The Republican journal., 1899-03-16
A Personal Letter from Rev. F. A.
Gilmore.

To THE EDITOR OF The JOURNAL: In
looking over The Journal this week l
find SO many things of interest that | am
moved to write. l rejoice in the good for
tune of my friend and fellow townsman,
F. H. Colley. For many years l have
known him to be possessed of talents and
qualities that must be recognized. 1 am
also we'll acquainted with Mr.. Zenas T.
Haines of Winthrop, whose good fortune
in shape of pension you mention. Mr..
Haines is bright, well-informed man,
who has travelled much and personally
known many distinguished persons.
have had several chats with him at his
fine weather he has given me ride and
pointed out places of interest in that town
ship. 1t is not easy to put ourselves in
his place, nor picture what we would do
if we were like him, and had lost health
and freedom. | can heartily endorse
your words and ''rejoice over his we'll
u0sCl '0o SopO lOll
My last letter to your paper concerned a
visit to Nova Scotia, in which | spoke of
the backwardness of certain features as
compared with the States. This called
out retort from a gentleman, a Nova
Scotian, who criticised me and offered to
show me culture enough if | would visit
ut her ~ tla do
doubt the gentleman was right. l only
spoke of what | had seen and the impress
sions which grew out of it,
In October visited Buffalo and Niagara
Falls, accompanied by my wife. We rode
on the celebrated George electric 70 ad
which has been built close to the river on
the American side II affords grand
view OF the whirlpool rapids, the lofty
banks and entire river from Niagara to
Lewiston, miles below. We tried to see
Mrs. Belle Pierson (nee Libby formerly
of Belfast, but she was out of town. Our
time did not permit US to call on Mr. and
Mrs. Ira Libby, also of Belfast and
parents of Dir. w. G. Libby. Buffalo is
a surprising place, and is much larger and
finer than we had imagined. 1t is one of
our greatest grain ports. Magnificent
passenger steamers, surpassed only by the
finest Atlantic lines, pl y between this
place and Duluth. In returning we had
frequent views of the Erie Canal which
has occasioned such scandal in New
York politics. At Albany we visited the
new State House, which cost an immense
sum of money and is now presided over
by THEODORE Roosevelt whom we were for
the Boston artist Hunt was employed
to decorate the walls and ceilings of this
building. After a time the plaster began
to crunble and crack: the costly paint
ings are ruined. Let us hope that the
contractor who defrauded the State by
putting Oh a cheap plaster will not enjoy
his wealth.
| cannot close this letter without a word
about the Portl nd and her captain. For
many years Capt. Blanchard was my
neighbor; his family traded at my fathers
store in East Belfast; of his children at
tended school when | taught in the brick
school house. Many times l have heard
him tell of his voyages to Australia and
other far off lands. He was stern man,
with convictions of his own, but entirely
upright. Occasionally | met him in Bos-
ton, and two years ago went down on the
steamer to Portland with him. Those
who knew him have never believed that
be disobeyed an order to remain in port.
The wisdom of doing SO for a man Just
promoted is evident. AS your correspond
ent from Sealsport said: she is gone an d
can say no word for himself" We will
exonorate him from this charge of will
full disobedience. ''Long tossed on the
deep" he has found, like so many others,
sailors sepulchre.
With kind regards to all friends who
may chance to see this, and best wishes
tor the prosperity of The Journal, am
Sincerity Yours.
FRANK A. GILMORE.
Haverhill, Mass March II. 1899.