The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-06-18
Bill Nye Revisits His Birthplace

THE PRODIGALS RETURN TO THE RAGINGt
PI>CATAQUIS.
Last week | visited my birthplace in the
Safe of Maine | waited thirty years for the
public to visit it and as there didn't seem 10 be
much of a rush this spring, thought would
90 and visit it myself. | was telling a friend
the other day that the public did not seem to
manifest the interest in my birthplace thai it
ought to, and he said | ought not to mind that.
''Just watt he said It'll tile people of the
United States have chance to visit your tomb,
and you will be surprised to see how they Will
run excursion trains up there TO Moosehead
Lake, or wherever You plant yourself. II will
be Il perfect picnic. Your hold on the AMtr-
can people, William is wonderful, but your
death woud seem to assure it, and kind of
crystalline The affection now existing, but still
in nebulous and gummy state"
A man ought not to criticlse his birthplace, |
presume, and yet, if We're to do it all over
again, do not know whether | would select
that particular spot or not Sometimes | think
| would not. And vet, what memories cluster
about that Old house! There was the place
where first met my parents. 1t was al that
time that an acquaintance sprang up which has
ripened in later years into mutual respect and
esteem. 1t was there that what might be term
ed a casual meeting took place. that has under
the alchemy of resstess years. turned to gold
OF union between my parents and myself. For
that reason, | hope may be spared to my par
ents for many Years TO come.
Many Old memories now cluster about that
old home, AS | have said. There is also, other
old bric-a-brac which has accumulated since
was born there. took small stone from the
front yard as a kind of "memento" of the OcCa-
sion and the place. | do not think it has been
detected Yet. There was another stone in that
yard, so it may be weeks before any one finds
out that took one of them.
How humble the home, yet what lesson it
should teach the boys of America. Here. amid
the barren and inhoSplable waste of rocks and
cold, the last place in the world that great
man would naturally select to be born in, be-
gan the life of one, who by his own unaided eff
fort, in after Years rose to the proud height of
postmaster at I.aramaie City, Wyoming Terri
tory and with au estimate of the future that
was almost prophetic, resigned before be could
be characterized rs an offensive partisan.
Here on the banks of the raging Pi>cataquis
where winter fingers in the lap of spring till it
occasions good deal of talk, there began ca
reer which has been the admiration and Won
der of every vigilance committee west of the
turbulent Missouri.
There on that spot. with no inheritance but d
predispoall0n to premature badness and Bit
ter hatred OF rum: with no personal property
but Il m,tit suspender and IA stone bruisc, be-
gan life history which mas never ceased to be
it.
1t should teach the youth of this young land
what glorious possibilities may lie concealed in
the rough and tough bosom of the reluctant
present. 1t shows how steady perseverance
and good appetite will always win in the end.
1t teaches us that wealth is not Indispensable,
and that if we live as we should, draw out of
politics at the proper time. and die few days
before the public absolutely demands it, the
matter of our birthplace will not be considered.
Ia tl,,l., i, ,,ll l.
place. 1t was a good quiet place to be born in.
The old neighbors said that Smiley was very
quiet place up to the time was born, and when
| took my parents by the hand and gently led
them away in the spring of '53, saying, Par
ents, this is no place for us it again became
quiet.
1t is the only birthplace | have, however, and
| hope that all the readers of the Globe will
feel perfectly free to go there any time and Wis
it it, and carry their dinner as did EXtrava-
CANT cordiality and overlooking hospitality
have always kept my birthplace back. Bill
Nvp