o belong to a community like that which
combines the youth and vigor and ambition of a western city
with the refinement and conveniences, and the pride in a noble
history, of an old American community. It is a delight to
see it grow and a greater delight to help it grow,--to help
improve its schools, and found its Public Library, and help
lay the foundations of great institutions of learning. Worcester
had an admirable Bar, admirable clergymen, and physicians
of great skill and eminence. Among her clergymen was Edward
Everett Hale, then in early youth, but already famous as a
preacher throughout the country. There was no Unitarian pulpit
where he was not gladly welcomed. So his congregation here,
by way of exchange, heard the most famous pulpit orators of
the country.

Among the physicians was Dr. Joseph Sargent, a man then without
a superior in his profession in Massachusetts. The friendship
I formed with him in 1849 lasted till his death, more than
forty years afterward.

The mechanics of Worcester were unsurpassed for their ingenuity
anywhere on the face of the earth. Worcester was the centre
and home of invention. Within a circle of twelve miles radius
was the home of Blanchard, the inventor of the machine for
turning irregular forms; of Elias Howe, the inventor of the
sewing machine; of Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton
gin, which doubled the value of every acre of cotton-producing
land in the country; of Erastus B. Bigelow, the inventor
of the carpet machine; of Hawes, the inventor of the envelope
machine; of Crompton and Knowles, the creators and perfectors
of the modern loom; of Ruggles, Nourse and Mason, in whose
establishment the modern plow was brought to perfection, and
a great variety of other agricultural implements invented
and improved. There were many other men whose inventive genius
and public usefulness were entitled to rank with these. The
first house-warming furnace was introduced here, and the second
cupola furnace was set up near by.

These inventors and mechanics were all men of great public
spirit, proud of Worcester, of its great achievements, and
its great hope. They got rich rapidly. They and their households
made social life most delightful. There was little pride
of family or wealth. Men and women were welcomed everywhere
on their merits.

The City of Worcester was the heart of one of the foremost
agricultural counties in the country. The county stood fourth
a