The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-11
A rAsr DAr rRoC1AMAr1ox.
rt was s,Ened ~ the Governor or Eaine On an
April 4, but was Net rssuea.

AUGUSTA. Me-, April 9.-Every time the Gov.
ernor issues his annual Fast Day proclamation
tho old employees at the State House smile when
they meet and nudge one another as q reminder
OF another proclamation for Fast Day which was
written a number OF years ago and signed by the
Governor, but for good and sufficient reasons
was never made public.
In Maine, as In most other States, the formal
matters OF making appointments, writing proc
lamationP. and other acts Of official drudgery.
arc left to the private secretary TO do. while the
Governor receives visitors and thinks up pretty
speeches to cay on public occasions. This par
ticular year the Governor had been busy all
through March keeping track OF the Legislature
and standing of men who wanted appoint
ments; so when April came, and the time for
holding Fast Day had nearly arrived, the Gov.
ornor woke up to the fact that he hadn't com.
posed any suitable proclamation for the occa-
sion. As usual in such emergencies, he called
for his private secretary, and when he learned
that thnt functionary had gone away for n week
he called in the messenger to the Governor and
Council and told him to so ahead and 20. up
something neat and fitting.
The messenger, though an old hand at his job.
WAS unfamiliar with the arts OF proclamation
building. and rncked his brain for some time be.
II iPr %a nS Ris NJ ,bd tP Time r'E ,hat pnMF ssss eSu q stsF was
advocating the abolition OF Fest Day, though
several years before IL was abolished, and the
messenger, having read considerable upon the
subject, had become tainted with the notion that
last days in general and state fast days 10 par
ticul1r were h%utubUgs o. the worst class. As he
looks beck and remembers the circumstances
now this is the only, theory by which he can &C:
count for his conduct. because, instead OF
wrote out the following:
Having consulted my Council and learned
that none OF them has an engagement TO dine on
that day. and feeling fully assured that I shall
receive no invitation TO dine out until the high
school graduating exercises begin and field
Etrawberrics yet down to = cents q quart, | do
hereby appoint THURSDAY. the 18th day OF
April; as ana 3 day of ,PE 9hGiiic H., humi .ldiaa,ionn::
selves With forbidden food. let US thank our
stars that we know when we have enough, and
feel grateful for the empty stomacbs and clear
heads we shall have the morning after. Though
am unable to say what the Council will do on
that day, for myself I shall attend church II /
can find a minister who will stay long enough to
preach to me-. Given In the Council chamber"
The messenger, having made q rough draft,
copied II on a new sheet in an enErossing clerks
handwriting, and took il to the Governor. who
signed it without reading a line. From here the
messenger carried the proclamation down to the
Secretary OF State, who tried to affix his sigma.
ture, but could not do so on account OF a bad
pen. While he waited for n clerk to bring him a
box of new pens he cast his eyes down the sheet,
discovered The unusual phraseology and read
he gave, the messenger a piece Of his mind.
telling him 1t was bad enough to. make
iisht &c Of tr1 ESst uRE,esy' but ,s Thsn he r. E;
Chief Magistrate, who was also commander in
chief OF the army, no State could endure such an
nothing hut M April joke. and the bigger the
man i hit the better the joke was. This remark
led the Secretary 10 lock at his calendar, and
messenger, who retained his job through the ad-
ministration. He also retained the proc!amR-
ton which the Governor had signed, and keeps
it to-day as a mcmento Of the greatest April fool
joke he ever attempted.