The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-30

plant Columbus was brought here in
1878, and the first menagerie with lion,
tiger, etc. In 1881. The following year
the editor Of The Spy a strict Quaker,
sternly lectured the selectmen in his
paper for licensing "a company of
strolling actors calling themselves cir
Gus riders to exhibit their fooleries
here" saying further, "who does not
know that no one gets any good by at
tending such exhibitions? That by go
ing there he encourages idleness, cru
city and vice? 1t is hoped that this is
the last time we shall be troubled with
such unwelcome VISITORS which
proved to be the fact for several years,
at least, circuses going to Millbury,
and drawing a large number of Worces-
ter young people and more or less old
ones after them.
Musical and theatrical performances
were hardly in evidence before 1925,
and against theatricals so strong a feel
ing existed that not until Worcester be-
came city did they gain substantial
footing here. The panorama appeared
after 1890. and the lyceum lecture-a
most valuable source of instruction and
mental Improvement, which the present
generation have missed entirely-fol-
lowed for 40 or so years. The stump
speaker in politics, the reformer in an
ti-slavery, temperance and other lines,
and the revivalist in religion, came a
little later to stir up the people. All
of these (even the politician?) have had
their day and passed on.
The visits of notabilities should not
be passed over in enumerating occas-
ions of interest in the town. John
Adams while vice president and presi-
dent passed through the town several
times without special demonstration,
but in August, 1898, we read in The Spy
that he was received at Leicester line
by gentlemen in carriages and on horse
back, headed by the high sheriff. Bells
were rung and salute fired. At the
Center school house the youth quilted
their books, and regularly ranged
themselves on each side of the road,
saluted him as he passed. He was at
tended to the bounds of Shrewsbury by
the gentlemen who had escorted him
into town Thus shall it be done to the
man whom the people delight to honor"
The explanation of all this was the then
threatened war with France, and the
president was assured by similar at
tentions along his route of the support
of the people.
A few years later his great rival in
visited Worcester while on his way to
Oxford to inspect the troops there.
Oliver Ellsworth, another great light in
those days, remained in town a short
time.
President Monroe did not visit the
place while on his famous tour to New
England in 1917, greatly to the regret
of many, although some who retained
the old political feeling would not have
been glad to see him.. The visits of La
fayette in 1S24-5 have been too often
described to be mentioned in detail
here. One incident, however, related by
the late Leonard w. Sturtevant IS
worth repeating. He was at that time a
sunburnt and barefooted boy of ten
years, and realizing that 1t was his only
chance, perhaps, of meeting a great
hero, boldly made his way with the
tf1rongS that was pressing into the man
sion of Judge afterwards governor)
Lincoln, and marched up to Lafayette,
who took his hand and spoke as kindly
and cordially to him as he had to the
well dressed gentleman who preceded
him.
The Duke of Sake eimer was an
other foreign notability who was IN
Worcester in 1885.
In 1882 Daniel Webster came, then in
all the glory of his naturalization tri-
umphs. The next year his great contem-
porary, Henry Clay, was the guest of
Gov. Lincoln. He was at that time just
becoming famous as the special advo-
cate of protection for American indus
tries, but it is overlooked today that he
was preceded in that direction by a
former. representative in congress from
the Worcester district, who was con-
demned by Daniel Webster in 1920 for
taking substantially the ground that
Clay did later.
In conclusion it may be stated that
while during the earlier years of the
century all secular amusements and en-
joyments were generally discounten-
anced in these parts, there is evidence
that social gatherings at which dancing
was INDUCED in to moderate extent.
were allowed.