Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-08-09
NV Hebron Visit and its Sad Ending.

My Hebron Visit and It's Sad Ending.
(Contnued)
This sketch will consist OF some OF
the most interesting incidents that
occurred during Centennial week.
While walking along the street after
the Sunday meeting, man called me by
name from short distance in the rear,
and stopping to look around he came up
and inquired II he was mistaken In the
man: not In the least was the reply, that
is the name by which / have always
been known; but really do not seem to
recognize you. OF course yOn don't,
said he. we never saw each other before;
but have been looking at You for some
time. and finally concluded that our
names are identical; and 1t seems that l
was correct.
He then wanted to know who my
father and grandfather were; and when
informed that they emigrated from Car
YER. Mass, to Hartford in 1905, he seem |
ed to know more about my ancestry than
did myself. But what he saw, being
an entire stranger, by which to recog-
nize me is still mystery.
During the same day was conversing
with man on things in general, and
finally he changed the subject in this
way: Let's see, If am not mistaken
YOU took part in the discussion in re-
gard to when the old century went out
and the new one came in; am correct!
You are in that respect; some people
contended that the new century COM
menced January lst, 1900, while others
argued, including myself, that 1t came
in Just one year later, on January LIST,
1901. But as the subject was soon
dropped and has not been discussed
since, to my knowledge, lsuppose every
body was converted to my belief.
Not by long stride, said he; and to
make it plain ! will illustrate it by the
clock. When it strikes twelve at mid
night the new day begins, and when the
hour hand reaches the figure one the
first hour of the new day is past; that
must be plain to everyone and the same
rule holds good in regard to the begin
ming of the first year of time. No record
was made until the first year had pass
ed, when it was duly recorded, and the
same in regard to every subsequent
year.
Then according to your theory, If /
understood you correctly, the first year
was in reality the year 0, and the second
year, the year 1, and so on down to the
present time!
That is it in nutshell, was the reply;
and If you ever take the pains to investi-
gate the matter you will find it perfectly
correct.
| Very well, was my reply, if that is
your method of reckoning have moth
ing more to say; but am inclined to
think that if our almanacs were made
on that plan, instead of being up-to-date
they would be just one year behind
time.
The mans theory was such novelty
that have been thus particular in writ
ing it in detail, although wholly desti-
tute of facts.
One day man and one of the students
we're speaking of the Panama Canal
that was being constructed, and the
man asked him in what direction it was
running. After thinking few moments
he replied, that since the Pacific Ocean
is on the west side and the Atlantic or
Caribbean Sea on the east, should say
the canal runs nearly east and west.
, So would any one who never gave the
subject any particular thought, was the
reply; but as matter of fact it runs
!. very nearly north and south as does also
the Suez Canal. The student could
, hardly credit the fact until he found its
, location in his atlas. And there are
probably good many students who
would have given similar answer.
Politics were not much discussed,
although one man asked another who
/ would be the next president. That,
said he, depends on whether the country
, thinks it can stand another four years OF
prosperity; if so it will be the same man
who is in now: but If it prefers such
times as we had under Cleveland's ad.
ministration it will put in Democrat
! And think there is more truth than
/ poetry in the reply.
About the same amount OF religion
was talked over; one man, who doubts
the Immortality of the soul, asked the
. following question, which, by the way
! have heard before: Surprising, said
5 he, a man is put into cast steel caSket,
, an inch in thickness and absolutely all
) tight. The man soon dies for want OF
: fresh air; now how can his soul, spirit
| shade, shadow or whatever you please
{ to call it, escape from that Enclosure
and wing its way to the good or bad
, place, according as the man had been
5 good or bad in this world? With God
t all things are possible, was the answer
t But there are those who would like t.
? have it explained in more practical
, manner.
Sitting in the shade of the elm trees
] assisted in planting nearly 80 years ago
, one man spoke in this manner: Yes,
, one hundred years ago the first academy
was built on these grounds, and we are
celebrating it's one hundredth anniver.
sary. In one hundred years from now,
or in the year 2004, who, and what them
3 One thing is certain, said man at his
side, you and will not be here and no,
, body then will care whether we were
, here to-day or not.
, So far as know there were only two
students at the celebration, beside my
self, who were there in 1857, and they
were Judge Percival BOnney of Portland
and Rev. Albert E. Libby of West
, Poland.
After Ex-Governor Longs Grafton
ad the privilege of shaking hands with
!, him, and remarked that l knew him
when he was hardly more than boy,
and they used to call him Johnny Long.
o yes, said he, with smile, and they
call me johnny Long now, just the same
as they did then.
! Before sunset, on the day that Gov
ernor Longs Grafton was given, saw
, Lewiston Evening Journal, and in it was
published the whole text, together with
his photograph and that of Judge Bon
ney.
One more incident and then a few
more in the near future. Late one after
noon, after being on my feet the most of
the day, went into the gymnasium and
was just in the act of lying down, when
one of the students came in; explain
ing why was there, he said, that was
ali right on my part; but, said he, that
mattress is not very clean; come with
me and will show you better place.
Following him up stairs and into his
room he pointed to large lounge in one
corner of the room, and said, there,
stretch out on that and rest to your
hearts content.
Then, noticing that it was rather
chilly there, he brought quilt from his
sleeping room and spread over me; by
that time had quite an interest in the
,o,,o ,,or ond oafd fo him I shOul dn't