Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-31
PRAISE FOR MAINE.
What the Author Of "Yawps and
Other Things" Thinks Of Us.
w. J. Hampton, the Noted Writer. Has
Visited Augusta.

Nv. }. Hampton, the Noted Writer. ha.
Visited Augusta.
| On Sunday. Jan. 10, w. ]. hampton
of New York. the well-known author
OF "Yawps and other Things" came to
this city on a brief visit to W. H. Can
nett. From here he went to Portland
and made the acquaintance of Col.
Fred. n. Dow of the Portland Express.
Nj. hampton was . we'll treated in
Maine. to judge by the letter which he
! has just sent Colonel Dow thanking
him for faVors received. Incidentally.
/ it may be remarked that Mr. Lamp
tons visit to Maine was for the pur-
rose of securing information as to the
success or non-success of Sheriff
Pearsons prohibition ADMINISTRATION
ir Cumberland county. His visit to
Augusta was a friendly one 10 Mr..
/ Gannett. While here he made a call
on the Journal. Mr.. Lampton's letter
to Colonel Dow is as follows:
Ny dear Colonel Dow:
| When a man, who comes from Ken
lucky, though he may have undergone
certain processes of New Yorkification
by residence there, meets a man in
Maine and can call him Colonel" q
bond of sympathy and similarity is es-
tabliShed which neither time nor dis
tance can sunder. Thus, it was, that
when l was in Maine last week, and
went to see you in Portland, although
I had never met you before and came
without introduction. the simple fact
that I might call You Colonel warm
ed the cookies of my heart and made
it easy shedding. There may be diff
ference between a Maine colonel and
a Kentucky colonel, but it is not a
difference of fellowship. or one that
may not be healed. albeit the healing
process is not nearly so wet in Maine
as it is in Kentucky. l wonder if any,
body knows what wet" in this con-
nection means? 1 don't. believe any
body in Portland does, because l saw
no outward evidences Of it.
went to Maine ten days ago feel
ing a chill down my back. and a sense
of fear that I, of the sunny, southern
temperament" was going up against a
hard proposition, and 1 was prepared
for any kind of a Trapped reception
that might be accorded to me on strict
ly business principles, as l went solely
on business. and was acquainted with
no one. The first change of heart /
experienced was at Gardiner. where,
Sunday. though it was, they were hav-
ing horse races 'dh5the ice, and I saw
from the train that the people were en-
joying the sport as if every one of
them was a born Kentuckian. That
warmed me very considerably, and
five minutes after landed at Augusta.
my destination had melted complete
ly under the CHEEKY smile of welcome
that chased me out of the hotel where
l had gone. and took me off home with
1t in a sleigh. A delightful home. too,
with great spread of river and roll
ing hill and valley lying out from it's
wide windows, and all good = things
within. Verify, had come into a
pleasant land, and when there were
hot waffles and maple syrup for sup
per, my Kentucky dream Of fairness
was fulfilled. I could stay only short
time, but when went away: those
strangers of yesterday. were as friends
of all the years.
After Augusta and it's pain of part
ing. came to Portland and there again
the warmth and geniality Of the south,
with the glad hand extended every
where and the smile that cheers. but
does not inebriate. Even Brother Sher-
if Pearson. though he frowned when I
showed friendliness to his arch-ene-
my. the Demon Rum. and banged his
desk with his fist and paved the carpet.
grew kindly at the last. and we parted
as co-workers in a common cause. And
not men only. but the elements. con-.
joined to welcome me, for you will re-
member. January thawed and the moon
was full while was there. / don't
know where the moon got it. but I saw
It at l O'Clock in the morning and
know it was full.
Could mortal man ask greater demon
stration of friendliness than these
things? Possibly he could, but it would
be like asking for drink in the same
town. You, am sure. do not know
hoy that is, but do. .o
Before last week, Maine seemed to me
to be very, very far away: now it is
close at hand and close at heart, and
the ice and snow and winter weather
of the spruce gum are as warm to me
as the sun-kissed skies Of the Blue
Grass. and need no stimulant to make
my fancy riot in fond remembrance.
so here's to Maine. the rugged state,
Whose frozen rivers stand,
Like cleaning, crystal pathways through
A white and silent land: Ism
Whose Winter fills the earth and air
With swapping cold, and storm
But does not touch the folks of Maine, '''
Whose hearts are always warm.
1t is hardly fair to hurl a poem at a
" hole stateful of people. but just can
rot help it.: and If anybody doesn't like
it, I'll pay for the drinks if he'll come
down here where can buy without
having Brother Pearson going after us
with q gun. $780,.
Thanking you for your courtesies past
and present and extending, through
you to everybody in. Maine my very
best wishes and my most grateful re-
membrance. ~ a- !.
r. am sincerely and cordially.
W. J. HAMPTON.
That tight feeling in the upper por-
I le,