TWO BALLOONS PASSING OVER GROTON. 1 57 



health, of Samuel's, what Becca is doing &c. &c. My health. Sir, 



God be praised, is good, and think not, Sir^ that I am unconscious of 



the important blessing. 



[Addressed] John Farrar. 



Deac. Sam' Farrar Lincoln 



Dr. Samuel A. Green, the Groton historian, is authority for the 

 statement that the late ex-Governor Boutwell in a personal talk with a 

 student at Lawrence Academy in Groton, said : " If you wish to take 

 a college course, I trust you will be able to do so. But there are 

 three things you must have in order to succeed : Industry, integrity, 

 and civility. You cannot get along without civility." This advice 

 made so much impression upon the boy that his grandfather has the 

 words printed on a little card for distribution. 



From " The Listener " in the " Boston Evening Transcript," April 5, 1905. 



TWO BALLOONS PASSING OVER GROTON. 



Among my early recollections many years ago is going with 

 my father one afternoon to the north part of the town in order 

 to see whether a balloon, sent up from Nashua on that day, 

 would be visible in Groton ; and I remember my disappoint- 

 ment in not having the expected view. Within a short time 

 I have learned that the date of this ascent was August 29, 

 1838, now more than three quarters of a century ago, and 

 that the balloon came down in Windham, New Hampshire. 

 The gas v.'as made on the grounds within an enclosure, and a 

 fee for admission was charged. 



A balloon ascension was made from Lowell, on July 4, 1882, 

 by James Allen, of Providence, Rhode Island, accompanied 

 by Charles L. Knapp, of Lowell, which took a westerly course. 

 The balloon first made its appearance to the Groton villagers, 

 coming over Gibbet Hill, and passed directly over my place, so 

 near that conversation was carried on between the aeronauts 

 and persons below. It continued on its course beyond West 

 Groton and Shirley, and disappeared in that direction. The 

 wind was light and its progress slow. I have seen a letter written 

 by Mr. Knapp, which gives the following particulars of the trip: 



