Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-08-30


dents second day in the Pine Tree State
was full Of interest. Starring from the
governors residence at Augusta at an
early hour, he was taken for Il short
drive about the city and ut $3.50 left for
Bangor, where.the principal speech OF
the day was delivered at the fair
grounds in the presence of an immense
audience. Close attention was given
him ut Watervile. where hundreds
saw ana heard the first president who
has visited Maine in many years. In
anticipation of his coming a general
holiday was declared and all business
was suspended.
just before leaving Augusta the
president heard that his old guide,
"Bill' Sewall. of Island Falls, Me-,
who had accompanied him on many
hunting expeditions and who had for
time been employed on his ranch in
Dakota, was at Bangor. He wired
Congressman Powers at Bangor to
cOrrall him and hold on to him until he
reached that city. That the congress
man carried out these instructions was
fully proven when he produced the tall.
raw-boned, administered hunter upon
the presidents arrival.
81 am glad to see you, Bill" said the
president, whereupon Bill replied:
"YOu amt no gladder than be-
Then it was that the president told
the story Of his friendship of many
years with the old guide and hunter,
and how, many years ago. while on n
hunting trip through Maine owing to
the shortage in the meat supply, they
had eaten muSkrat together, which the
president said was the last meal he had
eaten in Maine before this trip. The
president seemed to delight in the rural
simplicity Of the man and insisted
that he should sit down to dinner With
him. Bill therefore had the distinc.
ton that comes to but few Of dining
with the chief executive Of the nation
and the governor of his state at the
| same time. While ut the fair grounds
some one suggested to Sewall, who
was seated on the platform with the
president. that he should 90 to Washing
ton and secure an appointment as post
master. but Bill had already received
this honor and said to his inquisit0r:
II be postmaster Already
The platform from which the presi-
dent spoke was directly in front of
tie grand stand. which was packed
! with humanity. Upon leaving the plat
form the president drove around the
race track In response to cries from the
audience that he do so.
Last night the president dined here
at the home of Senator Hale. who ac-
cOmpanied the party from Bangor. At
the depot when the train pulled in the
president was escorted to platform
nearby and delivered n short address
He left at 10 o'clock for Nashua, ~ H..
and other points in that state, where
he will speak today.
In his address at Bangor the presi-
dent said:
am glad to greet the farmers Of
Maine. During the century that has
closed the growth Of indcstrialism has
necessarily meant that cities and towns
have increased in population more
rapidly than the country districts.
And yet. 1t remains true as it has al
ways been, that in the last resort the
country districts are those in which we
are surest to find the old American
spirit, the old American habits of
thought and ways of living. Self-help
and individual initiative remain to a
peculiar degree typical of life in the
country, life on farm, in lumber
ing camp, on ranch.
There has been much change, much
progress, in farming and farm life.
The oranges and similar Organiza tiOnS.
the farmers institutes and all the
agencies which promote intelligent co
operation and give opportunity for so
cal and mental intellectual intercourse
among the farmers, have played a
large part in raising the level Of life
! and work in the country districts. In
the domain of government, the de-
partment of agriculture since its
foundation has accomplished results AS
striking as those obtained under any
other branch of the national admins
tratiOn.
But after all this has been said, it re,
mains true that the cOuntryman-thC
man on the farm, more than any Other
of our citizens tOday-is called upon
continually to exercise the qualities
which we like to think of as typical Of
the United States throughout it's his.
tory. the qualities of rugged indie
pendence, masterful resolution and in
dividual energy and resourcefulness
He works hard and often he lives hard
but his life is passed in healthy sur
roundings, surroundings which tend tc
develop a fine type Of citizenship.
The aim to set before ourselves II
trying to aid one another is to give tina
aid under conditions which will harr
no mans self respect, and which vii
teach the less fortunate how to he'll
King and Kaiser Meet.
pOtsilam Prussia Aug, 2S.-kin.