The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-26
sTATEToPIcs OF INTEREST

STATE TOPICS OF INTEREST
One of the luckiest men in Maine is
Mr.. b. w. Hartman, prominent and
stirring citizens and business man of
Readfeld. One instance of his interest
ing career will illustrate the phenomenal
luck which has followed him. Several
years ago Hartman drove the stage from
Readtield depot to the seminary at Kent's
Hill, a distance of about four miles over
the hills One clustering day of winter
a package containing five hundred dol
lars in fifty dollar bills was part of his
charge. In order to be particularly
careful of the money he put it on the
seat of the stage, and then posted him
self on it. AS he weighed about two
hundred pounds he considered the money
tolerably safe. But in some way his
weight broke the string and seal of the
package; and in a fateful instant when
Hartman rose in his seat to whip his
horses through particularly stubborn
drift, gust of north wind swept under
him and blew the greenbacks far and
wide over the snow. Hartman saw them
speeding over the fields with feeling of
dismay; but he happened to be near his
own home, and at once called on his
neighbors for help. No one was more
popular in the town that this same b. w.
Hartman, and the neighbors turned out
as to fire. By careful searching of the
fields over which the bills had blown all
the money was found but fifty dollars.
The most diligent search failed to dis
cover it, and it was given up for lost
But they did not count on Harriman's
luck. The field where the bill was lost
was about quarter of a mile from Har-
riman's barn; and one day the next
summer Hartman happened TO be stand
ing in his barn door when "a heavy wind
sprang up, blowing directly from that
field. His attention was attracted to
faded green object that looked like leaf
and was coming dancing across the field.
Hartman watched it, and saw it flutter
directly towards him. and finally sail into
the barn door like swallow. He caught
it and examined it. 1t was faded and
worn, but through all the wrinkles of
time he discovered the beautiful features
of that fifty dollar bill that blew away
from him the winter before. The bank
redeemedSthe bill; and Hartman was
richer by fifty dollars and bv the repu-
tation Of being the luckiest man in Ken
nebec county.
In the old days of Bangor there was a
negro barber named Hanson. who was
full of patriotism and love of liberty. and
who warmly espoused the cause Of the
Greeks in their struggle with Turkey.
His enthusiasm at last grew to such
pitch that he announced that he would
devote a day to shaving for the benefit
OF the Greeks. The idea took, and Gus
toners focked in by scores. But when
they offered payment the barber declined.
He had given notice he would shave for
the benefit of the Greeks, he said, and
ID yer is'pose I will take pay when
shave for de benefit of de Greeks?" So
he shaved all day for nothing, and proba-
bly, felt comforted afterwards with the
thought that he had done something
handsome in aid of the Greeks.
The Maine Central is receiving a large
amount of iron for use along the line
this spring. A number of bridges are to
be largely improved and some new ones
will be built. A large shipment of steel
rails was received near Pittsfeld last
week and Sunday there were 21 car loads
of steel rails in the Portland yard, bound
east.
The Colby Seniors have voted to wear
caps and gowns at Commencement. and
to employ the Germania band to furnish
the music.
The exhibit of the Maine Board of
Health at the Worlds Fair will consist of
a series of fine drawings, plans of differ
emit kinds of school buildings from the
one room house for country districts to
the more elaborate structure for the
cities. Each Of these plans has page
of notes accompanying it. All are on
large pieces of card board and are at
tached to an upright frame SO that they
will be displayed to the best possible
advantage and in consecutive order
There are 80 of these card boards. The
drawings were made by Mr.. Will Getch-
ell. The ordinary person by means of
these drawings will be able to appreciate
the advantages in the improved systems
of heating, veutilating the schoolrooms
and there can be no doubt but what this
exhibit will attract as much attention as
any one exhibit made by any State
board of health. The last of the plans
were shipped to Chicago Saturday.
A rather clumsy counterfeit of the Co.
lumbar quarter-dollars is being circu-
lated quite freely. On examination, the
figure 's2'' in the date, which is 1892, is
found to be poorly executed, and the
weight is not up to standard. There is
ring to the coins, and there will be no
difficulty in detecting them if ordinary
care is used.
Real state Transfers.
TLo foI1oxr;rev trousfnrs of raa1 ac+.+o