davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12
THE COMMON BLACK COAT

1t is Feared That 1t May he Superseded
by One of Lighter Color.
1t would appear from one of their
trade organs that tailors are becoming a
little anxious about the prospects of the
black coat of civilization. They fear it
is III danger of being superseded by a
garment of lighter hue, if not of varie.
gated pattern. Perhaps, if they were to
give voice to their deeper approximations,
they would say that there was more at
stake than the black coat There can, at
any rate, be little doubt, whether the
tallors are willing to admit it or not,
that with the fate of the black coat is
bound up that of the black Waistcoat.
Whether the two have been lovely and
pleasant III their lives is a matter of
opinion, but we feel sure that in death
they would not be divided
We mean no disrespect to the vest in
describing it as a parasite Of the coat.
1t is humble dependant which has
only found its way into society under
the wing Of its influential patron, to
whom II adheres With single breasted
fidelity, rewarded on the other side by
an attachment Which Is rarely broken
save for short period during the sum
mcr months.
The trousers, it Is true are connected
with the two upper garments by no such
feudai tic, but their own union is com
plete and, except III very hot weather,
indissoluhlc. Hence, the more farsight-
ed tailors no doubt perceive clearly
enough that if the black coat goes we
shall be within measurable distance of
the tweed suit - Nor are there want
ing those who would do their best to
accelerate the catastrophe.
Animated by the restless spirit of the
age. its Impotence of sobriety and its
thirst for change and color ia costume,
as i'll litc, there is school of so called
reformers who are endcavoring to urge
the wearers of black coats to revolt. Let
them give free play, eXclaim these an
archistic counselors, to their taste III
checks and stripes" and they will be
able to cut far more picturesque figure
ut far smaller annual outlay. With the
outlay, of course, the public is not con-
cerned, though that matter, doubtless,
is not without its interest for the tailors,
but we own to some uneasiness at the
idea of the entire community indulging
its multifarious taste in checks and
stripes i'll headlong pursuit of the pic
turesque.
We have all of us, indeed, seen the
experiment tried under very favorable
circumstances, but with more than du-
bious results by those little bands of
vocal and instrumental artists, gener-
ally six or eight in number, who are
usually to be met with at race meetings
or on the sands at popular seaside re-
sorts. These pioneers of dress reform
have entirely discarded the black coat,
preferring one Of gayer color, with no.
ticeably elongated tails, and the free
dom with which they indulge their taste
i'll checks and stripes may almost be said
to border upon license. Yet the effect,
even with the addition Of an open shirt
collar of Elizbethan proportions cork
cd face and a banjo cannot be described
as entirely picturesque. London Tele
graph.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12
Not to BE Resisted.

Some years ago, at II session of the
legislature of Kentucky, an effort to re-
peal the law Offering a bounty on foxes
scalps was made, but was defeated by
the appeal Of a member from noun
tainous and Sparsely settled region.
''Do the gentlemen want to deprive
my constituents and me of the benefits
of hearing the gospel preached?n he de-
manded, with Indignation in his tone
and oyerspreading his rugged counte-
nance. 1--WE are all Methodists up my
way, and our preachers won't come
without we can give 'em chickens. |
know. We can't raise chickens unless
the foxes are killed by somebody, that IS
sure, and there ain t anybody that can
afford to spend their time hunting foxes
and get nothing to pay for it,
$50, gentlemen, if you repeal this
law, you'll be deprivin9 my constituents
of the benefit of hearing the gospel
preached. That's the way it looks to
mel''
This reasoning was too much for the
legislature, and fer the time being the
law was not repealed. Youth S Com
DanlOn,
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12

A highly interesting discovery, which
will perhaps afford clew to the cause
of cancer, has been made in Professor
Won Leyden university hospital here.
A young woman Of % and man Of 90,
both suffering from dropsy and cancer
Of the stomach, Were brought to the
hospital last spring. In order to remove
the accumulated fluid, tapping was re-
sorted to in both cases. The fluid was
examined undCr the microscope, and
hitherto unknown living organisms be
longing probably to the protocol, were
discovered
Professor Waldeyer, TO whom the
preparations We're submitted, advised
that they should be sent to DIR. Schau-
dim, assistant at the Geological insti-
tute of the Berlin university, who has
been investigating the protozoa for years
past. He began his examination on July
49, and ascertained that III both cases
the fluid contained IA rhizopod, which
he named Leydenia gemmipara schau-
dim. He inferred that il is pathogenic
organism, but both he and Professor
Won Leyden still abstain from deciding
as to the connection between it and can
Ger, though they admit the possibility
Of such connection. They have made
a preliminary communication on the
subject to the Berlin Academy of Sci
ences. Berlin Letter i'll London Stand
ard
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12
Tho SMnY of the Sash.

How fascinating are the belts and
sashes which form such important items
in the fashions of the momcntl Close
fitting, deep folded belts made of satin
or silk are worn with toilets of silk, fine
mohair and grass lawn. The newest
ribbon belts are finished off with IA fiat
piping on each side of white silk or
satin, but If the belt Is black or dark III
color tho piping may be IN a light con-
trasting shade Loosely draped sashes
look best ON youthful figures, and folded
belts crossed in front are most becoming
to slender shapes. Even plain dresses
may be converted INTO smart, stylish
toilets If the belt or sash and the collar
and bows are chosen to correspond aud
in good taste. New York Advertiser
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12

Very narrow plating is fayorite
dress trimming. A costume Of gray
eamel's hair Is made up in PLAIN prin-
cess fashion. The waist closes at one
side, and the skirt, waist and sleeves
are, as one enthusiastic young woman
expressed it, absolutely smothered IN
pinked out rutllcs Of iridescent tatlcta.
In addition to the plating these rutlios
are plated, then drawn out little to
make fans, which are laid so as to form
bands of trimming from shoulders to
waist line rs outlines for yokes and to
supply the place Of the almost collapsed
sleeves. One dress has an outlined yoke
of very narrow pinked and plated
ruffling. From the seams where the
sleeves are sewed in are similar ruffies
of varying widths, the lower one being
about IA inches wide and the upper one
not over inches wide. New York
Ledger
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12

Elegance is reached in the Holland
tea table, its standa:1 richly carved in
mahogany or antique oak and inlaid
with medallions in delft The top is n
movable tray III the beautiful china
mounted III brass with heavily chased
handles of the metal at either end. a
complete tea service of delft accompanies
it, making it IL drawing room appoint
ment OF great beauty and expense. The
well informed hostess although delight
ed in its possession will not claim for
it genuinencSs, knowing that the lovely
blue china now such craze is but IA
close imitation. Only enc perfect service
of real old Holland delft is owned in
this country, and that descended from
Dutch ancestors and is SO valuable as to
be without fixed price Philadelphia
Ledger
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12
A PECULIAR BUSINESS.
Breeding and Catching Ieeehes For I'll
New YORK Market.

New York Market.
James Partit and his children earn
all the money they make raising leech-
es, for the work Of moediug the blood
suckers on The Fmtt farm ON Toms
river. near Lacy. \ D., is nothing com
pared with the labor ut catching them.
The wary leeeh Will take hold Of nothing
but human flesh, 81 the members of the
Partit family, big and httle plunge
their legs into thu swamp and draw
them up presently with the prey at
taehed.
Farmer Partit doe>n seem to think
little blood letting hurts one.
They are as good as dose of spring
physic, " says he. "Why, me and the
boys get so fat and healthy doing nothing
all winter that we need something like
this to keep us in order If we tished
too long at time, they might do some
harm, but we know when To stop. Aft
er the season is over we feel fresher and
better than if we hahn been leechine.
They are just like mosquitoes-thcy
suck out all the bad blood and leave
the good and that $ why, suppose, we
leel so gooa after Il nHith work III the
swamp / thlhk W. an have malaria
do"ll III 'hls Wet Pl"'' II IL WASH I Tor
'ae Ioo'l'es, ~ ii' man '"UIu "aae through
soeh liluohoie IL ~ u' Ee'dae malaria
unless Sohl'ihihs III Ip'o nm.
his farm yleias '"o'oo0 Ieeehes il
year ana 'he pfie' i> w OF 81 cents Tor
lVV, GIVING an aililu"i income q . oUu
10 lIlo Ialhiiy. Inc "'"lN'l Is NeW ofN
OF ihllaoelphia' Ni'''' me leeelles are
ola'Ilnu'ea 10 Tue trace.
nan Il century aEo lulS Would nave
peen ii great ouslii's', nut the heile1 III
1eci'oS HAS i'.iisli "'l III ms country
Europe eiiiifs To me pfaetee' ana faIl'
consumes d ooo'o0" Ieeehes yearly
WnlIe LONDON mas use Lon over aooo'
ooQ year.
James Faftlt or ms Joys When Wad-
my ulS'oVefea inc presence oil ne le'ch-
rs III MS s"ai1ps. ne looked up the SUD
JecO ana deciaea 'Iia' ne would supply
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12
CHlLDREN'S QUESTIONS.


They Suggest the Ccaseless Activity of the
Youthful Minds.
Many Of his questions cannot be con-
nected with his reading, but appear To
result from reasoning or recognized
analogy. How do plants make them
selves bigger when they grow" he ask
ed when we were talking about plant
ing his garden. | heard him saying to
himself, "Wildless, wildless. asked
him what he was talking about and he
replied: about plants that are not
wild. What are they called" Garden
or cultivated plants, " | answered.
What made you say Wildless?'
"Why said he, 4 knew that harm
less means something that wopldn' { do
any ham, and so wildless means plants
that are not wild. He mentioned the
fall, and asked hIm what lie meant by
fall. He replied: "The winter at first !;
the first of it. Do they call it fall be-
cause everything is falling
There Wis some talk about dressing
him or putting on his dress, and, rea
soning from analogy, he asked, "When
God puts the skin on people, is that
SHINING them? | once read of the
people in the moon being like grasshop-
pers and told him about 1t. When | had
finished the story, he said; "When we
look up i'll the sky, we see the moon
rolling on above us, and when the PEG
pie i'll the moon look up i'll the sky they
see the earth rolling along above them.
What is the strange puzzle about that
] told him that his specimen of mica
was silicate of potash, ana he asked i:
"Why is mica siicate of potash-be
cause they put ashes i'll pot
These questions have been recorded
to represent an innumerable number I'M
recorded and to show the wide range of
thought and the variety of reasonings
that "A child under 6 years of age may
have. They show his natural method of
acquiring knowledge. but they can on
ly suggest the ceaseless activity OF his
mind during all his waking hours. =
Henry L. Clapp in Popular Science
Monthly
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12
THE OPPORTUNITY CAME.
And Then He Waved ola Glory to- His
Hearts Content.

And Then He Waved old Glory to His
Hearts Content.
Two prominent Cleveland men went
abroad last summer, and one Of them
took with him miniature regulation
flag, It was the haudivork of IA neigh
Dor, a lady, and its dainty silken folds
were attached 10 gildcd staff.
Take good care of it, ~ said the fair
flagmaker, for it means protection,
you know, and when the opportunity
comes wave it for all it is worth.
Well, the opportunity didn't come for
several weeks, but all that time the lit
tie flag was within easy reaching dis
lance AT last, when the tourists came
to Frankfort -on-the Main, they were in.
vited to dinner by an American resi-
dent, and around his hospitable table
they glowed over the glories of Column
bias land until our pilgrims felt fairly
homesick.
~ made up my mind right then, !"
said the flag bearer, that Old Glory
would have to wave on some pretext
that day, even if / had to stand out in
the street and cheer for it alone -
Well, after the dinner they went out
to hear the band play, and then a wild
idea occurred to the man with the flag.
He stationed himself to one side, where
he could catch the conductor eye, and
there he waited. Pretty soon the band
master looked squarely at him, and then
out came the stars and stripes with an
eloquent flourish. The leader was Sc
we're looking man, with stiff gray
mustache and very tight uniform, but
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12

- -
of beef and pork at Troy, y. Y, abou
1872. A contractor, Ebert Anderson,
purchased Il quantity Of provisions, and
the barrels We're marked Il. a - An
dorson's initials, and u. - for
United States. The latter initials were
not familiar 10 Wilson = workmen, who
inquired what they meant \ facetious
fellow answered, Il don't lnow, unless
they mean Uncle Sam. - a vast
amount Of properly afterward passed
through Wilson's hands marked III the
same manner, and hc was often joked
upon the extent OF has possessions The
joke spread through all the departments
OF the government, and before long the
United States was popularity referred to
as Uncle sam. Ladies' Home journal.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12
MUTUAL LIES share above Co. Is o gs55
". FITZPATRICK General Agent, Portland, Me-
t3o W. WILDEs, Agent, skowhegan, Me
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE.

Whereas Slas /. Haford Of Fmbden, by
his mortgage deco, dated the third day Of
August, lSSt, and recorded in the Somerset
Registry of Deeds, book 10, page IL. convey
ed To me, the undersigned, certain real estate
situate in Embden, in the county OF Somerset.
and bounded As follows beginning At she
end of the stone wall at the northeast corner
Of what was formerly called John Berry's
F1eld;" thence north on the old road to
HaWes's south line; thence west furtv-siN
rods to a hemloek tree marked thence south
two and half degrees west to a small maple
tree marked thence on the lot line to the
first mentioned bound. together with a right
Of way from the northeast corner Of said
land to the county road running northeriy
from the ~olon and Embdeu fer-y and where
as the condition of said mortgage has been
hrok ken, now therefore, by reason 4 the
foreclosure Of said mortgage ard give this
notice for thar purpose. Sv4
Dated the twenty ninth day Of Oct. Isso.
JOHN NUITIS6
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12
GETTING PATENTS.
The Discovcrers Are Not Usually the Ones
to Reap the Reward.


to Reap the Reward.
If you lock back ON the history of hui
man progress, you Will find that mono OF
the great epoch making inventions has
ever been patented. The man who lit
the first whether Prometheus or
the party from whom he stole the idea
did not get Il patent for IT. Neither
did the man who made the first wheel,
in every sense one Of the most revo-
lutionary inventions i'll the history Of
man. The same thing may be said Of
the invention Of soap, candles, gun pow
der, umbrellas and the mariners com
pass, or to come down to our OWL day,
of the steam engine and the electric telc-
graph.
Patents are mostly concerned with
small mechanical details and improve
ments--it may be in the application of
steam and electricity-and by means of
these patents enormous profits have been
secured to second rate inventors, but the
great ideas and discoveries which un-
derlie these "details have been gwen TO
the world gratis.
lhCre IS Il general notion that II you
did not protect inventions by means Of
patents inventors would cease 10 invent
and material progress would come 70 .
standstill. But history does not bear this
out i'll the least Men with great me
chanical gifts do net exercise them sole
ly with "a view To commercial profit any
more than astronomers search the hcav-
ems for new worlds with an eye to regis
tering patents aud floating companies
ON the results of their discoveries. Lon
don Truth
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12

Mrs. Chafiie-I don't know how l
can get Johnnie to take his medicine,
If tell him what it is, he won't take
it, and if l don't tell hin be won t
take it.
Mr.. Chalfe-I'll tell you what to do.
Just put it on the table and forbid him
to touch it, aid then he will take it
sure. London Tit Bits.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12
How Uncle sam Got His Name.

The nickname Uncle Sam, as APP
piled to the United States government,
is said to have originated AS follows:
Samuel Wilson, commonly called I'm
Gle Sam, was a government inspector
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12

In early French cards the kings We're
named David Alexander, Caesar and
Charlemagne, representing the mon.
archs of the Jews, Greeks, Romans and
French
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12

The following Preliminary Report
Department of Maine, February
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-11-12
S8.7IO.35O

Premiums Received Insurance in force
i'm 1895. Dec. LIST. 1895.
The herald., 1896-11-22
GREEN ROOM GOSSIP.

Fanny Davenport insists that theatre
dressmakers are the historians of our
day.
Gerald Du Maurer, son of the late
author of "Trilby," will be a member
of II. Beerbohm Trees company during
his coming American tour.
w. H. Bachelor calls attention to the
fact that there is no mention in the Bible
of any of the principals in the Celestial
Choir. ut may be REASONABLE infer
red" adds Francis Wilson's musical
director that all the prima donnas
who manage to get to heaven will have
to fill the positions OF chorus girls
Adelaide Hermann has hit upon
colors for her new dances. She puts
great faith in tints of violet alone or
combined with white and green. They
make some of the most beautiful blend
ings that have ever been produced by
the wonderful lights that shine on the
mysterious dances of Nine. Hermann
Speaking of actors and actresses Jes-
sic Bartlett Davis said recently: Il
shall never forget the first time saw
Bernhardt. 1t was in Chicago, and I
never could imagine what was the mat
ter with me. | began to cry when
bought my ticket and never stopped un-
til the curtain Went down at the end of
the performance / have never since
enjoyed anything so much.
In the dramatization of Gilbert Park
ers popular romance. The Seats of the
Mighty, which H. Beerbohm Tree will
The herald., 1896-11-22

/ business could be transacted in few
minutes and at a cost of about 25 cents,
which now takes several days time and
at cost of good many dollars.
George Wheatey left Tucson for Mann
moth Thursday afternoon, taking out
six men. to commence further develop
ment work on the Red Hill group of gold
mines. consisting of four claims, ad-
joining the Mammoth and Mohawk
groups, which are so well known. The
Red Hill group has been owned for some
time by Edward Rochester and Wheat
ley. Recently the National Development
and Mining company of Los Angeles has
become Interested in the properties, ana
extensive development work on the
claims is proposed The surface indca-
tons are very promising. DR.. N. Fl.
Matas of Tucson owns claim adjoining
the Red Hill group.
Jay Dewey, one of the most prominent
young business men of Phoenix, died at
9 o'clock Wednesday morning, after be-
ing a week in bed. Mr.. Dewey has long
been a sufferer from consumption, and
for the past few months has beenfailins
rapidly. Deceased for eight years has
been in the employ of the Talbot & Huh
bard Hardware company, and was held
in high esteem by his employers as Il
faithful worker and by his fellow clerks
as an obliging and agreeable young man.
Mr.. Dewey was 2S years of age, and
was born in Virginia. He leaves wild
ow.
wood contractor at Chapparal, shot and
killed a Mexican at his saloon last night,
says the Phoenix Herald. He came to
Prescott and surrendered to the sheriff
about o'clock this morning. The par
ticulars of the shooting, as told by the
Journal Miner, are substantially as fol-
lows: MeXicanS have recently been in
dulging in the pastime of shooting out
the lights in his saloon at night, always
selecting a time for 1t when he was alb
sent. Last night shot was fired. and
just afterward Mr.. Hughes entered the
saloon and asked who didit. A Mexican
replied that it was he, when Hughes re-
marked, THAT is all right" He then
went to his house and secured a gun,
and Just as he entered the saloon the
Mexican backed up against the wall and
pulled a siX-shooter. when Hughes
turned loose both barrels of his shotgun,
killing the Mexican instantly.
An Indian mummy has been found in
Arizona, near Prescott, that is believed
to have once been one of the great men
of the AZtecs. 1t was found by John
F. Blundy, who communicated the facts
to George Kunz, the New York dia-
mond expert, says the Chicago News.
Beside the mummy was a basket filled
with half peck of torquoises. With the
AztecS green was sacred stone, and
wealth was gauged generally by the
number of green stones the person own
ed. Every mans treasure in those days
was buried with his bones, and neglect
to do this was regarded as highly sac
rilegious. For the nourishment of the
added.
The torquoises Mr.. Bundy found were
in the form of beads These the Aztecs
The herald., 1896-11-22

produce at the Knickerbocker theater in
New York later in the season, many lib
critics have been taken with the original
New scenes have been introduced and
scenes transposed. A picturesque feat
ure of act Ill will be a dance. Mr.. Tree
will also have The Dancing Girl in his
repertoire.
List and Rubini once gave a con-
cert in q little French town in the pres
ence of only fifty people. including one
lady" said w, II. Bachelor recently.
I'm spite of the small number the mu-
sicians surpassed themselves. Then
Liszt addressed the assembly: Mad
anne and gentlemen, | think you have
had enough music. VIII you do us the
honor to sup with us?' Supper cost
NEARLY $3.50. but the advertisement paid.
as the next evening the hall was filled"
Edwin Booth is said to be responsible
for James O'Neill's temperance in
tragical and classical roles. Just before
his death Mr. Booth wrote letter to
Mr.. O'Neill, saying: MY Dear Jim
Why don't you abandon Monte Cristo
and return to the parts which you
played with such great success when a
member of my company. | am sure that
now Barrett is dead and have retired
for good. there is no other actor in
America today who is as worthy of play
ing Shakespearean roles as you"
Lillian Russell was born at Clinton.
Iowa. when her father was the editor Of
the Weekly Herald, a starving journal
istic enterprise that barely earned a
modest subsistence for the struggling
father and husband. This interesting
advent of the now famous beauty oc-
Cured in December, 1861, and within re-
cent years facetious bographer of the
comic opera divinity remarked that her
first press notice was couched in these
comprehensive terms: Born, to Mr.. ani
Mrs. Charles E. Leonard. at their home
in Fourth avenue, December 4, 1861. a
bright baby girl, Weighing nine and one
half pounds
"All the members of the Booth family
were excellent fencers" declares Thom-
as W. Keene, but Edwin was never
known to lose himself in the heat of
stage conflict, as his father did. 1t is
one of the traditions of a San Francisco
theater that the elder Booth. while play-
ing Richard Ill, backed his Richmond
quite over the footlights and into the