The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-29
M. c. M. a.
The Triennlai Anniversary of the
Society.
An Interesting Paper Read by Lewis
A. Smith, ESQ.,,
Followed by a COLLATION. and Re
marks by Several Prominent
Gentlemen.

Joyable as previous events of like nature
have been. At half-past seven, the newly
lifted library room in the second story of the
building was we'll filled with an audience.
who, while waiting for the exercises to com
menee, looked about the room and noted the
improvements which have been made there
as in other parts of the building under the
care of Architect Stevens. The library is
on one side of the hall. There are six al
coyes, each one shut in with glass doors, thus
keeping out the dust. In each alcove are
many shelves, on which the books are ar
ranged in convenient manner. In each
alcove is window, and they are also light
ed by gas. The books are so conveniently
arranged that they can be at once found. In
front of the alcoyes is broad counter, be-
meath which are kept the bound files of pa
pers, maps, etc. On the side of the room
opposite the library is a black walnut desk
on dias, at the back of which are dark
crimson hangings. Settles fill in the floor.
The portraits of the past presidents of the
Association, thirty-five in number, adon
the walls in handsome frames The other
alterations in the building have been already
described.
+ AT shortly after half past seven President
NJ. A. Blanchard entered with the speaker of
the evening, Mr.. Lewis B. Smith, and at
once called the meeting to order.
The president in his opening remarks re-
ferred to the formation of the society. its
early growth and incorporation, the erection
of the building, the efforts required to clear
off the debt incurred then, and the success
OF the association in its efforts, so that this
year they have been able to greatly improve
their property and are in prosperous condi-
ton, with no funded debt
Mr. Blanchard then introduced Mr.. Smith.
whose interesting address was given close
attention and frequently interrupted by ap-
planse. An abstract follows:
MIR. SMITHS ADDRESS.
Mr., President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Inc period in which we live furnishes a
multiplicity of topics on which to speak on
pnbllc and social occasions. A.selectiOn of
one from among them on which to address
you this evening has not been altogether free
from embarrassment. Methods. is my theme !;
mechanical and mercantile, their character;
the century completed July 4, 1886, the cycle
In which they were applied. Themes incl
dent to centennial and semi-cFntennial
years occupy the thoughts of our people so
fCuCidll1. tudl nave ueeUleu III wise 10 fall
into and drift along in the same current
rather than endeavor to stem or change its
course.
Orators have been uttering in glory and in
spring sentences, proclamations of the deeds
Of the fathers and mothers of the early days
In the existence of the dear old town, land
poets have woven in rhythmic linee the
names of the founders, their origin and
form whence they came so wildly and pleas
ing as to have left the impress of perenni-
q n 10 i'm hoo
masters and matrons who sought dwelling
place in the broad peninsula on which we
still plant our homes.
1t may be an agreeable division of the
methods prevailing if one OF two of the me-
chanical and mercantile departments of the
industries of the early days be now consid-
ered-days that may fairly be designated as
the sprouting period of the town. There
fore, invite your attention this evening to
certain methods which existed and were I'M
iyersai IN their application in the days when
Mark Walton, the venerable father Of our es-
teemed brother John +. Walton. was the
Leading house carpenter of the town; when
John Leayitt, the paternal ancestor of a
former respected citizen, Capt. John Leavitt.
| whose place OF trade was at the corner of
Fore and Cross streets, was mason; and
| wnen Emerson and Wood were the principal
merchants of their day and discounted pa
per at mo. T. Central Row" under the term
Oh barter, at greater profit to themselves than
edge and face" offered at the counter or OBJ
talnable in the street. The senior member
OF this firm was Rufus Emerson, after and
LOT many years. secretary of the Portland
flre ana Mutual Insurance Company, the
junior member being the father of Dr. Will
liam Wood. who still remains citizen with
us ana possesses the courtly dignity and de-
meanor OF his progenitor, as well as that of
tne gentleman and sayant of the olden
school.
Mr.. Smith, passing on to the consideration
OF his subject, adopted a conversational
style, and told the story of the methods of
long ago, as told in conversation between
hlm and venerable friend who well remem-
bered the people who lived here when the
century was still young, their modes of life,
and business methods. The CONVEX sation
hrst referred to the manner of building the
houses, when the master builder sustained
the same relation to his calling in kind,
though not in degree, as contractor sus-
talnS To-Day. lie not only supervise d the
work as 1t progressed, but also entered into
the actual labor needful to perform it, AS
rule, he was his own engineer and architect,
when dwelling or store was to be erected,
home. generally in the evening. By the light
OF tallow candle, 'home made dipped .
| with pine board smO0thed off for draught-
ing purposes, with bit of chalk or sheet
lead, pointed for drawing the fine lines, and
and piece of dead coal from off the kitchen
hearth for the shading up of the front eleva-
ton, the builder marked off in rough but dis
tlnct lines, the form or ground floor of the
structure, usually square. Then the chin
ney place was lined out in the center of the
square. ms was built upon rough stones,
dumped into an excavation, for a foundation,
and from that extended upwards and ex-
panded on all sides, into dimensions which
would discourage modern brick yard
Next, with the matron of the household as
consulting engineer and architect. the square
divided iDfO the
down stairs and up stairs" Passage WAYS
from one room to another were left open
with more reference to convenience and the
amount to be expended for doors to close
tnem, than foran exhibition of art or superb
or skill al mechanism. The number of the
windows was usually determined by the
amount of time required to manufacture the
sashes and the cost -of glass to glaze them,
although light and air were furnished in
abundance. Not all houses were plastered
then, but when they did plaster them it was
good, honest plaster that was put on five
elghths of an inch thick, land well worked in.
Mason work included plastering, whitening,
ana the ike. John Leavitt's sign read ina
son, Drlck layer, plastering and white wash
1T was a little singular" added Mr..
Smiths venerable friend, ''that it was rare
occurrence for house or store to be erected
with more than one chimney. There was
probably q reason for this but never heard
one given.'
i guess | can tell you," replied Mr..
smith L have somewhere heard it read that
q long time ago there was law in force in
the old countries that imposed tax or duty
ON each chimney of a house. The amount
required was called by some of the people
hearth money, by others chimney money. 1t
was collected yearly by an excise officer, but
did not yield more revenue than it cost TO
secure 1t. If such tax was now exacted,
very likely there would be less chimneys or
more free trade politicians.
Sun and storm on the outside, kitchen
smoke and steam in the inside, did the paint
ing Tor the house of long ago. The cellar
consisted OF hole, under the kitchen, wall
ed up with boulders and cobble stones such
as could be found about the place The
cellar was just large enough for the winters
supply of vegetables with closet to keep
the butter cool, when that luxury was en-
loyed, and corner to house up the cider
Dench. The frame of the house was taken
from farm lot in the neighborhood and the
hnlsh was made in the shop of the builder.
-, The gang employed consisted usually of
the master workman, three or four appren-
tlces and hired man, who worked from
dawn until dark, with half hour for break
last, an hour for dinner and two adjourn
ments, at eleven and four O'Clock, to the
nearest grocery for drink of rum or cider.
The Mechanics Association was the first to
Institute proceedings to abolish this custom,
Eleazer Wyer, ii. A. Body, Henry Dyer.
joseph Noble and Neal Dow being appoint
ed pDmmittpa ON tho ouactiov, IN fQDn