The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-20
CHiLDREN's DAY AT BRADFORD.
An Interesting Address by DR.. Dan. Den
nett.

The Ladies' Relief Corps of c. D. Jami-
son Post, 6. A. R., of Bradford, recently
celebrated Children's Day. The exercises
were held In Bailey's Hall, Bradford
Center. The hall was crowded, every seat
being taken, and standing room oocu
pied. The entertainment consisted of an
address by DR.. Dan. Dennets, formerly
of Portland, music and Rotations by the
children. DR.. Dennstt delivered one of
his best addresses with his usual force
and eloquenoe. In the course Of his ad
dress he said;
"Ths first inalisnable right ia the right
to happy childhood" Happiness is an
inoontestible heritage, ana when there
was impressed upon your brows the first
kiss of love 1t was the seal that entitled
you to happiness at least during the year
of your childhood. believe in peace, in
sunshine and happiness for the soul,
beginning in childhood and ending only
once more the olod of clay. There Is but
one perfect life. II is the life that en-
sures happiness, the life that fosters
peace, the life that wends by the path OF
Righteousness through the sunliG, YER
dant fields, fragrant with the flowers of
JOY, and love, and sweet content. am
in favor Of anything for The human race
that dispels care and lightens burdens,
that relieves pain and suffering. that
soothes the wounded and broken hearted,
that floods the dark and gloomy places
of life with the golden sunshine of joy
and love.
More than all. over all, first of all I,
love justice, and liberty and freedom.
Whatever adds to human happiness, what
ever intensifies the brillianoy of the bea
con of hope, whatever contributes to
make life worth living am happy to ap-
prove and champion. Therefore ap-
prove of such assemblies as this. be-
lieVe they do good. like to meet with
the children. I love them, especially the
little girls, and the older they grow the
better l like them. daughter. In
many instances too much is expected and
demanded of the children; too much toll
and care, too much study and discipline.
The youth is crushed out of them, and
they become prematurely little men and
little women. The happy days are gone
apace, and scarcely risen is the resplen-
dent sun of the day of childhood ere it
is obsoured with the clouds Of care and
response bilities.
The dreamful, golden tinted days, the
hopeful, careless, youthful time fade
anon, and the shadows come too precipi-
lately. ! would prolong the golden TIM
ed days. I would have the twilight of
the day of the first childhood the last
hours of the second. Happiness should
be eternal. 1t is the sublime reward of
the perfect life. = So live that Won
may derive the greatest happiness from
life. So live that you may be at peace
with the world. Live to make the most
of yourselves. The happy man is the
successful man, and success in the future
will depend as never before upon real
worth. Your way is clear; your duty
plain. You must fit yourselves for
SOME particular work and follow that to
the exclusion of everything else. You
cannot serve two masters.
I rejoice with you in the celebration of
Children's Day. I wish more days were
given to their benefit and enjoyment. l
rejoice at the happiness of childhood. l
deplore the self inflicted pain and sorrow
and suffering that burden maturity. I
in the higher life. 1 believe in love-
stability and purity for the home. be-
lieve the highest and most laudable duty
OF man, woman and child is home build
ing. I believe this life is what we make
it. Life goes quickly. Let us make the
most of 1t. Let US bear ever in mind
that the path of righteousness leads
Let US never forget the brotherhood, the
interdependenoe, the unity of the human
RAGS. Let US end eavor to I'LL the places
in the world allotted for us. Let us ao-
knowledge the grace, the majesty and the
omnipotence of the Father which art In
heaven. Let us, say, by living in right
eousness, prolong the happiness of this
Children's Day to the last hours of the
peaceful twilight at the day of life. Let
US all be children and live anew. And
when love shall stoop to kiss the cold
brow Of death, may she find unblemished
the purity that tempted her fond carsss
on the happy morning Of the first day.
(Applause.)