The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-11-02
SIXTY YEARS AGO.
Renaissance OF tho Late Ira Berry.
[From the Lynn. Mass, Item.1

mosolS EulbOfS:-l saw In your paper,
some days since, short notice OF the death
OF Ira Berry, of Portland. Me-, at the ad-
vanced age OF So years. And In a brief bio
graphy OF him. In Boston paper, 1t seemed
as II his high official attainment In the order
OF Freemasonry was considered the most
notable thing in his history. But for a Dor
tion OF his life, at least. / am quite sure that
ne himself took greater pride in his skill as a
compositor at the printers case. And to
have his name appear as compositor in the
volume OF that great work. "BOwditch's
commentary on the Mecanique Celeste of
LIE Place." pleased him more than most of
MS after lie achievements, meritorious as
they were. The work was In four quarto
volumes. and | think Mr.. Berry did the
whole composition.
1t fell to my lot, as an inmate of the same
printing office. on School street. Boston, to
read the first proofs Of one or two Of the vol
umes; not that l could read them under
standingly; but printers have way OF read
Ing by comparison. And remarkably COM
petent assistant was at hand to read COPY
to me. a lad from one Of the Boston High
Schools, who could read on with scarcely
ever stumbling at any foreign word. mathe-
matical sign or abstruse formula. The most
frightful manuscript had no terror for him.
Dr. B0wdltch's manuscript, however, was
about as clear as print.
The Mecanique Celeste was great work,
and but 900 copies were printed for the sup
ply Of the whole scientific world. Few OF
the American sayants Of that day could
read 1t understandingly, and probably the
number at this day Is not comparatively
larger: 1t was said that considerable por-
tlon OF the edition was sent to Europe.
:. Francis 7. Grund, the German mathema-
tleian. afterwards U. s. Consul at Hayre,
was having work printed In the office at
the same time. and l remember hearing him
say There are not over so persons In the
United States who can read DIR. Bowditch's
work but there are 80 600 who can read mine"
And then he added. laughlngly, 81 had
rather be the 30 than the $1,000"
nave often thought OF the differences be-
tween DIR. Bowdich aud Mr.. Grund, both so
well known in the scientific world; one so
absorbed and reticent; the other so social and
communicative. DIR. Bowditch, when he
came Into the Office, as he almost every day
did, aimed directly for Mr.. Berry's stand,
and after conferring with him would pass
out without taking notice OF any one, except
proof reader or giving nod to the proprie-
tor II he happened to be In. Mr.. Grund, ON
the other hand, seemed delighted to chat
with the workmen, and exhibit what little
mechanical skin he possessed, l happened
70 70 Pc e ane Sse IL S saEg g 9ps RRa
Grund came In, and after the compliments
OF the morning, passed on to the further end
VI bnO OulCct W4ClC tuc CUuipOoltO1 was Ou uio
stand. After few moments Of silence
was startled by hearing terrible crash Of
types on the floor, foll0wed Dy the exclama-
tl0n, "lll pay for it," fastening to- the
tempted to lift page, as he had seen the
workmen do, from the galley to the mpos-
ing stone. not probably thinking of the ABILITY
Of page-c0rd. De seemed utterly asto1ished
that page should fall to pieces In his hand
when in the hand of the workman 1t was as
gafa IN 0lnQ1 f00ntlQr. WhQn the work
man came In and saw the havoc that had
been made with his last nights work, he
naturally sputtered little; but when the
matter was explained he seemed to think 1t a
good lesson for such meddlers.
Mr.. Berry was skilful and Industrious
workman, and much esteemed BY his fellow
workmen for his promptness, good nature
and willingness to do any one a favor. He
was not bit OF Top, nor inclined to any
thing underhand or vicious; was an expert
musician and played the violin In one Of the
churches, organs not then having come gen.
orally into use.
Jt must have been In or about 1880 that
Mr.. Berry left Boston for Portland. where
he became prominent citizen and resided,
with certain intervals OF absence, Till his
DEATH. ........
/ have made no attempt in the foregoing
to follow Mr. Berry In his long and success
full life, but aimed only to say word or two
touching that early period which the obitu-
almost utter silence.
There can bs but few living who were his
associates In his early years; almost all have
departed through that gate that has closed
on him ; but those few. many pleasant mem
ories still linger. The young can hardly
realize now refreshing such early recollee-
tiOns are to the octogenarian.
Naturally enough other inmates OF the
Office appear in memory In company with
the one spoken of. There was "Counseller
Gill;" who left to join the adventurous
company who established the Boston Post
and who for many years enlivened the
| columns OF that prosperous Journal by hi:
| witty reports and paragraphs. Then there
| was Oliver DitsoD, to whom the musica
world has been SO, greatly indebted tnes.'
John 8. Toiman. worked Ia 'is' the same Of
fee, but not at the time Of which I havl
spoken.
A few years ago. on the occasion,
i think, of his golden wedding day, therI
| was notable assembling OF Mr.. Berry.
children grandchildren and great-grant
| children. Soon after that / received 1
friendly letter from him, the first in many
| years. and that was the last word had di
| rectly from him. j. X. N.
DIR. Bowditch's friendship for Mr.. Berry
grew out of disagreement about grammar
The doctor was fine grammarian. but as al
scholars may do, used the wrong tense ont
day. Mr.. Brrry corrected 1t. The foreman diC
not dare send the proof In with the chang
from copy. but the compositor agreed to tax
the responsibility. The Doctor changed
back to his own form. Mr.. Berry sent in
revise without changing the word and cal
| ing attention to the error. The courtecu
| doctor came In to argue the question, an
| the foreman sent him to the obstinate con
posit0r. Both were firm, but finally M
| Berry said, "Will you parse the word ?
| The doctor tried, and saw his mistake, an
| thence forth honored him with his frient
| ship. On one occasion coming to a wor
which was undecipherable Mr.. Berry sui
stituted the word "wneelbarrow" as beir
| about the same length. After that, wheI
| ever the doctor met with difficulty In Ii
i mechanical aXecntinn of the wnrk ha unnl