davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22
The Meddler
III the eesi fiD SeI. isiha'

A local manufacture ahn hsl
recently Go investigate TIE ou,s
m a shipment Of freight ifum O.,
on, city on the New Haven rad b,
ed a number Of interesting Tina
was that freight from tbs laHf.r
10 points north OF Springfield. Va
shipped only twice a week ih,'sli
day Another and more lhisirsa,
eoyery was that al freight iruu -,
the New Haven system and % IL u
A Maine between South NUta
Springfield il shipped 10 Bn,tas
he way Of kecnc, y u al
FALL instead Of over the lAm.s -
Central Vermont iron hetget -
south Vernon. unless The cons -
lie, that he l. willing 20 isy u
rst. from South Vernon 10 hara
This state OF Affairs might sci !
IN by the transportation t0mui;ir
local board OF trade Il. di,t.rc]
from a local point Of vitu an =
The only encouraging phase q IL
ton IL it, indication OF a feeling u
III. New Haven and Grand Truhk ID
that strengthens the probability &
railroad line into Bnttleburu
The high.tension wire. d tn
state company arr stlll allowed 2
above the telephone lines 10 ths =
the American building with no Wt.i
Tor the latter. The possibility q q
in such an arrangement Was llgsi&
again only lat week during he ~,
nj A large tree on the ullfus
Limbs as large as ones arm and ~
feet in length were allowed to n
the high tension wire and TEL
Had the wires broken under ,h Z
their. would have been at exceleti
of their falling on the ieleph1t,
Had such a thing occurred a feTQTi
result, would have appeared N o,as
more extended form than ihls via
of those electrocuted appearing lls
the opening paragraph. ], is hia
that the proper authorities took
toward eliminating this constant -.
danger. The Meddler will not aiis1f|
.ay whether the Twin State coupsg|
| the telephone people ought to bear y
pense of necessary protection boz
certainly up To one or the oihef
Everyone who has had occasion . 4
ere the mountain road since tit 4
of the West river highway bnia
heave a deep sigh of relief upon n
that communication with the nN,
the way of the Vermont route hi'
been re-established. Those lOnsrC,1
farmers who have been Obliged 70 nj
their hauls up the other side o. IL
and across the suspension bridge VI
pardoned il they indulge IN nG,'es]
Gus celebration Of the event. Iva
the structure over which the town ~
have wasted so much gray matte 4
no means a thing OF beauty but
to prove a source OF JOY for some ~
come. particularly to those VINO Ie1t1
what they endured while i va
Now that the bridge i repaired ia
only question likely to arse / 0'd
shall stand the expense, we may
begin thinking about what we VIII Y
of these days in the way OF pFo''l11
more slightly and satisfactory Sn]
across West river. With the psS1
of the northern part OF the town y
! encing industrial development as ~
suit OF a new line OF railroad S9
certainty that the days OF the oa "
!. bridge are numbered.
(.
A FIVE year-old boy who Is cOaNia1
i interested in the fad OF stamp e's,
2 recently propounded TO his doIlhg y
: the following question: rama
! cancered stamps the yaluest!
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

The Burlington Free Press devotes a
balf.column to the subject OF town rep
resentation apparently for the sole pur-
pose of agreeing with Hon. Charles r.
Smith that it would be unwise to abolish
the town system of representation IN the
Vermont house of representatives" Thus
the Free Press puts itself on record as be-
ing in favor of an arrangement that gives
Burlington and Somerset equal voice IN
State affairs.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22
oueerest Postoffice in the Country.

The aueerest postoffice in North
America is probably located at Beepe
Plain. where simple wooden building
shelters the offices of two countries.
The structure is cut diagonally by the
Canadian line. being almost equally d.
yided bv the imaginary boundary. The
northern half contains the postoftice OF
Beebe Plain, Quebec, and the southern
half the postoifce of Beebe Plain, VT
They are separated only by ten.foot
corridor, using the passageway and the
same door in common. George h. House,
postmaster, looks after the mail OF both
offices. As a result of red tape In the
postal regulations regarding the trans
fer of mails letter mailed at the Yer
mont office for the Canadian office,
across the hall travels 200 miles before
delivery.
Patrons of the double postofiiee can
do their postoffice business by making
one call. Two doors. one on each side
of the line. open into the lobby. The
distance between the postoffice boxes
of the two countries is ten feet, the in
ternatonal boundary line running
through the space between the two sets
| of boxes. If letter is by mistake
dropped into the wrong letter box it is
passed to the right Office and sent on its
way.
The village has population of about
100 on the Vermont side and about 900
on the Canadian side All of the places
of business are on the Canada side, SO
most of the patrons of Office are Cana.
dams, who are very willing to avail
themselves of the unique arrangement
and use either Office that will give the
best results.
The cline" itself is quite narrow
herein fact, it is so narrow that il
cannot be seen except where the iron
posts appear. Some persons have stood
in one country and written their pos,
cards or letters in the other
The temperature of steam at one pound
pressure is 2l6.3 and at 30 pounds pressure
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

The Mead button has reached the cappli-
tal There is at least one Montpelier citl-
zen wearing it. 1t is white button with
The clover. the Vermont flower. as an EN-
Hem. and in the circle around the edge OF
the button the words, For Governor
Jobn A. Mead" Gov. Mead is sending
The buttons out to his friends, although
General distribution has not yet been COM
enced.-Montpelie Argus.
If the number of DR.. Mead's friends IN
this section of the state is to be Judged by
the number of Mead buttons in evidence
his name will not be heard on the floor OF
the state convention. Even Col. Hasklns,
who is supposed to be looking after the
doctors interests hereabouts, hasn't
donned one yet.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22
uries. for their product and preserve the
dai, industry 81 their section.

The 1910 edition Of the summer h"hr'
,,nhi,ca,ion Of the Central Vermont ran
way company 10 on, in MOTE s''iA'''''
form than ever, and oush, TO play an Hh'
portan, par, in bringing to this stale ""
.h.r. AZ the ever inercasins tourist ba'''
mes. which New England enjoys aud pro,
III. by. This publication has been '''.sa
every season Tor the Pas, 10 year,. snd V
slsl with information and illustrations OF
in,sr.., 10 seekers aisr desirable summer
vacation spots. The prevent edition mas
, cove, al unusual beauty and contains
an unusually long lie, Of farm aud village
home. who's. owners have been induced To
omen their places Tor the entertainment
AZ guests, A considerable portion OF 'he
nnbliea,ion is devoted to views and drs
erip,ion Of the West River valley ap'iy
termed '.the Switzerland of America, and
there /. also much Of inieres, concerning
IN. valley Of the Connecticut from Nof'h'
6,ld. Mass, nor,hwad. Summer Homes
is circulated in the cities through 'he
medium OF magazine advertisements anu
n. distribution cannot help increasing IN
lars, measure the favor with which Yer
mont /. regarded a. recreation ground
IN. Springfield Union calls attention to
the precautions automobiles should TAKE
a, unpiarded grade crossings in the iol'
la,,.in,, timely uATagraph:
The on.ninr OF the antomobiline season
has be.n marked by several shocking
,y,de crossing accidents, with loss oi ne
IN nearly every case, and in nearly every
case The accidents could have been avert
III nv A little caution on the part OF th'
,n,omohilists Grade crossings are 80 is"
and "a far between that Il should not b'
an Inconvenience or bother for an auto
mobile marty to come 10 full stop on ap
nroaching one. 4 glance IN either dltec
| ION then will reveal tram u one j. hea'
n, hand and danger can Ice avoided %,
waiting for the train 10 pass. " Tue N"''
il clear IN. time lost in taking tins precan
,,on i Of little account. In Meriden yes
,.rJ,y one woman was killed outrigh
and sno,her woman and q man seriohs,!
| Il moi fatally injured. because they coui'
not see n train approaching the crossing
ON which their ear was struck, bats
building obscuring their view OF the traek
Had they stopped before, reaching th
crossing the accident could not poss, -,
have occurred. They took chance on IN
track being clear aud met lne iale ''a
has befallen many others. Inc ounce
prevention j. a. important ana Naiuau.
In automohiling a. in any other pursul,'
aansc;alIv AS relates to unguarded grad
| CROSSINGS
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

The destruction Of the l.amoille county
buildings in the lameniahle hm al Hyde
Park sunday is likely 10 bring np again
the question Of making Morri.Vllle the
shirr town.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

"skedaddle TO Schenectady" Is the
slogan adopted by the Schenectady Boari
al Trade and IL i one easily remembered
Montpelier journal.
Equally a. good as Mosey TO Montpelier,
ar Make A Break for Brattleboro.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

Reformer Political Bureau:
In your issue OF April 10 Is an article
signed r. &. {. Now this Is not lnst my
name. but take il for granted that the
writer intended me to father this writing
Bnt / am not the guilty party and do
moi know who wrote the article.
Peru. VT, April Is. +. X. Crossman.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22
Burlington. April 10.

A. We wired you Sunday We have been
unable 10 get any official confirmation o'
the intimation which appeared ~ TIM le.'
ter. Something ought 10 develop, now
ever. within few day.. one o. lhose
vaguely congratulatory editorials ol S9u,s
will do no harm m any event. ne usa.
public won't be able to comprehend WHAT
YOU are driving at.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

One OF the big fountains in nom y
borough hall in Brooklyn went lQ
denly last week. Investigation ptS,H !,
a big eel was stuck in the suppH y
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22
Randolph. VI. April II

We viii be perfectly frank. We admir-.
NJ Ra,chelder because he l. represents
tive OF a style Of politician that !, rapidly
hscominr obsolete. He hasn't any isIss
,Jesls concerning popular government anu
lnow, that the distinction between GAS
III ,n,s. i les today than u was IN
L. ,,me al Tom Chitienden. All Of ms
oid friend. have received political reward /,
he alon. awaits the plum. The fact that
he j. 20 year, old OF Whereabouts doe =
~, NAL. him too old in our opinion To
he governor: the fact that be Il 10, =
repfesentatiye Of the modern poht'saal
school" l., We think, strong pom, IN NJ
favor.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

Editors. Rciormer Political Bureau,
Dear Sin ,.l,..a
DO | understand from the writer Whose
;,;,sI. X n. were subscribed To letter
IN yonr la.t weeks issue that he is to he
a candidate for Acknowledgements IN
'hnes Please wire answer, collect, TO
'hh'' l.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22
Reiormer Political Bureau,
a..tl..n.ns

NelOfmrf ToIllltHI HHI'"W
Gentlemen; -. IIo,o,.
Why such admiration Tor ths no". -
able James X. Baiehelder OF Afilne.I,na
whom YOU referred recently .. us' ~.
to write in'elllren,lS s on any ~, l common
tanning 20 the welfare ~ that
nm IDEAL candidate for governor
H. Won think his az, j. in his favor 10
~, ,h,nL him representative OF modern
,ol;,,cal idealss Information, please, 70
poih""' A Light Seeker.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22
Rutland Herald.

Brattleboro board Of trade Is doing
thing. in way that makes boosting organ
izations in other towns Of the state look
like back numbers. Instead OF limiting
themselves to talking about getting new
industries into the town. these husky
hn.,lep get them. Witness tina, large
new irrespective cotton mill.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

The preliminary surveys for the west
side road in Swanzey and Winchester nave
been completed and bids on the work ~ ~
these towns are being advertised for. ~
is expected that proposals may be accepted
and The work begun within thirty days
or so. It is hoped that the matter OF gong
on with the work through Winchester
ST. street, Keene. will be aken up. next
week, when Engineer Hill is expected to
he here and to decide what will be done.
The arrangements made last year do moi, not
annly TO work to be done this year unless
approved and authorized by the present
state engineer.
The foregoing news paragraph rom
New Hampshire contemporary Is pr'h'eu
here as a reminder that our nelghoors
across the Connecticut do not intend to let
any grass grow up and check their trunk
line highway project. By fall the three
nroposed boulevards will be well under
way and Vermont with her slipshod high
ways and highway policy will be less guam.
fed than ever to go after her share OF
the lucrative automobile tourist trafhc'
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

Judging by the sentiment expressed at
the conference in Island Pond last week
fine Methodist brethren OF the state are
strongly in favor Of referendum on the
liouor question Those present at the con-
ference cheered "to the echo the state
ment of C. J. Ferguson, superintendent Vi
the Anti-Saloon League, that the church
would cast 10000 votes of protest PROVIDED
the referendum be not granted, and resou,
tions fayoring referendum were adopted
unanimously. The action of the conference
does not convince us that majority OF the
people of the state are anxious LOT an
other opportunity to express themselves
on this question, nor do we believe that
such an expression would show desire to
return to state prohibition. Whatever
NAV be the defects in local option they
are by no means important enough 10
make us forget the hypocrisy and contempt
for law that fousished previous to 1915
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22
Our Future.

Ii Braulcboro doesn't watch out. Brat,
,leboro will become real live industrial
town: the efforts of the board OF trade
20 gel a cotton mill are soandalous.
tRu,land News,
Here's hoping that Braitleboroo gets
tina, prospective new cotton NUT 10
industrial establishment, can he brought 70
Vermont without accruing beneht 10 the
entire state,
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

A FIVE year-old boy who is conNia
interested in the fad OF stamp e'ls.
recently propounded to his d ''TI!i y
the following question: fa'Da'
cancered stamps the valuest!
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

To II. +. G.-Our expert has reported
the long conference he had
with YOU at White River Junction and
has submitted such copies as you would
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

Are YOU feeling discouraged or worn out?
If so. three good hearty laughs day will
do much toward overcoming this feeling.
No matter whether there is anything to
laugh at or not Just laugh anyway.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

The temperature of steam at one pound
pressure is 2l6.3 and at 30 pounds pressure
it is 274.3.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

Among the combinations often men men
toned this year we are told about cn1I1n
over foulard and net over satm lor the
whole gown, also about oveidresses ang
TUNES of chiffon and other nimy sun sh
to be worn over gowns OF dei'ca'e lao'
rics.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

Now that the census enumerators are
at work we should be prepared to spend
whatever time is necessary in order to fill
out blanks or answer carefully all questions
propounded.
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22

xs'sr.a as :. sn,, sshss At Br.t,i.bcre,, vs,
iecI ~ ss, IN congress Of March J. is's'
The Columbus journal., 1910-08-31
PROMOTED THE COOK.
An Error Made Him . Professor Of
History In Russia.

An Error Made Him . Professor Of
History In Russia.
Some years ago the minister Of e1u-
cation in st. Petersburg was appealed
to by telegraph for cook, to be bur-
ried to Moscow. The operator got his
dashes and dots mixed. but by next
train q man arrived and was ceremOni-
0usly conducted to the university.
where he was introduced to the assem-
bled faculty and students as the new
professor in history.
The unhappy fellow protested that.
while he might be professor Of pots
and pans. he knew nothing about his
tory. But In Russian official life II Is
harder far to correct an error than to
make one. SO for several years the cook
has held his professorship. though no
one attends his lectures.
Another laughable story comes from
the Suwalky school for boys. A door
keeper there who could scarcely read
or write had grown SO untidy and
slow that he was no longer useful. but
as the headmaster did not want to set
him adrift he promoted him to teach
er's post and had him transferred to
distant school. He. too. will be a pro
lessor some day.-MOscOw Letter In
New York World.
The Columbus journal., 1910-08-31
LIGHTNING FLASHES.
Many Things Concerning Them Tha,
Science Cannot Fathom.

Many Things Concerning Them That
Science Cannot Fathom.
A young girl in charge Of two chill.
dren. shelteripg under q tree ON Chisle-
hurst common, was struck by light
ming and killed-one Of those dreadful
instances Of the sort Of personal touch
with which lightning seems to select
its victim, for. though one child is re-
ported to have been thrown down. mel
Their apparently was injured. There
are many instances, Of course. Of this
strange selection. due In most cases
probably to some accident Of clothing.
There Is we'll remembered case which
happened some years ago at Cam
bridge. when three young men were
walking across an open space Of
ground. and the middle one Of the
three was struck dead. while the 9TH
ers were untouched. The inquest
showed that the young man who was
killed had nails in his boots. whereas
the others were wearing boating shoes.
The phenomena Of thunderstorms
have been the subject Of much study
In America. But IL thunderstorms can
be classified. they are still not thor.
ouShly understood We do not set
know what are the exact conditions
which lead to a discharge of electricity
In the form Of a lightning fash from
cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth
We cannot reproduce thunder and
lightning in a laboratory. We do not
know what Is the origin Of the eIec-
trifcatiOn manifested in q storm.
London Spectator.
The Columbus journal., 1910-08-31
TURKISH WOMEN.
They Are curiously Fastidious In
Some Of Their Ways.

They Are Curiously Fastidious In
Some Of Their Ways.
The habits Of the Turkish women of
ConstantinOple are wonderfully fastidi-
GUS. For instance, when they wash
their hands at tap from which water
runs into marble basin the fair ones
will let the water run until q servant
shuts 1t of. inasmuch as to do this
themselves would render them ''un
door, as the handle would be unclean.
One of these fastidious women was
not long ago talking to a small niece
who had just received a present of a
doll from Paris. By and by the child
laid the doll in the lady's lap. She
was Mortified and ordered the child tc
take 1t away. As the little girl would
not move 1t and no servant was near
and the lady would be defiled by touch.
Ing doll that had been brought from
abroad, the only resource left her was
to jump up and let the doll fall. II
broke In pieces.
Another Turkish woman would not
open a letter coming by post, but re-
Quired servant to break the seal and
hold the missive near her that It might
be read: also should her handkerchief
fall TO the ground 1t was Immediately
destroyed or given away. SO that she
might not again use it.-Exchange.
The Columbus journal., 1910-08-31
HUMAN SACRIFICE.


k Appears - q IN Ordinary Occur.
rsoes In Liberia.
OF certain aspects Of Liberia Cap
tain Braithwaite Wallis writes In the
Geographical Journal: The popula.
don Of Jane Is large. almost untouched
BY the 80 called civilization on the
coast. It Is typical Of western Africa.
The men have fine physiques and very
black skins, and most Of them plait
their hair, which Is worn about six
inches to eight inches long. They ap-
peared to be well armed with rifles.
guns. spears and swords. While In
this town I saw even slaves. who were
held by the leg in wooden stocks.
They had been in that position for
some months. One Of them told me
through the Interpreter that he had
been kept thus for two years. He was
a man Of poor physique. and q pur-
chaser could not therefore be easily
found for him.
'That night. while asleep In my
little hut in the town. was awakened
by hearing a gentle chorus Of wom-
ems voices singing some yards away.
After few minutes the chorus ceased
and a single voice began. In Bande.
an African song. The voice was soft
and melodious, and the tune was fas-
cinating and weird and harmonized
with the Wild environment to which
It belonged. After q few lines the
other singers Joined, and the result
was most attractive and beautiful.
containing rs 1t did such delicate har-
mony with excellent taste. During
the years I have been In Africa I do
not remember having heard anything
quite like this singing before. and l
shall never forget 1t. The Interpreter
told me the next morning that the
song was to the good spirits. asking
them to guard and protect the white
man and his followers on their Jour-
ney."
Another incident: "A few yards out
side the first stockade I noticed an
empty grave. the newly turned earth
Of which showed It had been recently
dug. This grave. 1t appeared. had
been used for the purpose Of burying
man alive as a sacrifice. and I was
Informed In a most matter of fact
way and rs II the occurrence was
quite an ordinary one that the IN
fortunate victims body had lately
been exhumed to obtain certain por-
lions for the purpose Of manufactur-
ing fetish medicines"
The Columbus journal., 1910-08-31
New GUINEA PYeMIes.
The Spear and Bow and Poisoned A.
rows Their Chief WEAPONS.

The Spear and Bow and Poisoned A..
rows Their Chief Weapons.
Our knowledge Of the pygmies of
New Guinea shows that in habit they
are nomadic. nowhere filling the
ground. but depending for their living
entirely on their skill in hunting and
fishing. Their chief weapon is the
bow. their arrows being generally
poisoned either with the famous upas
or some other similar vegetable poison.
in some cases a species Of strychnine
They also make use Of the spear and
m ingenious form of spring gun
which is common to numerous other
forest tribes. This is formed by set
ting a flattened bamboo spear attached
to a bent sapling. which is fastened to
a trigger I'm such a way that It Is re-
leased by the passerby stumbling
against an Invisible string stretched
across a game track. These spears arr
really set for game. and to the initi-
ated they are obvious enough. as their
presence is always indicated by GER
tain we'll known signs. such rs a
broken off twig placed in a cleft stick.
In war these signs are removed. the
removal being equivalent to the NOV
ing Of buoys In a mined channel. The
wounds inflicted by these hardened
bamboo spears are necessarily serious.
The mental qualities Of the Negritos
are extremely undeveloped. none of
them being able to express q higher
numerical idea than three. but all OBJ
servers who have met them unite in
saying that they are a merry little peo-
pie. with great ideas Of hospitality
when their confidence has bee,I gained
and provided they have not been pre-
viously Ill treated. They are not can
nibals and are generally homogeneous.
London Times.