The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-06-15
THE STATE OF MAINE.
How the Name Originated.

matter of much speculation on the
part of the residents of other sections
of the United States, is the derivation
and meaning of the name, state of
Maine, and why it is always spoken of
as the estate of Maine" instead of
simply Maine as i'll the case of Mas
sachusetts, Ohio, OF any other State in
the Union.
Much has been written upon the sub
ject, editorially, and several different
versions Of the reason lave been given,
but still the inquiry continues, and let
tiers are frequently received at the Capt.
tol, asking for information. These let
tiers are referred to State Librarian Car
yer, who is probably one of the best
known authorities on matters hiStori-
cal, and III answer to a letter recently
received from Colorado that gentleman
wrote as follows:
| In the constitutional debates of 1919.
the name of the State was a source of
much discussion. Lygonia, Columbia
and several other names We're proposed,
| but the great majority of the wise and
| able men who constituted that conven-
| ton proposed the name that had stuck
| to our land for many years before the
Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. That
| convention decreed that the name of
the State should be the estate of
| Maine"
There are several legends concerning
| the name of the State. 1t has been said
J that Charles the First named it Mayne
i'll honor of his beautiful French bride,
| Henrietta, whose marriage portion con-
sisted of the little province of Mayne,
on the Mayenne river, near her native
place. The name was so spelled in the
grants of early days, and in some rec
ords of Massachusetts.
This is a pleasing and romantic leg
end appealing to our sense of chivalry
and feelings of tenderness and love-
bat like many stories of love and ro-
malice it is to be feared that it is pure
fiction.
Sailors and traders from France,
Spain and England frequented the gulf
of Mayne more than a score of years
before the Pilgrims landed Oh their
| rock at Plymouth, They secured har-
bOrs and places for trade and refuge on
Monhegan, and other large islands along
the coast, where they were compare
lively safe from surprise and attack
from the Indians.
They were wont to speak of The
Mayueland' as distinguished from their
island homes. This expression became
shortened by usage to the Mayne. From
constant usage by our ancestry it final
ly became angllcised to The word Maine,
so that when Massachusetts, purchased
the title to this country which her saint
ly inhabitants had greatly impaired by
unlawful and unjust encroachments,
they called it the District of Maine.
At one time prior to its purchase it
was called the province of York. This
legend is now accepted as the true orr
gin of the name of our State. 1t is even
now the main land of all New England.
1t is still the one enchanted spot in all
the country during the summer months,
where the weary may come with the
full assurance of recreation and renew
ed strength, and the sick man linger
longer through the golden months OF
early autumn, to behold the crimson
glory of our forests, and TO drink in the
life-giving vigcr of our pure air and
pure water.-K ennebec ournal.