The Republican journal., 1899-04-20
The News OF Brooks.

| Mrs T. l. Huxford is in Portland for a
few days.
c. F. Bessey is in Massachusetts this
| week on a business trip.
| Miss Grace Dow began school in the Lit
tletield district last week.
Fred Smith and Charley Bessey went to
Boston Monday in search of employment
Mrs Huldah Wiggin of Knox was severe
| ly injured by fall last Friday. She step
ped on a loose plank in the cellar and fell
heavily, the shock producing symptoms of
partial paralysis, which it is hoped will be
only temporary.
Brooks Lodge Is again for the third year
the banner lodge of the State. 1t is remark
able to say the least, that this small coun-
try village should maintain year after year
the largest and probably the most interest
ing lodge in the State, and it might be worth
while for the grand officers to study the
methods by which this result has been at
| tanned. Quite a number of causes might be
mentioned which have contributed to this
result but without doubt the principal one
is the talent ana energy of the ladies of the
lodge, who have maintained the entertain
ments at a high level and never allowed
them to degenerate into buffoonery on the
one hand or indiscrimnate "speaking
pieces" on the other.
! The Brooks delegation to the Grand Lodge
of Good Templars at Lewiston report that
| the proceedings We're by no means dull and
| they were rather grieved at the defeat of
| Geo. f. Bracket for Grand Secretary. In
the Lodge are many members who nave be-
| longed to the order Tor many years and who
| regard Mr. Bracket as connecting link
with the earlier and more prosperous days
of the order On the delegation was Past
Grand Chief TempIar NJ, j. Dow and
James B. McTaggatt, we'll known Good
| Templar and ardent worker in the cause.
Both are enthusiastic personal friends of
! Ex-Grand Secretary and worked earnestly
IN his behalf There is an impression,
whether right or wrong, that the Grand
Lodge has very greatly deteriorated since it
numbered among its leading men Dingley
and Perham, both Governors of Maine, and a
| host of others of character and influence and
that the decline of the order in numbers is
partially, at least to lie attributed to this
fact.
Daniel Diekey has received of Capt, Geo.
! Dudley Of Winterport spoon by which he
sets great store, and this particular spoon
has a history. 1t began away back in 1862,
when a small army OF boys in blue were try
/ ing with might and main 10 keep a foothold
/ for the Stars and Stripes in Louisiana.
/ Daniel was then member Of Co. D, 26th
! Ne Regiment, and Geo. Dudley was captain
OF ms company, One day after a little forag-
/ ing expedition Daniel was in possession of
/ three ducks and he cooked one for Capt.
/ Dudley, who remarked that he would like
to eat some Of the gravy, but hadn't any
/ spoon The uext day was the day of the
! battle of Irish Bend and they Were near a
| large plantations Daniel and perhaps others
! went into the house in search of food, which
/ at that time was at premium. He found no
food, but the spoon holder and thought
at once OF the captains wish, so took three
! of them and placed them in his haversack
| When he returned to the regiment the
| fight was on and the boys were falling into
line. He remarked to the captain that lie
! had got his spoon and would give it to him
| then, as it was uncertain when he would
have another opportunity. Last month he
received letter from Captain Dudley. writ
ten by his nurse, say ing that he was in very
poor health aud that be wished to he sure
that comrade Dickey should have the spoon
and so sent 1t to him, also recalling the fact
! that it given him on the field Of battle
and that he HAD kept it all these years a. A
memento of army days. 1t used to be a
/ favorlte fling at the late General Butler
| that he stole about all the spoons belonging
| the anti expansion party Of Louisiana. but
Daniel thinks that possibly he was not re-
sponsible for all that We're missing.