The Republican journal., 1903-09-03
A WELCOME TO THE OLD HOME.

The Bucksport Times publishes the fol-
lowing address of welcome delivered at
Prospect Ferry Wednesday evening, Aug.
10Th, by W. Fl. CHM. and we give it place
in our columns as part of the history of Old
Home Week in 1903:
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
You are all aware that this is Old Home
Week, and that we have met upon this Oc-
casiOn to celebrate it. This is week that
has been set apart from the rest of the year
by the natives of this State, when those
who have been obliged to seek livelihood
away from their native homes might revisit
the places of their birth, renew old acquan-
tanceS, grasp again the hands of friends and
relatives, and gaze once more upon the
scenes of their childhood. SHOW dear to
my heart are the scenes of my childhood is
sentiment that appeals to everybody. All
who have been obliged to leave their homes
for any cause whatever can attest to the
truth OF it,
The love of home is something that has
been implanted in all animate nature. We
find it in beasts and birds as well as in the
human family. The horse and the OK when
sold away from their familiar pastures, II
opportunity otferss Immediately return to
the place of their birth The homing pigeon
when carried hundred of miles away from
its cote, Immediately on being released by
some process OF instinct flies directly to the
old haunts When John Howard Payne
wrote the poem ''Home Sweet Home,
which has become famous over the whole
civilized world, he struck a chord that
found an answering echo in every human
heart How true that part which says, BE
it ever SO humble there's no place like
| home' The snow hut of the Eskimo is
Just as dear to him as is the mansion OF the
rich to its inmates, while the cot OF the
peasant is equally as dear to hlm as is the
palace to the king.
This love of home is not confined to any
nationality, nor is it affected by conditions
or surroundings. The slave born under
conditions, reared amid surroundings that
one would naturally suppose would make
his home forever unpleasant to INN, yet
when disease attacks him or old age over
takes him, we find him longing for the place
of his birth and we hear him eXclalmlng
"My heart turns back to Dixie and | must
CO." Or perhaps this, ''No spot on earth do
l love more sincerely than Old Vlrglny, the
State where was born"
We have here tonight the picture of log
cabin where young couple from this town
| first made their home when they moved to
one of the western states. l have no doubt
if you ask that lady, who is present with us,
she will tell you that that log cabin was
Just as dear to her as was the more beauti-
+ ful residence they built later, after success
had crowned their efforts. This love for
home is something that we should cherlSn
| and encourage. AS means to this END
Old Home week has been suggested ana
established. We of this vicinity have ar
ranged this little entertainment in honor
of this happy occasion. We bid you
cordial welcome and hope to make the com
,, ing days so pleasant and entertaining that
next year, when Old Hame week shall again
have rolled round, the fragrant remem-
brances of this occasion will act as an extra
inducement to urge you to revisit the place
of your birth.