Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-15

PASSPORT, some years ago, when a
worthy couple were presented with
twin boys, each of whom had num-
Der OF teeth when born, as many resi-
dents can affirm. and which their little
tombstone in the city cemetery also
confirms. bearing the following re-
markable inscription: Twins of Mr..
and Mrs. - born with teeth"
THE nail-keg politicians are busy"
writes a country correspondent. We
are accustomed to speak somewhat
lightly of "nail-keg politicians" but
we should not speak too slightingly of
the corner-grocery discussions. Their
influence does not stop with town, nor
even with State affairs. Many a man
who has risen to prominence in ma
tional affairs, and met and worsted
masters of Oratory in congressional
debate. learned his first lesson in DO
liticai debate in the country store. The
successful politician is not always the
man who studies the Congressional
Record and reads the heavy editorials
of party organs. but the one who
keeps his ear close to the key-hole of
the corner grocery Here's to the
''nail-keg politician"-long may he
live, and talk.
A Belfast man has a photograph of
a curious growth of trees. 1t is sit
uated on the east shore of Tilden's
Pond. Three yellow birch trees are
growing on pine stump. The tree,
which was about az feet in diameter,
is thought to have been cut down some
so years ago, leaving stump 3h feet
high. The seeds of the birch must
have lodged on this stump, and as
they grew they sent their roots down
it's sides to reach the ground. The
three trees are respectively 5, and
inches in diameter. The central one
is dead, and broken off about ten feet
from the stump. There are 30 roots,
varying from one-half to three and
One-half inches in diameter, encircling
the stump.
Prof. William Mcdonald, for seven
years at Bowdoin and now at Brown
University, is to publish 1.-THE Gov
eminent of Maine, it's History and Ad-
ministration," in the Mcmillan series
of handbOoks of American government
Prof. Mcdonald is thoroughly quail
fed for this work and the volume will
be a most valuable one. In it he will
aim to give clear and concise ac-
count of the history of Maine and a
systematic description of it's govern
ment and administration. Two chap
ters on The Province and District of
Maine" and The State of Maine
sketch the history of Maine from the
first English settlement to the present
time. The remainder of the work de- |
scribeS the State and local govern |
ment, the system of taxation, revenue |
and expenditure, education, the legal
system, etc. Having in mind the |
needs of students and teachers, the |
volume endeavorS, while avoiding I'M
due detail, to exhibit the practical |
workings of the State and local add |
ministrative system as it is found in |
operation today. Appendices contain |
important statistics, lists of State Of
ficers and significant extracts from
documents.
Editor Mann of the Lisbon Falls En- |
terprise, whose house was struck by
lightning three times within five min |
utes in the recent February thunder |
storm, has been asked if he didn't |
think his time had come when his |
home was SO thoroughly canonaded.
Here is what he says: I'm answer to |
the questions we have only to say |
that we didn't think much about it, |
our only thought at the time being |
for the safety of the family. When |
the first bolt entered the house we
realized the fact, but had no reason |
to believe that we would be made a
target for a second shot from the
same cloud. When the second one
came we must admit that we began to |
wish the thing was over. but when
the third explosion took blackwell,
the sight of the Internal regions did
appear before u.s."
Said Kendall M. Dunbar in his ad-
dress before the Maine Press Associa-
ton. abandoned farms in the
State of Maine are rapidly disappear
Ing as the most superficial inquiry !
and observation will disclose. During |
the past five to ten years scores of I'M |
occupied places have re-echoed to the
swing of the woodman's axe, the song |
of the housewife. or perchance, so long |
had they been silent and deserted, to
the unwonted hum of modern ma
chinery without. and the melody of a
modern musical instrument within
doors. These farms are re-Occupied:
list, by former residents of the State |
who might be taught by sad expert
ence that a livelihood and something |
more can be as easily acquired in
Maine, with congenial surroundings
as elsewhere with no surroundings; I'd,
by returning sons, yes, and daughters,
who have won a competence in the
centres of trade and commerce, and
re- purchased the homestead of the
fathers; Sd, by the large anu constant
ly augmenting class which cannot
be more clearly designated than by
their popular appellation, summer Wis
itors; 4th, by the hardy immigrant