The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-08-23
Letters of Regret.

From the letters received by the COM
mittee on invitation for Old Home Week
We quote as follows:
&. NJ. Barns. manager OF the Lake View
Flats Apartment House, Cleveland, Ohio,
writes Il have lived in many cities and
States in this union. but the Old love fo' the
scenes of my childhood still fingers. as fresh
and pleasant in my memory as ii it was
but yesterday. Paramount to all other
spots on earth | cherish my native home,
Belfast. | regret that | cannot be there Oh
/ this suspicious occasion. Kindly remember
me TO my old acquaintance and friends who
Will be fortunate enough to be there
Rev. +. b. Palmer writes from Boston:
Certain it is that no State will give Il more
cordial welcome to her sons and daughters
than Maine, and no Municipality will open
more inviting doors than Belfast. An alb
sentee for fifty years, an annual visitor for
d brief day during all these years. a stranger
to nineteen out OF every score of her pres
ent population. | find in her yet a charm I'M
realized elsewhere and regret that its ell ioy-
nlent is so limited May her Home Week
serve to l1indle afresh the fires of tllial devo-
ton in those who have known her as
home, and her future witness a prosperity
commensurate with her material attractive
ness.
0. L. Martin writes from Amador City,
Calf. under date of Aug. md.
GENTN: Last evening mail brought me
Your card. of invitation, together with Gov
ernOr Powers circular letter designating
August 9Th to August 18th. inclusive, as
"Maine's Old Home Week.
| assure YOU that there is not one who
appreciates your kind rememb Iance with ii
deeper sense of gratitude, or would respond
in person more gladly and quickly than l, II
my business would permit. Nevertheless |
shall be with you in mind, If not in person.
| entertain a lively hope that the time is
not far distant when shall enjoy the
pleasure of reviewing the scenes OF my early
YOUTH and greeting some of my old friends,
participate in the festivities, enjoy the
hospitality, and shout enthusiastically for
''Maine's Old Home Week"
My last visit to Belfast was in the latter
part of November, or the very first part OF
December, 1862. | was d guest at the
American House for one day and night, and
"a gentleman. if | remember correctly, by
the name of John hap Robbins was my
atfable host. 1t was very stormy weather,
and did not see much of the city.
| often call to mind one fact in connection
" ilu DeudSl, lldl III Tic e'l ~ slAeico
hauled a load of potatoes to Belfast and
sold them for 500 a bushel. and, IN ex
change, paid S24 for a barrel OF flour. 1t
my memory serves me correctly, the mer
chants name was Frank knowlton
Another incident among the many rem
iniscences in connection with Belfast is
wildly impressed upon my mind, when, as
d small boy, ! stood on the wharf watching,
for the first time, the great steamer katah-
din coming in to the dock. | never shall
forget that peculiar sensation as | stood
there on the wharf. Apparently the wharf
and were being carried out to sea with such
rapidity that could scarcely maintain my
! equilibrium, while was perfectly Obvious
| to all my surroundings. The steamer seemed
! perfectly still while we were passing by it
down the bay.
| Should any of my old friends and acquan-
tances from the vicinity of Montville inquire
for me, just say to them that | am in the
enjoyment of the very best OF health, and
| young Martins to make it merry; that
| should any of them stray OFT into the sunny
cline of California, and get in a reasonable
distance of AmadOr County, not to stop
until they find the dOmicile OF o. =. Mar
tin, where the latchstring of the cabin-door
hangs on the outside.
| Hoping that ''Maine's Old Home Week"
throughout the entire State, and especially
for the citizens and friends of Belfast, may
can possibly anticipate that their cup of en-
joyment may be full, even to overfioWlng :;
that not one incident will occur to mar the
unallOyed flow of pleasure; that thousands
of the sons and daughters of Maine may be
so happily situated as to be able to avail
themselves of this grand opportunity, L re-
main, etc.