“ ‘The 19th of May, 1780, was a remarkably dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses, the birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost. The Legislature of Connecticut was then in session at Hartford. A very general opinion prevailed that the Day of Judgment was at hand. The House of Representatives, being unable to transact their business, adjourned. A proposal to adjourn the Council was under consideration. When the opinion of Colonel Davenport was asked, he answered, “I am against an adjournment. The day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for an adjournment; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish, therefore, that candles may be brought.”nbsp;’ ”
“Such a man would be a success at any period of the nation’s history.
“Of Roger Sherman, for many years a citizen of New Milford, time would fail me to properly speak of the long and distinguished public services which he rendered, not only to the community in which he lived, but to the nation at large.
“Some years ago, in studying his life and character, I collected from the Colonial Records of Connecticut every mention of his name, and will present the record[45] to the New Milford Gazette for publication; for, of such a citizen, New Milford may well be proud.
“The lives which these men lived, and countless others in the early days, should be an inspiration to us all.
“Opportunity does not come alike to all, but these men simply did their duty honestly, faithfully, and well; and all of us can do the same to-day, in full confidence that the motto of our dear old State—‘Qui transtulit, sustinet’—has not yet lost its meaning or its power.”
After a witty speech by Rev. Marmaduke Hare, who spoke as an Englishman who is an American in the making, Mr. Beach terminated the exercises with these words:
“One brief thought in closing. As the sun sinks behind the hills of our western horizon to-night, we close the second century of the history of New Milford; but let us not linger too long in contemplation of the setting sun. Rather, let us turn our faces eastward and greet the rising sun, which will usher in the third century. Yes, it will be our privilege to enter the portals of another century, but certain it is that not one present will reach its exit. Let us press forward, doing faithfully each duty as it presents itself, placing our confidence ‘in the God of our fathers, from out whose hand the centuries fall like grains of sand.’ ”
Tuesday evening was devoted to a magnificent display of fireworks in Riverside Park on the west bank of the Housatonic, and thus, in a blaze of glory, Governor’s Day, the last of the New Milford Bi-Centennial, came to an end.