Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-08-26
Fnr tue iifNucHkt
TRYEnrRG ACADEMY.

Al LnA NNNf ~ AAA "
Nv attention has several times been
cailei to the fact that Whenever a sketch
of Fy,bnrg Academy appears, two items
In IT, history stand oui with amazing
prominence, Daniel Webster when youth
taught there three short ielws. and faui
Lsngion. the nrsi pfccepior ws. guilty oi
lntemperaic hahli. Now 10 10 ,nIFis suy
particular Satisfaction 20 anybody % harp
upon the accidental occupancy of The mas
ter's desk fora brief time by the amer
wards great statesman 10 seems % De
harmless enough amusement, but why u
should be- deemed necessary o rciieraie
ant emphasize the fact that Mr Langion.
whose brain framed aui whose pm wrote
the petition % The cCommouWcalih OF Mass
Achusc,,s by which she same Academy vas
vested With H. power. ari privileges, ani
which "a. hrst nil,d ~ pupils from the
four common schools of The town who, by
bis uutlr.ng labof.. had already advanced
90 a higher grade % studies than was ns.
nal. that be of ull the teachers who have
been employed during q cen,ufy was adj
dlctcd to The use ~ iutoNicai.us liquors Is
= mystery y the average understanding.
live within a rev miles % the home
where Mr. Webster passed many years Of
his NE. ani occasionally meet those who
knew him Intimately. AMI 10 Is sometimes
mentioned he was not adverse - a social
glass. II has also been hluted that alco'
housm hA. no, been entirely eliminated
from Frycburg Academy since ,nc great
change In public sentiment has made u
rather dlsgraceful 10 b. openly drunk, bat
OF course al these lntlmaiious must BE- re-
garded A. false and malicious ISLANDERS,
aud the only Instructor whose character
bore any stain was the nrs' preospior al
most a century ago.
Pcrhap. few facts concerning Paul
LAngdon beyond the remarkably uneom'
mon one - which reference has 80 IRE
quen,ly been made. may be - Interest 20
TIE readers OF the DEMOcEAr
lie wa. the son oi Rev Samuel Lahsdon
who was called from the pastorate OF a
church 10 Portsmouth, y. II 20 the Pres
ldeney OF Harvard College. ln l7it-a time
Of alarm and danger, when IL was a most
dlnieult position 10 occupy. lie was an
intimate friend OF Washington, and
preached several sermons In the old church
Al Cambridge when the Commandef'in.
chief of the American forces was present.
lie made prayer on the steps of the Co.
Iege when the British marched out Of Bos-
ton. and also before the battle OF Banker
Hul. J,.slsh Quincy says of him, AT sew
enty.four years Of age he terminated life
well spent, honored Tor plety, private viz
tues aud extensive knowledge" lie was
the author OF several books, copies OF
which may be seen In the Boston Library.
Ills son Paul WAS born ln Portsmouth,
June 6, 1862, and baptized June June 7th,
1852 lie was graduated from Harvard
with distl lugulshei honors aud was esPec-
Ially noted for bis knowledge OF The elas-
sles. More Greek aud Latin Ia Master
Langdon's forsnnger than In most mems
heads, was a favorlte saying among bis
pupils -ths, long slender forennger being
often used 10 polut out an easy road
through the jupgles OF the text or 10 en-
phaslIe some important derivation or rule.
lie served with distinction ia the Revolu-
tlon aud was pensioner Of the United
States lie was elected Pr eepior of Frye
burg Academy for the year beginning No
yember, 1871, and your correspondent In
an article entitled Historical Sketch OF
Fryeburg Academy says "the doors were
closed on him ln 1879" But Il seems the
high moral sense OF the trustees soon re-
turned 10 the normal standard Of trustees
In general. or the value Of his instruction
began TO be appreciated and The Ices OF !,
deplored, for We hud he was sgain engaged
10 teach 10 the same Institution. lie was
= teacher born, possessing high intelleciu-
al powers, Zoe conversational abilities, an
easy, graceful style OF composition, and
the rare skill TO arouse In his pupils their
best endesvors in whatever they under
took. BY them his memory was retained
aud honorei long aner the Master was
passed away.
In 1916 he moved 20 New York, where
he continued to reside until his death In
lsSL
For his one fault 10 which such frequent
illusions have been made In connection
with the Institution Of learning OF which
he was one OF the founders, many excuses
can be offered II needed. lie lived In
time when the use OF Intoxicating drinks
was common among all classes aud on all
occasions, when rum flowed like water and
lawyers, doctors and ministers psrtook
together. The desired and efficient en-
forcement OF the Maine law hsd not then