Ellsworth American., 1922-12-27
MAINE A GREAT STATE.
j. 4. McGown Tells N. Il. Society il
Florida Some Things.

FIOr1Oa Some Th1ngS.
At recent meeting of the New
England society at St. Cloud, Fla,
Maine program was presented. At
roll call, Maine led, with thirty-nine
present, Massachusetts second, with
twenty-three, while the other New
England states and few visitors
brought the total to 1922. Mr.. and
Mrs. James A. 'McGown of Ellsworth
were on the program, Mrs. McGown
reading poem, That's Where
Maine Comes In," while Mr.. Nc
Gown delivered the principal ad-
dress of the evening, Maine" The
st. Cloud Tribune prints Mr.. Nc
Gowns address in full, as follows:
/ have been requested to say some
thing in regard to Maine, the Dirigo
State, situated away up in the north
east corner of the Union, formerly a
part of Massachusetts, admitted TO
the Union as the State of Maine in
1920. In area, Maine is about as large
as the rest of New England, but with
population of less than a million.
The ocean beats upon three hundred
miles of it's coast; bays, with protect
would accommodate the fleets of the
world; lakes. that are almost inland
seas: rivers. coursins down to the sea.
whose waters will eventually turn the
wheels of industry for all New Eng
land; mountains encroaching upon the
ocean at Mt. Desert and Camden. form
ing the highest headlands on the At
lantic coast; mountains, forests and
fields making scenery rarely equaled
anywhere.
Maine is the summer playground
of the nation, during the season en-
tertaining half million tourists and
pleasure seekers, many of whom re-
main until the ripening foliage turns
the landscape to colors no artist can
paint. The winter resort of the hunt
er and sportsman.
When we approach the subject of
climate, we do so with some misgiv-
ings 1t has been ridiculed by some
They say the Maine climate is made
up of nine months winter and three
months late fall They will tell you
that the sleighing is not good in July
and August; that the fog is so thick
that coast farmer, shnglng his
barn in a fog null" went up over
the ridgepole and laid three courses
on the fog before he discovered his
mistake. But we know that Maine.
for four months. from June to Octo-
Der, is the cleanest, greenest health
lest state in the Union. In manufac-
lures we are not leaders, but in lum~
ber cotton, wool, shoes and other
lines, we are of Importance. Pota-
toes are making Aroostook farmers
rich Deep water and coast fishing
are extensive and profitable. Maine
is the only state that can make i'm
ported sardines out of Frenchman's
Bay herring.
Maine has produced many states
men of national fame. among them
Blaine and Reed. Until re-
Gently. Names delegation in Congress
has been a power in the councils o.
the nation-Hale, Dingley. Frye. Even
now, my townsman, Senator Fred
Hale. manages to keep pretty close to
President Harding and the powers that
be. Lincoln's election and the Civil
war brought to the front that grand
Hamlin of Hampden.
Maine. then part of Massachusetts.
furnished many soldiers of the Rev
war A Maine regiment
took part in the battle of Bunker
Hill. and many Maine men were with
Washington at Valley Forge. In the
Civil war. over thirty regiments of
infantry, one of heavy artillery. two
of cavalry and many batteries, went
out from Maine. besides thousands of
boys like myself, who volunteered and
went down to the sea in ships. Gems
Howard, Chamberlain. Berry, Burn
ham, Squirting. and others, made nota.
BILE careers as soldiers.
The Spanish war found us equally
patriotic and determined and Maine
troops gave good account of them
selves. The World war found Maine
ready for offense or defense. and AM
erica's entry into the war brought
about the unheralded armistice which
stopped the flow of blood for the time
being.
Maine has produced such poets as
Longfellow, such writer's as Holman
Day and Lincoln Colcord. such laugh
makers as Josh Billings" "Artemas
Ward" and Bill Nye," such singers
as Nordica. and such screen artists
as the Farnhams.
Maine didn't have much use for a
North Pole, but it took a Maine man
in Maine built ship to go up and
locate and identify it.
There is one trouble with Maine.
Too many of her sons and daughters
have gone West and South to build
up those sections. The pine forests
of the northwest, the fertile soil of
the prairies, the gold of the Pacific
coast. the silver of Colorado and Ne
vada, the coal and oil fields of Penn
sylvania and Texas, the climate of
Florida and the South, have enticed
them away, until, after more than
one hundred and twenty years of
statehood. Maine has less than one
million people.
While we all "bless our stars" that
we are down here in this land of sun
shine and flowers escaping the cold