The Portland daily press., 1885-02-28
LoNGFELLoW's BIRTHDAY.
It's Celebration by the Maine His
torical Society.
dwelling OF the Replica Sent From
England.
Interesting Addresses Delivered in
City Hall.


English committee who placed the bust o.
Longfellow in Westminster Abbey, to present
to the Maine Historical Society a replica oi
that work, and it was most fitting that the
society should unveil the bust on the occasion
OF the poets birthday in the presence of not
only members of the Longfellow family but oi
the citizens of that town where the distin.
guished bard was born. In consequence City
Hall wasIilled by large audience last evening
who thoroughly enjoyed the proceedings from
the beginning to the close. The stage was oc-
cupied by members of the Historical Society
and the Haydn Association, while directly in
front, and at the centre of the platform stood
the pedestal bearing the bust, which is a nobls
and animated portraiture of the distinguished
poet. The full text of the addresses, the
poems, and extracts from the letters read are
given below. The music by the Haydn Assc-
citation, under the baton of Mr.. Kotzschmar,
accompanied by Harvey Murray, was OF the
high class for which the ssaocistion Is noted.
II anything the shading of their music was
more noticeable last evening than usual. The
Excelsior" selection in which Messrs. Pen.
nell and Coyle we're the soloists, created an
enthusiastic encore which was denied only on
account Of the length of the programme until
later in the evening. The Haydn chorus
"The Heavens are Telling" and the Hallelu-
iah Chorus from Beethoven's "Mount Of
Olives" we're given with great effect.
After the audience was seated Mr.. j. P,
Baxter in behalf of the society spoke as fol.
lows:
Members of the Maine Historical Society
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1t is my privilege and pleasure to unveil be.
fore you on the anniversary OF his nativity, a
bust of Portland's most honored son, honored
uot only in America, but in our Fatherland, as
no other American has hitherto been.
The honor conferred upon the memorJ of ouI
poet, by placing his bust in the Poets corner
of that temple of magnificent memories, West
minister Abbey, and the presentation of o
copy of that bust to the poets native city has
more than passing significance. It signifies
that the bonds of sympathy and affection be-
tween us and our kinsfolk on the other side OF
the Atlantic are still strong, and while this
bust exists it will be between US and them a
token of fraternity and goodwill.
AS all may not know how the Maine Histori-
cal Society came into the possession of this
bust, it is proper that I should inform you.
When the news Of the death of our poet
reached the other side OF the Atlantic com
mon impulse seemed to direct the minds oi
Englishmen to one thought, which was to
adopt Longfellow as one of their own native
poets and domicile him, by symbol, il the
Poets Corner of Westminster Abbey. This
thought drew into active association large
number OF persons eminent in literature, art
science and religion, and this association ii
known as the Longfellow Memorial Commit
tee, the chairman of which is the Prince oi
Wales. Among its members are the Earl ol
Derby, Eall of Granville, Baroness Burdett
Coutts, Rev. DR.. Bickersteth, Professor John
Stuart Backie, Sir Thomas and Lady Brassey
Wilkie Collins, Moncure d. Conway, Thomas
Faed, Sir John Gilbert, Jean Ingelow, John
Sir Frederick Leighton, Alfred Tennyson, and
others of equal note; in fact the Memorial
Committee is a large one, numbering over four
hundred persons. After the organization oi
the committee the necessary funds were
speedily subscribed, and the choice of an artist
was assigned to Sir Frederick Leighton, the
President Of the Royal Academy, who selected
Thomas Brock, an associate member of the
Academy, to make the bust for the Abbey Mr.
Brock is well known by many important
works, among which We may recall Hereward
Of the Wake, the Nymph of the Fountain, and
others of like merit. Having secured a bust
for the Abbey, which was the admiration oi
all, the committee conceived the happy idea oi
presenting copy of it to the poets native city
as well as the town where he died. This note
which will now read will explain the rest:
LONDON, December, 1884.
To the President and Council Of the Historical So
ciety of MGtne, u. s. n
conference.-the executive committee of the
LongfelloW Memorial Fund have much pleasure il
presenting to the President and Council of the His
torical Society of Maine, a copy of the bust oi
Henry Wads worth Longfellow, executed by Thomas
Brock, A. r. A and recently placed amongst the
memorials of British worthless in Poets Corner
Westminster Abbey.
They trust that prominent place may be assign
ed to 1t, in connection with your society under iti
guardianship and in the poets native city of Port
and where the memorial bust will testify to future
generations the affectionate and fraternal regard
which binds in closest amity the kindred people
who speak the same language on both sides of the
Atlantic ocean.
ALBERT EDWARD p, Chairman of Committee
w. G. BENNETT, Hon. Secretary.
f. BENNooH, Treasurer.
Having given you these simple particulars,
now withdraw the veil from the counterfeit
presentment of one who is to be hereafter
numbered among thoae
'Olympan bards who sung
Divine ideas below,
Which always find us young
And always keep Us So"
AS the speaker concluded, he drew the drap
cry from the replica, disclosing the familiar
face Of the poet, chiseled with such skill tina
present.
Rev. DIR. A. K. P. Small read the beautifu
poem by Mrs. Frances L. Mace, of Bangor, en-
titled, "A Welcome Home to Longfellow.
Face of our Bard Beloved! Clothed upon
With an immortal beauty, welcome home!
Bringing the crown in Songs dominion won,
To the dear city of thy boyhood, come!
Though now no more the wind from off the sea
Shall bring the "long, long thoughts of Youth" Il
thee.
Loyal and fond thy heart to us was turned
From prouder seats of honor and renown.
Through shadowing years, thy memory still dis
cerned
The haunts and faces of the seaside town.
And we,-though round the world thy songs ha
flown,
Rejoiced to know the minstrel was our own.
From yonder waves that moan along the bay.
From yonder woods that whisper of thy fame
Awoke tho themes of many a soaring lay
Whose wings, unfurled, were dipped in sunris
flame.
Here Nature taught thee her serenest truth,
And gave thy soul to drink of deathless youth.
Sovereign of hearts! 1t was thy heritage
A rare and happy realm to nave and hold.
Magician! briRging forth from every age
Treasures time-worn. and changing them to gold :
Priest! at the altar of the worlds delights,
With garments beautiful and always white.
| For shone abroad thy fair and full orbed life
With the still radiance of morning star,
And fell thy songs on days of cloud and strife
Like bells Of peace, rung clearly from afar,
| The latest cadence waited on the air,
| Thy life's Amen, n,-'Tss day6reak erery,ehere''
VI.
| O we'll may generous England give place
| To thee among her sons of song sublime!
| No purer life that haunted shrine shall grace,
| No sweeter voice ring down the aIsles of time.
| Yet we, with tenderer worship. lift above
| Thy lsurels the undying rose of love.
FRANCES L. MACE.
Bangor, February, 1885.
| After the singing, by the Haydn Assoc
tion, of "To God on High" letters of regr
from invited guests were read by Mr.. Bryan
secretary of the Maine Historical Society.
FROM HON. JAMES W. BRADBURY OF AUGUST
PRESIDENT OF MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
regret that the state of my health will not allC
me to be with you on the 9th, as the occasion
one in which feel an especial interest,"
| 1t is 10 do honor to the memory of him who
conferred signal honor not only upon our society,"
which he was member, but also upon his natl
city and his native land.
| He has made LOngfelloW a historic name in tl