Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SrRINGFIELD, 1G3G-1S86. 597
In an editorial paragraph the enterprising conductor of one of the papers said,
" We think we shall be al)le in our next to give our readers the entire speeolies
of his Excellency, of the Adjutant-General, and of Colonel Winthrop." This
would be ten days after the speeches were delivered. Mark tlie difference be-
tween that time and this! To-day our daily papers can hardly wait for the
speeches to be spoken, or events to happen, before they are offering their readers
full and accurate reports of what lias been said or what lias occurred.
A number of the foremost citizens of Springfield in tlie past liave been more
or less intimately associated with local journalism, and become a part of its
historj'. William B.' Calhoun, who honorably represented this part of the State
in Congress at the time of our two hundredth anniversary, and was a man of a
high order of ability, contributed lilierally to the editorial columns of the local
press. So, less frequently, did that rare companion and gifted lawyer, George
Ashmun, M'hose handsome presence especially graced occasions like this. The
brilliant and genial William Stowe, whom many of us remember with pleasure,
was a regularly emplo3'ed editor of one of the local journals. Ex-Mayor Will-
iam L. Smith, also, to whose good taste and intelligent management, as chairman
of the citizens' committee, the success of this celebration is so largely
due, was an able editor in his younger days, and would have responded for the
profession this evening but for his frail health. That admirable and useful moral
teacher. Dr. J. G. Holland, was anotlier worker in the ranks of wliom the fra-
ternity in Springfield will ever feel peculiarly proud. These and others like
them, men of position, of power, of conscience, and character, have made the
press of Springfield what it is to-day. Let us hope that their successors, in the
present and coming generations, will seek to emulate their virtues, and to ad-
minister worthily the larger trust, the heavier responsibility which the oppor-
tunities of modern journalism lay upon them.
Dr. Thomas R. PyNCHOx, of Hartford, Conn., responding to the
toast "The tirst three magistrates of Springfield," said :
Mr. President and Gentlemen of Springfield, — \ need not say that it gives me
the greatest pleasure to be present on this occasion, for though our branch of the
Pynchon family established themselves upon the beautiful shores of Long Island
Sound nearly one hundred and fifty-eight years ago, yet we have always regarded
Springfield as the ancient home of our race, and taken tlie deepest interest in
its prosperity, welfare, and success, and it is with feelings of no ordinary satis-
faction that I rise to say a few words on behalf of my distinguislied ancestor
and his faithful friends, and attempt to justify his right to tlic title of AVorsliip-
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