Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-05-04

As soon as the cigars were lighted,
President j. H. Bean of the Board rose,
and after briefly expressing his thanks
to the committee, consisting OF William
j. Wheeler, A. z. Shurtleff and w. A.
Porter, who had the banquet in charge,
he called upon Walter L. Gray, Esq, to
act as tosstmaster for the evening.
The hour which followed was one OF
great enjoyment for all. Sound bust
ness talk, wit, pleasantly and nonsense
were happily mingled. There wasn't q
dull moment, and the POSTMASTER wound
up the programme at just the right time,
when nobody had a suspicion OF weari-
ness.
The first speaker introduced by the
POSTMASTER was Col. F. Z. Boothby OF
Portland, general passenger agent OF the
Maine Central Railroad, former presi-
dent of the Portland Board Of Trade and
for some years mayor of Portland, who
had come especially to attend this BAN
quet. A part of Col. Boothby's boy
hood was spent in South Paris, and in
opening his remarks he said, "If there
is ANYTHING to me, the foundations were
laid within sight Of this hotel, in the
old Oxford Normal Institute, under
Ebenezer Hinds." Col. Boothby in
dulged in numerous "reminiscences Of
the old days in South Paris, referred to
the large number of Oxford County
people in Portland, and spoke warmly
of the beauty of Paris Hill and its his
tory, and especially of the high charac-
ter and distinguished record of Hannibal
Hamlin. Referring to the matter OF the
board of trade, he suggested from his
experience ways in which it might work,
advocated doing something along the
line of civic Improvement, and closed
with the exhortatiop, keep South Paris
to the front. Let people know that
there's something doing"
William j. Wheeler was introduced by
Toastmaster Gray as one OF the most
active business men of the place, and one
of the readiest to put in his time, bis en-
deavor, and his funds, on any work that
was for the good of the place. Mr..
Wheeler spoke with great earnestness,
reviewing some of the things that had
been done for the betterment of the
place, either by the board of trade or by
public. spirited citizens acting in concert
before the board was organized. Among
them he mentioned the work done in
locating the Paris Manufacturing Co.
here and re-establishing it after the fire,
the laying out of the little park In the
Square, the building of Billings Block
and Pythian Block, and the retaining
and rebuilding Of the Mason Manufactur-
ing Co. after the fire. Mr.. Wheeler read
letters from Charles s. Hichborn OF
Augusta, president Of the State Board,
and E. NJ. Blanding of Bangor, secretary
of the board, who had been invited to
this banquet but were unable to be pres
emit.
DR.. Alfred King of Portland, who Ia
the owner of several farms in Paris, on
being called upon Strengthened his ample
form and remarked that he supposed II
was his lean and hungry look which In.
cited his invitation to this BAT quet. He
admitted that he was not born in Paris,
but that was not his fault. His grand
father was, and he thought with the
Irishman that man ought to be proud
of the place of his nativity, whether be
was born there or not. He urged
especially the development of the agri'
cultural resources of the town, which he
said were far beyond what is generally
understood. On his own farm he hao
already demonstrated the possibility o.
large profits in raising potatoes, one o.
the most profitable crops the Maine
farmer could produce.
A song by Messrs. George A. Briggs
and r. N. and Fred E. Hall varied thu
programme, and they had to come bach
with another.
President q. B. Young of the Norway
Board of Trade was called upon, and re
sponded briefly.
Hon. James s. Wright spoke not q
great length. saying that while this boare
of trade has not been constantly active
1t has always been quick to see and taxi
advantage Of any opportunity to advanc,
the interests Of the place. The boart