davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
Looking Backward.

Read at the september Union meeting Of Good
Tempars at South Deer Isle
STANLEY, Central Africa. Dec. 1865.
Ny dear GrandSDn
remember that promised to write TO
you and your friend some time, and give
you story of the days of my youth when
| lived on the other side of the globe. 1t
seems odd, now, to think that in those
days Africa was an almost unknown coun-
try except on the coast, while now it is the
very center of the civilized world. And
am proud that this fact is due largely to
one of my own cOuntrymen, who no
up of this vast region than any one person
has ever done since. | refer of course to
our beloved Stanley, whose history is as
well known now as was that of George
Washington in my day. But must pro-
ceed to my story.
was born, as you have heard in a far
distant land, the United States of America,
and in the far northeastern state, and on
the very sea coast of that state-in the
town of Deer Isle, state of Maine.
When was very small boy | used to
play round the shore and dig in the mud
for a kind of shell fish, called clans. They
were quite plentiful and made very nice
eating. As you never saw any | cannot
give you al idea how they tasted. We
used to 60 to school in an old building
which had once served the first settlers as
a church, but on being abandoned for that
purpose, as it was not geod enough for q
barn, they concluded to tear 1t down and
build it over into a school-hou When
| was about fifteen years old, however,
they concluded that the old shed had lasted
long enough, and then they built another
one.
must tell you before go any further
that in those days there was great move
ment against intoxicating liquors, an evil
of which you have heard, but happily
have never seen. AS 60 on will explain
called the Good Templars. and there was q
branch in the place where l lived, each
branch or division being called lodge, and
all those Of one state being under the con-
troll of a central division called the Grand
Lodge Of that state.
Well, when was of the proper age
joined this lodge and we met in the old
school-house. The lodge had owned hall,
but it was burned, and they were glad of
even the old house for their meetings.
When it was proposed to build the new
school-house some wanted it just large
enough to hold the pupils in the district
school, but Others wanted good house, SO
they built it with fine hall over the school
room, and then offered the use of the hall
for the lodge meetings. remember as If it
were yesterday that soon after we first met
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
Occasional Poetry.
BY OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

BY OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
have attended large number Of cele-
brations, commencements, banquets, sol
reeS, and so forth, and done my best to
help on good many Of them. In fact.
have become rather too well known in
connection with occasions and it has
cost me no little trouble. | believe there
is no kind of an occurrence for which |
have not been requested TO contribute
something in prose or verse. 1t is some
times very hard to say no to the requests.
If one is in the right mood when he or she
writes an occasional poem. it seems as if
nothing could have been easier. why,
that piece run of jest like lie. don't bull
lieve," the unlettered applicant says to
himself,-.'I don't bullieve it took him ten
minutes to write them verses" The good
people have no suspicion of how much a
single line, single expression, may cost
Its author The wits used to say that
Rogers-the poet once before referred TO,
old Samuel Rogers, author of the Pleas
ures OF Memory and giyer Of famous break
fasts-was accustomed to have straw laid
before the house whenever he had just
given birth to a coupet. II is not quite so
bad as that with most Of Us who are called
upon to furnish poem, song, hymn,
an ode for some grand meeting, but it is
safe to say that many a triiing perform
ance has had more good honest work put
into it than the ministers sermon of that
week had cost him. If vessel slides off
the ways smoothly and easily at her launch
ing, it does not mean that no great pains
have been taken to secure the result. Be-
cause poem is an occasional" one, it
does not follow that it has not taken as
much time and skill as if it had been writ
ten without immediate, accidental, tempo
rary motive. Pindar's great odes were oc-
casional poems, just as much as our Com
mencement and Phi Beta Kappa poems
are, and yet they have come down among
the most precious bequests of antiquity to
modern times October atlantic.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09

teachers in society" by Hon. N. A. Luce,
followed by general discussion by Prof.
Richardson, Rev. +. A. Davis, F. w.
Gross, Mr. Dow, Prof. A. +. Chase, Miss
NJ. II. Black, Miss Buck, Blake, Perkins
and others. Owing t5 the rain some feat
uTes Of the program were omitted, but the
time was well filed by discussions which
are often of more benefit than anything
else to the teacher. Space and time pre-
vent more extended report. 1t is per-
haps enough to say that by many this meet
ing was considered the best for years
At the business meeting the committee
on resolutions reported as follows;
Resolved, That in the meetings of the
Hancock Co. Educational Association the
teachers have the best means of incrsas-
ing interest and doing the most efficient
work in our common schools
Resolced, That we deeply regret the
resignation OF our President c. f. Per
kins; that We duly appreciate his efforts
and his able and pleasing manner in pre-
siding.
Resolred, That in behalf Of the assoca-
tion we extend our heart felt thanks to the
people of Orland for their generous hos
pitality and cordial welcome, and especial
ly to the church societies for the free use
of their buildings.
K. h. HERRICk, ! Com.
Miss NJ. III. BLACK, on
Miss +. ID. MARKS, Res.
The committee on nominations present
ed the name of A. G.. Blake for president
f. X. Herrick, vice president, Miss Flora
d. Marks, No. Penobscot, Secretary; Lutte
Gray, Richard Perkins, executive commit
tee. +. X. H.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
The Old Man Eloquent.

George Alfred Townsend has the fol
lowing in the Boston G!ois in regard to
an honored citizen of Maine, ex Vice Pres
ident Hannibal Hamlin:
The dean OF public occasions is now
Hannibal llamlin. II years of age, and he
seldom goes anyw here unacCompanied by
his wife. Said at the Algonquin CLUB:
Why don't you write your memoirs:"
II Shall never DO il now Had | kept a
diary, Ike John Quincy Adams from the
time | entered the Senate in I>47. could
have refreshed my memory with thar, and
perhaps have accepted some Of the many
tlattering offers made to me by my publish
ers; but | would now have to consult
newspaper files, and | cannot stand the
labor"
You have lived in most Of the admins
tration>E'
In all but the first three. | was in the
Senate with Clay, Webster and Calhoun
My old friend Simon Cameron had lived in
all the administrations but Washngton's. "
Mr.. Hamiin regards Daniel Webster as
the ahlest Senator he served with Said /:
To what do you attribute your remark
able healthy
TO working on the farm awhile when a
boy, and often have REQUIRED to field work
in late years with observable advantage"
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
Meeting of Hancock County Educational
Association.
GRASDtAIHEE

The Hancock County Educational As
socation held its fall meeting at Orland,
Sept. 26 and 81, with very good attend
auce of Hancock county's representative
the meeting was called to order by the
secretary who appointed Mr.. Richard Per
kins of Lamoine, president prO tenn. The
association was welcomed to the hospitshle
homes of Orland by + W Gross. E-q
followed by a teaching exercise in gram
mar by Miss Lutte Gray OF Orlsnd, which
seemed TO meet the general approval Of
the teachers Then came the discussion
of the query-"Are pupils In public
schools oyerworked:" which was decided
in the negative a. far as Hancock county
pupils are concerned.
A. 6. Blake OF Brooklin then read pa
per on Necessity Of Trusnt Law in
which some ideas were expressed which
might well be needed by Maine Legislators.
At this point the written resignation of {.
+. Perkins a. President was read and &C
cepted. Discussion of the query-"Arbor
Day-how best observed In .choolss' BY
Hon. n. A. Luce and others.
Afternoon meeting opened by singing
America" followed by a teaching exer-
else in geography by Miss Flora ID. Marks
of No. Penobscot, with a class of begin
ners from her school, which showed tai
ent IN teaching and wonderful aptness on
the part of those little folks. Owing to
rapidly increasing numbers the meeting
than adjourned to the Orthodox church
where the exercise was discussed by Rev.
f. A. Davis, President Perkins and others.
characteristics of the good teacher" by
Mr.. A. A. Littlefeld, was the next paper.
In his absence the paper was read by the
secretary, followed by Miss Fannie Her
rick on the same subject, Both were very
nice papers presenting many new Ideas In
an attractive and scholarly manner A.
was presented by Mrs NJ. E. Perkins Of
Brooksville.
The subject-"Duties and responsibilities
of teachers under the free text book law, E"
presented by Prof. Richardson of Castine,
followed by Hon. N. A. Luce. 1t seems
that no teacher can fail to understand the
requirements of this law, after hearing
these discussions.
The chair then appointed as committee
on resolutions, 4. X. Herrick of Bluehill,
Miss NJ. H. Black of Ellsworth, Miss Flora
d. Marks of No. Penobscot.
Committee on nominations, Reuben
Grindle of Penobscot, Mrs. NJ. B. Perkins
of Brooksville, Miss Phosie Higgins Of
Lamoine.
The evening session was lecture on
Understanding" by Rev. E. A. Davis Of
Sedgwick. The subject was well present
ed and listened to by an interested audi
ence. Saturday forenoon came bringing
mist and rain; but nine O'Clock found
a goodly number OF teachers at the church
showing that promptness andpunctual-
ity are practiced as well as preached
by some. Morning session opened BY
singing and prayer. We first listened
to q lecture on place and influence Of
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
The October St, Nicholas, 1890.

Noticeable in this months So. Nicholas is
the article Through a Detective Camera,
written by Mr.. Black, the well-known anna
teur, and illustrated with characteristic bits OF
insects in amber; the hokey-pokey Ice-cream
man IL a genre picture complete, and his ItaI-
ian baby Is a history OF a down-trodden race
in miniature. Frederic yilliers, the famous
English wsr-correspondent, tells OF his narrow
escape from asphyxia, because ofa Cooper
Brazier" containing crude charcoal used In
warming an inn room at a Seryisn hotel. Mr.
Villers's forcible and peculiar drawings fs1ly
illustrate his text.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09


Rev. Mr.. Hinckley from New Hamp-
shire has been holding series of meet
ings the past week In district No. 8.
Potatoes are rotting and beans rusting
badly in this vicinity. Last weeks frost
was very heavy here injuring many Of the
crops.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis Jordan from Han
cock. are in town visiting relatives and
friends.
Mrs. Emeline Tibbetts and Miss Sadie
arrived last week from Waterville.
Mrs. Broderick is visiting her grand
daughter in Orono.
The stone bridge opposite Mr.. George
Gould's mill is progressing finely. J. r.
Grant and Warren Grant are splitting the
stone.
Mr.. Leslie Fogg and Master BERTHE,
from Lowell, are in town visiting at his
father, ]. N. Fogg's.
Oct. l. KAY.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
Judge Foster and the Police.

Judge Foster was trying divorce cas-.
Thursday at 8 80 P. N. at the S. J. Court
in Auburn. Only a few persons were
present. The libellant claimed gross anC
continued habits of intoxication on the
part of her husband. A Lewiston police
officer was called to testify that he had o.
ten seen the man heplessly intoxicated on
the streets and had taken him home.
The conversation between the court and
the police officer was something like this
The Court-Did you ever arrest the
man?
The Officer-No, sir.
why no:T'
"Wcll, | thought better to take him
home"
What induced you, sir, to take him
home when he was intoxicated on the
streets?'
We'll, out of respect to an aged mother
who would have moancd greatly over the
disgrace"
You are a constable?"
II am police officer. Yes, your hon
or, am a constable"
Didn't You know, sir. that the law COM
mdRds you to arrest any person found in
toNicated on the street,"
Judge Foster here read the law, and
turning to the officer said Your iestimo-
ny in this case is sufficient, and the fact
that you say that this man was intoxicated
| regard as good evidence in the point,
but. sir, yon stultify yourself in stating
that you have seen the man intoxicated
and have not arrested him"
Some further conversation followed and
il was suggested by one of the attorneys
that many men were arrested in Lewiston
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
NUMBER Al.


Franklin.
A short visit to my old home in this
town, brings to mind the poem from my
pen published in the AMERICAN some time
ago, one verse of which ran thus:
The old oak tree used to climb,
Is standing vet, though scathed by time
The road that leads down TO the mead,
Is overgrown with grass and weed.
What a change few years make, and it
takes only a few years absence for one to
plainly see it. Many things look natural
in and around town; but the most natur-
al thing to be seen was the veteran fisher
man, Rufus II. Young. He has not chang
ed for the last twenty years, and when lie
pops out of the woods with an Is inch
speckled beauty in his basket, one would
think by the broad grin on his face, it was
his first haul. He thinks if the line setting
business should be prohibited by law, the
eastern part of Hancock county would
ever be the tishermen's paradise. He
thinks that trawling and line setting the
same thing, and so do we
While in Franklin heard a fact In re-
gard to the intelligence of a favorite cat.
at the house of of ID. W. Crabtree. His
daughter, a girl about l5 had made a
great pet of this cat. Some weeks ago, She
went to another part of the town,
distance of six miles, to stop few week..
1t was long, crooked road, and six roads
turned from it; but the third day this cat
came to the house and was oveTi0yed 10
meet his mistress Look it over, We wise
ones, and tell how the cat found the way.
The girl rode all the way to the house.
TuOS. A. CEARTEEE.
The Sabbath School concert at the
Methodist church Sunday evening was
unusually interesting. Solos and duets by
a number of our young ladies', with wet
rendered recitations, evidenced deal of
talent. Amongst the small girls, we wish to
make special mention of Susie Swan S
recitation. And the little boys, too. dhj
finely, particularly Ray Dwelley, Charlie
Clark. and Merton Gordon in his evening
prayer.
Mr.. l.. c. Bragdon our postmaster, is
not a professional angler, but his lines fc.t
in pleasant places the other day, really u
fishermans paradise. Oue by one Ie drew
sixteen pounds of specklrd trout to tHc
number of seyen-surcly there was lnrk U
odd numbers. We never saw finer catch
of fish Should we tell how brief the time
it took to draw out the beauties experts
might account this as only another "H~A
story'-so we forbcar.
Mr.. Pease our popular barber, intends 'p
move to Sullivan and open ton>orial rooms
there.
Miss Charlotte Gordon is rnioy,ng
prolonged vacation at the OLD home
Miss y. J. Whitaker has been quite au
invalid at her brothers during her stay.
A mild type of diphthcria i reported ia
the family of Mr.. William Brown, We rr-
grct to say.
Johnny Wentworth Is building q u..t
little home at the bay, and Evcrard smith
is doing likewise at West Franklin
Mrs. Vic Butler leaves Tuesday f.r
Lawrence, that her children may cuiuy
better educational advantages. IFu>.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
Resolutions Of Eggemosgin Lodge.
J. o. q. T., on the death Of irving
Bray.

Whereas, II has pleased our Heavenly
Father in his alLwise Providence, to remove
from our midst, our dearly beloved brother,
Irving Bray, therefore; be ii
ReSoloed, That we'as a lodge have lost one,
who, by his temperate habits, bis gentle man
ners, and his sweet disposition had gained the
respect and kindest regards of Us ALL
ReSOtced, That we extend our heartfelt
sympathy to the parents Of oar deceased broth
er, that we send them copy OF the resolu-
tions, that they be printed in the ELLSWORTH
AMERICAN, that they be spread upon a page
in our records. Also that onr charter be draped
In mourning for space of thirty days.
JACOB T. CooMBs, ! Com.
Rosa q. WELLS, on
q. A. GRINDLE, Reso.
Brookiin, Sept. 20, 80.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
For the Ellsworth American.
Shadows.

A. sit alone Al evening.
In the hour Of peace and rest.
Pictures rise before my vision,
In colors bright, by Fancy drest;
And | dream of wondrous castles,
Though know they always fall,
For nv castles are hut shadows,
Only shadows on the wall.
have >plcndor all unbounded;
Riches counted cannot be:
Costly wines aud costly viands.
Daily all around see.
OF it all am the owner,
But my castle towers fall,
For alas. they're only shadows.
only shadows on the wall.
other fancic> pas before me.
OF the future fair and bright;
But a. Future comes It darkcn-.
Sometimes losing all il light.
But there's comfort found in nr,amand,
'Moug the castle towers tail.
Though We wake TO find them shadows,
only shadows on the wall.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
The Great Heresy.

Creeds no doubt must be, in religion as
in everything else where reasonable action
is demanded from reasonable being; but
the great danger in theology Is the substi-
tuition of an intellectual for moral as
sent; and, again, the impertinent attempt
to bring the attributes, qualities, and
operations of the Infinite under categor-
les suitable only for the measurement of
the finite. Certain it is that of all the
heresies that have brought jar into the
moral music of the Christian church, the
greatest is the conceit of a self-consttuted
orthodoxy which damns a modest broth
er for not believing what only the pride of
an unchastened intellect could have assert
ed.-Prof John Stuart Blackie in the Sep
tember Forum.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
Close of The Centurys' Twentieth Yea

The October Century opens with frouti--
piece portrait of Joseph Jefferson. The lat
installment of the autobiography accompanic.
the familiar face, an in>tallment which thr
author considers the most important of an,
perhaps because il contains, at con>iderabla
detail, his own reflections upon the art OF " hich
he i an acknow lodged master.
Professor Darwin Of Cambridge, England, "A
worthy son of a great father, contributes pa
per of high and original value on "Meteorite-
and the History OF Stellar systems"
"A Hard Road to Travel out of Dixie" il
the accurate title of paper in The Centtry's
new war-prisOn series.
"Prehistoric Caye-Dwelliugs" il a prOfusrly
and strikingly illustrated paper by +. r. Bck-
ford, on the prehistoric and ruined pueblo
structures in the Chaco Canon, New Mexico.
the Canon de Cbelly, Arizona.
Several articles have general or special
bearing on the fall elections-in the direction
of reform and wholesome independence.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09

forfcitures, fines or imprisonment. The
revenue laws of the United States exact
the most scrupulous observance of their
provisions, not only as to the individual
who would eyade payment of his dues. but
as to the officer whose duty 1t is to en-
force the laws. The State laws should be
equally peremptory in holding revenue Of
ficers to strict fidelity in their enforce
ment. Our Maine assessors are unQues-
tionahly as able and efficient as any and
the fault is in the looseness of the tax
laws. Yet it has been the custom of as
SCISSORS to ignore the explicit requirement
of the Constitution of the State above
quoted. Property is assessed at much
less than Its Just value in mast towns. Ii
is very common for assessors to value
real estate at three fourths. two-thirds
and even one-half of its true value. In
the returns of the assessors of the towns
Of the State for the use of the State Val
uaiion Commission it appears that the as
SCISSORS of 1872 towns based their taxes on
less than a just value of the property
assessed. Thirteen based them on four
fifths value thirty-tlve on three fourths
value; ifty-thrce on tw thirds value, and
sixteen on one half; while in two towns
the assessors considered their duty done
when assessed upon one-third Of the cash
value of the property taxed. II has been
our purpose to make the assessor the i'm
portant and responsible officer that he
should be under our system and vet TO
make him the executor and servant of the
law and not its superior The proposed
law therefore leaves but little discretion
in his hands. 1t points the way and com
mandS him to follow under severe penal,
ties for neglect or malfeasauce Ii holds
him rlgdly to just valuation, with no
discretion to construe that to mean n half
value ami II is equally explicit in forbid
ding any International under-valuation or
over valuation in any case or for any pur-
pose whatever"
The proposed law fixes uniform poll
tax of 81 90 between the ages Of II and
20; imposes a tax Of 81 20 on male and
500 on female dogs To be applied in pay
mcnt Of damages caused bv dogs TO Sheep
takes from selectmen the power To act rs
assessors in towns Of more than 1000 in
hahitants and grapples with the mortgage
double tax subject, by making the mort
gagged estate taxable 10 mortgagor and
mortgage according to the value Of their
several interests In it and relieves the
mortgage debt from examination alto
gcther. bn the
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-09
Report of Special Commission.

Tho Sn.ciaI T,x Commissioners ~
Naire bar. ,,,,n,i,t.,t ,l,..fr r.nort IN Gov.
.rror pu.l,i.b tn, ,,.,,,,,,i..ior c,,.i.,
~ Hon pIiynr q Han ot Wa,,rvilI. Jns.
,ice M M. Snnar5nr cop,t k,nn..hr,. conn.
+, lIn, InhnI Cn,l.rof Rar.
eor ex .,r,'.itrnt Of thr senate and Gen.
San,r..1 ,rI.r.,,, ,f p,rtl,r1 collector
nfcr.,.,... VII III. t,..-t., Ib.,. u,ro
annoirtrJ bv ,hn t;nyernor nnJrr "a.
sniva Al, ,be l-.., l.ri.lo,pro vi,h no.er IA
MI, ,.,,arol i,1,,iry i,to ~. system
Of ,sxa,1nn ~ ,ha .ny.ral states ~ IN.
t-rin, a,d ..,n ,,rn,.id. III ,noro .c,,al
iust arI .,,;talra .r.,a,, of taxstion ~
iii l-;nts - ,,r|.,,.,r,,' J., III. S,a,a ,,r
S,.ta c,,n,r anJ ,!rr;ri,,aI rnronse. :
Tl,.,, w.re ai.., i,s,rmn,"I ~, nrnyi,Ie frr
a ho,.,r ,,,'',,,,a, .,.,tn, a,,I c,1.
I.r,i,,,, of,aa. J., IL S,a,, ~. cn,n.
,,,f..;,,,,,s .,.,r1, ,i,, ,h..;r ,..'rw 49,
a,.'i iiel,,. >,i 80
s.f...1., ~ riii
% ,1t, 'i at,.,r -,
, - - ''' ,.' ,,,,,,,et =
,,Ir 80 mn -, ,',tlra
a,,,,,,
~. r.,t. i,,,.,;.,.,,,s =, ba
,,;,,a ,;,h ,.,a,n,,, ,,,ho ,,a,t