Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-10
MAINE VS.. CALIFORNIA.

A course Of lectures for the citizens ant
students of the Academy was recently
opened at Fryebury. The following is thu
conclusion of the first lecture in the cours
given by A. f. Lewis, upon " The Scener.
aud Wonders of California;
1t has not been my purpose to speak
critically tonight, but to give you facts
as observed them and learned then
from others; and yet no doubt many o
you would like to say, how do you like
California In reply, l would say,
like occasionally to visit museum and
the classic drama, but | would not care
to take up permanent residence II
either. California is glorious museum
of scenery, natural wonders, exciting life
and vast vegetable development, but
would not like it for home. There are
delightful souls even in that house, but
they do not seem to flourish. They
carry very slender purses and elbows that
protrude through seedy broadcloth.
The purse is sOciety's standard in San
Francisco, and to move in the best cir
cles, while brains, and even deceHcy, are
not essential, gold is; and you might as
we'll attempt to go up garrett without a
stairway as to ascend into the higher
circles of California society without osten-
tatious wealth As for dress, San Fran
cisco ladies surpass US all. | have seen
ladies more elegantly arrayed in that city
than in any other. Velvet dresses. laces
and diamonds, with furs that queeus
might envy, complete the sum of life's am
bition there.
| think the students of this Academy
have often discussed the relative merits
of the East and the West for young men.
Allow me to say, if you are anxious to
make noise in the world-if you are in
a hurry to get rich beware on that rock
many bark has been wrecked)-if you
want fame and a sounding name-it you
are willing to labor and to wait for
all receive their merit in due tlme)-if
you are tired of New England homes,
New England schools and churches-and
New England society-then, Young
man, 90 West" | do not advise you
| simply give you my opinion.
While in California | attended a cele-
bration of our National Anniversary. |
there met a man who told me he was
born in Maine. From subsequent re-
mark he made could hardly credit his
statement. He said he would rather be
HANGED in California than Ice in Maine.
thought he ought to be hanged for that
speech-and remarked to him that | con-
cluded he was one who had been over
looked by the Vigilance Committee,
and that his life in California had made
him fit subject for the halter. 1t was
an extraordinary case Of degeneracy-
and as a Maine man | was heartily
ashamed of him.
While absent, in looking upon scener!
unequaled by anything in our own coun
try, and unsurpassed by anything in thu
Old World, the thought occurred to mt
and was often suggested by others-tha
there was a penalty for such rare enjoy
ment and pleasure-in this-that al
scenery, must hereafter, seem by com
parison, dull and uninteresting. fel
and feared it. But l can say, in thu
honesty Of my heart, that these laughing
streams and crystal lakes, these Lowell.
hills and glorious mountains, bathlnI
their domes and peaks in the bright sun
light and kindling azure Of heaven-thi
emerald vale, shining in the ample fold
of the silvery Saco-and youder Lowell!
lakelet, mirroring the blue concave ant
stars of heaven on its placid bosom
whose shores are made famous by hero
ism embalmed in song and story, an
unsurpassed by Thermopylae and Bunke
Hill, these, all these, never looked NOR
beautiful to me, than on my return, when
for season, other scenes had shut then
from my view. And in the words of
local poetess, = l can sincerely apostrophiz
them tonight:
Dear Fryeburg. fair art thou!
| Time writes upon thy brow
No burrows deep;
| Far in thy summer skies
Thy glorious mountains rise,
And clouds Of thousand dyes
Aronnl them sleeD.n