Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-02-10

Girls Friendly Society, of st. savior's church,
OF Bar Harborl
From the earliest times, islands have
always had a curious fascination for the
geologist, the historian, the novel-writer
and the traveller. Those in the AEGEAN sea
were the birthplaces or backgrounds OF
half Of the heroes Of the golden age OF
mythology.
Daniel Defoe immortalized Juan Fernan-
DEE, which lay of the coast OF South
America, by making it the scene Of the
home of shipwrecked Robinson Crusoe.
Bernadin de Saint Pierre used the tropical
forests Of Mauritius, near Madagascar, as
an emerald setting to the pathetic idyl of
Paul and Virginia. Columbus unlocked,
with his key OF faith and courage the
portals Of the New World in the discovery
OF San Salvador. Time fails to record in
detail the part that exploration and dis
covery have played in the finding OF Ice
land, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific
Islands and, greatest Of all, Great Britain
The biologists tell us that in nearly
every case, islands were parts Of some
land by convulsion CT nature or again
that water rushed over the low land and
formed an island. One can easily see how
this could take place il one watches rock
at low tide and gradually observes the wa
tiers approaching and surrounding it I'M
til only the top is visible. This was un-
doubtedly the case in our own beautiful
island Of Mt Desert.
There is much to Justify the belief that
the portion of Eden and Salisbury Cove
WAS part of Lamoine, and that only very
little volcanic force was required for the
necklace OF waters to meet and encircle it.
Then, too, the Porcupines and Cranberries
were undoubtedly parts of the larger is
land, and the former, like rebellious chill
dren, broke away and presented a bold
front to the great ocean!
But again time fails to point out the
marvellous detail Of rock and mountain
formation here. When Lyell, the great
English geologist, came over from Eng
land, attracted by the reports OF the I'M
usual coast curiosities, he found to his de-
light certain strata and stone formation
unseen elsewhere.
But for centuries previous to the COM
ing of Lyell, this unknown and distant
island was yelled in the mists Of obscur-
ity. 1t needed the enthusiasm and cour-
age OF Frenchman to penetrate its fogs
and venture upon its treacherous shores.
How much we owe to fair France and to
her pioneers and colonizers!
FRENCH EXPLORERS.
New England was called New France
for fifty years before Capt. John Smith
gave it its present name. Fifteen years
before the Mayf1ower anchored in Ply
mouth harbor its waters had been sounded
and its outlines drawn by Frenchmen who
sought a permanent home; Frenchmen
preceded the landing OF Winthrop near
Boston, of Verrazano, who travelled from
Florida to Newfoundland, and of many
others. Jacques Cartier discovered the
St. Lawrence and the Banks were visited
yearly by hardy Basque and Breton fisher
men, but unfortunately these left no traces
OF their adventures.
The romantic story Of the exploration
OF our New England shores dates from
1904, when little vessel, no larger than a
fishing smack Of to-day, approached the
rugged crags of Grand Manan, and proceed
ed up the little river OF ST. Croix dividing
our Pine Tree State from New Brunswick.
On board this little boat came an organized
French colony. There were mobiles and
priests, Catholics and Professionals, ruffians
rDlp Of 10 ~
What was the cause Of the coming Of
this strange crew? We don't like to think
that their only object was love Of wealth,
or international rivalries, ambitious
cupidity, or freedom from home oppres-
sion. And yet, doubtless, their departure
from their native shores was prompted
by little of these motives. Frenchmen
asked themselves whether every other
foreigner should get bit of the rich and
teeming New World besides themselves,
whether the overbearing and supercilious
Spaniard, or the rich and successful Eng
lish, or the adventurous Italian, or the
proud Portuguese should each have
portion of the wealth of the promised land,
and that thelhands of France should alone
go empty!
However, religious enthusiasm prevailed.
The story of Jesuit missions is a marvel of
devotion and selfforgetfulness. The
specimen Indians who were taken over to
Europe (much as we would import new
addition to theological gardenD appealed
by their ignorance and helplessness to
civilized man, and better feelings were
touched, and their generous natures de-
cided that God had pre-destined them to
convert and teach and ameliorate the con-
dition of these poor barbariaps.
Curiosity, too, played strong part in
bringing over the early settlers. Man has
always been adventurous, and the mystery
connected with the unknown was a lode
star which beckoned those to whom the
was monotonous.
On old maps one sees vast districts named
Regions" and on the coast
I;nas long untitled spaces. TO cover these