New England Magazine - March 1900 - Page 112
New Ipswich Historical Society
Recap of page 111
Page 112
they have visited the scenes which are famous in story, and viewed the treasures of nature and art which have required centuries for their accumulation; and some may have even encompassed the globe itself. But, during our wanderings, has not this valley of our birth, encompassed by hills which shut out the prospect beyond, reminded us of the valley of Rasselas the happy valley,' in which all the sources of true happiness were concentrated? and though, like Rasselas, we may have contrived to escape from it, and have looked for happiness and contentment in the distinctions which wealth and station and learning and success confer, have we not, like him, found sorrow and disappointment and discontent everywhere? In behalf of all these rovers I will venture to speak, and to say that no Alps have ever appeared to them so formidable as did once the mountains around us; no river has caused us to forget Souhegan; no embosomed Swiss or Scottish lakes have seemed more lovely than Pratt's Pond; no lofty and crumbling cathedral has impressed upon us such reverential awe as the old meetinghouse on the hill; no institution of learning has excelled the old district school, where the twig was first bent, and felt too; no festival ever surpassed in extravagance and in relish the old Thanksgiving dinner; no happiness has been found, far or near, to be compared with that at the old country fireside."
Such are some of the interesting things of which one likes to read in the books, as one spends summer days in the historic town, and of which one likes to think, as one walks up and down the village street at morning or at night.
As the lingering sunbeams fade from the brow of the distant hills, the evening winds waft the sound of a church bell through the quiet valley, and the initiate tells the stranger that this is the curfew, which rings now as it did a hundred years ago. At nine o'clock at night the same sound breaks the stillness, for this is a remnant of the English custom of ringing the proper bedtime hour, when thrifty housewives cover the fire with ashes and prepare for slumber. There are few New England villages where the bells have a sweeter sound or where one would seem to have right and title to a sweeter sleep than in this quaint village of old New Ipswich.
(end of article)
On this day - January 23, 1898
William Jurian Kaula diary
23 JAN 1898
The Louvre is such a treasure house of art that I wonder why I do not go there more often. Many of the boys say the same thing. Unless one is willing to take the time for their work on weekdays there is no other time left except on Sunday. It is then that the students flock to the galleries. I met Leavitt there this morning. He was at the Normal Art School years ago and at Cowles when he returned from his first trip abroad....I spent most of my time with my nose up near the VanDykes as he is the master that is now in my popular favor. (Anthony van Dyck) I never fail to take a look at my favorite Rembrandts, Titians, Valesquez and Franz Hals. Glover has been busy during the past few weeks in making a copy of a VanDyke. It is a large canvas with a full length figure of a woman and a child. It is a beautiful work and I am anxious to see his copy to see how much of the original he has copied..... I have yet to visit certain parts of the Louvre outside of the picture galleries.
Paris has been so much disturbed over the Dreyfus Affair that preparations have been made to suppress any uprising. The Anarchists and Socialists are eager for an opportunity of coming to the front by taking advantage of any disturbance in the city. Naturally they espouse the cause of Dreyfus and Zola which takes the side opposite the government. There was a large meeting held a few nights ago in the Place de la Republic and was dispersed by the mounted city guard which charged upon a crowd that were unhappily unable to escape owing to the board fence behind them. The brace soldiers hurt a few unfortunate people who were probably drawn to the square by curiosity. A Frenchman always wants to know what is going on but wants an opportunity to escape if it is necessary.
Today (Sunday) has been quite a field day for the mounted guard of Paris, who have been ordered out to make a display all over the city. It is a picturesque sight to see a company or two with the glitter of shining steel and brass and the brilliant color of the uniforms in contrast to the more sombre effects in the streets. There were vast quantities of soldiers around the Place de la Concord which is often a favorite meeting place for agitators of some popular cause. There was to be a meeting in a hall on the Rue de la Gaite (which is but a few blocks away from here). As this meeting had something to do with the Dreyfus Affair and as the hall was small and that there was likely to be a great crowd attracted to the place, the police had made tremendous preparations to handle the crowd and any trouble that might occur. The locality is famous in Paris and has not a good reputation. Squads of police came marching up at an early hour and there was but little room left for the crowd to gather in such close quarters. Besides, came a troop of the mounted Municipal Guards and their brilliant uniforms lent much color to swarm. Nothing occurred in the Rue de la Gaite that afternoon.
Transcriber note: If you are unfamiliar with the Dreyfus Affair, it is an interesting story. "An Officer and a Spy" filmed in 2019 is available for streaming and several books have been written including "The Dreyfus Affair: The Scandal That Tore France in Two."
On this day - January 23, 1909
James Roger diary entry
23rd (Saturday)
Foggy and drizzly all day wind east to north. David teaming lumber from mountain to Chair Factory in Greenville. Got letters from Alice & Hamish. Will Cochrane getting better but very weak. Hamish had a slight accident. A box containing silver fell on his head. Tonight is 20th anniversary of C. Knowlton’s marriage – reception to be in Baptist Church from 8 to 10 pm.
On this day - January 23, 2018
Freezing rain in New Ipswich
Poor Hamish's head!
Pratt's Pond was my father's favorite fishing spot in the 1940s. We fished it on a weekly basis. I (and many others) took New Ipswich for granted while we lived there. I think it is more appreciated by those who have left it and are looking back, then those who never left. I suspect newcomers have a greater appreciation because they know what it's like beyond the 'valley'.