Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-07-18
Correspondence.


Ietter from y gentieHiAn tFoui Soatu-
west Harbor regarding the hospitality OF
Ellsworth, and also comment yourself.
As to the letter, have no reply; prefer
it should stand unchailenged; bat you
have, indirectly, in your comments, sub
scribed to its spirit. To this I take
umbrage.
You know Ellsworth; the writer OF
the letter evidently does not. The
object of this note Is not to de-
fend Ellsworth in this matter, as l shall
presently show, and yet l shall not allow
any suggestion OF inhospitality, such as
appears in your comments, to go unchal-
lenged.
We do not wish to boast, but l feel
assured that, as a rule, the strangers
within our gates are made welcome; at
least l know the people OF our city too
well not to know that they enjoy giving
pleasure to those who come here.
could mention many occasions where
this has been appreciated far beyond the
little we could do. II il true, OF course,
that cities, like individuals, are sometimes
lax. We can all of Us record instances In
which our personal entertainment OF
friends has been thong htIess and careless
at times, and greatly regretted. So 1t is
true Of communities.
What 1 want to talk about, however,
does not apply to Ellsworth, nor to any
individual community. 1t is general
matter that has given me some thought
for some years. Why should one pro-
ies.ion expect different entertainment
from anothers Why should conferences
expect to be looked after in any sense
different from boards OF trade, or medical
associations, or dental societies, or meet
ings of the legal fraternity. When / at
tend the Maine medical association at
Portland, or any OF the other several asso-
Citations to which belong, never expect
to be "entertained".
When the Maine bar meets In annual
conference / am quite sure II meets its
own expenses, or expects to do so. No
OF her course Is considered self respecting.
Surely no societies are made up OF more
useful men. / cannot believe that any
intelligent member OF the clerical pro-
fession would entertain for a moment the
idea that the profession OF law or of med
icine IL one whit below in intelligence or
usefulness the one to which he belongs.
And yet 1t is VIGOROUSLY true that por-
ton OF it expects different treatment at
the hands Of the people.
There is no reason whatsoever why this
should be true. The fact that 1t has been
true has hao, to my mind, some very bad
influences on the profession, and In way
accounts for the fact that one of the
noblest caiiings known, and a profess
sion which has some Of the brightest In
teiiecls known, as we'll many of the
notiest examples of seif-sacrifice, has also
perhaps more than any other profession
men who are not seit-respecting or vigor-
Gus in the best elements OF real manhood.
No man can be seifrespecting unless
indepe pdent. No man can look for enter
tainment, and be man. He may receive
1t, of course; but when he expects 1t he
may be counted out Tor anything that
takes place where real men live. Such a
man is useless at places like Santiago, or
Gettysburg, or China as it is just now; or
for that matter, i'll the pulpit or by the
bedside, when 1t means vigorous measures
or death; or wise counsel at the bar.
But l come back, Mr.. Editor, to my
earlier idea that no profession can be
seif-respecting or made up OF worthy men
and the tendency to make them so unless
II does " hat all seif-respecting men try TO
do-pay their own way any other policy
means decay.
Let the repeat that these latter sage re-
marks of mine are entirely independent
of my discussion earlier, and applies to
the clergy generally, or perhaps better, to
q certain minority of that most honorab bic
profession. For some reason, know not
what, a certain contingent OF these have
the idea that they are different from
OF her men; that they should have privi-
leges not given to other men; thst they
should be entertained when other men
under similar circumstances should not
expect it.
All this Is wrong. Great and honora bic
and useful as is he profession 10 which |
aliude, 1t in no way exceeds In virtue, In
self-sacrifice, In worthiness the makeup
Of any OF our honorable professions. II
should be accorded the same rights and
privileges and courtesy that belong to
OF her good men and 10 more; and do
not hesitate to affirm that the best men
among them will quite agree with me.
There are few real gentlemen who have
occasion to complain of lack OF courteous
attention anywhere in America. | do
not recall ever hearing one in Ellsworth.
Very truly yours,
GEO. A. PHILLIPS.