Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-20
An Old Home Week for Maine.

An Old Home Week for Maine.
OF course. Maine is to have an Old
Home week, next summer. 1t is as
we'll assured as it is that the summer
itself will arrive. There has been nc
doubt of it since our sister state OF
New Hampshire took the lead and in
augurated the happy custom, last year
Since then the sentiment for such a
week of reunions and celebrations has
been steadily gaining strength; the pa :
pers have talked about it; city gov
ernments and boards of trade have
discussed il, and a big stimulus was
given the movement at the meeting Of
the Pine Tree Club Of Boston. Thurs
day evening, when Governor, Powers
committee was appointed to represent
in the matter the great host Of sons
and daughters of Maine who dwell in
the New England metropolis.
The idea Of an Old Home week for
Maine has only to be mentioned to
arouse enthusiasm at home and
throughout the length and breadth Of
the land. The strange thing about it
is that we failed to live up to our State
motto, and ever waited for another
state to take the initiative in the mat
ter. Perhaps the reason for this is that
Maine has, each year, a continual sue
cession of Old Home weeks throughout
the summer season, when thousands
Of its wandering children come back to
the cherished scenes of their youth. 1t
is true that a large share of our sum
mer and autumn visitors are attracted
To Maine by the grandeur Of our sea
coast and our mountains. the delight
full, invi~l-. ti-.5 ,i....1t-, .-t.C ty ;ra
game in our vast forests and the fish n
our lakes and streams: but it is also
true that a larger share of the null.
tude which throng Mane-ward eve Y
summer are drawn hither by ILL.,
memories of childhood and by the love /
ones who remain on the old farm or I'LL
the pretty villages The fragrance #
the pine is never forgotten by tho x
who We're born beneath its branch ;
and neither the lapse Of feeting years
nor vast stretches Of intervening a u
tance, weaken the loyalty and love #
Names sons and daughters.
There is Inspiration in the thong Il
of an Old Hotne week during the sum
mer say late in August, which shall be
the climax and elimination of the seI-
special exercises in the cities and
towns on the general line adopted in
old New Hampshire in 1899. Thou
sands Of those who We're born here. but
now live elsewhere would enjoy the
week with a keenneSS of delight even
surprising that of US who would vel
come them back with open arms.
Maine has ever been famed as great
State for the raising of sterling men
and women who have gone abroad TO
win success. They are to be found in
great nu1nDeTS IN every SeCtlOn OF the
country. and though only a compare
lively few of the great total could come
TO enjoy Old Home week. the occasion
would bring back many more than
would otherwise revisit the old State
and il would be an inspiration even to
those unable to return.
No other state in the Union could
have such an Old Home week as Maine
can have for no State has sent out
more of whom it is proud ana to none
are its wandering children more loyal.
To the State itself such a week will be
direct help and blessing. once es-
ure of every summer season. bringing
back, each year, increasing thousands
of those who love the old Pine Tree
State as their mother 1t is not neces-
Sary that any conSidera BILE expense at
tend the celebration, but the State and
municipal governments and the local
organizations can easily act together
u make old Home week a happy
su ress
Al now the other side Of the Mol