Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-07-09
Maine DAY
Pine Tree Folks Out
ing at Los Angeles

The Kennebec Journal Is in receipt
from an unknown friend Of a copy OF
the State Societies Register published
June II. 1913. in Los Angeles, Cal,
and full to the brim Of the doings Of
the various state organizations in
that section. 1t is published weekly
by Arthur 3. Waterman. The num-
ber contains two articles Of interest
to Maine people, one about New Eng
landers and the other an account of
the State OF Maine people reunion on
Saturday. June s, as follows:
| Saturday. June s, was day Of
eclipses. Nature staged one of the
rare ones and the Pine Tree State
Association another. The second an
nual picnic reunion for all the State
of Maine folks in Southern Califor-
MIA was held in the most popular pic
mic park in all our Southland, Syca-
more Grove. Here, under the shade
Of the wonderful old sycamores,
pleasure seems to make her abiding
place. In the course Of the year
hundreds of thousands Of people,
some from so to 100 miles away.
gather to enjoy the pleasant out
door reunions.
The Maine Associations Of Pasa-
dena and Los Angeles unite in a cali
for all from that State to meet an
nually in Sycamore. Plans and ar
rangements are made jointly. DR.. r.
! r. Croswell and r. w. Chamberlain
carrying most of the burden.
! Soon after A. NJ. a great American
flag was drawn to the top of the
flagstaff and waved over the scene
all day.
! Headquarters were established for
each county and registers were placed
ready for enrolment. Handsome
badges were sold to cover expenses
and almost all the Maine folks were
decorated as they came upon the
grounds.
! 1t was lovely picnic day. typical
/ California fog in the morning that
tempered the air all day bright and
sunny but not hot, made the Maine
people thing Of June day back home
after the Southland fog had disap-
peared.
I Basket dinners are the delight OF
most who go to picnics. Tables were
marked for each county and all who
cared to do so were seated in that
way.
Mr.. and Mrs r ". Chamberlain
supplied gallons and gallons Of red
hot coffee. and one would never sup
pose Maine was a prohibition State
if he saw the way they drank cof-
fee; however. it was so good they
could not help it.
! Dinner over. most all registered. it
seemed time for the program, and
DR.. I. r. Croswell called to order,
preparatory to that part Of the pleas
ure of the day.
! DR.. Croswell presided splendidly,
his introductions being brief and ap-
propriate. He gave cordial welcome
to all, promised to complete the pro-
gram before the eclipse appeared.
| The first speaker was the Secre-
tary Of the Federation Of State So
cieties, c. II. Parsons. He was re-
ceived enthusiastically for DR.. Cros-
] well referred to the fine work the
Federation Is doing for all the organ
izations. 1t VIZ, = happy, responsive
audience and uughttr and applause
were frequent. SeIrGtary Parsons
told briefly Of the work Of the So
cieties and urged loyal support Of the
picnics and the monthly socials.
Rev. c. G. Mosher. pastor Of the
Baptist church Of Alhambra, a native
of Mercer county and graduate Of
the famous Bates College, proved
himself real picnic speaker. There
are not very many who know how to
. interest a picnic bunch, but Mr.
Mosher does. He talked Of the home
State and told of the three "G's' the
Maine folks have-"Go, Grit and
Gumption." Brief, pointed. interest
ing. he will be heard with pleasure
again.
| H. A. Arnold, an old soldier frorn
the Soldiers Home, recited Lincoln's
far aous address in clear voice that
carried well.
| Irving o. Bragg, another Bates
man, brought to the attention Of his
hearers the fact that Maine has pro-
duced or has been the home Of many
Of the poets Of our nation. In a VOL
ume published many years ago are
found over 500. Some names well
known are. Longfel1ow. Celia THAI
| ter, Holman F. Day, David Barker,
Daniel Webster. Emily Page Webb,
Helen S. Hunt. Prof. Bragg Is the
popular superintendent Of schools at
Corona and he read we'll selected
quotations from a number of writer's
whose themes were mainly the beau
ties Of the Maine woods. lakes, and
mountains.
Rev. Fenwick Holmes read a nota-
BILE war poem by Maine writer.
| II there is a better picnic speaker
in Southern California than Judge
Frank 8. Forbes we have yet to find
him. He was the last on the pro-
gram and as usual held his hearers
by his interesting address. He has
a rare faculty Of giving the huror-
Gus touches that hold the hearers and
at the same time presenting educa-
tional Information that is worth
while.
After the program social inter-
icourse was resumed and the eclipse
was eagerly watched. Maine friends
talked over the old days and until a
late hour many fingered under the
trees.
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