davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
THE RUSSIAN ICON.
II Is simply Religious Pictur
Blessed by IA Priest.

1t Is simply Religious Picture
BIessed by Priest.
An icon Is simply religious picture,
generally of little artistic merit. and
the subject usually represented is eli
Their a Russian saint, some event in the
life OF Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary.
In the Greek church. as In other Chris
tian churches, the worship OF craven
images Is forbidden. but no objection
is made to anything reproduced on a
fiat surface. Therefore icons are per
mitted In the form of mosaics, paint
ings, enamels or prints. They play an
important part In the religious life Of
the Russians and are to be met with
every wherein churches. public offices,
private houses and shops \ picture
to become an icon must be blessed by
a priest, and 1t Is then regarded not on
ly as an ornament. but as an accessory
In the worship of the Greek church.
Icons are also worn on the person,
when they take the form of n plaque
or book with two leaves. Almost ev-
cry soldier wears one on his bosom.
and when he prays he takes out his
icon and. opening 1t, kneels down be
fore 1t AS II 1t were a portable altar.
which 1t carries as 1t would carry its
banner when the regiment goes into
battle.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
THE ENCORE.
II Originated In France In the Seven
teenth Century.

It Originated In France In the Seven
teenth Century.
The beginning of the encore dates
back to some time between 1915 and
1909, probably about 1880, when Louis
XIV demanded the repetition Of GER
tain parts of an opera The opera was
by Corneille, Foutenele and Boileau.
which was sung before his majesty
and the king was so pleased with GER
tain parts that he asked to have them
repeated. 1t took fully a century for
the ordinary opera goers to obtain the
kings prerogatiye for themselves. 1t
came about In this way: Gluck had
produced an opera which had been a
failure: but. having rewritten the
worst parts, he produced ii again. One
or two songs We're accepted by the au-
dience with applause, and one In par
ticular was demanded a second time
The most remarkable eneores on rec
ord are those which were insisted upon
hy the late king of Bavaria. Before he
was known to be insane, when merely
thought eccentric. he had plays per
formed before him as the sole auditor
the curtain rising at midnight. If he
liked the play lie insisted on having 1t
repeated at once. But. unlike most en-
core fiends, he paid literally for them.
Though our word encore" Is adopt
ed from the French. they themselves
do not make use OF II In this connec.
ton They call BIS. bis" and obtain
repetition-New York Herald.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11

w. f. Magoon has been in Skowhegan
for few days.
The funeral of John Pooler, an old and
respected resident OF this town, was held
at his home on Saturday afternoon aud
was attended by large number OF people.
Mr.. pooler had been great sufferer from
a mastoid abscess, which was operated
upon by Bangor and Piustield physicians,
but he continued to fail until Thursday
morning, when the end came.
VIII Stacy of Newport was in town
Saturday.
We have heard bells ringing in the dis
lance for some time, but failed to recog-
nize them as wedding bells until they
reached the town clerks office. and now
we feel free to whisper il to the REPoR-
TER. Particulars later
Palmyra Grange is insiructing over 50
members in the work of the order.
Origin of the Four Post Bedstead.
In medieval times, when life was
very Insecure. 1t was usual for people
to sleep on a bed which was surround
ed by sides of boards with strong posts
at the four corners. These sides con
tanned sliding doors, which could be
fastened inside When men retired to
rest they took weapon with them. II
attacked In the night they were arous
I'd by the noise made by the crashing
In OF their wooden defenses and were
able TO defend themselves When the
law became strong enough to protect
human life the sides of the bedstead
were gradually dispensed with, but the
four posts remained. The boxlike bed
stead still survives in the rural parts
of Scotland and Is almost necessary
where the earthen floors and imperfect
ceilings cause much damp. Emily
Bronte In "Wuthering Heights" de-
scribes one of these bedsteads In the
old mansion as forming little closet"
Mr.. Lock wood who had to sleep In 1t.
says, II slid back the panel sides, got
In with my light, pulled them together
again and felt secure"
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11

The whale does not discharge water,
but only its breath This. however In
rushing up into the air hot from the
animals body has the moisture con
densed to form a sort of rain. and the
colder the air, just as in the case Of
our own breath, the more marked the
result. When the spout Is made with
tho blowhole clear above the surface OF
the water 1t appears like sudden jet
OF steam from a boiler. When effect
ed, as 1t sometimes is, before the blow
hole reaches the surface. low fountain
as from street fire plug Is formed, and
when the hole Is close to the surface at
the moment little water Is sent up
with the tall jet of steam. The cloud
blown up does not disappear at once,
but hangs n little while and Is often
seen to drift a short distance with the
wind
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
No MORE HEADACHE
GENERAL WEAKNESS AND FEVER
DISAPPEAR TOO.
How a Woman Was Freed from Troubles
That Had Made Life Wretched for
Many Years.

The immediate causes of headaches
vary, but most of them come from poor
or poisoned blood. In anamia the blood
is scanty or thin the nerves are imper-
fectly nourished and pain is the way i'll
which they express their weakness. In
colds the blood absorbs poison from the
mucous surfaces, and the poison irritates
the nerves and produces pain. In rheu-
matism, malaria and the grip, the poison
i'll the blood produces like discomfort. In
indigestion the gases from the impure
matter kept in the system affect the
blood III the same way.
The ordinary headache-cures at best
give only temporary relief. They deaden
the pain but do not drive the poison ont
of the blood. DR.. Williams Pink Pills
on the contrary thoroughly renew the
blood and the pain disappears perma.
nently. Women in particular have found
these pills an unfailing relief in head.
aches caused by anemia.
Miss Stella Blocker recently said. Or.
Williams Pink Pills did me IA great deal
Of good. had headache nearly all the
time. After | had taken three boxes Of
these pills became entirely we'll.
"How long had you suffered ?" she
was asked.
"For several years, l can't tell the
exact date when my illness began for it
came on by slow degrees. l had been
going down hill for many years
"Did you have any other ailments?"
"Iwas very weak and sometimes had
fever. My liver and kidneys were af-
fected ~ well as my head "
How did you come to take the rem.
edy that cured YOU"
81 saw i'll southern newspaper n
statement of some person who was cured
of like trouble by DR.. Williams Pink
Pills. My physician hadn't done me any
good, 50 | bought box of these pills.
After had taken one box felt SO much
better that kept on until became en-,
tirely we'll
Miss Blocker's home is at Leander
Louisiana. Dr. Williams Pink Pills are
sold by I'LL druggists. Besides headache
they cure neuralgia, sciatica, nervous
prostration, partial paralysis and rheu'
matlsm.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11

The district superintendent of schools
has made his first visit OF inspection TO
the Webster, Franklin, Burleigh and G.
E. Ball schools, passing the Sabbath 10
town. The new desks have come for the
Franklin school, but those for the other
two are unsccouutably delayed.
D. Bert Durgin and wife are soon TO go
to the George Durgin camp for the sum-
mer, where Bert has contract to get pop
lar. We have no doubt the mosquitoes
aod hinges will make it interesting for
them and prevent onesomeness.
John B. Comber and family moved into
the Bert Durgn camp, about hall mile
from their home. 90 May Ist John is
foreman Tor F. n. Colby 10 poplar oper-
alton and Mrs Combe, is to cook ill tall
Mrs John Kennedy is quite sick agaio.
Mr.. Kennedy is al work on the kIbby
drive and Laura Durgin is at work for
them.
Mrs. James H. Kinsley is still feeble.
HIT. Gilman and family have moved
10 Augusta, having sold their house 10
West Forks to Charles Mitchell. We are
sorry indeed to lose them. Miss George
will remain with her grandparents, MI.
and Mrs. Jeremiah A. Durgin, till the
close Of the spring term of school.
Thomas Berry and family Of Caratunk
moved to the West Forks hotel last Sat-
urday. He has leased the property for
Two years.
County Attorney Young and Mrs.
Young were at The Forks hotel Sunday
afternoon aud night
Scion Bunker, who has been i'll at his
home 10 Mercer, has returned and is gain
ing slowly.
We hear excellent reports Of the work
OF Ira w. Durgin and w. Harold Moody
in the Piel and w. H. Clark schools.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11


General Lew Wallace had In mind an
American novel He once said that II
was his Intention to write this story
after he had completed his memoirs
HIS theme was the striving of Amerl-
cans to accomplish wonderful things III
an Incredibly short time His hero was
TO be a restless American who lived for
a few years In Europe, then In Austria
liz. In Africa and in South America
and who finally, after years OF wander
ing returns to his own country only to
start again upon his journey, never
satisfied, never happy. the spirit of an
Indian within him and the Childlike de
sire to see new scenes. In each or
these countries his hero was to accom-
plish worthy deeds. and when he re
turns to his own country 1t Is with the
Intention of leading the life Of son of
the soil, but his hero finds he cannot do
so. The story would have been sugges-
tive of The Wandering Jew with the
element of religious controversy elimi-
mated Success.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
a New Language Method.

If person has, as the Celts say
"only one side to his tongue" and
wishes to add to his resources In the
matter of language II might be well
for him TO apply to an old man In
Scotland, whose methods of instruction
are simple. They are described In
Scenes In Scotland" by Mr. Sinclair
lady visiting In the north of Scot
land wished TO get some idea of the
Gaelic and employed an old native to
give her course of language lessons.
The Scotsman took the Bible for the
text book. and. opening II ii the he.
ginning Of Genesis. he said
Nov. ma'am, III read this 10 You
in the Gaelic. and you'll see Yourself
how it will go
With solemn intonatiun aud an ap-
pcaling. triumphant glance toward the
lady ut the end of every clause, he
loudly read the first four verses and
paused 10 watch the effect Then he
said in n tone of deep conviction:
Nov. maam If you'll take your
own Bible and turn to that chapter aud
read II In English youll see It's Just
the sefsame thing"
The old man was much surprised tha'
the lady did not continue her lessons.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
The Game of Checkers.

The game Of checkers, whether we
call II checkers or draughts, is ancient
and almost universal. The Chinese
have a form OF it which they call the
game of circumvention. 1t was
known to the Egyptians. the Greeks
and the Romans. and. what is stranger
still antlquarians find ii 30 be one Of
the amusementS Of the aborigines Of
New Zealand, Il people who were APP
parently cut off from all continental
associations and influences for thou
sands of years So the pedigree of the
game is as long rs that of chess, and
indeed there have been skillful players
of both games who regarded checkers
rs the better of the two.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11

In Constantinople three Christmas
celebrations, two New Years days and
two other holy days follow each other
In quick succession. AS the "old
style" calendar brings Dec % two
weeks after the same day new style,
two Christmases. the first Latin and
the second Greek, are inevitable And
rs stormy weather kept delegation
of Armenians from attending an
eeumenical council AT Chalcedon In
i1l. at which council the date of Christ
mas was changed from jim. q TO Dec.
-. the Armenians have ever since kept
their old day.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11

An English newspaper says that a
schoolmaster was in the habit of pun
ishing scholars who came late TO
school in the morning by keeping
them In In the afternoon One who
was five minutes late was kept in ten
minutes and so on in proportion. One
morning 1t CHANGED that the school
master was half an hour late and a
smart boy among his pupils was not
slow to remind him of the fact. TN
very sorry for being late, boys" said
the schoolmaster, with a twinkle in his
eye, and as punish you it's only fair
that you In turn should punish me, so
you will all stay and keep me in for an
hour this afternoon.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
ALL THE NEWS
from Somerset towns.
f1artland

w. r. Parker of Ellsworth was here
asst week on a brief business visit
Mrs. Hattie Blake was in Waterville
during the past week, visiting With fela-
iives
Iohn Lord and William Clifford OF Bos-
ton were 10 town Friday on business.
Miss Minnie Littlefeld OF Skowhegan
is visiting in the nome OF her father, Low
ell Litllehed.
/. E Bova OF Aubufndae Mass, was
visitor. Saturday and Sunday, IN the
families OF O NJ Lancey add Lewis Fish.
The Hartland Guild was entertained by
Mrs. Alice NJ. Cook last Thursday, and
will meet Thursday OF this week with Mrs
w G. Henderson.
Mrs. Greeley Bigelow and Mrs. Will
lam Big-low and daughter OF St. Albans
were among the out-ot-town people seen
on our streets Friday.
Frank Libby OF Fairfield has purchased
OF |. w JeWelt his farm on Webb Ridge
and has moved his family to that place.
Mr.. Jeweu is, at present, undecided
where he will locate.
Fred Palmer has leased the Matthews
larm, a short distance out OF Hartland
village on the St. Adams road, for year
and will soon remove his family there.
Miss Grace Rogers of Pittsheld has
been procured to teach music in the Hart
land public schools and to drill the Meth
odist Church choir, which is composed OF
Young people, in sacred music Miss
Rogers is graduate of the Boston Con-
servatoy Of Music.
Alta recent meeting of the trustees of
the East Somerset Agricultural Society
the dates chosen for their annual cattle
show and fair were October s. and ].
The society also voted to have Fourth
OF July celebration, to consis, of fantasies
and base ball game 10 the forenoon and
horse racing in the afternoon. One or
more bands will be 10 attendance through
gu, the day and the days program will be
concluded with grand ball in the Opera
House 10 the evening
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11

One day an army surgeon was dress,
ing the wound of soldier who had
been shot In the neck near the carotid
artery suddenly the blood vessel gave
way, and just as quickly the surgeon
thrust his finger into the hole TO stop
the flow
Doctor" sald the soldier. what
does that mean
ut means death. said the surgeon
calmly.
How long can l live" asked the
soldier, whose mind WAS perfectly
clear.
Until 1 remove my finger" said the
doctor
The soldier asked for pen and paper,
wrote his will and an affectionate let
ter to his wife and when the last thing
was done said quietly
Let 1t go"
The surgeon withdrew his finger. the
blood rushed out, and In a few mo-
ments the man was dead.-Cleveland
Plain Dealer
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11

James q. Merriman of Topsham was
probably fatally injured in the yard at
Pttsfield, Friday afternoon, by falling
between two cars of moving train.
Merriman was a brakeman on what is
known as Merrill's train, "A work train in
charge of Conductor w. r. Merrill, and
the train WAS working about Pittsfield
when the accident occurred.
The annual meeting of the State lii
brary Association will be held in Pitts
field, May Is. The East Maine Club
will meet there on the same day. The
principal speaker will be Sam Walker
Foss, the poet humorist. who is librari-
an of the Somerville, Mass, public Ii
brary. The meetings will be held at the
library building and in the auditorium
of the First Universalist church.
John Poolsr, an old resident of Pal
myra, died at his home in West Palmyra.
Friday of last week. He has been suf-
fering for the past eight weeks with a
mastoid abscess. Four weeks ago he
was operated upon by DR.. Clough of
Bangor, assisted by Drs. Griffin and
Porter of Pittsfield. de was a men,
Der of the Masonic and Odd Fellows
lodges of Pittsdeld. His age was 10
years.
fatal accident of an unusual nature
occurred at Edgcomb, Thursday of last
week Arthur Erskine of South New
Castle. while attempting to get onto a
load of hay in the barn of Charles Hag.
gett, was thrown to the ground by the
sudden starting of the horses and the
wheels passed over his head and should
ers, killing him instantly. He was aged
q years, and wife and two children
survive him.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11

The staid. dignihed and hOmely bald
headed eagle, the glorious emblem OF
the American republic mates but once
and lives with his one mate until he or
she dies. II left a widower-even a
young widower-the baldheaded eagle
never mates again. He remains alone
and disconsoate in the nest on the
rocky crag or in the branches of tall
pine that formed his domleile while his
mate was alive No other female eagle
can tempt him to forsake his discon
ISOLATE lifp
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
THE PRICE OF A LIFE.
How IL Was Fixed Under the Old
AnRIO-SaxOn Laws.

According to Anglo Saxon laws, eY-
cry mans life including that Of the
king, was valued at fixed price, and
any one who took 1t could commute the
offense by money payment upon a
fixed scale, The life of peasant was
reckoned to be worth 200 shililngs, that
of man Of noble birth 1900 shillings.
and the killing Of king involved the
regicide in "A payment of 20O shll-
lings
1t has been pointed out that the heir
TO the throne could thus get rid of the
existing occupant by numbering him
and thereafter handing over the fine,
according to the scale. to the excheq-
uer, when his offense would he purged
and his money would come back to
himself for In those days the sover-
elgn received all fines as personal per
quisltes. There is very little doubt
that these rough means were practical
ly applied in the case OF some rulers of
England in the preconquest period
London Telegraph.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
A stickler For Promptnesa.

A certain merchant In Boston Is
noted for being stickler In the matter
of promptness TO the extent that he has
been known to walk out of church be
cause the services did not begin
promptly and to leave his sister alone
In strange city because she was four
minutes late in keeping an appoint
ment. Not long ago he overheard a
forcefu exposition of his peculiarly.
He had walked out to his stable and
was about to go In when he heard the
new groom within say to the coach
man, "Is 1t thrue, Dolan, that the boss
is cracked about doing things on time
and goes into fit whin anybody is
late?"
"Thrue? ThrueT' cried Dolan. Let
me tell you, Ryan, how thrue 1t IL. II
the boss had promised to mate himself
at illyen o'clock and was late he'd find
himself gone whn he got there. That's
how thrue 1t is
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
LepIosy.

Smallpox. or yariola, was not known
to the Romans before the sixth century.
Leprosy ls as different from it as palsy
Is from St. Vitus' dance What Is this
awful disease? Something endemic,
chronic, malignant with cutaneous
lesion 1t is a scabious affection OF a
dreadful character, attacking nations
negligent of cleanliness and the decen-
cies of LIS All that France and Eng
land gained by engaging in the cru
sades was leprosy, and of all that they
took leprosy was the only thing that
remained with them. In olden times
every man laborlng under the disease
was imprisoned like thief or robber
Moth holes and the mildew on walls
were believed TO be the effects OF lep-
rosy New York Press.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
East SkOWilegan.

Fine growing weather and grass never
looked better this time of year.
Apple trees are leaving out nicely and
the indications are we shall have good
crop Of apples. Grating should be done
as soon as possible, and the scions will
make good growth. Baldwins take the
lead this spring.
The shooting affair at Canaan last week
created quite an excitement in the COM
muni,y and it looks as though the guilty
party would suffer.
Early sowed grain is up and looks nice
". Some peas are two inches high.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11

1t ia learned from Vineyard Haven,
Mass that on Sunday morning the Joy
line steamer Arkansas, Capt. Rood, was
sunk in collision with the barge Glen
dover, one and half miles southeast of
the Pollock Rip shoals lightship. Only
one life was lost, that of Mamie Kelley,
aged about % years, and address un-
known. She was passenger from New
York for Boston. The other passengers,
of whom there were SO, we're brought to
Vineyard Haven by the tug Patience, of
the tow, and landed at midnight. The
collision was due to fog.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11
catarrh Cannot be Cured

with LOCAL APPLICATIONS, as they can.
not reach the seat OF the disease. Catarrh is a
blood or constitutional disease, and in order to
cure 1t you must take internal remedies. Hall s
reotly on the blood and mucous surfaces
Halls Catarrh Cure is not quack medicine,
1t was prescribed by enc OF the best physicians in
this country for years and is regular pre-
scripton. It is composed Of the best tonics
known, combined with the best blood purifiers,
acting directly on the mucous surfaces The
perfect combination OF the two ingredients IL
what produces such wonderful results in curing
Catarrh. Send for testimonials free.
F. CHENEY & CO., Props, Toledo, o.
Sold by druggists, price, 76c
Take Halls Family Pills for constipation.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11

The baby had swallowed two but
tons n dime and three marbles.
For moment his optimistic father
seemed a trlhe disheartened. But pres
emily he regancd his equanimty.
1T saves mo the expense Of buying n
rattle for him" he chuckled as he dan
died the infant on his knee. - Cleveland
Plain Dealer
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-05-11


pure, body building blood 1t bfightens
the eyes, cleanses the skin and gives
new, physical energy
Accept no substitute for DR. Pierce
Golden Medical Discovery.
II thank God for the good your medicines
have done me, writes Mr. James NJ Szemore
of Mitchell Lawrence Co Ind Box sol Il
was well for two years Ny throat
always sore. head ached aud back ached nearly
all the time My weight was tSS pounds I
taken sick with typhoid fever. and when
the fever lefl me had such a pain III my len
side could not breathe without pain
thought | must die Ny wife went to the
drug store and procured bottle of Dr Pierees
Golden Medical Discovery aud a vial Of his
Pleasant Pellets | discontinued the use Of
my doctors medicine and began with the
Golden Medical Discovery aud Pellets l at
once began to feel better the pain soon left my
side and could breathe with case. In week
or felt good | could not stay in the room
began to walk about the streets | felt better
each morning Amer months use of the medi-
cine | well That a year ago.
Now l weigh Is4 pounds and feel better than
in my life"
DR. Perce's Pleasant Pellets cure con-
stipation.