Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-23
uA1unAL nIsfoRY AND An1I-
QUAnIAa eocIEfY
D.dication y Ifs Few Hail Thursday
Bven1pg.

A most suspscioss opening Of the nes
hall Of the Kennebec Natural History and
Antiquarian Society taok plsee 90 Thur
day evening. The hail 10 certainty very
pretty oze, and hiss hen fitted in . modest,
neat manner fer the usss Of tie society.
Everything about il 10 rev and even in il
quiet plaian<ss il 10 attractive
IL is we'll lighted BY electricity,
has seveI.y nev chain and > prfss-
| dsns's table. Friends Of the society have
| provided new shades for the windows. Wall
and table cases are needed snd will be pso-
vided a soon - fuads for this purpose sre
obtained. Members Of the society placed
| seven or eight tables 10 the ball Thursdsy,
and they we're we'll loaded with consider
able collection Of Interesting articles,
which were exXmiosd With . great
deal Of iassFes by the large number pres
snt b,tk before and after the literary ex-
efcisss Of the evening. Ths number Of
members prsssn. was about fifty.
The exercises opened with . business
meeting The following members we're
elected; Miss Edith B. KimbslI, Mrs.
dia A. Bean, DR.. Charles Bryant and
Fred Written. Junior, Augusta; Prof.
Julien d. Taylor, Wa.eryille. Hon.
Chuies z. Nash spoke Of the valuable
collection Of Msine birds on exhibition in
ths hsll, and stated tha. the collection had
been pIaesd in the custody Of the society
by Hon. Jos. r. woodward Of Boston, for
merry State Librarian. The collection 10
very valuable one comprising sixty or
seventy specimens, all mounted and 10 glass
cases. On motion Of Mr.. Nash. Mr.. Wood
ward wAs made an honorary member
Of the society. Mr.. Nash alss pre-
sen,ed TO the society, in behalf Of
Hon. J. W. Patterson, a copy Of the Three
Parishes Of Augas Hsliow-
eil-mads in 1895 by "Blsck" Jones =
celebrated local surveyor and rank Loyal
lot during the Revolutionary War. This map
includes all the lots and the names of their
occupants in Augusta at that date. Capt.
Henry +. Blanchard spoke of the very
valuable donation made to the societies
library by Mrs. Judd. This consists Of .
number Of very rare and valusble books
including brakes Book Of the Indians,
Sulivan's History OF Maine. Thomas His
tory Of Printing and several other rare
works. On motion of Capt. Blanchard
Mrs jane E. Judd was elected to honorary
mt Membership. Hon. james w. Bradbury
presented to the socisty large and valu-
able collection Of minerals formed by his
son, the late James W. Bradbury, Jr.
This collection embraces several hundred
specimens. named ard indsxed. For the
above donations, the society passed sppro-
pirate votes Of thanks. Following the
business meeting the
Dsdicatory Exercises
Of the hall took place. Prayer was offered
by R4v. J. s. Williamson; after which DR..
w. Scot, Hill delivered his inaugural
address. II twas, very appropriately, devoted
to brief history Of the inception. organ.
izAtion and incorporation Of the society
each point being given with thst fullness Of
detail in which posteIity is said to delight.
The objects and aims Of the society were
then stated. The primary idea in its fol-
nation, said the president, vas recreation
for busy people who wished to use time to
the best advantage, ard associated work
promised much pleassnter and better re-
suits than individual. tits to be 4 working
society where each one will aid in some de-
AL A.
library, or in original investigation. There
is talent enough in the society to make it .
success, and the success will be in proper
tion to the amount of honest work each are
giving to it. II members take the interest
and pleasure it is hoped they will, the In
tiuence for good it will prove will not be
limited by our society, for an institution of
this Kind is An important public educator.
1t is the purpose Of the society to form .
museum which shall embrace specimens of
everything within the scope Of our work
we can obtain-in mineralogy, botany ,orni-
thology and entomology. A library which
shall contain works on all the subjects to
which we have referred. 1t IL not neces-
ssry they shall be monographs or treatises
but books containing one or more articles
relating to them. Even before we have
eusiVfe IOI tuful We nave nucleus OF
valuable and Iare books through the
generosity Of friends who from the
first have taken deep interest in the soci.
ETY.. A loan collection lie desired from
those having articles appropriate for the
collection but who do not wish to give
them. These and all articles contributed
will be labelled with the name of the donor
or lender. Old deeds. manuscripts, maps,
\ Al
to the settlemen and development OF the
Kennebec valley will be gladly received
and will have as careful attention ~ though
belonging to the society.
| In the Antiquarian Department there are
articles in abundance which should find a
resting place here. Anything done in the
past, the product Of human skill, or art or
| thought. has real value and should be
preserved. An old book is something more
than printed paper and covers. The uten-
sells Of our ancestors tell something of their
| lives and are more than rubbish. A stone
| implement, As an arrowhead, an axe, .
| gouge. . celt or bit Of pottery has an inter-
est and value from the fact that it is the
work Of human hands, the adapting Of
means to an end or to besutfyine in crude
manner the few vessels in their vigwarm
homes. That they are cufiosities 10 true
but they are something more and placed
where they can be studied become of some
worth. Within the limits Of our society
are rare specimens whose owners do not
| appreciate them and should be depoeite d
where they vii be. In the library Of til.
| department particularly we shall receive
valsble contributions from the Smithsonian
| Institute which has already recognized us
~ a society.
Personally have firm faith ia the sue.
| cess Of our undertaking and that il will
| supply 8 want long felt in this section. IL
| il prospers as we believe it will, there is q
strong probability that by the time our
lease Of this ball expires ave years. it will
have, through the Hberality Of one Of our
| lady members. permanent home in the
nsw public library building.
Anew short speeches.
In the absence Of Hon. Samuel Ti!comb,
our distinguished tovnsmsn, Hon. james
W. Bradbury, who has taken much interest
| in the society from the first, was called
upon for remarks and gave some interest.
| ing local "reminiscences Of our former
prominent citizens, Gen. james Chandler
and Judge Daniel Cony. public spirited
citizens whose personal efforts secured the
obtaining of mail communication to Kenns-
| bee (Halloweli) from Portland, Ar to Au-
susta via Wiscasset ~ early A. 1921.
Capt. Carries e. Nash said few words
| Of copgratulatiou snd excuse from maxim
| = speech. Capt. Fl. S. Blanchard spoke Of
his great interest in the society and his de-