and the
subscription price was two dollars
per year, payable semi-annually. The
first and fourth pages were entirely filled
by reading, including poetry and miscel-
lany, selected from various sources.
The second page contains salutatory,
occupying over a column, in quaint but
very correct language, promising the pa
irons of the paper many good things for
the future. There are q number of orig
inal contributions on the second aud third
pages. The advertising patronage was
very small. these being all the advertise
ments: Simeon Norris advertised the
Paris Tavern, formerly occupied by
Thomas Croker; esq, on Paris Hill )
a Coroner's Sale by Levi Rawson, Coro-
ner: Sheriff Sale by William c. Whit
ney, Sheriff; a time table of the Port
land and Paris Mail Stage run by James
Longley; notice signed by Benz. Chand-
Ter and Thomas Clark as committee
raised by the town Of Paris to provide
some means for supporting the towns
poor Collectors notices from Newry,
signed by Andrew n. Stow, Collector,
and from Sumner, signed by Silas Coburn,
Collector. There are also two probate
notices, indicating that Benz. Chandler
was Judge of Probate, and Thomas
Webster, Register. Thomas Clark gives
notice of his appointment as Admins
traitor of the estate of Luther Pratt, late
of Paris, and John bennett, guardian OF
Eliza Rowe of Paris, petitions for license
to sell real estate in much the same forms
that are used today.
There is one marriage notice as follows ::
In Hebron. on Sunday. the 10th ult., by Rev.
Mr.. Trip, Mr.. Micah Allen OF Paris, TO Mrs.
Eliza Mason, OF the former place.
There is also one notice Of death, as
follows:
In this village, on Friday evening. 18th ult.:
Jonas DISCO, son or Alanson Mellen, esq, agcl
years, after most distressing Illness
: Disease has laid his whitening hands
on that fair form-the brittle bands
That chained the soul, gave way
II burst its tenement OF clay
How bright II was let memory dream
Death has put out that morning beam"
"Liberatas" complains that there was
no celebration, on the fourth of July,
nearer than Portland, and exhorts the
people to greater exhibitions Of patriot
ism. "Cimon" has poem commemo-
rating the establishment of the Observer.
and "Viator" sends the following article
on Shows Falls, which will interest all
our readers:
SHOWS FALLS.
Shows Falls on the Little Audroscoggin
River, about five miles North from the
Court House in Paris, possesses some con-
siderable notoriety and are well worth
visit from the curious. The country cir
cumsdjacent to the Falls is rocky, uneven
aud almost mountainous. Two hills, one
upon either side of tho stream, seem here
tofore to have met, and TO have interposed
q barrier to the passage or the river,
through which it finally has burst its way,
strewing the valley beneath with ruins and
fsshioning out multitude OF circular cav
tiles in q ledge of granite, which was now
laid bare at the base of these falls, and
over which the water rushed with deafen-
ing uproar. There was probably assure
in this ledge, traversing it in direction
with the river, which, in process OF time,
has been so deepened and widened, that
now the whole body OF the. stream Is pre-
cipitated through channel so narrow that
one may easily step across it, and through
the distance OF nrarly fifty feet in the
course of few rods. Standing upon this
smooth and solid bed of granite, you hear
the water rushing and roaring deep below
you, aud sending up sprays in its angular
passage, to be colored by the golden beams
of the sun, and TO be drank in BY the
thirstlng verdure on its banks. Looking
through this zlgzac channel from either
extremity, it presents profile strongly
analogous to artificial fertilization, and the
eve hastily searches for the bristling bayo-
net and the cannon as it sees the numerous
bastion and curtain, and homework extend
ing themselves at lepgthwith almost the reg
ular disposition of engineer construction.
Above you the river spreads itself out in
ample dimensions, and approaches, peace
ably and silently, until it is forced to find
vent in this narrow channel, where 1t lash
es itself into fury, and pours itself along
in a roar that is heard for miles around it.
Standing in perfect security on the very
edge of this chasm, you may look down
into it,
Through which foam globes in eddies ride,
Thick as the schemes OF human prize,
That down LIES current drive amain,
As frail, as frothy, and as vain"
Below you, the country spreads itself out
in a rich landscape you see the silver
stream threading itself along through &C.
asional woodland and opening, both sides
OF its rich banks exhibiting the thick mon
uments of industry and cost. At dis
lance the village spire rises itself up proud
ly above the buildings that surround it,