The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-01-14

tell With any degree Of accuracy" "well,
tall us somewhere near," az cannot"
"You canuoty Have you 5000 acres." IL
think somewhat more" elbow much?" II
prefer not to say" DO you own $4,000
acresl" ~ should say AS much as that"
About this time the Governors face began
to beam with the fun, and the auditors be-
gan to litter. "Did you have any of the
agricultural college scrip" continued the
lawyer mo" replied the Governor slow.
ly. Ibid you want any?" Yes" was the
answer. "Why didn't you get it," "Be-
cause" answered the witness, II Thought
the sale was to take place ut IL O'Clock, and
1t took place At 10. II was all sold when
got there" "You would have paid more
for the scrip than the price for which 1t
was solds" "No; not II l could have got
1t for less" BY this time committee and
audience, kept the young inqu,sitor and
the witness, we're convulsed with laughter.
As matter of course, the situation AFFORD.
ed much Of the amusement, but there was
enough of II until Hon. Frederick A. Pike,
of Calais, interposed out of regard both
for Governor Coburn and the committee.
Governor Coburn always had a good de-
gree of State pride. This was wont to APP
pear in the railroad contests which efforts
were made by outside companies and capitalists to
make the Maine Central tributary to Boston lines.
OF late, quite number of Massachusetts, men have
u
held In Portland within three years, one OF these
men suggested that 1t would be more convenient To
have future meetings held in Boston. "for osce"
says my Informant, "the Governor seemed touched
one and another spoke but the matter was ended by
the Governor who said: 81 have yet to learn that
the distance from&Portand to Boston lie less than
that from Boston to Portland. The rather previous
Boston man had no more 10 say, and the meeting OF
the directors Of Maines great IN ruAd continues TO
be held IN Portland.
Governor Coburn WAS not what would be called
brilliant conyersatopalist, but he was to- grown
IN n In at AM MS m "A . ..
the foremost men VI Maine for nearly half century
and from him one could get n better idea Of their
objections OF his carly life were vivid. He never
sowed wild oats, or painted the town red. OF such
srnrfations ago OF III" manner Of living. Of the Pc
cuiarit'es OF men of that time and Of his experen
Gee, he could speak in the most entertaining manner
He never made the pr. noun IL" do extra service II
he had egotism, 1t wa. concealed. He WAS very
charitable in his Judgment OF men and rarely spoke
In condemnation Of individuals lie did once say Of
adroit gentleman: III you want to track him
cure, go IN the opposite direction from that which
be said, she wrote 20 many letters urging his own
promotion, that he couldn't have done any lighting"
When the Rreenback craze swept over Maine, some
turned an advocate Of dat money. rhat is proper"
he replied; that man always maintained that ne
had paid debt when he gave his note for H."
never heard him say more than such things as the
above about man, and such rs those not often. lie
j, I'm B., of Portland.) he once said us man who
says what he mcans, 20 that you can understand
him" "PAyson Taeker,' he said little more than
a year ago, els man Of wonderful tact in getting
alot With p, opp. lie is the best rair,.ad man
inor, josiah Drum ond is n man you can ais
ways bcIcvt.'' such were his Judgments OF men
with whom he was associated.
Governor CoDurn man who was kindly dis
posed; when h. could anu when he thought IT
would do ho aided thns "ho went to him. lie was
cautious but often Ma. d, ceiv,d. He never gave nd
vice and nothing else. Talk was not cheap with
him. Those no knew him will remember him rs
poor pronniser and an excellent performer. He new
er rem nued q man OF n favor. He did not trade In
the thing commodity. To whom he had q
right TO ask service he rarely made the demand. lie
was no boss. II he had made the OBJ CATIONS he
plac d men under, means vi promoting his inter
sris he would have been VI The most powerful
m.u In the Ssic.
Wig rsu. me" who did much to develop the re-
soufees 81 Maine by building Its rairuad system
hruu Williams OF Augusta, ". b. s. and Daniel
Moor o! Wateryile, John ID. Lang OF Vassaiboio,
George r. Psten Of Oath, John h. Brown OF Port
lunu were on the list He had many sincere friends
and there were many Who knew him intimately who
admired his sturdy character, his strength OF pur.
pose, his kind ,iucss and his real manhood One OF
negan year ago, attributed the following lines 10
tho Waterman Ut Boston, addressed to Ex-Governor
Coburn:
Your star Is setting peacefully to rest
Not hid or 0bscured by darkencd west
But brightly glowing the cOl0rs seven,
Melting away into the light Of Heaven.
You ope your Golfers with heart most kind,
That your rich treasures may fit issue find,
ITO lead IN wisdom ways the mighty Rind,"
And through college aud church to bless mankind.
A long noble life and with no heart panied.
No one made poorer for the wealth You've gained
You have taught the world how modest to live,
How patient to gain. how freely to give.
In public and In private worth the same,
No hypocrisy blOts . well earned name.
ITO sordid souls the token of their shame,
With nObler spirits perpetual fame"