Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-21
SONS OF MAINE.
Annual Banquet Of $50 of Them in New
York City.

EN'iooi ociHO-l OT lou OF mem III NEW
York City.
New York, Nov. 2O.-There was a
strong odor Of pine in the big dining
room of the hotel Manhattan. Friday
night, when the members and friends
of Maine Society of New York sat
down TO the second annual dinner OF
the association. A big black bear
| fierce of visage but perfectly harmless
stood on one of the tables and glared
across the room at President James
Mckeen, who, flanked on either side by
half a dozen of the sons of the Pine
Tree State, sat upon the raised das.
Around the tables We're gathered 15(
men and women who were born
Way down East" and who, for the
hrst time i'll twelve months. had as
sembled to talk over their early days
in the land of the Penobscot and the
AndroscoSgin. Among them werC
Seth Millikcn, the Rev. Horatio O.
l-add, F. w. kinsman. Jr., Charles K
Flint, Horatio Hall, Miss Alberta New
ton, Miss Elizabeth Mckeen. DR.. and
Mrs. Lyman Abbott, DR.. Jeremiah :
Ferguson, Mr.. and Mrs. Eben II
4
Frank $. Black, George Pierce, Everett
:. Grant and f. F. Woodbury..
When the dinner had been duly dis
cussed President McKeen introduced
as the representative of the Governor
of the State of Maine, Major Holman
F. Day of Auburn, who made an adj
mirable address i'll which humor and
pathoS We're deity mingled. The ma jon
told the New Workers q lot of choice
| new stories. some of which he frankly
| confessed We're inspired by Scion
| Chase of thase's Mills, formerly cdito,
, of the great Greenback family news
paper known as Them Steers and by
| Deacon Iiassott. At the close of his
remarks he rccited an original poem.
| written in his homely country style,
| depicting the Christmas homecoming
to the old farm house of some city
folks.
There We're glistenin@ tears in many
an eye when he concluded.
w. w. StctsGn, State superintendent
of schools in Maine, who followed Ma
| jor Day seriously objected to Massa-
chusetts claim that Maine was origi-
nally a part Of that state. If it is true
/ IL Is Illt' ONLY cast oll ItNbl W. iIt tt-
| clared, "in which the daughter got in
to TIE world ahead of its maternal pa
rent. Why the first paved streets in
this country were laid in Pemauuid;
the first fortified fort on this continent
was established in Maine; the first
modern ship was built and launched on
it's rock-ribbed coast: the first Protest
ant sermon preached in America was
preached there. one of its cities had
the first MAYER and board of aldermen
elected in this country. 1t was on the
Maine coast that the British flag was
hauled down for the first time in the
Revolutionary war. The state of Mas
sachusctts has, today, $1,000 inhabi-
tants who also claim Maine as their
birthplace"
Mr.. Stetson spoke fcelingly of the
self-denial shown by the people of the
state in educating their boys and girls.
He told a story of a banquet at which
a rough looking man was asked to
make Il speech. He was a farmer and
had never appeared before an audienc"
before in his life. When he arose and
saw all eyes turned upon him he real
lied that he could not make a speech,
but opened his mouth and said: Il am
Az ignorant uncultured man, but | am
willing t. stand at the bottom Of tn"
ladder ana hold it firm and steady
lille my boys climb up to the top.
"That srcoch.'' continued MIR. Stctson.
"rang true and the old man sat down
amid a thunder of applause. 1t is I" tn"
| srlf-sacrilicing spirit Of the fathers and
| rlothcrS Of Maine that thousands of sue
ccssful men and women in other states
owe their position today The Rev. Dr.
| Lyman Abbott. w. r.. PulSifcr and En-
| mayor David y. Body of lIooklyn also
spoke.
The officers Of the society are: Prrsi-
dent. James Mckcen; vic" president. J"ro
s. Ferguson. NJ. d; secretary. ChaS. II
| kilhuurnr: treasurer. Everett ;. Grant
James Mckcon. the president of the
| Maine society Of New York. was born in
/ brunswick, Ne. Dec >. 1911. ms grand
father was thu first president OF Howdnin
college. from which he graduated in l>ii.
| Mr.. Mckoon received the degree of
LID. from the college in 1890 and for
| many years has been a member of ITS
| board of overscrrs. He was admitted t"
the New York bar in 1861 and With the rx-
| c"ption Of q wear spent in Eurnl" has
| rracticed law in that state ever since
| lie has always taken great interest
| in Brooklyn and has done much to help
| tIbIS LIS t'iNf'bHH'nL. ne lldS ih'Il
= member of the local BOARD Of education.
and was i'r nine. wears president of the
| Hamilton club. II" has also been prcSi-
dent Of he Brooklyn New England socic-
| IT, and trustee Of the College Of tn
| City Of New York
| At present he is member Of the board
| Of directors of the BROOKLYN Public Ii
| hrary. a trustee OF tho Packer Collegiate
institute and the Long Island Historical
society. president of the New York Colo
MIA ion society, and chairman of tho
! Brooklyn league.
| In 1872 h was chairman of the com
| mitt"c Of 100 which brought about tn"
election Of Mayor Schicrin. When Theo-
| dorc Roosevelt was governor Of the state.
| he appointed Mr. Mckeen a member Of the
| commission that revised the charter Of
| Greater New York. He was in charge of
| the corporation counserS office during
the administration of Mayor Low. and
was Republican candidate FOR justice OF
the supreme court in 1913 For many
wears Mr. McI<een and his family spent
the summer on Jewels Island III Casco
bay.
New Worlds Swimming Record.