The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-01-20
Memories of the Past.
New York Cor, Concord Monitor. ]

New York Cor, Concord Monitor
AS we are going through so many CEN
tennials, am led to reference of this
kind on the opening of the present year.
Looking back hundred years, one finds
Jefferson at the close of his public life
and retired to Monticello. He and John
Adams had been on i'll terms, owing to
political disagreement, but were that
year reconciled, their old friendship being
renewed, and Jefferson lived long enough
to congratulate Adams on the election of
his son, John Quincy Adams, to the pre-
sidency. Both of these eminent patriots
died on the same day, July 4, 1926. 1t
may be added that Monticello is now
owned by Jefferson M. Levy, of this
city, who makes it his winter residence
and who gave a handsome reception
there on Christmas. Just century ago.
Henry Clay opened in Congress his
American system, that is building up a
manufacturing interest that should make
us what we are This was bold posi-
ton for a young man from the back
woods of Kentucky, but it remained his
policy through life.
OTHER CENTENNIAL POINTS.
Turning to literature, Washington
Irving just a hundred years ago had won
some distinction by his "Knickerbocker
History" but as he found no other sub
ject for his pen, he was at Albany, seek
ing an appointment, but, lacking politi-
cal influence, he was unsuccessful. He
then went to Washington on public bust
going from Philadelphia to Baltimore and
then struggled through mud and mire to
this place" Such was travelling on a
great highway a century ago. Daniel
Webster was at the same time practising
law in Portsmouth, and how little did
either of these men dream of their future
eminence. William c. Bryant, a youth
of l6, was then attracting notice by a
little volume OF poetry, containing only
SO pages, which he mad published at his
own cost, and which contained some very
clever hits. One copy of that early pro-
duction would now bring more than the
cost of the whole original edition. The
same year that Bryant appeared, Charles
Bfockden Brown, the father of Ameri-
can fiction, died. He had published a
half-dozen novels which held popularity
until surpassed by Cooper. Just one hun
dred years ago George Frederick Cooke,
the first foreign star that ever visited
our country, appeared at the Park thea
ter as Richard Third and had crowded
house. He was brilliant but very in
temperate, which soon led to his death
and he was buried in St. Paul's church
yard, where his monument is a promi-
nent feature.
HARRISON AND MORSE.
Taking military retrospect, just a
hundred years ago General Harrison,
with a small force was holding the
frontier against the Indians. who soon
made an attack on his camp at Tippe-
canoe (Indiana) but were defeated in
the most decisive manner and 30 years
later the victorious general became our
president Just one hundred years ago
Samuel F. B. Morse graduated at Yale
college and went Immediately to Lon
don TO study art in which he made rapid
attainment. little imagining those tele-
graph wonders he was eventually to de-
yelop. Just one hundred years ago the
first foreign missionary society in the
United States was founded, the title
being the American Board of Commits
sioners for Foreign Missions. There was
at that time but one dry goods store in
Brooklyn and the mail passed through
Long Island once week. This city had
population of SO, 600 and was generally
supposed to have attained its full growth
"a finished city.
FOREIGN CONDITION.
Just one hundred years ago Napoleon
having become master of almost all
Europe, divorced his wife (the unfortu-
nate Josephne) and married an Austrian
princess. Josephine retired to a country
house near Paris and lived long enough
to see the fall Of her perfidious husband,
who was soon deserted by his second
wife. Just one hundred years ago
George Third, king of Great Britain, be-
came insane and continued so until his
death, space of 10 years. His son, at
terward George Fourth, was made Prince
Regent. 1t is a curious fact that during
the kings lunacy, the tragedy or Lear
was not played at any theater IN Great
Britain.
SCOTT AND JEFFREY.
Just hundred years ago Walter Scott
wrote THE Lady of the Lake, his best
poem, little imagining that Byron would
soon drive him from poetry to romance,
where he would achieve far greater
fame. The same year Francis Jeffrey,
editor of the Edinburg Review, came
hither, being the first foreign editor that
visited America AS his editorial policy
had always been favorable, he vas warm
ly received and was highly pleased with
New York hospitality. Here he met
Charlotte Wilkes, daughter of the pres-
dent of the Bank of New York, who
lived in Wall street, and the result Of his
acquaintance was that three years later
he came over again and carried her off
as his bride. As the War of 1912 was
then in progress, Madison gave him
pass for his ship and on his return his
house was open to American tourists.
But what wonderful advance has been
made in science since those centennial
days-too great, indeed, to be recorded by
Martel.
Simple Remedy for LaGrippe.