The Republican journal., 1907-04-25


An old scrap book bears witness to the
fact that il is nearly fifty years since be-
gan writing ful the press. My lrst eifuSons
appeared II 4 Maine paper, aud Maine pa
per viii probably be the medium OF the last
of the many thousand words for which |
am to be- held responsible. Not many com
pete half a century in 50 arduouS and eX-
acting calling, and as another opportunity
may not offer | claim a veterans privilege
of iudulgins briefly in personal remins-
cences and the use ot the personal pronoun
My early ambition was to follow the sea,
which was natural enough, as | came from
a Seafaring race on the paternal side.
Through my interest in vessels, narrowly
escaped beginning my newspaper career in
1858 as a marine reporter | had for some
time been keeping list of the vessels ar
irving at the port of MachiaS, and when the
MachiaS Union was started | was asked to
furnish the shipping list, but, unfortunately,
| had not kept d record of the departures as
well as the arrivals | witnessed the print
ing, on a Washington hand press, of the
first number of the Union, which bore date
of May 25, 1858, and this was my first intro
duction to printers ink. Closer contact was
at that time denied me, my parents refusing
to permit my joining the office force in the
capacity of "printer's devil" This was
great disappointment About that time |
began printing newspapers of my own, imi-
tating the type faces with a pen. and some
specimens of my work in this line are still
in existence.
Then, denied the sea and the printing
office, | had dreams of becoming an artist,
and read all the books attanable that per-
tanned to art; lives of great painters and
sculptors, Ruskin's works, etc, sketched in
pencil, iabbled with india ink, crayonS,
water coors, and later with oils, and for
years visited picture galleries and art stores
whenever opportunity offered. The time
thus spent was not lost. The knowledge
then acquired proved useful i'll many direc-
tionS in after life.
Much of my boyhood days was spent in
the woods and fields with ii gun that seldom
brought down game, and on lakes and
streams with hook and line that gave better
results. well stocked library at home, a
public library, and access to every printed
book III the town barely sutficed 70 satisfy
an Unsuitable thirst for reading. A favorite
book in the home library was a bound vol
ume of The New Mirror, edited by Nathan
iel Parker Willis and George p. Morris, and
which included extra numbers containing
"Letters from Under Bridge "Pencil-
lings by the Way" and poems by Willis and
Morris. This book had perhaps more in
fiuence in shaping what was to be my life
work than any other, and it has not wholly
lost its charms. Another book in my faith
er's library, read at d very early age. was
the Essays of Elia," and if in after years l
had a literary fad it was for the writings of
Charles Lamb, in whose personality | ever
had warm interest,
Perhaps it should be said here that in ad-
dition to books | read great many news.
papers-nearly all of those published in
Maine at that time coming regularly to my
home. First in favor was The Republican
Journal, then edited by George B. Moore,
with the Augusta Age, edited by Daniel I.
Pike, second. The chief attraction of the
Age was the sea story that usually appeared
on its first page. Others recalled were the
Calais Advertiser, still issued. and which
was, believe, edited and published for so
years by John Jackson. He is mentioned
in Griffin's Press of Maine as having for "a
years assisted in setting up and distributing
type, reading and correcting proof sheets
and folding, directing and mailing his pa
per- The Eastport Sentinel was another
paper read with interest, and the back
numbers of the Maine Farmer from the
first issue were borrowed from neighbor,
one year at d time, and closely perused. On
a visit to Belfast l assisted in lighting
candles in the windows of The Journal
office for an illumination to celebrate a po-
litical victory, and was much elated when
Editor Moore noticed my efforts and asked
my name, etc The office was then in the
third story of the McC1intock block, corner
of Main and High streets, and this was my
second visit to a newspaper establishment.
The habits of observation formed in wan
derings afeld, the knowledge of the sea and
ships which came to me naturally, the study
of art, the object lessons of the local print
ing Office and wide range of reading,
which must often have carried me beyond
my depth, were all fitting me, unconscously
to myself, for what was to be my future
calling.
When attending the Lewiston Falls
Academy in Auburn in 1856 boarded with
c. B. Stetson, editor of the Democratic Ad-
vocate, weekly newspaper to which some
of the students contributed, and among
them Charles c. Curtis, whose tastes then
were military, and who for some years has
been an officer in the U. S. Army and who
is the author of several successful books.
My school life was cut short in the spring
of 1857 by the offer from relative, Major
Henry Prince, paymaster U. S. A., then
stationed at San Antonio, Texas, of the
position of paymaster's clerk. l soon started
South, going by rail via Niagara Falls to
Cairo, ILL.,, then down the Mississippi by
boat to New Orleans, across the Gulf of
Mexico by steamer to the Texas coast,
thence inland by government mule train.
l wrote up the trip for the Machias Union,
following with letters from San Antonio to
the Union and the Democratic Advocate.
The first of these letters, preserved in a
scrapbOOk, bears date of May, 1857, from