davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
Probate Court.

The July term of Probate court began
at the court house, last Tuesday, the
18th, Judge Danforth, presiding. The
following attorneys were In attendance
c. o. Small, Madison; T. B. Barrett,
Canaan; Augustine Simmons, No.
Anson; Henry 7. Croswell, Mercer; f.
l.. Ames and L. Il. Folsom, Norridqe.
wock; Geo. Morse, Pittsfeld; w. I.
Haines, Waterville and j. f. Holman of
Athens.
Wills OF the late d. ID. Brown, St. Adams,
Thomas Fuller Of Hartland and Alfred
Woodman OF Madison, were presented for
probate, and the wills Of the late Susan Syl-
vester OF Mercer, Benjamin Atwood Of Con-
cord, Geo. w. Harvey Of uartland. Helen
w. Lawrence Of Mercer, Abbe NJ. Holmes of
Plttsield, Chas. Nyc of Canaan, Louisa F
Hoxie Of Fairfield, Sarah w. Russell of
Norrldgewock, and Fatima Mitchell of SHOW
hogan, were approved.
Accounts in the estates Of the late William
+. Grant Of Harmony, Fred c. Porter Of New
Portland, Aurie f. Knox Of Madison, Joseph
d. Brackley Of New Portland, Sabrina Savage
OF Madison, William McDonough of Embden
also OF Charlotte Bragg Of Detroit were
presented.
Petition for administration was presented
IN the estate Of Chas. T. Garfield, late Of Nor
ridgewock
Petitions for license to sell real estate were
presented in the estates of William !. Henry,
late OF Moose Rivel; Susan F. Leavitt. late
Fairfield; Norman T. Hoxie, (minor) Of
Fairfield.
Administration was granted in the estates
Of the late David Hughey of Moose River,
Fuller A. Putnam Of New Portland, Iohn
Langelier Of Fairfield Alfred Taylor of Flag
staff and Addie Il, Smith Of Arson.
Accounts in the estates Of the late Libby
Greenleaf Of Mercer, Ruth P. Hobbs Of
Canaan, Clarissa Metcalf Of Madison, Sarah
Piper of Starks, Peter Nigue of Skowhegan,
Josiah Goodrich of Moscow, and also in the
estate of Mary Z. Hight Of Worcester, Mass.
formerly Of Athens), were allowed.
Norma a. Goodwin was adopted by Thomas
f. and Viola A. b. Rand Of Iartland and
Ernest Staples was adopted by James IL. and
Carrie L. Carbino Of Caratunk.
The name Of Morley A. Reed of Madison
was changed to Chas. +. Reed.
Widows allowance was granted in the
estates OF Peter Vigue, late of Skowhegan;
Chester W. Bates, late of Bingham; Sumner
Robinson, late of Norridgewock
License to sell real estate was granted in
the estate of Chester w. Bates, late Of Bing-
ham.
Cephas Walker Of Embden was appointed
guardian Of Ozias Mullen of Embden.
Distribution was granted in the estate Of
Clarissa Metcalf, late Of Madison.
Commissioners of insolvency were appoint
ed in the estate Of Sylvester Spencer, late OF
Arson.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14

The Portland Press, very modestly
suggests that the increasing number of
strangers visiting that city in the sum
mer season =" is evidence enough, were
evidence needed, that this is good place
in which to stay. The Press would be
justified in using much stronger language
in praise of Portland. There is no more
delightful place along Names wonder
fully fine seacoast and none with equal
facilities for sensible pleasure. The city
itself offers all that any one of go 600
inhabitants can in way of public build
ings, parks, drives, hotels, etc. while
its resorts on shores and numerous is.
lands in the spacious harbor are unsur-
passed in attraetiveness. The facilities
for reaching these beautiful spots, by
trolley, automobile, carriage, and steam
er are ample. Again the readiness with
which other seaside resorts and the in
terror of Maine can be reached from
The Forest city" is not to be disregard
ed. 1t is not the geographical center of
Maine but ii is the business metropolis
and transportation center of not only
Maine but also of large sections of New
Hampshire and Vermont, and, therefore,
offers attractions of mountains, hills,
lakes and rivers as well as those of the
sea, by its accessibility to all.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
ATHLETICS IN GERMANY.
wrestling Is One of the Most Popular
Forms of Exercise.

wrestling Is One of the Most Popular
Forms of Exercise.
Wrestling Is one of tbe most popular
forms of athletic exercises Ii Germany,
and 1t seems as If the heavy and mus
cular build of the Germans peculiarly
adapts them for this Kind Of sport.
The general public interprets Tire
word athlete" as meaning q wrestler
weight litter or "strong man When
the English style of athletics was in
troduced into Germany, It was termed
light athletes" Wrestling is termed
heavy athletics" In every town
there are many clubs iDdulging in
heavy athletics" and numerous pub
lie contests are arranged, In connection
with which challenges 10 all cOmerS'
are issued. Here one can often witness
d pitched battle between science and
brute poweB-see an "all conner Of
stupendous build, probably a butcher
brewer or furniture remover, laid nat
on both shoulder blades In the most ap-
proved style by a little, wiry fellow as
slippery as an eel. On the occasion Of
the worlds championships held in Ber
lin an open arena, rooted only in the
center, where the wrestling took place,
was erected, with tiers Of seats for the
public all around AS luck would have
II, the weather proved boisterUls and
the public shy Of the fair. The cham
pionships ended dismally, and the i'm
presario, unable 10 pay the mons re-
tainers, very discreetly decided TO
leave town"-Fry's Magazine.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
Old Home Week.

Skowhegan is to celebrate Old Home
Week this year by an appropriate eve
ming program in Coburn hall early in
August, the exact date of which Is yet
to be decided upon.
The literary clubs of the town have
accepted the responsibility of the matter
and have appointed the following COM
mittees. Woman's Club, Mrs. Sarah S.
Marston, Mrs. Edith S. Shepherd, Mrs.
Abbie Wildes; Sorosis, Miss Gertrude S.
Weston, Miss Elizabeth Webb, Mrs.
Gertrude Bucknam; Town Improvement
Society, Mrs. Belle Small, Mrs Ella T.
Holt, Mrs. Addie Ordway. The men,
bers of these committees have held sew
eral meetings and have appointed sub
committees on decorations, entertain
ment and refreshments.
This is the fourth annual observance
of Old Home Week in Skowhegan aud
there is every reason to expect that it
will be as pleasureable as those of pre-
vious years.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
MATHEMATICAL SIGNS.
FAe Process by which the FnnAilinr
Characters Were Evolved.

The sign Of addition Is derived from
the initial letter of the word plus In
making the capital Letter it WIS made
more and more carelesslY until tie top
part Of the "p" WAS placed near the
center; hence the plus sign WAS finally
coached.
The sign of subtraction WIS derived
from the word minus The word was
first contracted into mus. with "A hori-
zontal line above to Indicate the con
traction, which WAS printers freak
that may be found In almost any book
bearing a date earlier than the begin
ming of the eighteenth century. After
the lapse of long period Of time the
letters were omitted altogether, leav-
Ing only the short line 50 we'll known
10 all
The multiplication sign WIS obtained
by changing the plus sign into Il char
acter resembling the letter x. This was
done simply because multiplication IS
but a shorter form of addition.
Division was formerly indicated by
placing the dividend above a horizontal
line and the divisor below. In order to
save space in printing, the dividend
was placed to the left and the divisor
to the right, with a simple dot Ia place
of each.
The radical sign was derived from
the initial letter of the word "radix."
The sign of equality is said to have
first bep used In the year 1867 by
sharp mathematician, who adopted 1t
as a substitute for the words equal
20
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14

Referring to love letters, who indeed
does not write rubbish when he writes
love letter. The greatest geniuses
have proved themselves to be tempo
rarily the merest simpletons when they
correspond with the fair ones whom
they profess TO adore. Byron who was
very astute as well as n very elo-
quent poet. was thoroughly aware Of
this fact A master stroke of determi-
nation not to become ridiculous In love
letter writing was made by the Scotch
writer to the signet, who always con-
cluded his communications with,
yours, dearest madam, without preJu-
dice" But we cannot all of us be
Scotch lawyers. London Telegraph.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14

To the lovers of strange goods the
bazaars of Damascus are far more
allurinC thun those of Cairo or of Con
stantinople The capacious chests of
the merchants contain much that we
would buy were our purses longer. Old
embroiderieS of wonderful colors. deli
cate china, silks of many hues, swords
Of cunning workmanship, all these lie
piled beside US on the floor. II Is but
seldom that n really good specimen Of
the Damascus sword can be obtained,
for the art of working and engraving
steel IS dead.
These swords were made of alter
nate layers of iron and steel, 80 finely
tempered that the blade would bend
to the hilt without breaking with an
edge so keen that no coat OF mail could
resist 1t, and surface so highly pol
ished that when a MoSlem wished to
rearranGe his turban he used his sword
for a looking glass
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14

The orange tree is regarded AS
prince amone trees and the emblem Of
genius a peculiarly Of this tree IS
that II bears fruit and flowers at the
same time Its leaves are evergreen
md as II grows older II grows in beau
~ and fruitfulDess, its blossom filing
the mir with It's fragrance. 1t Is ia-
decd 1T emblem Of marriage promise
md hopes The orange tree is cun>il-
cred typical of hove because. though is
fruit Is golden and It's flavor and scent
delicious, It's riDd is bitter, and as every
one knows who has experienced il Gu
pid's dart causes pain. The orange is
Of gratitude as well As Of
genius and love Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
THE DINNER TABLE.
Some Hints on How to Behave When
Accidents Happen.

Accidents Happen.
Accidents Will happen. If one hap
pens to spill something he is unfortu-
nate, but a ready, earnest apology to
the hostess is all that he can do TO rem
edy the difficulty. A careful hostess
will acknowledge the apology and I'M
medately change the subject.
This story is told Of a hostess ut
whose table a beautiful china cup was
broken. Never mind" she said pleas
antly. "They break so easily See"
And she crushed one In her hand
Her method was rather too elabo-
rate. 1t would have been quite as sat-
isfactory to the offender and far more
gentecl had she said Il hope you have
received no injury. The cup doesn't
matter in the least
If morsel of food drops from the
fork to the tablecloth do not attempt
to remove 1t. If a guest drops a fork
or a spoon he should let 1t lie The
hostess will provide another.
If anything distasteful be taken into
the mouth it may be removed ON the
corner of the napkin, when 1t can be
folded away or placed quietly on the
plate.
If a bit Of food falls on the waistooat
Of guest lie should remove as much
Of 1t as he can quietly with the corner
OF his napkin
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
KING OF Be- SIS.
The Way an Old African Hunter
Points out the Monarch.

IN di.cus.r,s fl.,. e,..fion (Which
* m. Ii,,. 81 L,.,.t-.., -, aIa ,frIea,.
huntcr soy-.
",,on,o vim ms. tn q desert r1ol aofa4.
clear uouuli .1,t nipl,t whom tl,a sbad.
nus arc doom and shorr,l,. c,,t ND ,fo
moon herself fn tho dr. cIoodless air
looks Ike a Ian an +. nearly ~
bright as dav only the ugbt l. silver
moi ,old 81 do,.n -, M. r,.,h I'D
watch the thirsty animals AZ tb4v
1ti 1ec
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
At Washington.

A cable report from Minister Allen at
Seoul points to the existence of a great
danger to both belligerent armies in
Manchuria. He says that he has learn
ed from missionary surgeon that
cholera has crossed Manchuria and ap-
peared at Antung.
George w. Beavers, former superin-
tendent of the salaries and allowances
bureau of the post office department.
has been arrested again in Brooklyn
under an indictment found in Washing
ton on October fifth, last year, charging
Beavers with having accepted brides in
connection with the introduction of the
Doremus cancelling machine into the
post office department.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14

Mortimer Menpes, the artist. IN his
book on Whistler, says; Sometimes
we visited a dealer who owed him
money, and Whistler would receive a
check. Once the check was not handed
to him in what he thought sufficient
ly digni6ed manner, and be said to the
dealer: This IS careless Of you. You
push this check toward me, and you
do not realize what a privilege it is to
be able to hand IT to the master. You
should offer 1t on a rich old English
salver and in u kingly way once a
dealer borrowed a gorgeOusly embossed
silver salver for the occasion, and when
the master arrived for his check he
was very punctual-presented it on the
salver with carefully worded and
elegant little speech that he had taken
some pains to rehearse. The master
was pleased This said he, is as 1t
should be-"
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
HANG The PRISONERSl
An Exclamation Thnt Wns Interpret.
I'd order


Tie youHz hlfa II I<sary.o was ID
character IL - scotch e.., lie "
tie nrly cight-h'a e.at4rs. iie Was
cool Ii action ald fla ~ t..a .a daily
life one day - va 8a'4.-l ~. com
mafd burial party afn Ao -tro.E-l
oYer the battlefield hi- 9rt.r.E '7luD T.,
lin n great perplextE
Sir" said he, "thcre IS ho-p ~ fe.-
ler3s lying out yorsier who say they're
only wonnded. and they won't let We
bury them ike the rest What shall VIC
doY'
bury them at once" replied young
Agr.W, without moving uusrp II
his eonntenance, for II yoa take tleir
word for II they won't b. dead for
hundred years 10 come"
The lDan saluted and sfart,I ~ IN
all simplicity to carry ont ~" rider
and Agpew had to dispatoh coulter
ORDER Ia bustr To prevent his JyLe from
becpming "a tragedy.
THIS recalls an Ger true ta,n II
border life Some Galloway MOSS
troopers ue.re brought beforr r.r VIE
liam Howard. who was an enthusiastic
mathematician. lie was dep % l!-
studies when the prisoners were
march1sl into the castle courtyard, and
a lieutenant came running up % ct
orders as TO their disposal. Enraged 1T
being Interrupted, be cried, Hang he
prisonersr' and went on with his work
He finished his problem and went
down with a cheerful mind only 70
learn that his exclamation had been
taken for an order, and the prisoners
were all hanged
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
HACKNEY COACHES.
They Were First Used In London In
the Seventeenth Century.

They Were First Used In London In
the Seventeenth Century.
In a letter dated April l, 1880, Mr..
Garrard, writing to the Earl of STRAIT
ford, says Here is one Captain Baily.
He hath been sea captain, but now
lives In London, where he tries expert
ments. He hath erected according to
his ability some four hackney coaches,
put his men in a livery and appointed
them TO stand at the Maypole in the
Strand, giving them instructions at
what rate to carry men into several
parts of the town, where all day they
may be had.
"Other hackney men seeing this way,
they focked to the same place and per
formed their Journeys at the same rate,
SO that sometimes there are twenty Of
them together, which dispense up and
down."
Citizen shopkeepers bitterly com
planned of this. saying
Formerly when ladies and gentle
men walked In the streets there was n
chance Of customers, but now they
whisk past In the coaches before our
apprentices have time to cry out
What dye lackY"
The word cab, a contraction of cabri-
olet, was not used until 1873.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14

Flying fish swim In shoals varying
In number from a dozen to hundred
or more. They often leave the water
AT once, darling through the air in Tie
same direction for 9b0 yards or more,
and then descend 10 the water quickly,
rising again and then renewing their
flight. Sometimes the dolphin may be
seen IN rnpid pursuit, taking great
leaps out of the water and gaining
upon his prey. which take shorter and
shorter flights, yainly trying to escape,
until they sink exhausted. Sometimes
the larper Sea birds catch flying ush
In the air The question whether the
flying fish use their fms at all AS wings
IS not fully decided. The power of
flight IS limited TO the time the fms re-
main moist
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14

Ri. Rev. Frederick Dana Huntington,
Episcopal bishop of Central diocese of
New York, died at Howley, Mass. on
Monday, aged So years. A few hours
later his son, DR.. Geo. P. Huntington,
professor In Dartmouth college died.
Republicans of Portland have nomi-
mated Morrill, N. Drew, Edward c.
SWEET, T. A. Joselyn, Percival P, Baxter,
Frederick Hale, Joseph B. Reed and j.
Putnam Stevens for representatives to
the Legislature.
Samuel l.. Clemens MARK Twain and
his two daughters, bringing the body OF
Mrs. Clemens, who recently died In Italy,
arrived ln New York, Tuesday, on the
steamer Prinz Oscar. Mrs. Cemens'
body will be taken to Elmira, N. Y. for
burial.
Postmaster Gen. Payne and family
are at Poland Springs.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
Made His own Jail.

Among the early Comstockers, the
makers Of Virginia city, New, We're
some of the toughest specimens of hui
mainly loose in the world in those days,
and perhaps the most primitive one In
the lot was Rcd Mike" The fellow
appeared to be equipped only with
brute instincts, but there was human
intelligence Of sort in the back of
his head, and he gave an exhibition of
prudential forethought that would
have been creditable to a wiser man.
Red Mike" was employed as brick
layer in the building of Jail, which
was one Of Virginia City's first and
most imperative needs, and he thought
fully omitted the mortar and laid a
number OF bricks dry and loose at sew
eral places in the wall.
In the NATURAL order Of things Red
Mike" committed a serious offense and
was thrown into jail to await trial, for
even In the early days the Comstock
usually tried n man before hanging
him. The next morning the jail was
empty. Red Mike" had made n hole
In the wall by taking out some OF his
own handiwork, and when he went out
he took all the other prisoners with
him.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
THE WORD PICNIC.



Which Ia Uncertain.
The derivation of the word picnic
Is uncertain In London Notes and
Queries of 1853 attempts were made
to trace its origin.
One correspondent says: Under a
French form the word appears in Il
speech Of Robespierre, 'C'est lei gun
doit m'accuser, ct non dams les piques-
niques An earlier instance occurs In
one of Lord Chesterfield's letters, dated
October, 174s'
Another writer of the same date tries
to trace the word through France into
Italy. Starting with the assumption
that pique-nique in French implies n
party at which each guest provides
some particular dish or performs some
special duty he finds the Italian ex-
pressions nicchia duty and piccola "a
trifiing seryicel, and from these he
coins plccola nicchia picnic)
A French encyclopedia, 1S43, has 1t
that the word is compounded Of the
simple English pick Ito choose) and
nick Din the nick Of time, on the spur
of the moment In France the term
is also used for indoor picnics.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
SkOwhegau Markets.


OATs-SO cts.
WouL--U uwashed. - cts.
HIDES ANp SKISS-hIies. IS an skins Is
TO 75cts calf ss1us = "a a. -. tseb.
BEANs-Haud-iIe kea " les eyes ss.. 70 $40,
lea beans. 50 &c.
BEEF-Ox beef. 8 T. cts
ForLrRY-FaH s + ta Is cts Per TO-. chickens
T. 20 rs cts.
RprNp HoG-t ia.
TAILow Rough ! Cts, pc, r.,
ft, TIEK-tfr.t Pa .fty5 star I'D. st. amer b
EGGs-2G'ts Ter dot fresh.
POTATOES
RETAIL MARKET.
FlorR-Si 1uc wheat Patent. tt.so 10 s SC
Winter wheat par $40 TO s6to, Winter wheat
choice, $3.50
CoRN-sl - per bag; meal and cracked corn
sl3s Ter haE
c. :. MKAL-si 50 per bag
FEED iddlings, sl,45 ger cwt ChieAge elatea
hiss per cwt.
SPRING BRAN-sl.25 ger cwt.
MIXED FRRp-Sl &C per Cwt.
SALT PoRK-loc ID, by the hbl., 2oo lbs, Sls.n1
CHKEsK-l6 per 10.
BCTTER-lS to 22cts. per 10
ka0s-l2 cts don fresh.
1KAs-2S TO GO cents per 10.
CoFFKE-l0 to IS cents Ier 10
LARD-Domestic, = cts Pure, z eta. Con.
pound, 10 cts.
MoLAssEs-Pure Ponce, 40. pure BarhAdoea
30; Maple, 25c per Of, Choice Cooking, 25o.
SuGAR-Granulated sugar, best quality II
pounds for sloo; Brown. % pounds for sl.
PorAroEs-sQc. Sic bu,
DryFBH-Cod 10 10 cts per Il; pollock, So.
OS1oNs-1s. per 10
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14

A lecturer who had very fine lcc-
ture on The Decadence of Pure Eng
fish" gave his address before wo
mans club. At the close of the talk
very much Ovcrdressed woman of the
fuss and feathers type came up tn
him and said: Il did enjoy your talk
ever and ever SO much and l agree
with you that the English language is
decading awfully. Hardly no one talks
proper nowadays and the land only
knows what the newt generation will
talk like If nothing amt done about II"
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14

Whether the famous Parker dispatch
was sent upon his own motion, whether
he was il fluenced to the action by New
York newspapers and New York poll
ticians, or whether it was inspired by
Messrs. Hill, Sheehan, Belmont ct als,
at st. Louis is question in which the
public take an interest. Under the Cir
cumstances 1t was the correct thing to
do to relieve the Democracy from very
awkward predicament in which the lead
ers at ST. Louis had placed the party.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
The War.

The latest from the East is to the
effect that the japanese troops under
Oku occupied Kai Chou the 1lfh instant
without opposition, Gen. Stakeburg re-
firing. The occupation Of Kai Chou
will probably result In the fall of New
chwang.
The Japanese army seems to be per-
sistently at work on the Russian front
Notwithstanding the unfaVorable weather
and fficulty in moving artillery.
A dispatch stating that 3, 900 Japanese
soldiers were killed or wounded in land
attack on Port Arthur on Monday lacks
confirmation and is generally discred,-
ed
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14
U S Geological Survey.

The photographic Division Of the
United States Geological Survey will,
during the present season, in addition to
the regular stream measurement work,
make the necessary surveys and take
levels for the completion of profile of
the Kennebec river. A portion of the
river wss covered in this way during last
summer but there remains to be done
that part between Skowhegan and The
Forks. Gauges for use during this sur
vey will be established at several points
between these places and read daily.
This work will be under the direction
of Mr., II. X. Barrows, engineer, U. S. G
S. with headquarters at Bangor, The
field party is in charge of Professor A.
D. Butterfi field of the University of Yer
mont, Burlington, VI, with G. NJ, Brett,
w. G. Hoyt and F, M. Houlton as as
sistants.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-14

VIM. F. Sheehan visited Judge Parker
at his home Immediately after his return
from the st. Louis convention. he
states that "no telegram was sent by
Judge Parker to Senator Hill upon any
subject while the latter was at st.
Louis"
Three nice children in less than one
year is the proud record of Mrs. Ira d.
Walls of Fort Fairfield. On Saturday
June %, 1904, Mrs. Walls gave birth to
smart twin boys. On June 20, 1908 one
day less than year previously, a fine
girl was born to her.