The Portland daily press., 1900-01-01
Everyone Drank Rum
in Those Days.
The Contrast Between the City
Then and Now.

High street church last evening on the
changes In Portland during the past Gen.
tury wss OF unusual Interest. DIR. Fenn
began BY giving word pictures Of Port
land as IL was In the year 1900. He spoke
Of its narrow, or soked streets, Ill lighted
at night and dirty. He spoke OF the
fine cid residences and Of those which
were occupied by this poorer PEOPLE. Then
there was q tax Of IS on thousand on
low valuation. The city was from its
beginning a literary community. There
were In Portland many cultured men,
scholars and poets at the beginning Of
tbs 10Th century. There were clubs here,
too. The fret one was formed In 1877
and was composed Of the intellectual and
Influential men Of the community who
met to. discuss public matters and who
had great weight with the citizens gem
orally. There was only one school With
was very expensive, costing from 30 to 40
pounds o year, but 1t was the beginning
OF higher and better system Of SCHOOLS.
Morally, the city occupied position
things. It was q very stsid. slow and
respectable community. 1t didn't belisve
In amusement such as 1t Is today. There
was an attempt made ,arly In the csn-
tury to establish theatre on India street.
but 1t proved failure. In 1917 another
theatre was opsned on India street which
gave those who wished a chance to seek
amusement Of this kind, but only few
persons patronized It. The habits OF the
people were peculiar. Everyone parrto'k
of rum on oil manner Of occasions, even
st funerals and at the installation OF
ministers whsn the good women prepared
for the pss,or stiff drink Of rum to
encourage him In delivering his sermon.
There Was, however, little drunken
ness 10 the city. In the middle of the
century the temperance movement
started and brought about different
condition of th,ngs, but in tbs carly years
everyone drank. There were at that
time no less than five distilleries In the
city and they were conducted, ss far rs
have been able to learn, by skilful men.
III, morals OF the people were exceeding
ly good. There was no pol Ice force be-
cause there was no need Of one. The
night watching was performed by ID vol
unteers, who paid their taxes In this
way. Their chief duty was to see that
the laws for Sunday Observance wsrs
enforced and that the public health was
cared for. tie watcnmen went about
with an enormous rattle which they used
with great effect whenever 1t was neoes-
sary to arouse the public at niRht. This
At uradnaI1u rhan0ad
for Portland became a csntre Of trade.
Commercial street became lively plac,,
the West India trads was In It's prime
and many sailors came here. Then fol-
lowed riots and rows both day and night
with several mu riders and other things Of
this sort.
ReliRiously the city was very strong 1t
the beginning of the century. There
were only four churches here thsn. Tbs
First Parish was the Oldest, then came
st. Paul's, the first Episcopal church.
than the Second Parish and the First
Baptist which was opened In 1893 or
1901. After that came ths first Metho-
dist, the present Chestnut street church,
the First Universalist. which was opened
In 1899, and the rrst Catholic, st. Domi-
MICS, which was established In ls30-s3.
DIR. Fem went UD to describe the
churches Of the times with their high
backed pews which were passed down
from father to son and the SEATS with
hinges which were raised with . great
clAttsr when the congregation arose for
prayers. The churches were not hsatsd
and the women carried with them to the
services little iron boxes In which
GOALS were heaped to kesp them warm
during the exercises. These were the
days OF long sermons and still longer
prayers, sometimes the latter being over
an hour In duratio q.
at IL not necessary TO contrast the
present with the past" continued DR..
Fem. "Thsre has been an immense
change physically in the city. There are
ter modes or transportation. Our system
of electric roads Is without peer In
the world for rapidity and oonfors. The
city il better lighted and the comfort
of the people 10 mora than 10 was at
the beginning of the 9th century, but
| IL 10 today by no means perfect or
ideal oisy. Commercially and In popu-
iation the city has made wonderful
strides. Our Cuban trade IL at an end.
but others have come 10 take their place.
Think OF the railroads which have been
opened, the big steamers which now come
here all the year around and sail for for
sign ports. The population has increased
to nearly 90. 900.
| POLITICALLY thsre have been great
changes, too. Instead Of . tax rate Of q
ON thousand ct low valuation, the
tax rate IL now go thousand on a high
valuation. We have not only paid for
the Introduction Of railroads which have