The Portland daily press., 1888-01-02


taken away in the flush of early manhood
when his prospects in life were looking
bright and fair. Mr.. Berry was not so well
known perhaps as Mr.. Paine, but those Of
us who did know him can bear cheerful ties,
timony to his upright character and genia
manner. He died under very sad clrcum-
stances, away from his native home, after
short illness of three days. The death Of
| these two, one iD early life, and the othel IN
middle age, only serve to remind us again OF
| the shortness and uncertainty OF human life
During the past two years two members
| have been dropped for non-payment of dues
| and / " ant to urge upon the members the
necessity of paying up their assessments as
| promptly as possible. Let us hope that the
| coming year will be one of unbounded pros.
perity to ouf association, and that we shall
not be called upon to pay any of those
| dreaded death assessments.
Our association is now on solid fOunda-
ton, growing stronger every month. bu
thele is still large number of .boys" who
dc not belong, and they ought to belong, ant
they ought to come in See to it, gentlemen
that they are members before the next veal
ends. If each member will say that during
the coming year he will get at least two
members into the association, next Janu
airy whoever furnishes the third annual din
ner will have to hire hall to accommodate
the large number present
"At our last dinner we had LOG; this even
| ing we have 23S present, which shows thai
| the interest is on the increase, and it ought
| to be when we can sit down to such dinner
as Mr.. Gibson has furnished us tonight.
"Gentlemen, cannot close without ex
pressing to you all my sincere thanks for the
courtesy which you have ever extended tc
me since my connection with you as your
president. Ny relations with you all have
been of the most pleasant kind You hon.
ored me by electing me as your president for
two successive terms, an act which | fully
appreciate, and | shall always remember my
term Of Office in the M. G. 7. A."
Hon. w. Fl. Clifford was next called upon
to respond to the toast, 1.-THE State OF
Maine" He said
Mr.. President and Gentlemen,--I appre-
ciate this cordial greeting. 1t was only late
this evening that / was told that should be
called on for speech, and of course can
not do justice to SC, eloquent theme. There
seems to be peculiar fitness in your holding
your annual dinner the last day of the year.
The hand on the dial will soon point to the
hour OF twelve. and then old 1887 will have
been absorbed into that unapproachable
realm called the past. There is no more APP
propriate time than this for men to meet and
talk over events of the past and plan new
ones for the future. But am called upon
to respond to the sentiment, 1.-The State of
Maine," and there is no State worthier of a
sentiment or more beloved by her children
than she. From the old Pine Tree State has
Learning. Her sons are known in litera-
tare, upon the bench, in the sciences, and in
battle, and they have done their part in
shedding the light of civilization. Mr.. Cliff
ford here referred to Names natural adyan-
tages of all kinds, and closed with glow
ing tribute to the Dirigo State.
Colonel Osgood Of Lewiston, was next
called upon and responded brify, and in
closing called upon Mayor McGillicuddy of
Lewiston, who was introduced by President
Dow and received with great applause. He
said:
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Asso-
citation. did not come here tonight intend
ing to make speech. / delight, however,
in meeting you all here tonight, and thank
you for your hospitality. But am obliged
to return to Lewiston tonight and the time
for my departure is drawing near, so | can
only leave with earnest wishes for a happy
New Year. bid you good night and wish
you God Speed.
sang the song Thursday" in delightful
manner, Mr.. Harvey Murray playing the ac-
compartment
Mayor Chapman was called upon to speak
on the sentiment ''The City of Portland"
He said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen.-"In re-
Spouse to your call desire to thank you for
your cordially, and to officially recognize
this association as one of the useful and per-
manent organizations of the city and State.
feel sure when look at the faces before
me that Maine drumEers cannot be beaten
by any drummers in the world My advice
to young man starting in business will al
ways be not to neglect the experience and
intelligence which is. to. be learned from
drumming He closed with an earnest APP
peal to the commercial men of Portland and
Maine to do all in their power to boom"
the city and State"
The Rev. A. w. Little. rector of st. Pauls
church, in response to the call of his name,
took for his theme The Typical Drummer"
His remarks were very happily chosen and
called forth unbounded mirth.
Edward Fl. Elwell, Esq, was called upon
to speak in behalf of the press. He said in
substance:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen,-I attended
lately a dinner of the heavy artillery of bust
ness, and now / find myself with the flying
artillery, in fact l might say with the picket
line, and feel convinced that this branch of
the service is just as important as the other.
/ am glad to see so many of our boys at home
this New Years eve. but | cannot but think
how lonesome some of the country tayerns
are tonight. But the hour is getting late
and must not detain you longer. l will
close with this sentiment: Success to the
Maine Commercial Travellers Association
and may it scoop 'em all in"
Mr.. L. L. Jordan read an original poem,
written for the occasion, after which ex-
Mayor Deering spoke of his pleasant con-
nections with the Association and expressed
his earnest wishes for its future prosperity.
Mr. Robert Rexdale, of the Sunday Times,
recalled to the Association many pleasant
recollections Of the trip to Burlington, In
which he participated. He made many anus
ing hits and gracefully expressed his interest
in the members of the present Commercial
Travellers Association.
Mr.. Gibson made some very pleasant
remarks, referring to the kindred interests
of hotels and commercial travellers, and
closed with pleasant wishes for the welfare
of the Association.
Horace FL. Shaw, Esq, responded to the
final sentiment, 1.-The Commercial Travel
lers' Association, and in closing presented
President Dow, in behalf of the members,
with an elegant solid gold chain and charm.
The popular president was completely over
come by this manifestation of respect and
esteem, and expressed himself with a
hearty "Boys, thank you"
Messrs Damon and Jordan. of the Trav-
ellers, rendered several songs in their usual
fine manner, accompanied by Harvey Muir
ray, and vote of thanks was passed to
Twitchell, Champlin & Co., Woodbury. &
Latham and Belknap & Son for furnishing
cigars for the banquet.
AT the hour of midnight the festivities Of
one of the most enjoyable events which has
taken place in this city for l,ng time,
closed. This, the second annual dinner Of
the Maine Commercial Travellers will be
bright in the memories, throughout the
new year, of ali who were present. To Mr..
Gibson is largely due the success of the oc-
casion, for his guests were the recipients of
the best the house afforded, and he person.
ally looked after every detail of the enter
tainment.
The Storm.