The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-05-06
Too Many Apples.

Garden of Eden, when Adam ate that pip
pin and shirked the responsibility onto
mother Eve, the apple has been source of
dlscord as we'll as pleasure; and it is a
mooted question in the minds of many
whether or not it has not been Ito use a
chestnutty expression) more plague than
proht. We read in ancient mythology of
the apple of Sodom which was very beau
tlful to look upon while on the tree but
as soon as plucked turned to ashes. We
also read of the apple of discord. a sub-
ject OF contention and envy, so called
from the NEUROLOGICAL golden apple that
Eris, goddess of discord, threw among the
assembled gods, first inscribing upon it
"To the fairest." 1t was contended for
by Juno, goddess of marriage and Queen of
Heaven; Minerva, queen of war. arts, etc.
and Venus, queen of love, and after much
hair pulling Venus won. Then again we
have the garden of the Hesperides, the
Old maid daughters of Hesperus, god of
night. In this garden were trees bearing
oFPiS' Va SoiNt oul llIG tUjIduC6 was
guarded by a big dragon. 1t was great
part of the labors of Hercules to find
this wonderful garden, strike down the
guard and steal the apples. And again
there was the Dead Sea apple, fair to look
at, but oh, so bitter and puckery. 1t is
quite common expression to speak of
the Dead Sea apple of politics. Those
who taste it land they are many) have a
twisted and distorted face Some of the
would be post masters will get good
bite.
Leaving ancient mythology and coming
down to modern facts, the first criminal
action brought in what is now the city of
Belfast-perhaps the first in Waldo coun-
Twas through the influence of the APP
pie and the woman Among the first set
tiers Of Belfast was one DR.. Croker, who
settled on the East Side, near what is
known as the Steele place, between Belfast
and Searsport He brought apple seeds
with him and planted an orchard When
the war of the Revolution came on the
settlers had to leave. On their return
after the war the doctor found quite an
orchard in bearing condition, and this was
the only orchard in town. The apples
were stolen by the settlers. The doctor
learned that highly respected young
lady of the vicinity, named Clark, was one
of those who partook of the forbidden
fruit. He obtained warrant for her and
Many amusing Incidents were developed
at the trial. Though there was strong
circumstantial evidence against the ac-
cused. the justice did not think them
strong enough for conviction and she was
acquitted.
For the past forty years the people in
this vicinity have thought thai in an APP
pie orchard lay their bonanza, and to
bring about this desired result they have
worked and sweated and sworn. Their
trees have been bored by the apple
tree borer, and they have been bored by
the apple tree agent. Apple orchards
multiplied everywhere, until last year we
We're deluged with apples. To-day ap
pies are like the frogs of Egypt, to be
found on every mans door step, and al
most everywhere else. The highest price
paid here was sixty cents per barrel
Many have made shipments and received
much less, none more. One man sold
hundred barrels of fine baldvins, barrels
and all, for 81 less than the price of the
barrels. All who can are giving away APP
pies, but there are no takers. You can
not insult the small boy more than by
offering him apples. The cider mills
have been in operation for the past three
weeks and every BARREL key and jug, and
nearly every man, woman and child, is
full of new cider. And vet many of the
cellars are half full Of apples. 1t is esti-
mated that there are 1000 barrels within
three miles of this village.
1t has been fully demonstrated to the peo-
pie that next to a famine, surplus is the
worst thing to be dreaded by the farmer
But amid Affections there are mercies.
Those of us who have fed apples to stock
have had fine results. There were never
so many fat hogs in this vicinity as now,
and most of them were wintered entirely
on apples. | have fed peck day to
each of my horses, with a little grain, and
they are looking fine. DR.. Clough, my
neighbor, has fed half bushel each to
his horses, with no grain, and he has
stable full of as fat horses as can be found
in Waldo county. He has also fed new
milch COW on them and she is looking fine.
have taken milk from him all winter,
and better favored milk never tasted.
In conclusion l would say that l am not
a believer in the power and efficacy of
prayer. Neither am l a disbeliever. l
am simply an unbeliever. To that extent
l am an agnostic. But to those who do
believe, and do pray, 1 would suggest
this amendment: When you are praying
for good crops leave out the word abund-
ant, and use in its place the word sutfi-
cient. The word abundance means an
overplus; sufficiency means just enough
70 cnnnlv III re and