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��HILLSBOROUGH.
��TOWN MATTEKS TO-DAY.— CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE.
Hillsborough is mainly an agricultural town. Its soil is strong and well adapt- ed to the growth of the usual crops, and its farmers have a high reputation for in- dustry and skill. But there are no bet- ter locations, or more favoring facilities for manufacturing than the town presents. The Contoocook River furnishes ample water power, and railroad communication will be opened this summer, which will give ready connection with markets of supply and demand in all directions. Already the manufacturing products amount to nearly $400,000; and there are ready facilities, which if employed would double this sum; not to speak of the proceeds of agriculture, amounting to $180,000.
The condition of the people is what maybe termed "comfortable and inde- pendent." There is an aristocracy of good citizenship only, and on that plane all meet, act and feel on an equality. Cliques and " sets" are comparatively unknown, and there is a Democracy of social sentiment prevalent which even the churches recognize and cherish. In a word, the people of Hillsborough are a happy people; and with their reputation for industry, honesty and intelligence, one of themselves may be justified in as- serting, that few communities deserve greater credit and praise for their sense of moral and religious duty.
The people are a " hearty" people. Their straight forwardness is more re- markable than their polish. They do not talk of legumes when they mean beans. Their minds, like their phys- ique, are well described by the word — robust. They inherit much of the hon- est bluntness of their Scotch-Irish ances- try — no little of their ponderous wit, and all of their geniality. Let us have a look at one of these rough wits : During the Presidential campaign of 1840 — known as the " hard cider campaign" — Daniel Webster made a political speech atFrancestown. A Hillsborough man- Smart by name — and an indurated and incorruptible Democrat, was invited by a Whig friend to go and hear the distin- guished statesman. Smart declined on
��the ground that he was a Democrat and did not agree with the great " Expound- er." In view, however, of a free ride and a gratuitous dinner, the invitation was accepted. Next day Smart and one Col. Lewis were drawing a load of cider pomace from Washington to Hillsbor- ough. It was a beautiful day in the au- tumn, and as they turned an angle in the road, Webster drove up in a carriage, with some friends, on their way to enjoy the hospitalities of the town of Washington. " There's Webster !" shouted Smart. " Who's Webster?" asked Lewis. "Dan! Webster," said Smart, "I was down to Francestown and heard him talk, yesterday." By this time the team and carriage were side by side, and Smart, jumping from his team, ran to the car- riage and familiarly said, "Howd'edo, Mr. Webster? I was down at Frances- town yesterday and heard your talk, and though I am a Democrat, it was what I call a d — d good one!" "Your opinion flatters me," replied Webster. Smart then called up Col. Lewis and introduced him. Mr. Webster greeted the latter and asked him, what earthly use he made of cider pomace, with which the cart was laden. The Colonel, who was also a stal- wart Democrat, bluntly answered: " Those infernal Whigs have drank up all the hard cider in this section, and I am going to sober 'em off on pomace this fall." The eminent statesman leaned back in his carriage, and the surround- ing woods rang with his hearty shouts of laughter. Smart began to rebuke the Colonel for his bold reply to the " great man," but Webster said, "No, no; that's too good !" and throwing a half eagle to Smart, and instructing him to divide it with his Democratic friend, he drove away. Years after Mr. Webster related this story in the United States Senate, expressing appreciation of the blunt wit of Colonel Lewis.
The support of churches and schools in the town is very liberal, and signal ability characterizes alike preachers and teachers, in the four churches and near- ly two score of schools. There are two Congregational churches and two Meth- odist. At the Bridge is the "Hillsbor- ough Messenger," edited and published
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