davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
MOTHERS MEETING
Largely Attended in Library Parlors
Tuesday Afternoon

a largely attended Mothers Meet
ing was held Tuesday afternoon in
Library parlors. under the auspices of
the Clemenune Weston W c. T. t.,
the program being directed by Mrs.
Lola N. Blunt The subject was
Teaching Truth" and Mrs. Margaret
X Goodrich and Mrs Emma Smith
were the hostesses. Deyotions were
conducted by Mrs Gertrude NcGlau-
Hin ard Tho needs of the family Of
Walter KiIgore. who were destitute. be
e-use OF tine IRE early on the same
morning were considered donations
being asked for L was announced
that any persons having gifts of
clothing or other articles should nou-
fy members of the family al the home
OF Joseph Boiler
The program was taken UP and con
sisted of an article on The Moral
Problem" by Mrs. Blunt and an in
teresting paper upon Sex Hygiene
read by Dr. Julia Nay Kineaid Fas-
enating features of the afternoon s
entertainment were the numbers given
by the children. Four little Misses,
katheryn Laney, Antoinette Tureotte.
Doris Perry and Blaneh Lessor, pupils
from the JeWett street school gave a
motion recitation entitled The Corn
and sang Little Feet BE Careful and
BE Kind and Good \ violin solo
in two parts (a) Childs Prayer and
(b) Slow Walt was skilIfully execut-
ed by Master Harold Lord and vocal
solo Your Mother is Your Best
Friend by Miss Marion Carpenter
was much appreciated. Mrs Carrie
steward was the aeeompanst of the
afternoon and several songs were
sung by the audience
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
SKOWEGAN WOMAN'S CLUB
Held an Interesting Meeting in Library
ParlOrs Yesterday Afternoon

Many ladies attended the meeting
of the Skowhegan Womans Club which
was held yesterday in Library par
lors. The afternoon was in charge of
Mrs. Mabel w. Philbrick and the
hostesses were Mrs. Fannie S. Cabot
and Mrs. Mary C. Brainard. 1t was
"Travel Day" and talk by Miss
Elizabeth Olney on "a Gascon Winter
in which she told recollections of a
season spent in France was given, IL
Illustrated by pictures. Other num-
bers of the program were a piano
nnlo by Mrs Dora T. Nye, two songs
1ls Sweet as a Flower" and with a
Painted Ribbon by Mrs Eldena S.
Hawes and the National Song of
France by several young ladies. a
report of the Kennebec Federation by
Mrs. Gertrude w. Bucknam was much
enjoyed, Mrs Bucknam dwelling es-
pecially upon the Lawrence High
School structure in Fairfield as being
a model building.
During the business session, the
president, Mrs. Anna f. Merrill ap-
pointed Miss S. j. Anderson, Mrs.
Mollie Stewart and Mrs. Margaret u.
Briggs, as a committee to assist in the
Belgian Relief work in common with
the other literary clubs of the town.
The next meeting in two weeks will
be upon Education, with How Can
We Improve Our Schools" as the sub
ject
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12

London. Nov. II, $50 p. M.-The Ger
mans have resumed their attack on
the allied line between the coast and
the Lyse river and while the French
claim generally to have held their
positions, the Germans have succeed
ed in capturing the town of Dixmude
which has been the center of some OF
the fercest and most sanguinary
fighting of the war.
Behind DiXmude is the direct road
to Dunkirk, one of the French ports
on which the Germans have set their
hearts. and if they can break through
here the allies will be compelled to
fall back to new positions. The inyad-
ers therefore have been concentrating
their forces at this point and their
success in taking Dixmude where they
claim to have captured 300 prisoners,
and positions to the west of Lange-
marck where, according to the Ber-
lin report, ZUUU pllSOLSlo . lSll lhlo tHCli
hands, shows that the statements
that they have been sending troops
from the west to Poland are without
foundation.
As matter of fact, military men
here believe that the Germans as soon
as they saw it was impossible to car
ry out their design of capturing War
saw, dispatched troops from that re-
giop to the west not imagining that
The Russian pursuit could be carried
out with the rapidity with which it
has been At other points along the
battle front in France, the French
official statement claims some success
for the Allies but the German head
quarters staff declares that all attacks
have been repulsed.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
LORENZO u. SPAULDING DEAD
Funeral Services Held Sunday from
the House. Burial at Blackwell
Hill Cemetery

After an illness covering about three
years Lorenzo Dow Spauding passed
away Friday at his home No. 81 Court
st. He was born May 80, and had
he lived until next Memorial Day he
would have been S4 years of age The
deceased was a native of Embden but
for a long period of years was en-
gagged in farming at Madison. re
moving from there five years ago to
the home of his son Bales Spauldins
where his death occurred.
The funeral was held Sunday at the
house, Rev. George Merriam of the
Bethany Baptist Church officiating,
Burial was made in the Blackwell
Hill burying grounds by the side of
his wife, formerly. Helen Laws, who
passed away forty years ago.
Mr. Spaulding, who was the last of
family of ten children is survived
by three sons, Joseph of Madison.
Thomas of East Madison and Bales
with whom he lived. Although not
a member of any church. Mr. Spauld-
ing was greatly interested in matters
relative to spiritual welfare
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12

shed hen house and blacksmith shop
being also among the buildings con-
sumed. Stored within these struc-
lures were the large quantities of Wood
and potatoes previously quoted as be-
ing destroyed and numerous farm i'm
plements, blacksmith tools and farm
machinery In addition TO the AM
mails belonging to Mr. Kilgore. three
pigs were burned Fortunately the
greater part of the hay had been sold
and one barn was left standing. II
was stated by one Of the owners. THAI
probably another barn would have to
be erected, but as to the rebuilding of
other structures he could not say
ORIGIN OF FIRE A MYSTERY
The origin OF the fire which ap-
pears to have been in one OF the barns
is considerable of a mystery. but it
is thought more than likely that ramps
may have been passing the night
there and may have been tho cause OF
the confagration.
OLD BRICK HOUSE OF Much HIS
TORIC INTEREST
The large brick house OF old fash
ioned architecture which was DESTROY
ed by the flames and which had in
later years been converted into two
tenement dwelling was OIL Of ShoN-
hcgan's most historic old houses. Il
was built probably over ole hundtad
years ago by Stephen Weston, the son
of Joseph Weston, who is credited as
being Skowhegans first settler.
stephen. who by the way was an
uncle of Levi W. Weston. was a brick
maker and the first brick mason in the
town. He made the brick for his new
home and constructed the house in
such a manner that ii would be fire
proof to his way of thinking, and yet
the old structure after so many years
of service, has been at last devastated
by means carefully guarded against
a century ago.
ONCE THE HOME or EUNICE
FARNSWORTH
The homestead was also for time
the home of Eunice Farnsworth Wes-
ton, who had come from the old home
Continued on Page Four
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
Aged Hinckley Man Dead

After a long illness Allen Parmenter
passed away very suddenly Monday
afternoon, Nov. 9, aged 70 years. He
was an upright, honorable man and
was kind neighbor and friend. lie
was kindly cared for during his sick
ness by his housekeeper, Mrs. cara
E. Swift, who did all she could to
make his last days peaceful. Ihe
funeral was held at the house We'd
nesday afternoon, Rev. Arthur Craig
officiating. The interment was at
Canaan.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
THREE YEAR OLD CARL
DUDLEY DROWNED
In MesSalOnskee Stream. Remains
Inferred mt North AnsOn

NORTH ANSON, Nov. 1.-THE re-
mains of Paul, the little three year
old son of Mr.. and Mrs. Carleton Dud-
ley were brought here, Tuesday morn
ing, from their home in Waterville for
burial. The child was drowned in
the Messalonskee stream, Saturday
afternoon, having strayed from home
with another small boy. When little
Paul fell off the wharf into the stream
the other boy, who was six years old
ran to the house and gave the alarm
Mrs. Dudley rushed to the stream and
nearly lost her life in trying to rescue
the boy. Mrs. Dudley formerly lived
in North Anson and is the daughter
of Rev and Mrs. George E. Paine. TIL,
family have the sympathy of theil
many friends here.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12

SKOWHEGAN, Nov. 10-Sherin
Thompson who was called to Nor
ridgcwock Monday to investigate the
case of safe blowing at the store OF
W. w Huntoon, has not as yet found
the Would-be robbers. 1t is under
stood that no one happened to see the
burglar or burglars although quite Il
number heard an explosion about
O'Clock Monday morning, but thought
nothing of it. Some did say, however,
that they saw an automobile go
through the town at about that hour
and others saw men on foot. The
burglary was discovered around a.
m. and Deputy Sheriff Webster was
on hand to watch the outgoing pas
sengers on the early train but saw no
one of suspicie appearance. School
boys, however claim they saw a
stranger in light trousers, spotted by
some substance, which resembled
nitro-glyeerine. hurriedly board the
train, after remarking that he didn't
want to be seen
The same night the section house
at Norridgewock belonging to the
Maine Central was broken into and
some tools removed.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
DEATH OF NATHAN DAVIS
Whose Great. Grandfather Fell at Con-
cord Bridge April 10, 177j

SOUTH SOLON, Nov Nathan D.
Davis died last Saturday noon, Mr
Davis was born about seventy years
ago and with the exception of a fen
years spent in the west has always
lived on the farm, where his death oc-
Cured A widow, three sons and two
daughters are left Mr.. Davis was a
great-grandson of Capt. Isaac Davis
who fell at the head of his company
at Concord Bridge, April 18th, 1775.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
Smithiield Man Dead

SMITHFIELD. Nov, l0-HoracC
Holmes passed away at the home OF
his sister Mrs Aryanda Morrow. NOV
g. aged = years. He suffered a
shock nearly three years ago from
which he never fully recovered. Kid
ney disease being the cause Of his
death Mr. Holmes vas veteran
of the Civil War. Nearly all of his
life had been spent in Smithfeld
where he was born. He was never
married. He leaves one sister Mrs
May Morrow. Funeral services were
held yesterday at the homo.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
CONCERT PROM ENADE
THURSDAY, NOV. l9
For the Benefit of the Ladies of st.
John the Baptiste society

A chicken pie supper will be served
at Convent Hall, Thursday evening
Nov. 10. Also a musical entertain
ment will be given during the evening
for which music will be furnished by
Nutting's orchestra The price VIII
be 25c to both. Supper from 5 till s.
Tickets on sale at the LeWia Shoe
Store and no tickets will be sold after
Wednesday noon, Nov. Is, for the sup
per. Everybody welcome.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12

Going back to the situation since
last Friday it will perhaps be recall
ed that recrudeseence of activity was
indicated by the official statement
which mentioned several encounters at
various points between Flanders and
the Swiss border. Meanwhile fight
ing was said to be proceeding active
ly by land and by sea on the near
war zone created by Turkeys en-
trance into the conflict. The Ger
man attempt to reach the straits of
Dover, which had been prosecuted
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
Ragley-BateS

Arthur NJ. Bagley of Benton and
Lucy A. Bates of Bingham were unit
ed in marriage Monday evening, Rev.
C. G. Mosher of the Penney Memorial
church officiating in the presence of
a few friends Mr.. and Mrs Bagley
will reside in Bingham.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12

The Pioneer Past Noble Grands AS
sociation was enjoyably entertained
Monday afternoon by Mrs. lsadore N.
Spear of Madison Ave Preparations
were made for the entertainment TO
be furnished by the Association on
Past Noble Grands' night in the Rebe-
kah Lodge and a light lunch was serv-
ed. The next meeting will be held
at the home of Mrs. Jennie Heselton,
at which time the officers for the en-
suing year will be elected.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
SAFE BLOWERS At NOR.
R|DGEWOCK
Store of W. W. HuntOOn Entered.
Cash had been Removed Previous
to the Entrance OF the Burglars

NORRIDGEWOCK, Nov. 1O-Last
Sunday night burglars entered the
grocery store of w w. Huntoon and
blew the safe with nitro glycerine.
The safe was not locked, a fact the
burglars did not seem to find out, and
nothing of value was in the safe not
even the books. The cash register
was also found open, which must have
been a great disappointment to the
Would-be thieves as the money had all
been removed Saturday night with the
exception of two pennies. The store
showed signs of some disorder which
showed that probably the burglars
helped themselves TO a few available
things. Entrance was gained by the
front door by picking the lock.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
VILLA.CARRANzA WAR
DECLARED
Formal Opening OF HostilitieS il
Mexico

FL Paso. Noy 1l-War has been de
clared between the Carranza and Villa
clements of the Constitutionalist army
according To advices received a,
Juarez tonight from officials of the
conclaye of ehieftains at Aguascal-
tnntnc
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
Important Notice to Correspondents
and Advertisers

This office will be closed Thanks
giving Day. November 26, and our
edition of that week VIII be issued on
Wednesday, November 25. All ad-
vertising, correspondence and news
copy should be in one day earlier on
that account.
INDEpFNDFNT- REPORTER CO
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
VICTIM OF SHOUTING BURIED
Funeral of Gcorge O'Donald Held from
His Fathers Home in Moscow

MOSCOW, Ne. Nov. lo The funeral
of the late George 0.Douald. who was
accidentally shot earlier in the week,
was held Tuesday afternoon at the
home of his father NJ. ODonald,
Rev. T. B. HIATT of Bingham of1ciated,
speaking words of comfort to the be-
reaved family lnterment was made
in the village cemetery at Bingham.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12
A SERIOUS CONFEDERATION WIPES OUT
HOUSES, BARNS AND OUT-BU|LD|NGS
Historic Old Weston House on Norridgewock
Road Burned Estimated Loss $4,000.

condagration in which property,
the estimated value of which was
$4,000 was destroyed. occurred in
Skowhegan at an early hour Tuesday
morning. Two houses. two barns. a
blacksmith shop and out-buildings
were consumed together with nearly
all the contents, which included from
six to eight hundred cords of wood
from three to four hundred bushels
of potatoes, tools, machinery, etc. The
property was owned by Parker NJ
Sanborn and Joseph Boiler, and was
occupied by tenants There was an
insurance of about $4,000 on the build
ings and some insurance on the wood
and potatoes
DOG AWAIlENS HOUSEHOLD
About three o'clock Tuesday morn
ing a barking dog awoke the occu-
pants of the house owned by Parker
NJ. Sanborn and Joseph Boiler situat-
ed a short distance outside the town
on the NorridgeWock road Investi-
cation by members of the household
led to the discovery of the fire in one
of the barns close by and in a short
time the flames had spread TO the ad-
jaeent buildings. The fire depart
ment was called out but their efforts
to stay the conflagration were without
avail
THE BUILDINGS BURNED
On the farm, which is a valuable
one there were three houses. one Of
these being occupied by Mr. Boiler
and family, one of the owners of the
property. This was the only dwelling
saved. The other two were occupied
by tenants. the larger of the two an
old fashioned brick structure being
arranged in two apartments and oe-
cupied by Joseph Beaufo"d and Wal
ter kilgore, together witt. their re-
spective families. The smaller house
was tenanted by Joseph Bolgier Mr..
Kilgore and other members of his
household were unable to save any
thing. losing a COW and horse in the
flames, but the Beauford family were
more fortunate saving nearly all OF
their household effects. A portion of
TWO barns were burned. big wood
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12

DR. and Mrs. C. f. Norcross of Hart
land were in town the first of the
week for Il short visit
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12

j. H. Williams was at home from
Gardiner the first of the week
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12

Subscribe for this paper, 81 year
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-11-12

ssny,ribe for this paper. 81 a year
Gilpin observer., 1914-03-26

These methods. however, entailed too much
manual labor where gorse was used In consider
able quantity. In such case gorse. furze or whin
mill, as 1t variously called in different dis
tricts, utilized. The whin mill was built after
one of two types: the most common consisted OF
a circular stone. shaped somewhat like q mill
stone. standing on edge. with approximately .
diameter Of four feet and thickness of foot. In
the center Of the stone hole was cut. through
which shaft about IA feet long was fixed. On
fixed into an earth-fast stone and the other end
was fitted with tackling to which horse could
be yoked The gorse shoots were then thrown
into circular trough or course. where they were
crushed as the milestone slowly revolved The
farmer occasionally stirred them up with hay
fork and sprinkled them with water to facilitate
the crushing process. Crushing went ON for about
a couple Of hours. by which time the gorse was
sufficiently pulped to be eaten by the cattle.
In the second type Of mill another form OF stone,
shaped somewhat like neld-roller was utilized.
This pattern was not SO common as the wheel.
shaped. The roller revolved on a nat circular
course paved with stones, and had one end rather
thicker than the other to enable It more readily
to turn round the circle.
In process Of time these gorse mills gradually
fell into disuse As the land became better popu.
lated gorse became less plentiful and cattle food
more abundant The Introduction of turnips. too,
provided plentiful supply Of food in spring. when
1t had formerly been very scarce. Farmers, more.
over grudged the amount OF labor entailed in pre-
pairing the gorse, and were not unwilling that the
apparatus should fall into decay.
Gilpin observer., 1914-03-26
Observation-Disclosures
OVER s177,oooooo HELD IN THE
STATE IN 1918.
at $3,154,o0o by Insurance Com
missioner Epstein.
w..t.rn Newspaper Union New. Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Denver.-The total amount of life
insurance held In Colorado is $177. 7.30O.-
900, and the amount Of fire insurance
Is $252,544,000, according to an an
nouncement by Saul Epstein. state in
surance commissioner.
The commissioner believes that the
amount Of property needlessly de-
st-oyed by fire in the state could be
materially reduced If Colorado had a
fire marshal as other states have.
Compilations Of statistics, which his
office has just finished for the year
ending December 81, 1918, show that
the losses paid on fires during the
year aggregated $1.063. 900. The total
amount of fire premiums collected
during the year was $3,154,000.
There were 1853 fire insurance COM
panies operating in the state.
Thirty thousand life insurance poll
cies were sold in 1913 and they aggre-
gated $32,000,000 of insurance. The
total number Of life policies In force
was 143,SO0.
Gilpin observer., 1914-03-26
Old-Fashioned Agricultural Implement.

Times have changed In agriculture as in many
other things. and at the present day we can
hardly realize the diculties that beset the farmer
upwards Of q century ago Early spring was
often trying time for him. when his supplies Of
cattle food were apt to become exhausted before
the new grass appeared. There then no
turnips, mangolds. ocake, soy beans or similar
foods to be procured and he had some
times great difficulty IL keeping his cattle from
starvation. especially in the late districts. 1t Is
dfcult to believe, but 1t is nevertheless true that
in parts of Scotland the cattle were at times 80
weak In spring from want of food that they were
unable to rise from their stalls when the new
grass did come. The custom therefore arose for
farmers in neighborhood to meet together and
go from farm to farm for the purpose OF carrying
the helpless cattle out to the fields. This
termed the cattle lifting. q much more humane
method OF cattle lifting" than that which used to
prevail on the borders.
In the wilder parts of Scotland, where gorse or
furze was plentiful, the young shoots we're often
used In spring as a supplementary food for both
cattle and horses. The shoots cut down
and then removed to the farm to be there crushed
into rough pulp which could be eaten by the
cattle. 1t was eagerly devoured by them, and they
throve upon It. Cows gave richer milk when they
were supplied with crushed gorse. and the milk
was free from unpleasant flavor. such as other
green winter foods sometimes induce. Horses.
too. relished the food.
Great faith was placed in the nutritive value OF
become. that fields especially where the soil was
dry and light we're set aside for the whin CROP
the seeds being sown In drills In March. SO that
the shoots became ready for use in the autumn
of the following year. For several years in sue
cession forage was obtained from the original
crop.
There several methods employed for pulp
ing the gorse. In small farms, where only limit
ed quantity was needed. the method usually adopt
cd was to lay the young shoots on nat stone or
block Of wood and hammer them with . mallet
similar TO that now used for driving In paling
posts Sometimes one end Of the mallet was nttsd
with iron blades for chopping the gorse. while
the other end nat for pounding II. Otherwise
"rammer" or "bruiser' might BE- employed. An
instrument consisting Of shank Of wood. three
fest eight inches in length . bulged out part to
Give the instrument weight on being used. and
base which ID contracted into square. and shod
with an iron shoe embracing parallel iron cutters
one inoh asundsr and three inches deep, and
sharpened at their lower edge"
Gilpin observer., 1914-03-26
Nun Passes Pharmacy Test.


Denver.-So that she may be even
more valuable in the work of charity
and mercy to which she vowed to de-
vote her life. Sister Mary Andrew To
bin Of Mercy hospital has become a
registered druggist. The nun was the
only woman to pass the recent exam
nations for registered pharmacists
held under the direction OF the state
pharmacy board. Sister Mary took the
veil Of the Mercy sisterhood many
years ago. Each hospital employs a
registered druggist. Along with her
other duties Sister Mary will have
charge Of the pharmaceutical depart
ment at Mercy hospital. n.
Others who now have the right to
call themselves registered pharmacists
are: Howard B. Hover. William Ir-
wing Ayers. John C. Porter. Arthur
Wilson and Peter A. Damico, all of
Denver; Alonzo Grady Malone. Boul-
der; Hugh Uric Waggener, Salida;
William c. Heuser, Edgewater; ]. E.
Friday. Colorado Springs; Roy C.
Laughlin. Greeley; Francis A. McCu-
niff. La lara; Robert Bruce Porter.
Alma, Neb.. and Fay C. Chinn, Pueblo.
Ten persons passed as assistant phar-
macists.