Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-05

on where they shall spend the summer,
for the season of furnace fires and
heavy clothing is still with us, but it
is just the season when the man who
intends to build q cottage or camp for
occupancy during the summer months
is looking about for the best place in
which to build. Especially is this true
Of the New Yorker and the residents
or other cities who are already begin
ming to taste the dust and feel the first
spring warmth which gives them THAI
tired feeling. For several weeks past
many of these men have been writing
to well Informed Maine men asking
about sites for camps and cottages.
Dozens of these letters have been re-
ceived by Gent Pass. Agt. G. c. Brown
of the BangoY& ArOOstOok railroad and
by Col. F. +. BOothby of the Maine Cen
trail, and so far as has been in their
power these men have given the appli-
carts the information desired and have
also encourage the Cityitc pining for
rest end recreation to seek the same in
the piney forests of the old Pine Tree
state. Maine has been advertised in
song and story until the fame of her
lakes and rivers, and mountains is
known wherever Il paper is read. The
annual Sportsmen's show in Madison
Square Garden. New York, is also a
great medium for distributing informal
ton concerning the riches in clear air
and cool breezes. which Maine has to
offer the summer visitor. Folks once
getting a Whit of the delightful odor of
l. Il faJ
specimens of magnificent fish and
game taken from her lakes. and
streams. and forests. are eager to visit
the wonderland where such things are
found and usually the following sum-
mer sees them making their first visit
to the woods of Maine.
At meeting of the Maine Historical
society. Thursday evening. Rev. Chas.
w. Collins, chancellor of the Catholic
diocese of Portland. and secretary to
Bishop O'COnncll, told in a very in
teresting way how complete religious
equality and tolerance was obtained in
Maine. Everybody remembers the late
Hon. William Dickey, of Fort Kent.
He WAS more than politician,
although he was n good politician in
his day and generation. He was more
than hard worker for his special sec
ton of the state. He believed in
Maine, and was devoted to the inter-
ests of the people of the entire State.
He was in bis way keen historical
student. and knew d great deal about
the history of Maine. He filled Il large
place in his county for many years,
and will be long recalled. He was per-
fectly familiar with the dOings of the
convention by which the constitution
of Maine was framed, and spoke of
that assembly with all the richness of
personal knowledge. There was then
very strong opposition to the Catholic
church in Maine and the proposal was
grtveiy made to exclude Catholics
from certain high political positions.
They were TO be disqualified from hold
ing some Offices. on account of the re-
l;einn they profe sscd. The proposition
was warmly debated and might have
been adopted. in the opinion of Ma:cr
Dickey had it not been for an argu-
mrnt made ! y some person not a MEM
Der Of the convention, or personally
hilo II w ItS p''-bt''t:". Al t't u oihN
after MANY Yeas did Major Dirkcy.
hi:ls"lI. according to f.. Collins. learn
the name of the author 1t was an
illuminating production, had very
great immediate effect, and may be
said to have charged the opinion of
many members of the convention. That
argument remained in the memory of
Major Dickey. who very seldom forgot
anything of Importance, and certainly
nothing of "A political nature. Years
after when a Catholic president of the
senate had become governor of Maine,
Major Dickey met Gov. Kavanagh, and
in the course of their conversation
some chance remark of the chief execu-
tive recalled to the major the argu-
ment he remembered SO well. FIR. Col
lins, in his interesting paper, told OF
the search made many years later by
Major Dickey through the papers of
Gov. kavanagh, until he found copy
of the notable argument of years be-
fore, written during his student days
and approved by Bishop Fenwick. And
in that way complete religious tolera-
ton became the policy of the state OF
Maine. The essay written by stu
dent proved perhaps the most eifectual
effort of a brilliant life.