Baxter, Percival P

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Governor Baxter\u27s Humane Memorial

Maine State Documents (Maine State Library)

Maine State LibraryDigital MaineGovernor's Documents Governor12-10-1924Governor Baxter's Humane MemorialPercival P. BaxterFollow this and additional works at: https://digitalmaine.com/ogvn_docsGovernor Baxter's Humane MemorialGovernor Baxter was asked about the humane memorial tablet that he is to erect in the State House and said:,TBoth before and since I became Governor I have taken a deep interest in humane work, and have done what I could for our dumb animal brothers* I have been especially interested to teach children that they should be kind and merciful to all of God's creatures. Most of the cruelty and neglect comes from thoughtlessness and indifference, and if young folks can be started in the right direction they will grow up to be humane, kind and thoughtful. It is of little use to try to do much with grown-ups for their ideas are fixed, and they usually are unwilling to change them,’’The land in front of the State House slopes down toward the river and I thought it would be appropriate to place a boulder at one end of this land and place on it a small bronze tablet that would teach a humane lesson to the children and others who passed by, I took my faithful old dog 'Garry' as a text for this and wove around him a littlesermon in kindness toward animals,’'Certain well meaning citizens objected to having this boulderplaced in what they call 'the State Park', and in deference to their views and not wishing to offend anybody, I gave up my plans, although they hadbeen unanimously approved by my Council."It then occurred to me that as hundreds of children visit theState House^ in the course of a year, and go into the State museum in the basement, it would be appropriate to have the humane tablet placed thereA There certainly can be no objection to that location and it cannot offend the sensibilities of anyone. The museum is filled.with stuffed animals, such as bear, moose, deer, and birds, and is an appropriate place for a tablet bearing a humane inscription. The tablet will be of modest propor­tions, about 20 by 28 inches, and will be placed upon the wall at one end of the museum."If the people of the present generation had been taught to be kind and thoughtful of others by this' time we would have advanced a long distance on the road to better things. My sole object in erecting the tablet is to make the rising generation a better one than the present by teaching them that kindness is a virtue that should be practiced by all.A truly kind person will be kind to both man and beast. I believe we should emphasize humane education and my tablet seeks to do so*"/ W'V,

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Governor Baxter\u27s Humane Memorial

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