The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-14

|
the Occasion of the Hundredth Birth
day of Mr.. Saul c. Hiegins-A New
Anecdote of Sargent $. Prentiss.
| The ceremonies in observance of the
hundredth birthday of Captain Saul C.
| Higgins, were continued at the Congrega-
; tlonal church at Gorham yesterday, ex-
| Governor Robbie delivering an historical adj
dress. A poem by Mrs. M. S. Files was read.
Ex-Governor Robies address was an ex-
haust1ve and interesting sketch of Gorham,
past and present. A few extracts are here
| given.
| In looking back a century, l should
| speak of the comparatively great progress
OF our town and the high plane which We
now occupy in religious and church matters.
| Captain Higgins was born three years before
| the present Congrega tional meeting house
at the village was raised, during the pastor
| ate of Rev. Caleb Jewett, who followed that
of Rev. Josiah Thatcher, afterwards Judge
| of the Court of Common Pleas. The latter
was the immediate successor of Rev.
Solomon Lombard, the first Congregational
minister of the First Parish. Doctor
Nathaniel Bowman, distinguished physic-
ian of our town, was accidentally killed by
the falling of the frame of this meeting
house in 1897, creating universal sorrow
One hundred years ago. there were but one
or two meeting houses in town, of unpreten-
tious appearance, poorly equipped and
lighted, and with no fire places. Now we
have
SEVEN CHURCHES
of modern construction and convenience
browning our swelling hills and identifying
our valleys. In one of our churches we have
well invested fund of $4,000, the interest
OF which largely pays the salary of the
minister. The money of our people each
year In large amounts is cheerfully given
for the support of the Christian religion.
should speak of the great progress which we
have made in our public schools and the
cause of education. One hundred years ago,
the number of scholars was larger in num-
bers than our present school population.
The own, however, then raised and used by
taxation for our common schools only $500.
1t now appropriates, raises and receives
for educational purposes $1,000. One hundred
years ago, according to the diary kept by
the late General James Irish, we are told,
that our common schools were kept in
private houses and sometimes in barns and
out sheds, and the price paid for teachers
was IS a month. When we now look at our
beautiful school houses, and our progressive
system of public education, compare them
with the conditions of early periods, and
when we look at our old academy, quietly
waiting for further developments, and when
We look at our elegant State Normal build
ing, with its great conveniences, with model
schools in successful operation, we can but
realize that our lot has fallen on good
ground, and we are enjoying the full ad-
vantages of rich Inheritance.
THE SOCIAL LIFE
of Gorham, like all other New England
towns has met with great changes during
the past one hundred years. The hard
financial condition of early times, and the
entire absence Of modern improvements in
manufacture and agricultural implements
necessitated and cultivated mutual depend
ence among neighbors and thereby the en-
couragement and enforcement of the golden
rule: ''Do unto others as you would that
they should do unto you' The old military
muster, the social apple pairing, the quilting
bee, the husking of corn by the light of an
October moon, to avoid the expense of
candles, the house raising when New Eng
Ii nd rum was plenty, and many other of the
OAN@
vogue during the early and later life of
Captain Higgins have passed away. The
love gossip of olden times at the apple
parings, quilting bees and corn huskings
must and probably has found some new
methods for its development Society
circles, leagues, womans' boards, literary
clubs and Chautauqua readings at times
associated with the sewing machine, piano,
nrOa and nth rTlo11c if.o1i
novations on the spinning bee and the
music of the old loom and wheel of our grand
mother, and the various other institutions
of olden times, and the can-can waltz of the
present period practiced in polite society is
hardly as enthusiastic and certainly no
more modest than
THE FARM DANCES
of money musk and Virginia reel of
olden times.
when Captain Higgins was born, there
was no post office in Gorham, for one was
not established until 1897, and Samuel
Prentiss was then made postmaster, who was
the grandfather of the orator, Sergeant s.
Prentiss. The mail was carried in saddle
bags from Portland, through the main road
of the town toward Alfred, by a carrier on
horseback once week; and letters were
delivered and received from private houses.
Twenty-Five cents was the postage on let
ter now carried for two cents. The modern
carriage was unknown, and the most CON-
mon wagon was just coming into use.
Travelling was generally on horse back,
otherwise on foot, especially to attend
church, the lady riding ON pillion behind a
gentleman, holding on with her arm around
his waist. l am told that those who walked,
did not put ON their best shoes until they
were near the church. ~
Captain William Prentiss also resided IN
this school district, and was the father of
many distinguished sons and daughters.
Sergeant S. Prentiss had a national reputa-
ton, and was one of the greatest orators
and statesmen that this nation ever pro-