Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-03
DOING A SPLENDID WORK

Many are the plans being devised
for intoxicating and stimulating the
spirit of Americanism. Much thought
and effort is being devoted to this
,orthy end. The need of it all Is ap-
parent, urgent.
One phase of this endeavor Is the
preservation OF historic landmarks
and there is plenty to. do, when one
IN the way of concerted or govern
mental effort. What has been accom-
plisied is chiefly due to compar-
atiYely few devoted persons. Mount
Vernon vas saved and is preserved,
not BY the government Of the coun-
try. 20 establish which Washington
gave 50 much, but by a society Of pa
triotc women. The national gov
crnment does rot. own Independence
Hall. which is under the control of
city which. to the minds Of most of
us, conspicuously fails TO exemplify
american in the management OF it's
ciyic affairs.
The events % the great war serve
matters, but unfortunately the terri
bic waste has SO restricted our re-
sources that public funds for such
purposes are rneagre. In Maine there
are many demands Of this nature, ex-
ccilcnt ones, deserving of public sup
port, which perforce OF circumstances
must be stinted. We have just re-
rcived most interesting letter from
a member % the General Knox Chap
tor u. a. r. Of Thomaston urging the
iced Or state aid in worthy enter
Lyiac, which the writer truly. says
s.oulh have been undertaken long
#go
Il Should not be possible to hear,
when the name Of General Knox is
mentioned inquiries as to who Cen
ci:l Knox was or is. That the genial,
picked up a good military education
from talking with British officers that
frcquented his shop, who married 4
c,l&rmin3 Tory and converted her to
the Continental cause, escaped from
TIC ciutcEes of the British and devot-
"a his splendid abiliti.s to that cause,
that such should be unknown to an
intelligent American citizen is I'M
thinkable. He suffered at Valley
Forge with Washington, he super
Iiaed the crossing of the Delaware,
won the affection of Washington,
fought the good fight TO a finish, and
after the Revolution established the
Society, of Cincinnati. became secre-
iary Of War in 1885, and Thomaston
was so fortunate as to be selected
for the home of his declining years.
Surely every child in this country
should at least have opportunity to
know something about one who con-
iributcd so much to the significance
UG the name American.
The ladies of the Thomaston ID. A.
g. are nobly striving to this end.
Quoting from our correspondent:
This chapter of 10 women by their
own efforts in six years-and efforts
mean soliciting. working to earn
money, cooking, selling soap Gone
ucmber trundled Larkin's orders
about i'm wheelbarrow)-all kinds of
ways we have tried, from rummage
sales up to the generous member who
has contributed $5000--by these eff
forts we have gotten together some
s7433, roughly speaking, and we have
bought and paid for the lot on which
we propose to erect the memorial
And on this lot we propose to place
a >.re-proof replica of Montpelier
the home of Knox-and in it place all
the obtainable Knox relics" etc. 1--WE
are just a bunch Of women trying to
give him the recognition that the men
of Maine long ago should have ac-
corded him. In 1867 the Maine Leg
islature had chance to buy Mont
pelier in Thomaston. and they didn't,
they let it be torn down and all the |
priceless furniture, works Of art and
so forth be scattered" There
wouldn't be any America had it not
been for men like him"
We arc not so sure about that; the
women are demonstrating the ability !
10 carry on" And il the State may
not find it expedient to do what they |
wish this time the end is not yet |
VIC wish all the historic landmarks of |
Maine were in as competent hands as |
is The memorial to General Knox.
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