The Portland daily press., 1891-03-17
men present


Mr.. John Calvin Stevens officiated as
toastmaster duringthe after dinner exercises,
and In assuming the position he said he de.
sired to congratulate the Club on the success
OF the past year, and then introduced Mr..
Bates Torrey to respond to the toast of "Our
New President"
MIR. Torrey said in looking over the Club
we see that its success depends not upon one
man, but upon the activity Of the whole.
Wheeling In Maine was for l1ng time Of
little consequence, but at the present time Of
progress 1t is rapidly coming to the front.
Some OF the earliest members Of the League
belong to the Wheel Club. among them be-
ing Mr.. j. @. Stevens, F. A. Elwell and c. II.
Lamson. The guarantee of the Wheel Club
to an entertainment has always been synon-
omous with snccess. He warmly praised
Mr.. Stevens administration as president,
and hoped they would be lenient in criticism
of the new incumbent. The outlook for the
Club was most auspicious. Mr.. Torrey's
speech was couched in most happy language
and was warmly received.
Mr.. E. l.. Burnham sang a most humorous
selection entitled "Mary's Gone with a
Coon," Mr.. F. L. Rankin acceptably playing
the accompaniment, as he did for the other
musical numbers. Mr.. Burnham was warm
ly applauded, and In response read a comi-
cal poem written for the occasion.
Mr.. F. A. Elwell was introduced to re-
spond to the toast "Our Roads," He said
he had been impressed with the fact that the
Wheel Club ought to be alive to the welfare
Of the roads, and not devote all its time to
pleasure. II the civilization of a country is
measured by the condition of Its roads, our
country would not stand far up the list.
Many circumstances had been at work to de-
lay the improving of the highways in this
country, but the time was now ripe for road
agitation. The ancient Romans were moi
much as sailors. but they built some of the
best roads ever constructed. He described
the magnificent road constructed by Cesar
running from Rome to England. France ha:
the best roads in the world; they were bull
by Napoleon |. in order to be sure Of rapid
transportation in any and all weather. The
national routes are the perfection of roads
leading in all directions from Paris to the
frontier. The loads carried by horses OIL
| French roads are astonishing. His story Of
seeing house moved along easily on the
| road. with housekeeping in full blast. wa:
| received with some incredulty. The system
of working out road taxes in this country Is
radically wrong. Irish laborers do better
work on highways than the average man
who works out takes, who Il
inclined to be very lazy. Al
wheelmen, we know the value and saw
ing to be brought about by good roads, bu
those who drive over the roads have infinite
ly more interest in the matter. He hoped
the club would earnestly take up the agita
tion for better roads, aud he trusted thut the
talk now going on over the laud would moi
stop until Maine had been placed where she
could enjoy the benefits accruing from I'm
proved highways.
Mr.. f. G. Howard's rendition OF the soni
"a Maiden Fair" was received with warn
applause, as it richly deserved.
President Charles S. Cook spoke most hap
pilv for the Young Mems Republican Club
He was in a position OF some embarrass
ment as he had hoped to escape speech
hut in the morning papers he had seen the
announcement that he was to :say few
words at the banquet, and ever since he haG
been uneasy. He was pleased to extend tht
| congratulations of his club, and said that 4
gave him much qualification to meet the IA
bled delties of youth. "the jolly gods OF
| wheels"
Mr.. Charles l.. Foss sang "Ths Silen
World is Sleeping" in most acceptable
/ manner.
| E. G. Mitchell responded to the toast
"The Hon. Ezekiel DuFlicker, the mos
eminent politician of the age." He said h
was most unfortunate individual, particu
larly when he essayed to be such a promI
nent politician. The effects Of They're af
ter me" haunted him at all turns. he wa
innocent Of all Intentional harm in the mat
ter. He gave most amusing description o
the composition Of the words Of the famou
song.
| Mr.. Walter c. Emerson made few happy
remarks. after which Mr.. John T. Welcl
sang in the splendid manner, as he so wei
knows now, "A Toast"