The Washington times., 1904-01-24

(Written for The Washington Times by Nahum
J. Bachelor. Governor Of New HAmpshire.)
CONCORD. y. H. Jan. 23.-Nassachu-
sets is our New England mother of
holidays. with Thanksgiving Day and
Fast Day and Patriots Day and others,
perhaps, TO her credit. Her little sister.
New Hampshire, can claim the mater
nifty of but one. Yet. with the usual at
titude of parents toward babies. we are
inclined to claim a good deal for this
youngest Of festivals.
Frank w. Rollins, governor Of New
Hampshire IN the years 1889 and 1900. is
the father Of Old Home Week. and in
/ these connections, as doubtless IN many
others, his name will live in history.
Very appropriately. he first voiced his
/ thought to the public. early in 1893 at a
meeting If the club Of Sons and Daugh-
ters Of New Hampshire resident in Bos-
ton and vicinity. The idea made great
and instant hit"
Benefit to Rural Sections.
Public sentiment soon demanded an
organization for promoting Old Home
| Week observance. In the absence Of
any precedent, and at the suggestion Of
| the governor the State board Of agri-
culture assumed the Responsibility Of is
suing the call for the first meeting JUS
/ tifying its action by the expected benefit
( that would accrue to the rural sections
OF the State through the general OBJ
/ servance Of the occasion; an expectation
/ that has been rlost fully and happily
/ realized.
/ In response to this call hundred Of
( the best men and women of the State
( assembled I'm Concord on June g. 1882
and formed an organization. which has
done quiet but effective work from that
/ time 10 this little later Governor
Rollins issued the official invitation. con-
Guiding as follows
'-Old Home as9eals to every person of
mature years, father mother. and child
hood. and when you think OF the old
( home. You bring back the tenderest
memories possessed by man-true love,
perfect faith, holy reverence.1high ambi-
/ tions-'the long. long thoughts of youth.
Few States have furnished more men
/ and women who have achieved dis
tinction and renown than New Hamp-
shire. and. our people hold these sons
and daughters in high regard. In be-
half OF the people OF New Hampshire
! heartily invite all TO whom New Hamp-
shire is a former home or place OF ma
! tivity to visit the State during Old Home
4 Week"
Song of Granite State.
/ The replies TO this invitation were i'm
mediate. numerous. widespread and
heartfelt One of the first came from
/ Miss Edna Dean Proctor. in the form
of a splendid song Of the Granite State.
A Popular Festival.
/ In the first year Of the festival. sixty
/ seven Old Home Day celebrations were
/ held by as many city and town assocla-
/ lions This number has doubled l.. the
! FIVE years OF observance. so that now
more than half OF all the cities and
towns of the State hold annual exer-
cises for the entertainment OF their re-
/ turning sons and daughters.
The program for the week. while vary
/ ing greatly in individual cases. has be-
! come well established. as a general rule
\ It's date has now been ixed permanent
! " as the thirc week IN August, having
been changed from the last week in that
month so as 70 cooperate with the
other New England States which have
/ followed New Hampshire in the institu-
/ ton OF Old Home Week.
On Saturday night. to mark the begin
/ ming of the week, bonfires are kindJed
| on mountain peaks and hilltops in VII
| lage squares. by forest camps and on
/ seacOast crags. II Is a romantic and
picturesque survival Of the old Scottish
/ beacon signals. famous In song and
| story. Recently elaborate additions
I have been made 10 this central bonfire
Y idea In the lake region. particularly,
! the evening has been devoted to a gem
/ crab illumination Of cottages and water
I craft. displays of fireworks. band con
! certs and corn roasts.
/ Sunday is devoted 20 special religious
services. feature which has proved
! the most popular Of any connected with
/ Old Home Week. Union and laymen' s
| services are common Former pastors
/ come back to shepherd their Old-time
I fiocks; the church choirs Of bygone days
/ hold reunions and sing the old songs.
| Even the Sunday schools take part in
! the general program of "reminiscences.
] Every town and city observing Old
! Home Week sends out from 100 to 900
4 Invitations to its absent sons and daugh-
tiers 10 return for the occasion Each
year sees these Invitations accepted in
| larger degree. The result is a closer re-
/ lation for New Hampshire with the
/ world by a sort of telephone connection
/ with our people who have wandered
! away. II means kindling anew the fires
. OF love and regard for the old farm
I home that have been smoldering in the
hearts of the absent sons and daugh-
tiers since wandering away from the pa-
rental roof.