The Portland daily press., 1877-07-24
CaStine Relics.

The government of the Baron de St Castin
was so entirely local in its influence that the
details of his romantic sojourn are not widely
known; and the part which this little comnuni-
ty played in the wars with European powers
has been overlooked in the apparently more
important events which occurred in localities
ess remote from the great centres of strife.
Many of our guests will have come fresh from
Old-World travels, their memories filed with
historical associations set in the framework of
the very scenes in which the events took place.
Others narrowed by continual residence in one
section of their native country, will not allow
that any story of the past can equal their own
local traditions; and, to all alike, lively re-
membrance of the recent war of emancipa-
ton will throw into the shade the half forgot
ten sufferings OF colonial times and the more
familiar vicisssftudes of the struggle for inde-
pendence. 70 those who have visited Versailles
and Fontainebleau, what is it that more than
two hundred years ago French nobeman,
weary of the world, sought a retreat in the
Acadian forest, married an Indian maiden,
and spent the rest of his life among the gen.
tie and unspoiled Tarratnes?
Who that has seen the magnificent cathe-
drals, the secluded monasteries, the picturesque
wayside shrines. which attest the power and
influence OF the Romish Church upon its ma
tive ground, will care to know that here was
once tiny chapel dedicated to "Our Lady of
Holy Hope" and that Jesuit missionaries were
among the first arrivals in the new settlement?
The wanderers over European battle fields
will pass unheeding the wooded hill which
ontains the bones of the few score victims
of the Revolution in this remote ard 'tbinly
peopled region; and though they may listen
with interest ID our standard boast that the
Great Eastern itself could comeiup to our veyy
wbarves and turn around without difficulty or
danOnr thew not likplV haar ho hos
tile British fleet once rode at anchor in the har-
Dor, and British troops twice held possession of
the town.
What am l saying? Every American is pat
riotic, whatever else he or she may be- and no
degree OF foreign association or amount OF ln-
dividual experience can make our countrymen
and countrywomen insensible to the thrilling
romance of early history.
The faint depression i'll the soil which still
designates the site of Castins fort is not so pic
turesque landmark of the past as are the
ruined castles on the Rhine; but our summer
guests will trace the outlines with eager eyes,
and call up many vision of the conrtly noble
man and his dusky bride, as they pick out
shells from the embankment facing the sea, or
wander along the shore at low tide
in the hope of catching a glimpse of
the sunken pier which formed the landing for
the baron's boats The ruined fort on the hill
will be, of course the favorte promenade and
lounging place OF the strangers; nor will they
forget that Sir John Moore, the immortal hero
of Charles Wolfe's celebrated poem,
"Not drum was heard, not funeral note,"
began in this spot the military career which
terminated so early and so brilliantly in Spain
Never will they pass Trask's Rock without a
thought of the brave little tifer boy who, seated
behind the immense bowlder, cheered his COM
rades to the attack with his shrill music while
the bullets whistled around his head. They
will pause before the white house in Main
Street where Talleyraud once lodged and will
welcome any chance that gives them admission
to the mansion which still bears in one of its
floors the marks OF the boot heels of the British
officers who danced there at balls given during
the foreign occupation. To them the Castine
relics will be, as they are to US, objects of deep
interest. They will study the curious coins,
and muse over the dlsfgured copper tablet up
on which Capuchin friar Leo recorded the date