Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-14

and go away in the morning and return al
night. We made our trip, and in the after
noon started to return. We found both wind
and tide against us, and when about halt
way met strong current setting out over the
bar. Our crew became exhausted and we
began to drift out to sea. Each of the officers
could pull an oar, and getting on the thwart
with the men took the oars while they
Law back and rested. We made n squirt
and gained somewhat. Then the crew made
one, and by a succession of spurts We drew near
enough To the ship to reach a long line which
the executive officer sent to us, attached to a
barrel was very thankful that ! had learned
to row when boy, for being able to pull an
oar without catching crabs, or hindcring
Others helped to save my life Boys cannot
he taught to take care of themselves too
young out of doors. | have taken my son out
every wear since he eight years old, and
taught him how to shift for himself over night
If the need came. A few years since he
was visiting a schoolmate at Lincoln above
! Bangor. The two, with younger brother.
went one day to trout pond some distance
in the woods. They were directed wrong
and only by good luck arrived at the
place late in the afternoon. When
they wished to return they could not
hich was doubtful. Night was coming on
and to get lost in the woods on the frontier is
no joke, even to adults. Here came in the
boys training. He said 10 his companions.
This brook leads to the river, or to streams
that do enter the river. The river flows
through the settlement; if We stick to the
brook We must come out right" They fol-
lowed the brook until darkness came on, then
he again came to the front and proposed that
they go into camp for the night, and follow
| the brook by daylight until they reached the
settlement. They selected a good place,
built fire. made a bed of boughs, and while
one kept the fire burning, the others slept.
and when the rough woodmen, who had been
sent out otter them, found them at two o clock
in the morning. they were as comfortable as
old soldiers sin bivouac."
The only disturbance of mind which these
school boys had, was the regret that their
friends would be anxious about them. When
these boys get through with their school
days and chance drifts them away, perhaps
to our Western wilds. they will not be the
helpless animals we sometimes meet.
There is another view to take of this sub
ject. Only a short time since we had an ar
ticle in one of our popular Monthlies, "On
what our boys are reading" by learned
College Professor. The result of his investga-
tloh was somewhat startling. out MS Story
was true. Our periodical depots are filled
with the cheapest sort OF trash, which our
boys crave and read. Now, why? A little
analysis of these books shows that most Of
them are adventures, generally, in field and
on the flood, AT any rate pictures of a stirring,
active life-exactly the opposite of what the
school boy leads, for going to school is hum
drum to a live boy, and he Graves a more ac-
tive life. Now in his vacation, give him a
taste of the real out of door life fill him full
of boating, fishing, climbing mountains,
long tramps in the backwoods; teach him
how much boy can do and bear; wade him
through brooks, tangled grass, and wet BUSH
es; feed HIM on salt pork, and at the same
time. dry his stockings ut night, and make
him clean his gun aud cook his fish or assist
about camp, and he won't be SO ready to
swallow all that is told in the ''dime novel. "
Give him plenty of good books of travel and
adventure, and at the same time all within
your reach of the real thing, and he won't
want the imaginary. On the same principle
that after good dinner of roast beef, aman
Is not so apt to steal cold potatoes.
As to the direct pecuniary returns to our
people, think that the most cash will be
realized from the pockets OF men in search of
recreation. and most men must have some
thing tangible to shoot at, or throw NY for.
No man, thnk, can get mnch pleasure from
sitting on his door step and throwing fly at
tub of water when he is sure there are no
fish, but give him brook and the occasional
sight OF fish, and he will get up an appe-
tite at least.
To the greater part of the State, | think,
then that the proht must be looked for in the
recreation, and from the recreators; bnt
there are places where restoration of the
fish would be direct increase to the food
supply. and source of income to the peo-
pie, and one OF these places is the valley of
the kcnnebee
Taking this county, where two-thirds of
the real estate Is mortgagcd, anything
that will aid in rendering the obtaining o: a
living more easily. ought to receive some
attention from our Legislators and public
men, for reissue OF alewlves would be of
more benefit to the poor man and his family
than reissue OF greenbacks
The hsh at Benton were considered so val
liable to the poor OF the town that they Were
to have their share free, when the right to fish
was sold annually and to the highest bidder. and
by reference to our first Fish Commissioners 5
report it will be seen that the right has been
sold As high as fifteen hundred dollars.
The early settlers, in an area of seventy
square miles about Sebasticook Falls could
not have sustained themselves on their clear