The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-03-28
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Winter Session Held at Baxter Hall
Yesterday.
interesting Papers Read by Several
Members.

ent: Dr. Wllllam ID. Lapnam, l.. Ii. ElWell,
G. F. Talbot, Jos. Williamson, G. f. Emery,
A. W. Longfellow, William Goold, II. K.
Morrill,. Ii. S. Burrage, FL. o. Thayer, E. P.
Burnham, j. S. Locke, j. M. Brown, NJ F.
King, G. F. Allen, c. E. Allen.
DIR. Lapham of Augusta presided. Mr.. E.
FL. Elwell then read the following paper:
THE INFLUENCE OF THE TRANSMISSION OF
NEWS ON PUBLIC EVENTS:
Mr.. Elwell exhibited the broadsde of the
argus. bearing date of February, TO-. 1915,
containing an account of the battle of New
Orleans, an extract of which he read. The
battle was fought January s. 1916, more than
a month having elapsed before the news
reached Portland. He compared this with
the transmission of news at the present day,
Wnen an event that happens in Europe is
known mere on the same day on which 1t oc-
ours; consider the difference which the lapse
OF month might possibly make here in the
course or events. and In public or private af-
1alrs.. AS an illustration, the treaty of peace
was signed by the American Commissioners
New Orleans was therefore fought fifteen
days after the signing of the treaty. If the
electric telegraph and the Atlantic cable had
then been in existence to make known
this TACT, the battle would never have been
fought, Andrew jackson, in all probability,
would never have been President. and much
of our subsequent history would have taken
a different aspect, while to England would
have been saved the lives of two distiu-
guished generals and of 1000 men, as well as
q humiliating defeat. So much depends on
the speedy transmission of intelligence. He
related other incidents connected with this
event which further illustrated this poin.
The written news letter was first used for
the dissemination of news, furnished to the
wealthy aristocracy. This was followed by
the ballad OF news, sung or recited, then the
news pamphlet, more prosaically arranged
then the periodical sheet of news, and lastly
the newspaper, which for a long time was
first news paper printed IN
America was the Public Occurrence
published In Boston by Benjamin Harris,
the first and only number appearidg Sept.
18th, 1880. 1t was the tenth newspaper in
the world, but was promptly suppressed be-
cause Mr.. Harris ventured to record domestic
as we'll as foreign occurrences.
Mr.. ElWell then described the evolution of
the post which began with swift-footed run.
ners, the Kings messengers, carrying impor-
tant dispatches, but not intended for the dis
semination of intelligence. Then followed
post-riders with stations days Journey
apart. Private letters were sent by slaves
Post-riders were established in England as
early as the 18th century but were used ex-
clnslyely to transmit government dispatches,
The next step which facilitated the trans,
mission of news in England was the estab-
llshment OF mail coaches, which were de.
scrlbed by De Quincy as first revealing to
him the glory of motion.
With the advent of the railroad the glory
OF the mail coach departed, and the trans.
mission OF news seemed to have reached its
utmost speed. but it was left for the electric
telegraph to give it the wings of the morning
and the diffusion of light.
In conclusion Mr.. Elwell alluded to the
rapid growth of the postal system in this
country. which was not organized until ITO
AS late as 1870, only one hundred years ago,
there were only 70 post offices in the country
but as newspapers multiplied it became
necessary to increase the postal facilities
ana thus to the newspapers is due thai
dlfuslon OF Intelligence which today makes
known every important event throughout
the civilized world on the day of its occur
rence-and sometimes before it happens.
Mr.. Lauriston W. Small of New York
then read an extended paper on
THE SMALL FAMILY IN MAINE"
In wilderness days, prior to the advent OF
DOCKS, newspapers and neighbors, each
family talked Of its own affairs" said Mr..
Small, and his father treasured up the family
r history "a ana made record Of 1t. BY this
Francis Small. who was of old cavalier
stock. born in England in 1920. He came to
America in about the year 1882. He resided
In Dover, n. H.. in 1648. In July. 1857, he
bought large tract of land in Scarboro,
called Capisic. In 1868 he resided in Kittery
lands, presumably near the present village
of Cornish. Mr.. Small has i'm his possession
the original deed given by the Indian chief
Sundy to Francis Small in 1868. 1t was re
corded il 1773. when los years old. The sig
nature was the picture of turtle. 1t has
been handed down through successive gen
erstions until it reached the author of thi:
sketch, the eighth in succession.
MIR. Joseph Williamson OF Belfast read {
paper entitled
"soME OF THE ACADIANs AND THEII
EARLY HISTORY"
Mr.. Williamson gave brief but compre-
hensive history of the settlement of New
France, or L'Acadie, as it was called, in the
early grants, and which embraced Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick and portion OF
Maine.
The last paper was read by Mr. Charles
E. Allen, entitled
LEAVES FROM THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF
DRESDEN"
The town of Dresden was first named
POwnalborough by Governor Pownal, the
second governor of Maine. 1t has been
claimed that it was first settled by the Ger
iHduc, dltuOuSu mT. Ail6u LulukS tQ6 urSL
settlers were nearly all French Hugunots,
who, driven from their own land on account
of religious persecution, came to America
and small colony of these wanderers set
tied on the Kennebec. Many of the names
bear out this testimony, although they are
angllcized It is matter Of historical con-
lecture whether Arnold visited this town on
his expedition up the Kennebec. but it is q
matter of fact that Louis PHILIPPE and Tai
leyrand did visit it. Among the early settlers
was French lace maker, and specimens of
fine linen woven by him are to be seen there
now,
In the evening, Mr.. James P. Baxter, pres
dent of the society, read very interesting
paper on
THE ABNAKI INDIANS AND THEIR ETHNIC
RELATIONS.
After discussing the origin and antiquity
of the earliest aborigines, the theory that
they originated in Asia being accepted by
Agassiz and others, Mr.. Baxter devoted
some space to the Abnakis Of New England
who were branch of the Algonquins. They
were hunters, fishermen and agriculturists.
They used fish for dressing in agriculture
their dwellings were made of bark, fastened
to poles, and furnished with skins. They
were hospitable to fault, generously shar-
ing their food, even when there was search
ty,. They delighted in ornaments, and paint
ed their faces. Their domestic relations
were sacred. polygamy being unknown
Their courtship. was simple, beginning with
present. If the present was accepted, that
constituted the ceremony. Both men and
women were described as being modest.
They were dignifed and taciturn In manner.
The men favored athletic sports, races, ETC.,
but their most exciting game was foot ball !;
the goals were mile apart, and often game
lasted two days. Games of chance were COM
mon, but although they might lose wampum
and blankets, even all they possessed, yet
they never quarreled over the game. Their
priests, or medicine men, exercised a three
fold function-that of priest, prophet and
medicine man.
MIR. Baxter described their religious belief,
and their belief in supernatural agencies, the
wind, which they could hear, could feel, but
could not see, the fire, the water which they
drank, and particularly the consultations at
night which to them were sealed mystery.
The lecture was illustrated by drawings,
and Mr.. Baxter also exhibited some of the
stone implements which have been found
here in Maine, consisting of axes, spear
heads, chisels, drills and mortars; also some
beads which were made out of shells. The
most common stones found are the arrow
points and spear-heads, made out of flint
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