Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/201

 JOHN HARRIS.

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��respect for the Almighty arc Congrc- gationahsts ; the people who serve Satan under the cloak of religion are Episcopalians." Li every age, we find that a phenoment)ii is in a cer- tain sense absolute ; its interpretation is almost always related to the pre- conceived ideals of the interpreter. However, it is fortunate that in later times society, in action and speech, is less zealous for the extinction of legitimate distinctive i)rivileges. Were John Harris alive to-day, he would not repeat his former compari- son of the church-goers of Hopkin- ton, and a Baptist now has no occa- sion to retaliate in a way we have imagined. What is true of a later and better aspect of religious matters is equally so of all subjects of popu- lar discussion.

Having thus briefly defined and ex- plained John Harris' social position in Hopkinton, we will now consider certain matters more specially per- sonal. From such information as we have, we conclude that John Har- ris was of medium stature and rather slim. In physical bearing, he was erect, but he sometimes walked with a peculiarly rapid motion that was noticeable. His complexion was fair, his hair was light, and he had blue eyes. We hear that he had a smooth face. By this we infer that he had no beard. Beard ^is not an invariable appendage to the mascaline human face. Capt. Bimsley Perkins, a for- mer noted citizen and landlord of Hopkinton, had no beard except a mere tassel upon his chin. John Harris dressed well, but he was not particularly scrupulous about his at- tire. In this he was like many other men of distinguished mental attain- ments. In the intervals of public and private cares, he found time to give to the children. Of course we do not mean all the children. In the social circle in which John Harris moved, there were children that spe- cially attracted or interested him. He observed of these that they needed better instruction in reading than the vn— 12

��l^ublic schools of the time afforde(t them. In this, he showed his devo- tion to an educational specialty. He collected a class of scholars and gave them free instruction in reading. His school room was the senate chamber of the old Hopkinton court house. Lest any pupils should come un- bidden to his school, he distributed cards of admission among those he desired to teach. In his reading school he ])aid special attention to accent, emphasis, and inflexion. A favorite selection was made the subject of a prize exercise. This selection was from the New Testament, and con- tained a part or all of this passage from Matthew, or its equivalent in Luke :

'' What went ye out into the wilder- ness to see ? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see ? A prophet ? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." (Matt. XI, 7, 8, 9.)

Evidently an admirable selection, when one considers the different mod- ulations of voice required in its per- fect rendering.

During much the larger part of the time John Harris lived in Hopkinton, he dwelt at the angle of two roads ii> the western part of the village, where the road to Henniker leads off from- the main village street. The situation^ now occupied by Mr. Reuben E. French, is somewhat elevated. Pre- viously to John Harris' occupancy, the place had been owned by Mr. John George, who moved from Hopkinton to Warner. When owned by John Harris, the estate embraced about fifty acres of land, " suitably divided," as is often said. In the buildings and land, John Harris effected certain im- provements. He built an addition to the main house and also erected an oflfice. In those days, farming improve- ments were less extensively made than now, but he kept his standard of fer- tilization and productiveness fully up

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