Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-23

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II was Just I decade ago This veek
that the sfest statesman. James OIL
Blaine. returned from trip Of several
months spent In Europe and came
back to his old home in Augusta. I'M
der the shadow Of the Capitol. This
event Of the coming OF Mr.. Blaine was
q notable one because from the very
moment that the steamer drew up 1T
her pier at New York. having Mr..
Blaine and party on board. until he
reached his home at the capital Of the
Pine Tree State. he was given q series
of grand ovatlons. The idea was a
mostbAppy one and it originated with
few Of the admirers of the great
statesman who were gladly aided by
thousands of the devoted followers Of
the ptumed knight throughout New
York. and New England. At that
period. ten years ago, Mr.. Blaine was
the most distinguished private citixen
In THU country and the cordial greet
Ing that was bestowed upon him was
an honor that has been accorded to
but few public men in the history Of
our nation.
There is considerable amusement
caused by the story Of q former
Sabattus man who now lives In Port.
land and has experienced religion. He
is doing missionary work and breaches
in schooihouses about the country every
Sunday. A few Sundays ago he went
to a schoolhouse in Wayne to preach
and there was but one man there.
After waiting for the crowd till 1t be-
came apparent that no one would
come, he arose. and looking at his
single nearer. told him he should
preach just the same as IL he had a
hundred present. The man in the seat
smiled and bowed. and the preacher
began. For an hour and a half ne
kept up his sermon and then asked his
hearer II he would lead in prayer.
The man looked puzzled and then went
up to the revivalist and wrote on a
piece OF paper: Il can't hear what you
say, for am deaf and dumb"
OF course all truly distinguished peo-
pie come to Maine sooner or later, but
1t is not often that q single week can
boast SO many notables as the past
one. You couldn't count 'em on your
fingers and toes. Among the number
are ex-President Cleveland. Joseph
Jefferson. Rev. Lyman Abbott, Admiral
Cervera. Parke Goodwin, Captain w. H.
Jacque. the inventor of the Holland
boat: Hiram and Hudson Maxim,
Thomas Nelson Page, William Dean
Howells. Annie Louise Cary Raymond.
not to mention the college president
and bishop colonies at Bar Harbor, a
half dozen or more ex-secretaries, the
administrators at Poland Spring,
prominent ex-army men and Rus
sian prince, (the husband OF Amelie
Rives) at Mt. Desert. And Maine has
a few score distinguished citizens Of
her own who are at home this week.
A Maine book by a Maine author
which deserves more than a passing
notice has just appeared from the
press of L. c. Page & Co.. Boston. The,
book is THE Sleeping Beauty; \
Modern Version" and the, author is 1
that talented Waterville lady, Matte
Baker Dunn. whose graceful style has
often given pleasure to a wide circle of
readers. The book is issued in the
Cosy Corner series. and While it is de-
signed for young readers ~ is story
which older people will read with de-
light and profit. The scene of the tale
is little island in Penobscot bay
where the heroine, 'Lizabeth Eaton,
age eight, lives with her uncle, an
honest old fisherman, and his wife,
The little Princess, as the author calls
her. knows absolutely nothing beyond
the narrow limits Of the island. That
is her world. The story opens with the
arrival of the Prince who is TO
awaken the sleeping beauty and show
her the greatness of the world and the
glory of life. The Prince is ten-year-
old Boston boy. Arthur Lenox, who was
committed for the summerNto the safe
keeping of the old fisherman, the Prin-
cess uncle. There is much that each
can teach the other and the happy
children pass the summer together
They row off TO that strange region,
the mainland. where the Princess sees
wonderful ''pi-anner." get lost among
the islands on returning, have ad-
ventures. get shipwrecked and lose
their cherished pie. and finally get
home all right. Well, the Prince has
to go away when the summer is over.
The years pass The Prince goes
through college and the Princess edu-
Gates herself for Christian work among
the poor people of the islands. She
is beautiful and accomplished and has
a. "pianner" of her own. OF course.
the inevitable happens. The Prince
returns to Penobscot bay one summer
and they meet on the old island in
the most romantic way, recognize each
other at last. and-"Oh, the world will
always be sweet, sweet, sweet, SO long
as youth and love are in it, Such is
an outline of the pretty story which
Mrs. Dunn tells so fascinatingly in the
hundred pages of this little blue-bound
volume. The salt air of the sea
breatfes through the pages, and there
is a wholesome, helpful spirit to the