Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-04-20
LETTER EROM WALDOBORO.
WALpoBoRo, April 10th, 1870.

WALDoBoRo', April 10th, 1870.
To the Editor Of the Journal
Biologists say that mature repeats herself,
but with a difference" and recalling to mind
the past remarkable winter, l think they are
more than half right, as the season just pass
ed, has certainly not its parallel within the
memory of man. | don't know how it has
been in the northern sections of the State,
neither one thing nor the other-ncither win
ter with its boundless fields of snow and ice,
nor summer with its balmy breezes and luxu-
RANT vegetation. Never has the farmer had
such winter in which to haul his wood to
market, and for this reason, not one family in
twenty have got their usual supply of wood.
This too, has put damper on business, es-
pecally in the village, as the place depends
almost wholly on country trade. Territorial
" the town is one of the largest, if not the
largest, in the State, covering an area of l26
square miles. SO the village besides being
the commercial centre for this town is also
the centre of trade for several adjoining towns.
But business is looking up again in the vii
lage-the ship carpenters axe is again heard
in the ship yards the blacksmiths anvil rings
out to the tune of ten hours a day, and the
steamboats, whistle, and the truckman's chi
va, get up" reminds one that the world still
moves.
J. Clark & Son have up part of a frame for
400 ton vessel, and other frames soon to
follow few enterprisng business men have
secured crop of ice from some of the ponds
near by, and intend shipping shortly. The
amount is small, as the winter has been very
unfayorablc for the forming as well as for the
transportation of ice.
Perhaps no town of its size, in Maine, can
boast of more shops than can this place
but these resorts of corruption, where lovers
of the intoxicating cup do congregate, have
been temporarily closed by the Selectmen,
who have been urged to this step by women
who have entered complaints. Who else can
be more interested in this work than those
who hang their heads for shame at the sight
of reeling husband, father, brother or
SON?
The lover of smelts, were he here could
satisfy his longing at cheap rate. Thirty
five cents is the price asked per peck, and
sales dull at that, every boy in town goes a
smelling and so supplies the family table
with the delicious mnnows.
There is case of squalid poverty and
wretchedness here, that, l hope, is without a
parallel in this State, and certainly seems out
of place in atown SO wealthy. Yet the town
is not to blame for the condition in which this
family live, for live they do under the most
loathsome and disgusting circumstances.
The family consists of six members. The
house, or rather shed, for it has neither clap
board, shingle or chimney, is a building about
the size of small railway station. 1t is black
and dirty and has joint of funnel thrust
through its roof for chimney. The inside
does boast of floor but that of the rough
est kind; but for rooms, the one, and the only
one, is parlor, sitting room, bedroom and all.
1t is fact-they have neither bed nor bed
ding; on straw thrown across one end of the
room sleep the whole family.
One of the members of this family was con-
fined. A physician was called, and on a bed
of straw, parted off by boards in one corner,
was found a woman in her hour of peril. In
a few hours a child was born.
For a repast this is a sample One of the
male members gets, by hook or by crook, a
peck of corn-meal. Upon dirty stove a pot
is placed, and in this Indian mnsh is made.
When cooked, the pot is placed in the centre
of the floor, the family gather around and
without table or dish but with tin dippers and
iron spoons they sup their evening meal.
And yet this family rob the body of raiment
and the stomach of food to go to every circus
that comes this way, and this to pamper a
vulgar taste for the arena.
RHIoN.