Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-02-20
About the Stste.

When you hear of an Aroostook man
sslling his farm this winter, 1t is safe to
imagine that he had previously sold bis
potatoes and will join the millionaire
class.
Mrs. Sophia NJ. Miles, negress II
years old, was burned to death In her
home at Rockland Thursday. Neigbbors
who reached the house too late to save
the woman expressed the belief that her
clothing caught FIRE while she was smok.
Ing pipe.
Up to the date of recent report on
the matter, the state of Maine had re.
ceived in automobile registration fees
since the first of January 1858, as
against $5s, 2S3.50 for the corresponding
period last year. Licenses had been
granted for $500 operators, 1884 automo.
biles, 1872 dealers, S78 trucks, 50 motor
cycles and ID motorcycle dealers.
Mott Russell of Skowhegan now holds
the record In that town for sticktoitive-
ness. Mr.. Russell comes every morning
from bis home on the East Madison road
to Skowbegan village, bringing farm
produce to the various hotels and restau'
rants, taking back some of the waste
from the tables for bis hogs. The re.
markable thing Is that for the past 80
years Mr.. Russell's team has not missed
day, winter or summer, making the
trip through all kinds of weather.
The Red Cross nurses of Maine have
offered their services In case OF war with
Germany and are preparing to do their
share If the country needs their services.
For some time there has been an organi
zation In the state which is composed OF
graduate nurses. Within the last few
days, however, word has been sent to
different nurses inquiring If the country
may count on their services as volun'
teers and in all probability all will be
ready to serve in the country's cause.
According to the best legal opinions
the city of Saco cannot now accept the
800, 900 legacy left by Mrs. John w
Deering of Boston, former resident Of
Saco. The charter has been subjected
to the most rigid scrutiny and not 9
single loophole can be found. The only
road left open Is for Saco to obtain new
charter, and having come to this conclu
sion, Mayor Henderson and others arr
taking steps to present bill to the pres
emit Legislature to bring about that de.
sired end. In her will Mrs. Deerine
specified that the legacy was to be usec
In founding hospital and II the new
charter is obtained the money will bt
used for that purpose.
A white. throated sparrow, more com
monty known as the "Peabody bird" IL
passing the winter in Ellsworth. The
familiar song of this rare bird has beer
Interpreters: "Sow wheat, Peabody
Peabody, Peabody" The people of Ellis.
worth have seen this bird almost daily
1t finds shelter and food about stable
Occasionally 1t has an English sparrow
for guest at dinner. This may be 8
new northern record for the white
throat. The late Prof. Ora Willis
Knight, In his "Birds of Maine," cited
but two cases on record where this bird
has wintered in Maine, one at Saco In
1858 and one at Yarmouth 10 1904. Bott
these places are farther south and west
than Ellsworth.
The fact that Ralph Waldo Emerson
who has been termed one OF the greatest
minds in American literature, was once
q pastor in Bangor, was not geperally
known to the present generation In thai
city until recently. In introducing Rev
A. r. Scott at the recent convocatior
exercises President Beach Of the semi
nary remarked that Mr.. SCOTT was pastor
of the church which once numbered EN-
erson 90 its minister. It appears that
Emerson was close friend of DR.. Fred.
erick Henry Hedge, who in 1s47 was
pastor of the First Unitarian church oil
Bangor. DR.. Hedge wished to 60 to
Europe and secured Emerson as his sub
stitute. The great philosopher, who had
long before renounoed definite connec
ton with any church but still placed
religion first In the things of life
preached In Bangor for six weeks.