davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-14
THE IDEAL BOSS
nv CAD.

Pull the shades and turn the key,
Business has no charms for me.
Put those books and files away
Give the boys holiday.
Son. hear your grandma's worse;
Almost ready for the hearse;
It's too bad that she's so sick;
Take your hat and beat it. quick!
Girls, there's nothing left to do;
Close yotir desks and hurry too.
Pull the shades and turn the key
Game. you know, is called at three.
Union switchmen this year sidetrack
for their annual convention in Buffalo.
"Just look" said the car at the curb,
1T cost him two thousand to git me;
"And here am, oh Woe is mine,
Running around as a jitney."
The telephone voice travels $4,000
miles per second. We wish at this time
to congratulate the other fellew on our
party line upon the fact that the COM
pany does not charge for talk By the
mile.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-14
Poor, dear grandmama.

Twelve billion dollars worth OF potash do
posits are within grasp OF the French army I'm
AIsace, and will pass into possession OF France
n the province 10 held after the war;
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-14

Spring IL the time when people 7
should prepare for the often trying
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-14

Beginning at 3 p. m. today the umpire
again becomes very lonesome man.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-14
From Another
Point of VieW
Sic 'em, Tige!

Sic EN-, Tige!
The captain of the Kron Prinz Wilhelm
says he will put to sea and try to run the
allied fleet. This ought to be received In
Germany as bad Newport News.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18

lows: Exhibition of rough riding
and trained ponies in charge of Prof.
Ness at 1890 a. m; parade at 1.30
p. m. sharp followed by judging and
class speed trials. The Skowhegan
merchants will offer unusual bar
gains in many special lines and per
sons visiting Skowhegan are asked to
make this a trade day. Automobile
dealers will take this opportunity to
exhibit their cars as follows Hack
EFT & Witham with the Chevrolet
and Cadillac; Holt & Hight with the
famous Ford and Buick; B. A. Saw
yer with the REQ and Skowhegan
Garage, line of second hand cars. On
this date w. NJ. Sibalds New Coburn
Garage will be open for inspection.
Horsemen are invited to show in
the following classes: Draft horses,
5000 pounds and over; draft horses,
less than 5000 pounds; closest match
ed pair any weight; single horses,
any weight; draft stations any
weight; draft brood mares, any
weight; draft horses, foals of 1910
and 1911; stations, foals of 1910 and
1911; draft foals of 1912 and young
er; draft stations. foals of 1912, 1913
and 1914; driving horses, pairs, 2200
pounds and over; driving horses,
pairs less than 2200 pounds; single
horses, any weight; stations. trotting
bred; colts, foals of 1911; colts, foals
of 1912 and younger; single horses,
driven by lady; saddle horses. The
premiums will be practically the
same as last year.
Fred C. Dunlap will act as marshal
and the line of parade will be as fol-
lows: Beginning at Leayitt Street,
then to North Avenue, down North
Avenue to Water Street, thence along
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18

that about as per cent of the children
who enter the grades also enter the
High School.
Another comparison with the num-
ber registered in the last year of the
elementary school and the number
registered in the last year Of the High
school during the last six years shows
that out of an average enrolment of
thirty-four ninth grade students we
find an average enrolment of twenty
three seniors According to these fig
ures 1t is very evident that over six
ty seven per cent of the students who
completed the grades also completed
the course in the High school
1t will be noted that "a is given as
the number of students completing the
ninth grade, and that 40 is spoken of
above as the number entering the
freshman class in the High School
exceeding the number of students in
the ninth grade, which is the prece-
ding year. This comes about from the
fact that the freshman class receives
accessions from the rural districts of
our own town and from other towns
pupils who are not found in the ninth
grade schools L. W. GERRISH
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18

ried, her first husband having been
Daniel Drew. After his death she
married in about 1866 the late Jonn
Drew, a brother OF her former hus-
band He passed away in 1890 and
following that sad event the widow
went to live with her sister, Mrs.
Phebe Mckinney in North Cornville.
This relative too passed away and
1t was then that Mrs. Drew became
resident of the town where her
death occurred, coming here to make
her home in the family of her grand
daughter, Mrs. Fred Wilson.
The deceased was the mother of
two daughters, but neither are now
living. There are however two sur
yiving step-daughters,< Mrs. Lizzie
Curtis of Athens and Mrs. Edward A.
Bailey of Skowhegan.
The funeral will be held this after
noon at the Wilson home at 2 o'clock.
Rev. H. G. McGlaufiin will oficiate
and the remains will be carried to
the receiving vault on the South side
to await interment in the spring. The
body at that time will be taken to
Athens.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
ATHENS FARMHOUSE
BURNED
Together With Contents
Last Night
Property of Jack WALLER. Formerly
Home of Fred C0rson

ATHENS. Feb lS-The farmhouse
owned and occupied by Jack Val
lier about two miles above Athens
village was destroyed by fire last
evening The stable VAS saved by
means of tearing down a shed which
connected the buildings, but none OF
the furniture was rescued The cs-
timatcd loss on the building was
$1,000. while Mr. Nallier claims To
have lost s500o worth OF valuable pa
pers IL is understood The conta
grafton was discovered by the house
keeper while the owner VAS In the
stable and an aged man Who Was liy-
ing there was removed frnm the
structure with difficulty The prop
erty ~as said to- h, Insured
The place MAS formerly owned by
Fred Corson. Mr. WALLER coming hers
from New York. year ef more ago
he has greall, improssa the build
ings aud the houac Nas an"iY fura-
ished Tbs family todal ar loca,-
iag themselves tn thr tfed Nllra
sots~ nearby the buTnod paatsF',
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18

building thereon, leaving the present
building for other purposes
OF the plans suggested by the com
mittee. the first was that contemplat-
ing the purchase of land for the cree
ton Of a new grade building and the
repairing and renoYating Of the pres
ent high school building for the ex-
elusive use Of the High School stu
dents In this case, the extra land
contemplated was on Leayitt st. in
close proximity to the Garfield and
Lincoln buildings. An unexpected OBJ
stacle was here encountered however
as one of the property holders when
approached upon the subject refused
to entertain any idea of selling. The
committee however stated that other
desirable and available lots had been
offered. AS to the cost of a new
grade building which would meet the
requirement. the committee reported
that a responsible contractor had re-
pbi Afu AAdl Sut4 DulIulDSt @iinOul
Equipment, could De built for $4,000.
The changes in the High School build
ing considered in connection with this
1lan contemplated the installation of
IN entirely new heating system. en-
tire reconstruction Of plumbing sys-
ten. with new toilets and layatories.
improved light conditions. such in
terror changes as would be needed. etc.
Based upon the best information OBJ
tanable in the limited time at the com
mttee's command. the cost II was
said of the grade building, including
the land and the repairs at the High
School building would probably not
exceed 5000.
Continued on page four)
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
APPEAL TAKEN IN HARD.
ms WILL CASE
From Rulings of Probate Court to the
Supreme Court, OF Local Interest

The will case of the late Samuel
Harding of Norridgewock. who was
we'll known in this town, and who died
in Somerville has aroused consider
able interest here The latest devel
opments in the case are that an ap
peal has been taken from the Probate
Court to the Supreme Court. Mr..
Harding left an estate valued at about
$4,000 and according to his will about
$1,000 of this was to go to his wife's
relatives and about $4,000 to his own
relatives with the conditions that
in case of shortage the relatives of his
wife be paid first. What was left
after the bequests were made was to
be divided in proportion to the sums
named in the will.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18

Skowhegans Fifth Annual Horse
Day, an event occurring no where
else in Maine, will be observed next
Tuesday. The success of former
horse days in which animals from
Gardiner to The Forks and from Liy-
ermore Falls to Bangor, have been
shown, forms a basis for this year S
proceedings. The Board of Trade
have the day in charge with f. c.
Butler, Esq, c. w. Day. John II.
Lancaster, +. e. Cross and Harvey
Mcclure as the general committee.
Other committees have been named
as follows: To secure the atten-
dance of horse buyers, C. w. Day, w.
r. Brown, p. w. Merry H. r. Bearce.
On invitations to horsemen: |. D.
Leavitt, C. L. Russell Damon B.
Bearce.
Finances and premiums: W. p.
Ordway, E. T. Goodrich, J. W. Fogler,
w D. Snow.
Reception committee C. D. Mil
ler, Fred Tuscan, c. S. Robinson,
Ralph Hill.
Advertising committee, R. T. Pat
ten, John E. Taylor, S. W. Philbrick.
Auditor, John H. Lancaster.
The general public is called upon
to aid the above committees. Horse
dealers should bear if mind that ex-
cellent opportunity for sales and pur-
chases are always in order at these
annual affairs and that the enterprise
is to be aided by horsemen from var
ious sections of the State. Allie
Packard of Boston a representative,
will be among those here from out
of town, coming for the purpose of
buying saddle horses.
The program for the days pro-
ceedings has been outlined as fol-
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
SK0WHEGAN PEOPLE REACH DECISION RE-
GARO|NC HIGH SCHOOL PROPOSITION
That Different School Accommodations Must Be
Furnished The Plans and Discussions

representative gathering of Skow-
hogan men and women were present
at the citizens meeting under the aus
pices of the Board of Trade meeting
in Municipal Court room Friday
evening when a report from the spe-
cial committee on school buildings was
submitted through the chairman, John
W. Fogler While awaiting this re-
port the president {. p. Merrill of the
Board of Trade gave a careful and
concise resume of the building pro-
ject up to the present time.
Mr. Fogler and his helpers had at
tended to their duties in thoroughly
earnest manner, the short time given
them having been spent to an excel
lent advantage in procuring ideas and
plans to be considered for future
school accommodations. The discus
sion lasted probably one hour. the de-
cision being unanimously agreed up
on that additional school room must
be arranged for. Different persons
while serious IS to the project We're
hot aatagonistic. although all OF the
speakers did not voice the same opin-
ions on the subject This diversity Of
IDEAS centered upon four plans. name
~ that of remodeling the present high
school building and adding thereto as
the committee had arranged for last
summer; that of raising the present
structure and erecting on the same site
4 modern building adapted to the need
of the students; that of simply re
modelling the present building. for the
accommodation of high school pupils
alone and building a grade building
elsewhere and lastly that of pur
chasing a new lot and building a new
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
ALL ROADS To SkOWHEGAN NEXT TUESDAY FOR THE ANNUAL
HORSE DAY FESTIVITIES SPEED TRIALS AND PARADE
Prof Ness with His Trained Horses and Ponies will Perform Forenoon
Merchants Offer Trade Bargains. Big Crowd is Expected

Island Avenue to Baptist Hill round
Bloomfield Green, back by the way of
Main Street and Island Avenue to
Madison Avenue, up Madison to Elm
Street, thence to Coburn Avenue,
thence to Pleasant Street, then High
Street to North Avenue, up North
Avenue to Leavitt Street, from Lea
witt to Madison Avenue, from Madi-
son to Water Street, and then to
Municipal Building. where the judg-
ing will take place After this will
occur the speed trials, classes to be
announced at the race.
The entertainment provided by
Prof. Ness will be one of the novel
features and will take place in front
of the Municipal Building at the
hour previously stated, A bunch of
trial ponies will be introduced and
five different features of rough riding.
The dancing ponies will be exhibited
and the sum of IS will be offered to
anyone who can ride the bucking
ponies. Baby Ness will entertain
with a song and dance and trick rid
ing. There will also be races be-
tween the children on ponies and
older persons ON horses, while an in
yitation is extended to outsiders,
residents of Skowhegan or elsewhere
to participate in the saddle racing,
in which the horses and ponies from
the Ness troupe will be entered.
This event will be postponed IL the
weather is inclement Tuesday, the
date to be announced later. Any de-
string free stablng during the day
should notify C. W. Day, Skowhegan,
at once.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
VOTERS OF MADISON VILLAGE: AG|TATEO
0vFR 4 RETTfR WAFER eellpplY.
Delepation of Voters Plan to Take Part in the
Hearing at Augusta, March End

provisions Although a greater part
of the houses in this village are con-
nected with the city water supply
nearly one-half of the families get
their water for drinking purposes
from some other source. Owing to
the new public utilities law at the
beginning of the year 1915 the users
of more than one faucet were charg
ed the full schedule price, this hay
ing not been done formerly A storm
of protest Immediately arose and a
petition was circulated and signed by
63 well known business men asking
for an investigation by the Public
Utilities Commission. In this petit
ton it was claimed that the rates
charged were exorbitant that the
water supply was unfltered and not
suitable for domestic use, and that
the hydrant pressure was not what it
should be for fire purposes. Last
week a reply was given by Butler &
Butler of Skowhegan. the attorneys
for the Company, stating that sam
pies of the water had been analysed
every three months and it had been
found suitable for domestic use; that
the argument for better rate was
virtually asking the company TO put
all consumers on a meter; that the
question of fire pressure in the by
drants was matter for the corpora
ton to consider as whole and not
part of the Voters. Notice has
been received from the Public Utili-
ties Commission that a public hear
ing will be held at Augusta on March
End, It is now planned to have a
delegation from so to 100 voters pre-
sent to take part in the proceedings
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
Arm Amputated

MADISON, Feb 13-Mike Johns. a
Greek employee, had his left arm am
putated just below the shoulder as
the result of an accident about II p.
M. Thursday. at the Hollingsworth &
Whitney plant. Johns was employed
in the yard crew which was shifting
some cars to be loaded. A trig was
taken out and the cars came together
with a crash. knocking Johns down
wheels passed over his arm both above
ard below the elbow crushing the
bones Doctors Milliken and Thibo-
deau attended to the mans injuries.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
AS TO HIGH SCHOOL
ENROLMENT
Supt. Gerrish Corrects
an Error

Either at the citizens meeting last
Friday evening, or the Parent-Teacher
meeting Saturday evening, it was stat
ed that only six per cent of our
scholars entered the High school, This
statement was so absurd that it SEEM
ed useless to notice it, but as there
is an inclination to refer to it in ar
guments connected with the school
building proposition, a reply seems
necessary. During the last ten years
we have had a yearly average of 81
pupils entering the first grade, and an
average of 40 entering the High
school, From these figures it is plain
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18

The voters of Madison Village have
not been agitated over a matter OF
public importance to the town, since
the fight for town division twenty
years ago as they are at the present
time over better water supply A
system of water works Was establish
ed in this village little over twenty
FIVE years ago by private corpora
ton. known as the Madison Water
Company. But little fault was
found with conditions until the ty-
phoid fever epidemic of seven years
ago, when after much investigation
by the local board of health it was
thought that the epidemic might have
been caused by the filthy conditions
along the banks of the Kennebec Ri
yer near the intake from which the
supply was taken. Repeated analy-
sis at the State Labratory failed to
show any contamination however.
Committees were appointed at meet
ings of the Village Corporation to see
what could be done. At one time it
was thought suitable supply could
be obtained from artesian wells and
considerable time was spent by the
committee in investigating this prop
osition. At various times an attempt
was made to get the officials of the
company tn set a Drice on the plant
with a view to municipal ownership,
and two years ago special act was
passed by the State Legislature en-
powering the Madison Village Cor
poration to form a water district eth
er by itself or with the town of An
son. A meeting was held and trus
tees elected but as no further action
was taken the act lapsed by its own
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
The Other Side

Those friendly to Mr.. and Mrs. Ness
have a version of the Starks affair
somewhat different from that which
has been reported in the daily papers
of the State. They state that there
were four men who came to the
Churchill home, where they were
boarding and threatened violence.
They claim that Mrs Ness was
knocked down and that Mr.. Ness,
fearing injury to his wife and child,
did what he did in self defense.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
Hobart Family Celebrate Birthday OF
Its Oldest Member

Daniel F. Hobart son of Daniel and
Mary Thurston Hobart celebrated his
eighty-ninth birthday Feb. 9Th at his
home at East Madison. He is the last
of a family of thirteen children and
has only two living relatives in his
generation. A cousin. Mrs. Julia Gray
of Madison and a sister-in-law, Mrs
Joel Hobart of Skowhegan. neither of
whom were able 10 be with him Sat
turday.
Mr.. and Mrs D. B. Hobart enter
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
BORN IN 1922 D|EO Tues
DAY NIGHT


The death on Tuesday night of Mrs.
Lydia tCollins) Drew removed from
our midst another revered elderly
lady, loved and respected by her ac-
quaintances. Although not for a
long time resident of Skowhegan,
she had spent practically her entire
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
nlxh " alter aaIA

Tbs Repaftsf goes thu @rrs %
fsa familtsa THIS nkreeda u9f
esvsfoaa circulation TvgaEia and ts
ths laFxsst cd tioa svvF efsnisd b.
Aasaevsst eeanty HewsRApsF
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18

Monday daurhr vas horn to
Mr and Mrs Frank l.sssor.
ANON 'he lmporta #alons dur
iug the pas year at A.. ialc Llbrar,
are full sofa pf Marx q Henry
Thaekery and dumas louise "
Coburn CAV ~ houks the French
language viii have much az
prsriatrd hy ~, frrs sidents Of
the community TIE b and SorA
of tho l.ibrap fof ihr ta. ffar Witch
~as an average onr ar, tHawn ia N.
fnlio@ ms statistics N hera II vol
nnes In Iihrary tsr.s Aefssslons
during the fsar aa' of aas, % hav-
ink h~sa purchased frur BE : cent
fand Only one h.aak has heaH inss IA
De eiFealatlos aud ~ hes,A Ave esea
ilsesrdsa- The largest IA siFvula
tiea has sssa sa1. whils es.asa astiv
I'D teF kams use Rumteg stsit
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18

days in Somerset County, Consequent
y was known to wide circle of
frierds In this section.
Mrs Drew was born In Athens on
the 22nd day Of November in 1922 and
in that town spent the greater part
of her life. She has been twice mar
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
BOYS COUNTY CONFER
ENCE IN SKOWHEGAN
viii be Held in April Somerset
County Federation Formed Monday
Night

The Somerset County Boys FEEDER
alton was organized in the chapel of
the Bethany Baptist Church last Mon
day evening This is really a CO.
operative organization for inter club
work among the boys of the county
and the officers are composed of an
executive committee as follows:
Chairman. t L Allen principal of
Good Will; vice chairman. Rev. r. L.
Shea0. pastor Of the CONGREGATIONAL
Church in Norridgewock; secretary.
R. " Tobey. Coed Will; treasurer.
Lyle :. Moore. Shovheean: members
at large, Mr. Brown. Fairfield; Guy
Williams, Athens. Harold Larry,
SkoWhegan These officers together
with pastors and ore layman from
each church in the county which has
organized work for boys, constitutes
the County Committee.
It is planned for all Somerset
County boys who attend the Boys
Conference in Portland March 5
and to meet at Oakland and go to-
gether by special ear \ banner
and pennauts, blue field with gold
letters Will be carried
\ County Conference for boys will
be held in Skowhegan on April l6,
l. and II. and a committee consist
ing of Rev Theodore Halbert Wilson
and Lyle : Moore were selected to
oreanlz, local committee To consist
OF two from caoh church and take
charge OF local plans The matter
OF iuter-ylub athletics and other con
tests and of summer camps ME- re-
ferred 20 M, executive committee for
inYs Ysstieatt1n and report
Slow h,ean poop, Mil Doe INTEREST,"
"a la ftaru of lhe apprn1,aes anp-
tals 81 Lindsey j N#tIr- Il SOW
hegan. yiohrist ata Mss Laura
G. cor-on OF Athens aeeurt.ae - mo
records. which braf tte maHt.ase
Intentions Of The eaaple at rs. Iaea
Clerks oi,ice
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-18
State Grange VIII Meet In Portland

The annual meeting of the Maine
State Grange will be held in Port
land on Dec. 10. a. and Is. according
to an announcement made Tuesday.