A one year subscription to the premier magazine of Maine.             When Down East was founded in August of 1954, the name was commonly understood to be synonymous with the state of Maine. The term - we're often asked to explain - has its origins in the days of sail when ships, leaving Boston, sailed downwind to ports along the Maine coast and beyond. They sailed down wind to the east; hence the term down east.                                                 Several years ago, an editor from this magazine was visiting the West Coast - truly terra incognita - when he happened to be introduced to one of those hyper-caffeinated marketing consultants whose wardrobe consists entirely of black. Asked where he worked, our editor happily announced, "Down East." The advertising wiz met this answer with a frown. "That's a terrible name for a magazine!" he replied. "The word down is so depressing. You need something more upbeat if you're going to have a successful product."