Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-11-19
National W. c. +. U. Convention

National w. G. T. U. Convention.
This year the annual gathering was
Invited to Dixie Land. The New Eng
land delegates left Boston on Nov. 9Th.
, There were representatives from Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont and Massa-
chusetts, and pleasant party it was.
The itinerary as arranged took us
across the states of New York and Ohio.
We expected q stop in Cincinnati for
sight seeing, but the train was late and
we merely crossed the city and started
south at 1890 p. N. At $50 next morn
Ing we found ourselves at Glasgow
junction, where We took car for Man,
moth Cave.
Here we spent the time till P. NJ,
when we were due to leave for Nash
Vile. As usual the train was late. The
visit to the Cave was wonderful ex-
perience. The places in that subter-
ranean cavern are full Of interest. After
the party passes in, the guide closes the
door and turns the key, and one can but
feel for time the oppressiveness of the
situation. This is soon relieved as the
guide stops, takes down the receiver
and holds telegraphic communication
with the world above. This was hardly
the experience of the dscoverer in 1SO2,
or of the men who prepared salt peter
there to be used in gunpowder in the
war of 1912. The watts remain, the hol-
low logs for conducting water, the i'm
press of the feet of the oxen and cart
wheels are there as they were nearly a
century ago.
One can in few hours but just begin
to see the wonderful formations, but
enough to remember for lifetime and
to feel that in the earth beneath as in
the sky above the works of the Almighty
are beyond our comprehension.
Among the chief attractions were the
giants coffin, the arm chair, the bridal
altar, the bottomless pit, (Which has a
bottom,) Shelby's dome, the star cham
| Der, Martha Washington's statue, the
acute angle, as well as many others.
None was more beautiful than the star
chamber.
| The party came to resting place and
while halting were favored with recita-
lions from Maine and Alabama, while
New Hampshire led us in singing "All
Round the World the Ribbon White is
Twined," after which we retraced our
steps to the outer world.
We reached Nashville at 10 p. NJ. On
Friday morning convention opened at
1880, Mrs. Stevens in the chair. All the
general officers and large proportion
of state presidents and superintendent
ans wered the roll call, the south and
middle west being we'll represented,
while New England has the smallest
number it has had for years.
Saturday afternoon was devoted to the
introduction of distinguished guests and
fraternal delegates, and from five to
seven o'clock a reception was given by
the governor at his mansion, to the
delegates.
Sunday the pulpits of the city were
very generally filled by our best speak
ers. Several of the Maine delegates
went out to Fisk University for the
> morning service, where Mrs. Thurman
spoke to the students. Mrs. Thurman
is national superintendent of work
among the colored people, and has
wrought wonderfully for them. This
University is named for Gen. Fisk, who
gave Jubilee Hall, beautiful building
and beautifully situated. At its head il
DR.. j. G.. Merrill. formerly of Portland
and once editor of the Christian Mirror
Sunday evening Gen. A. S. Dagge
spoke in the Rymah auditorium to al
. . immense audience, his subject being
"The influence of the sale of liquor il
the army canteen." He spoke from ex
perience and knew whereof he spoke
1t seemed to some who listened tina
such presentation of the subject ough
to be convincing. but as one who heard
said, ut is, to those who believe as h.
does" Those who will not be convinc
ed there are, no matter what is said oil
by whom.
Monday morning the wheels of thu
i. convention begin to move again, and BY
Wednesday night will have ceased re-
! volving and the lesser wheels will re
ceive a new force and turn the coming
year with greater activity.
K. A. G.. STICKNEY.
NASHVILLE, TENN, Nov. II, 1907.