The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-13
BILL NYE IN BOSTON.
An Account of a Visit to His Birthplace in
the State of Maine.


the State of Maine.
Boston Sunday Globe.
Last week visited my birth Place i'll the State
Of Maine. waited thirty years for the public
to visit it, and as there didn't seem to be much
of rush of this spring | thought | would go
ana visit 1t myself | was telling friend the
other day that the public did not seem to mani
fest the interest in my birthplace that thought
it ought to, and he said ought not to mind that
just wait. said ne It'll the people of the
unlted otates have an opportunity 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 your
self Lit will be perfect picnic. Your hold on
the American people, William, is wonderful. but
your death would seem to assure it, and KIND OF
crystalline the affection existing, but still IN
a nebulous and gummy state"
A man ought not to criticise his birthplace,
presume and yet, if | were to do it all over
again, do not know whether would select that
~articular spot or not Sometimes | think
i~or,. not. An yet, what memories cluster about
49, s1a ouse! There was the place where
saat 49, rarent. 1t was at that time that
an scn,,ar,snee a. rang up which has ripened in
late Years into mrtua, respect and esteem lt
was there that what mie.ht be ter,ced a casual
meeting took place. that has, under the Aicnemy
of resistless years, turned TO golden links, u ="
ing pleasant but powerful bond OF union Do
tween my parents and myself For that reason
hope that may be spared to my parents for
many years to come.
Many old memoirs now cluster about that old
home as I have said There is, Also other old
brio a. brac which has accumulated since I was
born there. took a small stone from the front
ward as kind Of "momentor of the occasion
and the place. do not think it has been de-
tected yet There was another stone in the yard,
so it may be weeks before anyone finds out that
/ took one of them.
How humble the home and yet what a lesson
it should teach the boys of America Here
amid the barren and the inhospitable waste OF
rocks and cold, the last place in the world that
man would naturally select to be born in, began
the life of one who, by his own unaided effort
in after years rose to the proud height of post
master at Laramie City, Wy. T., and with an
estimate of the future that seems almost pro-
phetic. resigned before he could be character
lied as an offensive partisan
Here on the banks of the raging Piscataquls
where winter fingers in the lap of spring till it
occasions good deal of talk, there began
career which has been the wonder and admira-
ton of every vigilance committee west Of the
turbulent Missouri.
There that spot, with inheritance but a
predisposition to premature badness and bitter
hatred of rum with no personal property but a
misft suspender and stone bruise. began a life
history which has never ceased to be warning
to people who sell groceries on credit
1t should teach the youth of this young land
what glorious possibilities may lie concealed In
the rough and tough bosom of the reluctant
pEeSeut. IL SHOWS HOW SlS1Oy perseverance dilu
good appetite will always win in the
end. 1t teaches US that wealth is not indis-
pensable, and that if we live as we should
draw out of politics at the proper time, and die
a few days before the public absolutely demand
it, the matter of our birthplace will not be con
sidered
Still, my birthplace is all right as birthplace
1t was good, quiet place in which to be born
All the old neighbors said that Shirley
very quiet place up to the time l was born there
4 naTaDtS
and gently lead them away in the spring of 49,
saying Parents, this is no place for u.s. " it be-
came 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 visit it,
and carry their dinner as l did. Extravagant
cordiality and overlooking hospitality have al
ways kept my birthplace back.