davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Curtis Family Reunion

The Curtis family held their an
nual reunion at Meccawe club Sept.
10. Almost all the Curtises were
there. young and old, from Wood
stock, Bridgewater. and other neigh
borhoods; the day was perfect and
nothing interfered with the ENJOY
rnent of the reunion and dinner.
A new flag pole with a new hag
was raised,- the Bridgewater band
playing several pieces. The dinner
followed, including beans baked in
the ground bv the keeper at Meccawe,
j. Edward Curtis; pies, cake and
othor good things.
A short literary program followed
dinner; selection by the orchestra
reunion song by the whole company
with orchestra accompaniment
poems by Mrs. Jaquith and Mr.
Wood, speaking by Mr.. Garfield
songs by julie Curtis and Mr. Ca
prom and reading by Mrs. Garfield
the orchestra also playing severa
pieces, and closing the program
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
SERVANTS IN GERMANY.
The Character Book WHICH 10 Undoe
Police Supervision.

The Character Book WHICH 10 Undee
Police Supervision.
Among the many domestic prob
lens that Germany has solved to it's
own satisfaction is that of the Civ
ing Oh refusing of Character" to
a servant. The following statement
of the system in vogue in Germany
shows how completely it answers
its purpose:
Every man or woman seeking to
enter the service of another, wheth-
er as laborer, clerk or domestic serv-
want, is under obligation to procure
service book, which after purchase
must be officially stamped by the
police authorities. The authorities
enter in the book description of
the holder, having reference to age,
personal appearance and religion.
When a situation is applied for
the prospective employer can see at
a glance whether the applicant has
been in service before and if so
what kind Of work has been done.
II the applicant secures the situa-
ton the employer writes in the
book, Entered the service Of So
and-so Of such street and town."
adding the date, a description of
the work required and the wages
given.
The employer retains the book as
long as the engagement lasts and
on handing it back makes another
entry, left my service on such a
date" with few lines as to char
acter and the servants reasons for
leaving.
Thus the character book goes
round, and the servant has never
the uncomfortable necessity of ask
ing her mistress for recommended
ton. Forged characters are prac-
tically impossible, since the whole
system is under police supervision.
Destitution in old age among do
mestic servants and the lower class
Of artisans has become an impossi-
bility in Germany. for within the
last fifteen years OF so it has been
made compulsory for all who earn
less than $500 year to insure
themselves against want after their
working lives are over.--Harper's /,
Weekly.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
The Hartland Nature Club

The Hartland Nature clubs last
meeting at the farms, held Septem-
ber "a, with the president, Mrs.
Lewis Merritt, was greatly enjoyed
by those present
The morning walk was omitted,
but luncheon was eaten at the house,
Rocky Ford cantaloupes being
served by Mrs. Merritt as treat
Before the literary exercises began
some handsome specimens of the
sorghum plant were passed for in
spection, also curious. cylindrical
enclosure for caterpillars made by
the leaves of an apple branch being
bent upward, overlapped. and stuck
together by continuous web, be-
side the hips of rare rose and
Selkirk's violet in bloom.
Miss Rogers showed fine speci-
men of a rare orchid, probably
Habenaria Andrewsii.
Miss Nelson was appointed secre-
tary for the remainder of the year in
place of Miss Sturtevant, resigned.
1.-The Flora of Hart Island" read
by Mrs Underwood in the absence
of Mr.. Underwood, was the chief
feature Of the afternoon. This num-
ber of the programme showed care
full and extended study, and the
matter was treated in very pleas
ing manner. 1t was illustrated by
several beautiful photographs taken
by Mrs. A. b. Morgan.
The trees, equiselums, and ferns
of Hart Island were treated separate
ly, in an entertaining way, by Lee
Graham, who had worked up the
subject carefully.
Miss Emeline Webster read an
original paper on my Bird Neigh
bors," which was much enjoyed.
Three committees were appointed
to collaborate with the teachers and
pupils of the Hartland public schools
in the study of animals and birds,
Insects, and plants, the reports on
the procedure of insects to be made
next month.
AT the UcIober meeting, wflrH is
to be held in the village room, will
| occur the annual election of officers.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Predicts a Severe Winter

Uncle" Hiram Hillbourne, of
Lula City, Ia, last winter predicted
the greatest snowfall Iowa has known
for years and this fall he is telling
friends about the coming winter.
Because the blackberry vines are
loaded there will be severe winter,
he says. A heavy crop of black
berries follows a snowy winter, and
snowy winter, according to Hill
bourne's weather signs, is followed
by cold, dry winter. "Uncle" Hi
ram adds some original and novel
signs which he says portend much
zero weather. A few are:
Molos are digging deep and one
was uneartherd seven feet below the
surface.
Spiders are seen huddled up be-
meath stones and their webs are
abandoned thus early in the fall.
Bees have been observed working
after sundown.
Trees have thick coverings OF
moss on the north side, thicker than
usual.
IN, crop of hickory nuts is i'm
mense and other nuCs ,sro a.u~l,--4
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Speakers of the House

In view of the fact that the choice
of speaker of the next House OF
Representatives is one of the ques-
tions now being discussed by people
of Vermont glance at the list OF
those who have occupied this posi-
tion during the past two years will
have certain degree of interest.
1t is worthy of note in this connec-
tion that the position of speaker
during the two years preceding the
beginning of the last half century
was Hon. George f. Edmunds, who
held the office in 1859 and who
was the last resident of Chittenden
county to enjoy this honor. Follow
ing is list of speakers from 1860
to 1910 with their years of service
and their counties:
1902, Augustus P. Hunton,
Windsor.
1923. ). Gregory Smith, Frank
lin.
lS63,5, Abraham B. Gardner,
Bennington.
1865 8, John w. Stewart, Addison.
lS63-7O, George w. Grandey, Ad-
Olson.
1902, Charles Ii. Joyce, Rutland,
1924, Franklin Fairbanks, Gale
donia
1874, H. Henry Powers, Lamoille.
1874-6, Josiah Grout, Orleans.
1868, John w. Stewart, Addi-
son.
1884, James L. Martin, Wind
ham.
1886, James X Batchelder, Ben
nington.
l8S6-9O, Josiah Grout, Orleans.
1890, Henry r. Start, Franklin.
1902, Hosea A. Mann, Jr.,
Windham.
1926, William W. stickney,
Windsor
1868, William A. Lord, Wash
ington
lS9S-00, Kittredge Haskins,
Windham.
1900-2, Fletcher D Prnetnr p II
,auyr-
l9o2-e, John H. MerriGeld, Wind
ham.
lsoe-lo, Thomas G. Cheney, La
moille.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
From the Frozen North

Far into the wildernesses of west
ern Labrador, where no white man
is known to have trod before, Prof.
Raymond Mcfarland, of Middlebury
college, has travelled dhring the past
two months, with Prtfs. Thomas G.
Brown and Phelps N SWEET, of the
same college, who accompanied him
during portion of I Q expedition.
Professor McFarlpd returned
here Monday. He expressed him
self as highly grati6@ with the re-
suits of the expedition Much valu-
able geographical and Typographical
data and photographs were secured
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Flies Oyer the Alps

Brig, Switzerland, Sept. 3d.
George Chavez. the Peruvian avia-
tor, few from Brigue, Switzerland,
over Simplon pass and arrived at
Domodossola on the Italian side of
the Alps last week Friday.
Weymann, the American aviator,
attempted to race Chavez in a fight
to Milan, Italy. The weather is
favorable.
In alighting Chavez fell beneath
his machine and received painful
but it is believed not serious injuries.
His monoplane was destroyed.
Because of the accident Chavez
was unable to complete his trip to
Milan.
Chevez is the first aviator to fly
across the Alps. Weymann was in
the air only four minutes.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Vermont Red Cross.

The officers of the Vermont Chap
ter OF the American National Red
Cross are arranging to hold large
public meeting in Montpelier during
the session of the legislature in the
interest of the American Red Cross
and it's work. Miss Mabel /. Board
man, who addressed a meeting at
burlington last year, has accepted
an invitation to come again to Yer
mont and address the Montpelier
meeting on date to be selected by
her between Oct. % and %. Gov
ernor Mead, as president Of the state
board of the American Red Cross, Is
expected to preside.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
NRTH PoMFRET

Mrs. HE. Lamberton has recently
visited latives in Claremont, and
her unclPrescott Adams, returned
heme wi her.
JohnPyt went to Bangor, Maine,
Mondaywhere he is TO pursue. a
theologl course.
Mr.. ! Mrs. Dostie Faneuf were
in OraS,. Mass, last week attending
the au4l Faneuf reunion.
Howl Bushway has a telephone
connech with the Peoples line.
MrsAry Newton spent last week
with NJ Harvey DeWolf, in Lena-
Mrsl. G. Sherburne and little
grandee have returned TO Wilder.
Mrsdrian Mulloy is visiting her
brothA Albert Sherburne.
MiAara Hoyt went to Boston
Monhnd is TO resume her hospi-
tai W
Mn. p. Thacher went to Mont
peliee first of the week. re
Jdhine and John Dana went to
the I. M. Monday.
Id Jennings is at work for
e. Dana and has moved his
famhto the latter's tenement.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE
Woodstock, Vermont.
Printed Saturday Morning
ONE DOLLAR "A YEAR
WOODSTOCK NEWS
Back from New Foundland

Mr.. and Mrs. d. e. Gillingham of
Chicago are at the Iun, having recent
ly returned from summer in New
Foundland and along the Labrador
coast. There Mr.. Gillingham found
recreation in salmon and trout fish
ing; the salmon are of good size,
when you get one, but there are
occasionally hours and days of cast
ing between captures, and he took
more kindly to the trout, which are
plentiful and easily caught. The
travellers saw a good deal of New
Fuundland's rather barren and dis
NAL interior. From st. Johns they
took supply boat north, going up
to Battle Harbor, where DR. Gren-
fel's mission hospital is located.
This trip they don't intend to take
again, for one thing on account of
the limited bill of fare, made up
entirely of salt fish, salt horse"
and fresh fish, with occasionally
fish. 1t was the same the next day,
and the day after that. From Bat
tie Harbor they sailed to Hopedale,
400 miles from St. Johns, the home
of the Moravian missions.
Mr. and Mrs. Gillingham rode
500 miles through New Fountland
on its narrow guage railroad. There
is much splendid scenery along the
coast and farther inland, and on
their sea trips iceberRs large and
small were common sight.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
To Buy Ascutney's Top

At an adjourned meeting OF the
Mountain association held
at the office of Frank II. Clark,
president, at Windsor Saturday, a
was appointed to draw up
some plan of Incorporation so that
the organization can buy and im-
prove some 60 acres of the top OF
the mountain, and use it for a recre-
alton ground for the benefit of them
selves and the public. As q starter
Allen w. Evarts. Of New York city.
a native of Windsor. generously
gave 800, and it is expected that
the necessary sum will be raised
within few days
1t is believed that this is the first
instance in Vermont of any scheme
to hold the top of mountain fol
the benefit of the public. The plar
is in line with the objects of stht
Green Mountain club and is favored
! by President James p. Taylor o
Saxtons River. The number tina
annually make the ascent is sur
prising, from 1900 to 5000 goini
up during the season, and on ON
occasion, the dedication Of the Ston
House in 1904, 700 people we're ol
the mountain at one time.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Mistook Strychnine for Candy

The two-year-old daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Lawrence Barton of Ty-
son died September %. from the
effect of eating strychnine tablets
which she evidently mistook for
candy.
The child was at the family cot
tage on the shores of Rescue lake at
the time and died before a doctor
could reach her. The mother had
left for Buffalo but few hours be-
fore and the father was at the state
fair, the child being in the care of
her grandmother.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Grand Army Election

John Z. Gilman Of Boston Tor
commander-in-chief and Rochester,
N Y, for the next place Of meeting
was the winning combination at the
national encampment Of the @. A,
R. at Atlantic City, N. J. The
other officers elected we're; Senior
vice commander-in chief, Charles
Burrows. Rutherford, N. j.; junior
vice-commander- in chief, William
James, Jacksonville, Fla; surgeon
general John L. Smith. Spokane
Wash; chaplain-in chief, the Rev
Thomas Harwood, Albuquerque. n
M.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
The Future of Vermont.
Sept. 81, 1910.

To the Editor of the Age:--
A prominent gentleman. much
interested in conservation and pub
lie parks and similar movements,
asked me to send an inquiry to you
in regard to the future OF Vermont.
1t seems that the population of Yer
mont is not increasing, and is
probably slowly but steadily dim
inishing. MY friend tells me, more
over. that he has made careful
study of the intelligence OF Vermont,
and OF the growth of the people in
general efficiency during the past
25 wears He finds that for more
than that number of years the popu-
lation has seemed to receive no new
light on any subject whatever. save
slight degree Of illumination on
rum. The political beliefs that
we're entertained by the fathers 70
years ago are entertained by the
children of today, as is shown by
the records of votes at elections.
My friend has come to the con-
cluson that the work of recording
votes each year, of Vermont citizens,
has been for many years quite un-
necessary. About 50 years ago
everybody knew what everybody IN
Vermont thought, and everybody III
Vermont thinks today just what
everybody in Vermont thought 81
years ago. This is a comfortable
state of affairs. 1t disturbs nobody's
beliefs, it removes nobody from
office. II makes it quite unnecessary
for politicians to have any interes
in the state or to work for its wei
fare. Also, it makes it quite un
necessary to register opinions OF
matters of public concern.
Returning to my friends dehnit
query it was this: why not turl
the state of Vermont into nationa
N park like the Yellowstone" "
Isn't this a good plan? He sue
gests that the population could re
main just as they are AS they 9
not increase in number. as they q
not increase their interests, as pu'
lie action is merely a formal matte
which does not disturb anybody
peace Of mind, and as things a.
done the same way from year
year, the presence of these fe
rather negative units would n
interfere with it's enjoyment by ou
siders as great national park.
This will bear serious consider
ton. Yours truly,
M THEODORE WMDMAN.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
The Nobel Prizes.

DIR. Alfred Nobel was Swede.
The sum that he left was to be
awarded annually by board of con-
troll at Stockholm in prizes each of
the value Of $4,000 to those who in
the previous year should have rem
dered the greatest service to man
kind in invention or discovery in
physical science, chemistry, physi-
ology or medicine, literary work
and the cause Of international
brotherhood, the suppression of
standing armies or the founding of
peace congresses. The first distri-
button of prizes took place Dec. 10,
1901.--New York American.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
RECORDING EARTHQUAKES.
The saIsmoaraph VIII Trace Shocks
Where No Tremor ts Felt.

The SeIamonraph VIII Trace Shocks
Where No Trsnor is Felt.
Earthquakes are recorded by
means Of the horizontal pendulum
seismograph. The best example Of
horizontal pendulum in. everyday
use is common hinged door. The
earthquake instrument is a heavy
weight pivoted delicately on
frame, which is swung at an up
right hinge line, so that the faintest
movement in the post will be COM
municated to the frame. A light
lever with pen at the outer end
Of the weighted frame makes on a
paper moved by clockwork rnagni-
fed record of the movements of the
earth's crust. The pen is bris-
tie, and the paper is glossy and
smoked, so that the record is a
scratch. The weight tends to stand
still as the earth waves move the
post, and the pen writes an auto
graph of the movement, which
takes place about the weight as a
center. Every second an electric
ticker connected with a clock
scratches mark on the side of the
moving paper, so that the exact
time of any earthquake autograph
may be calculated.
Let us stop moment to watch
what happens when an earthquake
wave passes through the earth. The
weight is still, it's pen is lightly in
contact with the paper, and as the
latter moves by clockwork there is
left written straight line. Slow
ly, as we watch, the writing finger
moves sidewise and begins to make
little wave marks. This lasts several
minutes. Then the pen begins to
creep out until it is very slowly
scratching long, sweeping zigzags.
In the course of half an hour this
slowly diminishes. Not single
tremor has been felt. The waves
passing through the ground were
too broad and slow for sensation,
but they have come thousands Of
miles from a place where walls were
falling and people were rushing
frantically into the streets.
When we consider that every
strong earthquake may be recorded
all over the globe and that one oc-
ours somewhere every week or two
the sport of earthquake catching be-
comes fairly exciting. If the inter-
est attaching to seismology were
better known ti,vro- would be more
amateurs. A seismograph may be
bought for about 500, and any cell
lar, on any sort of ground, will
catch the passing earthquakes
Professor Jaggar, Jr., in Century.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01


Within the last year Windsor has
come before the pdblic with a new
building which is model of handi-
work and the home of the Windsor
Machine company. The entire
building, 563 feet long, and SO feet
wide, will be nsed for the manufac-
ture of the Gridley automatic lathe.
The ribbed glass of the skylight let's
in plenty of light, but prevents the
suns rays from penetrating, while
the ventilation is perfect and it is
considered that the plant is the finest
workroom in the New England
states
1t took 1850 barrels of cement for
the construction of the main build
ing and 200 for the boiler room,
engine room, etc, while in the roof
alone were used 35 tons of bolts and
23,500 pounds of spikes. The smoke
stack is It's feet high and after it
was completed, Mrs Robert Cleave,
---.f~ nf the foreman ,bricklayer, stood
uPuH Tire cap at IT'S top and ~os- nIiu-
tographed in that position. The
building will be we'll protected from
FIRE. as there are to be ten hydrants
around it.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Killed by Jump From Train

j. Arms Miller, of Dummerston,
aged 65 years, was instantly killed
by jumping from moving passen-
ger train at Dummerston station
Friday afternoon.
Mr.. Miller, who was returning
from the state fair at White River
junction, found that the train did
not stop at his station and attempted
to jn.np off when it was going at
full speed. He struck the platform
and was thrown under the wheel,
his body being terribly mangled.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
The state board Of optometry will

I The state board of optometry will
hold its fail examinations at the
Brooks house in Brattleboro, Nov
ember l6, IL and Is. 1t is under
stood by those interested in the en-
forcenient OF the optometry law that
an effort will be made in the legis-
lature this fall to pass law which
will enable medical practitioners to
pass an examination in elementary
subjects in optometry.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Through Rpids in a Barrel.

Bobby Leth of Niagara Falls,
Ont, made "trip through the whirl-
pool rapidfin a barrel Saturday,
starting frh the old Maid of the
Mist landig near the canteliver
bridge. kept for few scratches
and brui| Leach, who claimed to
have mae the trip several times
before, VS. unhurt.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Lord keIvin,s inventive sEyealas..

Lord kelvin's Inventive sEyeglass.
Soon after Lord Kelvin had as
sisted in laying the Atlantic cable,
when he was yet known as Sir Will
liam Thompson, his mind was great
ly troubled in devising some method
for perfecting the ordinary tele-
graphic apparatus used in overhead
wires, as the old method, or the one
then in vogue, was not suited for
the varying currents passing along
the cables. The laying of the cleo
trio current had the effect of MAX
ing them run together in one bot
tom current, with surface ripples.
The difficulty which Lord Kelvin
had to overcome was to invent a
means of clearly distinguishing all
the delicate fluctuations. One day
the great inventors eyeglass drop
ped off and swung in front of the
magnet. The glass DETECTED its
movements, and from this simple
and unexpected incident the s'mir-
TOR instrument" was invented.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
How Lamp chimnsys We're Invented.

Lamp glasses were invented by
Aime Argand, the inventor of the
famous lamp and gas burner which
bears his name. He had been ex-
perimenting for some time in trying
to increase the light, but to no pur-
pose. On the table before him lay
the broken neck of an oil flask. This
he took up carelessly and placed it,
almost without thought, over the
wick. A brilliant fame was the re-
suit, and the hint was not lost upon
the experimentalist, who proceeded
to put his discovery into practical
operation at once.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
The RuIoe Was Arov.

'Have you ever heard the story
of Algy and the bear ?" asked boy
Of his father cts very short.
sAlgy met a bear; the bear was
bulgy; the bulge was Algy.' Lon
don News.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01

Trince of Wales and Prince
AlRrobably will tour the world
nexIumn, visiting the principal
ovel dominions.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01

Eight persons were injured, two
perhaps fatally, in an early morning
FIRE which destroyed $500. QUO wortn
of automobiles in New York
garage.