davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
Attend The Town Meeting.

The session of the town meeting
which will come to order in Weston
Hall, next Saturday afternoon at two
O'Clock can last but a few hours at the
most; the contract that it is proposed
to adopt at that time is to run for
twenty years and during that period
will intima tely affect the well being
of every household in this com
munity. Who is there, even upon
the most narrow consideration of
personal interest, that can afford to
absent himself from this meeting
The matter at stake is vital and it is
certainly an occasion when it may be
proclaimed, "Speak now, or forever
after hold your peace" Whatever
consequences may follow action de-
cided upon at the meeting of next
Saturday afternoon, certainly only
those who attend will have any right
to hereafter complain regarding
them.
So far as the REPORTER is able to
discover the trend of public senti
ment on the question for which this
special meeting is held, it finds it
somewhat as follows.
A universal preference for con-
tracing with the Skowhegan Water
Company for hydrant rental, provid-
ed efficient pressure can be guaran-
teed and the quality of the water
necessary for domestic uses can be
assured.
Likewise a practically universal
belief, in view of the history of the
past twenty years, that no contract
embodying the above is capable of
giving the assurance required unless
its terms as to what constitutes "suf-
ficient pressure" and 'spotable water"
are accurately defin ed, and suitable
penalties are provided for failure to
comply with the provisions thereof.
Furthermore, well settled convic-
ton that it would be unwise to enter
into a contract with the Skowhegan
Water Company, unless bond for its
performance, or penalties for its vio
lation, can be given and that, in lieu
of contract without such guarantee,
it would be preferable, either for the
town to build water works plant of
it's own or develop its system of
force pump mains and reservoirs.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
q Novel Method of Advertising

\ storekeeper in a small out Of the
way town many years ago hit upon a
novel method of advertising his store.
He conceived the idea of buying up
the stock of stamps at the postotfice
across the way The postmaster OBJ
jected to be denuded of all his stock,
but his mysterious customer demanded
the stamps over the counter sheet aft
er sheet, as an ordinary member Of
the public until he had bought every
sta mp to be had. Then he took the
stock over to his store across the road
and plastered his windows with no.
tees that postage stamps were only
to be had at his store, and to his NOR
tihcation the postmaster had to send
customers across to the store over the
way for any stamps they needed until
some days after he once more got in a
stock from headquarters.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

The biggest revival ever inaugural
ed in the New England States opened
in Boston on Monday. Meetings in
156 churches of all Protestant denom-
nations will be held simultaneously
every day and evening for week.
The revival is under the leadership
of Rev. DIR. ]. Wilbur Chapman OF
Albany, N. Y, assisted by Charles
NJ. Alexander, the gospel singer, and
more than so evangelists from every
part of the country. It is estimated
that fully 100000 persons will be
reached and that the revival will cost
about $4,000.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
The First Pantomime.

John Rich has the credit of produc-
ing the first pantomime ever seen in
England. This was performed on
Dec. %, 1717, at the theater In Lin
coins Inn Fields. Rich had found him
self unable to compete with the legiti-
mate drama at Drury Lane, so he be.
thought himself of the comic Mosques
occasionally performed in London and
combined with their scenic and me
chanlcal effects the maneuvers of the
pantomime ballet. The result was
Harlequin Executed" which the ad-
vertisement of that day described as
"a new italian mimic scene. between
n scaramouch. harlequin, a country
farmer. his wife and others" There
was all the business with which we
we're familiar from childhood, huts
turned into palaces, shops into gar
dens, houses into trees. OF course the
earnest student of the drama pro
tested against this innovation, but
Harlequin, Columbine & Co. have
maintained Their hold on public favor
until the present year of grace.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
He Knew Them.

This was overheard in the lobby of
a big hotel In Cincinnati when a bus
load of travelling statesmen came from
the station. Every man of them as
he signed the register paused TO shake
hands with the hotel clerk-fatherly
old fellow who had been there many
years "Ah." said one of them to the
clerk, ITS good thing you're still on
deck. Uncle Dave. don't think the
house could run without you"
Couldn't 1t. though said Uncle Dave.
You fellows would come in here, and
If there was strange clerk you'd
say, Where's Uncle DaveY And the
clerk would say: why, didn't you
hear? IIeA died a month ago And
then you'd say: Well, I'll be darned!
That's too bad. Say, when II din
ner be readyT"
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
Economy of Costly Foods.

The economy of expensive foods Is
explained by the fact that digestion,
at least in man. is dependent upon
favors. without which it is so defec-
tive that we do not obtain the good of
the food we swallow AS far as ex-
periments go. they substantiate these
assertions. for the sight and smell of
pleasing food start the flow Of di-
gcstive fluids. while disagreeable odors
and sight stop it. Delicatessen, then,
would seem to he staples, for they are
necessary. The talk Of being able To
subsist on Il few cents Il day is simply
nonsense and leads to deterioration OF
health What seems to be eXtrava-
gance in food purchases may be
wholesome instinct The high cost of
living is partly due to the cost Of the
flavors we need. We commend these
ideas to our worthy dictetic econo-
mists. Laymcn may not bc SO foolish
as the psychologists themselves. -
American Medicine.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

A Kansas newspaper in the report
of hotei fire says that the rumors of
the death of one of the guests "were
practically confirmed by the finding
of his headless body in the ruins. "
We don't see why the Kansas paper
should leave US in such doubt as re-
CARDS the final termination of the
fire, and the results to the aforesaid
guest.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

The greatest gathering of aged
persons since the days of the Jewish
elders and the times of Methuselah
took place last week in New York's
east side district. The event was the
celebration of a sixtieth wedding an
niversary on the part Of wife age
eighty-fiv and a husband aged
ninety. Around the table were
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

The Maine Federation of club ladies'
had grand meeting at Augusta last
week, brim full of carefully digested
and finely written essays. The presi
dent, Mrs. F. H. White of Lewiston,
presided and Al clubs were repre-
scented. The main thought of the
meeting seemed to be concentrated
upon 'forestry," how to conserve our
present forests, and add to the same.
The best paper on the subject was by
Mrs. Joseph A. Thompson of Bangor.
1t was recommended to the Legisla-
ture to purchase Mt. Kahtadin and
considerable territory adjoining for a
forest preserve. A paper of great
beauty, upon the subject of Beauty"
was read by Mrs. Fred A. Leitch OF
Skowhegan.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
Dressing the Sponge.

When sponges are FIRST torn from
the sen bed they are Of n dark color
and living BY tramping and pressing
them with the feet milky substance
oozes out, whereupon the sponge dies.
They are then immersed in the sea
for space of eight or ten hours. The
dark. skinny substance is then remov-
ed by scraping, and gradually, through
cleaning. drying and bleaching, they
take on the fine yellow color which
characterizes many of them.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

The 46th annual meeting of the
Maine Press Association will be held
at theState House, Augusta Wednes-
day and Thursday, Feb. 3 and A. The
meetings will be of special interest
only to members of the fraternity.
Gov Hips reception to the Association
and ladies', along with his reception
to members Of the Legislature, will
take place at his elegant mansion on
the evening of the Sd.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
Traced by a BIuebottle Fly.

The great objection to the use OF
poison for rats is that they retire to
their homes and die there. to become
a nuisance and a menace to health.
Friends of the writer were compelled
to have the floor and wainscoting of
their dining room removed for this
reason. \ wiser man, knowing that a
pair of poisoned rats had got under his
floor. summoned not carpenter. but q
naturalist. to his aid. They knew that
the rats were under the floor, but the
difficulty was to fix the spot. There
seemed to the owner of the house no
alternative to the removal of the
whole floor; hence his appeal to the
nature detective. The latter would
not hear of the floor coming up. He
cried out for a bluebottle fly. One was
captured unhurt and turned loose in
the room. After a little preliminary
hawking the bluebottle darted to the
floor and remained on one spot, like
pointer which has found game.
your rats are under there" said
the naturalist. They cut down through
that board, and there were the rats
New York Mail
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

The best looking man in the galaxy
of statesmen composing the Maine
House, is, JOB II. Montgomery OF
Camden. And he is a Democrat.
And he has dared to kick over the
party traces, and, above all, he is
proud of it. lie was guilty of intro
ducing on the floor the Bangor &
Aroostook Railroad bill which pro-
vides for rebates to enable the
corporation to extend their road
Now the Democratic platform is death
on rebates, and SO a secret caucus of
the faithful was called, for the pur-
pose of churchmauling the insurgent
Montgomery. Some features of the
caucus leaked out. Mr.. Montgomery
was present and made a spirited
speech in vindicaton of his course.
He declared that he believed the bill
to be meritorious, said it had in
fluential friends in both parties and
fully believing in its provisions he
felt he had right to introduce it.
He grew heated as he discussed the
opposition which his action had
aroused and asked his inquisitors
why they didn't come out in the open
and fight him like men. And there
the gentleman from Camden will
stand, while the little fellows may
buzz about to their hearts content.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28


The last two or three weeks some
ten thousand people in Cleveland,
Ohio, have been attempting to live
GAS Christ would live.o The good
effects have been felt in every avenue
of society and business even with the
necessarily vague and imperfect idea
how He would live were He here on
earth to day. Attempts like this only
the hard hearted would think of dis
couraging. But if the disciples who
lived daily with the Christ during His
sojournings, understood him SO i'm
perfectly, even in his brief public life
of three years, how can metals at this
distance undertake to know? An but
one of His immediate followers be-
lieved that He came to found an
earthly kingdom that would over
throw the terrible power of Rome,
and they turned away with shatter red
told them that "the foxes have holes
and the birds of the air have nests,
but the son of Man has not where to
lay his head" His earthly mission
was too short to map out full pro-
gramme for the daily life. True He
''lived our example and died our sac
rihce," but the precious moments of
His life were mostly spent in teach
ing the doctrine of Life. All else was
incidental to that. The wonderful
miracles He performed were not
spectacular dem nstrations of a Di-
vine power, but they all aimed to
teach certain truths which He must
drive home to their dull minds by OBJ
ject lessons which they could COM
prehend. His simple manner of liv-
ing was secondary to the same Divine
purpose. So if we would live as
Christ would live. we must embrace
His spiritual teachings, and, 80 far as
we can, His Divine nature; and from
this there will flow out a life which
will be Christ-like, SO far as yelled
and imperfect humanity can shadow
forth the Divine image. Tho true
imitation of Christ is not in His
earthly life-for that was a life of
sorrow-but in His spiritual teachings
and His everlasting hopes.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

The report of the State Bank Ex
aminer, W. B. Shelton, is sure index
of the financial depression of last
year. There has been large falling
off in the deposits in the savings
banks and many Withdrawals, people
needing the money to help them out
in their living expenses. The Exam
liner is strongly of the opinion that
savings banks should not seek depos-
its by individual advertising. That is
outside of their business entirely, and
does not belong to the field of mutual
institutions. He thinks it not probable
that the comparatively high rate of
interest paid depositors by savings
Drinks can be maintained for any con-
siderable period of time.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

II the eyes are the windows of the
soul, every man must look out for
himself.
The fellow who tells girl he could
listen to her voice for the rest of his
life should be careful or he may have
to.
The fellow with n club foot ought to
be good golf player.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

"Keep the child out of the factory"
That is what was decided at one of
the Sc ssions of the child labor con-
ference at Chicago, last week. Many
parents with their smoking and liquor
drinking habits, added to their natur-
al and acquired laziness, keep their
little children in the factory to earn
the money to keep the pot boiling,
crushing out their young lives, and
making them old men and women
without xperiencing any of the de-
lights of childhood, which is their
right by inheritance. Such inhuman
parents belong to the criminal classes.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

While the Legislature is voting a
mill tax for this, and mill tax for
that, the members should bear in
mind that "the mills of the gods grind
slow but they grind exceedingly fine. "
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
The Office Boy lnstructs.

Contributor should like to leave
these poems with your editor. What
Is the usual procedure? l haven't
done any magazine work before. Of
fce Boy Well. the usual custom IS to
leave 'em an call back in day or So
an git 'em.-Exchange
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

The past year has been an appalling
one in mine history, and the year
1909 starts off with evil promise ,
starting out with over 500 miners
losing their lives in two mines.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

gathered one hundred. and eighty
seven guests, whose total ages
amounted to 1890 years, or more
than seven times the length of the
Christian Era.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

The Governors veto of the prohibit
tory bill in Tennessee was not sus
tanned, the House passing the bill
over his veto by a vote of 81 to 36
So Tennessee remains dry.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

Ignorance ever went hand in hand
with poverty. Over ninety per cent
of the applicants for the old age PEN
sion in England are unable to sign
their own names to their applications.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

On Monday the 18th anniversary of
the arrival of the former battleship
Maine on her ilfate, mission to Cuban
waters the new Maine with the still
more modern Mississippi i'll her wake
sailed into Havana harbor to be pres :
ent at the inauguration of General
Jose Miguel Gomez and the new
Cuban government.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

Whatever the new President may
do about his other cabinet officers,
we hope he will keep Secretary Will
son in his place, at the head of the
agricultural department..
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

A two days meeting of the New
England Federation OF Agricultural
college students was held at Orono
last week. Addresses on agricultural
topics were given by delegates, and
it was voted to meet, with the Massa-
chusetts Agricultural college next
year.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

"Can Frogs Smell?" asks nature
writer in ST. Nicholas. Will Fuller of
the Rockland Courier Gazette, an
swers: "Dead ones can"
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

What started the riot at the per-
Torrance Of Hamlet last nightT'
"Why, Hamlet held the skull and
said: Alas, poor Yorick. You are not
the only deadhead in the house."
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
Gard of Thanks.

We wish to express our thanks 10
the friends and neighbors, who aided
us during the illness of the late Will
liam c. Young, for the floral tributes,
and especially for the kindness of the
members of the Masonic Fraternity,
Mrs. Elizabeth j. Young,
Mrs. Mary Young and Family
Skowhegan, January %, 1909
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
When paid in advance.
oaa $50 SIX months ........75c
Three months..............3Sc
sl.75 II paid within the year.
$50 will be charged II not paid until
end of the year

cards of Thanks, Resolutions of Respect
md lists of presents accompanying accounts
IF weddings, receptions, anniversaries, etc,
deserted at cents per line, poetry with obit-
naTv notices, 10 cents per line. No charge
less than 30 cents. ooo
With our mailing list of nearly 5000 names,
.,hscribers writing the REPORTER with re-
I'D TO their subscription must be sure to
I've exactly the postofiice address to which
the PAPER is going, including the number OF
4. f. u. route, If delivered by rural carrier.
This is especially important when change
of address is requested but should also be OBJ
served when making remittances and at all
other times
Address all communications to
The SOMERSET REPORTER, Skowhegan, Me.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

Last year the U. s. minis yielded a
clear profit to the government of $10,-
al, 900.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

Twenty thousand dollars seems a
high price for match. And its a
match where you strike in fact, a
prize fight match.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

SI4.@
FEES RECEIVED.

Within the past few years the law
has been changed in regard to the
remuneration of several county Off
GERS, paying them a fixed salary and
converting all fees collected by them
to use of the county. The fees col
lected and turned into the county
treasury, under this law, are shown
in the following table.
tlerk OF courts. 9l9I
Register 81 Probate -. ... 244,4s
Deeds. ..... l70l8
SherlH. Dec. 5l.l9Os. 49,. ...... S76E3
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
S12ss


TIE Ut N \ ; Z Ash NNOWONI'
The entire field of income and ex
penditure for the year, is here given.
The debit and credit items give
clear idea of the sources of income of
the county for past year and the Pur-
Continued on Third Page
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
The Missino Part,

Mrs. Boardem-Ho do you find the
chicken soup, Mr.. Boarder? Mr.. Board
er-1 have no difficulty in finding the
soup, madam, but | am inclined to
think the chicken will prove an alibi.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

Scientific men say that Mt. Etna is
getting ready for another Eruption,
and that it will BIO a corker this time.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

A plucky and conscientious pastor
in Augusta has refused to take money.
the proceeds of bridge whist.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
SAVAGE.

Caller-Sir. am collecting for the
poets hospital. VIII you contribute
anything? Editor-With pleasure, Call
tonight with the ambulance. and will
have some poets ready.-Judge.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
NUMBER
County Finances.

The County Commissioner, IN con
neetion with the County Treasurer.
have in the hands Of the printer their
annual report for the year ending
December 3lst. 1908, and the same
will be ready soon for distribution.
Anyone wishing a copy may obtain
one by addressing Clerk Of Courts "
I. Seekins, Skowhegan, or either Of
the three commissioners As the
sums received and expended by the
county, together with the sources OF
revenue and the purpose for which
expended are of interest to every
resident, We think it best to repro
duce the more important portions Of
the report below for the convenience
Of our readers.
ACTION OK ROAD PETITIONS.
Under our laws the County Com
missiOners have much responsibility
III regard 10 highways, especially IN
relation 10 establishing new roads,
discontnnance of existing ways, or
r"- locating boundaries which have
become uncertain.
The action taken in the various in
stances by them on petitions requir-
ing them to assume Jurisdiction as 20
highways, Is briefly indicated by the
following report:
Petition Of Selectmen of Fairfield TO
define limits of highway; petition
dismissed for want of jurisdiction.
Petition of Frank Savage ct ais for
alteration of highway in Bigelow:
petition granted.
Petition Of NJ. Piel ct ais for atera-
ton of highway in Parlin Pond Town
ship; petition granted.
The Moxie Road has been complet-
ed and accepted.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
In the Dark.

Uncle Joe-Yes, Teddy, it is quite
possible that there are people in the
moon.
Little Teddy-Well, what becomes Of
them when there isn't any moon?
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

At last New York State has a
Senator in the U. s. Senate, Elihu
Root having been elected to that
position. Pratt goes into the obscure
ty where he belongs, the smallest
specimen of man that ever existed.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

It is great cleverness to know how to
conceal our cleverness--La Rochefou-
cauld
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

Rather than sew up glove on Sun
day some women would remember
the Sabbath day and keep 1t holy.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

ksrEREp As SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

Talk not of good life, but let thy
good life talk-Schiller.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
FINES AND COSTS.

The following table shows the fines
and costs paid into the County
treasury by the Municipal Court
Judges and Trial Justices, dur
ing the year. The fines collected
through the Somerset Judicial Court
do not appear here, but, it may be
noted are given in the table of re-
ceipts and expenditures as s32624
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
s4Tls


The following table gives the ex-
penditures made on account of Som
erset Jail. including support of pris-
oners confined there and also the cost
of prisoners confined elsewhere at the
expense of this county:
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28
The Somerset Reporter

A Weekly Republican Newspaper
published every Thursday at Skowhegan, Me
by ELMER e. McNEELIE
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-28

Many woman talks like sixty who
isn't.