Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-10-16
Correspondence.
Some "reminiscences.
WEST MANSION, WoRTHING,


SUSSEX, ENGLAND, Oct. !, 1912.
To the Editor of The American:
This mornings post brought to Sussex
an unaccustcmed pleasure in the shape of
several newspapers from Maine. kindly
sent me by one who knew that the account
OF the centennial celebration of the Els
worth church would interest me,
1t has indeed done SO, and to such de-
gree that cannot resist the inclination to
add few "reminiscences Of my own to the
many to which such an occasion must
have given rise among those Of the COM
munity whose memories carry pictures of
a smaller Ellsworth and an earlier day.
say pictures with intention, so far as
my own memory goes, because it is rather
as detached pictures than as definite re-
collections that the Ellsworth OF my
childhood comes back to me after many
years and in another country. And SO
many OF those pictures have the church as
a central feature that it almost seems as if
the social scheme OF that day must have
revolved about it as a pivot.
In my memories OF the church 1t is al
ways a Sunday in June; there is always
in the air a scent Of summer gardens and
Of sweet-ferny pastures near at hand,
with the measured call OF the church bell,
and presently the gathered congregation.
Mr.. Tenney in the pulpit; Mr.. Ilisiey in
the choir. 1t is all shadowy, indistinct,
the impressionist picture that the pass
ing scene leaves upon the mind Of q child
given to dreaming, and yet here and there
some feature stands out in clearer lines;
why, it is impossible to say.
For instance, see always the substan-
tial figure Of Mrs. Buckmore in the next
pew in front with pretty grandchild
beside her, and always on the other side
OF the church, q drawn silk bonnet Of
delicate color worn by Mrs. Deacon
Dutton. The bonnet had little circular
crown on which was pattern wrought
in silk or gold thread, and thus orna-
mented it stamped on child's memory
an impression which has lasted nearly
sixty yearsi
The advent of the organ was matter OF
immense interest. The church was open
for everyb body to inspect the new acquisi-
ton, and the child, who was promptly on
the scene and much impressed, saw and
stored up in her memory another picture.
The giver of the organ came to see and
to hear his generous gift. He stood in the
church and listened as someone at the
keyboard showed its PAGES; then he called
gently up to the gallery: "Play some
thing lively-Yankee Doodle," In a mo-
ment the lighter strain was touched, and
the debonair old colonel took two or three
irreverent dancing steps up the church
aisle. The child looking on, unnoticed,
from her observation corner, was filled
with kind Of fesrsome delight which
fixed that picture never to fade.
Something OF harmony and simple dig
nifty in the architectural lines of the
church and in its commanding position,
something in the grace and lightness of
its spire entered into the child's imagina-
ton, and has survived there as an ideal
which has never been crowded out by any
later enjoyment of cathedral or temple or
mosque. Although plain and unre-
markable example OF that distinctive type
which might justly be entitled the New
England order of architecture, it was
somehow potent to awaken ideas of rever-
ence, to develop what can only describe
as the ''church sensen, an impression more
English than American, as a rule.
It was with something of a shock that
visited the church some years ago for the
first time since early youth, and found the
where are many graves of
early founders and members, in state of
utter neglect. When tried to penetrate
10 the place where lie many Of my own
kindred and forbears, / found the way
barred by an impossible jungle of wild
The fences were broken
down and there were even more shocking
evidences OF want OF proper respect in
places where removals had been made
without any attempt to restore order to
the ground.
1t was little consolation for the painful