The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-16
Presentation Address Of tIc
Donor.
Grafton by Hamilton w.
Mabie.
Incidents of 4 Notable Ocea
sion.

At Clinton yesterday the Brown Ne
mortal Library was dedicated to the per-
n.ssl ass Of that town with exercises /
.ss. not only passed OF most pleasantly.
Iss ass also OF ereat interest 80 all lovers
The Maine towns, who nope to see tue
snmpls 60 nobly given, followed In the
ssrs 70 come.
Nf william W. Brown Of this city was
Asa Is tbs town q Clinton many years
80. lie left there early IN life to begin
= business career Of unusual distinction
md success: but he has never ceased to
hu bis native town, and he has now
Aasn fhat love - a magnificent gift,
representing q cost 81 fully twenty thou
aa dollars.
I1o pleasure Of the people Of the town
sas shown yesterday by the large atten.
aano st the exercises aud the cordial
RECEPTION Of Alr brown by his old towns
nsn.
IAe exercises began at Clinton town
fsn II FL 80 q. M. AIr. II. j. Brown
Il Berlin Mills. n. Il, son of the donor
1esldluE. After a Few words by way Of
graceful Introduction. the chairman pre-
eaisa Key. A. II. Hanscom Of Clinton,
Hho offered prayer.
4. A. Shaw Of Clinton. then spoke
S follows;
DIR. A. 4. SHAW.
Na Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
II The name OF the town Of Clinton,
aaa - the authority Of the committee
$40 hare had the arrange nent OF these
exercises. ] bid you one and all hearty
Hsieome.
il IS especially gratifying 10 the people
& this town To see 50 many OF the old
citizens back at this time, and TO know
Ia4i they have left their various Occupa-
ss And ridden over hills and through
Fays that they might bs
N#nt ehere, and contribute IN
sne way to this our day of re-.
Nicing. a oday marks a new era in our
history as "A town. " e look with JUS
Pride upon its natural advantages, ane
The record or It's glorious past. Situate.
IS we are, between the %eDasticOok ans
kfuuebec rivers, as we cast our ey
towards the happy land Of Canaan, W
believe that for fertility Of soil, wen cult
zated farms and well kept farm-houses
3
the people, Clinton cannot Be Outclassed
i q Ike area Ia the State of Maine.
There, too, is the record Ct her illussri.
Gus sons and daughters. We are proud O
her noble soldiers who served their cOun
r. during the Civil War. Many OF them,
who are present here today, carry with
them the scars OF battle, and hold a record
uniarnisheu, for duty well done.
We do not forget the many men and
women who have gone out IN civil lifs
tQ battle with the stern realities Of citi-
zaaship. and we are proud TO know that
fhelr record Ii one OF honor alike to them
aalFes. and to their native town. Con-
salous Of well founded pride IN the past,
what shall we expect Of the futuref 1t
mus be glorious for these exercises
marx the beginning OF a true advance
ment It means for Us a higher citizen
ship. It means for rs higher moral and
Intellectual standing. IT means that our
children shall have better advantages
than We have had for the hero of this
OCCASION has seen fit TO place the means
q our very doors. Why We are living
u an age Of Intellectual advancement.
he see the power and product of a culti-
vted intellect on every side. From the
rude dug0uts and tiresome sailboat to the
great palatial steamships that play with
such relnarkable rapidity from continent
p continent From hacks, and at best
hoEsecars, to the swift moving electric
cars and beautifully lighted cities.
from dispatch riders to Wireless tele-
gEaphy, al emphasize the triumph of
brain and muscle IN the grand race for
supremacy.
The great thought OF the brightest and
BEST men and women of our day, is how
they can better the condition of the world
II which they live. How they can best
snow the people the needs of advancing
civilization. That thought can never be
answered. lt can never be crystallized
into more fitting memorial than the
eae we have presented here today.
0h, that / might command the lam
suage OF q Demosthenes, and In some
way make known the fullness of your
welcome TO William w. Brown and his
lamily at this time.
0h, that we could have met him with
sAe spendor that BELTS his station, but IL
would never do. lie ignores pomp; ne
Qlsiikes display. lie enters our town
sseaay the same consistent worker; the
thorough business man that he is.
he lett this place when q young man,
glessed with the teaching OF a Christian
1sAnaf and mother. lie rcvercnced his
uoa and the sabbath. With honesty and
spaghiness as his guiding star he went
Ct lie.
lie won that conflict and now he re-
salhs 20 us that we may enjoy the bless
1ngs Of we'll spent life.