davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
Death of rlrs. Taggart.

Maria M. Beard, widow of Isaac Tag
CART of Rochester, died at her home or
Webster street, Thursday, August IA, at
the age of u years. She had been a
chronic invalid for many years, and after
the death Of her husband, two wears
since, she came to st. Johnsbury to re.
side, where she could have the tender
care OF her adopted daughter, Mrs. S. H.
Sparhawk.
The following tribute was paid to her
at the proceedings of the Seventy Club,
Saturday, elsewhere reported: "Mrs.
Taggart, who was our youngest mem.
Der, passed away very suddenly at her
home Thursday morning. 1 think we
must all remember the pleasant manner
In which we were entertained at her
nome IN commemoration of her seven
tleth birthday, at which time she united
with our organization. Owing to very
trail health She was able to meet with us
but few times, but often spoke of the
enjoyment"
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
A NOTABLE OCCASION.
CONTINUED from first page.1

happy, thereby carrying out the princi-
pies embraced in the golden rule.
Our guests may wonder how Bowman
got there. At first did myself, but as
many a man is indebted to his wife for
good thing so am permitted to enjoy
this privilege because my wife was the
only member who had husband.
Some may think because of their age
the Seventy Club are sober, and sedate,
with gloomy faces, and unsocial, but no
greater mistake could be made. They
are on the sunshiny side Of life, and when
they meet are as happy and social as
bevy of 16-year-old school girls. They
welcome old age as blessing which has
three elements-a happy retrospect,
peaceful present and an inspiring future.
They look upon death as the open gate
way to higher holier and happier life.
Sometimes when l look overin memory
my early boyhood days can sympa-
thize somewhat with DR.. Holmes when
he says:
80 for one hour of youthful joy!
Give back my twentieth Spring,
I'd rather laugh bright haired boy
Than reign gray beard king"
But DR.. Holmes never belonged to
Seventy Club.
Invited Guests, Friends and Neighbors:
We rejoice that so many of you have re-
sponded to our invitation to be present
on this occasion. Our hearts were big
enough to embrace and welcome the
whole town but our arms are too short
and we have to be satisfied as it is. We
thank you for your presence and trust
you will not consider fourscore years as
too old to enjoy life and friends. While
we may call ourselves old we can truly
say:
"There is no friend like the old friend
Who has shared our morning days;
No greeting like his welcome,
No homage like his praise"
Major Bowman then introduced the
guests to the club and short addresses
were made by Rev. DR.. Edward 7. Fair
banks, Capt. E. L. Hovey, ex-senator
Ross, Rev. A. c. Hussey, Arthur F. Stone
and Judge Wendell P. Stafford. All con-
graduated the Major and his wife upon
the day and wished them many more
happy days. Each of the speakers paid
a deserved tribute to the remarkable
club who were the especial guests of the
occasion, Capt. Hovey spoke upon the
battle of Bennington aud its significance
in the history of the United States; Judge
Ross spoke of the sturdy manhood and
womanhood of earlier days and Judge
Stafford recited the poem of Whittier S
"io all ye Vermonters." Miss Ethel
Abbott favored the audience with several
solos and ali present joined in singing
AUD Lang Syne."
After an hour of speechmaking the
guests were invited into the dining room
where an excellent supper was served by
the Womans Relief Corps.
An event not down on the program
was the presentation to Mrs. Bowman
of a Woman's Relief Corps gold badge.
The presentation was made by Mrs. E.
L. Hovey on behalf of the Corps of which
Mrs. Bowman has so long been an active
member. Mrs. Bowman was taken
by surprise at the gift and the Major
promptly thanked the ladies on behalf
of his wife for their gift.
The CALIFORNIAN joins with host Of
friends here and elsewhere in wishing
Major and Mrs. Bowman many years of
health and happiness together.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20

When it was formed the quartet of must
clans met regularly in the library of Mr..
Ranson's home. He converted large
bay window into bands and while his
wife, who is an artist, took possession Of
the room above and transformed it into
studio.
Thus art in divers forms threatened to
overwhelm domesticitv as the size of the
orchestra constantly increased. Finally
Mr.. Ransom hit upon the scheme of
building the opera house. The plan was
laid before |. W. Kelley, an architect,
who drew the plans, making the stage
- feet by - inside the curtain line and
wings, including apron and wings it is
14x2O. Mrs. Ransom designed the pros
cenium arch.
Across the front of the stage under the
lootights is painted a staff of music
with the notes to Aud Lang Syne."
The first concert was given by the orches-
ira this week Miss Mabel Goodwin
soprano, OF the American conservatory,
and Miss Emma Hayden, contralto, of
Milwaukee, assisted.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
At SummerVille.

Charles E. Gil6llan is at his home here.
James S. Weeks suffered the loss OF
mileage by the recent robbery OF the
post office at Walpole, n. H.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. J. Burdick, OF Leba-
non, N. H., are visiting his mother here.
Herbert F. GaskiIl played with the
Lyndonville Band on their Lake Mem
phremagog excursion last night,
Mrs. A, D. True is visiting friends at
Walpole, N. H.
Goldie Mabel the five III onths old
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Silver
died Friday morning and the funeral was
held Saturday, Rev. Edward 7. Fair
banks officiating.
Mr.. and Mrs. W. D. Pearlreturned Fri
day from a vacation spent at Lunen'
burg
Mrs. F. F. Stacy of Boston is a guest
at L. H. Farnham's.
Mr.. and Mrs. George Gibbons were
called to Shefford, Canada, Monday by
the death of her father.
!. w. Scott has returned from Column
bia, n. H., and Mrs. Scott and daughter
are making a more extended visit there
Miss Freda Goodrich returned yester-
das from on outing at Old Orchard.
Mrs. M. J. Caldbeck returned Monday
from a three weeks stay at Lake VII
loughby, and in company with her
daughter Lizzie will leave tomorrow for
few weeks visit to friends in Danvllle,
Que.
E. c. Chandler, teller of the Merchants
National Bank, is able to be out after
light run OF the fever.
Mr.. and Mrs. r. D. Sherry of Gtoton
are visiting at Charles Ross.
Norman Jay has closed his engagement
with J. A. Morrow, and is working Tor
Z. l.. Hovey.
Master Eric Drown, sonof Fred
Drown, fell from a wagon one day last
week and broke both bones of his arm
Mr.. and Mrs. James E. Baker visited
at H. c. Bonds last week.
Miss Lulu TAFT from North Carolina
is at Roy Taft's, where she will make Del
home for time.
Mrs. ]. B. Mattocks, who has been
visiting at James S. Weeks has returned
from short time spent in Burlington
andgoes back to Danville today.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20

Two base hits, Webster. Thompson, Sault
bases on called balls, off Hall 6, off Patch l !;
struck out, by Hall 8. by Patch s.
Time of game. hour and 80 minutes.
Umpire, Brown.
The home team will play three games
this week. The first game with New.
port for many years will be played on
the campus tomorrow at $50. Friday
the team will play WoodsviIle at Woods
vile, and Saturday another game with
Woodsvlle will be played here at 3.45
Manager Rickaby has issued tickets for
use during the remainder OF the season
and they are being sold by various
parties and the method should increase
the attendance at the games.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
Cold Wave inthe Mountains.

The cool wave which struck this Vi
entity last week Tuesday night made the
summit of Mt. Washington a wintry
place. Early in the morning the tenn.
perature was at % and the summit was
coated with sleet and ice. a strong
west wind was blowing and winter
wearing apparel was at a premium. A
st. Johnsbury party spent the same
night on Moosiauke and found the mer-
curry well below the freezing point.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20

Two Base Hits Higgins, Bases on Balls
off Guild 8, off Patch 8 t; Double Plays, Mutt.
ing, Suitor. Thompson, Aldrich Hit by pitch.
ed ball, Higgins (2J, Struck out by Patch
IS. by Guild 8. Time of game 2 hrs umpire
Smith.
The game here Saturday was witnessed
by the largest crowd of the season, and
there was some excellent playing. For
the visitors, Everest did some excellent
fielding and the cool, clever work of
Patch in the box made him many admir-.
ers. Heath, favorite player of other
years, was fully up to his old.time excel.
lence, and did some high grade batting.
Webster also did some good work al the
bat for the home team. Following is the
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
Annual Fair, Bradford, Vt.

The Bradford Fair at Bradford, Vt,
takes place this year on August 26, 81
and 2Sth. The usual good time with
additional attractions and amusements
can be enjoyed, and the low rates offered
by the Boston & Maine railroad will
give large number good opportunity
to witness one of Vermont's most impor-
tant tall fairs.
Don't miss it See Boston & Maine
posters advertising rates, etc.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
RESIDENCE AND THEATRE
A UNIQUE OPERA HOUSE.
The Smallest One in the World Built
Inv IN Rf Unhushurv NBun


by IA st. JOhnsbury Man.
7. w. Ransom OF Ravenswood, Ill.,, a
former St. Johnsbury manufacturer, has
just completed the smallest opera house
in the world and we are sure our readers
will be glad to know more about it and
see how it looks. At the opening night
more than one-ffth of the first audience
were Vermonters, several of them being
well-known St. Johnsbury people. The
Vermonters present were DR.. William {.
Abbott and wife, Luther Abbott Prof.
William T. Rocheleau and wife, George
Rochcleau, AndrewG. Morse, Clinton M.
Cheney and wife, Mrs. Henry Goodwin,
Mabel E. Goodwin, Karl H. Goodwin,
w. H. Hayden, Mrs. L. M. Ravenscroft,
Mss Abbie J. Jones, Miss Fannie Laid,
Mr., and Mrs. Shirley Estabrook and the
Ransons.
The staff with notes Of "Auld Lang
Syne," borrowed from Music Hall, St.
Johnsbury, seems especially appropriate
in building built for ones friends and
not for profit. Our illustrations show
theexterior and interior and the building
as seen from the street, with Mr.. Ran
sons house in the foreground The fol-
lowing description of the unique struc-
ture is from the Chicago Daily News:
What is said to be the smallest opera
house in the United States has just been
completed in the backyard OF a Ravens
wood citizen. "Ransonian opera house"
is the name of the miniature playhouse,
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
Carrie Nation Coming.

The directors of the Caledonia county
fair have engaged Mrs. Carrie Nation of
Kansas to speak on the first day of the
fair Sept. 16. Several good races will
be scheduled for that day and the com.
pany intend to give the people of this
vicinity three good days of fair. Mrs.
Nation will speak on the suggestive
theme, "Why | Smashed"
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20

There will be no effort to remove the
Windham county seat from Newfane to
Brattleboro during the coming session of
tue Vermont Legislature, the promoters
OF the movement announcing the with.
drawal OF the plan. This change was
made because there bad been an attempt
to make a political issue to further the
cause OF the democrats and boiling Repu.
bhcans who hoped by this means to
elect county senator. AS this is not
political matter the promoters of the
scheme thought in would be unwise to
allow it to be treated as such and have
formally announced that no attempt
would be made to have the county seat
moved.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
Church Notes.

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Odd
Fellows block, Sunday morning service
at 1915. Subject, "Christ Jesus" Sun
day school following the morning service.
Wednesday evening meeting at 7 80 The
reading room is open on Wednesday
and Thursday from to 5.
At the morning service in the Advent
Christian church next Sunday, the pas
tors subject will be, Thoughts On the
Resurrection of Christ" At $50 the
evening service will consist of praise,
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20

News from London says that Rev. r.
W. Gunsaulus of the Central Church o,
Chicago, who has been occupying the
pulpit of the City Temple during the
absence of DR.. Parker, has been ap'
preached with view of taking a Lon
don pastorate. which is believed to Dc D,
that OF the City Temple, as there is tax
Of DR.. Parker resigning that charge. Ut,
Gunsaulus says his friends and interests
are all in America. On the other bano,
London offers a great opportunity iio
continuing technical education similar
to that of the Chicago Institute OF Iecnff
nology. There is no organization Oh
that kind at present in London.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
GOLF TOURNAMENT.
Arthur d. sPrague Wins the Summer
Championship.


The gentlemen's tournament for the
summer championship has been finished,
with the result indicated below. The
prizes for the best qualifying score fell to
DR.. N. c. Stiles, whose record was SO for
the Is holes.
FIRST ROUND.
]. S. Ellis beat c. H. Dempsey by de-
fault.
E. A. SiIsby beat A. L. Farwell 7 up
and to play.
J. P. Richardson beat r. P. Clark 1 up,
]. H. Brooks beat X. H. Smith 8 up
and 6 to play.
N. c. Stiles beat Z. Il. Ross s up and
to play.
A. Borland beat f. N. Garter up and
2 to play.
F. II. Brooks beat II. w. Blodgett 4
up and to play.
A. 6. Spraguc beat G. Sanderson up
and 7 to play.
SECOND ROUND.
Silsby beat Ellis s up and 6 to play.
Richardson beat ]. H. Brooks 1 up
GO holes).
Borland beat Stiles up.
Sprague beat F. II. Books 4 up and
2 to play.
sENII-FINALS.
Richardson beat Silsby 2 up and 1 to
play.
Sprague beat Borland 5 up and 8 to
play.
FINALS.
Sprague beat Richardson, s up and 6
to play [36 holes.
The final match in the ladies' tourna-
ment is still unplayed.
1t was expected that team from the
Old Pine Club would play match with
the Lyndonvile Club last Saturday on
the links of the latter, but the Lyndon
vile Club was compelled to cancel the
engagement, and an impromptu team
match was played on the local links
between teams captained by Messrs.
Sprague and Richardson, resulting as
follows:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
Additional Locals.

L. +. Waite OF Winchendon, Mass, is
spending two weeks with his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. c. D. Waite.
Miss Isabel Perkins of New York, is
visiting her parents, DR.. and Mrs. J. l..
Perkins.
Carl C. Fletcher was the unanimous
cnoice OF Swanton republicans for town
representative at caucus held Monday
night, but he refused the nomination.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
TWO VICTORIES.
st. JOhnsbury wins two games
W0OdsviIIa

sIs JOhnsDWFy WIFE TWO games fron,
WOOdsViIIe.
The st. Johnsbury base ball team
struck a winning gait last week and
captured two games from Woodsville
The first was played at Woodsylle
Wednesday, where the score was 9 to :
In this game Patch for St. Johnsburv
struck out IS men. The record of the
game follows.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20

During this match the course record
for nine holes was lowered from ~ to Al
by Mr.. Sprague.
The Washington times., 1902-02-02

adapted for rough weather. In the old
piratical days they have even swooped
down on Manila, hundreds of miles from
their own homes. in great iiotillas of tiny
boats They make war on each others
islands many leagues apart, and 1t is
a common thing for natives of Mndanao
to visit tribes in TawiTawi, travelling,
not in one of the larger craft they build,
but in the tiny vinta, which is but eigh
teen inches wide and some fifteen feet in
length.
The PROV and stern OF their boats are
carved in an upward curve, sharp as a
knife edge beneath the water and sew
erai inches wide above. Upon this super
structure is bent a pair of side boards.
four to seven inches high, held in place
by countersunk wooden dovetails and
made watertight at the crack by caulk
ing. Light wooden crossties are then
placed at intervals throughout the boat
Just above the caulked line, and a thin
strip or ledge is pegged on both interior
sides OF the side boards at the same level;
platform OF loose light boards is laid
from side 10 side, the full length of the
canoe. upon which the paddlers and pas
sengers sit. This leaves the bottom Of
The Washington times., 1902-02-02

consider the frightful rib-crushing weight
fathoms deep.
Artistic but Squalid.
The Moro villages. built six to ten feet
above water, with their closely clustered
bamboo houses, whose high peaked
thatched roofs of golden grass reach far
over the encircling bamboo footways in
protecting shade, and the rickety narrow
! bridges which connect them with the
! mainland, are truly delightful as pictures
When the setting sun throws its blaze
OF colored light upon an ever-present
background Of nebulous clouds, and the
long shadows OF inverted houses and
graceful canoes, with Tapping, parti-
colored sails, softly undulate on a mot
tied, watery canvas of gorgeous hue one
is willing TO believe for the moment
even Venice holds nothing more beautiful
than this. When one comes into intimai e
contact with the occasional Moro village
built on land and sees the flth and
squalor-a street reeking with garbage
and foul odors, a poverty stricken people
wonderfully picturesque in their gay
colored garments. but reprisive In their
unwashed condition-estheticism under
goes revulsion.
Bandy-legs and Brilliant Clothing.
II is market day. maybe; sort of
peripatetic market day that wanders over
the island to different villages on Sc
lected days, and the narrow, crooked
street OF the village is thronged with
human Kaleidoscope of moving colors.
Bandy legged men, barefooted, but in
pants so tight that II is alleged their
garments are sewed into place and worn
until they drop off, strut confidently
through the throng; they are bare TO the
waist. or wear bob-tailed jackets, gap
ing in front and usually resplendent with
knob like buttons of silver or gold manu-
factured in China.
Around the waist they wear a many
twisted sash, through which is thrust
the pride of their hearts, and the equip
ment Of every man and boy above six
teen-a murderous bsrong, a veritable
meat chopper. or xig-zag bladed kris,
both Of finely tempered steel. with beau
The Washington times., 1902-02-02

are not success. except when running
dead before the wind and at such times
in stiff breeze. they travel at steamboat
speed.
Some more highly civilized people
either the Mohammedans or the Span
iards-gave to the Noros the idea of mailed
armor. for over the islands everywhere.
through the commercial stimulus OF
American relic seekers, the Moros are un-
earthing remarkable coats of mail. Some
are the typical suits of armor of the
middle centuries. made of heavy brass
plates. rectangular in shape. two bv three
inches. linked together by brass chains
These may or may not he the heirlooms
of centuries. but it is certain that the
still more marvellous creations made I'D
OF plates carved from the caribao horn
linked together with the same class of
copper links, and highly decorated with
silver trimmings. are of later date and
represent an evolution of their own. Now
and then an old metal cuirass comes to
light, bearing unmistakahIe evidence of
antiquity, but their accompaniment-
the long, flexible, basket -hilted sword of
:he early Spanish expOrer-is missing. A
rational explanation might be that long
The Washington times., 1902-02-02

knives are manufactured. The primitive
bellows, whose steady draught keeps the
mountain made charcoal at a white heat.
is an effective mechanical device. 1t is
made by placing two sections of bamboo,
six feet long and four inches in diameter,
side by side uprightly, or the bamboos
may give way TO two followed logs. Pts
tons on light rods, with valves in them,
are alternately raised and lowered by Il
man squatted on his heels on a raised
platform. At the lower end OF each cylin-
der lead pipes converge to a pierced ball
of clay, and when the bellows are in oper-
alton a steady and powerful stream of
air pours through the outer orifice.
The grimy smith has not as many tools OF
the craft as are known to US but for all of
that he turns out well-tempered careful
Unfinished blades. decorated often, as in
the kris. with scrolled iron work near the
blade. Whether the remarkable fiuted
blades of Damascus steel have ever been
made in the islands cannot be determined.
as assertions are conflicting. and the
writer at least has seen no evidence to
make him believe they know the art OF
producing the ornamented striation of the
Damascus steel. though they are quite
equal to forging it into blades or into
position down the centre of way blades
from bar steel.
The smithy cleans his work. not with a
file. but with a sharp edged steel scrap
er fixed on handles like a drawknife,
which actually carries away thin shay
ings from a yet untempered blaze. Oil
temperins is well known to them; the
vegetable cocoanut oil which is used ear
boniZes strongly. and leaves the treated
surface very dark.
Most Daring NavigatorS.
The Moros are reputed to be the most
daring navigatoTs of southern waters, and
their outrggered boats are marvelously
The Washington times., 1902-02-02
The Moro freeman usually the today.
the bondage really of vasslage where the slave part
the household sharing his pleasures and troubles alike,
but for all of that the proud
civilization. because hc does not abor

under the same thatched roof, are rather
the rule than the exception. The COM
mon people seldom have more than one
wife, as they are too poor to set up the
separate establishments demanded by the
law of the Moros.
II is no uncommon sight, however. TO
see among the datos and principal lead
ers a diversity in the ages OF the several
wives the last wife being, quite as a
matter of course, the youngest and most
beautiful. While the younger ones may
be the old mans darling" It is seldom
that the first wife loses her prestige as an
important active factor and adviser in her
titled husbands affairs.
Slave Girls Are the COnCubineS.
Concubinage on a large scale is only re-
sorted to by the Sultan and the impor-
tant chiefs and priests who are wealthy.
The concubines are always slave girls,
for the free woman must remain single or
marry. These slaves form the seraglio and
live together: ii is not the harem OF Tur-
key. where the women spend their lives
in abandoned idleness. guarded from the
rest of the world by eunuchs, but a
household where they are free to come
and 90 as they please. mixing with the
rest of the race in all work and festivi-
ties.
They spend much of their time doing
silk embroidery of rich and sometimes
startling colOrs, and In making new
clothes for themselves and their lord.
II is not intended to give the idea that
these harems are dreams of luxury, for
the Moros are very poor. and. unfor
tunately, not cleanly race. living hud
died together. and, awake or sleeping,
they wear the same clothing for weeks.
One wonders that epidemics are not more
prevalent. Perhaps partial explanation
of this and OF their rapid recovery from
the fearful knife wounds they are con-
stsntly inflicting on one another In feuds
and personal combat lies in their tee
totalism and non heating vegetable diet.
II concubine gives birth to a child
she Immediately becomes recognized as
the wife OF her master and her child is
legitimated. II this offspring should hap
pen to be the eldest male. then he is the
heir TO his fathers titles and possessions,
and every child born to royal Moro.