The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-11

ed the exercises would register so that
future generations could see just who
were present
Thursday morning promised an ideal
day for the grand town picnic at the Mer-
rymeeting park. Business was suspend
ed throughout the town, and all gathered
at the beautiful pleasure ground, The
place was most appropriate one not
only for it's present attractions, but be-
cause of it's connection with old Bruins
wick. 1t includes in it's grounds the site
OF Humphreys Mills" where fifty
years ago great umbering interests were
carried on. On the very spot where now
the Casino stands was the old Gen.
Humphreys house. The mills and house
are gone, but the spot is cherished one
by all old citizens.
At 1890 a. N. Gen. Chamberlain called
the meeting to order in the spacious and
beautiful amphitheatre, and there, over
Swallowed by the whispering pines, ?"
through whose branches the sunlight
Uttered down, the closing exercises were
held. 1t was planned that there should
De Dr1ef talks by which the meaning and
significance of the week should be
brought out, these to be supplemented
and enforced by singing of old, but ever
new, songs. AS the strains OF Old Hum
dred t1oated upward it could be seen that
all were in a sympathetic and appre-
clat1Ve frame of mind. 1t was treat
indeed, to see Capt, l.. IL, Slower, one
OF the grand old men" of Brunswick,
himself good singer, and the one who
mad Charge of the musical part of the
programme, lifting up his voice in full
sympathy with the occasion. Gen.
Chamberlain at this time, as On the
evening before when he introduced Mr..
Mcheen, made most eloquent illusions
to what Brunswick had been to him as
home. He was followed by Mr.. Sum-
ner l.. Holbrook, who said fitting words
Tor the rural part Of the town. Mr.. Hol-
brook is type of man such as Maine
alone produces, a plain farmer with 40
claim to literary requirements, indus
trial, frugal, honest, but able to write
and deliver what he wishes to say In a
most pleasing and acceptable manner.
Mr.. John Furbush followed him, taking
for his topic the present and past bust
ness interests of the town. 1t is enough
TO say that he proved equal to the Occas-
lon, holding the almost breathless atten-
tlOn OF the audience, while he poured
forth from his inmost soul his love and
appreciation for the old town. There
wasn't an uninteresting sentence in
what he said. But from an Oratorical
standpoint theSspeech of Barrett Potter,
Esq, was the gem of the occasion. His
! subject was 1.-THE College and the
notes IN his hand, which he scarcely at
all consulted, he appropriately and elo
quently sketched what those relations
had been, and what the good Of both de-
manded that they should be.
When he had concluded no one could
have said anything which would have
prevented the meeting from being a per-
feet success. This made it easy for Prof.
Robinson to close the speaking by few
words in which he called the attention of
all to the present condition of Brunswick
and from the past and present predicted
a prosperous future for the town. With
the singing of America and the doxology,
the meeting broke up, the people forming
into groups for picnic dinners, for they
came to make a day of it, to wind uI
with fireworks in the evening, which
were most successful.
And thus Brunswick celebrated ''Old
Home Week. " They are all glad they did
it. 1t did the town good. 1t left a good
feeling among all. The total cost was
not far form $500, of which the town ap-
propriated $500. 1t was money well
spent. 1t has given an influence both tc
those who stay and those who go, which
will abide for years. Let other towns
apologize all they please for doing moth
Ing. Let them bring forward arguments
to help convince themselves that no
public celebration was advisable; one
thing Is sure, that kind of talk doesn 4
go down" in Brunswick.