The Portland daily press., 1884-09-19
CHILDREN OF YORK.
They Celebrate Their Second Re
union at Long island
HISTORICAL Address RY w. s,
CLIFFORD, ESQ.

Z
CLIFFORD, ESQ.
Early yesterday morning it looked ANYTHING
but propitious for an excursion down the bar
bor. but as the day advanced the clouds rolled
away, the sun came out warm and bright and
the fears of those who looked for a rainy day
were soon dispeled At half-past ten the
EHita backed out of Franklin wharf, having
on board the members of the York Society
and their friends. They were bound for Long
Island where they intended to celebrate the
second anniversary of their Society. The Bux-
ton Cornet Band dscoursed its fine music and
the people on board seemed generally bent on
day OF enjoyment. 1t was splendid cay
on the water, and the sail down the harbor
waa enjoyed by everybody. On the arrival of
the steamer at Long Island, the COMPANY.
h AIDED by the band, formed and marched to
the Dirigo House, which had been thrown
open to The visitors. Leaviug wraps and bun.
dies here the company scattered in different
directions over the island seeking amusement
In various ways. The wild flowers suffered at
the hands OF the ladies of the party. But the
SAASA SShNAO Va 1btIdCblOu was Tue Clani BAKE
which was progressing finely under the skilful
supervision of Mr. Fowler. At IL precisely
the burning wood was taken off, thin cover
ing of seaweed placed on the redhot stones.
CLANS, eggs, corn and sweet potatoes in abund.
ance thrown upon the seaweed, covered with
canvas and the whole thickly covered with
seaweed to keep in the steam. These proceed
iugs were watched with great deal of intst-
est by the people who we're growing hungry in
the bracing air and waiting with what pa
thence they could muster the arrival of the
noon-day steamer. At last it came, and on it
the remainder of the company whose business
engagements had prevented their coming on
the early boat. They were met at the wharf
by the band and escorted to the house.
Dinner was served as soon as possible after
their arrival. The tables were placed in po-
sition under the trees at the side of the house.
in position which commanded fine view of
the harbor. A better place to partake OF
clambake could hardly be found. The trees
made it shady and there was Just breeze
enough to make it delightfully."- cool. Between
100 and 200 guests sat down at the tables. At
the head of the tables were seated Mr.. Bion
Bradbury, president of the society, anu near
him was Rev. DR.. Stockbridge of Providence.
X. l., w. FL. Clifford, the orator of the occa-
sion, Mayor King, ex Mayor Libby, Rev. A.
K. P. Small, 81. j. Libby, VIM, G. Davis,
Fl. G. Briggs, A. D. Smith and several other
Portland people.
York county was represented by A. B.
Kicker of Alfred, G. f. Carr of Buxton, L, S.
Moore of Limerick, W. G.. Davis of Lining
ton, Il. S. Trying, j. P Sanborn and several
others. Messrs. M. P, Emery, B. F. Chad
bourne and d. B. Kicker, to whose efforts the
success of the occasion was largely due, with
the assistance of numerous walters, looked
after the welfare OF the hungry company.
The wants of the inner man (and womap)
being satisfied, the literary feast was next in
order, and President Bradbury introduced as
orator of the occasion, Mr.. w. II. Clifford,
who spoke as follows:
MR.. CLIFEoRDs ADDRESS.
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
1t is singular and pathetic incident of the his
tory of the early settlement of America, that
many of the first expeditions were undertaken
under the influence of the most exaggerated mis-
conceptions as to what in soberness and reality their
real object should have been. L do not refer so
much to the early DISCOVERIES, for they were prob
ably guided by kind of scientific curiosity and the
love OF fame. But after the existence of the new
world had been proved, q second and wholly differ
ent class of Adventures steering westward amid
the mysteries of an unknown hemisphere, clothed
and enveloped the new and distant continents with
all the seductive hues and cOlorines that romance
and fable could mpart Much of this is ATTRIBUTABLE,
to the romantic character of the seventeenth CEN
fury and of the age. Much can be traced to the
then not extinct spirit of chivalry stl burning in
the hearts OF warriors and soldiers, and kindiing
their 1maginations with the memories of wonderful
md 70 rlOf A.
But the true source of these amazing msappre-
tensions is to be found in the astounding events of
that wonderful age, acting upon the glowing minds
and quick fancy of its warriors its cavaliers its
courtiers and its gallants of every name. A new
world had burst upon its vision. What might be
the effect even upon business-like and work
generation like ours of the upheayal into The know
edge of men of a new half to our world even un
der the practical and restraining influences of today
still outruns all human calculation. An insigniti-
cant margin of Arctic territory bound In the
chains of everlasting winter, and guarded by its
natural castles, the icebergs is now sufficient
to allure certain natures to suffering and DEATH
But in the early years of that younger century of
the world, when human thought and energy in
some measure freed from the accumulated burden
OF ages OF superstition in the youthful bound of its
new found freedom, rejoicing in its young hope
and vgor, but yet still like children thrilling at
and believing in the spirit and chronicles of the
days of knight errantry and fantastic valor-how
fancy and poetic dreaming must have Toasted
on the thought of the new strange world.
embosomed in the boundless sea, inviting
by its wealth and beauty the conquests Of the so-
der and the knight. No ancient tale of ebiyalry
tnged as it might be with all the quaint and beau
tl1ui hues OF medieval imagery could arouse the
spirit or fire the soul of the 18th century cavalier
as this wondrous spectacle of these marvellous
domains, suddenly emerging into existence, and
ture. And history exhibits in impressive coors the
profound and mighty influences which SO grand q
discovery exerted. Civilians, soldiers, churchmen
cardinal, diplomats and statesmen were all alike
transported beyond the boundaries of common
reasoning by so stupendous an event. The business
war f-1.
nary channels by the enormous private and national
ambitions that were excited.
on! how that young age of our modern world
must nave burned with golden anticipation and
hope. Even kings, idle, lstless and debauched
turned eager ears to listen to thesstartling echoes
that reverberated from the shores of the young
continents which with all their mysteries and won
ders had slumbered long in silence and isolation
And then from out of this unexampled excitement
and fernent rose, like splendid will o. the-wisps
gorgeous relations and narratives, concerning the
new hemisphere, exceeding even the flights Of ex
cited fancy And it was not strange that it was So
Cortes and P1zarro returning from their incredible
conquests in Mexico and Peru, brought tidines of
strange, magnificent and peculiar civilizations.
rivaling IN spendor the monarchies of the old
world. The lncas the jewels, the gold, the luxury
and all the glittering trappiDgs of the Aztec king
dom, set fancy and imagination wild so that no
dream was SO radiant as to be false no vision too
gorgeous to be true. The results which followed
these romantic crusades exceed in the simplicity
and credulity from which they sprung ANYTHING
that history has recorded. Were it not for the
innocent blood of unnumbered thousands of simple
natives had it not been for the greed and cruelty
which stained and made hideous many of these
early expeditions to America, could the record of
suffering and crime be etfaced, many of the early
attempts at settlement and colonization
by reason of the motive from which they sprung
would, in this sober age, provoke only smile OF
wonder and doubt. Let us look for the evidence of
this in some OF the more familiar and prominent
efforts of this kind.
A Drawer soldier, a more impetuous but skiful
captain, than Juan Ponce De Leon, has seldom add
ed lusre to the profession of arms. Into that hard
old head OF his, tough as the steel casque that
covered it, it is difficult to understand how
a nursery tale could obtain a lodgment and
belief. Yet, in the times of which am speaking in
the maturity of his years in the rpeness of his ex-
perience, with the scars of hundred battles on his
brave breast, after life of contests amid the stern
trials of war this doughty old arrior led an expe-
dtion into what is now the State of Florida in or
der to battle himself in fountain, which he be-
Ieyed would restore to his battered old body the
vgor and strength of youth. A decayed and ex-
hausted veteran seeking rejuvenation by bath in
tabled spring. opened the pathway to the settlement
of Florida. Yet he far from alone in this su-
perstiJion. 1t was generally believed SPAIN
from whence he came. surely this goes far to es-
tablish my proposition that the settlement of Amer
lea was in many instances promoted by the igno-
rance or folly of men.
De Soto, struggling through the dense morasses
the interminabe forests and jungles of the South
ern States, while on marauding party to rob the