Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-08-23
Well Impressed with South Paris.

II Well Impressed with South Pari
Byron Farrar, of Arkansas City, Kar
4 who was the guest of his niece, MI
Franklin Maxim, q few weeks sine
wrote to the Maine Woodsman from th
place the following letter:
SOUTH PARIS, July %, 1904.
To the Editor Of Maine RoOdsmdR:
Looking at this village a. figure an
for diversity of contour am persuade
that it excels all other Maine villages.
| Its high hills and low valleys, its hig
banks and deep ravines, its tall elms an
short hedges, its large river, the littl
IAndroscoggin, and numerous brooks an
rivulets, its forests, shrubbery and viii
fiowers-all natures handiwork-give
the locality an exceedingly picturesqu
and romantic beauty of appearance Sci
dom beheld anywhere else.
Surely the Creator designed this 10
cality for a collection of humans ant
they have come and added to the grand
eur and beauty of nature by art ant
other devices, making the village mos
charming and delightful place to live in
AS very material help to the enjoy
ment of living here nature furnishes foul
important factors, viz: water power
fuel, timber and stone. These facilitie:
are being utilized by quite large mum
Der of factories and mills, employing
many people and consequently bringing
much money into the place. The in
habitants number about 1900. There
are four church edifices and five school
houses of large size. A very large high
school building has recently been built.
Scholars are very numerous, good
evidence of the prosperity OF the town.
In recent letter, giving brief out
line of Phillips village, l intended to
have spoken of, as | then thought, the
two exceptionally clean, neat and we'll
kept cemeteries. They are truly credit
to the villagers and evidently serve to
relieve dread of being laid to rest
there. But since l came here | have
visited the cemetery here and all others
that | ever saw or visited are o back
number in comparison with this one. 1t
is first-class in all its appointments.
Nature furnished q location and the
wisdom of the citizens selected it. 1t is
uneven like all other of natures work
about here. The entrance and highest
plot of perhaps six acres, is on level
land and in close proximity to the bust
ness portion of the village. This plot
IS nearly level except small deep gulch
in the northwest corner. 1t is barren of
trees and shrubbery except about
half dozen scattering trees at the west
End.
The lots are all level and covered with
grass cut short and many little plots of a
great variety of flowers of three-cOrnered
shapes; some located at the angle of the
driveway as it winds round between lots.
Flowers in artistic profusion, not too
many or too few. The monuments and
,ravestoues are of great variety, in
perfect order, erect, clean and extremely
The artistic work on them is
good taste and well ex-
cuted. The lower plot of ground of
bout as many acres as the first and con-
lected with the first lies on the bank of
he river and is descended to by gradual
lope of perhaps 80 feet. The plot is
overed by lovely grove of medium size
I'm and maple trees. 1t has a small
'ond of water near the centre. There
re but Few lntermentS In tne latter
lot. The spraying of water is constant
Y going in different parts of the grounds
where needed.
The people of this village evidently
re prosperous, happy and contented,
nd we'll they may be for they have what
ther villages and towns have prayed for
nd anxiously desired, namely, manu-
actures, and have died or ceased to grow
or want of them. Doubtless there are
chronic kickers" even here for We are !!
ct to observe a community in which |
here are not more or less of them.
9th. This is my S0th anniversary.
Iale and hearty. If the latter needed !,
roof, Queen Flora and her estimable '
nate would doubtless prove swift wit ,
esses. Having enjoyed their bounteous
for six days We now return to !
phillips, there to sOjourn indefinitely. !
~ only brother of family of thirteen |
now living here, is 81 years
Id to-day. No sisters living. His |
aaring is so much impaired that can
ot converse with him. +.