The Portland daily press., 1884-09-19

domain, thickly peopled with a busy and thrifty
population all contribatory to the strength Of gov
eminent or which he was the author and oYerWhich
he was supreme How little of all these gorgeous
anticlpations were realized we well know. A few
small bands of hardy and unambitious settlers,
struggling against the opposition of a rigorous eli
mate, ana barbara us enemy but still clinging to
their cabins with the ienacty of natures that did
not understand tear and knew not how to WELD
was all or nearly all the great protector of Lgonia
ever lived to see. How touching the contrest be:
tween the picture that ambition drew Of the infant
State, and
"The long days of labor
And nights devoid of ease,
that our ancestors in York endured before thew
had in any considerable measure brought the soil
INTO suDJectlon TO the pillow and the hoe, even
driven the savage from his lurking places in the
woods.
Think of the summers of anxious sowing and
cultivating; think of the long, bitter winters of
priyation and isolation from all the world outside,
and we may perhaps form some conception of the
founding State.
But all of these things our ancestors encountered
and endured, and much more, until the forests be-
gan to be opened, the streams traced to thei-
sources, and some kind of rude communication es-
tablished with the seashore-whereby some few of
the Injuries of commerce could be enjoyed, Had it
not been, however, for the magnificent schemes of
Gorges, the settlement oil the country might have
been much longer delayed. Out of his impossible
expectations came the real and the possible Out
OF them came the landing of the hardy pioneer;
and then the stern, hard, long struggle against
want, the forest, its inhabitants and the climate.
Dut COuhaBo, AuIc4tlBeuC6 anu determination were
mightier than fear, and cold and waHt, and so one
by one the obstacles to settlement began to dis
appear and the brave hearts remained. To the
cabin succeeded the more comfortable dwelling
and to the lonely home in the forest the embryo OF
the village and the town.
The sing-son of the saw-mill and the whirr of the
grist mill in time Joined their chorus along the
streams, telling their prophecy of more commodi-
GUS homes and better food The forerunners of
the settlement of Maine were not Notifications,
bearing banners inscribed with lilies or stamped
with the image of some patron saint. They we're
not the erection of crosses and the chanting of
masses; they were not childish superstitons; they
not gay rol cking parties of Spanish cavaliers
thoughtless, but cruel and avaricious; they were
the saw-mili, the grist mill and the These in
sigma were guaranty of the character of the peo-
pie that made up the infant population and it was
their music and their beat that heralded the en-
trance of civilization into old York. and so into
Maine
The early settlers of York did not come thiher to
rob the natives of gold and silver and thus become
easily rich by that to which they had no right.
They came to obtain land to erect houses TIL the
soil; build mills, and SO obtain q livelihood by en-
gaging in hard and honest labor. They have be-
queathed their character to their steady and labori
GUS descendants, who now take their places in the
old county from which we come.
We are proud of the ancient county, individually
and as society, for her great age. We are proud
of her Of the FIRST seats Of settlement In the
State. We are proud of her as the mother of all
the other counties. who are all her offspring; but,
lives of her citizens of to-day.
But OF her early history, as OF that of many other
parts OF our country, 1t can be said that mans
errors and mistakes constitute the successive STEP
ping stones of her entrance into civilization and
true knowledge of her own destiny. 1t is on the
fallen and crumbling monuments of his own cree
ton that man reads these priceless Inscriptions
that mako the good but sad and solemn lessons of
his life. 1t is true that
"Earth's dark cottage battered and decayed
Lets In new light through chinks that time has
made.''
But these are rays of celestial light, which
streaming through errors and misfortunes, impart
even to them an unforeseen and unexpected
radiance, and illuminate footsteps onward and
upward.
SO for the future, may it be with the dear old
county we love SO well. So may it be with our
cludes all, SO may it be with her Despite all our
errors, God spare our Fatherland!
After Mr.. Clifford's speech, in response to
toasts proposed by Mr.. Bradbury, short
speeches were made by Rev. DIR. Stockbridge,
Rev. A. K. P. Small. Mayor King and ex-
Mayor Libby. The annual business meeting
was then held and the!following officers elect
ed for the ensuing year:
President-Bion Bradbury.
Vice Presidents-L. D. NJ. Sweat. 81. N.
Jose, 81. j. Libby, VIM. G.. Davis, VIM. H.
Clifford.
Secretary-D B. Kicker
Treasurer-E. S. Ridlon.
Executive Committee-J. A. Locke, j. S.
Kicker, J. B. Pike, j. w. Deering, W. F.
Lunt, r. o. Conanf, q. E. Jose.
The hour that remained before the depart
ure OF the steamer was pleasantly occupied
in social converse. On the sail up the harbor,
the band played several familiar airs, some
sang and all enjoyed the last few minutes of
the reunion immensely. a vote of thanks
was extended to the baud for its services, and
it was unanimously decided that pleasanter
day had net been passed for long while.