Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-19

l
be her children by adoption, yet we
make this claim-that none can be
| found more loyal to her interests OF
| more anxious for her welfare than our
selves. We are all proud Of Massachu-
eetts Her history Is contemporaneous
| with the history Of the nation. Her sons
were the first to shed their blood in
defense of liberty in the years Of the
revolution, and they were the first to
be stricken down in the years of the
civil war while on their way to save the
nations capital from falling into the
hands of the enemy. In every unde :
taking which has for its object the
good of the people, socially, morally and
religiously considered, she has always
been found in the front rank OF the
siSterhood of states, But it Is natural
for people to have a peculiar interest
and strong affection for their native
state. No matter where they may af-
may have become scattered, what
ever may be the position they
forwards dwell, however much they
are called upon to occupy, yet the asso-
Citations of their childhood are never
forgotten, and the pilgrimages to the
old homestead and to the scenes of Aud
Lang Syne are very pleasant to antici-
pate and their realizations very joy
full.
and so to us who are her children.
the old Granite State is very dear, and
as a large family gathered here this
evening, we will declare her praises and
make known our heartfelt affections for
the land of our birth, our alma mater
New Hampshire does not boast of large
cities with their glories and attendant
vices, rather is it in the words of the
poet: "a rough land of earth and tree
and stone, where breathes no cabined
slave or castled lord" But, according
to the opinion of New Hampshire's son:
ut is a soil, though rocky and rough,
which is suited to the production of
men," One of her aged sons said to a
friend of mine: How under heaven is
it that the New Hampshire boys get
along so well?" The answer Is not diff
cult to find when you seek for it. The
people there are taught while young to
believe that success is attained as the
result of hard, patient, systematic work,
joined with habits of frugality, industry
and sobriety. The maxim of native
New Hampshire, First comprehend
your business and then attend to it," is
the key to the whole situation for bust
ness success. What long list there is
of the sons of New Hampshire who have
settled in other states. The number is
legion. We shall find them in every
profession and in every trade, loyal to
the cause of their native state. Some
of them have filed high positions in the
nations councils and have done much in
shaping the destinies of the country.
But while we thus speak Of the men
of New Hampshire, we do give equal
praise to the women. Whatever success
her sons have obtained in the various
spheres of life, has been greatly due to
the wise teachings of the patient, faith
full loving and God-fearing mother.
Many are the instances where men have
achieved marked success in their call
ings, who have given the credit of it to
their mother. And we all know that the
best friend a boy has in this world is
his mother. There is between them a
peculiar tie which can never be broken.
These are times when the women of this
country are coming forward and taking
many positions in the various business
spheres and filing them, too, most ac-
ceptably. May they continue to be as
they are today, the rulers Of the hearts
of men.
We are justly proud of New Hamp-
shire's college, Dartmouth, winch mas
graduated many whose influence for
good has been widely felt. A large
fraction of her students have been to
the manor born, men of bravery as well
as brain. Under the wise and Judicious
presidency of DIR. Tucker the college was
never more prosperous than today. In
the years of the old fashioned foot ball,
it is said that challenge was once
passed between Dartmouth College and
Harvard College for a game. Dart
mouth desired that it should be played
at Manchester, N. H., which is about
equally distant from the two places, but
Harvard said the game ought to be
played at Cambridge, near the shade of
Bunker Hill monument. Dartmouth in
sisted that the game should take place
at Manchester, and as for the monI-
ment, that time-honored institution, she
advised the Harvard students to bring
it along with them, as they would ceg-
tainly need it to fall back upon.
How sharply waged have been the po-
Iitical contests in New Hampshire. You
remember the town meetings in March,
that month in which we often had, ac-
cording to the old saying, six weeks Of
Shedding. Every one entitled to suf-
frage deemed it his solemn duty to at
tend the annual meeting and vote for
state, county and town officials. Party
lines were closely drawn. Whatever
might be his political convictions the
voter believed in them with his whole
heart. How thoroughly the school dis
tricts We're canvassed. How carefully
the check lists were looked over on cleo
ton day, and how systematic was the
arrangement to get every voter possible
to the town hall and have him deposit
his vote in the ballot box before the clos
ing of the polls. There was an abundance
of excitement in those years at our
March election.
In the war of independence New
Hampshire took an active part from it's
beginning to successful end. At the bat
tie of Bennington, where a signal VIC
tory was gained over the enemy, check
ing the onward march of Burgoyne and
leading up to his surrender at Saratoga,
we like to think that it was the son Of
New Hampshire, Gen. John Stark, who
commanded the American forces that
day, and who at the beginning of the
fight uttered that famous speech, Now,
my men, there are the red coats. Be
fore night they must be ours or Molly
Stark will be a widow" In the late
war, which resulted III the crushing Of
armed rebellion and establishing the
unity of the nation, New Hampshire did
her full duty.
l have III my remarks onls touched
upon a few matters relating to our ma
tive state. The record book contains
many chapters. In closing may ] say.
in the words of another New Hamp-
shire was one of the first states to as
pire for freedom, and she win be among
the last to give it up A mountainous
country, filled with narrow defiles and
rugged passes, is the last to be stamped
upon by the iron heel of conquest. And
should the time ever come when the star
Of liberty shall be driven from the
shores of commerce, she will find a ref
uge and a resting place among the fast
nesses OF the granite hills
Sam Walter Foss OF Somerville then
rendered selections from his verses re-