Turner's Public Spirit, March 8, 1924
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. The Alliance will hold an all-day meeting at the home of Miss Julia Fletcher on Thursday, March 13.
The firemen held their regular monthly supper at the firehouse [now the Westford Museum] on Tuesday evening. The committee was as follows: Arthur Hildreth, Sebastian Watson and Frank Hildreth.
The next meeting of the Tadmuck club will be in charge of the public health committee and will be held at the Library hall on March 11 at 2:45. The speaker of the afternoon will be Mrs. E. W. Cummings; her subject to be “Stories of the Children’s hospital.”
The Oratorio society is holding rehearsals weekly and it is planned that later in the season a festival by three societies will be given.
Rev. Edward Disbrow [of the Congregational Church] attended the town meeting held in Boxford this week, he having been a resident of that town before coming to this town.
The regular Sunday services will be held at the Congregational [Church] on Sunday. At the morning service the pastor will take for his subject, “Compassion,” and in the evening “Brother for brother” will be the subject.
On last Sunday Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Sunbury and daughter Frances became members of the Congregational church, having joined by letter from a Lowell church.
Master Claude Wright, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney W. Wright, is reported ill with scarlet fever.
The pupils of the Graniteville night school held a dancing party in the town hall on Tuesday evening.
Mrs. Edward Disbrow is the guest of her daughter, Mrs. Horace Killam, of Haverhill.
The regular monthly social was held at the Congregational church last week Friday evening. An excellent supper in charge of Mrs. John McMaster was served, after which a program consisting of an interesting talk by Allister MacDougall, a former Westford boy [aged 30], who is now in charge of the Middlesex County Extension work, and reading by Miss Doris York, of Graniteville, who shows remarkable talent in this line.
The W.C.T.U. met with Mrs. John Felch on Wednesday evening.
At a recent meeting of the board of selectmen Messrs. Furbush and Gray voted not to have a salaried [police] officer this year. They also voted to have Mr. Furbush act as chief, the work to be done by special police. The third member of the board, Arthur G. Hildreth, was opposed to such procedure. William Wall has been appointed to act as one of the special police.
Principal P. L. Rowe, teachers and pupils of grades 5, 6, 7 and 8, held an enjoyable party at the town hall on Friday evening of this week. Games were enjoyed and refreshments served. Mr. Rowe has started an athletic association and nearly enough money has been raised to purchase uniforms for the boys. Mr. Rowe is also planning an attendance banner, which is to be displayed in the room having the highest percent in attendance for the month. All such methods for betterment in any line of school work are to be commended.
Mrs. Alice Wells, Mrs. Ella Wright, R.N., Misses Ruth Tuttle and Blanche Lawrence attended a lecture given by Dr. Copeland, of New York city, at the Lowell Auditorium on Tuesday evening.
The Reading club, conducted under the auspices of the literature and library extension committee of the Tadmuck club, held their first meeting in Library hall on Wednesday afternoon. The next meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. William Roudenbush on Wednesday afternoon, March 26.
James Ramsey, probation officer of the superior court, will be the speaker at the meeting of the laymen’s league at the Unitarian church on Sunday evening.
The Legion will conduct a dance in the town hall on Monday evening, March 17.
About Town. James A. Walkden is ill with bronchitis at his home at Chamberlain’s Corner and confined to his bed.
Judge Hayes, of the district court in Ayer, who recently fined Charles E. Wacome, of Lowell, $130 for illegal trapping, added, “I am sorry that I cannot send him to jail.” Besides the fine, Wacome’s hunting and trapping license was suspended for a year. The dog that was found in Wacome’s trap belonged to John Bell, who lives on the Lowell road, near Westford Station. This docile dog spent over twenty-four cold hours in this trap. Is it any wonder that the legislature of 1923 passed a law that Warden Backus of Ayer [used that] forced Wacome into court, as before the law was passed it left all animals of a trapping size, domestic or wild, to an open liability to be caught in these traps and snares to suffer zero freezing and starvation, and the torture of the pain from the trap? I was glad of an opportunity to speak and vote for the law.
The clouds are gathering for a special town meeting, to be a sort of town meeting protest in regard to the recent shake-up in the police force, for which there seems to be no justifiable reasons given. If there has been, it does not appear to have got around to the voters’ ears yet. It may be a case of “I do not love thee, Dr. Fell, the reason why I cannot tell. But I do not love thee, Dr. Fell.” The date of the special meeting has not been uncovered yet.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm has a few left-over Pumpkin Sweet apples that are still in a tempting, palatable, eatable, tasteful old-time condition.
Have just received a copy of Clara Endicott Sears’ new book, “Day of delusion.” It is interestingly well named. “Days of eccentricity without sense” would also be an appropriate title. Emerson, who received a similar movement in the same year, 1843, “Convention of friends of universal reform,” writing in “The Dial,” July, 1843, says of this movement, “Madmen, madwomen, men with beards, duckers, muggletions [sic, Muggletons is meant], come-outers, groaners, agrarians, Seventh Day Baptists, Quakers, Abolitionists, Calvinists, Unitarians and Philosophers all come successively to the top.” Certainly this is a heterogeneous conglomeration of all the eccentric oddities ever come together to reform the world. In the words of another, “This is a gosh darn pretty pickle.”
Annual Back-Log club play, “Making Daddy behave,” town hall, Littleton, Friday evening, March 14, at 8 o’clock. Dancing after the play.
“St. Patrick’s day in the morning!” If I was younger by less than a century I should be tempted to go to Townsend on March 17 and dance with my ears to the old familiar, life-arousing music which was the charm of my jolly young youth. Two other step-enlivening tunes fit appropriately in with it “For the wearing of the green” and “The girl I left behind me.” My dancing days are not over for I never had any to be over, never having skill enough in my head to spare for my feet to teach them to dance. The old-fashioned dances and the old-fashioned music seemed to carry a wholesome inspiration, as I saw a very limited few in youthful days. The cheer of that music still lingers in memory, while the dances themselves long since lost their fascination or rather I should say that they never had any to lose.
Western Canada has adopted the single tax system of taxation as demonstrated in Harvard by Fiske Warren and associates, with perhaps a few variations. Taxes are paid only on land itself, which is assessed at the same valuation as adjoining unimproved lands of the same class. The farms, buildings, personal property and improvements are not taxed as it is felt that the man who is leaving his land unimproved or unproductive should not be favored at the expense of the man who is making his home there and adding to the wealth both of the community and the province. If taxes are levied on the land you tax the source of all wealth, whether man or mouse trap, for out of the earth or land has come all tangible wealth by the law of evolution, including William Jennings Bryan. All the inventions of man as we know in modern life had and still have their root and germ in the earth, including the celebrated Teapot Dome. If we tax the land, say the single taxites, we have taxed the source and the stream will govern itself accordingly[;] such non-taxable securities and all tax-dodging crooks in turn will be buried for keeps in this landslide. While I am not converted to it, I am sitting in the inquirer’s seat.
George B. Turner & Sons of Ayer have Miss Sears’ new book, “Day of Delusion,” on sale.
New Day Thoughts. Recently I received a very kindly and scriptural letter from S. P. Hayward, of Nooksack, Wash. He is an entire stranger to me, but when I quote a few lines from his opening there may be those who know him. He says, “Seeing in the Pepperell-Advertiser from time to time your references to the Volstead law I am led to write.” I am only quoting so much from his letter to let those in Pepperell who know him to introduce him to me. I will add, however, that he has sent me five five-minute sermons to prove from the bible that the Volstead law is all wrong in trying to make the world behave itself by force of law, and he makes a special plea for wine as a beverage drink and he quotes the bible from Revelation to Genesis to prove his contentions and adds, “No one yet has been able to refute me.”
As he will read this before I have time to reply by a personal letter or rebuttal, I am going to advise him to put himself under the treatment of Dr. Percy A. Grant[1], of New York, or some kindred liberal for theological repairs. A little modern theological medicine would help him to see the new wine in the new bottles, the new inspirations of the new interpretations that press us in a more humane and rational way with the emergency brakes of the living now like all the sincere and honest William Jennings Bryan; to us a slang phrase, he is “barking up the wrong tree.” The game has long since departed to the living tree of the living new present, and the Volstead law is one of the new inspirations we ought to back for, and Sunday sport, which is anti-Volstead in soul morals, we should train ourselves to bark down from our modern new day tree. Let us all be able to say with our good Orthodox friend and poet John Greenleaf Whittier, “Our fathers hath not all of god. Revelation is not sealed.”
Entertainment and Dance. West Chelmsford Grange held an entertainment and dance in Abbot’s hall, Brookside, last week, which was an all-round success, including attendance, behavior, money, receipts and social spirit uplift. The Grange orchestra furnished solo and concert dancing music, refreshments were served by Mrs. Jennie Brown and assistants. Those who had special responsibility were Frederick Burne, Walter Wilkins, Mildred Nystrom, Dorothy Pevey, Thelma Luke and Arthur Nystrom.
The regular meeting of the Grange was held in Historical hall on last week Thursday evening. The lecturer’s hour, in charge of Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, was a great success. The program was as follows: Reading, Stanley L. Snow; solo, Raymond Vennard; sketch, “Washington’s Christmas,” by scholars from the Quessy school. Those taking part were George Washington, Francis Safford; assistants, Leonard Leedburg, Carl Johnson, Richard Greene, Harold Ellinwood, George Reis, Donald Smith; soldiers, Harold Ellinwood, George Reis, Donald Lupien; English Tories, George Lallas, Stanley Snow, Clarence Leedburg; guards, Raymond McGlincy, Emil Haberman; friends of the Tories, Ada Boothier, Helen Miner; drummer boy, Master George Parkhurst. After the program there was a march for Washington pies, the one stopping at the right station when the music stopped receiving the pies. Mrs. Jennie Brown, Mrs. Elizabeth Vinal and Miss Bernice Brown had charge of this part of the program.
Reminiscences. I read with much informing interest and pleasure in last week’s issue the communication by Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher entitled “Of historical interest.” I enjoyed it so much that I wish that those who have the faculties and the facts would contribute more of such. Briefly I wish to review a few of the statements.
“Samuel Swartout was collector of the port of New York. Under his administration a defalcation of a large sum of money was discovered that stirred the country as bad as the Teapot Dome does now.” How encouraging that is to take our bearing by to prove that in proportion to our increased and heterogeneous populations we are not going from bad to worse quite so fast as recent developments would seem to imply. Of course this does not excuse it for it is inexcusable. It is but the fruitage of the natures of modern life encouraged by a false standard of education, “the money standard,” gradual from the under-paid hayseeds or even the better dressed clerks. Get away from working for others, get into business for yourself, there is more money in it, and the whole trend of modern life is pivoted on this false and demoralizing standard, and while our school teaching has not directly contributed to the fruitage of the “false standards of life,” it has directly failed to counter with the clearing clarion voice of warning against the excess emphasis on the “money standard” and emphasize and substitute that word which carries love in its interpretation, “service,” and I am included to add with regret ditto the “pulpit,” only in a general way and without any special pulpit in view.
It is true that the principles involved in the Teapot Dome scandal enter altogether too much into all modern business life from producer to consumer, and if it could all be audited it would be liable to make the Teapot Dome look invisible except on presidential year. Millions exchange hands every year on gold brick fake schemes, not to mention light weight and short measure and apple “deacon” misrepresentation generally in daily business. The modern thought has it “there is so much that is bad in the best of us, and so much that is good in the worst of us, that it ill becomes anyone to find fault with the rest of us.” This thought was said of old in a little different language and more condensed, “Him that is without sin let him cast the first stone.” None of us are in any danger of making it a hit or getting hit.
In looking over the compensation of postmasters it is surprising how small some of them were paid and it does not seem that the compensation was an inducement to compete for it when there was a national change of political administration. Luther Prescott, of Forge Village, received $10.68 and this was in 1837. In 1924 the government pays $700. Of course the village has grown, but it does not seem as though in 1837 the village was as small in mail as to only come to a commission of $10.68. Then again I find that the total commission of the postmaster in Townsend was $109.63, while in Westford about the same sized town, the total commission of the postmaster was $77.31, or in 1837 Townsend was more literary than Westford by $32.32 worth. Whether they hold this lead now or not I cannot tell, but I am going to find out.
The mention of Eliphalet Case as postmaster of Lowell recalls a few incidents in his life. He was a staunch old-fashioned Andrew Jackson democrat and minister of the First Universalist church of Lowell, which then stood where the abandoned Boston and Maine station now stands on Central street. He had quite a bump of what was called then “self esteem;” modern life calls it “ego.” These were the days when the phrenologist described the chemical analysis of heads. A noted phrenologist came to Lowell and gave a public demonstration, and among the heads that he passed judgment on was that of Rev. Eliphalet Case. The phrenologist started off by saying “He has a large bump of self esteem.” This started the audience into a laugh. The phrenologist, to use a slang phrase, “seeing that he had put his foot into it,” quickly continued by saying, “Oh, he esteems others as well as himself.” In Mr. Case’s congregation were many anti-slavery men and women and trouble arose, and Mr. Case resigned and preached his farewell sermon from the text, “Miserable comforts are you all.” The text seems to indicate that he was nearly out of esteem for his congregation. I have these reminiscences of Mr. Case from my mother, who was a fourteen-hour-day laborer in the mills of Lowell at the time.
Listen to this, everybody, “General P. G. T. Beauregard, who commanded the rebels that fired on Fort Sumter, was a cadet at West Point.” How encouraging it is to educate individuals in the science of defending the nation and about the first public service that they render is to bayonet the government that educates them. If Beauregard was alive he would be eighty-seven years old and never came to trial that I have heard of or any of the rest of his co-associates in the secessions hold up, so we are not in very good standing in demanding that the German Kaiser come to trial for spilling the blood of 10,000,000 humans, but just the same any league affair that omits to mention the “electric chair” has left out the most vital essential for world peace.
Church Notes. First church (Unitarian)—Sunday service at 4 p.m. Music: Vesicles and Lord’s prayer, chants by chorus choir; “Sunrise and sunset,” Spross. Miss Eleanor Colburn soprano. Preacher, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minister. Subject, “The dominant traits of fundamentalism.” Church school at 12.
The Y.P.R.U. met Sunday afternoon following the church service. It was voted to hold a dancing party on Friday evening, March 28, and a military whist party at a later date to be set. A committee was appointed to consider the question of holding a May party in the month of May.
On Sunday the preacher will attempt an estimate of the dominant traits of the Fundamentalist movement, pointing out what is wholesome in the movement and what is evil and dangerous.
Graniteville. The members of the night school conducted a very enjoyable dancing party in the town hall, Westford, on last Tuesday evening. The affair was largely attended. The Harrisonia orchestra furnished excellent music for dancing, and at intermission refreshments were served. The whole affair was very enjoyable.
The Abbot Worsted baseball club, which are now members of the Boston Twilight league, will have a fast team on the diamond during the coming season. Manager McCarthy will have practically a new team on the field and the fans are assured of some rare sport.
Walter and Earl Robinson of the navy are spending a few days at the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Robinson.
Both masses in St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning were celebrated by the pastor, Rev. A. S. Malone, who made the following announcements relative to the Lenten season: Services will be held in the church on every Wednesday and Friday evening at 7:30. The services on Wednesday evenings will consist of the recital of the rosary, followed by a sermon and benediction. On Friday evenings the service will consist of the stations of the cross, followed by benediction.
The Abbot Worsted soccer club did not play on last Saturday. It was expected that the management would arrange a game with the J.V.P. Coats team in Pawtucket, R.I., but the Rhode Island manager informed Forge Village that the playing field was icebound. The Abbots are pretty well caught up on their schedule and with any kind of a break in the weather ought to have everything cleaned up during the month of April.
The Graniteville bowling team defeated the Highland Daylight team of Lowell in a highly interesting match at Richards’ alleys on last week Friday evening, 1665 to 1582. After the match refreshments and cigars were served the visiting players and spectators, the affair being in the nature of an “open house” event. The local team will play a return match with the Highland Daylights in Lowell this week.
Mrs. George Carney spent last week in Lowell, returning home on Friday.
Ayer
Real Estate Transfers. The following real estate transfers have been recorded from this vicinity recently:
Westford—Albert F. Conant et al. to George A. Kimball; Annie M. DesRochers et al, to George A. Kimball, land on Littleton road.
[1] “Percy Stickney Grant (1860–1927) was an American Episcopal priest.
“Grant was born in Boston and was educated at Harvard University (AB, 1883; AM, 1886) and at the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts (BD, 1886). …
“In 1893 he became incumbent of the Church of the Ascension in New York City. He became known for his support of socialism and for his ‘forum’ for the expression of views on labor and living conditions. Advocates of all political and social doctrines were permitted to speak freely. This was widely criticized and finally, in 1923, following action taken by Bishop William T. Manning, the forum was greatly modified in its character. He also came in controversy with Manning on the question of divorce. He became engaged to Rita de Acosta Lydig who had been divorced. Manning refused to authorize the marriage and it did not take place. In June 1924, he resigned his rectorship.” See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Stickney_Grant.