The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-05-21
''H0ULTON HORNET"
IS A MAINE STlNGER
IGNORANT SHOEMAKER VICIOUS
UNITED OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES GRAM


According to reports that come from
Just bit too deep. The authorities are
talking of indicting the Houlton Hornet
at the approaching Penobscot assizes.
If the inner nature of the Hornet estab-
lishment comes out at the time of the
trial there will be some interesting de-
velopments.
A few years ago a tall. gray ana
grizzled old cobbler named Davis, who
lived by himself and pegged shoes in
Houlton almost directly opposite the law
office of Llewellyn Powers, decided that
he had a call to be an editor. He couldn't
spell, he couldn't compose very well, but
he could think Of lot of bitter things
that he wanted to say about certain
people.
He bought somewhere an old Wash.
ington hand press of about the same
model that Ben Franklin is represented
as operating in the familiar old-time
cuts. He got a job lot of type from
somewhere, and in his odd moments
commenced to teach himself how to stick
it, He wouldn't humor any one to ;bsk
them for instruction. Besides, he kept
the press and equipments hidden in his
dingy back shop. He didn't propose to
allow folks to know at first from what
source the Hornet issued to buzz in the
ears of the populace.
In week he had several fonts of type
all mixed together, but that didn't bother
him particle. He kept right on just the
same. He said he didn't care how the
Hornet looked geographically, so long
as the reading was there.
The first issue of the little folio made
a great sensation in Aroostook county.
He attacked most of those in high places,
and attacked them with the most out
rageous frankness. The eccentricity Of
the makeup of the Hornet, its queer
jumbe of type, it's astonishing orthog
raphy and all the rest, made it a curl
osity, indeed. The cobbler sold so many
copies that he was delighted. He no
longer hid his new vocation.
He ran the Hornet as a side issue OF
his shoe pegging business. There was
no regular day of publication. He print
ed the paper as he was able. The second
number was more excoriating than the
first. He dug out the village scandals
and paraded them. He talked to officials
in the most direct and offensive fashion.
He pitched into his neighbor, Governor
Powers, with a sauciness that made
readers gasp for breath.
In the village Of Houlton there were
various suggestions as to what to do
with Cdbbler Davis and hi sHornet. Tar
and feathers and bonfires were discussed
with much interest, but it was finally
decided it would be best to do nothing
whatever. Too much attention would
be attracted to the Hornet by any dis
play of retaliation, and sympathy would
be aroused for the old man.
The wise men of Houlton and those
who were most venomously attacked
counselled prudence and forbearance
Therefore Cobbler Davis decided thai
people We're afraid of him, and 50 his
old Washington hand press tapped ane
groaned with more vigor still, as HI
worked in his back shop o'nights.
No person would compromise then.
selves sufficiently to sue him for hi
brazen libels-it would have amounted
to nothing. No public man wanted t.
confess that he cared for the attacks OF
even saw them. But the Hornets stingel
did smart
In thu second or third issue of the
Hornet appeared some verse correct ir
rhythm and spelling-verse that was evil
IDENTITY not written in The Hornet office
The verse was yet more bitter and sting
ing than the prose, for it exhibited brains
and much ingenuity in its satire. Folks
began to wonder who Cobbler Davis
an onymous assistant could be, and al
last most people decided in their own