The Portland daily press., 1894-03-30
DAYS OF PATRIOTISM.
An Aged Woman of Portland Recalls
tie Events of the 1912 War.

OSi6DfaC1On Oh GnS NlhctS-fSOSohtA 1AA oAAotNJ
of Mrs Jane S. Thacher-A Long and
Well Spent Life Ending in Happy Old
Age.
One of the most remarkable old ladies
of Portland celebrated her 92nd birthday
yesterday. Mrs. Jare b. Thatcher, OF "
Chestnut street, was born on the 18TH
day CT March. 1902, about two years
before Gen. Neal Dow. Mrs. Thatcher is
a native of Saco, and her maiden name
was Miss Jane Barker Seaman. Her
parents were prominent people In YORK
county in those days, and her youthful
advantages for an education were OF the
best afforded in those days. After
course in the Biddeford schools she was
sent to the old Gorham Academy. This
was 1919 and 1920. Rev. Reuben Mason,
that typical schoolmaster of the olden
time, and the first head of the Academy,
was then preceptor; ana his famous
oowhide, the impartiality that led him
to fog his own children the severest,
and his ripe and accurate classical learn
ing were then in the full swing that
made him the famous precspeor FOR
twenty-three years.
While Mrs. Thatcher cannot remember
SO well the events of her later life the
memory of the places and people OF those
happy days is indelibly engraved upon
her mind. AS she received a representa-
tive of the PRESS at her home yester-
dav morning she told of those school
DAYS with the readiness and the strong
voice that might belong to woman
of seventy.
For a year she has been unable to see
well enough to read. and she also is not
able to walk well; but with these ex-
ceptions she is apparently in perfect
health.
Among Mrs. Thacher's schoolmates IN
those old days at Gorham Academy,
were Deacon Edward Gould and his
sisters. The Rev. Asa Rand was then
pastor of the Congregational church,
and the village doctor was DR.. Baxter,
father of the present Mayor OF Portland.
Mrs. Thacher boarded in the house next
to DR.. Baxter's and used frequently to
ride out With MIS-. baxter,
School DAYS over Mrs. TIL acher returned
to Saco. Already she had her romance,
and soon she was married to one OF the
most desirable young men OF the place,
Josiah Thatcher, son Of that famous
Tudae Thacher, who was leading man
of York county in those days, judge
commissioned by the commonwealth OF
Massachusetts,, and one OF the most
prominent trainers of the constitution
of Maine. Josiah Thatcher died in 1886,
leaving his widow with four daughters.
These are.now Mrs. George Hall, OF 81
Chestnut street, Portland, where
Mrs Thacher has had pleasant home
for forty years, Mrs. Angela sBlalsdell.
of Portland, Mrs. Martha Murphy, OF
Portland aud Mrs. Lucy Emery. OF Bid
aeford. The death of Josiah Thacher
left the family with moderate means,
SO that the support of the family de-
volved upon the young widow. How
faithfully and well she did her duty is
attested by the loving praises which
those children bestow upon her.
Mrs, Thaoher's remem ORANGES of the
war of 1912 are very vivid. Her uncle
Richard Cults. a prominent shipowner
of that day, lost two vessels at the
hands of.the British, who seized them
in Saco river. One of these was cut in
two and destroyed, but the British :com-
mander sent massage to Mr.. Cults that
the other, a fine ship, could be re-
deemed. Mr.. Cults paid over thirty
thousand dollars and got his vessel back.
But she was lost soon after. Mrs.
Thatcher remembers very well seeing the
militia march by as they went down the
river to prevent any further destruction
of vessel property
The fight OF the Enterprise and Boxer
of Portland, made profound impress
ion upon allsthe people Of Saco, and Mrs.
Thatcher remembers very well how
Neighb Dor Worth took his wife on the
pillion behind him and started horse
back to Portland to see the funeral of
the two commanders, Blythe and Bur-
rows. In those days the spirit of patri-
otism dubbed from every American
breast and it used to be common to
celebrate Yankee victories in rhymes
which were printed on sheets of paper
and sold by boys on the streets. All the
children learned those verses as a part
of their patriotic bringing up. Yester-
daysNirs. Thacher recited from memory
the following, which she learned in the
days of 1912 and has never forgotten.
1t is patriotic Yankee address to
naughty Britain:
You first insulted Rogers,
While cru Using DER the main;
And had we not declared war,
You'd have done it DER again
You thought our frigates were but few,
And Yankees could not fight,
Until bold Hull Guerrero took
And banished it from our sight.
The Wasp took our Frolic,
And. nothing said for that.
Your Poictiers being on our line
OF course they took her back.
The Java by the Yankee ship,
Was sunk you full must know.
The Peacock fine in all her plume
BY the Nautilus down did go
And then you sent your Boxer
To Box US all about.
We had an Enterprising Brig
That beat your Boxer out.
We RnYad her I'M To Portland