The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-01
A CENTURY AGO AND NOW.
Nineteenth century's Greeting Like the
TwentIeth's.
(New York SUM-


the rejecting mini and how forcibly CO.
cur the questions: What was tine situa-
ton of the country, this day, one hum
dred years agoy And what ID 10 nowY
Where the deep silence OF the woods was
disturbed by no sound but from the dread
savage and the wolf, fields now smile
under the plastic hand OF the cultivator
and the groves reply In glad RESPONSES.
Long may this happy procession continue
and may the commencement OF the next
century witness arrenter advance 20 viz
tue, power and glory than even the last.
From the Baltimore Federal Gazette
Jan. /, 1901.
1t was the same then as now. When
the eighteenth century was about TO die,
a. the eighteeth Is now dying, all Ameri-
ca prepared to usher In its successor, as
we are doing even now. The good
citizen OF 1901 celebrated, as the more or
less good citizen of 1901 Is about to do.
Watch night meetings, dinners, gather
ines Of all kinds, fireworks, illumins-
lions and the like ushered In the new
century, which IL now 100 years old. If
we may judge from the publications OF
that tins the citizsns OF America CEN
tury ago celebrated In much the same
spirit, II with vastly different view as
the Amer leans of today.
New York was not so pre-eminent then
as 1t is now, and the principal events
took place In Boston and Philadelphia.
The latter place must have been a fairly
wideawake town from certain accounts
printed in the Aurora. According to this
authority on Saturday, Jan. 3, 1901, the
staid citizens met at the house OF Citizen
Miller, at the sign of the Green Tree, in
North Fourth street, to celebrate the
Favorable commencement OF the nine
tsenth century" LIE. Reynolds presided
and after the dinner had had its mellow
ing effects, suncry and various toasts
were proposed. The principal one was;
.'rhs World, Our Country; Man, Our
Fellow Cltizsn; Benevolence, Our Relig-
ion." Other toasts were to Thomas
jefferson. just elected President; to
Aaron Burr, his unsuccessful rival,
named for vioe-president; Universal
federation, - "rhs Constitution n, Ben.
jamin Franklin and last, ireland !!
May she rise like Anteus from her fall
and crush the despots who exult in her
miseries.
The celebration lasted until early dawn,
and Philadelphia was considerably
shocked at the ezra Ito organizations of
her staid citizens on their way home.
The Aurora added to the gayety by
printing seventeen column review of
the eighteenth century.
At Lancaster, Pa, q tremendous cele-
hration WAS held in the large hall OF
Franklin College. All the town turned
out, bontlres we're lighted. pistols shot OF
and as much noise made as possible. A
great TRANSPARENCY, eighty feet high and
twice as long, bearing the legend, Lib
erty ana tine Constitution, adorned the
lower end of the hall. Speeches predict
ing a glorious future for the new century
were made, and then bullock was roast
ed.
The Philadelphia German Society also
celebrated, as did the prominent citizens
of Easton, Pa, who sssem bled at the
house OF MIR. Hickman to watch the old
century out and the new one in.
In New York city, the people being
more cosmopolitan, there was less cele-
brating. Watchnight services were held
In the various churches, and in some OF
the clubs of the day informal meetings
were held. 1t was not until evening that
the small boys. aided and abeteed by the
older ones, built huge fires, sof whatever
material was nearest at hand. All the
town was illuminated, and when mid
night came the church bsIis rang out the
old and In the new century. Men and
women congratulated one another and
the century was born.
Congress was SO busy with the CONTEST
ed election between jefferson ana Burr
that no oognizance was taken of the change
of centuries. The work OF both houses
went Cd uninterruptedly, the treaty pima.
ing with France occupying much time
They had the same old discussion one
hundred years ago that has been raking
the souls or the latter day public. All
through this country discussion was rife
for nearly year as TO when the new CEN
tury began-just as we discussed ths
matter during the last twelve months
"Pro Bono Publico,'' "Veritas, -
"Judex," IA Citizen" and other welt
known percentages who still survive,
wrote to the papers in support or their
respective stands and acrimonious debates
eusued. Finally IL was decided that the
new century began Jan. /, 1901. Several
well-intentioned, though mistaken gentle
men had already celebrated the occasion
on Jan, l, 1850, ana one OF them worte
harsh letter co the papers, announcing
that he would take no part In any subse-
quent chronological tjamooree whatever.
However, the event passed on very nicely
without his allotment
As for the newspapers, each and every
one had a wsighty editorial or two, wei
coming the new century and regreting
the old. Washington had been dead
only one year and two weeks, and repeat
ed mention was made OF him in ths most
complimentary terms, irrespective of
party affiliations. The Boston Indepsn1-
emit Chronicls on the frat day OF the nine
tenth century said:
s'Yhis day commences the nineteenth
century. The great events which have
arisen at the close or the eighteenth GEN.
tury are to be matured In this progress of
the nineteenth. Whsther thu rights of
men or the despotism Of tyraDts shall ba
established on permanent basis are sub
jscts with which the womb OF the pres
emit century Ia pregnant. Monarchy has
expired in Europe In violent commissions.