The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-04-24

wish 1T were in my power to touch a humorous
chord. but regret being obliged to confess that
am IN the condtlon OF the one described in the old
stanza:
"You knock your head and fancy wit will come;
Knock as you will: there is nobody at home
must, therefore, conteut myself with sending
who may be SO fortunate to be present. and will
watch for the scintillatons of wit and wisdom that
am sure Will not fail to sparkle on the happy oc-
casion.
Very respectfully and truly,
HoRATIo KING.
Messrs. JOHN j. PERRY, E, S. OsGoop. COMMITTEES
on Invitations Portland Maine.
The chairman said Oxford county was as
pscally fortunate in the statesmen she had
sent out. One of these had been Vice Pres-
dent and should rightly have been President:
but as it was his name was a household word
ia the country, Hon. Hannibal Hamin:
EX-SENATOR HAMLIN's REMARKS
The honored ex-senator, on rising to speak
was greeted with hearty and prolonged ap-
plause, which was often repeated during the
progress of his remarks. He said in substance:
The chairman had made a mistake in
not reading his letter replying to the letter of
invitation which had been sent him. He had
responded that he would be present with the
greatest satisfaction, bat on the express condi-
ton that he was neither to show a claw nor
give growl. He had no thought of making
speech until he saw himself announced in the
PRESS of yesterday morning. As the chair
stood somewhat in the position of a highway
man, he thought he must obey the command
ito stand and deliver" He was gratified to
meet the sons and daughters of old Oxford;
he had met them all over the world and
wherever and whenever he had met them, in
all departments and professions, they did
honor to the fathers and mothers who reared
them. 1t was pleasant to speak of the memo
~ of these fathers and mothers, and tell of
their virtues. He had often asked himself,
why have the sons of Oxford been so disuin-
guished? What was the great underlying
secret which made them the men they were?
His idea was that this county had been set
tied by different class of men from those who
had settled in the other counties of the
State, men remarkable for their educa-
| ton, integrity and mental endowment. They
were men schooled in the days and trials of
the Revolutionary war, and made firm by the
Universities OF those early years. Thus they
learned the rights of people to self-govern-
ment; and as they learned in school that
broadened and strengthened the intellectual
powers it was natural that the product of such
school should be morality, industry and
economy. Nor are these the foundation of the
prosperity of men in this county alone, but of
those all over the world. Though poor, the
boys of this county were self-reliant, they were
educated at home by the mother and this is
why the boys were distinguished.
Oxford has certainly furnished her propor-
ton of men who have honored the positions in
which they were placed, Naturally, in think
ing of it's sons whom he had known, his
thoughts had run in political channel, and
many interesting facts had been brought to
his memory concerning the sons of this county
during the time in which be himself had been
in public life; and this record was by no means
complete. OF the seven men who have repre-
sented Oxford in Congress all were to the
manor born. She has had four United States
Senators more than any other county In the
State, has furnished twenty-five Representa-
tives to Congress from other States, has
given to our State seven Supreme court
judges, and our State Senate eleven presi-
ding officers. 1t is wonderful how the
recollections of the past come up before us.
Memory presents tonight the schoolmates with
whom we played, and associates the pleasures
and sports OF youth with the dear old county
among the hills. Love as he might this coun-
try with his own heart, Oxford was still lit
tie closer, with her pleasant valleys and rug
ged hills. AS we gazed at the distant noun
tain strength came to the eye, as we climbed
the hillside vigor came to the frame, as we
looked up into the pure sky courage came to
the heart; as memory brings back the early
days,
Youth and age and manhood Gee,
And brings US to a mothers knee.
The qusrtette rendered charming selection
and the chair called upon Mr.. Osgocd to read
the poem written by Mrs. Caroline D. Howe.
1t is given thus: