davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
SKUNK MEAT PALATABLE.
So Say Hunters Who Have Partaken of It Without Knowing What
 They Were Eating.


 The intrinsic value of the useful skunk does not necessarily end when his pelt is stripped. Sometimes, by those who are used to him and his ways, he is eaten like 8 rabbit or squirrel or any other animal which comes within the category of game. This may seem improbable to the reader whose acquaintance with the skunk is confined for the most part to his reputation, but the men who have tasted the flesh of the animal declare that it is as tender as young chicken, as full favored IS duck, juicy as goose and reminiscent as rabbit, especially when served up in a steaming potple with crust and much gravy, says the New York Tribune.
 To say that anybody makes prac- tice of deyouring skunk in the season of his taking would be an exaggera- tion, but it is fact that many trap pers do not hesitate to use his skinned body for food, and find it palatable, too. As nearly every farmer in Yates county is a skunk hunter during the winter, the number of carcasses that go into the stewpan rather than the snowdrift may be ina gined. 1t is hard to get any of them to admit right out that they eat skunk frequently, but it is generally admitted fact that the most numerous body of skunk epicures in the world are to be found within the borders of Yates county. One old trap per had this to say on the subjects:
 aofa el- Ec make no bones Of saying so. don't do it regular, any moro than hunter eats ducks or rabbits every day of the week, but an occasional skunk, wei! cooked and served proper, is a dish that one has only got to try to like. was broke in on it without knowing what l was eating. If I had been told sup pose they couldn't have hired me to touch the stuff. As it was, was helped to dish of steaming potpie, and cleaned it up and asked for more. thought it was rabbit. When they told me whatI had been eating I'll admit it made me feel mighty oneasy in the regions of my stomach, but the flavor of the durned stuff got into my tongue, and the next time I trapped skunk I cleaned it careful and gave it to the ole woman to cook into a potpie. Tole her it was rabbit, and dinged if she didn't like it. She thinks they're rab- bits now whenever I bring 'cm home. The great thing in dressing them is to be careful an not git any of the scent on the meat, for if you do it's all off for a potpie."
 Another expert with gun and trap said that he had frequently eaten skunks and also woodchucks. The former, he said, were good deal like the black meat of tender chickens, all though sometimes he had tasted them when the flavor was more like that of a duck. The woodchuck, he said, was like a cross between pork and goose, very fat, juicy and tender. The only way to cook the skunk, he observed was to stew it in potpie. Like rab. bit, it did not seem to take we'll to fry ing or broling.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
FORGE MERE D|TH.
The Last of Bright Band of
 English Literary Lights.
Though Seventy-four Years of Age He Is as Buoyant of Spirit
 To-Day as He Can Ever '. Have Been.

By general consent one of the most engaging figures in literary life of our time is that of MT. George Mere dith. Now that Philip James Bailey has passed away, he is the only sur vivor of that bright, band of British poets and novelists that gave distinc- tion to the first half of Queen Vic toria's reign. His work is achieved, his pen is laid aside-unless it be that he is engaged at intervals on his autobiography, for at the end of 1901 it was stated that he had the inten- tion of writing the recollections of his life.
 George Eliot, Tennyson, Browning, Swinburne-these were among the first to hail George Meredith as new force in literature; so long ago as 1862 MT. Swinburne spoke of him as lone of the leaders of English literature But even the imprimatur of such authorities was powerless to make the reading public take him to it's bosom forthwith. There are, it need scarce be said, certain obvious reasons why George Meredith should L l.. HdNe pcSH SD 9loHS Whining HIS way to popular approval. A brilliant young novelist to whom I listened the other night reading with rapture from Love in a yalley,' said, very happily, as it seemed to me, that Meredith thinks in metaphor" That is precisely what the ruck of man. kind never does; hence it is not sur prising that to the aveargc reader the works of the greatest English novel; ist should present grave difficulties of style.
 It may come as surprise to many to be told that his spoken words re- semble curiously his written phrases, with their unexpected epithets and surprising association of, thoughts;
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
WHAT THE POPE SPENDS.
Nead of the CathOIi Church Is a Model Administrator 0&
 Large Funds.

As pope, Leo's expenditures are vast-without counting what he spends on Catholic missions, on the in ferior clergy, on churches and on ed ucation, and upon the support of the 5000 people who populate the vatican, he maintains within the palace walls, the first factory of mosaics in the world, while for works of art, says an article in Leslie's Monthly, he prob ably spends more than any other gov ernment-and though it is true the vatican receives subscriptions of mon- ey from all parts of the world, of which it does not distribute the half, and that it's treasures are continually increasing, still it must be remem. bered that after ten centuries Leo XIII. is the first pope who ascended the throne without temporal power. The budget of the vatican at Christmas is 14,000, 900 francs, which are all the of ferings of the faithful, but it may be imagined that an exceptional admin istration is needed to obtain this sum yearly, and the pope is model admin i6trator.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
WATERFOWL JOTTTNGS
Taft Baseball Team Won From
 Bridgeports Yesterday

The Taft baseball team played the second game of the season yesterday at the Fair grounds, winning from the Bridgeport High school team by the score of 13 to 4. For Taft, Sanford and McGowan played the best game, and for Bridgeport Delaney and Grant carried off the honors. The Taft team batted Porter at will and the defeat of the Bridgeport team was due mostly to their inability to connect with the delivery of Sanford.
 Tickets are selling rapidly for the promenade to be given by the Water town R. B. club Friday evening, April 24, at town hall. The members of the club have gone to considerable expense to make this the most successful and enjoyable promenade of the season.
 Columbia lodge, No 12, K. of F., will hold their regular meeting this even ing.
 James McGough has moved into his new residence on French street.
 Miss Mary Melvin, who for the past nine months ahs been visiting friends in Ireland, returned home yesterday.
 Clarence Cook has moved into his new residence on Cutler street.
 The meeting of Miss Reeds dancing class will take place in Town hall this evening.
 The grange will hold regular meet ing this evening.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23

so that what he has written of his peerless Diana may aptly be said of himself: "This was like her, and here and there phrase gave him the very play of her mouth, the flash of her eyes" Indeed, to have listened to the talk of George Meredith for but one brief hour is to have aban- doned the thought that nobody was ever so brilliant in speech as he makes many of his characters to be.
 He talks with touch of that old- fashioned manner which sounds to- day almost like affection, but none could be freer from a suspicion of such than George Meredith, for the leaves on ones mind is that the child's heart has never changed in him, and that he is as lacking in self-consciousness as boy of 12. After we have searched laboriously for that unknown, elusive something which constitutes genius, we shall find that it is nothing more than the power to keep in our old age the spirit of our youth, and to retain to the end the great gift of wonder. Assuredly George Meredith has done those things. Tn his 74th year we find him as buoyant of spirit, as full of wonder as he can ever have been.
 Flint Cottage. Boxhill, has been his home for at least one-ha1f of his days, and there The Egoist, that re- lentless study of refined selfshness, and many another masterpiece have been written. There, too, he has lived his quiet days of close com- munion with nature. and here his happy years of family life have been passed; his long widowhood, and now his lonely age. Flint Cottage lies in Ia hollow by the roadside. around it spread it's owners well-1oved gar 'dens, and perched on the hill behind is the little chalet in which most of his writing for over 30 years has been done. The well-stocked book shelves are heavy with what the liter lary man would call working books, but large proportion are the fami- liar paper-bound French novels, of which MT. Meredith has been great reader. In corner stands the desk (whereon the msster-hand has written so long; but the elills lie dry, the Iinkbottle empty. From the window is obtained a spacious view of the green hills of Surrey, gentle in out line, soft and peaceful strangely un- suggestive of the rugged grandeur of the masters work. One cannot leave the place without touch of sadness, knowing that the work of this great writer is finished while yet he lives; but that is only the emotion jof moment, for in the knowledge of his splendid achievement there is nothing but thankfulness.
 T A EAMMERT0N
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23

gate clicks they come rushing around from the back yard with wings out stretched and Tapping, looking for fight. It is no use to say Good doggy, nice doggy" to them. They cannot be fiattered or cajoled. Moral suasion falls futile.
 The average burglar who hears about Huebner's geese will doubtless be of the idea that one has only to say "Shoo, chicky," to send them scuttling. Any burglar who knows about geese will know better. A big gray gander isn't afraid of anything.
 These two will attack anything that comes in the front gate with the savageness of a bulldog. And they are able to do about as much dam age. They take flying leaps at the intruder, beating him about the head with their wings and punching him in the face with their bills.
 All the time they keep up such a hissing and honldng that the noise is enough to scare away the stoutest- hearted burglar.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23

the dinky type used in hauling earth and stone
 The storage capacity of the present dam is about 43, ,oO0, ,0o0, 900 gallons, but the completion of the new one will add about 32,ooo 100000 gallons, almost doubling it's capacity, and making a total of 75,ooo, ,ooo.o 900 gallons. It is es- timated that the boroughs of Manhat- tan and Bronx, the only ones draining the Croton watershed, now use 276,- 100000 gallons day; at this rate the supply would last 267 days.
 Although the new dam will increase the storage capacity of the Croton wa tershed, it will not increase the yield, which is estima ted to be about 290, ,0oo.- Oo0 gallons day, and an expert who has made study of the problem of the water supply for the city of New York says that at the present rate of increase, in less than two years the watershed will not be able to supply the water needed. For this reason a new commission has already been ap- pointed to SCOUT the state for more water, more aboundant rivers and big ger watersheds. Brooklyn borough, which uses about 115,oo0,o 900 gallons day, obtains 1t from Long Island wells and ponds; the daily supply of Queens and Richmond boroughs, which is about 15.o0o,oo0 and 6,ooO,OoO re- spectively, are also obtained by pumping, the supply in both insances becoming less and less.
 Many farms and homesteadsg have been condemned during the past ten years on the immense tract that will furnish the bed of this new reservoir. Among others two famous inns will have to go. One of them is the Pine Bridge hotel in Yorktown, where Gen. Husted, known as the Bald Eagle, was first nominated for thei New York state assembly and where he usedto old his conventions, and the other is the Pal mer house, where Senator Chauncey M. Depew received his first nomination | Hor the assembly, more than 40 years ago, and made his maiden speech. \ Every precaution is being taken all through the region to keep l the watt pure and free from contami- 1 nation. The intake from the new res- ervoir will be from 22 gates, each sup piled with charcoal filters through which the water must pass before it is turned into the aqueducts. These 3ntakes have a. capacity of 400, ,O0o, 900
 gallons a day. From this point the i'm
 mcnse volume of water will be carried down to the city through masonry aqueducts IA feet in diameter and lined
 with brick. Provision is made for draining the channels if repairs are found necessary and every precaution will be taken to prevent persons from placing contaminating substances in the water.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
Ills mSsharacterv

There was an opening for butler in the family where Bridget was cook and she promptly applied for the posi-. tion in behalf of her brother.
 ''I take it that his reputation moral. ly is all that could be expected" sug, gested madame.
 "'Xuse me, but would you min say. ing that question. over ag'in?" asked Bridget.
 ''I say repeated madame, doubt less he is a man of moral cha racter.''
 Sure, mum, sure-but don't know if I'm afther un'erstandin' you"
 Madame waXed slightly inpatient "Oh, he is good man. Bridget?"
 Good, is it? Sure he could lick tn eyes out of any spalpeen from Cork to Kilkenny" was the enthusiastic reply IN. Y. Times.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
Rats Fed by Munlclpality.

According to the Allahabad Pioneer the municipal committee appointed to take precautions against the spread of the plague has initiated comprehensive plans to exterminate rats as the propa- gators of the disease. The committee was at once brought face to face with the difficulty arising from the scruples of the natives, whose religious tenets forbid the taking of life. Consequent ly the committee is compelled to offer a reward for live rats, which will be maintained comfortably at public ex- pense until tho. plague is suppressed, when presumably the rodents will be released. The municipality has author ized the expenditure of 4e rupees . month for the board of the rats while the scheme is being tried.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
Daamond in a Meteorite.


 The finest diamond ever imported paid no duty to the customs officers, having smuggled itself in from some other planet in meteorite. Packed in thick envelope of meteoric iron, it fell to earth in Diable canyon, at the foot of Crater mountain, Arizona, it's coating being broken in nmerous par- ticles by contact with the rockyforma- tion of the ground. A party of geolo- gists discovering these fragments, ae first thought them indications of re- markedly pure vein of iron ore, but their true character was. soon dis cerned, and in one of the pieces picked up by Prof. G. A. Koenig, the diamond was found imbedded. It is now on ex- hibition at the American Museum oR Natural History.-W Washington Star.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
"Hurry Upv Backing.

Almost the first words which Ital2 ians learn in coming to this country are Hurry up!" and this also ex- presses the first idea which they glean from their new environment. Ayoung Italian who has been in this country just six months found, when he well comed younger brother at the end of that time, that there was already a slight difference in their point of view. Tn deprecating his brothers shortcom. ings to a friend he remarked:
 II see my brother cess too much Italian; I see he cess not huff hurry up. p.'-N. Y Times.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
WATERVILLE DAILY TALK
Death of E. E. Bacon of Waterville
 Cutlery Go.

L. E. Bacon, superintendent of the Waterville Cutlery company, died this morning at 2 o'clock at his home on George street. The deceased was a mason of high rank and very popular member of the Knights of Pythias. The funeral arrangements are not completed at the present time, but prob ably the services will be held at his home Sunday.
 There was another large crowd in at tendance at St Michaeps kirmess at ,Pythian hall last evening. The enter tainment and dancing was enjoyed by all. The entertainment this evening will be given by the Lady minstrels and the Sacred Htart drum corps. The minstrels are well known in these parts and have scored a grand success many times before. The buses will leave Waterbury from 7:30 p. m. to D. m.
 The Ladies Aid society of Grace M. B. church had very successful year ending last Tuesday. They made and sold one hundred and eleven aprons and their gross receipts were $662.20. The election of officers was held and the following were elected for the ensuing term: President. Mrs Fuller; vice president, Mrs French secretary, Mrs Moffatt: treasurer, Mrs Northrop; di- doctors, Mrs Axelby, Mrs Garrigus, Ms Ashton, Mrs Johnson. The ladies will hold meeting for work next Wednes- day.
 Miss Mary Smith is very i'll at her home on Main street. Dr Faber is at- tending her.
 H. H. welton of Main street, who has been very i'll for the past few weeks, was reported very low this af- ternoon.
 Charles Sherman, who had an opera tion performed last Tuesday, wcs re- ported as resting very comfortable.
 There will be sociable given by the Epworth league in Grace M. E. church this evening and all members and thtir friends are invited.
 The Welch Hosiery company are grading their property on the north side of the factory, which will be big improvement to the main street. H. l.. Welton is doing the work.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
GEESE AS WATCHDoGs.
Humble Cottager i'm CaIifOrnia a Takes an Idea from Ancient Roma
 ana Ia Quite Happy.

Having discharged the family watchdog in disgrace, J. D. Huebner, Los Angeles cottager, has installed two enormous gray geese as guardians of his home.
 They are two shades more efficient as sentinels than the best watchdog that ever lived, he thinks. In addi- tion to which they have the follow ing points in their favor: They do not howl at the moon; they do not make friends with visiting burglars and bite the parson; they do not transform the front lawn into de- pository for ancient bones.
 Like most big ganders, they are belligerent. The minute the front
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
NAUGATUCK NUGGETS
Worker in the Sums Will Lecture on
 May l.


 May 1.
 Prosecuting Attorney John M. Sweeney left last night on business trip to Pennsylvania.
 The St Francis II. A. B. drum coprs are going to Derby tomorrow evening to attend the annual dance given by the St Mary's T. A. B. drum corps of that city.
 At last the badly broken up concrete walks around the Salem school build ing are being repaired. Contractor J. H Dunn had force of men at work there yesterday making the repairs Ralph Lander of Cliff street has en- tered the employ of New Haven architect.
 The members of the fire department baseball team meet for practice this af- ternoon. It is thought the game be- tween the fire laddies and the T. A. B. team of Derby will be arranged for Saturday.
 James Sullivan, driver for the Adams Express company, spent yesterday with relatives in New York.
 Jacob Reiss. who has done so much good work in the slums and tenements Of New York will deliver lecture in the opera house on the evening of May 1 (arbor and bird dayy under the auspices of the borough improvement association.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
sleepy Railway TraveIer..

To sleep at any moment is undoubts edly a sign of physical soundness and Philistine sanity, especially in the mat ter of the brain and it's functions. A physician would, have little anxiety about the general condition of pa- tient who could sleep at will on rail- way journey. In these days of hurry and hustle there could be no more en- couraging sight to the philosopher than a railway carriage at monday full of sleepy passengers. .-Medical Press and Circular.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
Eiexntea.

A Scotchman had reached the sum init of his ambitions in attaining to th . magisterial bench, He tried to live mp to the honor. With his head high in the air. he swaggered along till he waut bolt up against n cow which bad not the manners to get out of the way. but continued to browse by the roadside in mild nnconcern.
 Mon" cried the indignant owner. t'mind my cool"
 Woman" he replied. with fine dig nifty. Tin no longer mon. I'm . Bits
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
wnn. aa prlntsrs.

In Wadsworth, England. there is a printing department run entirely hy nuns, It is used principally for the printing of sacred books for the use of choirs. such ashymnals. psalfers, mis- salS and the like. The productions do not bear the stamp of the amateur in the least. and the high standard Of ex- cellence is particularly shown in the pa&sic printing Albany Argus.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
shA T,ian,H raII.

"You mean old thing, now! You said you wouldn't tell Maude about me being engaged, and you went and did, so there!"
 T didn't do any snch a thingl didn't tell her at a1ll I iuxt--zI just asked her if she knew."-Raltimore
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
JAMES BRISTOL GREENE.
Taking s,l.annsn

old Iady--I feel awful Dsrvous Are you sure we won't have have any acci- dents2
 Guard (fond of statistics) Every person who rides on n railway takes one chance in 1.&el, ,o1o chances of be- ing killed
 ..La salSesi Why didn't that rascally sgent tell me so before bought my ticket ?''-IsonAea TSt-Bits.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
More r,fkr It.

1T was thinking" said the hnmor- ons barber. "of hanging out a sign: Hair cut wl,il. yau wait.'"
 "Bnt that's misleading" protested tbc victim. ''lTsually it's some other fellow who gets his hair cut while you wait. t.--Philadeiphia Press.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
Old Cathedral yytnaovv..

\ The Catherdal of Chartres, im France. is said to contain the most beautiful and the best-preserved twelfth-century windows in the world.
 They date from about l145.N. Y. Sum
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
Flrst AmerIean strIke..

Three hundred shoemakers who struck for higher wages in Philadel- phia in 1766 were the first working men to adopt such tactics in this country.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
wasninEfGn;a Eefter Writers.

Our national capital holds what is Grobably worlds record in letter writing. Eachinhabitant spends about s5.26 yearly in the purchase of post age stamps.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23
He alent fn Pence

Miles--Did you encounter any of the big bugs while in New York?
 Giles--No. l stopped at new ho- Chicago Daily News.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23

" "A. S3 cs.- e-3 -sz :1- x.s- .ss.n-..h. 9 Ths K.ad You Hays AIWays B0ap,S ':;;;''' ''':; : ''' zZzzs< }. 7 2 S;; .
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-23

FREE-$25 worth (250) green trad ing stamps with the above order at $2.25.
The Irish standard., 1903-10-24

him. 1t is one of those Old-faSlliOncd.
homcly, ncighl,orly districts Which de-
lights to honor one of it's boys.
McCarrcn first knew Mclaughlin in
1870. He has been to every Demo
cratic State convention since that one
in 1880 which nominated Hill for Gov
crnor. and to every national convcn-
tion of his party since 1884. when
Cleveland was nominated. save in
1900, when he took a jaunt to Europe.
This is the story of the cooper boy
who has been built up politically by
his neiglbOrS among whom he still
lives. as he did fifty years ago. Many
parents are gone. but their children
and their chldrcn's children still stand
by the son of old Father and Mother
McCarren and delight to honor him,
And he, in his turn, is proud and
happy to have such warm and sturdy
hearts beating politically for him.