Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-09

the county anu Tic picscut sieS, ethi
within the old shire town Of Paris, was
selected and In q few short weeks a
new, modern and commodious court
house, with safety vaults far the valu-
able records OF the county, will be finish
ed.
Many attorneys have won their spurs
In the old court house on yonder Paris
Hill, and taken seats upon the bench and
worn the judicial ermine that their faith
fulness aud genius have won; others
have sat In the halls Of legislation In our
national Congress, and filled the chair
of the Vice-President Of the nation.
From beneath the shades Of yonder
court house have gone forth Hamlin,
a Walton, \ Virgin, q Foster, and many
others to I'LL higher and more important
stations. IL Is not strange that strong
ties Of affection cluster around the places
where forensic battles have been fought
and won, where bright hopes have been
cherished and lofty ambitions reached.
But the change that has for several
years been inevitable has come. Let us
accept Il gracefully, remembering that
In essentials there should be unity, In
non-essentials harmony, and In all
things charity; and let us hope that
future generations may bring forth, de-
velop and send out from the new court
house as many eminent lawyers, as
many Judges, as have gone forth from
the old, as an honor TO the county, that
the grand old hills OF Oxford may hold
the prestige in future history, as they
have in the past, for courage, bravery,
education and all else that stands for
good government, pure society, and an
enli ghtened Christianity.
Though years shall pass away,
Though human works decay,
Ever by Heavens own ray
BE truth renewed"
After the exercises OF laying the
corner stone the columns were reformed
and marched to New Hall, where boun-
tiful collation. was served 10 the Masons
and invited guests by the ladies OF the
South Paris Congregational society and
In the preparation and serving OF that
collstion the ladies did themselves
proud.
Following the collation. Hon. $. s..
Stearns Of Norway acted as POSTMASTER
and with well-chosen remarks intro
duced the following toasts and speakers ::
"The Grand Lodge Of Maine" Re
Spouse by Grand Master Augustus B..
Farnhsm Of Bangor, who complimented
the Oxford Bears In eloquent language.
Hon. Joseph A. Locke, OF Portland,
Deputy Grand Master, was called out
and responded to the same toast. He
thought Old Oxford was the best county
10 the state, and there were other "best
counties" too.
The toast "Oxford County" was re-
sponded to by Hon. EnOch Foster Of
Bethel. The Judge at the start wanted
to put himself right with the people,
and disclaimed any intention Of running
for governor, even though he had done n
good deal OF hand shaking, II was the
people Of his county, whom he was AL
ways glad to see and grasp by the hand.
He spoke Of the changes brought about
since the laying Of the corner stone Of
the "Old Court House on the Hill' nine
ty years ago and the associations that
cluster around that court house, the
memory Of which Is dear to him by
thirty years of court attendance In those
buildings; while he voted against re-
moval, he gracefully accepted the will
OF the majority.
The POSTMASTER called upon Hon.
John T.. Swasey and gave him the sub
ject 1.-THE Old Court House on the HILL"
Every one in the house knew how val
iantly and relentlessly he fought the re-
moval of the buildings and was anxious
to hear what he had to say. Brother
Swasey, by-the-way, Is always equal to
the occasion. He started to speak In
the rear Of the stage but the calls OF the
audience to "cOme forward" brought
him to the front Of the stage, and after
the cheering had subsidized he delivered
one Of his prettiest speeches which he
commenced by saying that he felt sort
of funny; yes, decidedly funny, he
wasn't Mason and didn't wear an
apron and couldn't march In the pro-
cession and he had amused himself by
travelling round In the crowd and look
ing on and hearing remarks made by
good honest people like this: There's
Swasey, what do you s'pOse he Is here
for, to stop the building Of the court
house? or | wonder what Swasey Is
going to dog' He said he felt very like
the Irishman who had lost his wife by
death and being consoled by the good
Catholic father was asked II she felt
recOnciled." "Reconciled," says Pat,
''reconciled, well she had to be-" "This
Is exactly my situation" said Mr..
Swasey, ave got to be recOnciled to the
new court building and | am bound to
accept the situation gracefully in
obedience to the highest law In the land
He spoke feelingly of the "Old Court
House on the Hill" and paid splendid
tribute to the Bar Of Oxford County and
was very many times cheered to the
echo.
Hon. A. S. Kimball of Norway re-
sponded to "Old Oxford County, May
its Future be as Glorious as Its Past"
Mr.. Kimball made one of the most elO-
quent and polished speeches Of the Oc-
casiOn and that Is saying great deal for
this was an occasion of good speaking.
John F. Hobbs, Esq, OF Lowell re-
sponded briefly and ably to "rhe Com
mon Citizens Of Oxford County" Mr..
Hobbs thought 1t q good rule to look
after work yourself II you want 1t well
done, hence he had left his home and
come over to see that the corner stone
was well laid.
Gen. A. s. Twitchell, Of Gorham,
N. H., responded to the "Granite State"
In well chosen remarks and . taking
quotation from poem by Owen Mere
dith. The General Is an Oxford Bear
into New Hampshire, hav-
Ing been born and reared In Bethel In
this county.
Hon. George D. Bisbee was called to
speak for the ''Clty Of Rumford Falls"
and made an eloquent speech which WAS
loudly applauded. Mr.. Bisbee spoke Of
the many leading families Of Portland
and Bangor who had originated among
the hills Of Old Oxford and his an
that the next February term
Of Supreme judicial Court for Oxford
County would be held In the new court |
house, where Hls Honor, Judge Foster,
would preside, brought great applause.
NJ. Blsbee also spoke feelingly Of the |
very pleasant associations connected |
9Th PARA Hill and Tia old cnurt h0uaa