New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-24
OLD HOME WEEK HOLIDAYS
The Observance Originated in Ne1o-
HampShire-Benefts of 1t.
BY Governor Nahum j. Baoheldsr.

Concord, N. H. Jan. 22.-NIassachusetts is our
New England -Jnother OF holidays with ThanHsgiv-
Ing Day and Fast Day and Patriots Day and
others. perhaps. to her credit. Her little sister.
New-Hampshire. claim the maternity OF only
one; yet. with the usual attitude of parents toward
babies. inclined to claim a good deal for
this youngest OF festivals.
Frank w. Rollins, Governor OF New Ham, shre In
the years 1899 and 1900 is the father of Old Home
Week, and in thess connections, doubtless in
many others, his name will live IN history. Very
appropriately he rst voiced his thought to the pub
lic early in 1899, at meeting of the club of Sons
and Daughters of New-Hampshire resident In Bos-
ION and vicinity. The idea made great and instant
"hit"
/ Public sentiment soon demanded an organization
! for promoting Old Homo Week observance. In the
absence Of any precedent and at the suggestion Of
| the Governor. the State Board Of Agriculture as
sumed the responsibility Of Issuing the call for the
first meeting. justIfying its action by the expected
benefit that would to the rural sections OF
the State through the general observance OF the oc
oasion; an expectation that has been most fully and
happily realized
In response to this call hundred Of the best men
! and women OF the State assembled at Concord on
! June g. 1889 and formed an organization which has
done quiet but effective work from that time this.
little later Governor Rollins issued the Official IN
vitaton. concluding follows:
| OLD Home appeals TO every person Of mature
! yeats-father. mother and children; and when you
think OF the old home you bring back the tenderest
/ holy reverence high ambitions-''the long long
thoughts Of youth" Few States have furnished
more men and women who have achieved distino-
/ people hold these sons and daughters in high re-
/ gard In behalf Of the people OF ew-Hampshire I
! heartily invite al 70 whom ew-Hamphlrs Is
during Old Home Week '-9'' '--' 0'-''
The replies to this invitation were Immediate
| numerous. widespread and heartfelt. One OF the
/ first came from Miss Edna Dean Proctor in the
form OF the following splendid song Of the Granite
| State:
| FORGET Nsw,IIsnDHhirs1 By hor cliffs her mssds hsE
With love ana pride where'sr hide. RinA tAs Hills
". sas o 9E By S n 2h2 y sss r.
And Contoocook-singing wGsr-MonadnoOks drifts
with M enc rhyme sad chino dash Ger It's
And Geao's ye. still our winnipssaukss
spread.
Can dwarf for hito-ro6ed hsisSts our wondering
The awful Noiea the Fao. and the Lake
the sovereign dome ef washington ,Aronsd IN the
Ear from Coiorados Snowy Range to the crest Of tho
New Hanpshiros mountains their peaks in
And nc Winds q half the world theirs thu
Yet far beyond her hills and Nsv-HaznpaAirs
tSousand tender memors, our glowing heart. .ntoia,
FOR dreams early home 5y eiHs OF the
Tho orchard where tho robins built the well by
The ae5 and tho apple blooms paradise of May
And up from the clover meadows floats thu breath OF the
And The sabbath bells. the light sweuA ring
Forget NovIIanpshiro Let K.ars.rgo forge. to sro..
Connecticut forsao sea: Shoals their breakers
feryeny. while ne shall last though wide our ways
Back ne aIountain-Land hearts will as to
Forget New IIampshirs1 BY her cliffs. her meads her
! by her hall5wed nlemories-our iodo-star while we
Whatever skies above rise. the Hills the Hills are
In the hrst year Of tho festival sixty-seven Old
Home Day celebrations held by as many city
and town associations. This number has doubled in
the Eve years OF observance so that now more than
hale of all the cities and Of the State hold
annual exercises for the entertainment OF their re-
turning sons and daughters.
The programme for the week. while varying
greatly in individual cases, has become well estab-
lished general rule. It's date has now been fixed
| permanently the third week in August having
been changed from the last week in that month
so as 10 cooperate with the other New-Englsnd
States. which have followed New Hampshire IN the
institution OF Old Home Weeks.
On Saturday night. to mark the beginning Of the
week. bonfres kndled from one end OF the
State to the other on mountain peaks and hilltops
in village squares by forest camps and on sea-
coast crags. 1t is romantic and picturesque sur
vival Of the old Scottish beacon signals famous IN
song and story. Recently elaborate additions have
been made to this central bonfire idea. In the lake
region, particularly, the evening has been devoted
| TO a general Illumination Of cottages and water
crait. displays OF fireworks band concerts corn
Sunday is DEVOTED to special religious services. a
connected with Old Home Week Union services
and laymcn's services very common. Former
pastors come back 10 shepherd their Oldtime ocks;
and sing the old songs EVEN th sunday sehoos
take part III the general programme OF remnis-
cence.
In some places all the remaining days Of the
week celebrated IN various ways but in most
instances one day is selected Old Home Day. and
all effort concentrated upon that occasion. In the
a la at 1NyrO-
tecEnio and musical features are elaborate, ami
and women Of worldwide fame. In the towns a
simple form of observance, which has proved most
beautiful grove or at the town hall. and an after
noon Of more or less informal reunion greetings.
In almost every place some bright and unique
features Historic sites have been marked W,ifh
monuments and tablets; the ffteth. 10th and 15Otn
| anniversaries OF various events have been COM
memorated; churches gchools Societies and FAM
lies have held reunions: loan exhibitions OF valU-
bakes and barbecues have been gastrononSical feat
and the dramatic clubs have contributed to the
entertainments: the old fashioned singing schools
have been revived.
Every town and city observing Old Home Week
sends out from hundred TO thousand invi-
for the occasion. Each year sees these invitations
accepted in larger degree. The result is a closer
relation for Hampshire with the world by a
sort OF telephone connection with our people who
the fires Of love and regard for the old farm home
that have been smoulde-tng IN the hearts OF the
absent sons and daughters since wandering away
But he benefit Of Old Home Week is twofold.
Of the advantages hat surround them we have
heard much about the success OF the bright boys
shire and little about those who have failed.
that the idea has become too prevalent among our
young people that they must go 10 otner locanties
il they would succeed Now we assemble upon
Old Home days and listen TO eloquent speeches
extolling the character or New-Hampshire society
and the rugged grandeur Of her granite hills. The