The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-08-16
MAYOR DnERrNe's SPEECH.


Mr.. President:
had INDUCED the hope that the well known
hospitality of the City OF Portland, and of its
citizens, would excuse the Mayor on this ooca-
sion from his duty of bidding the guests from
YORK county, formal welcome But as could
not OBTAIN your CONSENT will extend to all our
invited guests most cordial welcome, and it is
with supreme satisfaction, that as son of York
county, am enabled so to do. And in future
years, may each succeeding mayor welcome you
SKY ana lovely weather we are enjoying to-day.
With my best wishes for the permansncy and
prosperity OF the York Society, will again bid
you nearly welcome to Portland.
The Rev. A X. P. Small being called upon,
that eminent divine and amable gentleman
responded as follows:
REV. DIR. sMALL's SPEECH.
At the memorable family gatherings at the
old York county homestead, an earliest lesson
from those honored ancestors was that we small
boys were to be seen, not heard. But for this
family reunion we must be permitted to saw thai
we are proud OF the fathers, mothers, brothers
anu sisters OF the family. And detracting moth
ing from the honor OF any other town In tho
county-as the birthplace of real greatness--yon
must expect me to claim Limington as pre-em.
minent. 1t was as at our grandfather's fireside
that a company of his neghbors so often re-
peated TO us the story of their part in the Reyo-
luton; one OF them, Mr.. Ephriam Clark having
Deen carried prisoner TO England. In the later
war 1t was an uncle in the same family that led
Limlngton's favorite light infantry to guard the
coast. Tne State OF course is glad to recognize
tne paternal position OF York county, since one
OF the hrst permanent European settlements, in
1878, was on its Saco coast. And when you
gentlemen, have 80 Justly told OF the influential
manhood which the county has furnished for
other States and the nation, that Is not all; for
OF course we claim our connection with York the
capital of Yorkshire, which has the finest church
in England, whose historical window, 80 feet
high, certainly ought to honor, with the kings
the names of the Limington fathers. 1t is true
that through some local influenced those can
nected with that Cathedral, probably to he con-
nected with little establishment over there
have departed little from the true York county
doubt they would unite in this Communion az
to-day, with an uBquestioned Orthodox appetite
Then some OF us Of York county can prove
that ours is the true Teutonic Schmall bsoodsof
pennsylvania and Germany, and we will not now
be particular about the question whether we or
those follows of the old world, are the ancestors
seeing we are all of the same family.
Then as my mothers uncle was tbs original
Parson Adams Of Newneld, and he a direct de-
scendent Of President Adams, 1t is pleasant to
know how happily united have been the inteli-
gent, substantial craftsmanship and religion of
our county. What higher duty or richer priv.
ledge than TO venerate noble, patriotic, chris
festivities am glad to be of those who unite in
socisty covenant to be true to ourselves by
being true to the memory of the honored fathers
and mothers and homes of York county.
To the toast ''The Town of Limington," A.
A. Strout, Esq, answered in the eloquent
words we give below:
MR.. sTRoUr's sPEEoH,
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Anection Tor the place of our birth ia senti-
aSe @ t Is alike honor
how many years eapse nor how many
leagues OF land and sea may intervene,
nativity and the scenes of our childhood, with a
different and more kindly emotion than that we
entertain Tor any other spot in the wide wopld.
n q NOR
deeper blue, no fields are greener, no noun
tains are grander, no landscapes more beauti-
full, than those that greet us in our childhood in
the place or our nativity. And actuated by this
common sentiment those who claim the same
town or county as the place of their birth, seem
TO be brought into closer relationship and to be
united by stronger ties than are experienced by
mankind under any other circumstances of this
IRE 10 them many things are in common. Not
only are they bound together by the bonds Of re-
lationshtp, but they have a common history,
common traditions, experiences and training.
Under these circumstances a gathering like the
present is most delightful, and this association
of the sons and daughters of Old York is likely
to prove OF great practical benefit. 1t happened
to me to be born in the good old town OF Linn
1ngton, to which you have alluded in such kindly
terms. have always been proud OF the fact,
and have always thought that l exercised rare
good Judgment in selecting this spot as the
place of my nativity.
The town was practically settled In 1878 and
the years that Immediately followed, in those
stirring times of revolution in civil and religious
institutions and a new and grand destinyThe men
who had homes in the then wilderness were men
ofssturdy character andtof high courage.They en-
dured the hardships of a pioneer life without
complaint. Out of the wilderness they built
their homes and changed il to green fields and
smiling orchards; and more, imbued with hon.
esty OF purpose and with deep religious feeling,
theystransmitted these qualities to their descen-
dants, and in common with the sturdy pioneers
OF the rest Of the county they have left their i'm
press upon the communities OF this and distant
States, where they aided in building MP those
New England institutions which make this coun-
try preeminent of all the nations of the earth
A Few days since 1t happened to me to attend
reunion of the sons and daughters of the good
old town. 1t was truly family meeting. EThe
hand-shake was not merely formal; It was.from
York to the home OF their childhood. stood
with my friend Mr.. Davis, in the old church
yard by the river where slept the early settlers
of the town. AS l stood amidst those moss
covered graves surrounded by smiling orchards
and fruitful flames the scene seemed to change.
Again saw the primeval forest shadowing the
silent river flowing resistiessly to the sea; again
1 heard the woodmans axe hewing its way to
the heart OF the wilderness; again / saw the
sturdy settlers Drawing the hardships of winter
and the heats OF the summer sun including the
fortunes OF the new town; again l saw them
giving up their first born to fight the battles of
their country; again saw them with patient toll
building the church and the chool-house-build-
ing sure and firm the institutions which trust
may endure forever; again heard the solemn
moving to the spot where l stood,
bearing the gray haired sire, the middle
place, and then came back in my thoughts to
the present and it was not all dream. OF these
men and their kind the history of the nation is
made.
But sir 1 wilt not detain you. Forty years have
passed. say it in confidence, since l resided in
Old York. Great changes have taRen place since
then. The march of improvements has
made the age in which we live the most
marvellous of recorded time, until now,
or it will soon be, that the telephone wire
Will fha Of A
Pacific shore. And amongst other good things
we have to enjoy is this society. The skies are
clear and the airs of heaven warm and laden
with fragrance. But not warmer and fresher
are the skies than the sentiments of good fell
lowship and regard which animate our hearts
to-day And sir, my hope is that this beginning
ing OF the descendants OF those noble men who
havemade for themselves an honorable record =
meetings where we may recall the past, and
mako common cause in progressive future.
W. Fl. Clifford, Esq, in reply to the senti
ment, "York County Homes,' responded in
an address whose beauty of diction and grace
OF delivery will enshelter it in the memorie
of all within hearing of his voice. His words
were these:
MR.. oLIFFoRD's SPEECH.
Ladies' and Gentlemen:
think it is matter Of congratulation that
we are met on so rare and beautiful day. Sure
ly this is the very crown OF the year,
"The bridal of the earth and sky"
Under the influences of the hour the kindest
feelings are excited. 1t is not often that skies
are so fair, winds SO hushed and the water SO
quiet on our rugged shores. 1t is natures well
come to our friends who have come from the
soft breezes that sweep over the lawns and fair
fields Of York.
The occasion under these happy cir
cumstapces awakens afTesh the feelings
OF attachment to our native county,
that are strong in every breast. NV own
earlier recolections of YORK county are all boy
hood memories and on that account possess all
that glad and cheerful coloring, which, FORUM
atey, so almost universally characterizes the re-
collections OF early New England homes. And IL
is only inevitable that it should be so. For New
England homes are the best homes in the world
From them have gone forth virtue, piety talent,
learning and patriotism. They have proved
themselves to be the best nurseries of ali those
sterling qualities OF mind and heart which the
world continually calls for, either to adorn and
embelltsh It's epochs of peace, or meet the more
vigorous demands Of its sterner and more irving
times New England has ever been fruitful of
orators and poets, statesmen and warriors, or
all those honofed homes none can rank higher,
and In proportion to their numbers, none have
made nobler contributions Co our country's noble
men and women than the county of York from
which we are sprung. AS commentary upon
the influences of her fresides, the examples OF
her Fathers and mothers and the teachings of
her public institutions, our native county can
confidently rely upon the lives her sons have
lived and the characters they have exemplified
But in whatever aspect regarded, whether as a
geographical section, political division of our
birth place and home of men and women, York
holds the highest claims upon the respect and
afectionate memory of her children
NO scenery is more varied land beautiful; no