davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-04-29

Peter Gross broke his thigh by fall
ing into railroad culvert at Havre de
| Grace on Saturday.
Harvey Fiskc \ Sons. it is said.
represent New York capitalists. who
| have decided to invest S1O.OOO,0OO in
rcveloping power IT Mi all : Ferry on
til" Su>uuehannh. Iic gnwrr furnished
i. to be used in rhi'l,lr.l | it which will
| r,ilze the full supply.
The fro<t> Of last week are reported
to have killed many Young birds in their
nests. Mr.. NJ. Odell. landscape gardner
for Mrs. II. \. Richardson. ~f Dover
picked NJ dXtythrcc dead birds. mostly
in huncht> of three, robbins. thlnShes
and other soH@ birds.
A preliminary meeting was held last
week by the managers of the Newark
Trust and Safe Deposit Company re-
Gently incorporated by the Delaware
Legislature. 1t is expected that the
concern will be shortly fully organized
and ready for business.
There WAS good attendance at the
Ir0pcming services at Salem NJ. T..
Church. near Cooch'S Bridge on the
10Th inst. Rev. l.. L. Karholecn. Con
rvrcn,r Evangelist. Rev. +. +. Carpen-
tOr ana Rev. J. NJ. Collins. preached
and about 500 WA, collected.
The dwelling trEantcd by Louis II.
King, lHratcd on the farm of Miss Sarah
f.. Hyatt between Mddlrtown and War
wick. was burned last Friday. The fire
WAS caused by Il defective tlur. and none
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-04-29
NEWS In BRIEF.


pole near Oxford, one day last week, but
escaped unhuIt.
Lawrence f. Cain. '07 of Delaware
College. won the medal in the declama-
tion contest arranged last week by the
Y'S of Newark.
The total receipts from the enter
tainmcnt recently given by the Irving
Literary Society. of West Nottingham
Academy, reached SIT.
The dwellings of G.. Il. Snyder and
S. l.. Chapman in Rising Sun. narrow
~ escaped destruction on Saturday by
fire caused by an exploding lamp.
C. j. Parker and J. L. Walker of
Havrc de Grace havc been granted pat
cntS for IN improved hot-air cooker and
an improved "Idcal" tomato >c7lldrr.
-Gcorgc W. Baldwin has completed
the setting cut of 5000 peach trees of
different varieties on the Sprsutia Is
land farm of Hon. Murray Nnndivcr.
The Prrhytcry Of Baltimore will
celebrate May 81 the four hundrcdth
anniversary of the death of John Knox.
TIE pionrrr of Prr~lytcIianiSm in Scot
land.
John l.. Hanna. of Brnir. WAS, choS-
on Il commissioner from tn" l'r>iNtery
OF baltimore to the Genera! Assembly
which meets ut Wirnna Park. Ind. Oh
May Is.
oWlNG 10 thr ah>,A'' "l MISS luna
h'pN"N' '"' ''I''i''I WE" - '"l''l''
10 h'r nome III i arr IN! ny I'm I''H'N
"i hlulI>' l"''''HI N''""N Nch'''' WIS
'I'S'" H'>' N''N'
1t is said that ut least rnr-fourth Of
last v,rIr'., Intntn crop i still in the
;,. I, - ~
1.LL .,,. .h.. ,rI,r.
The S1th birthday of Mis-. Mary
Ann Jackson was observed by a family
reunion "n Wrr)m,. lay. the 10Th inst.
ut her hrnr At Jackson. Her descend
ants. three generations. number 81.
i'U' rev >n"" were '1"Sl. I"N' WEN
nut herring were more pI'hliinI' lrc'H
rue" hl@h III linN't "' ''nnC'' Hm INV
S'"ln& Il. Mh"" ,"' ~ I'''' 80 W. ''''
per hundred AN" herring III t" cents
IL, l.. Nctarrlrll has arrived at Co
lora from Texas. where he went some
time ago hoping to restore HIS health.
twithStan,ling his weakened condition
Nv ',u = sun ~ ''''' '''''' INV ''''7
Mrs. Susan Car1ow. wife Of John
y. Cnrrow. died last Thursday night at
her home in Middctown. aged - years.
Her funeral WAS held on Monday with
intrrmcnt in the Odd Fellows Cemetery
p;u;,,,, Uri,.b+ ,,1 II u N-r,,ht
- ''''''- " ''-''' ''''' 49,
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-04-29

"A preliminary meeting was held last
week by the managers of the Newark
Trust and Safe Deposit Company re-
Gently incorporated by the Delaware
LEGISLATURE 1t is expected that the
concern will he shortly fully organized
and ready for business.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-04-29

The dwelling trEantcd by Louis II.
King. l~rntrd on the farm of Miss Sarah
+. Hyatt between Middlctown and War
wick. was burned hast Friday. The fire
was caused by Il defective flur, and none
of the contents We're saved. The loss is
>'lid to be covered by Insurance.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07
"THE WILD MEN OF SOMERSET" A MAINE
COLONY OF pAUpERS AND IDIOTS

Of the family informed Abe by signs Of what
was going on and he fell to blubbering like
a great baby. but suddenly one Of the women
put an al In his hands, punched him and
shouted:
'Mow 'em, Abe
Instantly Abe was transformed into a
maniac giant. With hre In bis eyes he
dashed upon the officers and would
have worked havoc had not some one
shot him in the leg. Since then he has
had a mortal fear Of a gun and viii run
like deer II any one makes believe TO take
aim at him.
The women Of the Brown family are not
exactly Of the olinging variety. When a
deputy sheriff Of Athens a few years ago
went up 70 the Tuttle borough after some
cattle, Mary Tuttle blazed away at him
Of the field by the grit Of the officer. who
secured the cattle and drove them away
before him.
il Is a dismal region where these wretches
exist. Once there were good farms there,
but in many places the soil has become
rusty and thin. Several farms have been
abandoned. Others are occupied by the
shiftless people, who care only for bare
For four miles along the highway lead
ing toward old jed Browns there are nu-
merous families, but every one Is sup
ported wholly or In part by some town
in which the people have gained a resi-
dence. IL l. a. though tho region we're
a land Of exile for the paupers. some Of
the men are ablebodied and strong, but
they lack the faculty OF making a living
for themselves.
The people have been driven back to the
outskirts Of civilization, b yond the reach
of good influences and with the curse OF
heridity 10 haunt them and their children.
They work on their farms, but whatever
stock or crops they produce Is sure TO De
gobbled up by some one with whom they
trade, and when winter comes on they are
destitute. They are invariably worsted
10 a dicker but they can't resist the temp
tation TO swap.
What 70 do with the Wild men Of Somer-
set Is one Of the greatest social problems
IN Maine to-day No one seems much
interested In It's solution, although every
year ths Christian people OF the State CON
tribute literally 70 funds Tor the bonodt %
hoathan a digtant hnda - /
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

Sembrich organized q concert for the Home
for the Blind two winters ago, in which all
the artists were Poles, Edouard de Reszke
and Timothee Adamowski both giving
their services. The receipts we're nearly
50 900.
There are still benefits that yield a real
profit 10 their promoters and do not involve
so much trouble and expense. These are
the ones on which very little is expended
for the artists who take part and all the
expenses are kept down 10 a small figure
The benefit may not be so brilliant, but It
serves its purpose better than the others.
Nobody knows the inside history
Of these benefits said the proprietor Of
an entertainment bureau 10 q Sun reporter,
and how few Of them ever make any money,
Most Of the women who get them up keep
silent after the performance rather than
let IL be known how little they really take
in and how much Of that goes toward
paving the expenses Of the affair.
1t IL possible for any charity with large
following 10 give a benefit at any tims
that will make money II the affair Is properly
managed. To make several thousand dol
lars, 1t Is necessary 10 put up a much more
elaborate bill than II the promoters will be
satisfied with 81, 900 or $500.
'An money spent In hanging out posters
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

WASHINGTON, May e.-The gift Of new
kind Of money from Uncle Sam furnished
the Fillpinos with substantial grounds for
grand celebration last lth Of July. This
4th Of July the Finpinos will have another
cause for jublation.
On that day they viii Be supplied with
a new and distinctive series Of postage
stamps Of all denominations, This will
mark an epoch IN the history Of the islands.
They will be the first real Filipino postage
stamps ever used.
For sentimental reasons this new Issue Of
Philippine stamps will possess great interest
for the people Of the United States, al
though they will not be available for postage
here any more than are Cuban stamps. Upon
six OF the denominations viii appear por-
traits Of distinguished citizens Of the United
States,
The four oentavo, corresponding 70 our
two cent stamp, win bear the photograph
Of William Mckinley. This will be the
first time the face Of President Mckinley
has had a place on q postage stamp.
At the time Of his death the Post ofloe
Department had under consideration q new
series Of stamps, and Immediately there
developed a strong sentiment In favor Of
honoTi1g Mr.. Mckinley with place on one
Of the denominations This could not be
done without displacing Washington. Prank
lin, Lincoln or Grant, provided Mckinley
was 10 have a place on a stamp Of general
use
In view Of the fact that Franklln's por-
trait had appeared on our stamp Of lowest
value from the time Of the issue Of our first
stamps, and Washington had always CO.
cupied a similar position on the stamp
carrying domestic letter mail, II was de-
clded not 10 disturb them Then there
was serious discussion Of the proposition to
issue a mourning stamp bearing the head
Of Mckinley, but this was also abandoned.
Now McKinley's face viii appear on a
postage stamp, and It will adom the stamps
used by the people liberated from the yoke
Of Spain during his Administration
The new series Of stamps for tho Philip
pines viii consist OF the same numbor and
minations-eIpressed In oentavos-ss
the current issue Of United States stamps.
The designs will be as follows:
Two centavos q oentt-BuEt Of RlEal.
the idol Of tho Fillplnos, who was executed
by the spaniards because OF his activity IN
fghtlng for his countIy's freedom. This stamp
viii carry the bulk OF Philippine domestic
mail
-Four oentavos-Bust OF Mckinley,
Six centavos-Bust Of Magellan, disooverer
OF the Philippines.
Eight eeutavos-Bust OF Lsraspi. who hrst
established civil government In the PHILIPPINES.
Ten centavos-Bust Of Gen. Lawton. killed
IN the Philippines.
Twelve ocrtavos-BuHt Of Abraham Lincoln.
sixteen centavos-Bust Of Admiral Sampson.
Twenty centayos-Bust Of GEORGE Wash
inEton.
Twenty-six oentGvos-Bust Of CARBIDE, the
spanish philsnthropist. whose benefnctionG
provided Manila with ia 1rst water supply.
Thirtylcentavos-Bust Of BenIHinin Franklin.
One Two, four and ten pesos bear the coat
Of arms OF the Fnlpinos. havint no portraits.
Special delivery Htamp-F iEire Of . Pill mo
messenger boy - Ons end Of ths Stsnpl the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

when molested OF annoyed IL hi.iouA
The court records show that In the past
they have troubled the farmers consider
ably by petty thieving. coming down from
the hills and mountains above Brighton.
like the Scottish highlAnders, TO raid the
country. They know what the law is, but
haven't the strength Of mind % resist good
fat sheep or tempting farm product.
Abe Brown is the most picturesque Of
them all. He IL about 80 years old, is black
hairy and has been foolish from birth. He
is unable to talk, his vocabulary being
confined 10 a few cultural sounds, but he
can yell like a wildcat. He has gigantic
strength and has been used a. a beast Of
burden for many years.
He has frequently been seen pulling
ahead Of oxen on a breaking up pillow. get
ting an occasional jab with the goad. He
has hauled -four and groceries from
Brighton and Athens for years and fire.
auently In winter drags the women Of the
family down 10 the village Of Brighton,
Ave miles away. on a sled.
He used TO amuse the children IN the
village by prancing and kicking like horse.
Al one time he got IL into his bead that be
must be tied every time that he went 10 the
village, TO prevent his running away, and
while the woman he brought 20 town was
trading in the store he would gnaw the
hitching post outside Ike horse.
He will obey commands implicitly, and
mischievous people have frequently set
the Door chap TO tasks which have caused
serious results 10 himsslf and other people,
II any one. no matter who, has told him 10
take an article. Abe has picked IL up and
religiously lugged II home 20 his mother.
He Is as easily Influenced TO deeds Of
violence.
Some years ago the authorities Of the
town Of CorneviIle thought Il would be
better 20 support the Browns on the Como
Vile town farm than In Brighton, and 40
they sent up Officers 70 compel the exodus
Of the whole family. The order caused
mighty upToar. ....t...
Old and young voro plntoutFidkuA. Sons
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

Not With the same regularity, but as
easily as a pendulum swings forward and
back, the boys 60 from their seats about
the piano 10 the gymnasium and return
many times during a rehearsal. When
they have been giving undivided attention
for some time TO rendering a difficult pas
sage In just the right way; II they show
by manner or voice the fatigue which
makes constructive thinking, II not i'm
possible, very dihicult; II there is the slight
est tendency 10 restiveness. they are swung
into the gymnasium part Of the room by a
Nov take to the woods, boys.' from Mr..
Baker.
With rush, but without unseemly bolster
BUSINESS, they make for the different parts
Of the gymnasium. A knot Of them gathers
four or i've deep on the rings, each boy
clinging TO the one above him and thus
they gaily rate. Otheu double the bars
and 90 on. Not . boy fails to continue
to exercise until . note Tn the piano re-
calls them to their work.
The rehearssls are held every dav
but Sunday. II is understood that all
members Of the choir shall 10 present
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

proved 20 be failures and not worth the
time and trouble taken In them. Mana gers
will now rarely allow their actors to take
part In these performances, even when
they ara paid.
Mr.. Conreid always charges now for the
Metropolitan, and did so in the case Of the
Holland and Modjeska testimonials. He
never allows his singers 10 appear for
compensation without his permission, al
though sometimes they are able 10 appear
without compensation II that does not
Interfere with their work at the opera.
The prima donnRs all make their own
rules In the matter Of benefit appearances.
Nine. Sembrich. il she sings for charity,
does II for nothing OF not at all. With the
Arrangements that Mr. Conreid may make
for her services at concerts she has nothing
TO do.
Nine. Eames, II she is asked 10 sing,
always makes IL a rule 20 say that she will
be happy 10 do so II the lady who asks her
will agree 70 give 10 the charity an amount
equal at what Nine. Eames would receive
II she we're paid. II Is not necessary 10
say that this condition Is rarely complied
with. Nine. Nordica Is usually willing
TO accept whatever a charity Il able 70
pay her In case II is impossible to give her
all that she is accustomed to receive. Nine.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

BANGOR, Ne, May e.-Ths hard cider
murder, a. the killing Of William Knights
at West Athens last month Il called, has
again brought 10 public notice the ool-
ony Of pauper and idiots long known
In Maine as 'the Somerset wild men, and
1t is probable that an effort viii be made
10 disperse these unfortunates and pro-
vide for them in almshouses or other in
stitutions, where they may be comfortably
cared for and kept under control.
In barren region Of West Athens. somer-
Get county, are gathered some scores Of
wretched mortals-paupers and descendants
Of paupers from several towns Of the vicinity,
who make pitiful attempt at farming,
and are kept from starvation only by as
sistance from the poor funds Of the towns
where they belong. The present popula-
tion Is composed almost entirely Of two
fRmilies-tbe Browns and the Turtles,
whose members have intermarried for
generations, with the result Of producin z
monsters and idiots, some harmless and
some as dangerous as wild beasts.
These are the facts Of the shArd cider
murder Rufus Brown, Jr., aged 20,
killed William Knights Of Bingham,
and has since been arrested and has con-
fessed the crime. According 10 Browns
story, Knights visited the home Of the
Browns. where, with others, he was enter
tanned with hard cider and other refresh
ments.
Brown became jealous Of Knights. He
got loaded shotgun, and fired both barrels
at Knights and Mrs. Brown, neither Of
whom was wounded. Brown then ordered
Knights from the premises, and, as Knights
went through the door, struck him upon
the head with the stock OF the gun, killing
him Instantly. Knights was SO Year, old,
and leaves a wife and six grown children.
The oldest member Of the colony is Jed
Brown, who Is o5. He was born a pauper
on the farm where he now lives, and his
son. young Jed, and young Jed's children
arc paupers.
The people are not vicious e1cspt at
long Intervals. Ordinarily they are tract
abls and inodonaivs, bus thar Aampar
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

mistake. When he does not he practi-
cally acknowledges a double dereliction,
as IL Is counted that he is lacking In musi-
cal judgment and attention or Is inclined
to shirk his responsibilities.
Nothing Is allowed TO pass unohallenged,
and such Is the standard that these boys
sing acceptably with accomplished musi-
clans. Not long ago the Mendelssohn
Club invited the Calvary choir boys TO do
some work with them. A number was
proposed which the boys had not seen
before. They read It with ease, and to
the surprise OF the men sang II with them
satisfactorily
Under these circumstances Mr.. Bakers
praise Is highly regarded. Thus during
the rehearsal Of a difficult piece the other
day he turned to a fair bright faced boy,
one Of the seniors from among whom the
soloists are selected, and asked that
he sing the passage for them. When the
little fellow, whose voice Is like perfectly
tuned silver bell, had rendered it most
beautifully Mr.. Baker said, smillngi
Swill you remind me, Lincoln, to raise
your salary1- 1t is safe to say the com
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

In hotels and shops 10 attract the outside
public il wasted. II does no harm Of course
to advertise the benefit, but it does not draw
a cent.
In the same way Il IL not important to
have the very first artists. they ma
help doubtful purchasers to buy seats. But
they will not help to bring in the people not
Interested in the charity.
The tickets must be sold by the Pat ron
esses TO their friends. Il Il Of course.
pleasanter for them 70 be able TO say that
they are going TO have such and suoh a
singer or prima DONNA but it will not much
effect the sale Of tickets II the patronesses
are diligent and do their work oonscien-
tiously.
There Il one society which gives an
entertainment every year. The patronesseB
sell the tickets and all the theater. The
entertainment costs less than 500. They
don't have Maude Adams or Mrs, Fiske or
Sembrioh or Carliso. But they get rid Of
the tickets and they have never cleared
less than 81, 900 ct any Of their matiness,
and In some cases the profits have run up
TO 81 500
There Il, Of course, no especial briIianoy
about the pr or am. But the money comes
in and goes to me charity, not 70 the mana
gers and agents
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07
XEREE MINUTES F0R WTSU

mendation this banter implied was AZ
gratifying, In a way, as a veritable raise
Of salary would have been. for there u not
4 boy Of the fifty that make'u up this choir
who does not prize the leaders praise.
The use OF the blackboard in training
choir boys is common, but 20 use it to illus
trate mistakes 10 not usual Mr.. Baker
Is very particular as 10 enunciation. and
thorough believer in natural tone and
cleancut wording. When the boys were
reheansing for Easter, as they finished
singing Mr.. Baker wrote the following
line on the blackboard; This Is the day
the Lord has risen We will rejoice and be
glad in nit assuring them that they had
sung the last word just as they saw il. It
Is not necessary for him TO repeat criti-
cism made in this way.
In sPea king Of his work Mr.. Baker says
he has never yet 70 nd boy who was In
corTigible, When in Philadelphia he mads
up hoir from the slums and had no trouble
With the boys, lie is often surprised when
mothers como to him to ask how their
boys are getting on, and assure him that
they have serio trouble with them at
home and in school. With him their con-
duct has left nothing to desire.
Mr. Baker showed himself a master Of
diplomacy long before be began training
choir boys in New York. While he was
In Rome he met Able Liszt, and Liszt
declined absolutely to play for societies.
The Artists Club Of Rome was very anxious
to have him play at one Of its meetings,
and 20 Mr. Baker was given the difRcult
task OF getting the master to the meeting
and inducing him to play. .-.
After much urging and with the distinct
understanding that he was not to be asked b
to play, IAszt consented to be present.
After a time. Mr.. Baker seated himself at
the piano and began playing, very badly,
one Of LISTS ThapsoGies. At last, In addi- ;
ton TO bad rendering he ventured inter-
polatiOns Of his own. This was too much
for the composer and, rushing TO the piano.
he thrust Mr.. Baker aside and played the
rhapsody as only he could play It, Mr..
Baker had accomplished his purpose, but
the relations between himself and Llszt were
ever after little strained.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

'divs me the right sort Of boys and I
will make the voico4,' said Lacey Baker,
organist-ohoirmaster OF Calvary Church,
whose boyS sang In 'Parsifal' at the Metro
pohtan Opera House. III q boy has the
larynI Of an angel and has not an alert
intelligence he can never sing; but. having
the mind, IL he is properly trained, the voice
will come.
This il not TO say that all voices are
equally good, but rather that the voice,
per 50, is not Of paramount importance,
while I Q intelligence, and that which is
perhaps deeper than intelligence. Is all
important
As further qualification Mr.. Baker
says that light compleKioned boys make
the best singers. When asked II he had any
theory as 10 why this Ia 90, Mr.. Baker said
that he had not, but that his observation
had convinced him Of the fact. Among
the fifty boys in his choir there are not
more than half a dozen who have dark
hair.
II Is also insisted by Mr.. Baker that It is
only when boy Is happy and at ease that
he is in good form for singing. That ex-
plains the unusual methods Mr.. Baker
uses in training choir boys-methods whose
purpose is largely to establish pleasant re-
lations between master and pupils Thus
when he sees the muscles Of a boys face
and brow contract he at oncs calls:
Easy there, Tom; a frown doe not help,
but hinders.'
To insure perfect relaxation, together
With vital energy in the boys, Mr.. Baker
conceived an arrangement which makes
possible quick and easy interchange Of
intellectual effort and physical exercise
during his rehearsals. There are many
boy choiB that have a gymnasium a. their
disposal for q certain length Of time, but
the rehearSing Is entirely apart from it.
Mr.. Baker il solitary In combining thstwo.
With a grand piano at one end Of the
room and q complete gymnasium outht
at the other, Mr.. Baker devotes an hour
and q half each day 10 providing the right
kind OF boys With voices, and also equipping
them With thorough knowledge Of music
and incidentally other things that every
boy should know.