The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-11-22
THE REPUBIIcAN JOURNAL, THURSDAY NOVEMBER o. 1906

maui, presumably III the act VI AuOcA.
ing golf ball four miles and half
into the next county. No, thank God,
Maine has escaped this affection thus
far. And today, what state has
more widely known delegation 10 Con
gress than ours? Frye, Hale, Burleigh,
Littlefield and Powers are names one
sees in all the papers. With due re-
spect to the great State of New York,
probably hardly a person present
knows the names of her representa-
tives. l think l have seen the names
of Depew and Platt occasionally in the
papers, within a year, but it was not
under political news, as l remember it..
And Maine need not fear for the
future. There are plenty of smart men
always in reserve. Why. rather than
have Names delegation decline, |
would 60 myself, but in that event, L
should be obliged to give up delive ring
these annual address es, and now that
the habit is so fastened on me, l don't
know as | could break it off, even to go
to Congress.
can scarcely realize that for nearly
four years l was a citizen of this city.
That as a young chap | worked here
for few dollars a week, and nearly
starved to death in Brooklyn, and then
went away never imagining III my Wild
est dreams, and l had some wild ones
too, as was addicted to the nightmare
habit, that fame was reckoning me, and
that | should return here after many
years and stand in this magnificent
place, full of eloquence, banquet and
things, a guest of honor Of this dis
tinguished gathering, and wearing a
- al how
but such, my friends, is fame! Possibly
others OF you may reach the heights to
which have scared, though | hardly
expect it, unless you fortify yourselves
with a pair o. climbers such as the
telegraph men use. But it was the old
New York when | was here, and net
the present one. l was working in a
store with another Maine boy. He got
a better position in Boston, and went
there A few months later he appear
hand said, ''Well, George, Pm back
George, I'd rather be a lamp post in
New York than Mayor of Boston,"
and / think that about describes the
feelings of every New Yorker, whether
native or adopted.
L
the truth of my statements tonight,
but there are things one would rather
prove by others; as, for instance, the
trying of new variety of mushrooms.
If they chance to be toadstoOls, one
would prefer to prove it by some one
else, unless he was seeking an early
grave.
l find the hardest problem an amateur
has to deal with in making an address,
is stopping. 1t is like running on glare
ice in a heavy wind. AS long as you
keep running, you are all right, but it
you try to stop, you fall down, and
that is my predlc ment. l am slipping
along, up to the speed limit, and | can
not stop. My friend Hartman promis-
ed me that, when my time was up, he
would say | was wanted at the door,
and [ could excuse myself and leave,
but, either he has forgotten his promise,
or else, out of pure ''cussedness," has
left me to take care of myself. If this
were a meeting, l could give out a
hymn and close the exercises. but l
really don't know what to do. But, be-
fore | forget it, | can thank you for
your kindness in listening to my ram
bling remarks. and also for restraining
any desire you have had to lynch me. L
only wish l might have been more
worthy of the honor you have done me
in inviting me here. Rest assured that
l deeply appreciate it, and as long as
live, l shall remember this night, this
beautiful room, the friends | have met,
the banquet, and l shall wonder why
didn't drop dead with fright when l
arose to address you. And now, if you
will let me sit down and rest, by so do
ing, it will incidentally give you rest.
Good night.