OPENING ADDRESS. 9 



wooden dolls, ancient pin cushions \Yell filled with pins of a cen- 

 tury ago. The old kitchen utensils, the favourite arm chair. All 

 these and many other things were viewed while there, and which 

 enabled me to spend a very xileasant morning. Loving hands had 

 preserved all these things, and at a great age the ijoet's sister at 

 her death bequeathed the house and property with all its equip- 

 ments to the city of Portland . 



On another occasion I had dinner at the Sudbury inn, the 

 scene of Longfellow's "Tales of a Wayside Inn." Most of the 

 relics of bygone years had been preserved and were most interest- 

 ing. The house has been kept in the same style No alterations 

 made since it was built. The old bar was there, and a grille was 

 supposed to be lowered at the hour of closing, which I believe in 

 these days was nine o'clock. When this grille was closed there 

 was no communication supposed to be had behind the bar with 

 the outside room, but I observed that room enough was left be- 

 tween the grille and the counter for the passage of the pewter 

 mugs which were used in those days for drinking beer, and was 

 evidently the way the landlords of the time had for getting over, 

 and for evading, the law, and I have no doubt that if the Scott 

 Act had been in force in these days the same difficulties would 

 have been found as are to-day experienced in its enforcement. 



To be able to know how our ancestors lived, and what was the 

 daily routine of life, in years gone by, is most interesting, and it is 

 regretable that people in the past have not appreciated that fact. 



Again it is well to be fully informed and have an accurate 

 knowledge of our own country, and while this Society has by its 

 lectures, interested the people in our great Dominion, its resources, 

 industries and public works, yet in a practicaJ way great good 

 might result, in my opinion, if lectures were delivered, and dis- 

 cussions had upon the natural resources of this Province. These 

 resources are principalh' agriculture, lumber, and fishing. The 

 interest taken in agriculture at the present day is widespread. 

 The farmer is at the head of all other industries, and to the de- 

 velopment of agriculture all Governments are looking for the 

 jnat(3rial prosperity of the people. Two or three years ago a 

 notable gathering met at Rome attended by delegates from the 

 four corners of the globe, to discuss matters pertaining to agricul- 

 ture, and to increase the knowledge of the tillers of the soil, and 



