davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-10-23
The will of Cardinal Mocloskey

NEW YORK, Oct. 1.-THE will of the late
Cardinal MctlOskey was filed for probate this
afternoon. The document is brief. He directs
funeral and testamentary expenses Immediately
after his decease. He then bequeaths to Arch
bishop Carrigan, Bishop Mclaughlin, Of Brook
lyn. and Bishop n. c.. Merry, of Albany, all the
remainder OF his his estate, appointing them at
the same time the executors OF his will.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19
Logging.


s"s geographic scco1at Or the mode
adopted in Nevada for getting logs 10 mar
ket. A chute is laid from the rivers brink
up the steep mountain 10 the railroad; and
while we are telling IL, the monster logs
are rushing. laundering, flying, lesbiug
down the declivity. They come with the
speed Of thunderbolt, aud somewhat OF
its roar track Of fire aud smoke follow
them,-f1re struck by their friction with
the chute logs. They descend the 100
feet Of the chute In fourteen seconds. In
doing So they dror 100 feet perpendicular
ly. They strike the deep water with re-
port that can be heard mile distant. Logs
fired from a cannon could scarcely have
greater velocity than they have at the foot
of the chute. The average velocity is over
100 feet second throughout the entire dis
lance, and ar the instant they leap from
the mouth their speed must be POO feet per
second. A sugar pine log sometimes
weighs ten tons. What q missile! The
water is dashed into the air like q grand
plume of diamonds and ranbows; the
fealhery spray is hurled to the height OF
100 feet. 1t forms the grsndest fountain
ever beheld. The waters fosm and seethe
and dash against the shore. One log, bav-
itg spent its force by its mad plunge into
the deep waters, has tlosted so as to be al
right with the descending monster. The
mouth Of the chute is perhaps fifteen feet
above the surface OF the water. A huge
log hauled from the chute cleaves the air
and slights on the floating log. You know
how bullet glances, but can you imagine
a ssw-log glsncins? The end strikes with
heavy shock, but glides quickly past for
a short distance; then q crash like the re-
verberstion of artillery, the falling log
springs vertically into the air, and with a
curve like rocket falls into the water 8
long distance from the plsce.it struck.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19
n Dtstftiery In Maine.

Commissioner Rand OF Portllnd heard
the case, last week, Of the United Stat .
vs. Foster Z Harvey, Waldoboro. Hon.
G. II. Chase, Collector OF Internal Revenue,
complainant Harvey La charged with hay
lug opened q distillery without fling the
proper bond, and with an intent TO defraad
The United States. The respondent plead
not guilty. Marahal Bisbee testified In re-
gard tp the capture Of Harvey's plant. He
went TO IIarvey's house aud found him at
home Marsha, Bisbee said 10 him that he
must be cautious what statements he IT AIDE
because q man over To Union who was at
work with him all Saturday night in his
cellar might have something 10 say. IL
~a6 almost a chance shot, but 1t took effect
and Harvey said ), Has jim Sidelinger
been taking Harvey made no resistance,
bu. showed them over his house. In the
cellar they found a worm and tube,s piece
Of wood with hole through 1t fitting both,
and In different parts Of tie house and at
Haryey's law office In barrels, jugs and bot
ties OF all degrees Of strength from IA to 20
per cent, the last being pretty fair rum, as
rum goes In Maine. 1t was 10 evidence
that Harvey told the officers after they had
been al the house for a little while, that
jim Sidelinger was to use things found in
the house 10 making cider vinegar. Harvey
is a gbod-lookiDg man, has been regarded
al smart lawyer, and had fine practice.
1t is something OF mystery what sent
him into the business OF the Illicit disti!i cry
of rum.
Osmore S Head, merchant OF Waldobo-
70, testified that a hogshead Of molasses
marked TO Jim Sidelinger was taken at the
dapot by Harvey. Witness examined i,
and saw the pipe and tank found by the off,
GERS No evidence was offered on the part
Of the respondent
The Commissioner, after listening TO tie
arguments OF the counsel, held the respon-
dent who gave bail for his appearance IN
the sum OF g.. 900.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19
Temperance Instruction.

The special committee or the Maine
Pedagogical Society at an adjourned meet
ing ia Portland, discussed the methods and
means OF temperance instruction with ref
erence to the needs of graded and mixed
schools. They recommended where The
brief daily exercise plan is adopted, gen.
erai review exercise once or twice month
with new illustrations, question box for
pupils queries, written essays, and recita~
lions from and readings bearing on the
main topic. TIE committee recommend
the use of text books in Grammar grade
and for those of the same age in laixed
schools, but below that grade prefer oral
teaching. In the High school no change
seems called for ex :ept that such sdiYsn
Of standard works should be used - e6s-
tain the matter meeting the terms q Gs
law.
The educational publications Of ~ IA
tioual Temperance Society contAin U0se
that will be helpful to teachers, 40 INKS
designed TO give special aid in U0ry
work work by means OF attractive uEss
with suitable blackbosrjs and other jens-
trailons are promised by other publishers.
From their review OF the subjee. as
signed them the committee are convinced
that this line OF instruction has a'ailabili-
ties 10 interest teachers and pupils, ADD
they confidently expect that 1T will prove
an agreeable addition to our educational
program. while 1t materially enh noes the
moral power OF our schools.
1t is proposed to hold another session be-
fore the opening Of the fall term and the
committee invite suggestions from teachers
and others interested q the sims, methods
and means of temperance instruction In
the public schools.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19
Mutchfng.

At a meeting Of the Massachusetts, Hpr-
tIcultural Society 10 Boston last January,
Col. Henry w. Wilson read paper on
mulchlDg, In which he argued that frequent
stirring OF the surface soil served the same
purpose as mu.ching with any coarse ma
terial. lie said
"How can he temporary advantages Of
mulchiug be otherwise attained permanent
lyi little thoughtful examination will
indicat the answer. Careful Investigation
OF the condition and mechanical effect Of
heat and soil upon moisture will develop
the fact that, except when the rains are re-
plenishiog the earth, moisture Is continual
ly ascending in the soil by the process Of
capillary attraction, anu Is absorbed at the
surface by the air with which 1t comes 10
contact. In well cultivated field not
more than from one-eight TO one tenth Of
the rain that falls upon the soil nUslly
passes off by percolation; the remainder Is
drawn 10 the surface and evaporated by
the process described. Anything that
breaks up the uniform continuity OF the
texture OF the soil, by which atom afLer
atom Of water Is brought 70 the surface,
will accomplish the hrst step 10 retaining
the natural moisture Of the soil within it.
Now mulching does u do this at ali it
only checks or moderates the approach Of
the atmosphere 70 the molsIeDto surface OF
the SOIL and therefore retards evaporation
TO that extent; but the reason why there is
always SO much moisture beneath the
mulch is because the capillary action Of the
soil .eeps on pumping up the water faster
than 1t can eyaporate.
The natural tendency of earthly matter
TO thus raise water is not generally appre-
ciated, bat Ger be readily seen when SO dry
and porons material as coal ashes is de
posted upon slightly damp surface. AL
though the heap be quite large, yet in a
short time have observed the dampness
to have penetrated through The entire mass
from below.
Anything that is good conductor Of
heat, and is OF loose texture, applied to the
surf ce Of the ground retards the move
ment of the air and prevents absorption.
Spent tan bark meets tbisrequlrement bet
ter than any other material that can be APP
piled to the lane, 1t is light and porous,
and therefore retains q cushion OF confined
air, which is one Of the best non-conduct-
ors in nature. The gentle showers which
simply moisten the earth pass through II
readily, es do the heavier rains, which are
absorbed by it and largely retained.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19
Strawberry Culture.

Successful strawberry Culture demands a
thorough cleanin after bearing, and care
full culture during the remainder OF the
summer. O'd strawberry beds are not
profitable. To weed and cultivate an old
neglected bed is thankiess task AID mu Cl
more laborous than the preparing and
planting Of a new one. Although some
varieties will continue to bear for four or
five years, yet it proves seldom profitable
to take off more than two crops from the
same plants.
New beds may be made by renewing
one-half the plants every year In some
soils strawberries may be grown on the
same ground for many years II liberal
manuring is given. A successful grower
renews onc-half his plauts every year, hay
Ing his rows two feet apart and plants
them in row one foot ap'rt Plants set
out two years ago are spaded under imme-
diateiy after beariog, ipc9qorAN"'>ss--
same time q aed,y- dressing or TON, e=-sc,
manure. The ground /, raked over occas-
ionally, so as TO kill every weed as soon as
it .erminates.
The rows planted one year ago are hoed
q d cleaned, and all runners removed ex-
cep. one OF two of the strongest from each
plant which are layered in the loose soil.
As soon as the young plants are large e.
nough they are taken up on damp or
cloudy day and carefully transferred to the
new bed without disturbing their roofs.
They will bear very good crop next sea-
son and still better one In two years,
while the next summer they furnish young
plants for the other half of the bed to be
renewed in the same manner.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19
Il Maine Mans Untimeiy Fate.

A Boston SPECIAL TO the Lewiston Jour
nal gives an account OF sn interview wit
friend of Frederick Cover, the unfortu-
nate aeronaut who attempted to cross the
English channel in a balloon, and is sup
posed to have persisted, as the balloon was
bcked up at sea in collapsed condition.
Cover is native of Sedgewick, Me, and
is a nephew of Campmeeting John Allen
The friend gives the following account Of
Cover:
Cover is sort OF an odd genius. hig e.
gotist, and for some time has been haunted
with the notion that France could blow up
London with dynamite, any day in the wee
in case of war. His belief was that the
currents of upper air were uniformly to the
west in certain strata and uniformly to the
east in certain other elevations, and that
one would as surely drop dynamite in Lon
don and get himself back to France in an
aerial voyage, as he could by rail and boat,
under ordinary circumstances.
Cover was going TO sell out his knowl-
edge TO the French government for q big
price, If he could then he was going over
to London and inform Westminster Palace
that he who was bane was antidote also
He had remedy for the war OF balloon
dynamite carefully licked up in his ow L
breast, as | am informed, rpt, after getting
the Frech pile, he is said have believed ht
could also get the English gold, by selling
his antidote. Covers estate Is a large one
He went over TO England and France at tn,
outset of tue telephone business and by
fortunate handling, made money rapidly
He is fine looking man and has ability
and vast deal of push.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19
SUeeping.

Sweeping Is necessary part OF the
honsework but from holding secondary
place, it has come to be the bugbear of ev-
cry woman who does her own work, and
there Is no sense in it, being so.
Women will make slaves of themselves,
wearing out their backs and their brooms
in the frantic endeavor to keep out every
speci of dust, just as they always ha Q
done. Women, so quick TO think for
others, and to act in emergenci g, are es-
pecially stupid when it comes to sa:ing
their own strength by little thought
Halt the houses that are built are the idols
of the mistresses that preside over them.
They forget that houses were made for
people, and live AS though people were
made for houses. In no way do they show
this foolish house-worship so much as in
sweeping.
Parors that are used twice s week are
pulled To pieces every seventh day, the car
pets chastised with brooms and bea ers,
the furniture rubbed and scrubbed, and pic
lures and ornaments that cannot be re-
moved, baptized with dust.
All this requires hours Of time valuable
to somebody; II wears out the carpets,
tears the curtains, perhaps, and always
risks the breaking Of small things. Th:
result is perhaps a teaspoonlu OF dust.
Does 1t pay? Would that bit OF dust in the
corners burt anyone? In small HOUSES,
where one pair of hands does all the thous-
and things that come to do in housekeer
ing, and the care OF the children, sweeping
carpets requires three times the strength
and time that it deserves.
Is it not better, then, in these days Of
wisdom, to use the brain little instead OF
the broom always, and to use the time
saved from II useless cleaning up OF houses
for bet .er cleaning up oil hearts and souls?
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19
Lincoln as an .ddCOcdte.

Lincoln was upon the whole, the strong
esi jury lawyer in the State. He bad the
ability to perceive with almost inluitve
quickness the decisive point in the case.
In the examination and cross-eXamnation
of a witness he had no equal He Could
compel witness to tell the truth when he
meaut to lie, and il a witness lied he rarely
escaped exposure under Lincoln's cross ex-
animation. He could always make a jury
laugh, and often weep, at his pleasure.
His legal arguments addressed 10 the judges
were always clear, vigorous and logical
seeking to convince rather by the applica-
tion OF principle than by The citation Of
cases. A stranger going into court when
he was trying case would, after few
moments, find himself Lincoln's side
aud wishing him success. He seemed 10
magnetic everyone. He was so straight
forward, so direct, SO candid, that every
spectator was impressed with the idea that
he was seeking only truth and justice. He
eXceled 10 the statement Of his case.
However complicated he would disentan.
gle ii, aud present the real issue in so SIM
pie and clear q way that all could under
stand. Indeed, his statement often render
ed argument unnecessary, and frequently,
the court would stop him, and say, 'lf this
Is the case, Brother Lincoln, we will hear
the other side" His Illustrations were Of
ten quaint aud homely, but always apt and
clear. and often decisive. He always met
his opponents case fairly and sQuarely,
and never Intentionally misstated law or
evidence.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19

Francis Murphy, the Maine temperance
evangelist, is still in the field, and Won
jerfully successful. He had taken Pitts
burgh by storm again. AT one OF his meet
Jugs lately, hundreds were unable to gam
admission into the hail, tut so great was
their eagerness 10 enter, that the doors
were broken in by the crowds outside, ana
the police had to interfere. Over four
hundred persons signed the pledge. When
we talk about business and politics, people
think excitement and enthusiasm quite the
thing; put the moment people get CORE
spondingly aroused in moral and religious
reform, critics sheer, cry out fanatics,
and saw it is all unreasonable. Thick OF
Luther. John Bunyan, John Knox and
Francis Murphy sitting down and packing
themselves in ice est they get excited. NO
solid results are ever achieved without en-
tbusiasm. You can't weld iron Without
fire! The New Testament orthodoxy Is
baptismal fire-hre that inspires without
spoiing common sense and IRE which ex-
ats morality into spirituality. 1t Is nre
that has characterized the temperance re-
form 10 Maine. May this fire never go out
So says an exchange and so say We all OF
II
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19

A RUMSELLER's SToRY.-A man named
Stacy, the owner of splendid drinking
saloon in New York, signed the pledge
lately and closed his house. Hearing that
a party OF lads had formed themselves into
a temperance society he went to themSand
gave them his experience as rumseiier.
We repeat some OF his recolections for our
readers IL sold II auor," said Mr.. Stacy,
for eleven years-long enough for me to
see the beginning and end of its effects.
have seen man take his first glass OF liz
uor in my place, and aflerward I'LL the
grave of suicide. have seen man after
man, wealthy and educated, come into my
saloon who cannot now buy his dinner. L
can recall twenty customers worth from
one hundred TO i've thousand dollars whe
are now without money, place or friends.
He warned boys against entering saloons
on any pretext. He stated that be hal
seen many young fellow, member OF
temperance society, come 10 with friend
and wait while he drank. "No, no, he
would say, II Dever touch it. Tbanss all
the same" Presently, rather than seem
churlish he would take glass OF cider or
harml, 50 lemonsde- 1.-The lemonade was
nothing" said the rumseller, but knew
how it would eud. The only safety. boys,
for any man, no matter how strong his
resolution, is outside the door OF the sa-
loon"
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19
Gen. Grant turns dOlcn his Glass.

Before leaving the St. Paul, then fast
enei TO the Government dock above Van
ccuver, had run down to meet the guests
and report that all arrangements for our re-
ption at my house were In readiness.
They were sitting at dinner in the baud
some saloon of the steamer below. Au-
sw.riug my card, General Miller invited me
to ioin the party at table. did so. The
dinner WAS Dearly over. | noticed that the
glasses near General Grant, who was on
the opposite side from me, were all turned
down.
Looking in his face, saw queer ex-
preston OF countenance a. servant, with
General Grants compliments, offered me
class Of wine. | laughed and thanked
him, NO"
II wanted to see, Howard, If the Pacific
coast hadn't changed YOU"
mo, no; not much.
"Well, when | left home | used to have
frequent headaches, and thought lass
OF wine relieved the pain but | soon
found myself so well, particularly in China,
that | needed wine no more, and SO have
stopped of.
had had so many experiences of that
kind with General Grant, where found
him more abstemious than those around
him. though no breath arose against them
for excuses, that concluded that many
reporters and pretended friends were gifted
with better maginatiops than memories
Gen. o. O. Hotrdrd IN Voice.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19
Grants First Nomination.

A private In the nth Maine regiment re-
sid ng In this city tells how Grant was hrst
nominated for the presidency. IL was
down In Virginia during the war. Inc 20
corps, to which the 18th was attached was
marching from Cold Harbor TO Richmond,
and one morning when about 10 miles out
Of Richmond, halt was made for break
fast near an old church. Some OF the sol
diers entered tn. church out OF curiosity,
aud he frat thing that met their gaze was
the inscription in charcoal upon the dead
white wall back OF the pulpit. IL read :
"Uiysses s. Grant, may he be hung, drawn
and qusrtered." This, of course, incensed
the soldiers, who had learned 70 idolize
their commander, and they set about get
ling their revenge by burning the church
to the ground. They would undoubtedly
have carried their threat into execution
had not one Of the men, not so hot blooded
as the rest, approached the wall, and DIS
covered beneath the first, another inscrip-
ton, that was not distingulshable rom the
rear end OF the church. This second To-
scription read as follows chung with the
laurels Of victory, drawn IN the chariot Of
peace, and qusrtered In the White House
at Washington" The discovery had an
electrical effect, and the feeling OF deep
anger gave place to expressions OF reJolc.
ing while the building rang with the lusty
cheers Of the blue coats The name OF
this church Is the st. James, plain VIII e
structure, standing close to the highway.
The incident related above will be recalled
by large majority of the boys who went
out 10 The old 18th and are now living
Bid eford Journal
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19

THE FISH IN JoSEs's Net The other
night, after the thunder shower, Jones
dropped in on neighbor and fund about
dozen people assembled.
"Wel!, well, you look cheerful after such
a close CALL growled Jones as he removed
his hat.
what close call?"
"Why, lightning struck the barn in the
alley not a hundred feet away"
.'Oh, dear!" said one of the women
but knew it. One of my arms has been
numb ever since"
And it affected my foot" said another.
"Ard it set my heart to palpitating."
"Aud my elbow has felt queer ever since.
Everyone in the room remembered to
have been shocked, aud everyone was
thankful over the narrow escape.
BY and by boy, who had been thinking
deeply, gushed out:
"Why, there is no barn 10 the alley"
Amid the deepest silence everybody re-
membered this fact, and the boy clinched
it with;
"And how could there be, when there is
no alley!"
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19


1t is estimated that the cost of the Grant
funeral in New York will be about mil
lion dollars.
Vice President Hendricks denies the re-
port that his relations with President
Cleveland are unfricndIy.
Dispatches from ST. Petersburg say that
there is strong war feeling in Russia and
nhat military preparations are ia progress
in Finland.
The New York Star has been purchased
for $40, 900 and with DorsheimeI as the re-
sponsble editor, will begin The worksof de-
Tending the Cleveland administration.
At reunion of ex.Confederate soldiers
st Greenvile, Texas, Thursday, 20, 900 vet
Grams and others were on the grounds.
General Ross the orator OF the day, allu.
ded to the fact that thousands of crippled
ex Confederates were begging their living
from door to door while 100, 900 Union sol
diers were drawing pensions.
Carpie Barehead, young Creek outlaw,
was executed at Eufauls, Indian Territory,
on Tuesday last in Indian fashion, being
shot to DEATH while seated on his coffin,
by the Greek Light House Guards Csrpie
was Is years old and had murdered an en-
tire family, and recently murdered a
preacher He was betrayed by his friends
tor reward.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-19

Present indications point to a conSidera-
BILE decrease in the number OF sheep in this
country, says the american CuitiUdtor,
while 10 Australia, our greatest competitor
In sheep husbandry, there Is no increase.
II such be the fact, 1t is matter of GER
taiuty that the sheep-raiser who preserve
ard cares for his focks will before long re
ceive suita BILE reward. Successful mer-
chant and manufacturers are those who
form an opinion OF their OVID and are not
swayed by popular within or impulse. The
successful sheep-rsiser will be he who
makes a careful survey of the field and
forms an opinion of his own, based upon
the number of sheep and the positive in
crease in the number of consumers OF wool
EN- clothing. 1t is certainly policy to sell
sheep when their market value is as low
AS al present.