Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-24

HarrlSons vital statistics for 1902
show the longest list of births and the
shortest death roll upon record, % of
the former and 13 of the latter.
A young fellow up in the village of
Canaan has cut and stacked cord wood
for himself and his son and his grand
son and his great grandson this winter
and is himself only 81. If it hadn't
been for his lame back he would have
cut the winters wood for the minister.
too.
In a crowded Rockland store one day
this week lady shopper felt a strange
hand slip itself into the pocket con-
tanning her portemonnaie. Without
turning her head she instantly grasped
the strangers wrist and held it tightly
and after a moment she felt the hand
relax its hold upon the purse Then
she let go the wrist and the visiting
hand was quickly withdrawn The lady
shopper declined to look behind her.
She was satisfied to retain her prom
ertN
The Maine Genealogical society will
shortly receive u book through the
kindness of Marshall NJ. Duroy of Lor-
ing. Short & Harmon. which will prove
20 be one of the most valued possess
sions of the organization. This is
handWritten book. compiled by w. T.
Hoadley. the sexton of the Eastern
cemetery, Portland, containing a list of
all the tombstone inscriptions and ep-
itaphs IN that old burying ground to-
gether with a brief history of many of
Portlands oldest families and many in
teresting facts about we'll known citi-
zens of this city
The village of Gorham sixty years
ago was the center of a considerable
business of manufacturing. IN this
class were several large carpet indus
tries. One of these establishments was
owned and run by Robert Lowry, who
was born in England and came to
this country thoroughly equipped for
this business. His house and factory
were at the foot of the hill back of the
old Well-kloWn seminary building, at
the foot of Water street. An excellent
stream of water ran by his factory,
supplying two ponds of water with suf-
| ficient capacity for his own use and
| furnishing sufficient power to run n
large mill used for the carding of wool
and other manufacturing industries
owned pv the late Gen. James Irish.
! This well known watercourse by natu-
| raj changes has entirely disa pDeared
except in very wet seasons. Mr. Lowry
was a very energetic man, sagacious
and constantly on the alert for bust
ness. When John Tyler took the pres
| idential chair in consequence of the
/ death of William Harrison, Mr. Lowry
| conceived the idea and executed with
! his own hands an artistic and beautiful
| carpet, the center of which bore the
name of his excellency John Tyler.
President of the United States of
America. He personally carried this
carpet to Washington. d. c.. by the
slow transportation of that early pc
| riod and presented the same as a gift
| to the President, and fit in every re-
| spect y beautify the appearance of the
east room of the Presidents mansion.
| The gift was graciously accepted by
| the President and the stay of Mr..
| Lowry was made interesting to him by
| being II guest of the President. and
| when he left Washington he carried in
| his pocket directions from the Pres
| idellt to the collector of customs of
| / ortland to make and give him a posi-
| ton of consequence in that depart
n1ent. The directions We're immedi-
| ately complied with and Mr.. Lowry
lflled for four years 81 lucrative position
| when he was transferred to the Gus
| tom house in Boston. where he held a
fine position for 1e years The ap-
pointment was not altogether popular
for there existed a strong prejudice
against foreign born men in office
But the beautiful carpet, as 1t an.
peared, had the right Of way.