Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-23
Tribute to Governor perham.
A PORTION OF REV. MR.. VAN scHAIcK's
FUNERAL ADDRESS.

A PORTION OF REV. MR.. VAN sCHAIcK'
FUNERAL ADDRESS.
Below are given some extracts fror
the address given at the funeral Of En-
Governor Perham by Rev. John Va
Schaick, Jr., of Washington. Lack
space forbids giving in full this feelin
testimonial to the worth of the man VIII
has gone. Those portions Of 1t hav
been selected which have the most pei
sonal interest for Governor Perham'
friends.
Back to the old home we have com
with an honored form. To the stat
which gave him birth, we bring tn
body of worthy son. From Washing
ton to Paris Hill, from Paris Hill +
Bryant's Pond we make a sacred pill
grimage with our dead.
Another page in the history of thi
state is written. Another volume full
of inspiration and power is completed
Another life worthy of this great stat
has been lived out.
The other day to me in Washington
came newspaper from the far west
Arizona / think. A friend had caugh
the headlines and sent it to me. 1t sale
Forty Years Ago Perham was 1
Power" 1t referred to the SSth ami
versary of his birth in Washington.
said when saw it, 81 have no doubt III
was, but he has been a greater power
the last ten years of his life."
"Oh, how comely," says the goot
book, sis the wisdom of old men anG
understanding and counsel to men Of
honor" "Much experience is the crown
of old men, and the fear of God is theil
glory"
We have all felt that his life was q
living illustration of that text. Erect in
spite of SS years, with presence dignified
and gracious, countenance open and
cheerful, manners transformations and
unassuming, he has been familiar
figure about Washington, and he has fill
ed large place in Washington life. Al
the capitol he kept the run of legisla.
ton. He was often seen on the floor OF
the House. He kept the friendship of a
younger generation of public men. He
was honored and trusted by all.
In old age, not very far from the GEN.
fury mark, his mind was absolutely
clear, his body could take him about
with reasonable degree of ease, his
heart was as young as that of boy, and
although the time for active work was
past, he made our busy world feel:
"They also serve who only stand and
wait"
Hundreds passed the casket Thursday
night and looked at the silent form.
Many spoke to me on Friday of what
they saw. All agreed that never had
they seen one more calm or beautiful or
majestic. Through all these last years
that has been the feeling inspired in
those who saw him. 1t was beautiful
old age. 1t was an honorable old age.
1t was cheerful and happy and useful
old age. 1t shows us how to grow old.
1t teaches us the part old age is to play
in our social life if our society is to be
complete.
In the old town where he lived so
many years, and in the old home he
loved so much, we gather to day to dis
charge sacred responsibility. 1t is
not the time for mirth and rejoicing. 1t
is not the time for sorrow sand tears. 1t
is the coronation hour of a noble life,
and sense of victory ought to fill this
house and permeate every heart. All
day the sunshine has streamed in. All
day the cheerful fire has radiated it's
light and cheer. Instead of the darken-
ed shutters and the sable plumes, in
stead of the dread and fear of death, all
has been as he would have it.
And all has been symbolical. To him
death was not pictured by the skull and
cross bones, death was not grim reaper
with a scythe and hourglass, come to
cut man down, death was a radiant
presence, majestic form, a loving
angel who took tired children in his
arms and said "Come unto me, all We
that labor and are heavy laden, and l
will give you rest"
| want to speak to you for little
while very simply, about one whom we
all admired and whom most of US loved.
Seven years ago last November on the
first Sunday that was in Washington, l
was introduced to Governor Perham on
the street near the entrance to the
church that / serve. He was then past
so, was young man of 25. He was
entering the church to take his accus-
toned place. was entering the church
a total stranger to preach as supply.
| remember most distinctly the i'm
preston made upon me by his greeting
on the sidewalk, and by his cordial hand
clasp when the service came to close.
At that first meeting felt that he was a
true type of an American gentleman, an
example of honorable old age, with a
kind and gracious soul, and have never
changed my mind.
In all these years that have passed so
swiftly away | have come to know him
well. have seen him often in his home
in Washington. / have visited him in
his home in Maine. l have had him
nearly every Sunday before me in the
church. | have gone with him to public
gatherings in our city. / have dined
with him, driven with him, been with
him in sorrow and in joy, seen him in a
long and dangerous sickness and seen
him upon a platform facing hundreds of
people, and l think that l know the
man.
want to say to-day quietly and calm
ly without any pretence at eulogy, or
oratory or preaching, that one of my
greatest joys in Washington has been
his friendship-one of the greatest in
SEPARATIONS in my ministry has been his
life.
The interest was awakened first by a
love of history, by his personal knowl-
edge of public men and events stretch
ing over nearly a century, by his deep
and keen interest in public affairs.
liked to hear him talk about campaigns
in Maine, 40, so and 60 years ago. / lik-
ed to ask him about war times, his ex-
periences in Congress, his knowledge of
men like Neal Dow, Hannibal Hamlin,
Jas. G.. Blaine, VIM. Pitt Fessenden,
Chief Justice Fuller, and score of
others, and above all else of Lincoln,
that lovely, lofty life, that sad and
patient figure, that majestic and trium-
phant soul, that man whose arms he
helped hold up through the Civil War.
Then as / came to know him better
my interest grew from history to biog-
graphy-from the great events with
which he was connected to the relation
that those events bore to his life.
The papers have told us the story. !
need not repeat it here. Born and bred
on the farm, trained in the schools and
academies of Maine, farmer and
teacher himself, he was early drawn in
to public life, forced into the discussion
of public questions, drafted to serve in
public office. Three times he was sent
by Maine to Congress. Three times he
was made Governor of the old Pine Tree
State. To other positions of honor and
4rnst rnlitical educational rafnrmatOrY