davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
Joe" STEMS FISH.
Has Head Like Crocodile, Paws Like
Cat.

doe" Steen has been boatman
along the waters of Long Island Sound,
man and boy for forty years, and dur
ing that stretch of time he has seen
many fish. fish OF hundred different
colors. shapes and sizes. Steen has even
seen the time when Shiny things dld
erawl with legs upon Shiny sea, but
never before has he seen such fish as
he yanked from the depths of the sea
yesterday.
Joe" according to his own story
had been out on one of his daily hshlnS
trips yesterday and was returning
home in his roWboat when 1t happened
About two hundred yards off shore
near Barretto Point, in The Bronx
Joe saw Il violent twitchinS OF MS
line. which was trolling behind. Drop
ping his oars he yanked on the line
but vas almost pulled overheard. Then
the thing at the other end began 10
pull the boat out to sea.
Steen made the line fast around an
oariock and began to row furiousiy
toward shore He kept yelling at the
top of his voice between every stroke
rousing the members Of the Barretto
Bathing Club, who make their mead
quarters in "Joe's boathouse. Down
'hey rushed to the shore, four goou
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24

| time | managed to control myself and
walk away from the spot. That first
night was one erescendo of horror.
| tossed restlessly upon my bed
| thought of the pleasure which one puff
would give me, Again and again / sat
upon the edge of my couch. fighting
against the desire to get up and search
my pockets for scrapings' enough to
roll just one cigarette How | kept
from doing so is more than | know.
Morning found me gaunt and hollow
eyed The craving had me in its grip
Breakfast sickened me because
hadn't braced my stomach to receive
it with my morning cigarette ate
no dinner and no supper. Water
alone would stay down.
This is only a portion of the tor
ment that | suffered for weeks. They
seemed like ages to me. The smell
of IA cigarette would drive me frantic
Cigars and pipe had never appealed
to me before. Now. | would have al
most parted with life itself to have
dared TO smoke one. Ny nights were
one long series of tossings and tumb-
lings upon my bed. dropping off into
doing only to awaken because of the
nightmares which pursued me. And
in each of them the central figure was
cigarette. BY daytime | was
grouchy and irritable Harsh words
came more readily to my lips than
kind. | almost hated myself. What
my friends and relatives must have
endured then only the love for one of
your own blood could have borne.
And then one day the habit left me
not gradually for the night before.
| can recall / had one of my hardest
battles against getting up. casting all
the ground that l had won behind me
and making and smoking a cigarette
even though my life should pay forfeit
The next morning | was surprised to
find that | had slept well and that |
was undergoing a craving which | had
not experienced in years. To my as
PUNISHMENT l discovered that | wanted
breakfast. And after the meal | did
not crave a cigarette. | have never
craved one since. | can sit by and
watch others smoke them without the
least desire To indulge myself My
taste for cigarettes has been broken
but not for worlds would | 90 again
through the purgatory into which my
battle with the little thin paper rolls
of tobacco cost me-"
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
How One Man Got Rid of the Cigar.
cite Habit

The American Magazine has been
offering prizes for the best letters on
Overcoming Bad Habits" The fell
lowing letter from a man who cured
himself of the cigarette habit won
third prize. 1t is published in the
March number:
II was at the age of six that / first
began to smoke cigarettes.
AT the age Of fifteen they sent me
away TO school. At eighteen | went to
college. Freed of all home ties and
restraint ! smoked to my hearts con-
tent. At twenty-five | was a nervous
wreck The doctors thumped me over
the heart and shook their heads
graVely. | had Tobacco heart, they told
me and my only hope of evading d
premature grave was TO stop smoking
absolutely
mad inquired that | smoked from
iity TO sixty day. | resolved to cut
TINS number down. | did manage to
get along with about half that number.
put below that | could not go.
men one day took stock of my
set Life was sweet and | had no
oesife TO die. | resolved to master the
cigarette habt or die in the attempt.
II aidnt was going TO die anyway.
once more | threw away my tobacco
ana papers. And this time | did not
retrieve them. Time after time / re-
turned TO the place where | knew they
lay just over the hedge fence, but each
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24

men and true. "Bin' Cunningham,
Joe" Martin, Mat 0'Brien and
Jack" Collins.
When Steen finally brought the boat
to the shore his friends lent a hand in
yankinp on the fish line. After a reg
ular tug-cf-war contest the FIVE men
managed to land the thing" While it
lay lashing about With a spiked tail
Collins killed it with heavy boat
hook Then everybody gathered
around, and this was what they saw:
A fish about four feet long and
weighing about $50 pounds. 1t had the
head of u crocodile and wicked spiked
tell From its belly protruded ewo alb
surdly small paws, like a Kittens and
it had hide as tough as rhinosceros
leather.
The fish crocodile cat was hung on "a
hook in the boathuus, where pilgrims
from City Island, New Rochelle Hunt
er's Island. Pelham Bay. Rye Beach
and Yonkers came to view ii.
Nobody had hardihood enough to
hazard a guess as to what the creature
might be, and so il viii remain IN
named until some eminent fishologist
shall gaze upon the corpse.-NeW York
Tribune.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
An tsthnian Afternoon.

We stood at the door and watched
the crowds of women in the lfesh'
crisp. white dresses moving along the
sllnItt street. other women were out
too: some were pushing baby car
riae4s: others carried large bundles
end hurried out Ct the long, low bulla-
ing Which ffW9SFfAd WAS tlie CONF
missary. or general store. The women
walked up the broad board walk tow
ard the shady s2banas where thef
homes were, scattered over the grass
and shaded with palms and coco&hut
trees.
AS we watched the street suddenly
became alive with men: they came up
ou1 Of the cut. from the shops, ana
from the offices on the hill just beyond,
Some of these men wore the iaporer 5
blue working shirt and We're covered
with a generous sprinkiiEg Of ell eth-
ers were in khaki, their broader mn
med felt hats pulled down to SHADE
their tanned faces; others appeared III
conventional Office suits-these men
were paier than those in the field
service Many of the men joined the
women and walked with them, taking
a hand with the baby carriage or the
bundles They were seemingly unaware
of the discrepancies in their toii-stam-
ed appearance and that of their care
gully dressed partners. Some entered
the commissary and emerged later
with bundles and packages. They have
the exclusive privilege Of the eommls-
sary stores after working hours, ana
families must see to it that their mar
kctirg is done q another time.-Chris-
tiap Horn Id
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
"vvhor, tbe Gods Would Destroy"

..W,oops, m dear" The friends OF
the tliauor, traffic are getting out oil
patience with their opponents. Read
the following Dispatch
Indianapolis, Ind. February 20
lieutenant Governor O'Neill caused
sensation in the Senate to-day when
he stopped the Rev. E. r. henry, OF
the Emmanuel Baptist Church OF TINS
civ. who was making the opening
prayer, and said
stop making political speech
The minister has prayed for the sep
aration of the rum traffic from the
State. and for the day when Indiana
would refuse to sell to men the right
to make other men drunkards, muir
derers, and inmates of prisons ana
benevolent institutions.
The lieutenant governor, who hao
been showing signs of Impotence
vigorously banged the marble siao
with his gavel and commanded the
minister to stop He ordered the
journal to he read and Mr.. Henry I'M
mediately left the chamber.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
Monday. February "a, 1918.
Should Guard Peoples Rights.

The following communication sug-
sests the fear OF slip shed legislation
and "jokers." In the light of legisla-
tive Preparations in other states, it is
a natural fear. Men with the interest
of communities and the common people
at heart cannot resist the temptation
To warn the law makers not to be de-
ceived by the wiles and the pottage OF
those sleek legal men who represent
eorporations and pooled moneyed in
terests.
oar palermo friend wishes the max
ers of laws and granters of privileges
ia remember, and to guard the rights
of the common people. 1t will suggest
10 the gentlemen of the Legislature the
need of such publicity concerning every
measure, and such assurance of care
fer the peoples rights that ungrounded
fears may be allayed. The letter fol-
lows.
Editor Kennebec Journal: -.fs..
understand that there is bill IN
the Legislature allowing one OF tle
large power companies of the state
through the Sheepscot Valley Power
Co, to acquire such, ponds and water
powers in Sheepscot Valley as 1t may
wish by right of eminent domain, ellh-
or for purposes of storage OF to deVel-
ope mower to use in other places a law
giving this power might be all right In
some cases, when it would be used 1of
the and to the benefit of the immedl-
ate vicinity or town as a railroad OF
factory. but when the whole value OF
the property is carried away to some
other place from the town where II Is
situated. the town gets no benefit what
ever. either from taxes on the plant OF
property of the workmen, or from inc
employment of its residents, or the
manufacturing of its produets;lt IS leg
islating for the larger places as against
the smaller and is the law OF might
and not of Justice. If these big corpora
lions can take small water powers In
Sheepscot Valley. they can take them
all over the state and carry them TO
the cities. leaving the farmer without
power to grind his grain, saw his lum-
Der or manufacture his products INTO
articles of commerce. 1t is time the
farmer awoke to these facts before 1t
is too late. After the horse is gone it
does no good to lock the door. Use
your influence now.
Palermo. Me, Feb. r.. 1913 }. u.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
How a Orunkard Cured Himself.

The American Magazine has been Of
| ferinS prizes for the best letters on the
subject Overcoming Bad Habits" The
following letter from n man who cured
himself from drunkenness won second
prize 1t is published in the March
number
Seventeen years ] had the drink ha-
bit; eight, the drink habit had me.
IF during the last six years of that
quarter century | was sober once, | do
net remember it. Day by day, | added
tn the strength of my weakness until
the disease-and disease it had in truth
hecorne-brought me- nerve-racked, un
strung. broken, palsied, to the verge of
delirium and disgraceful death
Then, when without brandy and ever
more brandy. | could not lift food Of
drink to my lips, l took the fas end of
misspent life that remained, and
made man of it fH
How Not day by DAY, hour by
hour, as the habit grew; but instant
h. Instant with every instant a poig-
nant agony of body and soul Moment
by moment, / postponed the drinking
of the brandy carried in my pocket.
though every moment OF those first
days was a suffering such as l trust
may never again fall to my lot. Every
fiber of my being, distressed, screamed
out, Brandy, Brandy. If ever you
needed it. you need it now" But al
ways my answer was, Not yet. In a
second or two perhaps, but not yet
many times during that first terri
BILE day, and the scarcely less dreadful
days that followed, | asked myself if
l could live another hour-a half nour
fifteen minutes-without brandy |
did not know 4 second? Perhaps.
was not sure. Ny heart huttered; peat
fast; heat slow: threatened to stop
and several times, did stop-or so It
seemed to me-for more than a minute,
while grew cold and numb, and broke
out in clammy sweat at every pore.
Time and again l felt myself on the
very threshold of death. Flesh and
blood. | thought then, surely could
endure no more, and life persist.
| AT last, weakening, as L now mar
vel that I did not weaken sooner. |
drew forth the flask that seemed to
hold my only hope Of life; opened X:
| with two hands. shakily raised ii To
my lips.
| Then came the thought, II | must
| die of brandy, can die without more;
| If not, I can live without any And
again / said, Not yet. In another mo-
ment, maybe; but not yet
That was six years ago. After the
first month. | threw away my flask
and have tasted no intoxicant since
MY noment-by- moment method was
! based upon the thought that all OF life
| is measured out in fractions Of a sec
ond; and that, for the brief present
| fraction that is all the life we have,
| any torture is endura BILE.
THE means of instant qualification
Of the craving were kept at hand as,
without such provision, the second-to-
second character of the cure is lost and,
that lost, nothing remains. With 1t,
and with a determination to succeed
any man, believe, can control and
conquer any habit"
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
The Fight Against Loan Sharks.

A year ago the Chicago Tribune
conducted determined crusade
against the loan sharks of the city.
| A special legal bureau was establish
ed by the paper, and an efficient corps
of attorneys placed at the disposal of
the public,
For a. period of months stories were
printed in every issue disclosing the
cruel rapacity of the Insurer. The UNI
derground workings of the fraternity
were minutely explained.
As article succeeded article it was
shown that certain big companies had
spread their spider webs over the en-
tire country.
The Tribune is a pivotal daily.
There are a few newspapers when
are closely studied by all editors, and
in this small group the Tribune occu-
pies a prominent place. 1t is certain
ty that publishers in all parts of the
country learned of the character oil
the insidious and fraudulent advertls-
ing which continues to appear IN
practically every big newspaper from
coast to coast What a stain upon
journalistic honor, What hideous
partnership
once denied the opportunity TO ad-
yertise. the operations of these blood
suckers would be instantly curtailed,
and the majority of them driven out
of business.
The money gained from the publ
cation of such advertising is as foul
profit as was ever CLEANED. No edi-
tor can demand the confidence of the
community and the belief of his
readers while he betrays his subscrib-
ers to the sharks Woman's World.
The above is only too true. II app
plies with equal force. also, to other
evils. We have reason to know that
Boston papers which support the Ii
censed LIQUOR traffic and derive reve-
nue. from advertising booze N Maine.
resent the Kennebec Journals de-
nunciation of such methods These
napers know that advertising pays.
IT is the dollars drawn out of Maine
for liquor that they want. The NOR
ais and the happiness of Maine homes
is of no consequence to them-lt Is
the money for Boston booze sellers
and the cash they pay for advertising,
that counts.
If prohibition territory could stop
the exploiting of the liquor traffc by
interests beyond its jurisdiction, there
would be little trouble in enforcing
prohibitory law.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
Editorial Comment
The Maine Democrats and Woman
Suffrage.

portland Express and Advertiser)
The opposition which is making it.
self felt a Augusta for the defeat of
the constitutional amendment grant
ing woman suffrage is taking on a
purely partisan character A very
prominent Democrats whose relation
with the brewing interests has been
matter of general belief. appeared in
the lobby two or three days ago and
Immediately the attitude of the Demo-
cratic members of the House toward
this matter began to change. 1t is
now suspected that all the votes
against woman suffrage in the House
will come from the Democratic mem
beers. Some of the Democrats who are
little more outspoken than the 9th.
ers. are already promising to kill the
resolve, while the more conservative
members of that body are simply
prophecying its defeat.
The inconsistency of the Democratic
position does not seem to occur to
them During the fight to secure re-
submission of the prohibitory amend
ment, the Democrats were eloquent
in those denunciation of those oppos-
ing such resubmisson, declaring that
its opponents did not dare to trust the
people. This woman suffrage propo-
sition is exactly parallel. All the
Legislature has to do in the matter is
to refer the question to the present
voters in the State of Maine, all men.
The long time familiar cry of the
Democracy that the people should be
allowed TO rule, is forgotten in the
anxiety which the liquor interests Of
the country have lest the voting
strength of the State against theiI.
greedy interests, be increased. When
the vote is taken in the House we
shall see how much genuine conf
dence in the people, the Democratic
party has how much it has really
meant when it has sung its song of
let the people rule"
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
CURIOUS PAGAN RELIC.
In Brittany Exists Huge Black Stone
Image of a Woman.

one of the most curious relics OF pa
eanism remaining in Christian coun-
try. is the gigantic black stone figure
of woman which is to be seen. III Il
forest of the District OF Morbihan in
Brittany.
1t is known as the BLACK Venus, =
but probably dates farther back than
the time when the Greeks and Romans
worshipped that goddess. Antiquarles
assert that this figure belongs TO the
age of the serpent worshippers, one OF
whose subterranean temples is IN the
neighborhood This would make the
figure far older than the Christian era
The staue is that of d huge, un
couth woman. with a sullen, angry
.countenance, her form enveloped III a
loose mantle The superstitious Bret
ons have always worshiped the figure,
asserting that it has power over the
weather and the crops. If the ldol Is
neglected they declare that the grain
dies en the ear, and is the anger or
the black woman" over Morbihan.
Twice the stone was cast into the
sea by pious folk. who hoped thereby
to put an end to this idolatfy, ana
twice the peasants dragged 1t back
an6 set it up in its old place.
Some POO years ago Count Pierre de
Lannion, on whose estate the inquire
stood, in order to save the statue from
both friends and enemies, dragged IL pN
40 yoke of oxen to his own chateau
and set it up in the courtyard. lie
cut an inscription on the base OF the
pedestal, declaring the figure to be a
Venus carved by Caesars soldiers
.Harner'S Weekly.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24

to the houseieeper. After mile the
rain stopped, and the sun came out,
but | shut my umbrella and determine
cd 10 walk the rest of the Way home.
Before me trotted five little terriers,
behind me came the syce leading my
horse. We reached a sharp bend III
the road, and the doegies had disap-
peared round ii when | saw the Whoie
pack rushing back full tilt, with leop-
ard ut the heels of the hindmcst dog.
Just as they reached me, the leop-
ard seized Fiirt, and ut til > same mo-
ment | landed him Il blow on the head
with all my force with the umbrella,
which new into splinters. The leopard
dropped the dog. but his impetus VAS
so great that he could not stop, and
rushing past me. Ne knocked my syee
clean off his legs. Then he Jumped into
the grass bordering tie road.
The change that came over our
peaceful procession in that one instant
was astounding. There stood in the
road. Aabhergasted. with broken UNI
brella handle III my hand; my syee
was roaring blue murder on ms pach >
my horse vas boiling for home IKE d
runaway engine, and my five Attie dogs
W ere shiNez:;2g at my feet. picke.'
up Flirt and carried her home. Sht
was badly bitten in the neck. but ire
oucnt applications OF phenyl soon made
the wounds heal, and in a fortnight or
so she was well again. But she was a
changed dog. She would come out with
me. but she always stuck to NY heels
and nothing would induce her 10 enter
the scrub or join tie other dogs III a
hunt of any Kind
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24

thusiasm turning work into play ana
play into something productive of hu-
manity?
The school and home movement has
come none too soon The hunger for
knowledge is outstripping the educa-
tors. The need of recognition of the
truth of things is impressed upon US
with every new day and the wonder
full developments thereof.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
Dogs Haul s1,ooo,oo0 1000 Miles.

More than $l0OO,O0e, in gold was
brought down by the steamer Mari
posa from Cordova, Alaska, having
been more than two months in transit
from the Iditariod district
From Iditariod to Cnitlna more than
1000 miles, the gold was hauled on
dog sleds. At Chitina It was placed on
a train and caught between two snow
slides that tied up traffic more than
a month. During that time the express
company's guards, heavily armed
watched over the treasure
Dispatch to the New York World.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-24
Prizes for School Industrial Work.

"one cake, loaf of bread. fancy pill
low. fancy apron. hemstitched hand
kerchief, three ears yellow corn, three
ears pop corn, quart of new wheat,
largest and best head of cabbage.
This signifies neither a church sale
nor county fair. but a school exhibit
in county where industrial work is
recognized by regular training in the
public schools and rewarded by prizes
at the end of the year. The work is
done at home under the direction OF
parents as well as teachers, according
to information received at the United
States Bureau of EDUCATION.
The county industrial education
exhibit recently held at Goshen Ind.
where products such as these are
shown, represents school and home
movement that is going on vigorously
in many parts of the United States.
1t typifies the awakened interest in
industrial training that has come to
supplement, not supplant, the tradi-
tional work of the public schools. 1t
means closer connection than ever be-
fore between school and life.
The business men of this Indiana
county showed their interest in the
school industrial exhibit by furnishing
prizes for the best products in each
class. The first prize for the best loaf
of bread baked by school girl was
gold ring, and the second an Amin
ster rug. The girl who served the
most delicious luncheon of four dishes
was rewarded with a "savory rooster"
Boys from the high school who
showed the most business-iike COM
mercial paper-checks, notes, etc
What high school graduate should
know and be able to do were pre-
scented with subscriptions to local
newspapers. The winners of the corn
club exhibit We're given the privilege
of a two days trip TO Purdue Uni
yersity: and there were many other
premiums awarded for products ac-
tually made or ,grqWn by the school
children of the county during the year.
Public spirited men of Maine are Of
fering prizes for the best acre of corn
raised in Maine in the coming season.
The purpose is not only to stimulate
interest in agriculture in our State.
but TO demonstrate to the growers that
the success of q harvest lies largely
with them: that corn is profitable
crop for Maine. and that if they once
take hold OF corn raising in earnest il
will mean something TO them.
We are convinced that within few
years school farms viii be as num-
erous in rural districts as demonstra-
ton school gardens are now on vacant
lots in large cities Why should not
towns. counties and states take hold
Of school industrial work, according u
the needs of school communities
Why should we not offer prizes Il
stimulate competition and adopl
methods TO create interest and en-