Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-11
Albor Day at Cushnoc Grange.


Cushuoc Grange. Riverside, observed
Arbor day in very appropriate manner.
After the members had many Of them
set the trees about their homes the grange
gathered 10 front of the hall at 6 p. NJ,
where four lsees we're set, three Of them
heiag dedicated by the youngest members
Of the grange in very appropriate manner.
One to the charter members, one to VIM
Cullen Bryant and one 10 memory of Wor-
thy State Master Prince. State Lecturer
Twichell was then called upon to perform
the service at the fourth. which he fttingly
dedicated to Cushnoc Grange declaring it
tn be an honor to the organization and
doing faithful service worthy Of hearty
commenda ion. After a short grange
session. presided over by officers
selected from the youngest members aud
10 manner which would reflect credi; upon
any body Of people, the doors we're agsin
thrown open and The literary feast furnished
by the lecturer of the evening.
The programme was as follows and every
part was we'll sustained, the instrumental
music upon violin and guitar being exceI
tionally fine.
I. Instrumental music
Alice Halves aud Gertrude Forest.
2. Recitation. Mary Brown.
g. Solo,. .Mable Forest
4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. james Moore.
5. ms. music. e ice Halves and Gertrude Forest.
8. Remarks. Dr. I sichell'
q SOLO. aa9Ie foresl.
=. Recitation. Il stisha Wynofsky
.. Dialogue.
D.. Twi,chell spoke bu. few minutes,
tskiog as his subjoc., "rhe Mystery Of a
Leaf" and speaking substantially as fol-
lows:
"If. for the first time 10 our lives We had
passed through the winter ard been watch
ing the unfolding OF bud and leaf, what a
crowd Of witnesses would press upon us, all
tsstifying to that mystery Of mysteries
which attends life. Suppose you had been
led into the pastures and BY the side Of III
woods, where under the dead leaves you
had picked the sweet Msyflower, surely
you would have believed that fairy fingers
had been there before and transformed
these seemingly barren PLACES into enchant-
ed grounds.
@s5In what have to say tonight, want
10 address myself to 'he youpg people,
because while the lefs,n is for all it is
especially for them We have du-ing the
years watched the Changing seasons
waited impatiently fos the coming OF spring
with its richness Of promise and besusy,
but the lesson. the mystery which is behind
the leaf, hidden in the t1ig, unfolding in
the petals Of the flower, this is not 10 GU
minds as it should be. We, in the rush for
summer, overlook the miracle going on in
early spring. watched you as you planted,
opening the earth for the trunk roots, pre-
pairing he sol! ayd then placing the taes in
position. With what ieoder care
ard solici;ude have you enlightened
every rootlet How carefully have these
been distributed sni the finely pulveriz I'd
soil ard mold packed around each little a.
bre until the work was completed. Why
this care? Il it not that the mystery Of
the leaf may be revealed. Who can tell
US Just how those little rootlats, so fae Al
to be almost hike hairs, seize upon the food
which will ncurish, food prepared in a
laboratory beg opd the knowledge of man,
dissolved, compounded and held in solu
lion until these lender fbres reach cut
their fcsers and by absorption, drink in the
nourishment which passes through artery
and vein until the bud swells. the leaf sp
pears to fulfil its mission and the
bcsuty of summer is ours. 1t is we'll that,
on this Arbor day, ga hered Sor . special
purpose, We allow ouc thoughts to dwell
upon the wonderful snsforms,ion going
on ali about us. Looking from pIaut TO
shrub, and shrub to tree, aud tree to man.
can you not see that there is a wise
Providence which has ordained thas each
shsil be the servant Of the other, and that
The mystery which a.sends the leaf Is the
same ~ hat which governs all life.
= BY your acts tonight in Sc. ing ''is elm
d maple you have testified to your faith
in the apparently dead limbs, trunks and
roots ito again spring into active
life. Have you the same full
measure of faith in yourselves, and
are you seeking to put yourselves into
the zane right conditions for growth, ex
eicising the same care and thoroughness
as in the planting Of the trees? II 80 your
lives will be ss symmetrical As the branches,
AID the radiance you shed - refreshing %
the shade OF those trees in yeafs to
come"
The decorations of The lawn and yard,
- also the roadside we're urged, - means
OF adding attractions to the State, and
through these holding toe young people
around the old heafthstones. TIE valuable
suggestions Of Gov. Barleigh ia his procla
nation were endorsed by the epsaker, who
sought 10 emphasize the lessons, a. he told
the story Of the unfolding Of the leaf