The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-22
accepted By Maine Eye and Ear In
Urinary Last Night
With Exercises of APP
propriate Character.
The Eloquent Enlogy of DIR. E.
L. Holt and Others.

Last night the exercises attending the
acceptance OF marble bust OF Payson
Tucker, the work OF Frederick A. Shaw.
a gift Of Mrs. Tucker to the Maine Eye
and Gar InfirmaFy, were held. The at
tendance was large and included not only
the trustees Of this institution and MEM
bers of this medical profession but the
former associates of Mr.. Tucker in the
business and social. world, city officials
and a great many or his admirers and
friends from every walk In life.
The exercises we're of a simple but OF an
impressive character. The eulogies which
wsrs given seemed to be ladened with.deep
feeling and to have the ring Of sincerity.
President Fred N. Dow OF the board OF
trustees presided and briefly introdu ced
the several speakers. un this front of the
platform stood the marble bust of Mr..
Tucker, life like and exquisltely exc
cuted.
| DR.. e E. Holt, the executive surgeon
Of the Maine Eye and Ear Iniirmary was
tina first TO speak, His tribute TO Mr..
fuckers memory was eloquent and
heartfelt. He was frequently interrupted
| by applause and at times his hearers were
moved almost to tears as he recalled some
OF the noble characteristics of his former
friend.
DIR HOLT'S ADDRESS.
| DIR. E. E. Holt said in part:
The thoughts which are presented to
you on Payson Tucker, In connection
with his assistance In founding and
maintaining I the Mains Eye andl Ear
Iniirmary, have arisen amid the duties
of an occupation which neither prepares
one for the delipeation of character nor
| in the art OF oratory. II what i shall
say shall have value worthy of the place
and occasion, it must be considered a
spontaneous loving effort to do honor
90 him to whom honor is due
For third time In the history of this
institution we mourn the loss OF It's presi-
dent. All who have occupied that po-
sition have died in office.
MIR. Pagson Tucker was elected Presl-
dent on the death OF Mr.. Harrington and
occupied the o1tics from 1898 until MS
death in 1909.
With the registration of over $4,000 pa
| tients, with an attendance OF over a hun
1 dred Thousand, and with over b,OUO opera
tions performed upon the eye and ear
| for the preservation or restoration OF sight
or hearing, We trust now that the work
OF this charity has demonstrated the
wisdom OF It's promoters In erecting this
| building.
Now in the closing year OF this 10th
century, long before the hands on the
clocks dial point to the last hour, we
have been called upon TO mourn the loss
or another one OF the chief promoters OF
the erection OF this building, and 1t
seems proper and fitting, on an occasion
| like this, when Alrs Tucker has present
ed the institution this magnificent work
4 he. fnrx. nd
OF our beloved president and associate,
| PRyson IuGker, in marbl9 bust. TO
record OF him that, in the part he took
| in the erection of this building, he did
his duty to mankind.
In all his relations with men he was
constantly brought to the recognition OF
tine value Of good sight and hearing.
Hence arose his great interest in the wei
fare OF these organs OF special sense, and
hence his charity to Ilis institution de-
vo.ed to the preservation and restoration
of sight and hearing
Long before the institution took form
or shape, MIR. Tucker was In the habit
with a note to do all l could for them
and send the bill TO him.
He recognized that the hospital and
the innrmary were as beacon lights In
society guiding the sick, the halt, and
the biindstosa place of relief.
of these eleemosynary institutions would
show the advancement OF civilization
In this century as much as the numer-
GUS discoveries and inventions which
must ever make this period q memorable
one In the history OF the world.
He recognized that these institutions
symbolized all the changes OF man, fromssa
condition when might was right and
made everything subsarvient to its com .
mands, 60 one when love is right and the
guiding star Of that beneyolenoe which
eliminates In THESE temples.
1t was my good fortune 60 secure the
assistance and generous support OF Pay
| son Tucker IN promoting this charity,
| therefore i am more familiar with his
relations to the institution than any one
elsa, and take pleasure In recording more
in detail what ne did for the Maine Eye
aud Ear Infirmary.
Payson Tucker was among the iirst to
sign the petition for the Incorporation
of the infirmarY. He was made first
vice president and ex-offioio a member
of the board Of trustees and remained
In this Office until elected president OF
the corporation.
When the trustees and friends OF the
infirmary appeared before she financial
committee OF the legislature of 1887, AIR.
Tucker took all who went from this Sec
tion of the state, In his private car to
Augusta. Among these were the then
presi lent of the corporation. Harrison
j. Libby, the late Arthur Sewall, DIR.
Seth O. Gordon, Charles +. Libby, Al. r.
Frank, Albion Little, and others, who
appeared before the COMMITTEES and stat
ed the object, scope and usefulness OF the
institution TO the poor OF the state. With
this and subsequent work of the friends
of the infirmary, tire appropriation was
passed without dissenting vote in the
legislature.
When the option upon this land ON
which the building rests had nea rly
expired, on December 81, 1870, there was
not only no money to pay for it, but 1t
was more or less diflicult to obtain money
20 meet the general current expenses OF
the infirInary. There was at that time
such q stringency In the money market
that 10 was difiiouit to obtain money.