The Portland daily press., 1882-03-06


Emery thought was a good place to end.
| The company was then invited to listen
to a song written for the occasion by the
| President, sung by select quartette com
posed of w. FL. bennett, Will Stockbridge,
| Mrs. Chase and Mrs. Morrison. Miss
Grover of Bethel presided at the plane.
| This song was set to the popular air BAT
| tie Cry of Freedom" and the audience
| Joined heartily in rendering the stirring
chorus. Following is the song:
soNG-aoLD OXFORD"
We have gathered to review scenes to which we
When pushing out from those of early child
hood,
And revive within the fold the sweet memories
Which cluster round Old oxford's native wild
wood.
CHoRUs-"Old Oxford forever" sing' brothefs,
sold Oxford forever" loud let it ring.
For wherever we may wander or else
where find home,
None love we better than sold Ok
ford"
Though by nature rough and wild, with eli
The prospect there at first seemed uninviting,
Yet in fortunes doubtful chase, some true
Soon made it pleasing gladsome and delight
ing.
CHoRUs-"Old Oxford" sc.
Nor did nature, always bland when she greets
OF pioneers of hardy, honest labor,
Show to them .grldging hand, in her gifts
Though sacred that almost as old Mount
Tabor.
CHoRUs-"Old Oxford &c.
Should you travel far and late, nor is this by
Some native Of 3old Oxford surely meets
And there's nothing to abate. since in many
Chair of State,
An "Oxford Bear appears and warmly greets
you.
CHoRUs-"old Oxford" SC.
The professions of all kinds, and the ranks of
with Oxford blood are found well permeated,
And th observer always finds, unless prejudice
him blinds,
The public it has always highly rated.
| CHoRUs-"Old Oxford" &c.
Though the fathers may now sleep, and the
mothers no more weep,
Who fondly used to welcome and careSS you,
| Down in memory's chambers deep, you their
choicest treasures keep,
| The kindly benediction-sSon, God bless you
CHoRUs-"Old Oxford" sc,
| At the close of the song, which was re-
ceived with great applause, the president
announced that Gov. Washburn had taken
the pains to furnish him with poem read
| by him on similar occasion at Bangor
many years ago. Portions of it would be
| utilized BY using the principal gems 1t con
tanned to constitute part of the mosaic,
| to be here constructed by them and appro-
| pirate quotas from others. 1t is matter
| of regret that space forbids the publication
| of the extracts from GOV. Washburn's
/ poem with which the exercises were tastily
interspersed by the president. One verse
expresses a wish to hear from Fryeburg.
By q happy coincidence this wish was
gratified by reading the following, written
by Mrs. Caroline Dana Howe of this city,
formerly of Fryeburg:
1t is often asked what is meant by the
term Oxford Bears? 1t is here clearly de-
fined by one of Oxford's daughters:
oxford bearsl Oxford bearsl This is often said
But what IS it oxford bears, for our grand old
Pine Tree State?
Oxford bears her wealth of forests, Oxford
bears her golden grain,
| Oxford bears old Androscoggin, and the Saco,
toward the main
oxford bears brave men and honest, who can
battle well with fate,
Men to overcome the evil, and the good to emit
late,
Men of principle and purpose, men Of intellect
| and brain,
With host of noble women, all wise efforts to
| sustain.
So we lift that name with honor, as we hither
| congregate,
We, her loving sons and daughters, from our
border realm of state,
And may all who prize Old oxford have a long
| and blissful reign,
For the sun sets in that county last of any place
in Maine.
The President at 10.4 pm. read aletter from
ex-Gov. Washburn regretting his unavoidable
absence in the west. The Governor also SEN
the copy of poem, prepared for similar oc
casion in Bangor many years ago, extracts
from which were read between the sentiments
A quartette, consisting of Mrs. Chase ant
Mrs. Morrison, Messrs. Stockbridge and Den
nett, with Miss Crawford of Bethel, as accom-
panist, sang the following song, written by the
President, to the tune of "Battle Cry of Free
dom," the whole company joining in th'
chorus:
We have gathered to review scenes to which we BIZ
When pushing out from those of early childhood
And revive within the fold the sweet memories 0
old,
CHoRUs-"Old Oxford forever" sing brothers, sing
'Old Oxford forever" loud let it ring.
For wherever we may wander or elsewher
None love we better than sold Oxford
Though by nature rough and Wild with .cllmat
The prospect there at first seemed uninviting,
Yet, in fortunes doubtful chase, some true noble
| of the race,
Soon made it pleasing, gladstone and dehghting.
Nor did nature, always bland when she groota
worthy band
OF pioneers of hardy, honest labor,
Show to them grudging hand, in her gifts beside
-unAash saersd that almost as ssbor.
Should you travel far and late is this by chanc
Some native of "Old Oxford'' surely meets you,
And there's nothing to abate since in many cha
An "oxford Bear appears and warmly greet
you.
The professions of all kinds, the ranks of cultures
minds,
With oxford blood are found well permeated,
And tn observer always finds, unless prejudice hill
blinds,
The public it has always highly rated.
Though the fathers may now sleep, and the mother
Who fondly used to welcome and caress you, ;.
Down In memory's chambers deep, you their choIf
The kindly bsnediction-'Son God bless you"
THE SPEECHES.
Mr.. Geo. f. Holmes was called upon to pei
form the duties of toast-master which he di
| Az nAoSS oOSOptdplo lAduIoEs lAC lOllOMiu
were the toasts and responses:
ToAsTs AND RESPONSES.
The toasts were prepared by Geo. F
Holmes, Esq, and are characterized with
the originality and terseness of expression
for which this gentleman is well known
First in order was:
The City of PortLdnd-As she has welcomed
us in days gone by, SO tonight the "Bears" give
welcome to the Forest City in the person of her
honored representative.
This was responded to by Mayor William
Senter, who though not one of the t'Bears''
by birth, is yet blessed by nature with many
of the distinguishing features of the men
from Oxford's hills. Mr.. Senter spoke as
follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Representatives of Oxford County! Gil
zens! exotical or Indigenous! In behalf
of our city l greet you, Not as aliens or
visitors, but of us, either by settlement, or,
still better, by marriage. We have no OBJ
lection that you should eventually possess
this land, provided you continue to exhibit
the good results which you now present Of
the operation of the Darwinian expression
of natures law, the survival of the fittest.
In what particular shall l speak of Port
land, shall [ map it as it appeared with
! only Cleayes' and fuckers houses? as it