The Republican journal., 1909-02-18
A Day in Augusta.
The Maine Press Association. The State
House and the Augusta House.

House and the Augusta House.
The usual Maine Press Association delega-
ton from Belfast were unable this year to
make their bi-annual visit to the capital city
together The lucky majority went over on
the noon train February Sd, and that evening
attended the reception given by Ex-Governor
and Mrs. John F. Hill at their magnificent
home The affair was most delightful and
brilliant one, and the invitations included, be-
sides the members of the Press Association,
the members of the Legislature and prominent
people throughout the State. Ex-Governor and
Mrs. Hill were assisted in receiving by Cover
nor and Mrs. Bert M. Fernald. Caterers from
Boston had charge of the dining room, where
elaborate and delicious refreshments were
served. Thursday morning saw the start from
Belfast of the small party who were unable to
leave the day before. The trip was uneventful
and Augusta was reached on schedule time.
The Augusta House, the headquarters of the
Association, was hardly recognized in its new
guise, but once inside the familiar faces of old
Association friends were seen on every hand,
and hearty greetings were exchanged A party
was Just starting for the State House and the
morning meeting, and the short walk in the
clear air was thoroughly enjoyed after endur
ing several hours in overheated cars. The
morning session of the Association was held
in the room of the judiciary committee, up in
the 'sky parlor whittier the elevator landed
us, Other old friends, including Howard Owen
of Augusta, Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Morrell of
Gardiner Mr.. and Mrs. C. F. Flynt of Augusta,
Albro E. Chase and George S. Rowell of Port
land. and many others whose faces have been
familiar since mascot days which the strains
of the old Association favorte, "The Siege of
Belle Isle" always bring to mind, were gather
ed there, and the call to order by President A.
H Jones of Rockland vas reluctantly obeyed.
The usual routine business and the reading of
some especially able papers took up the morn
ing hours. AS one of the Belfast party had
never visited the State House before two of
the delegation slipped out of the meeting
before its adjournment and made a tour
of exploration over the handsome building.
A college friend in the chronological de-
partnent was first greeted, and later brief
out pleasant call was made on Secretary of
State Arthur |. Brown in his attractive Of
fee, The senate gallery was visited only long
enough to pick out Senator Colcord in the
semicrcle, as the proceedings did not seem to
pe especially interesting just then. In the
House there were many visitors, both on the
floor and in the galleries, as the railway rebate
question was under discussion. Some of the
Waldo county delegation were located, and
others We're picked out when the roll was call
ed TO" vote on the resolution. Assistant
Clerk w. H. RoX of Limestone was at his post
Just in front of the speakers desk, and ap-
parently was very busy. Our chairs in the
gallery We're left with some reluctance but
visit to the fish and game department was not
TO be overlooked, and accordingly we descended
the steep flight of stairs, and found our way to
what is, to many visitors, the most fascinating
place in the State House Specimens of the
different varieties of game, artistically mount
ed, beside the wood and shore Birds she'll
fish. etc, make an interesting collection that
would repay much longer visit. party
of young people from Southwest Harbor were
enjoying a visit there when we arrived and
the register called our attention to the fact
that delegation from Freedom Academy had
been there the day before.
Dinner time was approaching, and after
short walk in the welcome open air we turned
our steps toward the Augusta House and din
ner. Mindful of the fact that fifty had been
refused rooms, and that $50 had been served at
dinner the day before, we made an early visit
to the dining room and were able to enjoy the
meal in comparative comfort. Both large din
ing-rooms were filled, and the tables were so
closely packed that locomotion was extremely
difficult for the hard worked mattresses. After
dinner visit downto was on the docket,
and bidding adieu to the friends whom we
did not anticipate meeting again the start
was made. AS it happened, Mr.. c. F. Flynt, |
business manager of the Kennebec Jour-
nal, was on his way down-to and joined
Us. When the kennebec Journal office was
reached his cordial invitation to look over
%heir fine plant was gladly accepted, and a
pleasant trip was made under the guild
ance of an attractive young lady member of
the Office force. The busy linotypes, the job
printing department, now under the direction |
Of Mr.. Roy H. Flynt, University of Maine
O4, the editors, reporters and proofreaders
After expressing thanks for the hospital
ity shown US we resumed our walk down |
State street. Stopping to admire attractive
display of Christy and Fisher postcards in
store window we were somewhat startled to
hear a sharp rap the glass on which our
moses were all but pressed. A glance inside
quite explained the phenomena, as we recog-
nized the smiling face in the window as that of
William F. Leavitt, formerly of Belfast. A
pleasant call was made inside, where Mr..
Leavitt is advantageously located with the
Maine Optical Company after successful
course at the Augusta Business College. 1t is
always pleasure for The journal to chronicle
the success of Belfast boy. Farther along
the street the store of Whitman & Adams
was visited. 1t was here that Miss Mary
Garter was located until January, and one of
her felow-clerks spoke rather longingly of
her present home in Savannah, where she is
enjoying the winter. Train time was approach
ing perously near, and at the station we
rejoined the other Belfasters, some of whom
had enjoyed delightful call on Mrs. A. l.
Brown, who is pleasantly situated for the
winter Those who returned Thursday night.