The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-10-04
BURROUGHS MEMORIAL
PLEASE ADD A STONE

HIEASE ADD 81 ONE
OF course | added a stone-I did il
thoughtfully and reyerently as did the
other members of my party, and then
| sat for a time on the yeranda OF the
cabin and meditated on the things
that have been done in stone and the
stories which have been told in stone
in all the years since Jacob. of old
testament times, had his vision.
Until recently there was a small
building on the shore of Pleasant
Pond in which John Burroughs lodged
while visiting the place; it had be-
come old and unsightly and was final
ly removed. The pile of stones |
refer to. and TO which I made an adj
dition stands on the site of the old
building; there is fitness in this and
the simple memorial of loose stones
will increase in size.
| have never understood why a
place of such distinction and dis
tinguishing beauty should have such
a commonplace name as Pleasant
Pond, all ponds are pleasant and I
believe there are other ponds in Maine
by the same name. This pond, a
diamond of first water set in emerald
hills and sapphire mountains deserves
name that will distinguish it from
all others; the great naturalist, John
Burroughs visited it and wrote of
it, monument of loose stones
"Please add a stone"-marks the place
where he lodged; cannot the citizens
OF the vicinity honor themselves and
their section of the state by changing
the quite meaningless name of the
beautiful pond to Burroughs Lake?
In fact, is not the change a matter in
which all citizens of Maine-not only
in Somerset County but in each coun-
ty-should be interested?
The nomenclature of a locality is
mportant-more important than some
of US realize. Such names as skunk
Hollow" Misery Gap" pirates Lane"
and the like are no help to the To-
calities that are burdened with them:
such a colorless name as pheasant
Pond while not a discredit is not an
asset; but until now there does not
appear to have been any reason for
calling it anything else. But Eur
roughs Lake is at once significant: it
hints at a reason; it carries conyic-
ton. Shall it be "Burrough Lake:
if so, why? If not, why not? VIII
The reader meet me at Burroughs
Lake. in Somerset County some day
next summer, add stone to the Bur
roughs Memorial" and celebrate the
changing of a very ordinary name to
one of singular appropriateness: if
so to whom shall We look TO attend
to the details of the change?
Since the above was in type I have
received a letter from Franklin D.
Elmer, of Hamilton, \. Y. Mr.. Elmer
was an intimate friend Of Mr.. Bur
roughs and was chosen to conduct his
funeral service. In his letter he
says:
81 am greatly interested in your
suggestion to change the name OF
Pleasant Pond to Burroughs Lake.
Anything that can be done in any state
to perpetuate the influence of the Sage
of Slabsides is worth while. for it is a
wholesome heritage that we may thus
hand down to our children. Bur
roughs' home was place of pilgrim
age. All classes, all ages came as
they come to a fountain for refresh
ment, and frequently for an hour of
rest and vision. They were never
disappointed. They Went away with
treasure that would abide. 50 in
years to come many people will come
to the water of which YOU speak. The
experience will he enhanced if they
find cherished there the memories of
this modern prophet, who once him
self found delight in the place. BY
all means name it Burroughs Lake"