davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Some weeks ago an item went tn
rounds of newspapers, placing the losses
to Maine forests by fire during the May
and June drouth at ten million dollars.
We took occasion to say that as regarded
the estimate or guess as excessive. Fores,
Commissioner Ring makes an estimate,
based upon reports from agents In The
various counties, making the losses
aggregate little above one million dol.
lars. A very comforting reduction from
the former figures and probably close to
the actual loss. Guesses at damages
resulting from fires are liable to be Wild
OF the fact
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06
A PiscntoriaI Gunner.

The jaculator fish, the piscatorial
gunner of the Jayan lakes, uses his
mouth as a squirt gun and Is aamarks-
man of no mean ability. Go to a small
lake or pond filled with specimens Of
jaculators, place stake or pole in the
water with the end projecting from one
to three feet above the surface. place
a beetle or fly on top Of the pole aud
await developments. Soon the water
will Ike swarming with fnny gunners
each anxious for Il shot at the tender
morsel which the eAperimenter has
placed in full view Presently one
comes to the surface, steadily observes
his prey and measures the distance
Instantly he screws his mouth into the
funniest shapes imaginable discharges
a stream of water with precision equal
to any sharpshooter knocks the fly or
beetle into the water. where he is In
stantly deyoured by the successful
Nlmrod or some Of his hungry horde
This sport may be kept nj as long as
the supply of beetles and flies holds
out
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06
RUSSlA'S ARGUS EYE.
The Keen Watch Tint Is Exercised
Over Al Postal Matter.

IN tie Russian Ia-e re q Watehful
eye Is KEPT on al newspapers and mag
azInes, AM any maIter officially con
sidered Objectionable Il rathlessly
"blaeked out J slHIiar surveillance is
extended 70 private correspondence
The task thus undertaken IS gigantic
one. but the RUSSIAN official system las
proved itself eIlal 10 tie undertaking
n every post 0aIce Of Importance
there are officials constituting the
Slack cabinet who's duty il is 70
examine the letters received. Aceord.n
TO the system followed in the Moscow
post office. all the letters are handed
over to the "blaek cabinet" Then one
official sorts out all those which are ad=
dressed 10 suspected families another
all those addressed in suspected hand
writings, while a third arranges the re-
mainder in little heaps and then draws
at random several letters from each
heap. All the letters selected in these
various ways are then opened and ex-
amned.
In this ingenious way the Russian
government strives TO keep a continual
check on the free intercourse of its sub
jects. and 1t is not surprising that IN
derground" means of communication
have been developed.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06
DEATH FROM Eleetric Shock.

The ultimate cause of death, when
due primarily to electric shock, is gen
orally considered to be stoppage of
the action of the heart or of the respir-
atory organs. That the latter may be
affected is shown by the fact that vic
Tins of electric shock are sometimes
brought to by practice of some of the
well known methods of artificial res
piration. The cessation of the hearts
action may be due to stimulation of the
nerves which control the beating of the
heart. These, when stimulated to eN-
cess, may cause the heart to stop alto
gether.-Archibald Wilson In CASTER 5
Magazine
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

European countries seem to outstrip
America In the use of the automobile.
The races in France month ago proved
this. The American machines were left
far 10 the rear. Now it appears England
ia pushing the Auto" into the agri-
cultural field, making it operate the
pillow and the harvesting machines.
This is a useful field for the machine
heretofore used largely for road trans
portation and pleasure, and one In
which Americans ought to compete sue
cessfully. The immense prairie farms
in the middle West ought to present
opportunity for successful use of such
machinery on grand scale, If they are
superior to the machines now driven by
horse and steam power in the great
wheat states.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06
The Judgment of Years.

A significant bit of wisdom. to be
pondered over by the very young
whose griefs and disappointnents seem
30 tragic, was that uttered by Mrs
Dolly Madison when she was over
eighty years old and near her death.
Her life had been fortunate and beau
dful not only because circumstances
had proved kind to her, but from the
brightness and buoyancy of her TEN
permanent.
She harbored no bitterness over past
experiences, but life had taught her the
unimportance of most trials which
loom so gigantic In approaching.
Not long before her death one of her
nieces went to her for sympathy In
some slight trouble.
MY dear" she said, do not trouble
about 1t. There Is nothing in this
world really worth caring for Yes"
she repeated looking intently out of a
window, ~ who have lived SO long re-
peat to you that there is nothing in
this world below really worth caring
forr'
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Secretary of Agriculture Wilson, al
though an Towan, has good opinion of
New England farm lands. He called
attention of New Hampshire to the fact
that the contguity of their farms to the
best markets in the country makes
everything they produce of more value
than anywhere else. People are finding
this out and are turning their attention
to New England farms not emitting
those in Maine, some of which had been
called abandoned farms. Some of the
westerners who are working rented
prairie land might better their condition
materially by coming east and investing
in Maine bay farm and go to producing
milk and butter.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

The war demonstration game began
on Monday by the battleships known as
the enemy sailing out from Bar Harbor
for the open Atlantic. This force con-
sists of the battleships Indiana, Texas
and Massachusetts, and the two torpedo
boat destroyers, Lawrence and Whipple,
under command of A imiral Sands. Two
days later the great fl ,et of batteships,
cruisers, scouts, training ships and tor
pedo boat destroyers took their respee
tive stations along the coast to watch
for the approach of the enemy. Ad-
miral Barker, who is In command, has
transferred his fl z from the Illinois to
the Kearsarge. The Kearsarge, 0 ym-
pa, Illinois and Prairie have just been
equipped with the wireless telegraph
system and communication has been
successfully carried on between the
ships. II is expected to be an expensive
but blood .ss campaign.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06
THE FIRST STOVES.
They Superseded the Roman Stuba
In the Eighteenth Century.

They Superseded the Roman Stuba
In the Eighteenth Century.
A heating apparatus called a "stuba"
(stove) was widely used among the
higher class of Romans before the be-
ginning of the Christian era. This
class of heaters was fixed and immova-
BILE, besides being in several other re-
spects wholly different from the mod
ern stove. In Germany and Scandina-
via they were used IL bath rooms and
hothouses during the middle ages.
They were usually constructed of
brick. stone or tile and were of i'm
mense size. They sometimes covered
the whole side of q twenty or thirty
foot room and often extended out into
the room as much as ten feet, in which
case the smooth, fat top was used for
q bedstead, the heated surface impart-
Ing an agreeable feeling of warmth
during those cold nights of long ago
when such things as covers were quite
rare.
Cardinal Polignac of France was per-
haps the first to attempt the construc-
ton of u stove wholly of iron, this at
about the beginning of the eighteenth
century. The first real improvement
over the old Roman ''stuba" was
brought about by Franklin in the year
1745. One of his efforts produced a
typical base burner, almost perfect and
a model of workmanship. Stoves were
not used in private houses to any great
extent prior to the year 1880.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06
The Terrio Case.

The recent rescript from the Law
Court setting aside the verdict In the
Terrio murder case, and the approach of
the September term of court, are again
calling public attention to this singular
crime and the probable disposition of the
case against the woodsman indicted.
That there will be second trial
County Attorney Cover states positively
Il will probably occur, as in the case of
the first trial, at a special term following
the regular September term, though
this is not yet fully decided. Attorney
General Seiders is at present on his
vacation. and no definite course will be
outlined until his return. In view of the
long confinement of the prisoner, the
for the prisoner, will endeavor to bring
the case to termination, one way or the
other, at the earliest day consistent with
thorough trial of the issue.
The newly discovered evidence on
which the law court allow the respond.
ent new trial, and the agreement by
experts as to the markings on the
crushed shell which were contested at
the former trial, will make the expert
evidence entirely different from what it
was at the former trial, the question
now 10 issue being as to the effect of
corrosion on the markings.
Both the counsel for the state and the
prisoners attorneys claim to have new
evidence of an important nature, the
details of which are not disclosed.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Young Mr. Biz lbrskly. to fair pro-
prietor of the photograph galleryl-I'ye
dropped iii, Miss Frame. without much
preparation, in the style l usually do
when | make up my mind | want any
thing. Can you take me just as am?
Miss Frame-Certainly Mr.. Biz
What style do you wish-cabinet or
carter
Mr.. Bizs-What style? Great Cesar.
Did you think I'd come with these
clothes on to have my photograph TAX
en-? I'm asking you to marry me. Miss
Frame."
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

E. R. Lyon, contractor with the war
department, gave Littancr Brothers of
New York orders for gloves aggregating
5000 pairs at price averaging 81 65
per pair. /. A. Littaner is member of
Congress from New York. The case
has been investigated by Secretary Root
and turned over to Attorney General
Knox for him to determine whether
there has been any violation of law. There
ia statute which prohibits contracts for
government supplies being made directly
or indirectly with member of congress,
and this was the basis of the investi-
cation by the war department. Secretary
Root purposes to have Affairs go along
about right in his department.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

The Elizabethan era gave vogue to
the button and the buttonhole, two IN
ventions which may fairly be regarded
US important. since they did much to
reyolutionize dress. The original but
ton was wholly a product of needle
work, which was soon improved by the
use of a wooden mold. The brass but
ton is said to have been introduced by
Birmingham merchant in 1859. 1t
took 200 years TO improve on the meth
cd of sewing the cloth upon the Gov
cred button. Then an ingenious Dane
hit upon the idea of making the button
in two parts and clamping them to-
gether, with the cloth between Buttons
are now made of almost everything.
from seaweed and cattle hoofs TO moth.
er of pearl and vegetable ivory. Ex-
cellent buttons are made from potatoes,
which. treated chemically, become as
hard as ivory Boston Transcript
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Congress will be asked by cotton mill
owners of the country to investigate the
recent manipulation of the cotton mar
ket by spectators and to enact legisla-
ton to prevent, in the future, corner
In raw cotton like that now so disas.
trously disturbing manufacturing. OF
the 10000 600 spndles in the United
States only 10000 are running now,
and the number decreases every day.
Over 800 900 bales of cotton are con-
trolled by the Brown Hayne pool, while
the yarn mills of the country are bare Of
the staple. While there is shortage In
cotton 1t Is not sufficient to bring about
this condition. Spectators and gam
blers are responsible for it. There
ought to be some way to bring the rob-
Der cotton ring to book, and competent
lawyers hold that Congress has power
to provide against such corners on the
ground that they interfere with inter-
state commerce.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

There is one parsonage who of late
years has rather disappeared from the
golfing world. but used to be greatly in
evidence In 1.-THE advisory caddie.
Many of the caddies of the old Scotch
school used to treat their masters $50
called much in the manner that a good
old nurse treats a baby when she is be-
ginning to teach ii how to walk. In
those days there was not stroke
played without the most careful con-
sultation with these sapient MENTORS
Westminster Gazette.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Charles NJ. Schwab, the famous presi-
dent of the American Steel Trust, has
resigned that office with its big salary.
His course has been remarkable in
stance of rise from poor boy to the
head of a great manufacturing cor
poration. or late his health has been i'm
paired and his career for year past WAS
one having many spectacular features.
His withdrawal from the position he hid
held since the organization Of the steel
trust was not unexpected.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Five of the sixty-two candidates as
sembled in the Vatican at Rome to elect
successor of Leo XIII were on the sick
list when the choice was made. This
list embraces Cardinal Gibbons OF Amer
lea, who is suffering from malaria. The
other invqlids are Cardinals Herrera y
E'pinosa of Valencia, Spain, Wives
Iuto formerly of Barcelona, Spain, but
laely of the papal court, Cretoni, pre-
teet Of the congregation of rites, and
Langenieux, archbishop of Rheims,
France.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06
y Orth Arson Races.

The races here Saturday were among
the best that have been held on the asso-
citation grounds. \ large attendance
witnessed them. In each class FIVE horses
started. In the Free-For-All class Rex
Wilkes won the first money in the three
straight heats, best time 2.2os Lucy
Paw second money, Long Point third
money. Dandy Bay fourth money. The
, IS class was also won in three straight
heats by Joe Ear best time 254, Dean
Patchen second money, Ruby third
money. The ball game was won by a
score of to l in favor of the Oaklands.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

A German physician who has been
Investigating affairs in his line, states
that out of 1000 girls who played the
piano before IL years of age he found
WO cases of nervous diseases, whereas
out of 1000 cases of girls who did not
play tina instrument he found but 100
cases. This physician told that 10 years
IS the youngest age any person should
oegin the use of the piano, and then the
practice should in no case exceed two
hours day. This is good advice and
neighbours children should live up to 1t
II our own do not.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

The Boston Herald takes President
Roosevelt to task for allowing the new
department over which Mr.. Cortelyou
presides, to be named commerce and
Labor" L. should be "Commerce and
! dustry" says the Herald. Industry is
the more comprehensive word and the
criticism is good one so far as the
name is concerned, but why should the
president be blamed for 1t? Congress
had something to do in the premises.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06
skowhegan's Old Home Week

The ulquald.d success Of the q 4
Home Week gathering last year has "a
eauraged he cub women Of our town
10 attempt similar Observance. tbs
year.
The reception. 70 give formal ten
To Whit il i hoped will be otherwise
Informal. VII occur On Tuesday evening
mkt. IN Gobufn Ill. ard deserves fhs
presence Of every ciazaa of skoWheg4n
who i Ia sympathy with The Cd Home
"ees movement. The committee Of
iadies having the program In charge
have teen putting forth eyery ef5rt %
ensure the excellence Of the program
aud provide for the eri5fment Of those
attending. That theg vii succeed Is
foregone eaaeia-i59 tn hearty CO.
operation Of he .5aaspeople Is al th4t
Il needed % make fhI= greeting % sko9-
hegan's former residents hearty and
heartfelt welcome.
The program will be a follows.
Pianola, .......s....... Karl smith
ne Ia tsheuot..,.. .Beet1ocsn
Chorus. Mrs Philo Steward
Address OF Welcome,
Fred F. Lawrence.
Inc sword Of Fefrata, $780,. Frsd BaIIar4
Donald Morrison.
lntermissou.
Reading Maud Lambert Jewett.
Forestry, .....z.....Blaine : Vde4
Intermission.
Sing Me to Sleep. .............4.....s.6 Green
Harvey White
with Violin 0bigato. Donald Morrison.
Possibilities of skowhegan,
L. Clyde Church.
Gloria IN E1eeisis mass in b fat 80. Farmer
Aecompanist. Miss Pearl Estabrooke
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Next week we may expect good
number of "Old Home Week" visitors.
They will be received with open arms
into hospitable homes that week, but are
no more warmly welcomed by true
friends and old neighbors than they will
be the other 81 weeks of the year. We
may make little more demonstration
about it, the week set apart for the pur-
pose, but Maine people keep the doors
Of the old home open the year through.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

l. is not often that the good offices of
q woman are invoked in the adjustment
Of labor difficulties, but just now that
has occurred in Holyoke, Mass. Miss
Helen Gould has been requested to act
as arbitrator by Miss Nellie Bolaud of
the Pulp and Sulphite Workers Union.
Miss Gould is held in the highest esteem
by millions of American people and with
thu best of reason.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Populsts In Denver, Colorado, in ma
tional conference, last week, declared for
federal ownership of railroads and tele-
graph lines and the initiative and refer
endum. These are not in the line of
new propositions. They invite all re-
formers to lin them In a supreme effort
TO get control of the government.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

When the American farmer rises ear
~ in the morning it is to look over
broad and fertile acres that are his
own. When he goes forth 1t is to fields
that no human being can lawfully step
upon without his consent. When he
gathers and gamers the harvest he
stores what in Il vast majority of eases
no greedy and rapaeious landlord can
take from him. 1t is all his. The pro
eeeds of it are to clothe and feed him
and his family and educate his chill
dren, to be the support of his old age
and the heritage Of his posterity. Look
ed at from every point of view, it is
doubtful If there is another human be-
ing under the heavens who has more
cause for carrying a light heart and a
contented mind for regarding the past
with satisfaction and the future with
hope than the American farmer.-Kan-
sas City journal.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

High price of cotton is likely to dis
turb the running of certain mills in
Maine. The Bates and Androscoggin
mills at Lewiston have begun to run only
four days in the week This will effect
5000 employees. The Cabot mill at
Brunswick, employing 800 hands, has
closed for two weeks during which time
repairs will be made. The price of cot
con is understood to be the cause of
these ruins.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

"'There is tide In the affairs of
men," said the man who habitually
quotes Shakespeare (which, taken at
its food, leads on to fortune"
Yes" replied the man who had mar
ried an heiress, II remember the tide
that led to my fortune we'll"
what tide was thatf"
ut was eyentide. and we were sit
ting in the garden. San Francisco
Wasp.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

You have been conspicuous in the
halls of legislation, have you not?" said
the young woman who asks all sorts of
questions.
Yes, miss" answered Senator Scr.
ghun blandly; II think I have pardci-
pated in some Of the richest hauls that
legislation ever made'-W Washington
Star
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Few people perhaps notice that all
omnibus wheels are painted yellow,
says the London Chronicle. so that any
wheel may be worn with any bus color.
Every circus ring In the world is of
precisely the same diameter, whatever
the size of the auditorium, so that the
rider knows the angle at which he
must lean In San Francisco is the an
gle of safety in ST Petersburg. Even
the ladder is standardized" Every
holman In England knows what he
has to step when toilIng up the build
ers ladder, though he may not know
1t is seven inches. The sailor who runs
up the ratlines hrs twelve inches as a
step. and that makes a run possible,
and the fremen's ladder is crossed
with exact equivalence to the ratlines.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

We hope and trust that ExGov.,
Boutwell, and Ex-Secretary Long of
Massachusetts, are correct In the proph-
estes they made recently at the Massa-
ehusetts Club dinper, that the deadliness
of war will prevent any more great
struggles of armed forces.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

It is generally understood that the
apple crop in Maine this season will be
short one Secretary knowlton of the
Maine Pathological Society has received
report from 100 correspondents in differ
ent sections of the state, one half of
which report some damage and pros.
pect of light crop. Short crops seem
to be the style in our state this year.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Two more Stock Exchange failures,
making total of SIX in the last II bust
ness days, were recorded at New York,
yesterday, when Sharp & Bryan and
Hurlbutt, Hatch & Co. announced their
inability to meet their obligations.
Neither failure occasioned the slightest
surprise; in fact, both had been discon-
tinued for a week or more.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06
Municipal Court.

William Doyle WAS arrested, Moudas.
by Sheriff Ling, the complaint big I'm
single sale of intoxicating liquor. r.
hearing vas held a; the grana iar,
room, Mondav Afternoon, the sat- bring
represented by County Atom J & orRe
W. Cover, and the respondent b. 70 :
rest Coed yin, E.q.
The principal witness for the s.A1e
was \, i. Mullen. Mullen fesfif 10
purchasing bottle Of whisbey from
Doyle at the lattef's residence ON : II
urday; hat he WAS accompanied by
Fred Gilhair, who purchased another
bottle. o. cross examination he ad-
United that he had recently served a
sentence in ii for selling liquor; that
he had bsen given money by Sheriff
Lang on his discharge for the purpose
Of securing evidence against other liquor
sellers, and that he had 30 other motive
for proceeding against Doyle.
Gilblair testified to going with Mullen
to Doyle's. but denied purchasing any
liquor, or that he saw any liquor pur-
chased by Mullen or anyone else, except
soft beer.
Doyle was sworn and denied sellirg
the liquor in question, Or any other hard
liquor since his last term in Jail
Judge Bachelor found the respondent
guilty, commanting at some length on
the necessity of "spotters evidence in
enforcing criminal laws. Il being
Doyle's second off.nce, he was sentenced
to pay fine of $500 and costs and serve
6 months in Jail, an additional months
being imposed in def of payment.
From this sentence Doyle appealed to
the September term of the Supreme
Court, and furnished sureties for his
appearance.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Mrs Llewellyn Berry died sunday
night at her home in New Portland at
the age of 10 years. several months ago
abe sustained paraytic shock, from
which she never rallied. She was the
daughter of David ard Olive Pierce. who
for many years resided in this town.
She is survived by husband, two sons
and a daughter, also three sisters and
three brothers Mrs. Berry was men,
Der of Emerald Rebekah lodge aud the
funeral at New Portland Wednesday
was attended by members of this order.
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

Miss Boston-Ah, yes; your verses
are charming. And have YOU never
written a novel?
Miss New York-No; fer II did my
mother would never let me read IT
Life
The Somerset reporter., 1903-08-06

The Fogg Family Association viii
hold lis second reunion on Thursday,
August 20, in Convention Hal Casino
Building, Hampton Beach y. Il. All
Fogg connections. by marriage or other.
wise, are cordially invited to be present.
Ample accommodations, at reasonable
rates can be secured at the Beach.
Mrs. \. j Fo6G Secretary,
Room COL, fremont Building. Boston.