The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-09-26
NORRIOGEWOCk.

the potato crop.
A crew has been at work for some
time upon the piece of road in front
of Russell's ice house, improving 1t,
part of the funds for the purpose come
from the state treasury. Short
stretches of our worst roads are taken
up each year and improved in per-
manent manner by scraping and cart
ing out the dirt until deep ditch re
mains where the road was, this Is
filled with stone in such manner as
to make good underdrain and the
smaller stone and soil are placed on
top. When the spring mud comes or
the heavy rains set, in these improved
roads at once dry out as soon as pleas
ant weather prevails instead OF being
mire holes for days as they were pre-
viously. The town Of Mercer Is also
doing some good work on their roads
giving us quite range for pleasure
driving.
The old tramp chair has gone the
way of all things else that are made of
iron, to the junk pile, and last week
the Junk men were busy for several
hours fishing it out of the mill stream
where it has reposed more or less
peacefully for several years. 1t will
be remembered that a number OF
years ago this sort of an instrument of
torture was devised by an Oakland
man with an idea of being used to
give the weary ones chance to rest
and mediate. 1t was constructed of
an open basket work formation of
heavy iron bars securely riveted to-
gether in the form of closed chair
In which the prisoner could be locked.
After being once fastened in, there
was but little room for movement and
the position was said to be extremely
irksome and if continued for some
time to become almost uncomfortable.
Several of these chairs were made and
sent to various towns for trial and a
bill was introduced into the Legisla-
ture to make it lawful to use them.
The Legislators didn't believe in sit
ting in tramp chair and 80 sat on the
bill and that was the end of the whole
business so far as any wealth coming
to its inventor was concerned. The
chairs have been kicking around ever
since, for several years the boys
found a new resting place for the one
here on each Fourth of July night I'M
til they finally got it dumped into the
stream wnere il was too much of an
effort to resurrect it. 1t weighed
about six hundred pounds.
The opening supper and entertain
ment were held in the Baptist vestry
on Tuesday evening of this week with
a good attendance. The convent
ences of the new vestry was revela-
ton to those who have been obliged
to work heretofore in the confines of
the small room of the original build
ing serving out supper for hun
dred or more people. The big kitchen
with it's long sink for washing dishes,
it's spacious cupboards and ample
table room for the preparation Of
food made all of the ladies wish they
had been placed upon the committee.
The dining roomIopening out from the
kitchen had seating room for about
one hundred and presented festive
when the tables were
filled. The receipts will be used as a
starter toward defraying the debt.
Mrs. Nelson Jones had her ankle
badly sprained Saturday afternoon by
being thrown from carriage while
she was returning from Skowhegan
with her husband. The horse became
frightened by cow which was lying
in the field near the road. Just as
they were nearly opposite, the COW
got up, the horse apparently thinking
that this was hostile movement, de-
cided to retreat while there was yet
time and started for the other field,
overturning the carriage and throw
ing out the occupants. Very fortu-
nately no bones were broken but 1t
will be some time before Mrs. Jones
will be able to get about much.
There will be meeting of the Viii
lage Improvement Society on Friday
afternoon Of this week in their rooms
AS there was a meeting last week this
may be considered by some of the
members as an error originating in
the gray matter Of your correspond
emit, but we have the authority of the
president of the society for it's truth.
Rev. and Mrs. F. G. Davis leave
this week for New Orleans where Mr..
Davis will teach in the Leland Univer-
sity. The kind wishes of scores Of
friends 60 with them in their new
home, where they will stay for the
winter. Miss Florence, who Is a
pharmacist, will retain her
position here in DIR. Ames' drug store
at present.
Mr.. Frank Groves Is moving his
stone shed from It's present location
beside the Somerset Railroad tracks
to his place on the Smithfield road.
There was degree work in Quinne-
o1oo MArdorr nyynnfr,n ~
this week.
Mr.. E. 8. Miller and Mr.. Ralph
Whitney were in Portland last week
to attend the U. s. District Court as
jurors.
Mr.. Hamlin E. Hale has been at
tending the court at Skowhegan as a
member of the Grand jury and Cor
ham Bailey as member of the Traverse
jury.
Miss Laura Baker spent few days
of last week visiting i'll Skowhegan.
G. S. Jewett has charge of the corn
shop at North Fairfield this season.
Mr.. Jewett's long experience in the
business makes him valuable man in
this line.
Mr.. William Bracket and family
visited friends in Arson and North
Arson last Sunday.
The primary and intermediate
schools commenced Monday of this
week. Mrs. Winnie Burgess is teach
ing in the primary department.
A new Ivers & Pond piano has just
been placed in the home OF Mr.. Fred
Everett.
Mr.. Henry Tappan of Waterville
was in town Sunday.
Miss Blanche Smith was in town