The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-14
MAINE TOWNS.
Items OF Interest Gathered by Cores
pondents of the Press.
Gorh

Gorham.
The citizens of Factory Village col
Iected in large mum bers Monday after
noon at the Frederick Robbie High
SCHOOL, to give the ex-governor a recep-
ton and listen to the exercises of an in
teresting occasion. Mr.. Harmon, the
principal of the High School, made the
speech of welcome, abiding to the bell,
flag and piano which graced the school
building and which were due to the
literally Of the guest of the occasion
The governor replied and his presence
snd--remarks were received with appluse.
He eulogized the people and history of
his native town at considerable length.
For the sake of comparison he referred
to extracts from the diary of the late
General James Irish, which he had re-
Gently read. General Irish wrote this
diary over century ago, when he was a
lad attending the public schools of the
town. A century ago the schools OF Cor
ham were held in dwelling houses.
barns and even sheds, according to the
written statements of General Irish.
He says that in one winter he attended
school in four different dwslling houses
for the better convenience of the scholars
and to lessen the burdens of travelling.
General Irish afterwards became a
teacher, for which be received five dol
lars week for services. He once attend
ed school at Gorham Corner, kept. by
Salmon Chase, who afterwards practlced
law in the city of Portland. This was
the father of the celebrated statesman,
Salmon Portland Chase. General Irish,
in his diary says MIR. Chase was pray
ing schoolnlaster" / think I can say
more common in those days than at the
present time The Governor took these
historical statements as text, and made
a comparison with the privileges and
advantages of the present period. He
said that there had been continued i'm
provement during the last fifty years in
school teachers and school books. thirty
years ago Gorham raised for schools
$4,000, ten years ago S3000.sthis year the
town has raised and expended for educa-
tional purposes $4,000 and III addition
$1,000 for the State Normal school build
ing All this progress is made with a
much smaller school population than
ever before. It may be burdensome, but
it is burden in the right direction.
Governor Robe, after speaking of the
new law abolishing school districts ad-
dressed the scholars on the advantage;
and importance of energy as the sure
means of success, and closed as follows:
"We are now all of us enjoying new
privileges, and inestfmable advantages,
let us cherish the rich memories of the
past, and may the feelings that have
been awakened here today quicken us
to new realization of our respo lsl bill
ties, and let us honor the town of our
birth andsadoption, and 40 all that we
can TO promote her best and truest in
terests in education, good morals and
Christian and social fellowship (Con-
tinued applause
The exercises of tine scholars in singing
to the accompaniment of the new piano
were applauded. The several declama-
tions, readings and recitatlons by the
young people were excellent: And the
well spread table, covered with food and
adorned with flowers showed the good
will and ability of the ladies of the dis
trict. The school building is one of the
largest and most beautiful in town, and
represents the character and ability of
an intelligent people. 1t was very en-
joyable occasion.
Bridgton.
Snow is getting very thin in the roads
in this vicinity, there being bare ground
in many places, particularly in. the Will
age, the weather for the past three weeks
having been much warmer than usual
at this season.
Deacon Lewis Smith and his wife are
both sick and confined to the house..
Isaac Chase, Bridgton's veteran build
er, who has constructed so many canal
boats IN the palmy days OF canal boat
ing, is very sick, and not expected to re-
cover.
Union revival services under the lead
oil. the Rev. Mr.. Stackpole, lately mission
airy to Italy, began Sunday at the Metho-
dist church and will continue some
weeks. Good houses greeted the speak
er at all three services on Sunday.
The comic opera, The Little Tycoon
was given at Central Hall to full houses
last Thursday and Friday evening, and
must have been a financial, as it was
musical success.
Some very much needed improvements
are being made in the High School
building. The sanitary condition of the
building has not been what it should
be of late years, and the improvements
are in accordance with the suggestion
of DR.. j. L. Bennett, Supervisor of Schools,
in the report for last year.
A number of novelties are in rehearsal
for the last entertainment of the Grand
Army course to be given at Central
Hall March 10th. This course has been
we'll patronized and must have proved
very satisfactory to it's originators.
The spring term of Bridgton village
schools will begin Monday, Marca goth.
Principal Hersey of the High School,
with his mother and sister, are enjoying
trip to Boston and vicinity. Miss
Wyman his assistant, is spending her
vacation in Belfast.
NORTH BRIDGToN.
Mr.. Llewellyn Barton, of Portland,
has been spending few days in town.
Mrs. Ellen, wife of Rich Kilson, and
daughter of the late DR.. Samuel Farms
worth, died at her home on Thursday,
March stb,, after a short illness. She
leaves husband, who is an invalid,
and one daughter to mourn her loss.
They have the sympathy of all in their
deep affection.
There was runaway accident here
on Saturday. Miss Carrie Cleaves and
another lady of Bridgton Centre called
at Farnsworth Hall. When leaving the
sleigh it tipped over, the ladies We're