It's John Gould's day

Everyone is invited to celebrate John Gould Day Saturday in Rockland, Maine. But Mr. Gould and his wife, Dorothy, will understand completely if you're unable to attend. Light refreshments will be served for the occasion, which reminds us that Gould has often sprinkled his columns with tried-and-true recipes. Perhaps you'd care to join tomorrow's celebration vicariously by whipping up some Deacon's Blueberry Cake?

"The deacon may really have been a deacon in the old days of parishes," Gould wrote on these pages, "and some of his accomplishments are best forgotten. But he did leave us his recipe for blueberry cake, and you will be glad I pass it along. It is not a dessert, but a hot bread to be slathered with butter and eaten piping from the oven with the meat and potatoes. If you can't walk to Blanchard Pond, look for frozen blueberries in the super."

3 tablespoons sugar

Shortening the size of an egg (3 tablespoons), melted

1 egg

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 cups flour

2 cups wild Maine blueberries

Combine all ingredients except the blueberries until well-mixed. Pour into a greased, 8-inch square pan. Bake at 375 degrees F. for about 35 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Serve with butter. My pleasure; enjoy!

• First published under the headline "The mystery of Maine's blueberries" on Aug. 31, 2001, in The Christian Science Monitor.

WHEREAS, John Gould has been a chronicler of Maine culture, Maine history and the Maine vernacular, writing about Maine people and events for more than 80 years, with more than 30 published books and thousands of newspaper columns; and

WHEREAS, John Gould's erudite and witty social commentary is impossible to read without laughing; and

WHEREAS, John Gould is widely recognized as the Dean of Maine's premier writers, an autobiographer, storyteller and novelist with remarkable wit, insight and perception, whose prose style and technique rank with those of America's best writers; and

WHEREAS, John Gould has captured the unique Maine character and language on paper as few others have been able to do; and

WHEREAS, John Gould has been a distinguished newspaperman in Maine through his editorship of The Lisbon Enterprise and a contributor for 60 years to The Christian Science Monitor; and

WHEREAS, John Gould has been a lifelong scholar of Maine history and an advocate for learning; and

WHEREAS, John Gould set an example for many years as an agriculturist and responsible steward of Maine's land, representa- tive of the best qualities of Maine's people,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANGUS S. KING, JR., Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim August 17th, 2002 as JOHN GOULD DAY throughout the State of Maine.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this fifteenth day of July Two Thousand and Two.

(signed) Angus S. King, Jr., Governor

Dan A. Gwadosky, Secretary of State