Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-12

ITelSnt SIieu, eHe ~ -. b. 20. pTepdT-
ing to construct bigger, faster and
more palatial steamer than it has yet
owned-stcamboating is booming on
the kennebeC! 's'''
James McKeen does not care for
public office particularly. but if he
must be a candidate he prefers to run
for alderman. This is almost too good
to be true. Men like Mr.. Mckeen
cannot usually be Induced to accept
any office. and shun the board of alder
men as If 1t were Il place of pestilence.
Mr.. Mckecn is made of different stuff.
A prominent lawyer with lucrative
practice. long president of one of the
leading social clubs, he has neverthe-
les found some time to devote to pub
lie affairs. and now expresses his will
ingness to accept nomination for
alderman in the first ward OF Brooklyn.
Imagine a board of aldermen COM
posed of such men as James Mckeen.
New York Correspondent of Phila-
delphia Ledger.
James McKeen. one of the solid and
prominent men of the metropolis to
ii
native of Maine. He was born in
Brunswick, where the family name has
been honored for a century. and grad
uated from Bowdoin in GA He is an
active member of the board of over
seers. is president Of the general
alumni association. and made one of
the strongest speeches at last months
commencement dinner. He has been
frequently spoken of possible
antiTammany candidate for mayor of
New York. but has been reluctant to
so into politics. If he consents to go
into the board of aldermen he will be
force for good whose influence will
be very potent. He was at the head
of the recent committee to revise the
charter of the great city.
All along the coast of Maine is a
series of lights built on a rock and of
native granite. These lighthouses are
extremely beautiful features of the
coast. Among the most typical OF
these light stations are the twin
towers on Matinicus rock, far out in
the entrance Of Penobscot bay. Rugged
though their aspect is, they have been
the scene of one of the prettiest love
romances in the annals of the service.
In 1861 the then keeper. Captain Bur
CESS. was relieved by Captain Grant.
who brought son with him as an as
sistant. Captain Burgess had a
daughter named Abby, who for many
years had helped him In the care of
the lights pertaining to them. During
one winter. when Captain Burgess had
gone over to the mainland for supplies,
severe storm sprang up and lasted
so long that for several weeks he was
unable to get back. His wife was an
invalid. and during this trying period
Abby then mere slip of a girl. not
only tended the lights, but looked after
the comfort of her invalid mother and
several younger brothers and sisters,
cheering them up during the stormy
days and nights. When Captain
| Grant and his son came to the rock.
Captain Burgess left his daughter
Abby there to assist the newcomers
awhile and instruct them regarding
certain peculiarities of the lights.
! Perhaps it is not at all strange that the
| younger Grant proved a very apt pupil.
| for Miss Abby was a very attractive
| teacher-so attractive, in fact, that
, when her pupil had learned to take
care of the lights he persuaded her to
| allow him to take care of her the rest
Of her life. a proposition to which she
assented. Including the eight years
she already had been on the rock and
the subsequent period she remained
| there with her husband, it was her
home altogether for % years.
| The Bangor Commercials Swans
Island correspondent grows eloquent
, over the delightful summer atmos-
phere of that beautiful place. One day
last week during the fearful heat his
| letter contained this refreshing para
graph while mainland towns are
swcltcring from the heat Swans
Island, surrounded as it is 10y the At
lantic ocean. brings cool air from its
surface whichever way the wind
comes. The nights here are always
cool and comfortable. and many peo-
pie from the interior towns and from
Massachusetts every year come. here
where nice .accompodations are - al
ways available at prices within the
reach Of ALL" The correspondent then
gives these figures from the ,tempera-
ture records Of 1900: In July the aver
age temperature at noon was rs de-
grees; in August, Us degrees. The
maximum temperature. for July was
81 degrees. During the month of July
the thermometer registered above 81
| degrees but three days, and only for
three hours in ALL. The maximum
4 temperature for August was 81 degree:
| minimum. SIS degrees, while on many
days it was only So degrees at {
| o'clock A. NJ. s@s ~
The leading article in the July num-
Der of the National Sportsmen IS by
Canoe to Rome" from the pen of tina,
breezy Maine born writer, now promi.
nent in Boston journalism. Winfield
M. Thompson. The Rome to which the
trip was made is that which sits
among the seven Cor more) hills OF
Northern Kenneber and has thron,
of beauty such as the ancient imperia
city never dreamed Of The canoe trr
made by Mr.. Thompson and friend
was from his old home in Southport Ut
the kennebec to Gardiner, thence ur
the stream to CObbOSSeecOntee anf
through AnnaheSSSa cook and Maraua