The Portland daily press., 1888-08-22
SCENES OF THEIR YOUTH.
Portland Bridgtonians Revisit Their
Old Home.

| Portland BridgtonianS Revisit Their
Old Home.
Despite the threatening aspect of the
weather Tuesday morning, the $50 train
steamed out of the Union Station laden with
"Bridgtonians" who, though they had been
absent from their native town, some for 80
| years, had all this time kept their windows
| open toward their beloved home, and now
seized the first opportunity of visiting the
scenes familiar, yet changed. This first an
nual excursion was the outgrowth of meet
ing of former residents of BriJgton held last
winter at the Preble House, which elected
the following officers:
Presidents. C. Strout.
| Vice President-Nathan Cleaves.
| Secretary-B. c. Stone.
1 Treasurer. +. Chute.
| Executive Committee-J. +. Jenner, L. c. Ml-
| ken. N. +. Hill, III. +. Libby, N. II. Dresser, Mrs
| L. Martin, Mrs. n. H. Jewell
Although this is the first excursion, its
eminent success has made it an assured fact
that it is not the last. The executive COM
mittee in general, and Messrs. Stone and
| Chute in particular are to be congratulated
on the complete success of their arrange
| ments.
The people of Bridgton received their
visitors at the station and, headed by the
Bridgton Band, the excursionists, who filed
nineteen coaches, were driven to the Con-
gregational church where delicious dinner
was served in the vestry. The reception
committee consisted of DIR. N. p Potter,
Mrs. Augusta Twombly and Mrs. Abbie B.
Lewis.
Major FL. A. Shorey called the company
L m ordo xuh ON bo &ofh
shaking had been inished-and it seemed
that dinner was forgotten in the joys of
| greeting for time. After divine blessing
asked by Rev. Mr.. Harbert, Maj. Shorey adj
dressed the company as follows:
| There should be some fitting remarks
made before the dinner begins, but we are
| not in condition to extend to you that
| formal reception which we should be glad to
| do. You are aware that you Portland peo-
| pie In the years that have gone by have come
| up here and stripped this little village of all
| It's talking men; its lawyers, its doctors, its
ministers, and we are so unfortunate on this
| occasion as to be without the means of ex-
tending to you that formal welcome by way
OF speech that we should be glad to do But
the simple preparations which we have
made TO receive you will convince
you | am sure that you are not un-
welcome visitors in your old home.
VIC lccl III DIluStOl bHdt Llt dIt
coming home to pay short visit to father
and mother, and assure you that we all feel
q degree of pride as we look over this assem-
bly, of our children and note the many men
and women who have become distinguished
in various fields of the chief commercial city
of our State. We are endeayoring on this
occasion to establish the idea that whenever
| you who have gone out from us shall return to
your native village you may rest assured
that you will receive a cordial welcome, and
in the abcpDQl of formal SnQaph lpf q G
sure you on behalf OF all who have gathered
here, and those who have not come in with
us, that we bid you hearty and cordial
welcome, and we believe that in your hearts
the old feeling of pride that you are able to
write "Bridgtonian' after your name gives
you stronger attachment to the dear old
home than ordinarily would happen among
those who have gone from the villages and
towns of our State. 1t is indeed, remark
able coincidence that in the city of Portland
we are able to gather so large number of
the sons and daughters of Bridgton.
have been aware heretofore that you are
very numerous, but we never have realized
the large number of our sons and daughters
there located. / remember some years ago,
happening in Portland one of the witty gen.
tlemen whom you have brought up with you
guished Bridgtonian at one of the gatherings
in Portland, the committee of arrange
ments were on the point of extending for
NAL introduction said: There is no
uotu OI bHlS. he Is a DTluSbOnldu. III
actabout all the talent you have in Port
land came from Bridgton, and the fathers
and mothers OF this town, / assure you, have
no reason to be ashamed of this-of our sons
who are located there; and without detain-
ing you longer, on behalf of the town of
Bridgton and of all your friends bid you a
hearty and cordial welcome to our village
and our homes.
Maj. Shorey's remarks were greeted with
warm applause and the guests merrily pro-
ceeded to discuss the dinner. S. G.
Strout, ESQ.,, of Portland, president of the
association in behalf of the guests, replied to
Maj. Shorey's welcome. Mr.. Strout said:
In behalf of the visitors who have been
so royalty entertained take the liberty to
respond. We have always known that
Brldgton people never did anything by
halves, but l did not anticipate so fine pre-
paration as you have made for us. l fear
that you have put us in position to come
again and come often.
Upon this occasion. being the first visit as
an organized party of those of us who have
to make our homes in Portland, my thought
reverts to the time in the year 1S48 when /
first entered this town. l came as a young
lawyer just admitted to the bar, with great
deal more confidence in my learning and
ability than have entertained since. lived
at the Brdgton House, then a two story
house without the large addition which now
contains the dining room, and among my fel-
low boarders was my friend Mr., Perry of
this village, who possessed then. as now,
nearly all the virtues, but who had one habit
which was Objectionable in the minds of
many Of the inhabitants of the country town,
and that is, he was always late at breakfast,
and kept hum company, and you would find
every morning Perry and Strout taking
breakfast at a late hour, and good Mrs,
Davis never complained. | had not been
here long before l began to take in the
natural beauties of the town. l passed up
a hTrI I'll fall Inn Oh eA,1A Al.A
sheet of, water dotted with islands
fianked by highlands and mountains
perfect gem upon the face of nature, al
though it bore the repulsive name of Crotch
ed Pond. rode to Sweden, and after reach
ing the top OF the height of land my eye was
arrested by the mountain scenery there, a
miniature of Switzerland; and Mrs. Strout
and myself regularly drive up there for that
view when we come to Bridgton. Then
took the drive up on the ridge, breathing in
the pure air of the mountains with High
land Lake on one side and Long Lake upon
the other, commanding a fine view of the
mountains, and then on up to the upper ridge
commanding still finer view Of all the
country about in every direction, and then
down the hill into the dense forest Gods
own temple. and another drive over to Hio,
where. the gorgeous panorama arrests the
attention of even the most careless observer.
These charms struck me very early in the
years of my residence here.
Mr.. Strout then spoke in fitting terms of
many Of the lovely resorts in and around
Bridgton, not forgetting the artists para
disc, the idler's delight, the lovers tryst-
the lovely grove on the shore of Highland
Lake, to which the change between AS and
'SS is very great.
In the grove informal speeches, which on
ly lack of space prevents producing, were
delivered by DR.. j. b. Bray, chairman of the
meeting, B. C. Stone, secretary of the asoc-
alton, Rev. E. P. Wilson, of Woodfords,
Hon. S. G. Strout, of Portland. j. M,
Hawkes., of New York, b. Il. Chase, of
Washington, George S. Farnsworth, of Bridg-
ton, Rev. II. Bernard Carpenter late pastor
of the Hollis street church of Boston, Rev.
Mr. Parsons and Rev. Mr. Harbert of Bridg-
ton, and E. r. Staples Esq, OF Bridgton.
After the speeches an hour was spent in
conversation and the gathering, memorable
in the history of Bridgton, dispersed. Port
land Bridgtonians cannot express too strong
ly their appreciation of the kindness of their
friends at home as shown by their reception,
and wish especially TO thank the Bridgton
band, who kingly rendered their services.
and also the daily papers of Portland fox
their aid in the matter.
A few of the party returned on the $40
train, but the most of them remain to enjoy