The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-06-19
SIXTY YEARS AGO.
How Portland Has Been Decorated
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AZ on Previous Occasions. sss' saaEl
ElMEucEaME written for the Press n EEssSs,s 1sa
The stately arch in process of building
across Congress Square in honor of the visit
ing soldiers, reminds me of similar ones
erected NEAR the ssame place on former oc-
casions!lof rejoicing. II think there was an
arch of decoration ON some part of the
square on the occasion of the visit of Mon
roe in 1917, the first President of the United
States, who visited the town, but of this
am not sure.
On the 25th of June, 1926, General La
fayette entered the town. He had arrived
in New York in August previous, in the
American ship Cadmus, having declined the
offer of public ship by the government. He
was received with all the hOnors possible to
be shown, and whereverhe went he was vel
coined with atfectionate regard as the com
panion of Washington, and our benefactor
when days were dark and friends were few
Many soldiers of the Revolution who had
served under him, and with him, were then
alive whom he recognized and who met him
with JOY. The recollection of his disin-
terested services and his advancement of
money during that struggle, awakened UNI
bounded enthusiasm wherever he went. A
week previous to his visit to Portland he had
laid the corner stone of the Bunker Hill
monument on the anniversary of the battle
The town whose population at the tima
was less than ten thousand, had never been
so stirred by the presence of hero. The pre-
parations for his reception were entered
upon by all parties and classes with much
enthusiasm. A military escort was of
course appropriate. There were no facilities
then for the transportation of bodies of
troops, but so earnest were the military of
the county to participate in the parade,
that the Brunswick Light Infantry marched
the entire distance (nearly thirty niles from
their town to Portland, and appeared in the
escort without sufficient time to rest.
After the welcoming address by Stephen
Longfellow at the head of Grove street
(Haggett's HID the pageant commenced.
The first triumphal arch encountered span
ned Danforth street at the corner of High
street. 1t was sunny day and the shade of
those elms was very refreshing. This arch
was lofty and covered with evergreen and
great quantities of roses of all colors. On
the front of the arch was the sentence
welcome Lafayette, and on the reverse
the name "Brandywine" in honor of the
Generals grand achievement at that battle.
On the south corner, at the foot of the arch
was one story wet grocery, kept by Levi
Sawyer. AS was but boy and unlearned
in revolutionary history, supposed Bran
DIVINE on the arch was in some way con-
nected with Sawyer's grocery, and when the
escort halted under the trees and some of
the soldiers went in, | supposed that was
part of the programme, and all that chose to
would partake of Sawyer's refreshments
The next arch was one spanning Free
street, very lofty, and on the artistic KEY
stone was perehed living eagle This arch
was on about the same spot as that occupied
by the present arch, but it spanned only
Free street; its notices | do not recollect.
On the south walk of that street were parad-
ed the public and private schools of the
town. Every boys hat there were no caps
them, bore ribbon band, on which was
printed welcome Lafayette There was
another similar arch at the head of India
street, surmounted by miniature Ship full
rugged, and on the arch beneath, the historic
legend Il shall purchase and fit out vessel
1Or mySelf, abiding to Gen. Lafayette'S
answer to Dr. Franklin, our minister to
France, who, when the General proffered his
services to the infant States, told him that
they were too poor to send ship for him.
In 1888, President Jackson had concluded
to make tour through the New England
States, and great preparations were made to
receive him. He arrived in Boston in June,
and attended the commencement at Harvard
College. The institution conferred on him
the honorary title of LID. Seba Smith
was then publishing the Portland Courier"
o daily, and was writing amusing letters over
the signature of Jack Downing, who pre-
tended to be a confidential travelling compan-
ion with the President, and asked him what
was meant by a Doctor of Laws, when he re-
piled, Jas Jack said, "You know / have had
to doctor the laws considerable ever since
have been at Washington, and / made out so
well about it that these Cambridge folks
think l better be made into regular doctor
at once" From Boston the President went
to Concord, N. HI. Several of the Cabinet
were of the party, and something occurred
s0uring the President, who abruptly turned
about and proceeded to Washington The
0StenSIble reason was illness, but Jack
Downing said it was quarrel between him.
self and Van Buren, about the next presiden-
cy. Portland had made elaborate prepare
tons for the reception of the President, by
the building of arches and the like: he was
expected the next day, when his letter of re-
greet was received That day proved to be very
green covering, held SO much water that they
lost their perpendicular, and leaned in all d.
rectlons; and some fell to the ground, fitting
representatives of the feelings of the friends
of the President. W.
June 10Th.