The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-01
They Sing the Praises
of the State.
Extracts From Letters Read at
The Authors Night Of the
Pine Tree State Club.

At the authors night Of the Pine Tree
State Club In Boston recently. the Old
Home week idea was the key note OF the
occasion. A distinguished company was
present, and the memory OF the many
distinguished Maine authors Of the past
was nttingly honored. There were re-
osived 36 interesting lsttsrs Of regret and
o6 contributions in prose and poetry from
Mains authors scattered all through the
country, all Of which will later be put
Iishsd In the form OF brochure. Prssi-
dent ID. q. Heath OF the clab had a bit
copied from each Communication snd
read. to the clue. The resulting paper Is
as follows:
The Invitation to the authors OF Maine
30 contribute to tbs booklet we propose
to print to commemorate this evenip 9
mas eeeu responded to with such hearty
good Will, that IL would require week
of evenings to read them all, and am
therefore able to present you with a few
selections only as foretasts OF the good
things which will be found In the vol
ume.
You will notice that the proposed Old
Home Week In Maine has stirred the
hearts and iuspired the muses. of great
number OF the authors Of Maine, thus
showing that like Oliver Goldsmith's
Traveller,
"Wtere'er they roam. whatever realms
Their hearts untrAveilsd, fondly turn
to thee,
Still to their old state turn with ceaselsss
pain,
And drag At each remove lsngthsning
chain"
Yol Will discover, too, that the natural
beauties Of our beloved State nave lat.
urally inspired many to eioquenoe, and
that tho names OF the men and women
who have made her known Iall over the
world are appropriately enough the theme
OF many other writsrs,
Miss Julia Harris May, the author OF
book of beautiful poems published by
Putnams, thus welcomes the suggestion
OF the Old Home Week:
40 wanderers from the laEd Of Maine,
the perfume Of the pine
Still mingles with yonr memory, while
hearts and hands combine
To weave for you memorial wreaths that
Irvine the evergreen,
With clematis and boxberry, and may
flowers set between,
And look across the wide, wide world,
and call 20 you again:
Come back, your mother longs for you,
ye wanderers OF Maine.'
Scion CHASE, whose weekly words of
wisdom in our Sunday papers are familiar
to US all, welcomes the wanderers in an.
other way. He says:
sCome down here Old Home Week and
bring the boys and girls. There are so
many of the soDs and daugk tsrs OF Maine
who aIiss and slime that there Is not
room for all OF them to stay in the Pine
Trse State. But there will be room fer
all of them on Old Home Week. The
latch string hangs out at all our homes.
We extend to you our hearty welcome,
and IL you don't enjoy pure and unds-
lied religion 1t won't be our fault
Professor AdslbeIt b. Callwsl OF the
Illinois Wesleyan University tells us
that
"The breezes stop their tsaziug, with
excited wonder whist,
Below, the ferns stand tiptoe in their
loan
To hear the joyful tidings that are whis-
pered all around,
Names sons and daughters all are COM
ing home"
In this strain he continues. telling us
that all nature Is rsjoioing at the pros
"Maiue's Old Home Week."
Marcia Bradbury Jordan of Portland
evidently Is not satisfied with the pros
poet of an Old Home Week simply-she
wants fifty-two Of them In q year, for
she sends a poem which begins:
"1he woods which charm your haIting
steps
In gum mer SO
Are tonic, and rsplste with life
Through. winters snow,
Crisp under feet, nor cold at heart
But IRE lurking here.
The pines bid lovers TO delight,
Come, worship all tae year."
Mrs. S. X. Graham Clark OF Burling-
ton, VT, inspired Dy the prospect OF a
week In Maine. sends two poems, In one
of which she says;
"a week In Mainef Why. friends, .hs
thought
just makes me mad with joy.
Sets all my nerves athrtll with life
As when / was boy.