.*^ rRYEBURG Webster Centennial, GelebratlnA the cominA of IDa-nTLiel TX7"eloste32 to FRYBBURG, 100 years a^o, to take the Principalship of Tryebur^ Academy. Fryeburg, January 1st, 1902. FRYEBURG, MAINE: A. F. LEWIS, PUBLISHER, 1902. A RIGM rilND. In the old Academy Museum which Amos J. Cook collected (luring his Principalship of a third of a century, among other curi- os, mementos and memorials, (which went up in smoke), were sup- posed to be the autograph letters, written and sent to Mr. Cook from Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. Until recently it was supposed that these letters shared the common fate of the rich col- lection of the Museum. A pleasant surprise was recently given to the Trustees, when they learned that these valuable letters were in the possession of the late F. B. Osgood, Esq.. — the same having been found among the papers of his father, Major James Osgood, who was a Trustee of the Academy at the time the .building was destroyed in May, 1850. It is supposed that Major Osgood res- cued these precious documents from their peril at the time of the fire. These letters, having been written to a Teacher in our venerable institution, are interesting links, associating our Academy with the Fathers of the Republic — as it is already associated with the great statesman who was its early Teacher. This booklet contains cop- ies of these interesting letters, and we feel to congratulate the A- cademy on the good fortune of their preservation; also on the hope that the originals will soon be returned to the Trustees, to be the nucleus of another Fryeburg Academy Museum. ACADEMY MUSEUM. If a.iv ote has old documents, letters, books, curios, or relics of any kind, they are coraially invited to send them as a contribution to the Fryeburg Academy Museum. It is hoped that we shall soon have a building, where all g\ic\i Memorials can l)e safely stored, beyond the peril and danger of taffe. PRYBBLIRG^EBSTER MEMORIAL, Illustrated; Containing Webster's Fryeburg Oration, several letters and poems written by Webster while in college and at Fr\-eburg — poems by Longfellow (on Lovewell's Fight), Whittier, Henry Bernard Carpen- ter, and several other poems specially written for The Memorial. Sent, post paid, 50 cents. Webster's Fryeburg Oration, post paid, 1-5 cents. Proceedings of Pryeburg Web^^iter Centennial. Jan. 1st, 1902, with addresses, poems, unpublished letters of Wash- ington, Adams and Jefferson, written to Preceptor Cook, and other matter of local historic interest. Address, A. F. LEWIS, Fryeburg, Me. PREFACE. The friends of Fryeburg Academy, in these d.ays of Cen- tennials, not only deemed it proper, but the fitness of things made it incumbent upon them to take note of, and duly ob- serve, the coming of Daniel Wel)ster to this village, 100 years ago, to act as Principal of their time-honored Institu- tion of Leai'ning. Accordingly the following program was arranged and successfully carried out : Program in Academy Hall, at 11 a. m. Opening Address, 1 2. Music, 3 Life of Webster, 4. Oration from Webster, Massachusetts and So. Carolina. 5. Address, 6. Music, 7. Quotations from Webster, 8. a. Webster the Educator, "| b. History of Webster's Services at ; Fryeburg Academy from ( Records of Academy. j 9. Poem, 10. Music, Charles G. Willard. A. B. Fnjelnirg Academy Orchestra. Mr. A. F. Lewis. Floyd W. Burnell. Dr. S. C. Gordon. " ('horns of Students. Class 1902. ^fr. IV. .4. Hobinson. by a Friend of the Academy. Fryeburg Academy Orchestra. At the close of the exercises in the hall, j'ou are cordially invited to an in- formal opening of the new dormitory. W^e hope to see as many friends and alnnini of the school present, as possible. Several letters of Webster with an account of the open- ing of Alumni House on Monday evening, Dec. 30th, together ♦Detained in Portland by professional services. with the delightful social hour and lunch that followed the • j)rogram on the day of the Celebration, at the !?arae place, with a brief history of the dwelling, a list of the Teachers of Fryeburg Academy, and some facts of Fryeburg Centennials, and Fryeburg's notable days, historic dates, places, and events of the town, follow the exercises of the program as given in this jirinted account of this first Fryeburg Webster Jubilee — to be followed, the coming summer, with a more formal and elaborate celebration of the great Stateman's so- journ in Fryeburg. Fryeburg, Maine, January 1, 1902. OPENING ADDRESS //// Charlefi Glidden WiUard, A. B. Friends, Aluinni iiiid Scholars — Before beginning the prepared program, 1 wish to speak a word or two upon the significance of this meeting. This date, so near the beginning of a new century, is clus- tered about with many events, inventions and ideas, which, within the hijise of a few years must modify considerably the trend of American life. We now not only hear our friends talk hundreds of miles distant but we see their like- nesses before us. We even hear of messages being sent, through the agency of electricity, for thousands of miles without the use of connecting wires. We see the race question in the South l)rought before us in such light as never l)etore, and the peo})le of the >«orth awakening to the realization of its duties in helping to emancipate the negro from his })resent degraded state. We see Mrs. Stanford bequeathing thirty million dolhirs to the university which bears her name, the largest single bequest ever made in the cause of education. We see Carnegie ot!ering ten million dollars to found a national university at Washington to promote research in higher fields of study and to give opportunities for the study of government and law such as can be found nowhere else in our country. Yet, amidst all these more far-reaching events which ar<; 6 f^huping- the destiny of nmnkind, there is taking place a sini- ihir movement in our smaller world of FrNehurg. "New occasions teach new duties Time makes ancient good uncouth." Mindful of the truth that "time makes ancient good un- couth"" the friends and alumni of our academy have provi- ded us with a new dormitory. They have fixed up our li- brary by painting, papering and varnishing it, and also bj' adorning its walls with pictures. They have supplied us with magazines and have placed many new books upon the shelves of our library. Yet, as their president has said, their good work is not going to stop here. What, then, is the significance of our meeting here to- day? First, we celebrate in memory of one of the world's great- est minds which took up its duties among the people of Fryeluirg just one hundred years tigo. Secondly, we meet to sliow our appreciation and grati- tude to our friends and alumni who have done so much for our academy within the last year. Lastly, we meet to recall pleasant recollections and the glory of our })ast, l)ut not this alone. We meet to bring vividlv l)efore us our duties in providing that nourishment for our academy whereby its growth and health ma}- con- tinue in the future as it has in the past. inEarly Manhood. HISTORICAL ADDRESS of A. F. Lewis, Esq, Mr. Cliainnan, Alumni, :uk1 Friends of Fryel)nrg Aeadeniv : \\\ the brief liour allotted me this morning" I cannot treat, even hardly allude to, many of the masterpieces of Webster. His life, as a public man, was an Ei)ic, full of the most brilliant and dramntic scenes, covei'ing a period of fifty years ; which the art of the engraver, the painter, and the scul})tor will transmit to future ages. My address will deal, principally, with his early and college life ; his life as a Teacher and Citizen at Fryeburg, and tw^o of his master- pieces, the Dartnu)uth College Case, and his Seventh of March speech— considering him in the role of Statesman, Patriot, Diplomatist — as the brilliant Lawyer, the magniti- cent Orator, and The Great Man. Daniel Webster was the son of Elienezer and Abigail (Eastman) Wel)ster, and was l)orn at Salisl)ury, N. H.. flan. 1§, 1782, at the dawn of the final recognition of American Independence. His father enlisted at the age of 18 in the French and Indian War, and was in the Revolution with Stark and Putnam. Private lessons at home, with incident- al labors upon the farm, furnished the groundwork of Web- ster's primary studies, and enabled him to enter the acad- emy at Exeter, at the age of 14, where he remained nine months. In speaking of his school daj^s at Exeter, We1)- ster said that "he made tolerable progress in all branches, but there was one thing he could not do. He could not make a declamation — he could not s})eak before the school. 10 The kind and excellent Buckniinster especially sought to persuade nie to i)erfonn the exercise of declamation, like othej- hoys, l)ut I could not do it. Many a })iecedid I com- mit to I'neniory, and lehearse in my own room, over aiid over again ; hut when the chiy came, and my name was called, and I saw all eyes turned upon my seat, 1 could not raise myself from it. Sometimes the masters frowned, sometimes they smiled. Mr. Buckminster :dways pressed and entreated with the most winning kindness, that I would ventui'e onl v once : l)ut I could not connnand sutticient resolu- tion ; and when the occasion was o^er, I went home and we})t tears of l)itter mortification" '*llere, then'' says an anonymous biographer of Wel)ster, "is a striking foct ; the man, who, during his first nine months at an academy, though a good reader, and naturally self-i)ossessed, could not deliver a speech ; and yet, afterwards, he ])ecame the greatest orator of his time." Bashful hoys, take courage I After returning home from Exeter, he studied a few weeks with Rev. Mr. Wood of Boscawen, and heing Htted, he entered Dartmouth at the age of 15. Of Ehenezer's five sons, Ehenezer, l)a\id and.]()se[)h had grown to manhood, were settled in life, and long past the school age. To educate the two remaining, Ezekiel and Daniel, was beyond his means. I)Ut if his longing to see, at least, one son rise above the humble calling of a farmer was to be gratified, it must be one of these, and to choose which, cost the father a bitter struggle. He met it with the unfaltering courage which marked the man, made his de- cision, and one day in 1795 announced his determination. "On a hot day in July," said \Vel)ster, describing the scene, many years later, "it nuist have been in one of the last years of Washington's administration, 1 was making hay with my father, just where I now see a remaining elm tree. Al)out the middle of the forenoon the Hon. Abiel Foster, M. 0., who lived in Canterlmrv, six miles ofl', called at the house n and viime into the tield to see my father. When he was i^one my father called me to him, and we sat down beneath the elm on a hay-cock. He said : "My son that is a worthy man ; he is a member of Congress ; he goes to Philadelphia and gets six dollars a day, while I toil here. It is because he had an education whicli I never had. If 1 had had his education I should haAe been in Philadel})hia in his place. I came near as it was. But I missed it, and now I must work here.'' When my father fully made known his pur- pose I could not speak. How could he, I thought, with so large a family, and in such narrow circumstances, think of incurring so great an expense forme? A warm glow ran all over me, and I laid my head upon my father's shoulder and wei)t, and I weep at its recollection. The next moment I felt as prcnid as a Roman consul to whom a triumph had been decreed."' Such was the beginning of his college ca- reer; a beginning, auspicious indeed, to say the least, and the sensitive boy already seemed to foreshadow the great and mighty statesman.' The name of Daniel Webstei- is to the average person suggestive of statesmanship, oratory and eloquence. No history of the United States would be complete which did not pay due homage to Webster's genius as dis])layed in j)u))lic life. But in extolling his many achievements of later life, a most important period of his career has been sadly neglected by all writers, that of his college life. It was a period in which first appeared those (|ualities and capabilities in Webster which foretold for him the great future which he so well filled, a period in which his desires and ambitions were sha})ing themselves, a period which more than any other directly laid the foundation for Web- ster's future successes. And yet we have heard very little of "Webster as a college man," this part of his career being even more lightly touched upon by historical and biograph- ical writers than even the earlier years of his life or those 12 immediately following his graduation. Thanks to careful research during the past few years, however, and the dis- covery of heir-looms in the nature of diaries kept by Web- ster, and by his classmates who paid tribute to Wel)ster. much has been gleaned which shows \A'ebsterashe was at college. The recent centennial of his graduation at Dart- mouth has brought out much of his college life, and will re- sult in the preservation to the college, and to the country much that was in danger of being lost. ^Ve have the testi- mony of a classmate that Webster spent but a small part of his time in the |)rejiaration of his text-book lessons, which, in ftict, he rarely learned as a matter of detail. He, lather, read his books very carefully, took a comprehensive view of the lessons assigned and made them a basis of further reading and research in line with the text. In fact, he spent so little time witii his text books that his enemies charsred him with laziness in coUejze, but in^'ariablv his class-room efforts showed a knowledge of the subject at hand more comjirehensive than that possessed by any other student, and the professors of his i]u\ lltnis-eives are au- thority that Webster not infrequently understood his work better than they did. "Webster did not like to be con- fined to a narrow view," says a classmate. **He would study the text-books but a short time, would seem to com- prehend them in a largei- view than the other students, and would then employ hours inclose thought, either in his room, or in his strolls afield. And Webster ^^as blessed with a wonderful memory. I have known him to read 20 pages of poetry through twice, and then repeat the 20 pages almost verbatim. The very fact of his learning thus easily, and of his method of strolling the field for contemplation and absorption of his subject, gave the impression at first that Webster was slothful, but as he gradually came to low- er head and shoulders above other students in an under- standing of his subject, in command of language and in 13 oratorical diunity, we realized that in him was the niould- iiiii' of a master mind." It was this same trait in Webster that displayed a most amusing result just before entering college. The teacher of a school which Daniel attended, one Friday afternoon showed the scholars a new jack-knife, which, she said, would be given to the pupil, who, on the next Monday niorning could re})eat the largest numl)er of scriptural verses from the psalms. Webster repeated ])nges wliere the others repeated verses, and the jack-knife l)ecame his property. Exj)lanatory of this accomplishment, Web- ster wrote a friend : "Whatever I read J make my own. At the close of a iialf-hour's reading I close my book and think it all over. If anything seems of j)articular interest, in sentiment or language, I endeavor to recall it and lay it up in memory : then, when any debate comes u]), touching that sul)ject. I can talk ejisily so fai' as my knowledge ex- tends, and, when that point is reached, I am always careful to sto})." Webster s})ent the first -two years of his college life in the house now known as the McMurphy house, and he occu})ied a smrdl room in the upper story of the small cottage. Here, in a poorly lighted, and a poorly heated room, he composed his compositions, or i)ored over his l)ooks. It is said, that sometimes on cold winter evenings, ;i small lamp placed l)eneath his chair was the only artiticial means for bodily warmth, yet he was so absorl)ed in his l)ooks that he did not notice any discomfort. This house stands in the JVortli West part of the town, at the corner of what is known as Webster Avenue, a l)eautiful street recently laid out, yet even now dotted with elegant private lesidences. It was given the name of Webster Avenue, because here, so says tradition, was Webster's favorite strolling place, along the tields overlooking the Connecticut, and commanding a grand view of the White Mountains to the North, and a sweep down the Connecticut valley to the south. Another favor- 14 ite retreat, hard by, was what is now known as the Vale of Tempe, in more recent years made famous as the site of the Almy murder. It was through the Vale of Tempe, and off into the then deep forests that Webster strolled one day, the experience of which he afterwards related in a letter to a friend. Webster's parents had learned that former friends of theirs were living a few npi to the north, and at their request, he set out to look uiem up. Trudging" through the woods, climbing over l)r(>\en trees, and penetrating tangled bushes, he came, after great weariness, to the much sought-for house, and, as he relates it, "found the people poor as Job's cat." "They were reduced to the last ex- tremes of poverty, and their house contained one small a- partment, with a rude [)artition tomake two rooms. I saw how they were situated, but could not retreat. They con- fessed that they had not even a cow or potatoes. The only thino; they had to eat beino- a bundle of o'reen ^rass and a little hog's lard. In my tired condition, I actually partook of green grass fried in hog's laid for 1>oth breakfiist and supper, and relished it too." As early as sophomore year, Webster displayed great ability as a literary writer, and at once sj)rang into promi- nence. He com})osed his own declamations : he wrote poetry with fluency, and delivered an occasional oration. He was accustomed to stroll along the trout brooks or go to the woods to hunt game, and with rod or gun in hand, muse over his theme. Ashe styled it, he "composed at leisure and wrote in haste," in many instances })utting none of his important composition on paper until the very day it was to be delivered. It is a matter of record that in one instance, he sat down to his table just after dinner, to write a theme which he was to deliver at 2. 30 that very afternoon. When the theme was about half written, there came a gust of wind that blew Webster's manuscript over the meeting- house, whereupon Webster strolled leisurely off to the class- 15 room and delivered his theme as though nothing had lia}){)en- ed ; it was one of the best efforts of the day. In college, Webster tirst l)ecanie prominent as a writer through the medium of the Dartmouth Gazette, established by a Moses Davis in 17*.li), and printed on one of the first printing presses used in this country. The object of the paper was, "to give the jieople literature." It was an- nounced, that "to give the j^-^wir a start, 25 cents is requii'ed on receipt of the first nuniber,^1nd aO cents, if offered, will not be refused.'" Soon afte'4\its establishment, there ap- l)eared in its columns, the following communication : "Mr. Davis : Having seen your pro])osals for ])rinting a news- papei , under the respectable title of the Dartmouth Gazette, I have |)resumed to come forward, and cast in my mite to increase, if not to enrich your weekly re{)ast. Should you think the outpourings of my puerile })en worthy a place in your new vehicle of knowledge, you may depend on a num- ber weekh'. As I am unable to treat any subject with that knowledge and accuracy it deserves, you will i)ermit me, as a compensation for want of abilities, to range the whole field of nature, in order to collect those productions which fortune may tlirow in my way. Icarus." In due season, the writings of "Icarus" became the most read, and most able in the paper. They were of a varied nature, being communications, sometimes to the selectmen of the town, urging im[)roved sanitary conditions, and better administra- tion of duties, essays on "Hope," "Charity," i)oems on "Spring,"' and other subjects. Webster's first public oration at Dartmouth (Jollege was not his Fourth of July oration, as is generally supposed, but rather an oration delivered on the death of a classmate, one Ephraim Simonds, whose last resting place is marked by a slab in the village cemetery. Simonds, Sumner and Cook, three students of Webster's time, are sleeping their last sleep in what, marked by three slabs, is known as stu- 16 dents' row in the village cemeteiy. Simonds was buried under the aus})ices of the United Fraternity, a literary so- ciety of Webster's time, and We])ster was invited to de- liver a pul)lic eulogy on the deceased, to wiiom he paid a most glowing tribute. This was delivered when lb years of age. The same year, and while a junior in college, he delivered his famous Fourth of July Oration, having been unanimously invited by the citizens of tlie town. Another oration was delivered l)efore the society at the time of Webster's graduation, but the records of the society have been mutilated, and somebody has ap})ro})riated the man- uscript copy of the address. It is stated by classmates, as shown by diaries and letteis that are still pieserved, that whenever any ditficult task was necessary, it was always laid on Webster. As early as his first year in college, Webster showed that instinctive love for the I'nion and Constitution which after- ward made him famous, ^^'riting to a friend, who feared for the safety of the country, because of foreign encroach- ments, he said : "'Intenudly secure, we have nothing to fear. Let ?Airoi)e pour her end)attled millions around u> : let her thronged cohorts cover onr shores from the St. Lawrence to the St. Mary's, yet united Columbia shall stand unmoved. The name of her deceased Washington shall still guard the li))erties of his country, nnd direct the sword of freedom in the da}' of batthv Henven grant that the bonds of our federal union may be strengthened, that Gallic emissaries and Gallic princi})les may be spurned from our land, that traitors may be abashed, and that the stars and stripes of a united Colund)ia may wave trium- phant." Likewise at an early time in his college course he formed conclusive ideas on the subject of war, as shown by another letter written to a friend : '*Foi- what was man created, but to cultivate the arts of })eace and friendsliip, to improve his own mind by study and retlt'ction. to serve his 17 (i()(l with Jill the powers of his soul, and finally, when the (lays of his years are completed, to bid adieu to earthly ob- jects with a smile, to close his eyes on the pillow of relig- ious hope, and sink to repose on the bosom of his Maker. Why. then, is the object of our existence unattained ? Why does war, relentless war, draw the sword to spill the blood of mankind ? War under certain circumstances is proper, is just. When men assume to burst those chains which have bound them in slavery , to assist and maintain those princi])l('s which they justly claim as natural rights, their ol)ject is noble, and we wish them success. But on the contrary, when individuals, prompted by desire of re- venge, or from motives of ambition or })ersonal aggrandize- ment, lead forth their bloody hosts to slaughter, and wan- tonly sport in the destruction of their species, our bosoms glow with indignation, and we voluntarily but resolutely have recourse to those means foi our preservation, which tyrants employ for our destruction." The work and eloquence of Webster are supposed to have done much toward raising the debt, and toward putting Dartmouth in a position to enjoy a heallliful growth. Webster's diaries tell many interesting experiences, none more so than an experience which he met with on his re- turn to college at the close of a winter's recess. A neigh- bor who was going to Lebanon from Franklin by team, con- sented to take Daniel with him, and Daniel's mother packed his little trunk preparatory for an early start. It was a bit- ter cold morning, but Daniel was on the road long before breakfast, seated in an old-fashioned, scpiare-boxed, pung sleigh, with several barrels of cider. Daniel was dressed in new clothes, new mittens and new stockings, spun, woven and dyed by his mother. Coming to a stream soon after breakfast, they found that a freshet had washed the bridge away. The driver remarked : "Daniel, you've got good boots on, suppose you take the reins and drive, and me 18 walk over the Inidge/' "I drove cautiously," writes Web- ster, "and all seemed favorable for a safe passage, when the pung sank, and I found myself up to my armpits in water. The horse plunged and reached the o])posite baid<. and instantly I was a solid cake of ice. I jumped out of the sleigh, and, grabbing the seat rod, bade my com})anion to drive as fast as he could, and the motion of the sleigh kept me from freezing. At the. first houee, I stopp-ed and asked lo l)e })ut to bed, while the hostess dried my clothes. When I had recovered from my stupor, it Mas very aj)- parent that the contents of mot! er"s d\v pot was on my liody instead of on my clothes." It would be singular, if the thoughtful and intelligent citizens of this little borough, and the friends of this vener- able institution did not contemplate with deep intei est Web- ster's sojourn here, as teacl.er of this academy ; and the finding of his remarkable Fourth of July oration, delivered here 100 years ago,, after it had slept in (;blivion^O years. In a letter I received from Whittier a few years before he died, he said : "I am heartily glad at the discovery of the oration of the great orator and statesman. It is a very pleasant thing for your l)eautiful village which cherishes tiie memory of its illustrious resident and teacher as one of its most valuable treasures." It is a very interesting fact that the earliest eilbrts of our nu)st distinguished poet, and our most illustrious orator and statesman, are associated with Fryeburg. Longfellow's first poem, written at the age of 13, was upon Love well's Fight — Webster's first oration, after leaving college, was pronounced here 100 years ago. This oration, for profound thought and statesmanlike wis- dom, is certainly a remarkable production, and I believe that the world's greatest orators, at Webster's age when here, may safely be challenged to [)roduce an^'thing which will bear comparison with this early effort in Fryeburg. In- deed, Webster himself, who had a very poor opinion, in 19 after life, of his etforts, thought enough of his oration here to make it the basis of another one at Concord, N. H., sev- eral yea.is later : and he used the peroration of the Fryeburg address in the last speech he made in the Senate of the United States 48 years afterwards. It seems to have been a favorite closing — tirst used in Fryeburg, afterwards in Concord, — and finally the last words he spoke in the Sen- ate, July 17, 1850. While his brother Ezekiel was living, it is most impos- sil)le to se})arate the two brothers in our minds. Ezekiel was two years older than Daniel, but he did not graduate till three years after Daniel. Ezekiel, like Daniel, was a lawyer, and many persons who had opportunities to judge, thought him the equal of his more celebrated brother in in- tellectual endowments. In his younger years he was in- clined to be timid, while Daniel was as bold as a lion, and their father used to say that Ezekiel could not tell half he knew, but Daniel could tell more than he knew. In spite of his natural timidity, however, his talents soon won for him an exalted standing as a jurist, and at the time of his death he was regarded as one of the ablest lawyers of New^ Hampshire. He was elected to the Legislature 12 times, and at the election in March, /29, the month before he died, he was a candidate for Congress. He was a man of im- posin.tj presence, having a magnificent foim crowned with a a princely head. His maimers were kind and courteous, his heart warm and affectionate, and his countenance of rare and striking beauty. "My brother Ezekiel" said Daniel Webster in 1846, "appeared to me, and so does he now seem to me, the very finest human form that I ever laid eyes on." Daniel Webster had for his brother Ezekiel not only the most devoted affection, but the most exalted respect. In his early years he looked as anxiously for Ezekiel's ap- proval of his acts as Coriolanus did for that of his mother. It was Damon and Pythias over again. His confidence in 20 his elder brothers judgment was unbounded : his reliance upon his counsel and wisdom was without limit. When, nine months after Ezekiel's death, he had l)roui>htthe whole nation to pay homage at his feet for the splendor of his tri- umph ov^er the Southern champion, Robert Y. Hayne, he had one keen regret : "How I wish."' he sorrowfully ex- claimed, "that my poor brother had lived till after this speech, for I know that he would have been gratified by it." In their younger days the two brothers shared the meagre contents of a common purse until they had fully established themselves in their profession. On one occasion while Daniel was teaching here, and, at the same time, eking out his income l)v acting as de])uty register of deeds, he re- turned home by way of Hanover, where Ezekiel was at college. The first thing Daniel did was to find out whether his brother was in need of money : and, although his salary as a teacher was scarcely more than the wages of a day la- borer, being at the rate of only $o5() a year, yet he was ready to help Ezekiel if he was in need. The result of this visit of Daniel's to Ezekiel may l)e told in his own words: "We walked and talked during a long evening : and, finally seated upon an old log, not far from the college, 1 gave to Ezekiel $100, the first earnings of my life, the result of my labors in teaching and in recording deeds, after j)aying my own debts, — leaving to myself but three dollars to get home with. Having enjoyed this sincere and high [)leasure, I hied me back again to my school and my (•()})ying of deeds." Ezekiel's death was very sudden and utterly without pre- monition. AVhile addressing a juiy in the court room at Concord, he suddenly fell to the floor a corpse. He was apparently in perfect health, and had been speaking about half an hour, showing no diminution of his accustomed phys- ical strength or intellectual j)ower. He had closed one l)ranchofhis argument, uttering the concluding sentence and the final word distinctlv and with natural cadence, his 21 tbnn erect, his eye clear iind bright, when the hand of death suddenly arrested his earthly course. Physicians were im- mediately summoned, but no human aid was ot' any avail. It was thouii'ht that life was extinct before he reai-hed the Hoor in his fall. Judge Eastman, the late President of our board of Trustees, was in the court room at the time, and I have often heard him relate the circumstances of the solemn and impressive scene. Mr. Webster was tall and com- manding, and he said it seemed like the falling of a great ti'ee in a forest. To look at Webster, in that winter, when he was 19 years old, after he had begun to study for his })rofession — to see him drop his law l)ooks, mount his horse, and })lunge through the deep >nows and drifts, from Salisbury to Frye- burg — nearly a hundred miles — that he might, by teaching school, and copying deeds out of school hours, earn a little money to lielp his brother through college — is certainly to look upon a pleasixnt picture. All the stories and legends of Webster's life in Fryeburg are creditable to him as a man and a teacher. 1 have talked with (piite a number of his pupils, and their uniform testimony is, that he was an able and inspiring teacher. All testify that he had dignity, an even temper and good discipline, and that he commanded the love and respect of his ])ui)ils. While here he made speeches, delivered orations, dallied with the muses, wrote poetry — wrote letters, both in ver,-e and i)rose, neither of which were pi-osij. 1 have one of his lettei's written in rhyme, sent me by Judge Baylies* of Iowa. This is given *Juclge Baylies was a nephew of Judge Dana, and was a student liere at the Acad- emy in the twenties. The letter was written to a college chum of Webster, after- wards General Eleazer Wheelock Eipley, a brother of General James Kipley of this town, and a distinguished General in the war of 1812— also a member of congress from Louisiana. His only son. Harry, a youth of eighteen, who, (with his only sister. Elizabeth Lee. was educated at this Academy,) fought as a Lieutenant, under Col- onel Fanning, in the cause of Texan independence, and was one of 560 men who were inhumanly shot by order of Santa Anna, the Mexican general, in utter disre- gard of the terms of capitulation. The poor fellow had his thigh broken soon after the Indians first took to the grass. Mrs. Cash at his request helped him into his 22 as a specimen of his impromptu verse : Salisbury, Feb. 13th, 1801. Come, Ripley, throw your volumes by, You love to chat, and so do I; Now let us put our heads together And talk of women, war and weather, — All hackneyed subjects, it is true, But just reverse them and they're new. So when our topics are run out. We've naught to do, but turn about. Then gravely make a new beginning, And talk of weather, war and women. What signify your dull reports, Your Rules of Bar and Rules of Courts? Are they not tedious to the brain, Like worn-out stories told again.' Then quit them all, and for a time We'll do ut quondam, talk in rhyme. ****** Good Ripley, write me by next mail, E'en if you've nothing to detail. I know you're kind, and so you will Scratch one line to your friend Daniel. This is not given as a sample of Webster's poetry. The poem written on the death of his little son Charlie, when Webster was 43, is beautiful. There is hardly a finer spec- imen of parental embalming in our language. | He entered into the social and literary life of Fryeburg — cart and fixed a prop for him to lean against, and a rest for liis rifle. While in that situation he was seen to bring down four Mexicans before he received another wound, which broke liis right arm. He immediately exclaimed to Mrs. Cash, "You may take me down now, mother; I have done my share; they have paid two for one on account of both balls in me." tSee Fryeburg Webster Memorial, page 25. 23 at the same time taking a deep interest in [)ub]ic aftairs. His numerous letters written while here, afford a very good picture of society in Fryeburg a hundred years ago.* While here he read the books in the small "Social Library" with an absorbing interest and a retentive memory — and he speaks of finding books here, that he could not find in the libraries at Hanover. He was invit^^d hereto the Lovevvell's Fight Centennial, in 1825 — also to the Semi-Centennial of the Academy in 1842. He could not be present, but wrote beautiful letters to the committees, expressing his deep regrets, and wishing the most abundant prosperity to the Academy and the town. He ever took a deep interest in the Academy and in Frye- burg, the scene of his earliest labors; and, being in Conway as late as 8e})tember, '51, several of the Trustees went up to see him, and, being told that the Trustees were strug- gling to rebuild the Academy, though with diminished re- sources, he proposed, ifhis life was spared, and his offi- cial duties would allow him, he would be present at the Academy's dedication, and give the opening address. He died, however, about nine months before the completion of the present Academy. He made diligent inquiries for citi- zens of the town, whom he had known when here, among others, of Lieutenant James Walker,! to whom he sold the horse that had borne him across the country. "I suppose Mr. Walker is not living now," said Webster. On being told that he was, Webster immediately said : "Give my best respects to Mr. Walker." When W^ebster was here in 'ol he was invited to tea at Dr. Griswold's, and during the repast he looked up with an air of some surprise and remarked: "Your Fryeburg ♦Webster liad a very liigli opinion of Judge Dana and his wife. In one of his let- ters from Fryeburg, he says: "Mr. Dana is the only neighbor I can call on with great pleasure and little ceremony. Thave exalted ideas of his lady; lean say with Shakespeare, that she is one who 'paragons description and wild fame.'" tThe ance.stor of Miss Walker, our teacher in elocution. 24 scenery is striking, grand and l)eautifu]; when I was here acting as pedagogue, I sii])pose I was ambitious, and didWt notice ifV To appreciate the pith and point of this remark, it is only necessary to say that this was just after his reply to Hayne, and when Wehster was at the very zenith of his fame. An old lady who was one of his pu})ils here, used to tell me : "He was all eyes." They thought nothing in the school-room escaped those lustrous orl)s. That may ac- count for the good order and discipline which characterized his school. Webster was a voluminous letter writer, his epistles sparkle with the great thoughts of his own mind, with the ancient Greek and Latin poets, the great modern })oets, and the best literature of all time. They are off-hand, senten- tious, aboundino; in humour, and "ive a oood idea of his fulness and readiness, and of his unstudied style of literary composition.* Webster defended the Constitution, and he stood for the integrity of the Union. He once said that "There was not an article, a section, a clause, a phrase, a word, a syllable, or even a comma of the C'onstitution, which he had not studied and pondered in eveiy relation and in eveiy construction of which it was susceptible." Thus he was known as its great "Expounder and Defendei." He built the most powerful aro-uraents for both, ever uttered. He did this strictlv in the realms of statesmanship, and in so doing he laid the basis for the action of those who came after him. His was not alone a coldly logical argument, though here it was un- surpassed and im})regnable. There was the fire of genius in it l)eyond such achievement. There was the electric force of inspiration. For Webster's soid as a patriot was (juic-k- *I am glad to know that a new edition of more than 1000 mipublislied letters, of his correspondence, isabrnt to be issued, written to tlie most distinfiiiislicd jieojile in tliis and otlier lands. 25 enecl by his imagination a,s a })oet. No American has ever put so much into his speeches that appealed to the popular heart — certainly no one had before Abraham Lincoln. The niaiiiiiticent passage in Webster's immortal speech of 1830, which ended in the "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable," rang through the land, reaching into the depths of the popular heart, and never ceased to rever- l)erate there. Webster, at his time, was almost our only literary statesman. Here his genius rivalled that of Burke. We had other men who aroused the public mind for the time being. Henry Clay was notably eminent among them, and he created a more entliusiastic following than Webster ever had ; but his speeches perished from the })ublic mind after their day was over. Webster's are a part of our liter- ature. They took their place in it at once, as classics, and they will so continue while the language lasts. In their argument alone they were of the highest value, but it was the genius of their author in expression, that did the most to secure their innnortality in the minds of men. The Dartmouth College Case is one of Webster's greatest arguments. A brief Iiistory of the case would not be uninter- esting, but we have not time for that. It had gone through the New Hampshire courts and decided adversely to the col- lege, and vvas then appeale.l to the Supreme Court at Wash- ington. Webster for five hours pleaded the interests of the college before the court. The most brilliant legal lights of the day were there. Some of the lawyers, having learned that in the lower courts Webster had moved his audience to tears, were at first alarmed lest his argument 1)efore the higher court should betray some lack of taste. They need not have been, for never was an a[)pe!il more strictly based on reason, or kept more free from emotional elements. When, howevei', the case had ))een presented, then as naturally and spontane- ously as a gush from an overflowing well of recollection and long pent-up feelings, came that eloquent, impassioned })er- '2f\ oration which overcame even the chief justice, and cannot be disregarded in any consideration of Daniel Webster's de- fence of his alma mater. Back of it lay the memory of that morning when his father had called him under the shadow of the great elm, and after pointing out to him his own life of toil, and the ditFerence an education would have made in it, had then told him of his determination to give him, his youngest son, that which he himself had missed. Back of it lay the early struggles and hardships of his life, its joys and sorrows, and the love that never felt denial for his sake, or weighed thp cost of his advancement. Back of it lay the sentiments and associations of his college days, and ofthose of his brother, and unconsciously into the thoughts of each of his hearers, in the i)lace of Dartn)outh came the name of some more familiar college, and the interests of one became the interests of all. The etfect was overwhelming. The argument ended, Mr. Webster stood for some moments silent ])efore the court, while every eye was tixed intently upon him. At len,o;th, addressing the chief justice, he proceeded thus : "This, sir, is my case. It is the case not merely of that huml)le institution, it is the case of every college in the land. It is- in some sense the case of every man among us \\ho has property of which he may be stripped, for the question is simply this; shall our state Legislature be allowed to take that which is not their own, to turn it from its original use, and apply it to such ends and purposes as they, in discrim- ination, shall see tit. ^>ir, you may destroy this little institu- tion ; it is weak ; it is in your hands. I know it is one of the lesser lights in the literary horizf)n of our country. You may put it out ; but if you do so, you must carry through your work ! You must extinguish one after another, all those greater lights of science, which, for more than a cen- tury, have thrown their radiance over our land. It is, ^ir, as I have said, a small college. And yet there arc those who 27 love it." Here hi^s feelings overpowered him, his lips quiv- ered, his eyes tilled with tears, his voice choked, and in brok- en words of tenderness, he spoke of his attachment to the college. The whole seemed to l)e mingled throughout with recollections of mother, father, brother, and all the priva- tions through which he had made his way in life. The court room during these two or three minutes presented an extraordinary spectacle. Chief Justice Marshall, with his tall and quaint figure l)ent over as if to catch the slightest whisper, the dee[) furi'ows of his cheek ex[)anded with emo- tion, and his eyes suffused with tears : Mr. Justice Wash- ington, at his side, with his small and emaciated frame and countenance more like marble than a face of flesh and blood — leaning over with an eager, trou])led look ; and the re- mainder of the court at the two extremities, ))ressing, as it were, to a single point, while the audience ])elow were wrap- l)ing themselves round in closer folds l)eneatli the bench to catch each look and every movement of the speaker's face. Mr. Webster now recovered his composure, and, fixing his keen e^'e on the chief justice, said in that deep tone with which he sometimes thrilled the heart of an audience : Sir, I know not how others may feel, (glancing at the opponents of the college ))efore him), but for myself, when I see my alma mater surrounded like Ctesar in the Senate house by those who are reiterating stab after stab, I would not for this right hand have her turn to me and say, et hi, quoque mi fill! And thou, too, my son ! In death-like stillness Mr. Webster sat down. The plea was ended, but the impression of it remained, and no pro- ceedings afterward were al)le to render doubtful the final decision for the college. Near the close of the term of congress which ended Sep- tember 30, 1850, Mr. Webster, then Secretary of State, gave a dinner to the Dartmouth Alumni in Washington, on the occasion of the appointment of his nephew. Professor Chas. B. Haddock, of the college, ii.s charge d'affaires in Portugal. In the course of the dinner a discussion arose as to the great- est effort of ]Mr. Webster's life. One named the Girard will argument : when in res})onse to a question ])y the host, several speakers mentioned as many different speeches as entitled to primacy. At length, his own opinion having been asked, Mr. Webster rose, moved back his chair, and talked foi- an hour. What he said of Dartmouth and the Dartmouth College case is well worth repeating, as afford- ing in itself sufficient justification for the close association between the o-reat orator and the colleae of his love — aside from the far-reaching importance of the legal decision which followed his great argument in the case named. "That is a man's o'reatest effort," said Webster, "which l)rinos to him the most opportunities for other eff'orts, and does the most toward securing for him a permanent support for himself and family. Xo man ever arrived at eminence in his pro- fession who cannot look back upon some particuh.ir effort which laid the foundation for most of his success in life. Hence every young man should do his utmo.st in every case, however unimi)ortant it may seem to him, realizing that from some source, and oftentimes when least expected, he may gain a foothold upon piil»lic respect, which, if persistently adhered to, may eventually establish his fame and fortune." After serving two years as congressman froin New Hampshire, he removed to Boston with the intention of de- voting the remainder of his life to a profession which he loved, and he thought his affection for it ha(i incieased with his years. He then described the eminent legal men who occupied all the ground of Boston. He wanted an o])j)or- tunity, and for a while despaired of obtaining it. Dart- mouth College, his alma mater, however, furnished it ; and ever after he felt that his professional sign was, "Daniel Webster and the Dartmouth College Case." That soon gave him a practice equal to that of an}- of that illustrious group of 29 iittorneys who had 8o \oug and so meritoriously held sway in Boston. He might have obtained a position otherwise ; but at best it would have rec|uired a longer time. But for that case he might never have been in the house or senate, where he could have replied to Hayne of South Carolina, or made those other great efforts of his life. He went on subordinating all other causes of his success to the Dart- mouth College Case. 1 have done for Dartmouth College all that I can. Yet I feel indebted to her — indebted formy early education, indebted for her early confidence, indebted for an opportunity to show to men, whose su})port I was to need for myself and family, tliat I was equal to the defence of vested rights against state, courts, and sovereigns. He was a Peace Maker — that is high praise from the High- est source — it is high [)raise among rational, right-thinking men. I doubt if he would be regarded as a "strenuous" statesman today. He believed in settling national troubles by diplomacy and statesmanship— and not by war. He and Lord Ashburton came together and fixed up the Eastern Boundary (juestion without l)l(iodshed. They met as statesmen and diplomatists, without noise or bluster, and the difficulty, which had been a source of irritation, danger and innninent war between us and the mother country for half a century, was adjusted peacefully and satisfactorily to the country. Thus l)y his gi'eat wisdom he thwarted a third war with England. Some of our statesmen, on whose shoul- ders "the honor of the country" sits heavily, think a great army and a great navy are the means to settle national troub- les — not so, thought Daniel Webster. Again, he was Sec- retary of State when the Lopez Expedition, in "51, sallied forth in their raid upon Cuba. A band of tillibusters, ma- rauders and bandits gathered from the shnns of our great cities, (who might be called, with no great abuse of lan- guage, robbers and pirates ) , made their mad descent upon that beautiful island, to give her people a government of 30 liberators; and jjcfriots/ The result was, the little band of raiders was seized about as soon as they reached the island — Lopez was garroted, and fifty of his men were lined up and shot — among them was Colonel Critenden, one of our West Point soldiers, who was second in command. The rest were sent off to Spain, to pass the remainder of their lives in the Spanish mines. Mr. Webster didn't bluster and threaten and send ships of war to the coast of Spain to lay waste her cities. He admitted these men had made an unlawful attack uj)on one of Spain's possessions — appealed to the magna- nimity and clemency of the S})anish Court, and in a few weeks had the satisfaction of seeing 162 American citizens returned to their homes and families.* ''Peace hath her victories No less renowned than war." *'Mr. Webster was ambitious," it is said, "and wanted to be President." Well, is it not an honorable ambition in one who is well qualified, to govern and to guide a great i)eople in the paths of peace, progress and development. Think of the men, the polifician,s have made, and have fiied to make Presidents of the United States, Oh I the pity of it. In 1852, men like Webster, commanding only a score or more of votes in the convention, and a mere military chief- tain like Scott nominated ! Webster said it was "a nomi- nation not tit to be made." May I tres})ass ujjon your time to read a little speech of Webster's on the evening of Scott's nomination. I said, a tittle speech— yes, a little s})eech, and yet a r/reat one. Choate had made a great effort for Web- ster's nomination. The Whigs of Washington formed a procession, and, followed by a dense crowd, marched to ♦'Oil a recent tour to Cuba, I visited the Cistln Atares, in Havau.i. and, on ihe lawn oelore the castle, the Cubans, since the Spaniards left the island, Iwtve enclosed a lit- tle plat, with a granite wall, and there, on the green sward, have written an eiiitaiili on the spot where those fifty Americans were shot. Theletieis are written with huge cannon balls— '-Keeuerdo a los Martires"" — A Memoiial to lie Maityis. Tl.at word wta>-^n nnich-abused word, and often jjut to very strange uses. 31 Webster's house on Louisiana Avenue. At calls for Web- ster he appeared, robed in his dressing gown, and addressed them from the window of his chamber. This has been called his last speech — but this is a mistake — he afterward spoke in Boston. John W. Forney, who heard the speech, said Webster spoke for a few moments, but in a manner he should never forget. His voice, always clear and sonorous, rolled with a deeper volume over the crowd. There was no bitterness, but an inexpressible sadness in his words. Gov- erner Boutwell says of this sjieech : "It was a masterpiece of self-control under the most trying circumstances, and an exhibition of his genius as an orator, which equalled the best efforts of his best days. It was the last brilliant spark of his expiring genius." "I thank you, fellow citizens, for your friendly and respectful call, I am very glad to see you. Some of you have been en- gaged in an arduous public duty at Baltimore, the object of your meeting being the selection of a fit person to be supported for the office of President of the United States. Others of you take an interest in the result of the deliberations of that assembly of Whigs. It so happened that my name among others was presented on the occasion; another candidate, however, was preferred. I have only to say, gentlemen, that the convention did, I doubt not, what it thought best, and exercised its discretion in the important matter committed to it. The result has caused me no personal feeling whatever, nor any change of conduct or purpose. What I have been I am, in principle and in character, and what I am I hope to continue to be. Circumstances or opponents may triumph over my fortunes, but they will not triumph over my temper or my self- respect. Gentlemen, this is a serene and beautiful night. Ten thousand thousand of the lights of heaven illuminate the firmament. They rule the night. A few hours hence their glory will be extinguished: Ye stars that glitter in the skies, And gayly dance before mine eyes, What are ye when the sun shall rise? 32 "Gentlemen, there is not one among you who will sleep better to- night than I shall. If I wake I shall learn the hour from the con- stellations, and I shall rise in the morning, God willing, with the lark; and though the lark is a better songster than I am, yet he will not leave the dew and the daisies and spring up and greet the purpling east with a more blithe and jocund spirit than I possess. Gentlemen, I again repeat my thanks for this mark of your respect, and commend you to the enjoyment of a quiet and satisfactory re- |)ose. May God bless you all!" How he loved his Alma Mater — his native state — hi* early home, and family, and all its tender memories and associations. In the campaign of ltS4() an opponent tried to make party capital out of the fact that General Harrison lived in a lay cabin. With what withering scorn Webster met and turn- ed back the senseless charge : "It is only shallow minded pretenders who either make distin- guished origin a matter of personal merit, or obscure origin a matter of personal reproach. Taunt and scoffing at the humble condition of early life, affects no body in America but those who are foolish enough to indulge in them, and they are generally suf- ficiently punished by the published rebuke. A man who is not a- shamed of himself need not be ashamed of his early condition. It did not happen to me to be born in a log cabin, but my elder brothers and sisters were born in a log cabin, raised among the snow-drifts of New Hampshire . at a period so early that when the smoke first rose from its rude chimney, and curled over the frozen hills, there was no similar evidence of a white man's habitation be- tween it and the settlements on the rivers of Canada. Its remains still exist; I make it an annual visit. I carry my children to it, to teach them the hardships endured by generations gone before them. I love to dwell on the tender recollections, the kindred ties, the early affections, and the narrations and incidents which mingle with all I know of this primitive family abode. 1 weep to think that none of those who inhabited it are now among the living; and if ever I fail in affectionate veneration for him who raised it, and defended The Oxford House, websteh's fhyeburg home. Built, INOI, by Lieut. Jas. Osgood. Burned, Fel). 1-i, l.s.sT. it against savage violence and destruction, cherished all domestic comforts beneath its roof, and through the fire and blood of seven years' revolutionary war, shrunk from no toil, no sacrifice, to serve his country, and to raise his children to a condition better than his own, may my name, and the name of my posterity, be blotted forever from the memory of mankind."* Had I tiiDc 1 would like to speak of Webster as a moralist. OiK-e heiiiii' asked the lireatest thouiiht that ever occupied his mind, he replied : "My individual responsibility to my Maker." lie w as Hesh and blood — he was human — he had faults — who has iu)t? "Let him who is without sin cast the tirst stone." It is agreed that no one ever heard a tritiing, irreverent, or i)rofane word escape his li})s. All his speeches and wrltiiiiis show that he thouiiht and felt deeply upon the ureat (juestions of "life, death, and the last forever." No man has uttered more powerful words in defence of the Rible and the Cliristian reliirion than Websterf * I never saw Webster— the nearest I came to seeing him was when he went tlirough the town, where I was then living- about 26 rods lay between us for a short time. The train which bore him through the town made a stop of some time at the station in Concord, where a shout and a cheev went up when tfiey heard that Wet>- ster was aboard. If the science of wireless, mental, or spiritual telegraphy had then been in its present advanced state I would donbtlefs have had a view of the paragon of men. I once saw his birth place— the room in which he first saw the light, is now standing-owned 1 y Miss Annie Nesmith, daughter of the late Judge Nesmith. A plan is on foot for its purchase by the state of Xew Hampshire; as is also in Massachusetts, for the purchase of the Marshfield home. In '86 I attended the dedication of the Webster statue in the State House grounds at Concord, New Hampshire; while there I called on the widow of Ezekiel Webster, then living at the great age of nearly too years. I also attended the Centennial of Webster's birth at Marshfield in '82— the year Webster's Fiyeburg oration was discovered and pub- lished. President Artliur and several members of his cabinet were present. Sec- retary Long was then Governer, and presided. An immense concourse of people was present, and the oratory was of a very high quality. t Lately an extract from Webster's notebook has fallen into my hands, which has only recently been given to the world: Washington. Jan. 18. 1839. Friday. "I am this day fifty-seven years old. My brothers and sisters have all died young. I was by much the most slender and fee- ble of the family in early life, but have yet outlived them all, and no one of them, 1 think, attained my present age; although I am not quite certain how this may have been with my half-brother, David Webster, who was older than myself by ten or twelve years, and who died in Canada some years ago, but exactly at what time I do not know. My father died at sixty-seven. His constitution, naturally very strong. 34 I remember when a student here, 1)oardingat the Alumni House with that woman of broad mind and sterling sense, the widow of Eev. Dr. Hurd, how she used to pore over Webster's orations and arguments, specially the one at Ply- mouth Rock on the Pilgrims, and the Giraid Will Case, in which is his defence of Christianity. You know Girard's will forbade any clergyman's enteiing the College, even as a visitor. Webster took tl.e ground that tl at was a stigma and an insult to every minister of the Gospel — an insult to the Christian Religion, and an insult to the Christian nation that had protected him in accumulating his vast fortune. I wish that 1 had time to tell you that affecting story of his visit, the year Ix'fore he died, with his friend, Peter Harvey, to his brother-in-law, John Colby, who l,ad been such a wicked man, but in his old age had become a Chris- tian. Webster had not ceen him for .50 years, and the meeting of Joseph and his l)rethren was not more touching than the meeting of these aged men. At first Webster did not disclose his identity, but when l:e did, tl.ey were both deeply affected. The story throughout is very })athetic, and as they were about to se[)arate \\'ebster said : "You was evidently aft'tcted by the haidsliips and expcisines of liis early life. My uncle Benjamin Webster lived to a great age, I believe alx.ve 80 years. He died in Cabot, ortlie adjoining town, in Veunont. Unele William Webster went to Salisbury willi tny father. He died several yea is ago, being then mneh the longest resident in the township, and being. I tliink. something more than seventy years of age. My pa- ternal aunts lived, as far as I can remember, to be seventy or more. My mother also reached seventy. Her mother, Mrs. Jerusha Fitz, whom I well remember, died in my father's home, about .Inne, 179G. aged about ninety years. My own liealth, from the age of 25, has been remarkably good; and for little occasional ill nesses, I have too often been able to see obvious causes, in want of proper care and discretion. If 1 were now to strike out the number of my sick days, those which have been occasioned by want of proi)er exercise, by unnecessary exposure, and by some degree of intemperance in eating and drinking, I should make a very great deduction from the whole list. For this uncommon health, and for all tlie happiness of life, which h;is been so far exceedingly haiipy, I desire to render the most devout thanks to Almighty God. I thank hlni for existence; for the i)leaMire and the glory of rational being; for an innnortal nature; and for all the gratifica- tions, the joys and the means of imi)rovement with which he has blessed my earthly life; for the time and the countiy in which I have lived; and for those objects of love and affection whose being has been entwined with my own." 35 caiinot tell, John Colby, how much delight it gave me to hear of your conversion. The hearing of that is what has led me here today. I came here to see with my own eyes, and hear with my own ears, the story from a man that I knew and remember well. What a wicked man you used to be !" "O Daniel I" exclaimed John Colby, "you don't remem- ber how wicked I was : how unthankful I was I I never thought of God ; I never cared for God; I was worse than tlie heathen. Living in a Christian land, with the light shining all round me, and the blessings of Sabbath teach- ings everywhere about me, I was worse than a heathen un- til I was arrested by the grace of Christ, and made to see my sinfulness, and to hear the voice of my Saviour. Now I am only waiting to go home to Him, and to meet your sainted sister, my poor wife. And I wish, Daniel, that you might be a prayerful Christian, and I trust you are. Dan- iel,'" he added, with deep earnestness of voice, "ir^VZ you l)ray with me?" We knelt down, and Mr. Webster otiered a most touch- ing and eloquent prayer. As soon as he had pronounced the "Amen," Mr. Colby followed in a most pathetic, stir- ring appeal to God. He prayed for the family, for me, and for everybody. Then we rose ; and he seemed to feel a serene hai)piness in having thus joined his spirit with that of Mr. Webster in prayer. "Now," said he, "what can we give youV I don't think we have anything that we can give you." "Yes, you have," replied Mr. Webster; "you have some- thing that is just what we want to eat." "What is it?" "It is some bread and milk," said Mr. Webster. "I want a bDwl of bread and milk for myself and my friend." Very soon the table was set, and a white cloth spread over it : some nice bread was set upon it and some milk brought, and we sat down to the table and ate. Mr. Webster ex- 36 chuined ••ifterwanl. "Didn't it tuste good ? Didn't it taste like old times?" The !)rothers-in-la\v took an atf'ectionate leave of each other, and we left. ^Nlr. Wel)8ter could hardly restrain his tears. When we oot into the wagon he began to moralize. "I should like," said he, "to know what the enemies of religion would say to John Colby's conversion. There was a man as unlikely, huniaidy speaking, to become a Chris- tian as any man I e^"er saw. He was reckless, heedless, impious ; never attended church, never experienced the good influence of associating with religious people. And here he has been living on in that reckless way until he has got to l)e an old man ; until a period of life when you nat- urally would not expect his hal)its to change, and yet he has been brought into the condition in which we have seen him today, a penitent, ti'usting, humble believer. "What- ever people may say," added Mr. Webster, "nothing can convince me that anything short of the grace of Almighty God could make such m change as I with my own eyes have witnessed in the life of fFohn Colby." When we got back to Franklin, in the evening, we met John Taylor at the door. Mr. Webster called out to him, "Well, John Taylor, miracles ha})])en in these later days as well as in the days of old." What now, squire':"" asked John Taylor. "AMiy, John Colby has become a Christian I If that is not a miracle, what is?" This is the Petei- Harvey who was sui-h a friend of Web- ster. One day Webster had received a marked token of Mr. Harvey's favor towards himself, and mentioning it to one of his friends, he exclaimed: ''lly Jove, he's St. Pe- ter." "No, no, no," said Webster — ••Peter Harvey never denied his friend I" Ever}'' reverent mind nuist i-ontemplate with deej) intei- est Wel)ster's Confession of Faith, written upon his dying- bed. The engraver's art has prescr\ ed this l)cautiful scene 37 of the dyinji' stute.sman. Sunclaj evening, October lOtli, he asked a tViend who wa.s sitting with .him to read the ninth chapter of Mark, where the man brings his child to Jesus to be cured, and the Saviour tells him : "If thou canst be- lieve, all things are possible to him that believeth." Then Webster wrote the re})ly of the father as an epitaph for his own tombstone : "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." "PhilCso})hical argument, especially that drawn from the vastness of the Universe, in comparison with the ai)parent insignificance of this globe, has sometimes shaken my reason for the faith that is in me ; but my heart has always assured and reassured me that the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be a Divine Reality. The Sermon on the Mount can- not be a merely human production. This belief enters into the very de[)tlis of my conscience. The whole history of man proves it."' Daniel Webster. ••'Webster was, beyond doubt, the foremost of American Senatoi's. When we think of the Senate Chamber, we think of him as its [)rincipal figure and ornament. His place in history is that of a public teacher, guiding the thought, and inspiring the emotions of his countrymen when the issues on which hung the fate of the rejjublic were being deter- mined. For this function he was fitted alike by his intel- lect and his heart. Mathew Arnold said that our. American public men lack distinction. If he did not find it in Web- ster the cultured and fastidious Englishman would pr()l)ably have denied it to the Apollo Belvidere, orthePhidian Jove. Why, the draymen of London turned to look after him in the streets. Sidney Smith said he was a cathedral ; yes, a steam engine in breeches. He moved to an unwonted ad- miration the cynicism of Carlyle. If ever being walked 38 the earth chid in the panoply of an imperial manhood, it was Daniel Webster. If ever beino- trod the earth of whom the Greek or Roman fable wonld have made a demi-god, it was this child of the New Hampshire farm-house." Another Englishman, the painter Haydon, took a ditferent way to express his jove-like bearing and appearance. Meeting Webster one day on the streets of London, he went back to take a second look, and exclaimed. "My God, what a head I — that man nmst be a humhwj, for 'tis impossil)le for any mortal man, to be as big as he loolis. to fje." An emi- nent statesman has said of W^ebster : "AVe cannot think of the Senate Chamber without him. We cannot think of the Supreme Court without him. We cannot think of Dart- mouth College without him. We cannot think of Faneuil Hall without him. We cannot think of Boston, or Concord, or Lexington, or Bunker Hill without him. We cannot think of New Hampshire without him. We cannot think of Massachusetts w-ithout him. We cannot think of Ameri- ca without him. We cannot think of the Constitution or the Union without him. His tigure naturally belongs to and mingles with all great scenes and great places which l)e- long to liberty." P^merson said his j)resence would have been enough even had he refrained from speech, when the monument at Bunker Hill was dedicated. There was the monument, and there was Webster I I greatly regret that our senior Trustee is not with us to- day, to tell us of that great event, for he witnessed that pageant, and heard that great master})iece. The crowd was enormous and so great was the eagerness to get near to see and hear Welister, that many peoi)le came near be- ing crushed to death. Mr. A\'ebster, seeing the danger, rose and said : "Fall back, gentlemen !" "Mr. W^ebster, it is impossible !" answered the crowd. Webster, stretch- ing forth his hands, exclaimed : "Is there anything iriq^os- sible i'ov the American })eople on Bunker Hill?" — and the 39 gre:>t 8e:i of people immediately fell back. I do not for one jnoment exempt from this sincere judgment and this comuuMuhition, that memoral)le speech of the Sev- enth of March, 1 O QC 'X, ?0 (—4 <-* GO CO % ^ O ii. o 2 fD -• i t^ U2 5 P w d O en p cr rt) rti ^ Ci- _- p p: ^ B ^ w Cl. 3 y; 5 W 5' ci '^ ^°'.'' O W CL i-i ^ y !<' ' S Qfj S o5 49 .')i). Edward Ctnlton. jr. (iO. Bonjaiuin Kilinore. (;i. Jacol) Osgood. 112. Polly Hill. ();>. Xatliaiiiel Hezelliiie. 1)4. Scth Chase. Father of^Irs. Josej)!! Chandler. Graiid- tather of Mrs. :Mary K. Charles. ()."). A\'illiani Webster. (>H. Thomas Chadhourne.* (i7. Alfred Benton. f 'i-"^- Mehitable Fessenden. ()1>. Hannah Frye, danghter of Samuel, grand-daughter of (len. Josej)h Frye. 70. Moses Hardy. 71. Samuel Frye, jr. (Jrandson of (ieneral Frye. founder of the town. 72. Elizabeth ( )sgood. When the Ti'ustees adjourned April 2^, l.S()2, to the House of Lieut. -lames Osgood to meet in a quarter of an hour, the following bill sliows what was waiting for them, riie Trustees of Fryeburg Academy to flames ( )sgood. Dr. S. D. Ai)ril 2S. To 14 Dinners at 1 shilling 2 penee each 1(> 4 To Liijuors and exi)enses 10 H £ S. D. 1 (I 10 Sept. 1. 'I\) paid ,Jos. Lewis for mending diair 3 To 1 pint Rum 2 "In the CenteniiiHl year of the Acatleniy. in 1892, his daiigliter. Maitlia ({'liac!- l)()iiriie) Uaveii, of Charlton. Mass.. sent me two nunihers of tlie ■•Academical Repos- itory." printed witli a pen in 1807. "Commencing at six years of aye, in 179t;. 1 con- tinned to attend most of the time to ]810; beginning when Paul l.angdon was Pre- ceptor, next Daniel Welister, finishing under Precejitor Cook in 1810." .Alemoran- diini fonnil in Dr. Cliadbonrne's papers. Dr. Chadbourne was born at N.Conway. We knew him as an eminent I'liysician at ("oncord. N. H.. fifty years ago. nis father was Dr. AVni. ciiadbonrne wlio built tlie first mill at N. Conway. [A. F. L.] tSon of Dr. .los. Benton, and brother of the late Hon. Nathaniel Soley lieiiton li New York, who was a student here, and left in his will .-fSOOO for our Academy. In his letter to the Town Centennial in 1863, he says that he was a student to Webster, though Ills name does not appear on tlie records of 1802. [A. F. F..] 50 There is, also, one more reference, in the Secretary's re- cords, to Daniel Webster, which may, perhaps, best appear from the following sequence of events : Jan. 15, 1806. Voted that Judah Dana and Samuel A. Bradley, Esqrs., be agents to })etition the Legislature for a donation in land, the proceeds of which to be appropriated to the instruction of females in the Academy. y\pril 23, 1806. Voted, that a committee of three be appointed to consider the expediency of em[)loying an lyistructres,^, the summer ensuing, and report relative to the same at our next meet- ing. April 26, 1806. Voted to accept the follow^ing report, viz., The committee appointed to consider the expediency of establishing Female Instruction in the Academy, do report that they have considered the subject, and are of the opinion that it will be expedient to employ a Preceptress for the two summer quarters next ensuing, the expenses of which, to the Trustees, will not, in our opinion, exceed oO dollars. The committee further report that it would be the dut}' of a Preceptress to instruct in Xeedle-work, Embroidery, and Painting, and likewise to assist in the instruction of Reading, Writing, and English Grammar, and that the tui- tion in those branches, exclusively feminine, be raised and established, as the Boaid may hereafter think proper. Be- lievino; that a school for females would not only be service- able to them, but would likewise aid the Trustees in obtain- ino; an additional grant from the Government of this Goni- nionwealth, we do sincerely recommend it for two quarters in the ensuing summer. June 4, 1806. Voted, that the tuition of those students who attend to needle-work, embroidery, })ainting, ctc.,be one dollar high- 51 er than the usual tuition. Nov. 13, 18()(i. Voted, to return the thankful acknowledgment of this Board to each of the persons who generously gave tickets to the Academy and present them with a copy of the Rev- erend X. Porter's Dedicatory Sermon. Dee. 25, 1806. Voted, that all the money drawn before this time by lot- tery tickets presented to Fryei)urg Academy be laid out in other public tickets as soon as may be convenient. Voted, that the Secretary record the subscription paper draughted l)y D. Webster Esq., signed by him and others. Voted, that the tirst vote passed at this meeting be con- sidered, and that so uuich only of the sum drawn by said tickets, as said tickets (drawn) originally cost, be again laid out in the })urchase of other public lottery tickets. This is the subscription paper ordered recorded above : The subscribers agree to pay to Mr. Amos J. Cook the sums set to their respective names, to be by him appropri- ated to the purchase of Tickets in some public lottery — the money drawn as prize to said tickets is to be given in trust to the Trustees of Fryeburg Academy, to l)e by them ap- plied in such manner as to them seems best, to the support of a school for the instruction of young Ladies in Music and Painting. If the sum drawn as prize to said tickets, shall be equal to 500 dollars, paying deductions, the same shall be vested in public funds, and the annual profits alone expended; if a less sum shall be drawn, it shall be api)ro- priated to the ()l)ject herein expressed, as the said trustees shall deem most proper. The said school, if estal)lished, is to I)e attached to Fryelnirg Academy, and to be a branch thereof. D. Webster, $5.00 John McMillan, $5.00 Judah Dana, 5.00 James Osgood, 5.00 Samuel A. Bradley, 5.00 Theodore Mussey, 5.00 52 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 Philip Page, 5.00 Abigail Osgood and Abiel Farnham, 5.00 J. Dana, 1-2 ticket, $2.50 pd. Tim. Frisbie, 1-2 do. 2.50 pd. Mehitable McMillan, 1-2 ticket, 2.50 pd. Hannah Page, do. 2.50 pd. Lewis McMillan, 5.00 5.00 Joseph Woodman, Moses Bradbury, John Spring, T. G. Thornton, Foxwell Cutts, Benja. Dearborn, Nicholas Emery, James Osgood and Gilbert McMillan, Abner Sawyer, one ticket paid. The above is a true copy of the subscription drafted by D. Webster and subscribed by him and others. (Made in August, A. D., 1806). Attest, J. Dana, Secretary. This money seems to have been invested in the "Piscat- aqua Bridge Lottery," from which $148 was drawn, the "Araoskeag Canal Lottery," from which there was no re- turn, and the "Harvard College Lottery," from which $88 was drawn. Oct. 8, 1807. Voted that Samuel A. Bradley and Preceptor Cook, be a committee to lay out the proceeds of tl)€ last purchase of tickets, and continue to vest the sum which may be drawn by said tickets until the proceeds thereof amount to $500, or decrease to nothing, or until this Board shall otherwise order. In a letter to Mr. Fuller, dated at Fryelmrg, Aug. 29,^ 1802, a day or two before he was succeeded by Mr. Amos J. Cook, Webster writes : "You will naturally inquire how I prosper in the article of cash ; tinely I finely ! I came here in January with a horse ; and watch, etc., and a few 'rascally counters' in my pocket ; was soon ol)liged to sell my horse and live on the })roceeds. Still straitened for «'ash, I sold my watch, and made a shift 53 to get home, where my friends supplied me with another horse and another watch. My horse is sold again, and my watch goes, I expect this week ; thus you see how I lay up cash. If Cook or somebody else does not soon come to re- lieve me, I sliall be so rich that I shall be worth just noth- ing at all." In Webster's autobiography is the following: "Being graduated in August, 1801, I immediately entered Mr. Thompson's office, in Salisbury, next door to my father's, to study the law. There I remained till January following, viz., January, 1802. The necessity of the case required that I should then go somewhere and gain a little money. I was written to, luckily, to go to Fryeburg, Maine, to keep school. I accepted the offer, travers- ed the country on horseback, and commenced my labors, I was to be paid at the rate of 350 dollars per annum. This was no small thing, for I compared it not with what might be before me, but what was actually behind me. It was better, certainly, than fol- lowing the plough. But let me say something in favor of my own industry; not to make a merit of it, for necessity sometimes makes the most idle industrious. It so happened that I boarded, at Fryeburg, with the gentleman, James Osgood, Esq., who was Reg- ister of Deeds of the then newly created County of Oxford. He was not clerical, in and of himself, and his registration was to be done by deputy. The fee for recording at full length a common deed, in a large fair hand, and with care requisite to avoid errors, was two shillings and three pence. Mr. Osgood proposed to me that I should do this writing, and that of the two shillings and three pence for each deed, I should have one shilling and six pence, and he should have the remaining nine pence. I greedily seized on so tempting an offer, and set to work. Of a long winter's evening I could copy two deeds, and that was half a dollar. Four evenings in a week earned two dollars, and two dollars a week paid my board. This appeared to me to be a very thriving con- dition, for my 350 dollars salary as a school-master was thus go- ing on, without abatement or deduction for vivres. I hope yet to have an opportunity to see, once more, the first volume of the Re- cord of Deeds for the County of Oxford. It is now near 30 years 54 since I copied into it the last 'witness my hand and seal;' and 1 have not seen even its outside since. But the ache is not yet out of my fingers; for nothing has ever been so laborious to me as writing, when under the necessity of writing a good hand. In May of this year, (1802), having a week's vacation, I took my quarter's salary, mounted a horse, went straight ov-er all the hills to Hanover, and had the pleasure of putting there, the first earnings of my life, into my brother's hands, for his college ex- penses. Having enjoyed this sincere and high pleasure, I hied me back again to my school and my copying of deeds. I stayed in Fryeburg only till September. My brother then came to see me; we made a journey together to the lower part of Maine, and returned to Salisbury." The life and labors of Daniel Webster have been a pro- lific theme for the essayist, historian and orator for now nearly a century. His famous cases have been tried again and again. His political speeches have been considered in their effects upon the policy of his party and his own poli- tical ambition. His state papers have called for their meed of praise, or blame. Only Senator Hoar has struck that note which must continue to be heard if we are to regard the Civil War as the most critical period of our history, and therefore the agencies that brought it to a successful issue, deserving of our most profound gratitude. We celebrate today the centennial of the commencement of the labors of Daniel Webster among the youth of this vicinity, as preceptor of Fryeburg Academy. The records show that his labors were fruitful of good. He deserves to rank among successful American educators from tJie lasting- impressions he made upon his pupils. Senator Hoar says he deserves the title of educator, above all other titles, be- cause the enduring work of his life was to educate the youth of the North and West and border states to such de- votion for the Union and Constitution, that when the call to arms came in their defence, no sacrifice of blood ortreas- 55 lire was too great to be made. I shall attempt to point out very briefly, how, though per- haps unwittingly on his part, this great educator trained his pupils. His preparation to teach was a j)rofound study of the Con- stitution, and a deej) insight into the i)riiu'iples of govern- ment under law. Then, again, he was of impressive form and bearing, and, withal, an orator of commanding ability. Let us add, also, that his professional duties and high offices in the government gave him the opportunity to speak with authority. Yet other men, with all these, have had but feeble induence to mould public opinion. The secret of his power lay, I think, in the many invitations he accepted to address public gatherings of citizens in most of the states of the Union, still more that he felt so deeply, he could not keep from making the Constitution and Union his frequent theme, and, rnost of all, that in his orations, he spoke clear- ly and logically, and in separate paragraphs of not great length completed the consideration of the different heads in- to which he divided his subjects. It is natural for the youth (jf the land to i)rci)are and de- claim parts of addresses bearing uj)on the living questions of the hour. But the orations of Daniel Webster lend them- selves most readily to their purpose, because a selection from any one of them may be made, taking but a few min- utes in deliver}', yet complete in argument, and often with introduction and peroration. No wonder they were repeat- ed in every school house in the north, as they were ; and no wonder, they confirmed the courage of the youth to enter upon, and fight through the great contest for Union and C'onstitution. While "John Brown's Body" was the march- ing song of the Boys in Blue, "Libert}' and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable," was his frequent thought and speech in the camp and on picket duty. It was thus that Daniel Webster became the j^reat educa- 56 tor, the beginning of whose services as a teacher, began a century ago in this village, in her Academy. POEM Bead by Miss Susav M. WaR-er JAN. 1ST, 1902, Why is this band of friends today met here? Is it once more to welcome a New Year? Why to this year is greater honor due? What is there magical in Nineteen-two? The newness of the Century is past, No other year can be the first and last. And now the Century is well begun, (How great will be its deeds before 'tis done) None of us here will live to see that day — Will our deeds live when we have passed away? But do we promise what great work we'll do In this year present — Nineteen- hundred two? First, let our glances to the dim past turn. It may be, from it, lessons we may learn. And as the words in the first Easter said We'll 'seek for one still living 'mong the dead,' For he whose name we honor here today. Still lives — tho' years have passed away Since he, o'ercome by party toil and strife. And friends averted, sorrowing closed his life. SI Here, a hundred years ago, a youth, he came, Honor and wealth to win — (a losing game!) ., . To hhn there came no wealth— \he honor's ours,' , So Fate sometimes the undeserving dowers. ^ „• ^ , , And we for years have acted on the rule • To boast, that "£)anie.l WeTjster taiight our scHoqI,,/ Our pride is right, for in no other place Did Webster's form the seat of teacher grace. And with this prestige, why should we not aim To make our subject worthy of his name? So that in future years our school shall stand, ] .A fitting monument ;t;ht?o"o;iit the lai^d, , ' jjjjl Of that great man, so long our country's pride, Honored as well in other; laij^s beside. As thus we rev'rently attempt unroll The ancient record of our history's scroll, '^'^-■' How many names in rays oflight appear, 1 '^►drio W\i6 in first decades- lived and labored here. 3ilJ Ji!-^-: biThe brilliant Langdon, and the patient Cook, '-/lit biifij ijWhose rigid mind no carelessness could JDrook—;, -.,,,,iA ol Jno^ i,>A:nd Fe6s.enden, the pasto|4()y^fl,^,\vh,ose.^£al .,.j^^j„^^ ^ >.3 -dhiit^F^'' learning, first, in motion set the wheel, ^j^^Jj^-j ^^jj .^j •i - Whose revolutions gave to us this boon . , , V^ I'T.MJij^: ,•; , _' ■; : . ^ ^ -.. L.'.-'ilJJvUTiliS -dllii 1 lii l-di . . Of higher education — none to,o sdon / To meet th aspiring spirits of those days, '- * r-^'Xhat early sought to 'walk in wisdom*s wafi;^*-I^®^^^^^^*^^ '^' And now another name before us stands, .Diiow 9iiJ iio^i'jftpQj. j^ ^i^jg j^Q^jgg^ erected 'neath his handsj ^-i,iHwolIo'5: giiiixjbTb'J'-astbr H'tjrd arittfefeddFpt*aisfei^-dtiV^^'^'^'^^ .- bib odw to qific'And'' deserved feotior.'OniJjLsbired b^;fewr— lunJuiDYafl suit -bsso'jU' ! ':t; ;■ '■•— -'-■;;';;-^ nv(^r;jij Lj-: ■.■':;■! 9 d fioqxi 9 JjBiS ^goir!-ij3({rheidiDol, thro' life, to sbfai-as'^hild, was dearjidsjsW "gai -iiUMi dFor it he toiled and labored year by year, it)il"t>hi sdi oJfli ino'/l A^atching its interests with a careful eye ,^ 'ijjo lo ViJSa'JQV , , r t , , t That suiffered. n o untoward influence nigh, j^^^ i^Jads W 58 So we 'among the dead the living' seek, May Pastor Hard in 'living accents' speak, Urging to better deeds in years to come — Deeds and words worthy of the Pastor's Home, And mindful ever of the great and gone, We'll courage take, and cheerful labor on. Letters of Washington, Adams and Jefferson. ' It i.s with no ordinary degree of pleasure that we make the announcement that the long-lost autograph letters ofthe tirst three Presidents ofthe United States, written and !-ent to Amos J. Cook, who i)resided over our Academy a third of a century, have been found. Following is the letter sent by the Father of his Country to Jefferson, our then Minis- ter at I'arls, announcing the adoption ofthe Constitution of the United "States by the Federal Convention, then sitting at Philadelphia. It will be seen that this is a very impor- tant historical letter, and is now for the tirst time given to the world. Following this are the letters of Adams and Jefferson who did so much to sustain the hands of Washington during the Revolution — and then to guide, and direct the Ship of State upon her new and untried course — and after succeed- ing Washington in the Presidential chair, together passing into the higher life on the Fourth of July, the fiftieth anni- versary of our country's birth and then receiving from Webstei- that great eulogy, so ekujuent and fitting to the 59 extraordinary scene. We have every reason to l)elieve that these valuable let- ters will soon ])e returned to the Trustees, to be by them guarded with the most jealous care, as golden links bind- ing our venerable school to the Fathers of the Republic. Philadelphia, Septr. i8th, 1787. Dear Sir, Yesterday put an end to the business of the Federal Convention — Enclosed is a copy of the Constitution it agreed to recommend. Not doubting but that you have participated in the general anx- iety which has agitated the mind of your countrymen on this in- teresting occasion, I shall be pardoned I am certain for this en- deavor to relieve you from it, especially when I assure you of the sincere regard and esteem with which 1 have the honor to be Dear Sir Yr. most obedt. (S; most Hble Servt His excellency Thos. Jefferson. Geo. Washington. LF:TTER P^ROM JOHN ADAMS to AMOS J. COOK. Quincy, January 4, iSog. Sir 1 have received, with much pleasure your obliging Letter of the 23d of last month, and thank you for the enclosed elegant Translation of the Spanish Latin verses. The sense and spirit of that morsel of purer Morality than elegant Latinity, is very well preserved in the Translation into English Rhyme, while the easy natural air of an original Com- position is given to it. Mr. Thomas Fessenden,* at eighteen years of age must possess a Genius in general and a Talent for *Son of Eev. William Fessenden, a distinguished New York lawyer. 60 Poetry in particular, of uncommon fertility and certainly deserves applause and encouragement. I lament his unfortunate Infirmity and hope he will be soon restored to perfect health. I am Sir with esteem and respect, your very humble Servant J. Adams I have shown the Translation to my Brother C ranch and to the Ladies of our Families who are all Lovers of Poetry and some of them good Judges. They all applaud the Composition as having great Merit. Mr. Amos J. Cook, JEFFEESON'S LETTER TO AMOS J. COOK. The letter from Jefferson, as w\\\ be seen, contains refer- ences to the letter from Adams, Mr, Cook, it would seem, having, in his letter to Jefferson, copied an epigraph from some Spanish monk which Mr, Cook's letter from Adams contained. The two Latin quotations in Jefferson's letter are from Cicero's Tusculan Disputations and Horace's Satires resjject- ively. As some of our readers may be so rusty in their classics as to be obliged, when reading Latin, to consult their lexicons occasionally. We will save them the trouble of doing so by appending in foot notes, parahrastic transla- tions of the original. MoNTicELLO, January 2 1, 1816. Sir: Your favor of December i8th was exactly a month on its way to this place; and I have to thank you for the eloquent and philosophical lines communicated by the Nestor of our Revolution. Whether the style or sentiment be considered, they were well worthy the trouble of being copied and communicated by his pen. Nor am 1 less thankful for the happy translation of them. It adds 61 another to the rare instances of a rival to its original; — superior, indeed, in one respect, as the same outline of sentiment is brought within a compass of better proportion, for if the original be liable to any criticism, it is that of giving too great extension to the same general idea. Yet it has a great authority to support it, that of a wiser man than all of us; "1 sought in my heart to give my- self unto wine; I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; 1 made me gardens and orchards, and pools to water them; I got me servants and maidens, and great pos- sessions of cattle; I gathered me also silver and gold and men singers and women singers and the delights of the sons of men, and musical instnuuents of all sorts, and whatsoever mine eyes de- sired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy. Then 1 looked on all the work that my hands had wrought, and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit! I saw that wisdom excelleth folly as far as light excelleth darkness."* The Preach- er, whom I abridge, has indulged in a much larger amplification of his subject. I am not so happy as my friend and ancient col- league, Mr. jS.dams, in possessing anything original, inedited, and worthy of comparison with the epigraph of the Spanish monk. I can offer but humble prose, from the hand, indeed, of the father of eloquence and philosophy, a moral morsel, which our young friends under your tuition should keep ever in their eye as the ul- timate term of your instructions and of their labors; "Hie, quisqni.s est, qui moderatione et constantia quietus animo est sibique ipse l)lacatus, ut iiec tabescat niolestiis, uec frangauir tiiiiore, iiec sitieiiter quid exj etens ardeat desiderio, iiec alacrilate I'utili gestiens deliquescat, is est sapiens queni quaerinnis, is est beatus, cui nihil liumauarum rerum aut intolerabile ad deniitten- dum aninium aut niuiis laetabile ad efferendum videri potest. "t Or, if a poetical dress will be more acceptable to the fancy of the juvenile student: — "QuisiiMUi igitur liber?— Sapiens, sibi qui iniperiosus, Quein neque i^auper ies neque mors neque vincula terrent, Respousare cupidinibus, contemnere bouores Fortis, et in se ipsototus, teres atque rotundus, *See EccLESiASTEs, ii., 3—13. fWhoever has his mind kept in repose by moderation and firmness, and is at peace with himself, so that he is neither wasted by trouble nor broken down by fear, neither burns with longing in his quest of some object of desire nor oveiflows in the demonstration of empty joy, is the wise man whom we seek, he is the happy man, to whom no human fortune can seem either so insupportable as to cast him down or so joyful as to elate him unduly." 62 Extern! ne quid valeat per leve morari, 111 quern nianca ruit senijier Fortuna."$ And, if the wise be the happy man, as these sages say, he must be virtuous too, for, without virtue, happiness cannot be. This, then, is the true scope of all academical emulation. You request something in the handwriting of General Washing- ton. I enclose you a letter which I received from him while in Paris, covering a copy of the new Constitution. It is offered merely as what you ask, a specimen of his handwriting. On the subject of your museum I fear I cannot flatter myself with being useful to it. Were the obstacle of distance out of the way, age and retirement have withdrawn me from the opportuni- ties of procuring objects in that line. With every wish for the prosperity of your institution, accept the assurance of my great esteem and respect, Thomas Jffferson. LETTERS OF WEBSTER. The Centennial Anniversary of Lovewell'.s Fight, which was celebrated with great enthusiasm May li', 1825 called forth the following letter. Chas. S. Daveis was the orator of the day, and Gov. Enoch Lincoln was the })oet. The o- ration was printed at the time — the poem, after long search, we regret to say, cannot be found. Washington, Feb. 14, 1825. Eben Fessenden, jr., Esq., and Robert Bradley, Esq.: Gentlemen, — I have received your kind letter of the ist instant, requesting my attendance with you on the 19th of May, to celebrate the an- niversary of the interesting event which took place in your neigh- t" Who, then, is free? The man that is wise; he wiio governs liimself with an ab- solute power; whom neither poverty nor death nor chains are able to affright: who has the courage to bridle his passion and despise honors; whose happiness dei)ends upon himself alone; who gathei's himself like a hedgehog into so round a shape that no outward accident can harm him; in short, upon whom the attenii)ts of for- tune are unsuccessful." 63 borhood one hundred years ago. It would give me great pleasure to comply with this request if it were in my power, but my en- gagements for that period of the year are such as wholly to forbid it. You are very right in supposing that a visit to your town would be pleasant to me. For several years past I have intended each summer to make such a visit, and still hope ere long to have that pleasure. I always hear with much satisfaction of the pros- perity of your interesting village, and am gratified at this proof that I am not forgotten by those for whom I retain on my part an undiminished regard. I pray you to make my remembrance and respects acceptable to friends and neighbors, and allow me to of- fer to yourselves, as to old and well remembered friends, the as- surance of my sincere esteem. Daniel Webster. The Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the Academy, which was commemorated with appropriate exercises in 1842, called forth thefoilowino; letter from Mr. Webster, who ev- er took a deep interest in the institution, it being the scene of his first labors after leaving college : — Washington, Aug. 25, 1842. To Carlton Hurd, Amos Richardson, Asa Charles: — Gentlemen, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th of this month. When twenty years old, I found myself, at the suggestion of a valued friend, now of long standing, in your pleasant village, engaged in an attempt at in- structing youth. I was there, I think, about nine months, and, however successful or unsuccessful I may have been in teaching others, it was not lost time in regard to my own progress. I found in Fryeburg, even at that earlv day, most of the elements of a hap- py New England village which Dr. Belknap has described; a learn- ed, amiable, and excellent minister of the Gospel, a pattern of de- vout feeling, and affectionate intercourse with his people, seeking always to strengthen the persuasions of the pulpit by the influence of his own example, and thus 64 ••Allure to brighter worlds and lead the way;" educated and respectable gentlemen of the other professions, one of them near enough to my own age for daily companionship, nev- er to be forgotten, and engaged in that pursuit of life to which I have since been devoted; a small but well selected library, with which I cultivated a useful acquaintance; and a general circle of friendly and agreeable acquaintances. To the recollection of such things and such scenes it is impossible to revert without feelings both of gratitude and pleasure. Long may your institution flour- ish in usefulness, and long may health and peace, prosperity and happiness, be the lot of the village! To all who may remember me 1 pray you to give my cordial salutations, and, if there be among you any of those who sought to learn Latin or Greek, or to read or cipher, under my veteran tuition, please say to them that 1 trust tiieir children have had better instruction than their fathers. I am, gentlemen, with regard, Yours, (Jtc, Daniel Webster. DECLAMATION. SOUTH CAROLINA AND MASSACHU.SKTTS hy Floyd W. BurnelL The eulogium pronounced on the character of the state of South Carolina, by the honorable gentleman, for her revolutionary and other merits, meets my hearty concurrence. I shall not acknowl- edge that the honorable member goes before me in regard for whatever of distinguished talent, or distinguished character. South Carolina has produced. I claim part of the honor, 1 partake in the pride of her great names. I claim them for countrymen, one and all. The Laurenses, the Rutledges, the Pinckneys, the Sumpters, the Marions — Americans all— whose fame is no more to be hemmed in by state lines, than their talents and patriotism 65 were capable of being circumscribed within the same narrow limits. In their clay and generation, they served and honored the coun- try, and the whole country, and their renown is of the treasures of the whole country. Him, whose honored name the gentleman himself bears — does he suppose me less capable of gratitude for his patriotism, or sympathy for his sufferings, than if his eyes had first opened upon the light in Massachusetts, instead of South Carolina.'' Sir, does he suppose it in his power to exhibit a Car- olina name so bright, as to produce envy in my bosom? No, sir, —increased gratification and delight, rather. Sir, 1 thank God, that if I am gifted with little of the spirit which is said to be able to raise mortals to the skies, I have yet none, as I trust, of that other spirit which would drag angels down. When I shall be found, sir, in my place here in the Senate, or elsewhere, to sneer at public merit, because it happened to spring up beyond the little limits of my own state or neighborhood; when 1 refuse, for any such cause, or for any cause, the homage due to American talent, to elevated patriotism, to sincere devotion to lib- erty and the country; or if I see an uncommon endowment of heaven — if I see extraordinary capacity and virtue in any Son of the South — and if, moved by local prejudice, or gangrened by state jealousy, I get up here to abate the tithe of a hair from his just character and just fame, may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. Mr. President, I shall enter on no encomium upon Massachu- setts — she needs none. There she is — behold her and judge foi yourselves. There is her history — the world knows it by heart. The past, at least, is secure. There is Boston, and Concord, and Lexington, and Bunker Hill; and there they will remain forever. The bones of her sons, fallen in the great struggle for independ- ence, now lie mingled with the soil of every state, from New^ Eng- land to Georgia; and there they will lie forever. And, sir, where American liberty raised its first voice, and where its youth was nurtured and sustained, there it still lives, in the strength of its manhood, and full of its original spirit. If discord and disunion shall wound it — if party strife and blind ambition shall hawk at and tear it; if folly and madness, if uneasiness un- 66 der salutary and necessary restraint, shall succeed to separate it from that Union by which alone its existence is made sure, it will stand, in the end, by the side of that cradle in which its infancy was rocked; it will stretch forth its arm with whatever of vigor it may still retain, over the friends who gather round it; and it will fall at last, if fall it must, amid the proudest monuments of its own glory, and on the very spot of its origin. Webster. QUOTATIONS FROM WEBSTER. FROM THE EULOGY ON ADAMS AND JEFFERSON. RoJne M. Evan.s. We are not assembled, therefore, fellow-citizens, as men over- whelmed with calamity by the sudden disruption of the ties of un- ion or affection; or as in despair for the republic, by the untime- ly blighting of its hopes. Death has not surprised us by an un- reasonable blow. We have, indeed, seen the tomb close, but we have seen it close over mature years, over long-protracted public service, over the weakness of age, and over life itself, only when the ends of living had been fulfilled. Those suns, as they arose, slowly and steadily, amid storms and clouds in their ascendent, so they have not rushed from their meridian to sink suddenly in the west. Like the mildness, the serenity, the continuing benig- nity of a summer's day, they have gone down with slow-descend- ing, grateful, long-lingering light, and now that they are beyond the visible margin of the world, good omens cheer us from "the brigfht track of their fierv car." 67 FIRST BUNKER HILL ORATION. Lucius B. Sivett. We wish that this cokimn, rising toward heaven among the point- ed spires of so many temples dedicated to God, may contribute to produce in all minds, a pious feeling of dependence and gratitude. We wish, finally, that the last object on the sight of him who leaves his native shores, and the first to gladden his who revisits it, may be some.thing that shall remind him of the liberty and the glory of his country. Let it rise! Let it rise, till it meet the sun in his coming; let the earliest light of the morning gild it, and the parting day linger and play on its summit. SPEECH ON LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS, 1820. RalpJi W. Coui^ins. Great actions and striking occurences, having excited temporary admiration often pass away and are forgotten, because they have no lasting results affecting the prosperity of the communities. Such is frequently the fortune of the most brilliant military a- chievements of the ten thousand battles which have been fought; of all the fields fertilized with carnage; of all the banners which have been bathed in blood; of the warriors, who hoped that they had risen from the field of conquest, to a glory as bright and as durable as the stars, yet how few that continue long to interest mankind. ENDING OFTHE EULOGY OF ADAMS AND JEFFERSON. John F. Buzzell. If we cherish the virtues and the principles of our fathers, Heav- en will assist us to carry on the work of human liberty and human 68 happiness. Auspicious omens cheer us. Great examples are be- fore us, Washington is in the clear upper sky. Those other stars have now joined the American constellation; they arch round their centre; the Heavens beam with new light. Under this illumina- tion let us walk the course of life, and at its end devoutly com- mend our beloved country, the common parent of us all, to the Di- vine Benignity- FROM SPEECH OF MAY 7™, 1834. Eloise Gerry. On this question of principle, while actual suffering was yet afar off, they (the colonies) raised their flag against a power to which, for purposes of foreign conquest and subjugation, Rome, in the height of her glory, is not to be compared; a power which has dot- ted the surface of the whole globe with her possessions and mili- tary posts; whose morning drumbeat, following the sun, and keep- ing company with the hours, circles the earth with one continuous and unbroken strain of the martial airs of England. REPLY TO HAYNE. Etta E. Burbank. When my eyes shall be turned to behold, for the last time, the sun in heaven, may I not see him shining on the broken and dis- honored fragments of a once glorious union; on states dissevered, discordant, belligerent; on a land rent with civil feuds, or drench- ed, it may be, in fraternal blood! 61) A few of the distinguished oiaduates of Frveburg Aeademy. -4- i i iiH ' rioifc. liic mother of (rovernor Andrew ; Caroline E. Farrer, the mother of Artemas Ward; Mr8. Valeria G. Stone, who gave the Academy $10,000 ; The mother of Judge Wm. G. Barrows; Ann Mai'sh, siei-ty of ''Tlie Association of tlie A- lumni and Friends of Fryebnrg Academy," a Massachusetts corporation, organized to further the interests of the Acad- emy. The difl'erent rooms have been furnished chietly by family groups of alunmi, with furniture ajid china equal to that found in the best private residences. A complete drain- age system has l)een provided, Avith a modern l)ath room and hot and cold water service. The kitchen was furnished l)y Miss Anna Barrows of the "American Kitchen Maga- zine." Dr. 8. C. Gordon and Dr. 8. H. Weeks have fur- nished the dining room, including china, siher and linen. Mr. A. R. Jenness has |)rovided reception room furniture, and Miss Minnie Bradley, study room furniture. Mrs. Mary E. (Chandler) Charles of Bryantville, Mass., has fitted up a room in memory of her ancestor. Paul Langdon, the first preceptcM' of the Academy. Other rooms have been furnished by tlie family of Hon. Joel E. Morrill of Conway, N. H. ; by Calvin Austin, |)resident of the Boston and Ban- gor 8. 8. Co ; l)y Granville Austin, of Pierce & Austin, Boston, and the family of the late. Hon. D. E. Hastings of FrveburiT- The house is heated l)y a furnace and lighted by electricity. Monday evening, l)v invitation of the ma- tron, Mrs. Josephine A. Durant, a small party of student boarders, together with Preceptor C. G. Willard and \\a\- ter A Robinson of the Boston Latin school, president of the directors of the Alumni association, took sup])er together at an informal dedication of the house. A bouquet of red and white i)inks sent from Boston, made a bright centre piece. The completeness of the appointments of the house was the subject of general comment and approval. Portland Press, Jan. 1. 190'.'. 73 Pequaket, Maine, and Fryeburg. A few events and dates in their history, for the benefit of Strangers and Summer Tourists. PEOUAKET. Pequaket was the Indian name of Fryeburg and Conway. Here was their home and Stamping Ground. The name signifies "The Crooked Place" — referring to the sinuous course of the Saco. Here from his Wigwam's door the Indian could step into his ca- noe, to float indolently with the current, which received in its mazy turnings the waters of many northern ponds, and thus, fishing and hunting on a circuit of nearly a hundred miles, would at last, drop into Lovewell's Pond, landing but three-fourths of a mile from his starting point. 1642. Darbyfield is now credited with being the first explorer of the White Mountains. 1672. The first mention of the White Mts. in print occurs in John Josselyn's "New England's Rarities Discovered," printed in 1672. 1689, Sept. 2ist. Major Church fought an important battle with the Indians at Falmouth. 1703. Major March of Casco, at the head of 300 men pursued the Indians as far as Pequaket, and here killed six, and made prisoners of as manv more. 1724. The Fight at Norridgewock, where Father Rasle, the mis- sionary to the Indians was killed by the English. 1725, May 8th, O. S., Lovewell's Fight at the N. E. shore of the Pond, under Capt. Lovewell and the Indian Sachem, Paugus. Both Lovewell and Paugus were slain. There were 34 whites and about 80 Indians. Darkness put an end to the fray — all but nine of Lovewell's men being either killed or wound- ed. This was the most important battle, in its results, that ever occurred on the soil of Maine. 74 FRYEBURG. 1762, Township of Fryeburg was granted to Gen. Jos. Frye for his services in the French and Indian War. i762-"3. Nathaniel Merrill, John Stevens and Limbo.* a Negro, spent the winter of 1762 and '3 in Fryeburg, at the Great Meadows wintering their stock. 1763, Fryeburg was settled — the first town in the White Moun- tain region. Nath'l Smith first settler to come with family. 1764, Sept, 27th, Betty Spring, daughter of Jedediah, first white child born in Fryeburg — died in Conway, Oct. 15, 1847. 1765, April 19th, Capt. Wm. Evans, first white male child born in Fryeburg — died. Mar. 8th, 1855. 1766, Sept. and Oct. Rev. Timothy Walker of Concord, N. H., made a missionary tour to Fryeburg. 1768, Rev. Dr. Paul Coffin's "Ride to Piggwacket," on a Missionary Tour. 1775, Aug 2ist, Congregational Church organized. Rev. Wm. Fessenden, first minister, ordained Oct. iith. 1775. 1777, Jan. nth, Fryeburg incorporated. 1778, Dr. Josiw*- Emery was Fryeburg's first Physician, and her first Merchant as. well — coming here from Andover, N. H., in 1778. Dr. Joseph- Chase came from Canterbury two years later, in 1880. He had been a surgeon in the Revolution, and was drowned in the Saco^Oct.^1796. D'". Chase married a daughter of Gen. Frye. ♦Limbo was the slave of Wm. McLellan of Goiliam, and found Ins '•Oamian" in Fryeburg. As Fryeburg is less than forty miles from Goihiim, the infeience is plain either that slave property did not bear a high value or that facilities fm tr;i(k- ing runaways were scanty; for it is stated that his foi iiici- owners never lu-ard df him afterwards. His body rests m tlie tiiiper cenu'tci y ;ind his humble head stone says: "He was, while living, 'an honest man, the noblest work of God" " Toor Limlio did not at first find his new Canaan ••flowing with milk and honey", for we have been told tluit at his first home here he often siiared his rations with the pigs. He was sold to Samuel Osgood— the consideration being a yoke of oxen. In 1790 Mr. Osgood sold him to his son, Lieut. Jas. Osgood, for "five sliillings lawful money"— this sale being a mere form to keep the title in the faniily. He ever afterwards found a pleasant home under the iKisjtitable roof of "Aunt Nabbie" of the Oxford House, where he died Dee. 12, 1828. A monument should be erected to Limbo as the first passenger on, and Pigwacket the earliest terminus of, the "Underground Railway . 75 1785. The Great Freshet on the Saco. 1790. Baptist Church organized; Zebadee Richardson, pastor. 1791. Original Webster Academy at Pine Hill, built for a Gram- mar School. 1793, Feb. 9th, Fryeburg Academy incorporated. 1798. Post Office established — mail once a fortnight, 1798. "Russell's Echo, or the North Star" was published here, Feb., 1798, to Jan., 1799. 1798. Judah Dana, grandson of Gen. Putnam, Fryeburg's and Oxford County's first lawyer, came here from Pomfret, Vt. 1800. Registry of Deeds established in Fryeburg. 1 80 1. Oxford House built by Lieut. J as. Osgood. 1805, Mar, 4th, Oxford County incorporated. 1805. Our beautiful Main St. widened one and a half rods. 1806. Second Academy, on present site, dedicated. 1810. Universalist Church organized. 181 2. Canal cut, whereby the course of the Saco, in Fryeburg, was reduced from 36 to 24 miles. 1825, May 19th, Lovewell's Fight Centennial. There was Unitarian preaching in the village in the thirties —and Free Will Baptist services were held in East Fryeburg about the same tune. 1838, Universalist Chapel built. 1842, Aug. 17th. Semi Centennial Celebration of the Academy. 1843, Sept. 15th, "Eastman Coffee House," with two stores and two stables burnt. The hotel stood on the ground between the residence of T. L. Eastman and that of Mrs. Eben Weeks — the two stores were N. E. of the hotel. 1845. The Methodist Church built — now the New Church Hall. 1850, May 26th, Academy burnt. 1850. Present Congregational Church* dedicated. 185 1. West Oxford Agricultural Fair established. 1853. Present Academy completed — occupied the fall term. 1863, Aug. 20th, Centennial Celebration of the settlement of the town. *Tlie first Meeting House (Congregational) was built at Fryeburg Centre— the sec- ond of that denomination, in the village, 17%. at the forks of the road near the dwell- ing of Albert F. Richardson— looking up the Main street. 76 1863. The store of Maj. T. C. Ward, and the shop of Dea. John Evans on Portland Street, burned Nov. 17th, '63. The for- mer stood between the present P. O. building and the shop of W. R. Tarbox; the latter was where Mr. Tarbox's shop stands. In the destruction of Dea. Evans's shop passed the last relics of the old Webster Academy.* In 1809 it was moved from Pine Hill to the site of the stone school house, and there used as a village school house till Aug. 1832, when it was taken down and put into a dwelling and shoemaker's shop on the site of Dea. Evans's shop, by Jasper Pingree, father of the late Gov. Pingree of Michigan. 187 I, June 6th, Railway opened to Fryeburg. 1875. Henry Bernard Carpenter, the poet preacher and brilliant lecturer came to Fryeburg, where he spent about two years. While here he wrote that bright and humorous poem, "The Oat Meal Crusaders," relating the haps, mishaps and experi- ences of a jolly party of pedestrian tourists about the White Mountains. He died suddenly at Bar Harbor. July 17, 1890. 1875, Aug. 2 ist and 22d, Centennial Celebration of the Congre- gational Church. 1877, June 3d, New Jerusalem Church temporarily organized. 1878, Feb. 27th, Permanently organized. 1879, New Church built. 1879, Aug. 31st, New Church dedicated. 188'', Nov. tZth. Green Mountain water introduced. 1884. Fryeburg Chautauqua established. 1885. New Grounds W. Oxford Ag. Fair opened. 1886, Aug. 19th, L, and stable of Dana Mansion burnt. 1887, Feb. 14th, Oxford House burnt. 1887. Fire Corporation organized. 1887, June 25, to June 29, 1889, ''Oxford County Record"' pub- lished here. 1887, July 25, Horse Railroad opened. 1892, Aug. 17th, Academy Centennial. 1893, July 15, ''The Oxford" was opened to the public. 1896, Dec. 25th, to Jan. 4th, 1898, "Saco Valley News" published here. *See picture of building in "Fryeburg Webster Memorial." 77 iQoi, Apr, i2th, Electric Lights introduced into the stores and dwellings. 1901, July 17th, Streets lighted by electricity. 1902, Jan. ist. Centennial Celebration of Webster's taking the Principalship of Fryeburg Academy, Historic houses and places of interest in and about Fryeburg. THE BATTLE GROUND, at LOVEWELL'S POND. This beautiful lake, says Starr King, is "more deeply dyed with tradition than any other body of water in New England," where Capt. Lovewell and the Indian Chief Paugus were slain, May 8th, (O. S.), 1725. "Here beside this gem of waters, Raged the fiercest, deadliest strife, That was ever stirred by warwhoop, Or the tones of drum and fife." JOCKEY CAP. A bald, gray cliff, one mile east of the village, the scene of an unsuccessful attempt of a terrible tragedy, where a young man* was hurled 100 feet upon the rocks below — without serious injury. A remarkable picture of village, valley, river and moun- tain greets the eye from its summit. Molly Lockett's Cave, under the rocks below. THE REGISTRY. The Registry, where Webster copied deeds while teaching in the Academy. His bold chirography may there be seen in Vol. II. SITE OF OLD WEBSTER ACADEHY. Site of old Webster Academy at Pine Hill. See picture of build- *"A lad named Buck, about fifteen years old, fell off the great rock in Fryeburg, Me., known as the "Jockey Cap", last week, a distance of 85 feet, and badly bruised and injured him, though strange to say, not a bone was broken, and he is expected to recover." |_ of C. Portland Transcript, May L'5th, 18,'jO. 78 ing in "Fryeburg Webster Memorial,'' page 9. Emerson and Prof. A. P. Peabody preached in this building in the summers of 183 1 and '32. THE DANA MANSION. The Dana Mansion, the home of Judge and U. S. Senator, Ju- dah Dana, and his son John W. Dana, Gov. of Maine and Minis- ter to Bolivia. THE McHILLAN HOUSE. The McMillan House, where "The Village" was written by Gov. Enoch Lincoln in 18 15 — the first vol. of poetry written in Maine — now the residence of Mr. Post. THEQEN.JAS. RIPLEY HOUSE. The Gen. Jas. Ripley House — present residence of David R. Haley. THE OSGOOD HOUSE. The Osgood House, opposite '"The Oxford," where lived Jas. R, Osgood, the publisher, and his sister, the poetess, Kate Put- nam Osgood — the latter was born there; Jas. R. was born in the old Oxford House. '«CAPT. BROWN'S HALL." ''Capt. Brown's Hall" — originally built 140 years ago, on the in- tervale, west of the bridge/ but drowned out by freshets and floods, it was hauled across the Saco on the ice nearly a hundred years ago; now standing on Main St., nearly opposite the site of the old Webster Academy. Rev. Dr. Paul Coffin, in his ''Ride to Pigg- / y^ ^ wacket" in 1868 on a missionary tour, thus speaks of it: "It had a ~~ high clean room, with five glass windows, and was nearly half wainscoted. It struck me with pleasure, hence I called it "Capt. Brown's Hall." THE TEMPERANCE HOUSE. The Temperance House — on Portland St. — kept by Samuel Souther froin 1833 to his death in 1856. THE EVANS HOUSE. The Evans House, the oldest frame dwelling in Fryeburg, lately repaired. The L was a part of the original Oxford House, the shed, the first Fryeburg School house. THE HOUSE OF AMOS J. COOK. The House of Amos J. Cook, who succeeded Webster, and 79 ^in the Academy a third of a century. PINE HILL. Pine Hill, at the head of the village. STARK'S HILL. Stark's Hill, from which Wm. Stark, (a brother of Gen. John Stark), showed Gen. Frye the beauties of his new township. THE ORIGINAL OXFORD HOUSE. The original Oxford House, now the home of Wm. Durgin on Portland St. THE HARRY Y. B. OSGOOD HOUSE. The Harry Osgood House, at the south end of Main St., where his grandson, John L., now lives, and embalmed in the beautiful description of the village, by Howells, in the first chapter of his storv. "A Modern in.'y^ance." ARTISTS, riR. and MRS. B. T. NEWMAN'S HOME. Mr. and Mrs. B. T. Newman's Home, on Bridge Street. A part of this house, before it was repaired and made over, was the old printing office, where Elijah Russell printed "Russel's Echo, or the North Star" more than a hundred years ago, when it stood in the garden of Hon. Geo. B. Barrows. THE BRADLEY HOUSE. The Bradley House, formerly on the site of C. F. Goodnow's home; now on the opposite side of the street, about twenty rods N. E. BIRTH PLACE OF flAINE'S FAVORITE POETESS. Birthplace of Maine's Favorite Poetess, Caroline Dana Howe, on Main, opposite Bridge St. THE FORMER HOME OF LIEUT. ROBT. E. PEARY. The former home of Lieut. Robt. E. F'eary, the explorer of the North Pole; the present dwelling of F. L. Mark on Elm St. THE VERB ROYCE-DR. GRISWOLD HOUSE. The Vere Royce-Dr. Griswold House, on Bridge St. CAPT. HENRY Y. BROWN'S HOUSE. Capt. Henry Y. Brown's House, (the grantee of Brownfield), after he left the intervale — formerly on the site of John Weston's home — now standing on the east side of Smith St., near its junc- tion with Warren St. THE REV. DR. CARLTON HURD HOUSE. The Rev. Dr. Carlton Hurd House, built by him 70 years ago 80 — now the Alumni House, bought recently for a Girls' Dormitory by the Boston Alumni Association.* THE BOAT RIDE ROUND THE RIVER. The Boat Ride round the River — a charming days outing- starting at the village, and gliding with the Saco's current, one sails about 25 miles, returning to within three-fourths of a mile from the starting point! Beautiful Drives About Fryeburg. POTTER'S FARM. Potter's Farm, overlooking Walker's Pond, (sparkling like a diamond set in ebony), Chocorua, and the whcje \^'hite Mt. Range. CARTER'S HILL. Carter's Hill, in East Fryeburg, commanding a striking view of Kezar Pond, the Saco, and the whole town. SWAN'S FALLS. Swan's Falls, showing the rapids made by the cutting of the Ca- nal in 1812. THE CHAUTAUQUA GROUNDS. The Chautauqua Grounds, where the annual Assembly and School of Methods are held. FRYEBURG CENTRE. Fryeburg Centre, where was born "The Vermont Bard," Chas. Gam age Eastman. PLEASANT MOUNTAIN. Pleasant Mountain, looming like a huge earth work from abroad plain — an extended view from its summit, 2000 feet high, is given on account of its isolated position. GREEN HILL SQUARE. Green Hill Square, taking in the base of Kearsarge, So. Chat- ham and "The Whale's Back." HIGHLAND PARK. Highland Park, the summer home of the wife of the late Gen. Geo. F. Shepley. HURRICANE MOUNTAIN ROAD. Hurricane Mountain Road, lately opened over Green Moun- *See page 71. 81 tain to Kearsarge Village and North Conway — rising nearly 2000 feet, showing a wide and extended panorama, N. Conway, Echo Lake, Cathedral and the Ledges. Davis Hill, in Conway. Ten Mile Square, Fryeburg. Sixteen Mile Square, N. Fryeburg. Ten Mile Square, Conway. Conway Corner. White Mountain Miner- al Spring. Fessenden Hill, 3-4 mile No. of Chautauqua Grounds, the home of Fryeburg's first minister, Rev. Wm. Fessenden. FRYE'S HILL. Frye's Hill, the home of Gen. Frye, one mile north of Chautau- qua. Brownfield, via the ''Notch" Road, Cold River, Bridgton, Lov- ell, Menotomy, Harbor Square, Bartlett, Jackson, Mt. Tom, Jock- ey Cap, and "The Battle Ground." LOVEWELL'S POND. Lovewell's Pond, mean width, 3-4 mile; two miles and 50 rods in length. JOCKEY CAP and PINE HILL. Jockey Cap and Pine Hill, 200 feet high. STARK'S HILL. Stark's Hill, 630 feet high. FRYEBURG. Fryeburg, 500 feet above sea level. 82' The Association of tlie Alumni and Friends of Fryeburg Academy. [Incorporated, June 28, 1000, under Massacliusetts laws.] DIRECTORS, 'l^rm expires in I906.: Walter A. Robinson. A- M., Master, Bo.ston , Latin School. Mrs. Leah Barker Chase. Brookline. John Stuart Barrows, Marine Editor, "Boston Journal." Term expires in 1 905. William E. Decrow, A. M., Gen'l Manager Gamewell Fire Alarm Co. Mrs. C. Frances Fames, Woburn. F-rancisH. Wyman, with Hovey & Co., Boston. Term expires in 1 904. Calvin Austin, Prest. and Gen'l Mgr. Boston & Bangor S. S. Co. Mrs. Mary E. Charles, Bryantville. Edw. E. ■ Hastings, Esq., Fryeburg, Me. ' Term expires in l9o3. Granville C. Tyler, Leather Merchant, Boston. Mrs. Ruth Morrill Starrett, New York City. Rev. Fred- rick A. Wilson, A. M., Andover. T^rm expires in I902. *Phillip E. Stanley, A. B., "Boston Herald." Miss Mary E. Buzzell, Asst. High School, Stoneham. Wallace ¥,. Mason, A. M., Master Field High School, Leomister. Annual membership fee, 5o cents. Life membership fee ,$10.00. Membership, Dec. 2, 1901, — Life, 20; annual, 76. President, Walter A. Robinson, 34 Jason St., Arlington. Secretary, Miss Anna Barrows, Editor, 2H Oliver St., Boston. Treasurer, Hon. William W. Towle, 10 Tremont St., Boston. Organized to Help Fryeburji Academy. DOINB. Purchased, November 2'A, 1901, The Hurd-Sewall Parsonage for Dormitory lor Girls. Buildings, when repaired, will be worth, . $2, OOO.OO The furnishings are worth, . ... 600.00 The land is worth 1, 000. 0(> Hav§ added Books of Reference, Maps, Apparatus and Pictures, Have provided Instruction in Domestic Science for the girls who live at the dormitory. DOING (ietting money for a Carnegie Pul)lic Library and Mtni- orial Hall. GOIMG TO DO Secure a Dormitory for Boys. Establish a Manual Training Department. I'rovide tTymnasiums. Add to the .\cadeniy Buildings. Beautify the Grounds and lay out .\thletic Fields. Add to the Endowment P'und. WE DESIRE YOUR HELP. *Deceased. Webster's Fryeburg Store Account, from Ledger of John and Rob't Bradley. DANIEL WEBSTER, Dr. 1802 Dolls. January 9 To soap 6d (12) Ribbon 8d Comb 6d (30) Quills Is 6d Feb. 2 Pencil 7d (6) Ring 5s (10) Silk 5d 12 Book 4s 6d {I'S) Segars 9d (20) Raisins 9d 23 Sundries 3s 3d (March 1) Segars 9d March 4 Raisins &c (10) Wafers 4 K. (16) Paper 2s 4d 19 Raisins 5d (April 7) 1 sq. Glass 6d Watch Key Is April 10 Hose 7s 6d (17) 3,^8 yds. velvet, 8s 6d per yd. 17 '.J yard B. hollon Is 2d 2 skeins silk Is 2d 17 Buttons Is (29) 20 cents lent Is 2d 29 1 best whip 9s May 18th 1 Quire paper Is 6d Ma\- 18 1 bunch quills Is 4d ^j bushel corn Is 9d June 1 1 Vjox wafers 5d June 5 one powder flask Is 9d 5 ,14 lb. powder Is 2d June 7 one quire paper Is 6d 8 one bunch segars 9d, June 9th cash lent 30s 12 pair silk hose 14s 6d (17) 1 paper ink powder 9d 2 July 1 '•_' lb raisins 5d,(3) one skein silk 5d 5 To cash 18s (6th) >4 m Quills Is 6d 19 1 penknife 4s }.i quire letter paper lOd 29 1 yd. ribband 6d (31st) 1 pair gloves 4s Aug. 2 two dozen quilis Is 4d 2 yds. cassiniere 14s 6d per yd. silk Is 2d, twist Is 2d 5 26 '.1 yd. linen Is 2d ferret 3d buttons 7d 4 small buttons 4d 38 Sep. 3 one trunk 13s 2 17 53 1 00 1 00 67 45 32 5 68 38 37 1 75 52 36 44 5 13 2 54 14 3 25 80 75 33 89 1802 CONTRA June By Cash 24s Sept. 3d Cash 120s 24 00 1804 April 29th By Cash of Samuel A. Bradley 9 64 Fife Insuiance Cash Fund, January I, 1902, $666^679.04 Surplus over Re-Insurance. $422,451.85 Losses Paid the past year, $41,836.23 Dividends Paid the past year, $62,168.79 Gain in Surplus the past year, $28,308.27 Gain In Cash Fund the past year, $21,831.51 AND KVERY LOSS PAID IN FULL. Amount at Risk, $33,152,599. Total Liabilities, $244,227.19. Divideiuls P;iid on every Expiring Policy; 60 per cent, on 5 years, 40 per cent, on 3 years, and '20per cent, on all others. WILLIAM H. FAY, Sec'y. CHAS. A. HOWLAND, Pres't and Treas. Dividends paid A. R. Jenness, $3G4.97; F. L. Mark, $81.25; W. H. Tarbox, $154.07. $4,659.51 Total dividends i)aid in this Co. by A. F. LEWIS, Agent, Fryebnrg, Maine. INSURE AGAINST FIRE irith 1^ TRADEESANDMEGHANICSINS.CO.. of Lowell, Mass. C. C. Hutchinson, Pres., Edw. M. Tucke, Sec. & Treas. This Co. pays dividends of 20, 40 and 60 per cent, on J, 3 and 5 year policies. Dividends paid J. & E. P. Weston, $328.92; C. T. Ladd. $203.11; Hon. L. R. Giles, |235.54; Fryeburg Academy, |204.68; C. H. Tibbetts, $203.11; Fryeburg Village Corporation $71.55;, Estate Eben Weeks, $225.99; A. & P. B. Young, $83.05. $3717.29 dividends paid in this Co. by A. F. LEWIS, Agent, Fryeburg, Maine. ' Fryeburg Academy offers instruction in the following subjects: Languages — English, French, German, Latin, Greek. Mathematics — Arithmetic, Algebra, Plane and vSolid Geometry. History — Grecian, Roman, English, American and General. Sciences — Physical Geography, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Bot- any, Geology and Physiology. Commercial — Bookkeeping, Civics, Political Economy. Pedagogy — Psychology, Theory and Practice of Teaching, School Management, School Government, School Organization, His- tory of Education, etc. There are three courses of study — College Preparatory, English Scientific and Teachers Training. The College Preparatory Course is designed to meet the require- ments for admission to the New England Colleges. The English Scientific Course is designed to give a general edu- cation to those who do not intend to pursue their studies in higher schools. It is also a sufficient preparatory course for several Scientif- ic schools of New England. The Teachers Training Course is designed to meet the needs of those who expect to teach in our common schools. Alumni House. — This is a building recently added to the institu- tion by the alumni to be used as a dwelling house for girls. It is provided with electric lights, bathroom and all the modern conven- iences. A matron has charge of the house as well as the girls who live in it. r Tuition, fl. per term. Expenses } Books sold at cost. ( Board and lodging in Alumni House, $',-i. per week. (From Monday till Friday, 112.50.) Boys ina}' hire rooms within two minutes walk of Alumni House for fifty cents per week and l)oard at Alumni House for |;2.50 per week.(|2. from Monday till Friday). For catalogue or further particulars address Charles Glidden Willard, Fryeburg, Maine. C. E. Harris, DENTIST Modern Dentistry. oxford st. Fryebtjrg, Me. If you want a painting of your old rRYEBURQ MOMD write to~~~~"""^^^^^^^HP^ B. T. Now naan, Tryebur^ Scenery M. Q. rreeman Sc Go., Bool<^ C^T^n^^^ and Job Pi^rrit^i^s? Fryeburg, Maine. A large stock of MOUNT BOARDS constantly on hand. GO TO J. T. WhitmoPc's Ffveburg Shoe aod Novelty Store. Queen Quality boots for women. Men, women, misses, and childrens clothing, ladies and childrens furs, ladies and gents fur- nishings. Musical Instruments, Watches, Clocks and Jewellery, Druggists Sundries, Patent Medi- cines, and a full line of bric-a-brac. At my branch store you will find dishes of all kinds. Blankets, Puffs, Window Shades, Curtains, Curtain Poles, Rugs, Stands, Pictures and Toys. A full line of lamps. Electric Lamps and Morris Chairs. BDWARD B. HASTINGS, Qoutvselor and Attorney at Law. <:■}•.■■:■!■ i r , ; • ; .. ■ . . -, ■ FryebiLir^, Oxford County, Maine. ^^^""^ Call at and see the LATE5T/^ELT1ES IN FIAIE^, ^EWELRY^ i^^^-^.i ^ixd ntHnerfliiis other beautiful and attractive ^oods. Oijr^tocli has been chosen with great tes- f I^^^N f C^^^,^^' oare'&nd cannot!'|faijlto please people of correct tastes '4c3l' ^^^'^tt:i*61egant, eliaste, ref^i>dJ We al^o carry a full stock o Bicycles and Sundries in t^ieir seaso^/ J y^i li. ^iirnham, %%GpiTi a k e r ./J evv e I e r , O pt i c i a n , J.>'^ and Bio/^ciy^Mlachinisl. PR^gBURG, // / - .r,,.. Mj^IMB. If- I ,(• Fryeburg, Maine. At Uberty House, E. Browufielcl, every Thursday. A good assortment of all kinds of meat, provisions, fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, canned goods, home made bread, etc., at the Market, Fryebur^, Maine. Z. O. Wentworth, Proprietor. 58t,h Annual Statement of THE MOUYOKB MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO., of Salem, Mass. 1N( Oltl'OUATEl) IS43. C. H. Price, rresident. J. T. Mahonev, Vice President. W. L. Hakki.s, Treasurer. A. N. Webb, Assistant Treasurer. 1.. (). Johnson. Secretary. C. P. Faunoe, General Agent. Ji^lNUARY 1. 1902. Amount at Risk - = $38,759,133.00 Cash Assets » = = 917,384.11 Reinsurance Reserve = = 281,918.21 Other Liabilities = = 7,869.69 Cash Surplus ^ Inchuliiig Guarantee Capital. ) 627,596.21 This Company Pays the Following Dividends: On Policies for 1 year. 20 iiei- cent. 3 years. 40 per cent. 5 years. GO per cent. Dividends paid, D. VV. True, $Qi.2rr, Capt. E. K. Wingate. ,f 123.08; Norman Charles. $81.80; J. & Wni. Locke, .^115.91; L. J. Olney, .•8!80 75. Total Dividends paid liy tliis Co. in Fryeburg Agency, f l,470..f)4; A. F, LEWIS, Agent. T. W. GMARUDS, Dealer in ^""■■■»' Confectionery, Cigars and Tobacco. Junction Elm and Smith Streets. rRYEBURG, - - MAIINE. 1 I- An ideal summer home^ replete with every modern convenience. One hundred rooms arranged singly and en suite. Broad piazzas and shady lawns. Bill- iard and Pool room. Telegraph and Telephone offices in the house. Perfect sanitation and water supply. Fine Cuisine, the table being supplied with fruit and vegetables from the hotel garden. The Oxford is open throughout the year, fifty steam heated rooms assuring perfect comfort to winter guests. FRANK PLUMMER, Proprietor. Fryeburg, Maine. Send for illustrated circular. '^Ao* : •^j-d* /*!^^-% ^'/^«>- ./*i;^^\. ^'/^ •^0^ .i^°^ v^o ' ^0 .V ^o. **t:*:t'- .o'^ '^^ '*7^o' ^^'^'