Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-01
''CUTTING OUT DANCE
Al Which Bmmons Blaine Won
the Hearts Of nadavasklns.
Events Of I Campaign Trip Amsll IL
French Settlers,
A. Told In 4 Charming style by Que
Who Was There.


| Edward wigsin in Lewiston Journal. I
The marriage OF Mr. Emmons Blaine r.
| minds ma Of my fret acquaintance with that
genial gentleman and Of the very pleasant ex-
| perienees ~e had together At that time.
Mr.. Blaine had At that time recently ~
turned from Europe, where he hal been
prosecuting his studies. aud had not vet
| settled down to any business. AZ he vac .
fine French scholar, Il was arranged that hs
should accompany me on . trip TO NMaaa.
waska," in which general name all the tovns
upon the upper ST. John are included, and
that together We should stump that section
OF the county In the interest Of the republl.
can ticket. This was some twelve years ago,
when Emmons was younger than he 10 nov,
and had not settled down to be the sedate,
thorough going business man he 10 to-day.
The experiences were wholly new 10 him,
and he entered into the enjoy ment on every
occasion, like the honest. whole hearted, fun
loving youth that he Was
l went TO lioulton TO meet him and ~
drove, next day, to my home In Maysvills,
a. this WAS before the railroad had reached
us. Next morning we started out upon our
trip, arriving at Van Buren, that night. Our
appointment had been made for Fort Kent
only, and our plan was to 70 directly there,
leaving appointments on our way up, and
holding meetings In each town along the
river on our return.
My acQuaintaocc In all this section vas
large, ss ! had been stationed ai Fort Kent
~ Deputy Collector Of Customs for the eight
years Just patt. A more hospitable. kind
hearted pc eople does not exist than the French
residents In the towns along the upper II.
I.t1as .rl q l. T.
man well born aud Of good repute, meet with
a more cordial and kindly reception. Il 10
true a large majority Of citizens Of the region
were born dem ,crats. but they hal all heard
Of James q. Blaine, and when | introduced
his sou 10 them they
ssvs Him a Hearty Welcome
- moreover were at once captivatcd by his
free, honest and unassuming manners, and
particularly by the fact that he could talk
with them easily and iuen,ly In their own
language
1t 10 often said that the language spoken
among the French citizens Of MAdm~aska 10
n mongrel tongue, entirely different from the
true language, aud that a person educated to
speak pure French could not understand their
vernacular, or make himself understood when
addressing them. This is mistake. The
people there have their idioms. as every dif-
ferent English speaking section has, and
among the uneducatcd class there are the
same contractions, elisious and ungrammati-
cal constructions that are to be found among
the same classes OF English speaking people.
Notwithstanding this. the language 10 French
and a person speaking pure French can %
readily be understood by u MadAwaska audi
ence as one speaking pure English can by
hp av IA m o. nd linp ~ n ttav In
Of our strictly American sections i
On our way up the river we stopped Al
the hospitable mansion Of MIR. Denis Paul
Cyr. in the town OF Grand Isle, and a.
Denis was one of the few good Republicans
then living there, we arranged With him 70
call the people together at \ time named, 10
listen 10 the discussion of political questions,
and we should be there 10 meet them on our
return. While my friend Blaine was en-
gagged in pleasant conversation with the
handsome and lady like hostess. ! managed
TO get Denis aside for a moment and intima-
ted to him that, as MIR. Blaine WAS q young
man who had travelled much among different
people, and was interested In noting the
pt culiar customs aud home iIe Of each Sec
ton, 1t would be pleasure IL he could ar
range TO have n
Good, orderly French D.nre
at his house in the evening, after the speech
es, and that We could remain with him for
the night To all this he willingly sssented,
and we drove on up the river. Our meet
ings were well attended, and the speeches
| were listened to In most respectful manner,
| especially the fine addresses Of Mr.. Blaine,
whicb seemed particularly to please the peo-
pie ! take II. however, that the Democratic
| leaders took especial care to impress upon
the people that, though they should receive
Mr.. Blaine cordially, and treat him with oil
| courtesy, they must beware Of being con-
'aminated by the heresy of his arguments.
After holding meetings In most Of the up.
river towns, we returned to Denis Paul Cyr's
on the evening appointed.
The Cyr mansion 10 a large, roomy two
| story house and ell. surrounded by Q wide
verands, and with doors opening from the
| second story, and upon the spacious piazza
| The house is situated upon = beautiful In
terval some distance from the main road and
near the banks Of the majestic 81. John river
| Wide and well-kept avenues lead from the
highway to the mansion, which Ia pa bted white
and is we'll preserved, and IL withsl an estate
| which would attract attention In any section.
We found goodly number gathered on The
green sward in front Of the spacious mansion
and. recognizing us as we drove in they gfeete<
us with kindly cheers. After partskiDg Of 4
good substantial supper, We proceeded 10 ID
Dire. the people, l. ns usual, making the In
troductory speech, ,as was an old sequainisnT Il
and Mr. Blaine following with very eloquen
and entertaining speech in French, 70 whicl
all gave the closest attention. Al the close O
the meeting many Of the citizens were intro
ducsd TO Mr.. Blaine. who WAS pressed int,
holding an impromptu reception upon th'
verapds.
Then many Of the elder portion departe,
for their homes and for the first time In
formed Mr.. Blaine Of the combination Of tn
evenings program. which I assured him ~
arranged as an especial compliment TO him.
The large rooms In the "gyos mais0n" wes
we'll filed. and soon the inspiring nOtes Of th
fiddle struck up, played ~ only Denis Pas
Cyr can plsy it. Partners were chosen, set
formed and soon the dancing commenced.
Here let me say that Madawsska dance
No Dsssis.A Walk Around.
with once in while livelier step in bslsnc
or promenade. II 10 dance, with oil thu
the term implies. from beginning to end. %
the nimble feet Of both gents and ladies' ste
out every note Of the lively jig ~ the intsicai
changes are gone through. The compan
upon the fsor we're a bit shy Of us ss Gre
| evidently regarding us a. looking on With th
idea Of criiicisng but at the call fof the secou
dance I told my friend that his only way I
emphasize the favorable impression he ha
made wss to take partner and "hoe in"
He entered at once into the fun Of the oil
Il lContinved on fourth page.]