The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-10-12
Two Maine Editors
Write in Reminiscent Vein of Boykood
Days and Scenes

In occasional interviews with Fred w.
Sanborn at the annual meetings of the
Maine Press association he seemed to
take pride in declaring that he did not
write line for his paper, but confined
his efforts exclusively to the business
end; and, it is generally understood with
very satisfactory results. Many months
ago we were sorry to learn that he was
in very poor health and compelled to
practically retire from business. More
recently The Norway Advertiser began
to publish over his signature "Big Barn
Door Sketches, - written from the home
| of his boyhood in New Hampshire.
| In reading them we realized what the
readers of the Norway Advertiser had
missed because he had not contributed to
its colu INNS the wit and wisdom that are
now flowing from his pen. While we
duly prolonged we hope that when he re-
turns to his former activities he will not
entirely neglect the literary end. Here
is what he says of war and preparedness
in recent sketch:
When the 18th N. H. regiment came
home (Concord), father and Uncle Suill-
van were there to greet the returning
boys nd,welcome them back. This was
in June, 1865. | wanted TO go out could
not.
Il remember seeing members of Co. l.,
of the 18th regiment drilling at MEREDITH
Center before going to the war. The
fife and drum beat and was hanging to
grandmother's skirts asking what it
meant. She said there was war way
off somewhere and "the boys were 60
ing there to fight and kill other men.
couldn't understand it, as to kill man
was an awful sin and here were these
men with guns and bayonets and swords
going to shoot down and kill others who
were way off somewhere.
In my childish way | questioned the
right they had to do such thing, but
grandmama told me they had because the
Government gave them the right.
couldn't understand that either as | had
been taught it was wrong to kill.
Every one in the company was gay and
happy and looked so pretty in their uni
forms with shining guns l wished was
old enough to go.
In the four following years l got all the
horrors of war wanted. 1t has lasted
me life time. The home suffering, sor-
rows, weeping and wailing, funerals,
widows and orphans make me quail even
now and bring tears to my eyes while
writing this, after lapse of more than
half a century.
| have seen strong men wiring their
hands in anguish, and mothers and chill
dren cry when the news after battle
was read in the pcstoffice.
| have seen the tearing up of bee
sheets, scraping of lint and bandage-
making when wet with the tears of the
workers.
| have seen the gathering up of gooC
things, mittens and socks and medicine,
to be sent to the boys at the front and ir
the hospital.
have seen the wasted forms and Grip
pied men and have followed in funera
PROFESSIONS with playmates whose fathers
and brothers were laid to rest in unmark.
ed trenches and unknown graves.
/ have heard the prayers of mothers
and fathers and seen the weeping of wild
ows and orphans and have felt the home.
shock of battle at Meredith Center, N
H., hundreds of miles away from the
roar of cannon and the sound of muske
try.
| L want no more OF 1t.
I'd prefer peace at most any price than
live and suffer through it again. There
are others who feel as do but dare moi
publicly say so-for fear of being calico
cowardly unpatriotic.
The present wave of street-paradep pre-
paredness, called patriotism, now sweep
ing over the country is popular with
those under sixty years OF age who have
never felt the homeshock of battle ane
seen at frst-hands the suffering. misery
and desolation of real war. This popular
outburst should be handled with care anc
caution. It's dangerous.
Mr.. Sanborn "served voluntary SEN
tence of two months on farm, June
10, to August 10, 1874" and this is one
of his experiences:
Twas caught one day IN narrow roao
when turnout had to be made. | used
all nv education, wits and stick persua.
sion and the oxen would not leave the
road.
A young woman was in the wagon.
She got out and asked me to hold the
horse and, taking the goad stick, she
sailed into those cattle and they went to
the ditch load and all and led the horse
by. She was about to leave with the
wagon when suggested she better get
the oxen and logs back into the road for
me. She did it and in handing me back
the goad stick, quietly said, 81 should
think you'd better learn how to drive
cattle"
She left me with face wreathed in
smiles. She was daughter of the man
l was working for, but didn't know il
at the time.
Here are some snapshots?
It's better to give than to receive, es-
pecially if it is castor oil.
All things come, even death, unto
those who wait. Pm waiting and hop
ing to escape.
Good teeth, good digestion and plen'
ty of useful work, makes happiness. II
can come in no other way. Money will
not buy it.
Another Maine editor, who does MOI
write as ofte as his readers would like
but is always interesting when he does
write, is Liston P. Evans of the Piscata
quis Observer. Some weeks, or months
ago-we have had the article on ou
desk for some time-Mr. Evans VISITED