sage and ancient maxim, I am sure the public will thank us for having
given them an opportunity of seeing those beautiful works of men of
which it may be said: "_Vivos ducunt de marmore vultus_." I trust,
therefore, the sculptors will excuse us for having done, not perhaps the
best they might have wished, but at least for having relieved them a
little from the darkness of that Cimmerian cellar in which their works
were hid. [Cheers.] I beg again to thank you, gentlemen, for the honor
you have done me in drinking my health. [Loud cheers.]




JOHN R. PAXTON


A SCOTCH-IRISHMAN'S VIEWS OF THE PURITAN

[Speech of Rev. John R. Paxton, D.D., at the seventy-seventh annual
dinner of the New England Society in the City of New York, December
22, 1882. Josiah M. Fiske, the President, occupied the chair. Dr.
Paxton responded for "The Clergy."]


MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN:--There is no help for it, alas!
now. The Pilgrim or Puritan doth bestride the broad continent like
another Colossus and we Dutch, English, Scotch, Scotch-Irish, and Irish
walk about under his huge legs [laughter]; "we must bend our bodies when
he doth carelessly nod to us." For the Puritan is the pious Joseph of
the land, and to his sheaf all our sheaves must make obeisance. As he
pipes unto us so we dance. He takes the chief seat at every national