The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-09-23

SACO, Sept. 49, 1885.
My Dear Sir-Yo1r very kind invitation to help
the York Society at its clam bake on Tuesday is
gagements will allow me- to be with you then. It
has been exceedingly pleasant to read the pro-
ceedings Of the society. The pride of those of us
know that those who have left us do not forget
nor cease to love the old county.
feel that my title to be called son of York is
perfect. The last three generations of my ances-
tors, both maternal and paternal, have been resi-
dents of Saco, and am now occupying the old
homestead, busy engaged in rearing another;
excuse me, should have said tWo other genera
tions. For now have the opportunity to chuckle,
to see the Governor" Gas they call hfm) point his
Where's grandpa2' / trust all Of mine,
wherever they go, will keep in mind the history of
this part of this State, so full of interest and
value.
series of letters he wrote in AT for the Maine
Democrat giving his adventures, etc., on trip to
the Pool. he wrote as follows:
"Among the natural productions of the Pool
we ought not to omit the mention of clams. The
flats surrounding the Pool are full of the small
white clam, which, except during the summer
months, is, in the estimation of many, but little
they are at what are called ''clanl-bakes"-a kind
of social hilarious gathering, peculiar to Rhode
Island and Massachusetts, The process is this:
A hollow place is found or made in the ledge upon
the shore, and heated by long continued wood
fire until it is like bakers oven. Into this the
clans by tens of bushels are thrown and covered
with green seaweed. In less than half an hour,
on drawing aside the seaweed, they will all be
found gaping to their utmost stretch and
inviting you to partake. They are eaten directly
from tile shell, after dipping them in a bowl Of
vinegar and pepper, and are delicious, however
much city exquistes may choose to turn up their
noses at them
There are some people who have peculiar way
of swearing, as well as Bob Acres in Sheridan's
play of the Rivals whom we have often heard
using the term, by the way of exclamation, "Oh,
faith and ctd,Hsn Can you give us the origin for
it? Our researches for this purpose have extend
ed no farther back than the landing of our fore
fathers upon the rock of Plymouth. 1t is well
known that at one time they were kept from star
walton by "the treasure hid in the sands of Cape
Cod and their faith that an overruling Providence
would sustain them and bring them triumphantly
through all their perils May not the phrase or
exclamation be fairly y, tracea6le to this source?
the present prosperity, happiness and glory of
New England may be attributable to you than
her proud sons are now willing to admit. After
showing this honorable and effectual agency of
the clam in building up a great republic, finding
a parallel in the formation of coral islands, we
hope it viii no longer be used by our orators as
the SYNONYM OF stpttdaty las stupid as clam
fippantly and unfeelingly as If the clam was mo
body nor nothing"
Again we ask our good mothers, how they can
be SO unjust to the character of this inofensive
creature as to give its name to the worst kind of
bread If the yeast being bad or for some other
cause, the bread comes from the oven heavy and
glutinous, forthwith it is pronounced ctaanny
matter as the fish, from which Peter took the
tribute money. But not merely bad bread but
bad boys find subject for comparison in CLANS
IfyOu ever heard the phrase "Sitit up y0ar clam
| sheu' used, in the imperative mood and with
considerable acidity of emphasis, you have only
heard it applied to a bad boy or to some one who
was being very saucy and impudent. Against this
we hope the clans will "solelnnly protest. and
be very ctomorous about it too. Yours truly,
H. FAIRFIELD.