The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-01-20
IS by American Press Association.
The California Climate,
And "reminiscences of Belmont and North
port.

port.
To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL. |
came to Los Angeles from San Jose Oct.
18th to spend the inter months and had
two months as nice summer weather as
this State produces. The thermometer
some days was so to 81. The past week
was cooler with light frosts, but no dam
age to oranges, and we have had fine
rains which have assured the grain crops
that will be harvested in April and May
| | have been very sick with the grip,
which is sweeping the whole country a.
the present time. II is an epidemic il
this city Il is estimated that 0,000 are
/ down with it and there have been many
deaths among the old people. Mine has
! lasted over four weeks and | am now
very careful about going out Christ
! mas has come and gone. 1t was beau
| tiful week, as nice as summer. Old Santa
| left me an Underwood typewriter and
! you must excuse my mistakes, as this is
my first experience with one. | know
| you will be more interested in a letter
pertaining to Maine than California and
so confne myself as much as possible to
my early days in the old Pine Tree State.
! The city of Los Angeles has seven mag
niticent Christian Science church build
ings with large membership and it has
called to my mind DR.. Park P. Quimby.
| think the first picture of myself was
| taken by him. He afterwards became
magnetic doctor, and Mrs. Eddy was in
some way connected with him. l have
my opinions as to religious matters and
Z have no comments to offer, but will just
say that the old Orthodox faith of our
/ fathers and mothers does me very we'll.
| think that if am faithful little while
| longer it will take me through and over
the river we must all sometime cross.
| In 1878 bought the DR.. Holmes resi-
family there, which consisted of two
1 sons and a daughter, rented the ROBBIE
Alexander store, stocked it with fine
3
line of general merchandise, had fine
/ carriages, and two horses. | went there
because | wanted country life; another
great reason was to change the COM
panions of my Oldest boy. [ enjoyed 60
+ ing to the pond fishing; we could hear
the church bells ring Sunday morning at
Searsmont and occasionally at Belfast.
This was not good place for my boy,
and now as look back and think that
moved my family to place without a
church or Sunday school of any kind or
description it appalls me. The next
January my store burned and | sold my
home to Albert Morrill, at loss of over
$500 and moved back to Vinalhaven.
This move cost me clean So, 900 loss.
Pardon me for saying that in all my IS
years on land and sea l have never
struck town of Belmont's population
without a place of religious worship of
some kind and l am glad to say to my
old friends in Belmont and Belfast that
my son saw the error of his ways and
was with me in business in Dakota until
he died five years ago. His widow,
three daughters and son, now live in
Portland, Oregon. l remember going
to Millerite campmeeting at Squire
Young's in Lincolnville. 1t was held in a
big tent. The time had arrived accord
ing to their calculations to go up to meet
their Saviour and company went to the
her babe up to the Lord. | think she
was resident of Camden. That Young
town was pitable community. Fences
were burned out. buildings destroyed, no
crops. Here draw the curtain on the
scene as | remember it. | also remem-
Der the campmsetings at Northport
Campground. The thousands who at
tended came in boats from Bangor, Rock
land and other places. Many times l
would stand and listen to colored folks
sing in the tent from Union or Warren.
resort, as we'll as along the shore from
Rockland to Belfast. Grandfather Kif
lived to be upward of 80 years old and l
have heard him say that he peddled on
foot when he went over that part of the
country by spotted trees.
Great changes have taken place since
Maine was made State in 1920, and we
Nantes are proud of her record. She
has sent pioneers to most every land
under the sun, blazed a track through
the wilderness and carried the flag of
our country around the world. Mainites
are everywhere. In our Civil War no
Drawer men shouldered the musket. They
did their duty. Maine has also produced
great Statesmen that we may we'll be
proud of. Blaine, Hamlin, Reed, Frye,
Dingley, Hale and Littlefeld, all made
their mark. Few States can show as
good a record of brilliant men in Ma
tional affairs. Then we had General
Neal Dow, the great leader in prohibit