davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
BOSTON POST, $3.50
WORLD, 65 CENTS
Special Prices to Our Subscribers On
4 Leading Daily and Trl-Weekly

We are reminded, infrequently how
ever. that we do not print the news of
the great war We refrain from do
ing this because of our desire to at
tempt only those things which we can
accomplish passably we'll. No mat
ter how strenuously we might strive,
in our paper issued once a week. we
should only make a very sorry spec
tacle if we attempted to give our
readers the incidents of the European
war. The war news, and other world,
or even national and state events are
plainly the province of the daily pa
pers or tri-weeklies On the other
hand, we know we can and do tell the
news of Somerset county in a way
that can never be approached by any
other publication.
Now to make up for our defect if
defect it may be called-as to the in
cidents of the war and other events,
outside of Somerset county, we make a
special effort to provide our readers
with daily or tri-weekly papers at the
lowest cost Unquestionably the
most wonderful investment in this
line is the Thrice-A-Week World
which arrives every other week day
and supplies a news service that can
hardly be equalled in any other paper
This paper is $100 per year, but we
can offer it to our readers at the
agents price of 65 cents.
Another very good proposition is the
Boston Post, regarded by many as
New England's leading daily. This
we can furnish to subscribers at $3.50
per year
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
COMMENCEMENT DAYS
DRAW NEAR
Every Member of Graduating Glass
to Have II Place In Thlo Years Pro-
gram

The annual commencement of the
SkOwhegan High School will occur on
Friday evening. June 81, about four
weeks hence. A military orchestra,
assembled and directed by Elmer f.
Towne, will furnish music. The usual
events OF the evening are included in
the program. There is, however,
something a little out of the ordinary
and very timely, in the grouping of
seven articles to tell the story of the
Red Cross. There are twenty in the
class of 1918 and each one is to take
part in the exercises, but this will not
lengthen the program to any great ex
tent, as the parts are short with the
exception of the class parts
COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM
Salutatory, John Emile WadsWorth
Essay Women and the War
Nelma Mae Fogg
Essay What Constitutes Sacrifice
for the Civilian"
Montford Page Meader
Essay Our Leader"
Lucille Marie Bolduc
Story" Saving for Victory
Helen Whiteside
Symposium: The Red Cross.
ta) Its History, Eva Mabel Blair
(bl At Home,
Doris Anna Wentworth
(cl In Belgium and France,
Joel Elwin Hobart
Id In Italy and Russia,
Lillian Horne
(el In the Balkan States,
Florence Beale
(0 Officers and Membership,
DOreth Pearle Whitehouse
(g) A Plea for its Support,
Lois Comber
Piano solo Return of Spring" Theo-
dore Moelling,
Christine Naomi Poolei
Sketch-The Blue Cross,
Edward James Roy
Music
Glass History, Lyle Clough Stinchfeld
Prophecy-"Te Years Hence
Nellie Elizabeth Hamilton
Presentation of Gifts,
Gala Louis Gordon, Frank Meron
Dyer
Class Will, Philip Eugene Lessard
Valedictory, Ruby Frances Dyer
Awarding of Shepherd Prizes.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
LAKEWOOD THEATRE Isl
MUCH IMPROVED
Building Enlarged to Handle Maxi
mum Attendance

With the return of James Durkin
and a stock company of his selection
which will easily excel anything ever
before arranged for Lakewood, and
with the careful selection of ten OF
the most successful royalty plays pro-
duced in New York in recent years it
was realized by the management OF
Lakewood Theatre that the present
season would compare to the two
weeks last year when Mr.. Durkin
played to packed houses in THE Man
From Home" and THE Middleman',
1t seemed that the Theatre was not
large enough to give the Lakewood pa
irons good service either in seating
capacity, stage facilities or for dance
floor surface After a careful study
Of the difficulties it was found best to
build an entirely new stage, 40 feet
deep by so feet wide, with a square
roof, 40 feet high.
The roof on the old theatre was
not constructed for the theatre bust
ness and although not appreciated by
the public it would not permit the
stage crew to handle scenery quickly
or efficiently This trouble has now
been overcome on the stage which Is
Just Aeing completed, and Mr. Durkin
Who arrived last week and who Is
now at the Shepherd Cottage, is most
enthusiastic over the Improvements.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
SOMERSET SETS A RIGHT BRAVE PACE.
LEADS WAY OVER THE TOP
We Didn't Kill The Fatted Calf, But Sold Her
For Good Money

Every year or two, a genius breaks
3lf aaong us. Sometimes his ingen-
,f Is Of the baleful sort; usually it
nrasrs a benefaction to mankind. Last
MONDAYS Red Cross Honor Campaign
VA Made in Skowhegan' Better
tn4a that. it was invented here. 1t
e,z , plan never tried before on land
ar ~ and it certainly worked TO a
cham The artifcer of this entirely
na4 scheme was Carleton P. Merrill
CHAIRMAN of the Somerset County COM
mtftae for this particular Red Cross
drive He did not have week TO
mn, n. in a house to house campaign
and Judged a good many other people
might be likewise busy, so he invented
a scheme to do it all up in ten hours.
As results prove, it did not really need
ma amount of time, so far as Skow-
bae4n was concerned, three hours did
the trick 1t must rank among the
mos. wonderful exhibitions of loyalty
and unity of purpose that the present
strenuous times have brought out. No
one who saw the square in front OF
fhe Red Cross headquarters fairly
ammed with people who had come to
nav their quota, will ever forget the
scene.
Leslie II. Goldsmith was supposed to
he receiving teller in chief, but the
money was mostly paid to the ladies in
Red Cross costumes who sat at the
table and patiently wrote receipts.
They were protected by an awning
decorated with Red Cross insignia and
we're so located that the cash and
nledges could be handed in to COM
mittee Just inside the Red Cross en-
trance. Here they were tabulated as
rapidly as possible. The committee
at the table already referred to were
Mrs. f. w. Briggs, Mrs Vivian Wood
bury. Mrs w. ]. Lashon, Miss Lena
Carriveau and Mrs. c. B. Hight. The
adding machine, just inside the win
dow. was so placed that when they had
a moment to spare they could turn
about and see the totals, which were
put in on the paper strip from time
to time.
A tall thermometer-like board in
front of the Skowhegan Savings Bank
building, suitably equipped with moy-
able arrows, was utilized to announce
the rising tide of the contributions
both for Skowhegan and the county
from time to time A further an
nouncement was made by fire alarm
whistles, and these blew at 915 indi-
eating that the first thousand had been
subscribed Fifteen minutes later
another blast indicated the attain
ment of $4,000. and within the first
hour $4,000 was similarly announced
Eleven o'clock probably witnessed a
total of $4,000, Skowhegan's quota, and
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23

by II m the aggregate was practically
$4,000. These latter figures were not
announced by whistle as subscriptions
were being received outside the center
OF the town, at a few points. and it was
thought best to allow some fair part
Of tle ten hours to elapse before the
final signal MAS given. This demon
stration announcing that Skowhegan's
quota had been fully paid in occurred
at 215 and d general racket of whis-
ties and bells conveyed the informa-
tion all over town and for two miles
outside.
1t is quite certain that Somerset
was the first of the counties of Maine
to report its quota of the second war
fund as fully subscribed, and it is
very doubtful if any county in Ameri-
ca was ahead of us in this respect
In the evening, a crowd again as
sembled to watch the big thermome-
ter as it indicated increasing totals
and to witness the auction of the full
blooded heifer Flying Fox Mamie
generously donated by l.. G. Trafton.
This young animal was led out in the
public square. where intending bid
ders had an opportunity to judge her
good points. Forrest Cross did an ex-
cellent job as auctioneer He rather
thought he had a $500 animal to offer,
and must have been pretty we'll CON
tent with the total OF $3.50 which was
finally received for her She was
first sold to w. p Ordway for 1920. Mr..
Ordway was bidding for a group of 30
citizens who had formed a pool for
the purpose, and following the plan
agreed upon by these public spirited
gentlemen, announcement was at once
made that the heifer would be redo
mated to the Red Cross to be again
sold for the benefit of their treasury.
This time she went to James H.
Hillens. who made his bid from a
seat in the Milburn Club win
dow. the price being $165. Wherever
and whenever this animal may be
shown, as years go by, not the least
interesting story that can be told
about her will be the one recording
this Red Cross auction and the fact
that she was sold for total of $685. as
a two year old. This same story will
be pretty good to refer to when show
ing her descendants for generations to
come.
1t should be understood that the
proceeds from the sale of this heifer
go into the local Red Cross branch
The general contribution throughout
the day, both for Skowhegan and for
the county, vas banked in the name OF
VIM McAdoo as a part of the 100000
600 Second Red Cross War Fund. Ii
other parts of the country respond
as generously. the total will probably
be nearly $200.000.000
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
HEROES H0NORED BY A
NATION At WAR
We Pause In the Midst Of the World
Conflict to Honor Those Who Fought
Our Earlier Battles

Memorial Day. or. as We love to call
it, Decoration Day, falls on THURSDAY
of next week 1t is 10 be observed
with its usual solemnity. turnout the
country, and the program TO be car
ried out here has already been issued.
All the ceremonies are, as usual
under the auspices of Russell Post.
Russell Relief Corps and citizens par
ticipating The officers of the Post
who have been prominent in making
arrangements are + N Mills, com
mander and II. j Yarney, adjutant
The Skowhegan Band viii furnish
music
The services at the Opera House
will commence at l.30 p. IA. Rev Mr.
Merriam will offer prayer. and an ad-
dress of welcome will be given by p.
a. Cleveland. senior vice commander.
to which George W. Cover will re
spond There will be singing by the
school children, and Lincoln's Gettys-
burg speech will be read by comrade
S F. Emerson Hon s W. Gould
will deliver the formal address.
The weather permitting, there will
be the usual ceremony connected with
the decoration OF graves at the North
and South cemeteries.
The printed programs bear the
names of deceased comrades buried
in the various SkoWhegan cemeteries.
There are 12l inferred in the South
cemetery, the, name Of f. w Wilson
having been added during the year. In
this cemetery is also the grave of one
Confederate, Wm r. McQuown, which
is always decorated with the same
care as other graves Forty are Civ
en- as buried in the North cemetery,
and two in the Catholic. The list
for the East Skowhegan cemetery has
been compiled with more care than
usual and contains twelve names. The
names of two soldiers are recorded as
buried in the Larone cemetery, and
two in the old Bloomfield cemetery
on the river road south side.
The members of the Post extend a
cordial invitation to the various so
cieties and citizens of Skowhegan to
attend the services at the Opera
House and otherwise participate in the
ceremonies of the day, 1t is request
ed that those who have autos will
be on hand at the close Of the program
to convey the members of the Post and
Relief Corps to the cemeteries and re-
turn The Post and Corps are very
grateful for courtesies in past years in
this respect.
Next Sunday the members of the
Post and Relief Corps will meet at
their hall at 1870 a M, proceeding
thence to the Methodist Church to lis
ten to Memorial sermon to be
preached by Rev Mr. Turner.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
More Men { allied

The following nine men. already
accepted for military service have
been notified to report here. a. p
m. Thursday Of next week. for de-
parture for Camp Devens. Charles
Siden. Cornyille; Chauneey ShoreY.
Jackman station; James ketehum.
LII Pay: Hazen L Jewett So.on.
Carroll b FlanGa~s Showhegan: John
Goodness, Jr, SkoWhegan Zen L.
Blanc. Madison: Charles \ Ericsson
Long Pond Norman L Foeg Bins-
ham
Nine more Somerse. county citizens
have been called for physical eNamin-
alton. with reference to military SER
vice. ~ report neNt Tuesday. a. fal-
laWS Archie Ran Hanson North
NAnmoufh;; Percy r Norton North
Arson. Edward \ Wheeler Ripley
Charles Beardau lockwood. RoF
Ba,hUn. Madison. Harry ~ Gordon
E.-. N.4 ruftlul fosa Sr1.- Bath
john g1-far Res1#aHI Bernhard ?
S.b. r.. bWooa
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
WONDERFUL PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION
Of AMERICAN WOOLEN EMPLOYEES
Five Hundred Or More In Line Banners Tell the
Financial Story of the Red Cross Drive

carried AZ yaria1= -#:rts IA the l#e.
In addition 10 tt,--a E. zsr-z. - ~.
nor. csuveTad ,as-- fr.sraz,irg -,
formation ~ ~ .te r.f=5.b4r = an
plovee. IN eacb derarr,aer. ard .aa
fotaI of their coutribnfian- - no r.z
cent Red eros drira Thee vara
a. follau.. Anderson lfa3. Sol
Dveing and General D.nar.rn4r, ~
emnIoyeas gava ST. So@ csrdf..,
poau ~ gsva S14r5u. c,s,.r5r.,
Room ~ gaye 800 oa. Wesva psae.
12g gaya S625= - Dres.5ng Room 81.
gaye Sfe . Fin{.hinq pom a. -
s214. fo,aI s1414 =. 3r4. Af.t.
Dressing l. gave s2e -o. Wa4vfn,, ~
gaye ze62 -. tatel So.
The 6onafion. h. nc 4fcs t.rc. ~
In ner.ans so,anrfed =. z5--au e.5=a1
adjed - the -4.rrs aIrs.as. ra,..r..d r.,
mis- nar.yr3nb plat-e. - ,r.,3 - -
- 81 - I. +. ..ro..sr =. -. -
If tbn fbr4e 81. ,.r-tea = h. ~
rad4 on v.sfob ~ .br5.,, -, ~
snaet..8r- end >, ,be s.,o5,r. ~
si444o tddfry .1a.a - .sa egure-
IN, r..-.,..J -. L.,=. er.t -
.o,.1 -. #rt. - -. s.@ara pad
Gro drive ~.zf1r r.ff5 y F~afa .ha f.ff1r r.
80 tfo t,.ar.... ~, - a.,,-
5i,,a,. - z3s--oo +. .bo,id ra
i..taa ~ ,[a - ralai,ad an ~
49, ,.#n ba lid ta .ba Iaca1 Pod
crl.s cb.,.ar rba rivalrv hetweer
~. ,..ria,,. da.ar,,,ants IN fba nat,ar
Of antrfbrfions va varv aarnasf no
o,,tiroI,. friondlv Tho Anaarson
" roa,,, u.itb -. 1eo5 : .bou..d
tho I,rgast total hut the ARM We've
pooa, bad rho bonor NJ tha Iarga..
a,.oraoa , contrjhntjon In fhair 60
a. ann1oyoos gava seoo o. an avar4g..
of q ~ nor man The average f5r
+bo an,ira n1art of 80 a,,n,,,.aa. -.
80
Tba eaqs carriad IN .ba a4rsda
,.;ardad MORO tban u.a. evnactz5 -
tbo,, tba S144 a. as abnva ranor.a5 ar
mis- snm se7 GS wa ,assea an tho aag
,.,rrfod b,. tho o#es forca Tn pad
Coo aag carr;ed hY. .ba H..1a giris
- tba pn5v poo C,l,,b cantrrad <4014
,,.bua tho iargo A.,,ariesp 80 c.rria5
~. tho airls ~ tba A,aa-son rI,isb- =
;ng poon, raoeivad s@f en
= i natnral - rafar bara - ,ba
,,a,.;ans aoti,itios II No. 80 -
pio I, tho Eir.t ihar,v r.oan t1ar
snhscribad for e. 5on in honds. in he
caCond Loan fbe;r snhscrintion Va
soo oo0 ord IN tho Third roap so515o
rhis ,,aros a ,otal for tho tbraa .,ans
- Anorican Woolan 70 emn1ovaas og
s55s50 Adding - his tbsir confri-
buttons IN tho Rod Cross drive of last
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23

was organized as a fitting celebration.
1t was very plain To the casual obser-
yer that substantial sum must have
been required to meet the expenses of
such an event and that skilful plan
ming and tireless labor must have been
devoted to it The result. we have no
doubt. must have recompensed those
who were so generous with their ef-
forts
4 little more than 500 employees of
both SEXES were in line The 10Th
regiment band headed the procession.
and Immediately following them came
a group of little girls, The Busy Bee
Club of St Mary's Parish, dressed in
Red Cross uniforms. and carry large
Red Cross Flag
The various departments of the To-
cal American Mills followed. They
were arranged in the order taken by
the stock, as it goes through the pro-
cess of manufacture to the finished
product. The various departments.
with the overseer of each, as they sue
ceeded each other in the line are as
follows: Stock, Dyeing and General
Departments, Hugh Hurley, Lawrence
Cockburn, George Webb; Cardng de
partment, Richard White day. Ches-
ter Mekenney (night) Spinning room
Thomas Goggins day. W H. Bur
wood might; Dressing Rooms. An
derson Mills. Thomas Brennan; Arms
Mills, Adolph Burkhardt: Weave
Rooms Anderson Mills, James H
Hamilton; Arms Mills, Robert II
Adamson; Finishing Room. Thomas
Thomson day. James Stenhou7e
(nighb.
Each marcher carried a small Amer
can flag. and several larger ones were
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23

why. said Mr. Durkin, I'VE can play
ANYTHING on Lakewood stage that can
be produced in the largest New York
Theatres, except the Mammoth Hippo
drome". You could put on a show
with one hundred and fifty people in
the cast on this stage The procenium
arch is six feet wider than before, and
the stage settings will be larger.
But the improvements on the stage
are not all, for the room occupied by
the old stage will be turned into the
theatre itself and will add to the ca
pacitv about two hundred more seats
there will be about twelve hundred
square feet more dance room, but
Tinker's Orchestra can probably I'LL
the theatre even with the additional
room.
Three hundred new theatre chairs
have been purchased and all will be
ready for the opening on Saturday
June 22nd. In few weeks there
will be an announcement regarding
Mr.. Durkins new company and a list
of the new plays that will make the
Lakewood patrons sit up and take no.
tice. for big things are in store for
them this year at Lakewood.
Those who remember the days when
the only building in the grove was the
HAYDEN boat house have to rub their
eyes to realize the changes which have
taken place. Those were good old
davs and the older ones of the present
generation recall many a fish chowder
served in that same boat house which
to their taste, has never been equalled
in recent years VIM. D. Hayden was
the presiding genius of those times. He
was most interesting man and we
only wish we could hear his comment
could he come back and attend one of
the performances in the rebuilt thea
ire in Lakewood Grove
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
Believed to Have Been Incendiary

Canaan residents are much wrought
up over the burning of the farm build
ings Of Mrs Kate Mason. widow OF the
late Aryille Mason situated on the
Clinton road about three miles out
The fire occurred on Saturday night
last about II o'clock and resulted in
the loss of two barns, two horses, two
moving machines. and hay press, OF
the estimated value of $1,000 The
owner lived on an adjoining farm.
That the cause was OF incendiary
origin there seems to be no doubt and
we learn the matter is to be thoroly
investigated
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
Suicide in Canaan

Tuesday a. m. shortly before the
noon hour Sherman Horne, a much re-
speeted farmer of Canaan, committed
suicide by hanging, his body being
found in the barn by his wife, suspend
ed from ladder. III health and des-
pondency point to the reason De
ceased leaves son and daughter, be-
sides the widow, also two brothers
Charles, a resident of Canaan and
Thomas j. of Worcester, the latter be-
ing en- route to his home, having been
in Canaan for a few days, called
there by the death OF another brother
Fred, whose burial took place on
Sunday.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
IMPORTANT

The lndependent-Reporter Office
will be closed. Thursday of next week.
Memorial Day This neeessitates go
ing to press on Wednesday and ad-
vertisers and correspondents should
take due notice thereof. 1t will be
ments. to be in one day earlier than
usual
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
Home Service Behind the Lines

The Home Service department OF
our local Red Cross Chapter has al
ready entered upon its valuable labors
with an enthusiasm which bespeaks
for it a great success under the per-
sonal supervision of Mrs. Margaret G
Briggs, with the following committee
c. p Merrill, treasurer of the Skow-
hegan Savings Bank; F. F. Lawrence
Esq, Mrs. Celeste Roullard, Mrs
Mabel Philbrick, Mrs. Adelaide Ord
way, Mrs Edith S. Philbrick. Miss
Gertrude Weston, Mrs. Dora McNeelie
The eighteen branches of our Som
erset Chapter are fast becoming or
ganzed to carry on this work in their
several sections, and as soon as such
organizations are perfected, the chair
man proposes to pay personal visit
to each that all chapters may learn
just what is expected of them. Just
what the home service work is de-
signed to do is best explained by the
following article taken from a recent
edition of the Red Cross Bulletin.
HOME SERVICE BEHIND THE
LINES
Every soldier and sailor would like
to leave four things with his family
when he enters the service of the
country
The first of these is morale, the
very same grit and cheerfulness which
the man himself needs when he is at
the front or o nshipboard. the pluck,
the courage the ability to do for ones
self. the initiative. the self-relianee
that people have in mind when they
say that this or that person. this or
that family is made Of the right stuff.
Morale is a spiritual quality. Il is
not a thing to be given in a moment
and at will to the folks at home, either
by the man himself or by anybody
else. 1t comes down through The
generations. is born with the souls OF
those who have it, and is then nourish
ed and STRENGTHENED by a wholesome
family life It exists in nearly every
body. in some in such small degree as
scarcely to be recognizable; in other-
in such abundance that no crisis
seems to be great enough 10 danni
Them
The morale of an individual or a
household can be strengthened and
protected just as the morale of the
lrmy and navy is safeguarded by the
Home Service of the Red Cross What
ever association the Red Cross has
with families is influenced by the de
sire to foster this spirit in them
The three other things which the
soldier or the sailor would like fo
..
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23
EAST MADISON

Preaching services Will begin at the
church. May 10Th. at p m and con-
tinue each sabbath thru the usual sea-
soa All are cordially invited
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23

Ray Gordon has accepted the posi-
tion as fireman at the Anderson Mill
No. 4, and began his new duties Mon
day last
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23

Mrs. George Foster OF North Corn
vile, who has been a patient at the
Somerset Hospital has returned to
her home.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-05-23

Wait! Don't eat that slice .. bread
Have another potato instead
Every spud a bullet