The independent-reporter., 1910-09-22

AS the representative, ION this oc-
casion" of the three clubs of SHOW
hegan, which entertain the club wo-
men Of Maine,-I salute you!
| do not wish to be amiss in my
duty. | wish to impress upon you all,
how greatly the clubs and town ap-
preciate the honor of receiving, and OF
entertaining the leading women of
Maine. The best of all we possess in
our town and homes, Is yours, friends,
while you abide with us, and when
you depart shake not the dust of our
town from your feet, but let your
blessing fall upon US. 1t Is priv
ilege to welcome you to one of the
most attractive towns in Maine. A
town, not yet city, but large enough
to possess many of the advantages OF
city.
When compared with the beautiful
city of Norumbega, or the Forest City
by the sea, we seem small,-but we
possess attractions individual to the
place itself
More, in his Utopia, says that the
ideal community should contain about
six thousand inhabitants. in that re-
,spect, we approach the ideal.
of success in the world, said not long
ago, That the happiest years he ever
knew, were spent in the little town
of Skowhegan."
Is life to be measured by happi-
ness? | do not know,-but 1t Is some
thing we are all seeking after.
Those who have never before visited
this town will pardon me If l speak
with pride of its beauty of situation.
1t is in a green valley, through
which flow the blue waters of the
Kennebec On the banks of the river
grow many of the well-loved pines Of
Maine, and the white maiden-like
birches. Skowhegan is outgrowing
the valley, however, and climbing
the hill toward the golden west,
where ever the course of empire
takes it's way" The name Of the
town does not always meet with ap-
probation; but 1t Is only among those
who do not understand. Shakespeare
sharply asks, Whats in name"
will tell you,-Skowhegan means the
Place of the Watch, or the Watching
Place.
The Place of the Watch was one
of the favorite camping grounds of
the Abenaki; here the smoke curled
upward from their wigwams, and be-
meath the solemn pines, these dark
children of nature rested and watch
ed the ever-hurrying waters of the
Kennebec. That was In days long ST.
lent, and now the smoke rises from
the white mans wigwam, and the
merry waters of the kennebec turn
the wheels of industry.
But sometimes, after sunset, when
the yellow and crimson clouds above
the river are fading into the dark
ness of night, and the mist rises
above the waters, and the wind ling
ers in the pines, and the lights of
Norridgewock glimmer in the dis
tance, one can almost fancy they see
dark shapes fitting to and fro, and
slender canoes far out on the river.
II you discover, as you will, trace
of primitive life still among us, just
know that it Is the influence of those
long past lives, searching down the
years to our own.
Our town is also touched with the
history of the country, for up the riv-
er and along it's banks Benedict Ar
mold passed on his everfamOus
march to Quebec,-and thousands of
other feet,-not famous-have made
sacred, the soil of our village, and
brave and loving hearts have left to
us the fruits of their toll and strug-
giles.
You, town which is in sympathy
with that for which you stand,-The
Broader Life of the Women of this