The Portland daily press., 1891-07-04
COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS ASSOCIATION



glad to go to bed early.
Wednesday was Dominion Day, and few
formal receptions were extended-though
the informal courtesies offered we're some-
times profuse to the point of fatigue. The
visiting Yankees, having In anticipation the
coming observance Iof Columbia's natal day,
put themselves under proper restraint, wise
ly judging that two festivals in week, call
for the exercise of more than usual discre,
ton by all who participate. The birthday
of the big Dominion was novelty. of course.
to most of the gusets. and not one of them
but wished he might live to celebrate many
more. All we're proud to toss hats in air in
honor Of the good sovereign who has done so
much.to make royalty once more respectable.
Hancock Post, Of the Dominion Department
Of the Grand Army, hung out the Stars and
Stripes over their hall, and the cheers that
went from the crowd in front fairly shook
the building.
Thursday the line of official exercises was
again taken up, the trip down the Lachine
Rapids being the feature of the day. At the
informal lunch served on board the hand
somely appointed boat. toasts were offered
and some notable responses. COL Patton of
Montreal was the POSTMASTER and acquit-
ted himself with charming grace. Adjutant
General Sprague, who represented Maine In
dignified manner that made the eyes of his
hosts glisten with pride, commended himself
with few words Of courtly response to the
toast of Maine, and Mr.. Luther B. Roberts
answered in concise and happy way to the
toast of the city of Portland. In answering
for the ladies. ex-President Dow Of the
Maine Association said
Mr.. POSTMASTER, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Every man present here tonight can say
amen to the sentiments expressed In the
toast,which has just been given. "The ladies"
"God bless them," without them we would
be like ship upon the stormy ocean tossed
hither and thither by the raging sea, without
a rudder. They are the guiding star which
leads man to better and nobler life. With
out them life would indeed be blank,
cherries void, From the cradle to the grave
their influence Is felt. No home is complete
without woman in the household, be she
either wife. mother, sister or daughter.
Man only commences to live when he gets
married to good. true woman, and has chill.
dren playing around the fireside. / know of
no greater treasure in this world than good
loving wife and little children. A wife's in
fuence is all powerful, it has saved many
well said, What is home without a wife and
mother. With what tender care a mother
watches over her baby, watching 1t with low
Ing eyes as 1t grows In years, and. as the
child develops into manhood she bids him
God speed In the journey of life, feeling that
he will heed her teaching and counsel. Who
can fathom the depth of mothers love? 1t
never weakens, never tires. My advice to
my unmarried friends here today is to
get good wife and enjoy life.. And boys all
can say to you Is that only hope that you
will be as fortunate In your choice as have
been, for the truest. best friend l have in the
world is she who has shared fourteen years
OF my life, making them seem to me only a
short dream
1t has. been truly said that it takes one
hundred men to make an ,encampment. but
one woman can make home. not only
admire woman as the most beautiful object
ever created, but / reverence her as the re-
deeming glory of humanity, the sanctuary
OF all the virtues. 1t is not just or right to
lay the sins OF men at the feet OF women.
1t Is because women are so much better than
men, that their faults are considered greater.
The one thing In this world that is con-
stant the one peak that rises above all the
clouds, the one window In which the light
forever burns, the one star that darkness
cannot quench, is w0man's love. 1t rises to
the greatest heights, it sinks to the lowest
depths, 1t fOrgives the most cruel injuries.
1t is perennial of life, aud grows In every
climate. Neither GOODNESS nor neglect,
harshness nor cruelty, can extinguish 1t. A
w0man'S love Is The perfume of the heart
This is the real love that subdues the earth,
the love that has wrought miracles, that gives
US music all the way from the cradle song to
the grand symphony that bears the soul
away on wings OF fire. A love that Is great
or than power, sweeter than life, and strong
er than death.
Called upon for the press of Maine. Mr..
Robert Rexdale responded in his happiest
vein, speaking as follows;
Mr.. POSTMASTER, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Once upon time, as stories begin, at
tended certain school where the lesson
was about seven wise and seven foolish vir-
gins. The moral of the story. remember,
was the Importance Of not putting off till to-
morrow that which should be done today.
Sc. the seven wise virgins. knowing the
bridegroom was to pass that way, bethought
themselves TO trim their lamps and light his
coming; while the seven virgins who were
not wise, though moved by good intentions,
neglected to buy oil that their lamps might
burn.
1t may be that some of YOU have heard
this story before; but since it serves my
purpose at this time. crave your kind in
diligence while L tell 1t again. The BRIDE
groom came--the night was dark, and the
seven wise virgins, whose lamps were burn
ing, entered with him to the marriage feast,
and the door was shut. But the seven fool
iSh ones, who had no Oil for their lamps
well, history would only repeat itself. were
l to tell you how badly they felt when they
heard the sounds of music and feasting with
In. You see they had been told in advance
that the bridegroom was coming; Just as |
was told on the train that If l kept on to
Montreal as the guest of the Maine travelling
men, l should be expected to fill the place of
cey NJ. Depew. do not know, as matter of
fact, that he was given chance to come with
the boys; but that Is the committees little
affair, and not mine. My only reason for al
alibi. as the legal-minded Mr. Weller would
say, in the matter of public speaking. For
as the seven wise virgins realized the need
Of oil for their lamps, so have realized that
between Mr.. Depew and mysel, as entertain
ers on occasions like the present. there is a
difference immeasurably great; and although
have trimmed the oratorical lamp, In prep
aration for the feast, 1t gives only feeble
and uncertain light.
But were to launch myself upon an un-
known sea of eloquence. ladies and gentle
men, l fear you would find my sentiments in
tensely American. Grand as is the country
over which floats tie cross of ST. George, l
should tell you that the United States, with
its representative form of government. is the
grandest country under the sun. Beautiful
along the banks Of the majestic StLawrence,
should tell you that the city of Portland,
nestled at the head Of our wonderful Casco
Bay, is the most beautiful city of the New
World. l should tell you that our magnif-
cent harbor, and its environments, its
wooded isles and lovely stretches of sandy
beach, were by nature Intended as the sum-
mer resort of this western continent. And /
should tell you too, with all respect for the
father of Prohibition, that the Maine liquor
law, of whose workings you may have heard,
tends by its narrow-minded policy to keep
summer tourists away from state aptly
termed ''the playground Of the nation" with
out lessening in any marked degree the evil
1t seeks to control.
should be tempted, also, to touch upon
the subjects of annexation and reciprocity,
as applied to the people of Canada and the
United States. But / should not ask you,
citizens Of Montreal, be your sympathies
Liberal or Conservative, to surrender your
national character or prove false to tradi-
lions of the past. Canada's name upon the
map of the world should have a national
rather than a provincial meaning, and
though the United States is a leviathan
among nations, she will not swallow her
smaller neighbors without their free will and
consent. Neither her press nor her people
would for one moment countenance any in
fraction of International comfy, except for
the gravest reasons. Give us reciprocity of
trade, give US reciprocity of letters, give us