Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-01
Unique and Priceless
Files of Early Papers
at.Hubhard Library

1t is perhaps q fact not generally
known by the citizens of HallOwell
that the Hubbard Free Library has
an almost unique collection of early
Maine papers. The writer of this ar
ticle had occasion some years ago in
the course OF the preparation of
some historical work to write to the
librarian of the Worcester, Mass,
library which is said TO have the
finest collection of old ncwspa pers
in New England, for some mote rial
The prompt and courteous response
very material wanted was in the
library Of the inquirers home town,
and that same library had q colec-
ton well known to students of nat
subject.
Some Years ago Mr. Harrison.
connected with the teaching of
English at the University of Virginia,
wrote to the Hallowell library, ask
ing to borrow o bound volume of the
Yankee" paper published in 1929
BY John Neal of Portland, and soon
after incorporated with the "Boston
Literary Gazette" This periodical
contained an interesting poem signed
simply with the initial "P." and some
critics were OF opinion that it was
an unidentified work of Edgar Allen
Poe. 1t was to determine. { possible,
this point that the college professor
borrowed the volume. which travelled
from Maine to Virginia and back
again.
The earliest Of these periodicals,
and ono OF such value that it is kept
in locked case. is n Hallowell i'm
Print, the 'Toscin." of the year 1896,
published by wait & Baker. al the
Hook. Hallowell, District OF Maine.
massachusetts," The price is put at
The modest figure of six cents sim
gle The issue of Aug. S. 1896. has
IN full a speech of the English states
man, Pitt.
Another valuable file ia the
American Advocate" 1SlO-lS34.
published by Mr.. S. X. Gilman, The
paper was interesting and progress
i've. Mr.. Gilman in his editorial re-
marks worked for the separation of
Maine and Massachusetts. and so
successful was his advocacy that he
had no small share of the credit, His
daughter. Miss Sophia Bond Gilman.
has in her possession a letter from
John Quincy Adams thanking him
for the work he did. On one occasion.
Just as Mr.. Gilmans paper was go
ing to press. news came from q re-
turned sea captain Of the Battle of
New orleans. Mr. Gilman held his
press, inserted the story, which the
Boston papers later copied. In one
issue IS a column advertisement of
e Spauldng's bookstore" in which
there is a long list CT books TINT
HalloweH people might acquire. A
Striking coincidence, in view OF the
trouble that Che Turk is causing TO-
day is a sentence from the iss,ic of
me week of late October. early
November, 1922. exactly 100 wears
ago. the brutal ferpcity and inbuman
Of the Turks-Of 120. COO
souls. Greeks only 900 remain. "Ac-
"ordinE to the paper. a meeting was
heio IN Washington 10 solicit aid for
the Greeks.
Others Of the collection are: "Tbe
Maine Cultivator," 1S34-1S66; Tine
1ntelIigencer." 1S1I-1sl5:
Ihe Massachusetts Gazette" 1856
! 's7' once the property of Mr.. John
"ingate, and containing among other
curious items a description in m,nu,e
detail OF the sword presented to
baron StuhcD for his Revolutionary
services by Congress; THE ua,,o-
wen Gazette." 1Si4-1s27. published
by Glazier land Company; 1.-THE |