davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12
WESTMINST

Miss Eva Larkin was in Springfield,
Mass, last week.
Madam Rideout of Weston is spend
Ing two weeks with her son, Sumner.
Charles Peck has sold his farm of 10
acres to the Connecticut Valley Fruit
company.
Mrs. o. A. Pease of Chester was
guest from Monday to Thursday at l.
c. Wyman's.
The regular meeting of the mems club
will be held this, Friday, evening in the
church parlors.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Nelson and chill
dren of Brattleboro are spending the
week with Mr.. and Mrs G.. II. Walker
On account of the small attendance at
the church service Sunday the COM
munion service was deferred to next
Sunday.
Fred Watkins and family of Charles
town, N. H., were recent guests of Mr..
Watkinss mother Mr.. Watkins has
started on an extended business trip
through the West.
The next meeting of the Fortnightly
club will be held Jan. 10, with Mrs. j.
p. Holmes as hostess. The subject will
be Cuba and Porto Rico Cuba I'M
der Spanish rule--the people and their
lives" Mrs G. B. Hall; Porto Rico
past and present conditions" Miss Grace
Leman.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12
cAMBRIDGEPORT,
D. L. Bemis is i'll with pneumonia.

D. L. Bemis is i'll with pneumonia.
Frank Knight has moved into one of
w. G. Townshend's tenements.
Miss Christine Hibbard of Amherst,
Mass, was a guest recently at Orchard
place, the home of her sister, Mrs n.
A. Blodgett.
About six inches of snow came Mon
day night, followed Tuesday by a reg
ular March blizzard Farmers and
teamsters may now begin their winter 8
work.
A maple tree recently was cut on s. J..
Weavers woodlot In Athens which meas
ured three feet and nine inches in diam
eter. A cavity was found In the tree IS
feet from the ground in which was a
swarm of bees, and 20 pounds of honey
were secured
The many friends of Mrs. Ida S. Ste
VEINS of Rochester. N. H., who was a
resident here many years, will be inter-
ested to hear that at the state conven-
ton of the w. C. T. U. in Claremont
she was made life member Later a
surprise was given her in her home by
members of the local union, of which
she has been president five years. In
appreciation of her services and their
esteem for her they presented her a
handsome leather covered chair and a
fern dish.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12
DUN MERsToN HILL.

Thayer brothers killed Ave pigs Tues
day which dressed a little more than
100 pounds.
DR.. F., w. Gwyer is attending the
meetings of the Vermont Dairymens as
ISOLATION in Burlington.
Herbert Harding returned to his school
in Townshend Monday after vacation
of two weeks with his mother Mrs.
Mary Harding. at r. L. Frosts
Friends of Miss Myra Whitcomb will
be glad to hear that she Is enjoying the
climate in Fort Pierce, Fla. The Their
mometer registered "a degrees in the
shade all day Christmas and fireworks
were enjoyed In the evening. During the
past week the thermometer dropped to
5S degrees and people began to put on
heavier wraps. Not much like the
weather we have been having In YER
mont
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12

and for three minutes Chaplain Ford
prayed. At LA o'clock Kent was ordered
to stand and his hands and arms and
legs and feet were securely fastened and
when this work was finished Sheriff Kin
Try asked Kent if he had anything to
say why the sentence of the law should
not be carried out" He looked into his
face and said mo" The black cap was
arranged over his head and he was
placed on the trap.
The trap was released at 11S o'clock
by an electric device. At signal from
the sheriff. six deputies, w. L. Fair
banks of Springfield, Z. G. Cushman of
Bethel, F. s. Lockwood of Proctorsvlle,
w. F, Mahoney of Perhdnsville, C. ].
Winship of Weston and F. w. Fitzger-
aid of Norwich each pushed an electric
button, one of which connected with
wire which released the trap. 1t work.
ed instantly and Kent shot downward,
but the strain was too great for the
rope, which broke where it was attached
to an iron crossbar in the gallows.
AS Kent's body fell to the floor the
deputy sheriffs and physicians stood
aghast a moment. then rushed to the
PROSTATE mans side and taking the rope
they again suspended the body. At 1.25
o'clock an examination was made by DR..
McKewen, the prison physician. and DR..
B. II. Stone and DR.. c. F. Dalton of the
ton and DR.. s. s. Martin of Windsor.
With the aid of stethoscope a slight
heart action was noted Seventeen
minutes later Kent was pronounced dead
and the body was taken down. At no
time did the body even culver.
After consulting with the other ply
sicians DIR. McKewen issued this state
ment: lowing to an accident, for which
no one was responsible, the condemned
mans neck was only partially broken by
the fall, but he suffered no consciousness
throughout and died from the shock"
Shortly afterwards an autopsy was
performed by DR.. Stone and DR.. Dalton.
who found nothing abnormal about
Kents physical condition. The brain was
taken to the state laboratory for ex-
animation. Three hours after the ex-
ecution the burial took place in the pris-
on cemetery. Supt. w. s. Lowell pre-
viously communicated with Kent's moth
er and offered to pay personally the
transportation charges If she wished to
have the body sent to her, but she re-
piled that he would have a better burial
at the prison than she would be able to
give him. No relatives were present at
the funeral.
Before the hanging an effort was made
to have Kent confess to the murder OF
Miss Congdon, but he declined to do so
and about the last thing he said before
starting for the gallows was that he was
not guilty The execution was witness
ed by about 80 persons. including two
newspapermen.
During his confinement Kent took on
about % pounds in weight, Weighing at
the last about 200 pounds. He went to
sleep before midnight Thursday night
and slept until after Friday morning.
In speaking of the breaking of the rope
Sheriff Kiniry said Friday night: II am
very SORRY ANYTHING the sort tnolr
place, but l feel that we officers tested
the rope thoroughly. This morning
there were two deputies on 1t, with their
total weight of over 400 pounds, and 1t
held without even stretching. 1 cannot
understand it."
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12
BODY FELL TO FLOOR
Grewsome Scene at Hanging of
EIroy Kent
Rome Broke and Witnesses Stood Aehast
Victim Finally Suspended from Bal
iustrade of the GaIIows.

Rope Broke and Witnesses Stood Aehast
Victim Finally Suspended from Bal
iustrade of the GaIIows.
Grewsome in it's details Is the story or
the hanging of Elroy Kent in the state
prison at Windsor Friday afternoons
story which has shocked the sensibili-
ties of the people throughout the state,
and has done more to create senti-
ment against hanging in Vermont If
not the adjustment of capital punish
ment altogether, than anything else that
ever happened The rope-the same rope
that hanged Mary Rogers and stretched
so that her feet touched the fioor-snap-
ped in two when Kent's weight drew 1t
taut and the unfortunate man dropped to
the floor. Then, although unconscious,
he was lifted up, the rope was fastened
to balustrade around the scaffold and
there the body hung until life was ex-
tinct, but his neck was only partially
broken. Kent's home was in this
county a large part of his life.
The execution took place so late that 1t
was impossible to obtain the details and
have them put in type in time for pub
iication in the copies of The Phoenix
that were sent out early in the afternoon,
Dut the SloiS "oo PubiohSN 40 "a oSNNhN
edition, going to all subscribers in the
West river valley and to various towns
elsewhere review of Kent's career of
crime, eliminating in the murder of Miss
Della Congdon in East Wallingford on
July "a, 1908, was printed in the entire is
sue of The Phoenix last Friday
With no manifestation of weakness
Kent walked to the gallows without as
sistance. He was clothed in dark grey
suit without stripes and began his death
march at 1.A. When approached by
Sheriff j. II. Kiniry of Windsor and
asked If he was ready he said Yes"
and smiled to the deputies who were
there as an escort. Kent was preceded
from the death chamber In the east wing
to the gallows, which were set up in the
west wing, by Rev. A. w. Ford, the pris-
on chaplain. Sheriff Klniry, Deputy
Sheriffs r. A Spafford Of White River
Junction, Paul Tinkham, who had Kent
by the arm, Angus McCauley of White
River Junction and j. w. McDermott of
Plymouth. He walked with his eyes to
the floor until he approached the guard
rooms and there he hesitated second,
shook hands with Superintendent w. s.
Lowell and as he said good bye" he
seemed to whimper the least bit. This
was absolutely his only show of weak
ness during the entire proceedings.
The party advanced at once to the
scaffold, each having his position on the
death trap. Kent was seated In chair
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12

The Rutland Agricultural society held
its annual meeting Jan. 3. and elected
these officers: Pres, w. f. Carter of
Plttsford; vice pres, f. M. Wilson of
Rutland and Robert Mead of West Rut-
land; Sec, w. X. Farnsworth Of Rut-
land; treas. w. l.. Davis OF Rutland.
The society cleared over $1,000 on Its fair
in 1911 and received 1884 paid admis-
sions on a single day.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12

The cocanut Is not only valuable as
source of food and drink in tropical
countries, but 1t Is also said to be the
best of all trees for shade.
a machine has been patented In Eng
land for redressing worn wooden paw
ing blocks at a rate of 1000 an hour, so
that they may be used again.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12
His Dream.

First Hobo-Strange how few of our
youthful dreams come true. amt it2
Second Hobo-Oh, don't know. l re-
member how | once yearned to wear
long pants. Now j guess / wear them
longer than most any man In the
country. Louisville Post.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12
GRAFTON.
Mabel Davis Williams.


Mrs. Mabel Davis Williams, Al, died
Saturday morning of pneumonia. A
trained nurse had been summoned to
care for her, but the disease had
progressed beyond control
Mrs. Mabel Davis Williams was born
March IS, 1871, and was the only daugh-
ter of Eliza Dean and Allen Davis. Her
whole life was spent in Grafton, with the
exception of a few months when she
was in the West. Her mother died about
10 years ago, and since that time Mrs.
williams had kept house for her father
She was married Feb. %, 1903, to Lee
Williams, who died last August She
was a faithful member of the Grange.
which she Joined when she was IA years
old, and for eight years she was secre-
tary.
Mrs Williams was a member of the
Baptist church. with which she united
in her girlhood She was a good neigh
Dor and highly respected by ALL In her
home life she was always kind and pa
tent, forgetting herself in doing for those
about her. The funeral services were
held in the home Monday afternoon, Rev.
l. N. Compton officiating The burial
took place in the village cemetery
Miss Nellie Kingsbury Is at home. her
school in Marlboro having closed.
Mrs Bloomstrand of Chester was
guest of Mrs Harriet Haskell Sunday.
Mrs. Ellsworth Adams who cared for
Mrs. Williams during her Illness, has re-
turned to Saxtons River
1.-THE Rivals" will be presented in the
town hall Jan. 26. The new plano for
the hall has arrived and has been placed
in the hall.
Mrs Harriet Haskell went to Keene,
N. H.. Monday and from there to Cam
hrl1 nod Of tor,
vile has rented her house while she Is
away.
The installation of officers will take
place in the Grange tonight. 1t Is ex-
pected that Henry w. Stoddard of Rock
ingham will be installing officer. An
oyster supper will be served to Changers
and their families.
The week of prayer has been observed
this week. On Sunday. Monday and
Tuesday evenings union services were
held in the Baptist church, and on We'd
nesday and Thursday evenings in the
Congregational church. Union services
will be held in the Congregational church
tonight.
Capt. Justus Lyman, 76. who died in
Northampton, Mass. Saturday from an
apoplectic shock, operated saw mill in
this town 10 years shortly after he re-
turned from the Civil war. He was ma
tive of Easthampton and enlisted as a
private in Company A, 9th Massa-
chusetts regiment. He served more than
three years in the war, was In many
battles and returned with the rank of
captain. On leaving Grafton he lived In
Kansas Colorado and New Mexico three
years and then returned to Easthamp-
ton. where he had been manager of a
large farm. He leaves a son. who Is
chairman of the board of selectmen in
Easthampton. and two daughters.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12

Hawaii Is pouring out money like
water In support of her public schools.
The per capita consumption OF cod
fish Is greater In England than In any
other land.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12

We, the undersigned. do hereby agree
TO refund the money on a b0-cent bottle
OF Greenes Warranted Syrup Of Tar II II
falls to cure your cough or cold. We also
guarantee 25 cent bottle to prove salts
factory or money refunded.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12
A Card.

Brain food Is something a man takes
to feed his vanity
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-12

Deans Rheumatic Pills for rheuma tism
and neuralgia Entirely vegetable. Safe
Arizona republican., 1912-12-12
Harnessing the Mississippi
t. Louis Globe-Democrat)


 It IS stated that the cost of the electric current Tn St Louis is to be reduced again which is an Item of more moment than is generally understood us importance IS as power. light and heat ana these form subject, the first magnitude m both business and dOniestic affairs St Louis Wll shortly obtain large supply electricity generated by water power, which is the cheap est source The dam that built across the MlSslSSlppl river near KeOkuk a $25,000,- "o" IS one of the foremost engineering achievements 'I the age It involved more difficulties. aside NaStness of excavation than existed in the Panama undertaking, in which only small be handled, and this free from the problems of zee Any one who has ever the frozen upper Mississippi break up will realize the engineering genius and business daring what has been done in harnessing the river public utility apart from navigation
 The chief engineer of the Keoiuk Water Power Company states that the 60000 power sold in St Louis made possible the construction of the plant whose total capacity will be 300000 horse power He the cost in manufacturing will be but half that of steam and that the other practical advantages connected with this of applied energy As related this subject the public would be glad to hear that heating is in promising way light and power. How cheaply can manufactured gas be supplied for heating with out interfering with practical methods and fair profits? Heating with gas if the price is satis factory. is unquestionaby convenient and economic IL would exclude smoke also, a contamination that will be an immense stride forward. England, with much smaller deposits of coal at lower rates St. Louis should fully comprehend that it is have the cheapest electric supply well as the cheapest coal supply.
Arizona republican., 1912-12-12
A Palpa ble Plot

We refuse take part in an evident collusion by many the newspapers of this country to scare away aspirants for United States senatorship. We notice with regret that Major Kelly of the Bisbee Review is one the cOnspirators. The Review III recent number publishes a mortality list of senators. made up within the dozen years Thirty-three, a little more than one-thrd of the senate membership. have passed away in that short time, This is such an appalling showing that it would seem that only persons of suicidal tendencies would aspire seat in that chamber of death
 But we would the ambitious youth "f America The publicity which has been given this record of mortality senators s.a palpable plot bv the editors to the field for themselves They are no more afraid Of the swishing scythe in the senate than the farmer is of the hidcous scareerow which he sets up in his cornfcld to scare away predatory birds
 There is rothnG deadly in the business of leGis- lating; that is nothing deadly the legislator though the effect his work is not always heathful to the business interests of the country.
 But climatic conditions at the rational capital are not quite what they should be. Washington is not health resort though the rate of mortality is not greater than in most of the Atlantic clueS
 The thrty-three senators who have died have for the most part been men who had lived their al lotted lives of three score and and would in the nature of things, have been dead now if they had followed any other vocation unless they had pu'- sued it in life-prolonging locality like say Phoenix whence their departure would have been stayed by years.
 The business of the United States senator is not especially perilous. much as that of the aviator the worker about powder factories ana gaseous coal mines. We would advise all young men to go in for the senate but We would them away from the presidency of the United States or the many presidents have had only two are now alive. Few them have lived to enjoy the delights of old age have reached the years gathered by a majority of the thirty three dead senator's
Arizona republican., 1912-12-12
With Whom to Do Business

" stand for every principle set forth in the progressive platform. 1 stand for the purging of the roll of American public life by driving out of politics the big bosses who thwart the popular will and who really corrupt political instrument as those who serve the of privilege"
 There is no compromise in these words of Colonel Roosevelt uttered before the progressive conference at Chicago Tuesday.
 No principle of the national progressive plat form is to be abandoned. and without such abandonment there could be compromise, no combination. unless the party the second part should make absolute surrender.
 Beside suppose the progressive party desired to make a compromise and were willing sacrifice such of it's principles the republican leaders iors be opened?
 Necessarily with the republican organization formed at Chicago: with the bosses who must be overthrown there is be purity of politics or equal justice for the people The negotiation would have to be carried with Barnes and Perrose and with the others who participated in winked at the outrage at Chicago when the overwhelming will of the republican voters dsregarded.
 A combination is thus impossible well un- necessary We believe that the voters who were fouted by the national republican committee will vet have their will They voted for progressive principles at the primaries and will do again at the first opportunity. They the only on's with whom to negotiate and the negotiations are in progress and have been since last June; not only with progressive republican voters but with progressive democratic voters The progressive party can have no business with the bosses. the so-ca!ed representatives of either party
Arizona republican., 1912-12-12
DO NOT ANTICIPATE HOSTILITY
Thomas Carlyle)

Don't suppose that people hostile you. You will rarely find anyone desgnedly doing you ill You may feel often if the whole world is ob structing your path. less; but you will find that to be because the world is travelling in diff ferent way from you and rushing in it's own path Each man has only an extremely good will to him. sef-which he has a right to have-and is moving on towards his object. If you find many people who hard and indifferent in a world you consider to be inhoSpitable and crue-aS often
 indeed, happens to tender hearted, stirring young creature-Nou will also find there noble hearts who will look kindly you, and their help will be precious to you beyond price, You will get good and evil as you and have the success that has been appOinted
Arizona republican., 1912-12-12
# Arizona Republican Editorial Page [-

Archibald could have been developed other way. There are disnterested who would have exposed Archibald gladly. he wronged any individual, but because he had wronged the bench society. but they cognizant of the wrongs. far they could know Archibald the upright judges.
 There a large class of offenses. involving brib cry and graft which have no indications. The first information concerning them must come from persons who implicated and such persons are almost invariably moved by revenge fear. They furnish least the tip" then genuinely good citizens do the rest
 We say that Roland is bad citizen that he countenanced the alleged offenses of Archibald. He is only of type of citizens some weakly good and others. only passively bad, who regard the exposure of graft and bribery none of their business long they not affected bV
Arizona republican., 1912-12-12
A Nation of Playwrights
.(SCribnpr'S)


 The witty person who remarked that the rect form of national salutation for a American at present should be, How goes the fourth act your pay?" might also have observed that the interest dramatic things that has of late bG- come so noticeable is throwing some curious side lights on American characteristics. No one who has had the opportunity of knowing is in doubt as to the genuineness, and at certain points, the almost comical intensity the interest. Evanston H.. and Boston and Cambridge, Mass, may be as mike as one chooses in respects, but they are quite alike in the ambient in which thelr dramatic leagues have their being. Those young men. usually with portfolios under their arms, Who may be seen attending en masse some specla performance" of a play with modern" tendencles and who make their professional and technlcal comments between the acts, are. east and west brothers under the skin. They suggest something new in the air. They give the feeling that those enthusiasts may be truthful prophets who foresee period of great dramatic achievement for the American people Not that it need be 50. IheFe was time in England when everybody "madc music" just as in certain places, eVerNb"dy now with us appears o be writing play. Yet f-hs- lard while it still produces probably the largest proportionatc number of persons prepared to slh@ tnosty badly) every occasion. never mas sup piled a great musical genius to the world Whether or not the analogy be dscouraefng for the Anerl- can drama what seems to be clear is that we may come to a measure of national self realization through our making of American plays. such as our novels somehow have always failed to give us.
Arizona republican., 1912-12-12
Slavery in Rome

The Roman deprived himself of many private comforts that he might make rich display before his guests The wealthy mans dwelling was large the so-c3,lled House of the Faun at Pompeii occu pics an entire square: that of the Roman noble usually covered a far greater area.
 The care o a lordy residence required the ser vice of multitude of slaves; hear of man who in the country city together employed more than four thousand. They organized somewhat like an army in divisions and companies under their ovcrseers. Each servant had as his special duty some minute part of the household work Many were needed for the ceremonies attending the
 admission of guests for the care of the baths, bedrooms. ktcheQ and dining rooms, well as for the Wardrobes. toilet and personal service of the various members of the family. On going out the master mistress accompanied by a throng Of servants. whose number and splendid livery adNcr- tised the rank wealth of their owner. Other companies of slaves spun wool. made clothes, Kept the house in repair, and cared for the sick There were some whose task to enforce order and quiet among the We Ould hardly believe that so many persons in single household could find or that the processes of labor could be SO minutelY pOrtiOned out did not take into the genius of the Romans for organization On the country estates plowmen, herdsmen vincdroSsers gardeners keepers of bees. poultry and fish and many other classes of laborers.