Returning from Mill

New Ipswich Historical Society

Three men walking along Turnpike Road, just after they crossed Highbridge. Probably returning to their quarters after working at the mill.

On this day - February 23, 1898

William Jurian Kaula diary

23 FEB 1898

The war scares between Spain and the United States reach us daily and each morning I am anxious to hear about the most recent developments with the latest diplomatic relations between our country and Spain.  We await the crisis of the inquiry into the cause of the disaster to the Maine.

For the past two weeks the attention of Paris has been monopolized by the Zola trial.  It is now approaching the end.  Zola made his speech in his own defense yesterday and gave his reasons for his accusations.  "If I am here before you it is because I wished it," said Zola.  "I alone decided that the obscure and monstrous case should be brought under your jurisdiction, and it is I along who, of my own free will, choose you, the highest and most direct emanation of French justice, so that France may at least know all and pronounce its opinion.  My act has had no other object and my person is nothing, I have sacrificed simply in having placed in your hands (the jury) not only the honor of the army but the honor of the entire nation, which is in danger..."  Zola declared that the jury had not received sufficient light and it was not his fault and that he had not the power of carrying out his intentions.  "The light, the full light, was my sole passionate desire.  These proceedings have just proved it to you.  We have had to struggle step by step against an extraordinary wish for darkness.  Each particle of truth wrenched away has necessitated a combat; they have disputed everything, terrorized our witnesses in hope of preventing us from proving our case."  Zola went on and told how he had not political ambition and that he was neither a liar or traitor, and that the jury on condemning him would not re-establish order in the country.  A judicial error had been committed that had necessitated the acquittal of a guilty man.  If Zola is to be condemned it would be one more fault.  The Dreyfus affair, he said, was a very small matter at the present time.  It was a question of knowing whether France was still the France of the rights of man, whether they were still the noblest, most brotherly, and most generous of people?...  He declared that Dreyfus is innocent - swears that he is innocent, and will stake his life and honor upon it - before the whole of France, before the entire world.  "May all that crumble, may my works perish if Dreyfus is not innocent!  He is innocent!  Everything seems against me - the two Chambers, the civil powers, the military powers, the newspapers with large circulations and public opinion, which they have poisoned.  And I only have on my side the idea, the ideal of truth and justice.  I am quite calm - I shall conquer.  I have not wished that my country should remain in a state of falsehood and injustice.  They may strike me here.  Someday France will thank me for having assisted her in saving her honor."  I have the greatest admiration for Zola - right or wrong - I believe that he must be right or why should he stir up this tempest?  It is quite evident that he had but little to gain and much to lose that affected him personally for his trouble.

Émile Zola

On this day - February 23, 1909

James Roger diary entry

23rd (Sunday)

Frosty but fine.  Mr. Peacock preached from text “He shall give power to the faint” A good number at Church.  C.E. Mrs. Wheeler leader

Paul Wainwright Program Postponed Due to Weather - February 23, 2023 4:00 PM

The program “New England's Colonial Meetinghouses and Their Impact on American Society” which was to be held at the library on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 4:00PM has been postponed to a later date TBD.