The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-05
In the Big Tent.


No, Heaven demands at all our hands,
Our pious gratitude"
In the Big Tent.
The big tent. where dinner was served
after the exercises in the church, was pitched
in Charles Cushing's field on Elm street.
w. G. Harlow, of the Harlow House, served
the dinner. The tent was $50 feet long and
rs feet wide, and contained "a tables, at each
of which so persons were easily accommo-
dated.
Twelve hundred people at one time found
ample accommodation under the big canvas.
Bunting streamers hung gracefully from the
centre poles Of the tent. and were caught up
at the little poles along the sides. The
tables were made of wholesome new pine
boards from Mallet's mill, and SO were the
long benches that served as seats. A view
through the tent at dinner time reminded
one of
The good old time and the thanks that were said
For the honest butter and the warm brown bread.
All were abuntantly fed and departed from
the festive scene wei, satisfied.
Never before In the history Of the
daughters assembled at one time at the same
festive board. The event rivalled similar
ones, that In ''the good old days. made the
old Jameson Tavern merry and famous for
Its hospitality. Even Major Thos. Main,
Samuel Bliss, or Col. Cotton, all Of whom
were at different times proprietors Of the old
tavern, would have Ievhed into the hig tent
In surprise, II not with envy. Baked beans.
and coffee made in the good old way and
kept hot over brick furnace in the earth,
meats and pastry constituted the dinner.
The Exhibition Of Relics.
The exhibition of relics was not by any
means the least interesting feature of the
celebration. A room was well filed with
them. Spinning wheels of ancient patterns,
flax W heel lib years old, and another 125
years old, were on exhibition. An old wood
en- pillow, used century ago to till the soil on
Freeport farm. was leaned for exhibition
by George r. Stanwood. Then there was
quadrant, formerly owned by Commodore
Preble and used by him in the Tripoliau war
!! when the Algerian fleet was taken. The in
l teresting relic is now owned by Captain
| 0xnard; also a! hammer formerly owned
| by Commodore Preble. Then there was a
l chair over 200 years old, now owned by Amos
Field. Sword oyet 100 years old used by
Capt. John Dydleman and now owned by
| j.. w. Dydleman. Joseph Farwelps old
1 Bible presented to him over 100 years ago
| was to be seen and also an old wooden NOR
tar made 1876, handed down five generations
| to John M. Grant who loaned it,
| There were also some old wool cards
| owned by Samuel Fits and foot stone and
| box iron over 200 year sold. There was a
| coffee mill l25 years old loaned by George III.
StanwsoScd LNs pewter platter 100 years old
|. goblet from the communion first service Of
l the Congregational church presented by j.
| G. Wiman, Brunswick.
There were numerous old pieces Of coin
l dishes and other interesting relics of the
l good old days when Freeport was little more
4 than stage station and the old tavern the
| centre and soul of the place. t
The Game OF Round Ball.
| After dinner the great event of the after.
noon was the game Of round ball played by
| the old fellows. !. 1t drew big crowd and
kept them all interested. These are some OF
the old fellows who played: R. B. Ward of
| Freeport, aged GA; ID. b. Dennison of Free
| port, aged so; r. FL. Maybury of Freeport,
| aged 20; @. s. Kilby Of Freeport, aged 81
Peter Lane of Freeport, aged 81; II. P. Mer-
rill of Pownal, aged 5s; w. P. Rogers of
nal, aged 5S; A. 0. Baker of Yarmouth, aged
| 81; Jas. A. Ward Of Freeport, aged 70; w.
M. Merrill Of Freeport, aged 81; F. G. God
dard Of Pownal, aged 40; E. J. Brown of
port, aged 56; b.: Chadsey OF Yar-
mouth; aged 63; A; L. Dennison, of Free
| port, Freeman Lapham, of Brunswick, and
| one or two other players Of long ago. Round
ball Is played with yarn ball, all the bases
are called 'gools," there are no basemen,
runners don't have to touch the bases, but
only run within "straddle" OF them, and
the runners are put out by throwing the ball
| at them. They have no umpire, and on a
doubtful point all the old fellows would get
into a bunch and kick. A. l.. Dennison cap
| tanned one side. and the other side was led
by Mr.. Litchfeld. Captain Soule, aged S3,
| stood back with pine stick and kept the
| tally by cutting notches. Mr.. Harry Z. An
drews, Of Lewiston, did effective service in
were considerably deaf this position was far
| from sinecure. After many amusing incl
dents the game was ended by rain. Captain
| S0ule's tally stick then showed Is notches
| for Litchfeld's side to IL for Dennison's.