Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-05

and heroic, hut. when aroused, inplac.
ably cruel This past is no less pathetic
than poetic. We are not yet fully aware
of the boundless pathos Of that 100 years
of struggle by obese children of tue woods
for these hunting grounds and maize plots,
against the fated but often unjust advance
of civilization. TIE epic is yet to be writ
ten which shall tell the story without bias.
The 4Eneid of our Trojan war is yet wait
ing for its Nirgil-some greater Long
fellow-to voice its heroism-a poet i'm
bued with;
Faith in God and Nature,
Who believes that in all ages,
Every human heart is human;
That n.very savage bosom
There are lorgings, warnings, strivings
FOR the good they comprehend not.
Nowhere, probably, was the Indian
struggle more fierce; nowhere the Indian
life before the coming Of his white adver-
sary, mora natural. idyllic and free from
conflict than in this kennebec valley. AL
ready have members of this society ran
derci most valuable service in the COLA
ton of Indian history in this section
Capt Nash by his very full account Of
The Indians of the Kenrcbcc, in Kings
Hill by his carefully prepared papers read
before this society. The field may yet
yield valuable facts. The country is rich
in relics Of the race, and this society
should become the depository OF a complete
collection of every Kind OF implement,
weapon, utensil, ornament CT article used
by these people that diligence can obtain.
A good nucleus for such a collection has
already been placed in its keeping. To
this end, citizens Of the county, who have
made study of Indian life here; who are
experts In their relies or who have collec-
! tons of them-of which there are several
in the county--may be induced to Join
and aid the society in this department,
sure to increase in interest as time goes
| by.
make no claim to originality in this
suggestion. 1 wish only to emphasize
what is obviously in the line Of the so.
ciety 5 work, ami more now, with its i'm
proved facilities, than ever before. With
these durable and safe quarters for the Sc
curity If materials, relics and documents,
they may be committed to the society Gus
tody with absolute assurance Of their pre-
| serVation, and these rooms Will become
the receptacle, and this society the guard
ian, of whatever can be found illustrative
of the pastor of the passing years which
In time will become 1.-The past. Every
chart, map, publication or picture which
| tells a story of the past-having a public
interest," a copy OF every book Of local
author or author of local birth; Of every
printed official report relating to county
affairs or to the affairs of it's towns; OF
every published family pedigree or biogra
ply of citizens, prominent for public ser
vice. photographs or sketches of historic
buildings or important landmarks which
are passing away; files of the leading
ncwspapers-th best possible record o.
current history-whch publishers would
Willingly furnish; all these should b,
caused to accumulate here for preservation
as an index of the passing times. An his
torical society should be like the immorta
bard Not of an age but for all time
Another direction in which the society
may render valuable aid to the truth Of
history is in looking after the complete
ness of public records OF vital statistics
In the eager looking forward of our peo
pie: their ABSORPTION in the money max
ing affairs of life. the great utility of com
pete local records Of marriages, births ant
deaths has been overlooked. Such sta
tistlcs are vital in double sense to loca
history, and very frequently vital to trutl
and justice, in legal proceedings. Sevent,
years of our history as State passed ava,
Nth no effective laws to secure such rec
ords A law enacted in the first year O
our Statehood declared it to be the dut,
of parents and others to make return O
; births, under penalty OF sl-and require,
next of kin to make return of deaths +,
the town clerks under like penalty. Blu
I the laws were utterly inadequate and in