Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-04-11
For the Democrat.
A VOLUME OF BLUNDERS.

Mr.. Editor: A new Gazetteer OF Maine
has Just been published by Il. b. RUSSELL
81 Cornhill, Boston. The work Is by
Geo. J. Varney, who, according to the IT,
tle-leaC, Is author OF Young Peoples
History of Name member OF the Maine
Historical Society, ETC." But whoever the
author Is, he ought to be ashamed OF him
self for offering such hook to the public,
II what he says In 1t about Fryeburg Is a
fair sample OF the whole. The preface
says that the "author is conscious that
the book Is not perfect, "A statement
which betokens no excess OF modesty GER
tainly, the article devoted TO Fryeburg
showing that the book must be such It's
sue Of errors as to be 1T only for the wood
box or rag-bag. Let me specify some of
the authors misstatements and choice
English. He says "North Fryeburg and
Fryeburg Centre a:e small villages; and
these, with another small village, Frye
burg Village and East Fryeburs are the
post-ofiices: Fryeburg Centre post-ofiice is
another" have quoted this passage ex-
actly as 1t is given In the Gazetteer, pune
tustion included, and II anybody can tell
what the author means, fail to see how.
He speaks OF Daniel Webster as having
taught the academy In 1901, whereas 1902
was the year Webster was here. The au-
1 har - ina /,
new building was erected in 1906" A
person would suppose from this statement
that the present tuIldng was erected In
| 1906, whereas Il was erected In 1852, the
building which was erected in lsOG having
been burned. He says speaking o. the
town, not OF the principal village In the
town -" Fryeburs has Congregational
list, a Methodist and New Jerusalem
church" No mention whatever Is made
OF the Universalist church at North Frye
burg and the above enumeration is given
as embracing all the churches In the town.
He speaks OF Fryeburg village as being
in fnll view OF the White Mountains,
whereas not glimpse OF the White Noun.
tsins can be had from any part OF the VII.
lage. In speaking Of the summer travel
- the mountains he mentions the I" nu-
merous hotels and boarding houses OF the
village" which Is certainly q singular eI-
preston 10 make use OF in reference 10 a
village which boasts OF but two hotels,
aud practically has no summer boarding
houses. Such an expression could prop
erly be used in reference 10 North Conway,
but In the case Of Fryeburg II Is decidedly
inappropriate and misleading. He speaks
OF Martha's Grove Camp Ground as being
ION the eastern bank OF the western brow
OF the Saco." What Is meant by that?
Such expressions call for key. He says
the Fryeburg intervales contain nearly
$40, 900 acres (noilcc the sign for dollars
and that the intervales ARE annually over
flowed and feriilized 10y the Saco." A. 4
matter OF fact, the intervalcs are not over
flowed more than oucc in six or eight years
Iespeaks OF Ballard and Evans brooks, -
whereas 1t should be Ballard" and as for
the other named brook. the oldest iuhabi-
tant hath not knowledge thereof lie
speaks OF Jockey Cap Hill. but where in
the world he got the Hill " addition to
the name | cant imagine. IL certainly
could never have been heard from the lips
OF u resident of Fryeburg or vicinity, be-
cause the bold cliff never had any such
designation, but always went by the sim
pie name OF Jockey Cap"
The above samples ale sufficient 10 show
that the Gazetteer Is honey-combed with
errors and that those who get their know
edge OF Maine from II will, in the language
OF that elegant and classic writer, the late
ARENAS Ward, know great many
things that amt So" We learn that the
author is preparing new edition OF this
work. We trust and hope that local jgn0-
ramuses will not be permitted to impart so
much mis-information as they have in the
first edition, If Fryeburg is a fair sample OF
the work. l..
Tur Srrprrs nr Sr,rEss II 'nuuestion-