MAINE RESEARCH CLUB STORIES FOR A SCHOOL READER Sprague's Journal of Maine History Vol. VI Nov. Dec. 1918, Jan. 1919 No. 3 Page 129-131 MAINE RESEARCH CLUB STORIES FOR A SCHOOL READER We have heretofore mentioned in the Journal that the Club women of Maine, realizing the fact that Maine historical work is being sadly neglected in the schools of our state, have undertaken to produce a book in the near future to be used as a school reader. Too much praise and encouragement cannot be extended to them for this and the journal is also gratified to know that our present State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. A. 0. Thomas, is heartily in favor of this enterprise and is rendering it all possible aid. The people of Maine are to be congratulated upon having a man at the head of this department with a vision broad enough to take this position. That the forthcoming book will be of value and merit is not problematical. The brilliant writing talent of this club ha ' s already produced two of the most important and interesting Maine books that have been issued in recent years, Maine in History and Romance 1915) and The Trail of the Maine Pioneer (1916) hence any literary propo- sition emanating from this source is in no sense experimental. From the Lewiston journal. we take the following which is the latest information regarding this matter: In view of the fact that Mrs. E. C. Carll, president of the Maine Writers Research club, deems it wise to omit the Research club's fall meeting, post- poned because of the epidemic, the committee on the proposed historical reader for the public schools makes its report in the form of an open letter. Below is the list of the club stories chosen by Dr. A. 0. Thomas, State Superintendent of Schools, as most appropriate for the proposed reader. In selecting these stories from the sixty or more submitted Dr. Thomas em- phasizes the fact that many of those rejected are admirably written but are better suited to older readers and for this reason, are excluded. In, many cases the same subject was chosen by more than One writer and so excellent was each story that Dr. Thomas found it difficult to make a choice. Several writers submitted two stories, some as many as four, for each club member was invited to submit as many as she would. Dr. Thomas dis- regarded entirely the authorship in his choice and in one or two instances chose three stories from the same writer and often two from the same pen. He chose them for their excellence for the purpose of this volume. , The articles contributed by writers of acknowledged fame, -- Col. Roose velt, Dr. Eliot, Dr. Stephens, Hugh Pendexter, Holman Day, Hon. W. W. Thomas, Thomas Nelson Page, Col. Fred N. Dow, John Clair Minot, and others, he believes will add greatly to the value of the book. Dr. Thomas in general finds the club stories admirable. He offers his to the Maine Writers Research club. The final selection of stories-for this is only a preliminary one-will be made from the group below listed. Many of them must be shortened, one or two entirely rewritten as the style is not suited for the children's reader. Dr. Thomas thought the manuscript might be ready for next April but was not in favor of haste, especially in the war times, now happily turned to peace. The committee will now undertake the final work of shortening and otherwise editing the stories in harmony with Dr. Thomas' Suggestions. The stories will then be sent to the State superintendent for the final reading. The book committee consists of A. L. Dingley, chairman, Louise Wheel- er Bartlett and Jessica J. Haskell. THE LIST OF STORIES CHOSEN The stories selected by Dr. Thomas for the School Reader, follow: "My Debt to Maine," Col. Roosevelt. "When Maine Was Made a State," Clara N1. Fogg, Bowdoinhain. "The State Seal," (contributed). "A Soldier Boy of the Revolution Who Whipped the Future King of England," Fanny E. Lord, Bangor. "Jerry O'Brien," (poem) (contributed). "Rebecca Weston," Sprague's Journal. "General Howard," Mabel S. Merrill, Lewiston. "Hannibal Hamlin," Dr. C. A. Stephens. "Story of New Sweden," W. W. Thomas (founder of the colony). "Elijah Kellogg," Holman F. Day. Poem, John Kendrick Bangs. "The Voyage of the Archangel," "The Sea Fight Far Away," Charlotte H. H. Beath, Boothbay Harbor. "Neal Dow," Col. Fred N. Dow. "The Returned Battle Flags,." (poem) Moses Owen. "Some Maple Sugar," Hugh Pendexter. "A Little Girl of Gorham Town," Estelle M. Tatterson, Saco. "Lovewell's Fight," Eva L. Shorey. "The Bloodless Aroostook War," Stella King White, Houlton. "Little Christiana's Journey Thru the Maine Woods in 1813," Anna Barnes, Houlton. Dr. Benj. Vaughn,"The Hero of Little Round-Top," Theda Carey Dingley, Auburn. "When the King Visited Sanford," "Maine's First Christmas," "The Lost City of Norumbega," Emmie Bailey Whitney, Lewiston. "General Knox," Mrs. John 0. Widber, Auburn. "Governor King," Ione B. Fales, Springfield, Mass., (formerly of Lew- iston). "Arnold's Trail," Mrs. E. C. Carll, Augusta. "The Marie Antoinette House," "The Ride of Marguerette Knox," Maud Gay Clark, Waldoboro. "The Boy and the Boat," "The Birth of Maine," May Dunbar Devereaux, Castine. "Samoset," (poem) Elizabeth Powers Merrill, Skowhegan. "A Quaint Letter of Long Ago," (contributed). "When Lafayette Came to Portland," Ella Mathews Bangs, Portland. "Island Life in the Last Century," Dr. Eliot. "Gov. Washburn," Rose D. Nealley, Lewiston. "The Story of the River Kennebec," John Francis Sprague. "Pilgrim Fathers of the Kennebec," Louise H. Coburn, Skowhegan." "Sir William Pepperell," Beulah Sylvester Oxton, Rockland. "Father Rasle," Henrietta Tozier Totman, Oakland. "Samuel Waldo," Jessica J. Haskell, Hallowell. "The Story of Pemaquid," (retold from Cartland's Pemiquid). "The First Thrill of Patriotism or the Story of William Conway," "From the Lips of Zilpah," "When Jean Vincent followed the Trail," Louise Wheeler Bartlett, Castine. "The Treasure Ship," Anna L. Dingley, Auburn. A story by John Clair Minot is yet to be chosen from several offered for the book. All the stories contributed with the exception of Col. Roosevelt's are written by Maine men or by men who live for at least a part of each Year, in Maine. (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by noncommercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.