Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-09-14
YoRwAY's CENTENNIAL
onASD lSD srccrs,Tcl cELrnRlTioS

| very late slumbcr last wednesday morn
log by the booming % big guns, which
raliled the window castings. Indicating
that Norway was beginning the celsbra'
ton OF her ons-hundredth anniversary on
| an elaborate scale.
We'll, We saw the centennial, and IL was
a grand success all the way through. Nor
way was a glory OF decoration by day,
| ami ablare with light by night. Nearly
all The buildings In the village were deco.
| rated, some OF them elabOrately, all OF
| them tastefully. The number OF people
In town IL ysriously estimated AZ eight
10 fteen thousand. A. any rate, there
wa. an Immense crowd. and they AL seem
sd 10 enjoy themselves. No one com
plalned OF anything bat the heat, which
was extreme Tor the eighth of September.
bat the shade Of OfdwAy's Grove furnish.
"a ample protection.
The procession was formed little sher
10 o'clock, In the following order
TiHsr DIVISION.
Mounted police.
Noruay lifass Hand.
Norway Light Infantry.
Nid felioss.
Maine stat. ufum Corps.
knights ~ fythits.
srand Army.
sTcOSD pfvIsIOS.
Governor Robbie aud stan.
Invitssi 0uests IN carriages.
sunday school children.
rHiRp DIVISION.
Patrons of llu.bandry.
TouHrH DIVISION.
Trade. and Industries.
FFIu Diusos.
Chambers Hand. 81 Portland
lirr Department
Antiquities.
ist MAins battery.
Aborigincs
A detachment OF Auburn Light Infantry
arrived little late. and were formed In
behind the Norway Infantry.
Its rarely that 90 good parsde II
seen In a country village. special Tea.
,ure ofthe procession was The series OF
moving tableaux which were presented ~
the Changers. The trades and Industries
were well represented, some due exhibits
being made by the various merchants aud
manufacturers.
The procession marched through TIE
prlncipil streets aud was dismissed ~ =
little after twelve. The OVERHEAD NAL
stage furnished q closing iapleau, being
driven up the street with the IL disbs in
hot pursuit. nrlbg and yelling
The exercises began In Origiy's grove
by an overture by ChAndl'r- band. This
wa. followed ny prayer by Rev. 4. Wis
wall. ani the address ~ wslcoms ~ A. L..
Denni.on, E.q. o; Boston, President OF
the day.-an elegant and spproplsie al.
dress. An original ode by Mrs. Elliot
smith was then sung 10 the tune OF Amer
lea. with a chorus oftwO hundred voices,
and band accompaniment. Judge Virgin
was then Introduced a. the orator OF The
day.
Judge Virgin spoke something more
than an hour, from manuscript. Ills adj
dres. was able aud scholarly, and We
would be glad, II we had space. 10 repro
duce IL. We quote simgly this brief silu.
sion 20 the character OF the men OF
Norway
ieould name MY men whom I found here
In ISIS Of middle age or more, Who. In my
onlnion based upon quite nm extensive ac-
o,iaintAnce throughout the state, would com
pare favoraoly with Ike nano.r ssiec's. , w
any other town OF The sane populatlon. s,m.
Of them have faithfully and intelligenuy nn.i
important Offices In the county as well As IN
the legislative and executive departments OF
lire stats. and very many OF them 20 carefully,
discreetiy and inlelligenuy performed The
complicated and mportAnt duties OF town ON
c.s. that the name OF Norway nowhere sp'
pears In any OF the u volumes ONE. Reports
Al the close OF the Grafton recess was
taken for dinner. At about hslf.past three
the exercises OF the afternoon began with
an overture by the consolidated bands.
An original ode Was then sung 10 the tune
| OF Old Hundred, and q poem OF welcome
was read by Miss Annie Hayden. which
WAS excellent and well received. Short
| addresses were then made by Gov. Robe,
and Congressman Dlngley. Dr. 9. l.. IKE
read the centennial poem. and Judge e. r.
| Whitman an historical essay. Other ex'
| ercises were prepared. but owing TO the
| lsteness ofthe houi they had TO be omitted.
The music, which was In charge OF Prof.
| Collins OF Portland, was one OF the me
features OF the celebration. The musical
programme for the afternoon was render
81 more elective by the use OF the two
cannon. which were In charge OF aplAtoon
OF the First Maine Battery. While the
afternoon exercises were closing Win 10
anvil chorus from II Trovstore, by some
accident the wrong piece was discharged,
and Private Fred Getchell OF Brunswick
WAS painfully though not seriously Injured
A purse OF over si0o was raised for him
on the spot, Gov. Robe leading with -.
The great celebration closed In the eve
ming with q general Illumination aud .
magnificent display OF fireworks from the
side OF Pixies Hill.
SO Norway has celebrated her centen
NAL. It's commonly understood that she
expects her bi.centennial 10 be celebrated
BY city OF ten thousand Inhabitants
aud II her citizens continue to manifest
the same spirit OF enterprise and pusi
which they have In the past, the dream
viii be realized.