davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
Alumni Defeats High School 8 to ;

Remember when you were in the
grades how that High School ball team
seemed to be about the best agsre-
cation of ball tossers in the world2
II you had drop OF sporting blood
in your system, you privately vowed
that YOU would make the team in
your Freshman year, and you did.
Finally one day you accidently busted
out three-bagger with two men on,
and in your opinion, you were some
player. You get together with the
bunch and talk over the past games
and the last High School team. "Yes
they were pretty fair but they would
look foolish beside our team. They
wasn't the "stickers' that we are.
So when the Alumni came back for
graduation. the old has-buens were
challenged, altho it seemed too bad 20
show them up For the Has -Beens"
old man John Lewis and that Palsi-
fer feller who used to be around here
years ago. volunteered to be the goats
There were also three old soldiers.
Bisson. Emery and Tobey, Mezsrs
Lessor and Thomson, Joe Taylor. Il
real ball player and Bunny Brown.
Yes Bunny played ball once
OF course the old fellers" didn't
want to show up the kids" before
such large crowd, and the kids
had lot OF sympathy for the Alumni.
50 it was quite a nice little game up
to the seventh with tie score Then
someone was mean enough to say that
Cas- Bisson and Bunny" were just
ornaments anywaS, and they cot real
man and busted that little old pill
all over the lot When the dust set
tied the score was . to in favor of
the Alumni
A feature of the game was the fact
that every man but one on the Alum
nj team had worn the khaki.
We nearly forgot to mention that
the little Halves hoy umpired the
game and he did well for a youngster.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
Mrs. Roscoe Bigel0W Has Narrow Is.
cape From Death

What came near being a tragedy at
the home of Mrs Roscoe Bigelow,
Monday. was averted only by the saga
city of the splendid dog owned by
the family.
Mr. Bigelow is dealer in neat
stock and had recently purchased a
COW with a young calf Monday,
Mrs. Bigelow went into the cattle
yard to pump some water for the
stock, and this COW, who had recently
been deprived Of her calf. suddenly
attacked the lady Mrs. Frank Thomp-
son, who was visiting the Bigelows
was on the other side of the yard
fence, but was unable to go to the
assistance OF Mrs. Bigelow The
dog, however, heard the outcries and
rushed to the assistance of his mis-
tress, biting The animal in the face
and otherwise attracting the COWS at
tenlion from Mrs Bigelow some
men from a distant field arrived at
this time aud assisted the dog IN
driving the COW lWay.
Mrs Bigelow 3as very badly hruis-
ed but it is Thought no serious eonse-
quencos viii follow
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
Union Graduation mt West Forks

The schools of The Forks and West
Forks will hold union graduation ex-
areises in the Congregational Chapel
al West Forks. Wednesday evening.
Jnly >. with the following program:
March; prayer; music; Lies Mirror,
Joseph Bailey; Our Country's Flag,
Thomas c. Berry; The Little Arm
Chair. ] Louise Durgin A Boys
Complaint, Forrest S Bailey; A Nor
tifying Mistake. Gertrude c. Farley;
The Stars and Stripes, Isaac l.. Har-
RS The Silver Stripes, Chester NJ.
Mckay; The Army Tin Canteen. Rob
ert +. Durgin; The White Footed
Deer. Mearle \ Farley; Wheeler at
Santiago, Russell l.. Kennedy; music;
The Soldiers Letter. Stanley W. Mar
tin; The Young Soldier. Cinda r Far
ley; The Little Fireman, Joseph c
Gomber, The HighWayman, Hazel =.
Berry; A Woman Of Tipperary, Leona
E. Farley; music; A Vision of War,
Herbert F. Berry; The Last Moment
Cecilia +. Merrill. The Meaning Of
Our Flag, Harry W. Burns; Ostler
Joe, Flora b. Spearrin; The Rose.
Beatrice A. Marshall music; con
ferring of diplomas by the superin-
tendent; music
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
A New Industry

Many good things have come to
SkoWhegan in years past, some OF
them because she deserved and work
ed for them. and many others by sheer
good luck. The present instance is
me of the latter sort.
Lew Smith, formerly of Liyermore
Falls has passed much of his life in
the brass foundry business. Circum-
stances led him to a temporary resi-
denee in Skowhegan. He like the
place and decided to remain here, de-
tiding TO establish the business with
which he was most familiar He is
NOW putting up building for brass
foundry at his home on Mcclellan
street This will be equipped with
d u3lding room and the necessary
mr. ngs for making all kinds of brass
and bronze castings In the days
When trees and lumber were the sole
Industries of this portion of the Ken
nebee Valley, an enterprise Of this
kind would have been useful to a
very United degree, but with the ad-
tent Of textile, pulp, shoe and like
Industries: with the morderni2ng Of
machines which they use, has come
an increased employment of brass and
bronze in bearings and otherwise, Up
10 he present time, tie industries of
Somerset county have mad to send to
distant points for their requirements
7t his kind 1t will be an advant-
age scarcely to be realized by those
outside of the manufacturing business
to be able to procure them here We
say, All welcome to Mr.. Smith and
ms new industry.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
District Meeting al Athens

The District meeting OF The l. o. o
f. Of the 23rd District composing the
towns o. Athens. Madison. Norridge
wock and skowhegan, VIII be held al
Athens, next Friday evening. June q
Wesserunsett Lodge Of Athens Will
confer the Initiatory degree All Odd
Fellows are invited to be present
Grand Master Frederick B. Peabody
OF Richmond will attend the meeting
Winona Rebekah Lodge will furnish
one of their famous suppers after the
meeting.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
LOCAL AM. RED CROSS
To CONTINUE
10 Retain Present Quarters ior Future
Work

The great American Red Cross viii
not close her e.es to the continued
needs of the suffering people Of war
ridden and devastated lands In
vestigation shows that with unlimited
amount of material sent abroad to be
made up by these peoples and with
factories producing to the extent of
Red Cross funds. there is yet dire
need of all that Red Cross can manu-
facture by her own hands. necessitat-
ing a production program in the fall
of large dimensions 1t has therefore
been deemed wise instead OF yacating
to retain present quarters. For the
present the rooms will be open Sat
urday afternoon and evening with
Mrs. Buchanan in charge
Yarn Will be given out To those
who feel that they can do little
knitting for the refugee children in
preparation for the cold weeks that
are TOO near at hand Those who
IRE willing to sew can be aecomo-
dated al the room or with material
that may he taken to the home.
40 drive for workers is eontem-
plated until fall, but all that can be
accomplished now by volunteers will
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
Letter from ". /. BlllD TarbeIl

The Independan.=liepor'cr has just
received a letter from William r
Tarbell which may bc of interest To
his many friends in this town and
Athens. 81 wish to be added To your
list of subscribers Kindly start
sending the paper as soon as you re
eeiye this letter | am a native of
Athens and am a one-time subscriber.
but about a year ago l lct my sub
scription run out l have been very
sorry that | did so. because your pa
per is very interesting and to receive
it is almost like receiving letter
from home. | met one of my old
sehoolmates Clyde Williams, also of
Athens) a few days ago here in Dan
zig and he gave me some Of the pa
pers that he had read Althoueh
they were over a month old | cannot
tell you how much pleasure | got
from reading them. 1t has been six
months or more since | have seen
paper from my old home state. Mr..
Tarbell is on the I. s. S. Lea and his
letter was written in Danzig. Ger
many.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
LIEUT.. COL. SRUMWAY
HONORED
Skowhegan Man Receives Honorary
Degree from BOwd0in

Lieut.. Col sherman Nelson Shum-
way of the Class of 1917, Bowdoin
College, has received the honorary
degree of Master Of Arts from that in
stitution In college Col ShumWay
was a splendid leader of men, cap
tain Of the football team and Of the
student battalion; during the war pro
NOTED from private TO lieutenant col
onel, each promotion being Won by
ability and courage; fearless and
inspiring commander devoted To his
men
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
Announce ment

Messrs Carroll E. Deering and
Charles c. Mclaughlin wish to an
nounee to the public that they have
purchased the K E. Gould store. stock
and grist mill in Harmony and will
continue the business under the firm
name Of Deering & Mclaughlin They
hope to merit the confidence and pa
tronaee of their old customers and
friends and make many new ones by
reasonable prices. promptness in serY-
ing. satisfaction in quality and cour-
teST
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
SUCCESSFUL FARM
ING IN SOMERSET
Agriculturalists Awak-
ing to the Possibilities

1.'.'.. ..''' -. .4is sfsa- i'e-
30 ''- NV 2ss NNlhs'
- - ''.'' ~ f5f9Ps r d4i'e
- p's.7''-.'77 - ~ slsafe. IN
-. .-''',''-' - IN .'''7
-. '"' '...s3 o'a -e''
.-4.. ~ 9'. '2''s'1 III
.4.... rs..l,. - ~ ap1... ,,..,-9
,ra5aa, tbs So. ,gr.o,,i,a-.land -
4.,-.r..4 fa...,. ~. 3..o..-..~. 49,.
..4s .o..a.,. .,..,i .a,.4-..za
resources. Or in other words. -
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
OLD GRADUATES RETURN
FOR COMMENCEMENT
Annual Meeting OF the =. IL. $. Alumni
Association

Among the pleasant events ofsgrad-
uatine time was the annual meeting
of the S. H. S. Alumni Association
which was held in Masonic Club room
Friday afternoon. At the business
session Mrs. Vivian Graves Wood
bury was elected president; Miss
Celia Packard secretary and Miss
Hannah r. Page, treasurer. After
short social time, splendid ban
quet was served. At the post-pran-
dial exercises, Libby Pulsifer acted
as POSTMASTER; Mrs. Mabel Phillips
Judkins welcomed the incoming class
and Richard l.. Turner responded for
the class The other speakers were
Principal r W. Leighton Warren c.
Merrill Bowdoin and Mr.. r. T. Pat
ten
Those present We're:
Class of 1>79-Clara b. Varney, Lucy
y Dinsmore. Hinckley; Louise H.
SurteYant.
1SA4-R, T. Patton.
1889 Lizzie 7. Hussey, G. r. Fogg,
Blanche NJ. Friend. Annie A Loomis,
Ang b. Steward.
Ism Hannah r. Page.
1856 Lois W Patten, Mabel Phil
lips Judkins
1896 Vivian Graves Woodbury..
1895 Lola Marston Blunt.
19o1 Edith p. Steward, Florence
X Duaas,
1895 Charles G. Cleveland.
1906 John W Healy Emma b. Fol
som.
1907 Mrs. Nellie Clifford, NJ Il.
Clifford. Hinckley.
1910 Florence II. Withee, Celia
Packard Irene Nichols Turner
1911-Alice f. Written, Marie G,
Fletcher. Thornton W Merriam.
1912 Clifton T. Whittemore, Roy
H. Pratt.
1915-Mildred Beale, Warren G.
Merrill.
1916 Margaret VI Chase, Lewis w.
Brown. Emery T Dyer, Verna L..
Abbey. Harold d. Crasby, G. Allan
Wentworth, Pauline b. Greene, Myra
D. Akeley, Ralph Foster Merriam,
John d. Emery
1917 Eunice F Patten, Hazel
Bnrllhardt. Prudence W. Wadsworth,
Doris T. Cover Beatrice p. Smiley,
Carl W. Tobey. Merle A. Roullard,
Bruce H. NJ White. Alexander Thorn
son. Margaret King. Esther French,
Libby Pulsifer. Pearl c. Harville,
Emerald A. Young.
1918 Eva NJ. Blair Merlon F. Dyer.
Christine ~ Pooler, John l.. Wads-
worth. Philip E. Lessard, Nelma NJ.
Foag. Florence Beale. Doris A. Went
worth. Ruby Frances Dyer, John Ell
win Hobart.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
DEATH OF SAMUEL FARRAR PAR.
SONS
Member of Carraha>>ett Lodge |. o.
q. +. for More Than III Years

After IN Illness covering several
months Ssar..f rs~r4r Parsons PASS
.H .as. s...ars,v .s.4rnaon al his
1.g. s, l,rn., street Mr. Parsons
~. s.r. a. y. r.-.s Missouri An
...-. - - ~ y4~y a5rv age
d.. r....#a...s#.. -.-r.r ION 1r1s No
..r.-. =. .. ...r4455 received
u- .54.=.... md r.5rn4f md work
~ .-##. o. .ar.ga. e.sfar n.
....# - <....s~y..-. - 1>>s and a.-
..r.I - .@.... -. a.s N.4tgrv-
..r. - U.r.- r...#a#-. 0..r the
..r.a4.. mr.. ,h.,. ..#s.5 sa.r,..,r.
r.- ~. - = wears hs ms a..9 s.,
%. .s#... a4.1.. mis-. 4 n.-r. -.~,-
,... ~. q... ..,,~r..3 .s.... his
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
HUNCEROF GERMANY
M|SREPRESENTED
People Seem Comforta. |.
bic and Contented

following is a letter received by
Mr. c. W. Shaw from her son Harold
T. nurren who is in Germany in the
Army of Occupation. Mr.. Durrell
enlisted in September, 1917, and was
sent to Fort Slocum, \. Y, for a
short time and from there TO Nancou-
yer. Washington, where he joined the
as Engineers 9Th Division men from
nearly ever state in the union, gath
ered At Vancouver which was an ideal
Mace for Army Barracks. There
they were trained for several months
and training for an engineer is no
easy matter. On April %, 1918 the
regiment entrained for Camp Merritt,
\ ] On May 9Th to Sth they boarded
the Transport S. S. America and on
the evening of May Sth, 1918 their
convoy the S. S. America the 5 S.
Wash ngton and the S. S. Decalb sail
ed fer France. Through all the
hardships of this terrible war, Mr.
Durrel has always written bright
and hopeful letters to his mother
Dunkenhein. Germany,
April q. 1919.
My Dear Mother:
Just few lines today tell
ing you am fine and hoping this let
Ter will reach you on Mothers Day.
Such strange country and such
queer people, pockets full of funny
money. don't know whether you are
millionaire or pauper and don't care
much. our Army on the move most or
The tine. everybody swearing at
everybody else and hot time to pay
in general.
Who can talk German? | can say
how much" and count up to two, so
far You folks would laugh to hear
Two Of US get together and compare
notes of how much we know OF the
German language One Buck who has
mastered about four words. meets an
other and says "reghter re onter'
and the other comes back with bon
Jour monsour bon jour. On you
talk rotten, better come out of your
dope bacause we wont be here but a
few years and what will you do when
We get to Russia or China? Well
We nave to have some fun, SO we say
can the blues and smile, we sure are
in for il now, so we may as we'll
make the best of everything. If we
CONTINUED on Page Eight
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
Mount Noriah Council at Dexter

Nun Noriah Council No. 10. Roy1,
and Se.ea. Masters. held d special,
assembly u Masonic Hall at Dexter.
yesterday at $50 p. m \ business
meatas vas held at o'clock, immedi-
atc.y after which the Royal Master
and Se'ee' Master degrees were work
ei a splendid banquet was served
a, $50. 4 o'clock the Super Excel
leu- Masters pegree was worked II
fu,, fore There were about Go
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
DE M0Iay C0mmandery Observes st.
Johns Day by Attending Church at
Dexter

A special conelaye of De Molay
Commandery, No. 10, X. T. was held
at the Asylum, Sunday, June %, at
II a. m. At 113O the Sir Knights
left for Dexter where the lines were
formed and the Comm. .andery act
ing as escort to Penobscot Lodge, T.
and A. NJ, attended church in obsery-
ance of Saint Johns Day Fifty
three Sir Knights attended from this
town.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
Who Hays With An Automobile ;

If there is anyone in this section
who hauls moving machine With an
in the hay field. the favor
would be appreciated, if they would
write to W. B. Kendall of Bowdoin-
ham. stating particulars and results
a. TO this method of haying.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
Somerset Hospital Notes

Mrs. Eva Cox of this town was op-
Grated on last Friday morning,
Albert Butler of Skowhegan under
vent an operation last Saturday
morning
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
tanaan High School Commencement

The graduation exercises of the Ca
haan High School will be held to-
morrow (Friday) evening. June -27th,
al o'clock in the Grange Hall All
are cordially invited.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
Victor! Ball This Evening

y. u. Victory Ball. Exhibition Hall.
FairyieW Park. Skowhegan, next
Thursday evening, July 3. Tenth
Regimen Band Admission Is cents.
Ladies free.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26
Dance at the Canaan Hotel

There is to be a dance at the Hotel
IN Canaan tomorrow Friday even
ing June 27. Music by Varney's
orchestra of Skowhegan. There will
be a prize waltz.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26

Dance a: Town Hall, Norridgewock,
every Thursday evening. all summer
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-26

Miss Grace Thomson left here last
Saturday for York Harbor for a while
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-06
Proper Care of Tires

No substitute for rubber for tires has been found, and probably never will be, at least in thas generation. The pneumatic tire stands pre-eminent as the covering for all passenger cars and for truck wheels of certain capaci- ties and used for certain purposes Tires are better today than ever before, and even though materials and workman shin have doubled in cost the average serviceable life and reliability have increased twofold. No longer do we hear of a premature blowout during the first 2000 miles; no more are repu- table makes of cars shod with tires of inferior kinds and iraadequate ca pacities; the driver of tcday can rest assured that the origin;n tires with which his car was equipped, together with the spare for emergency purposes, will last him from 5000 tq 10000 miles. and frequently more 'underaverag ge
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-06
HUNTSVILLE

Huntsville, April 5.-(SpeciaD .-Ho- tels and boarding houses in Huntsville have been so crowded during the last twoI or three weeks that many of those persons belated in their arrival and unable to get rooms have gone to near by towns to get beds. A great many more travelling men than usual are oA the road, it is said. The residence sec tiors of Huntsville are also very crowded and it is difficult to find houses and apartments for rent. !.
 Chief W. W. Cameron of the gov eminent forces that are fighting the Texas cattle tick in the various couh- ties of northern Alabama, announced today that dipping of cattle began in Manshall and Lawrence counties thls wee k and will begin in Franklin next Monday. The forces in each or the three counties are well organized anu are receiving the cooperation or the off eials and people also. There arc 375 dipping vats in the three counties, Mir. Cameron said.
 OVer 5000 worth of whisky, accoro- ing to the prices received by Hunts ville bootleggers, was poured lnto the sewer in the rear of the city hall yes- terd|ay afternoon by Chief of Police Gardine and his men. The whisky has
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-06

duting attorney for Hinds county, with selling stock in a Texas oil company without having first compiled with the law of the state. The affidavit was drawn very carefully in the office Of the attorney general. Two blocks of the stock MT. Atkinson had sold were in dvidence. He gave bond in the sum or Sb00 to secure his attendance before Jus ttce of the Peace Frantz. and finally ap- reared for trial accompanied by two or the best lawyers in Jackson, who filed demurrer to the affidavit denying that Atkinson was amenable to the law in that His company was not a corporation. They asked that the matter be referred to Circuit Judge Potter. so as to save a few months time in getting a decision from the supreme court in case there should bb an appeal from his decision. That Was agreed to and Judge Potter has sus- tained the demurrer.
 Judge Potter admits that the defendant isl guilty of selling the stock and or violation of the law-if he represented corporation, but he does not-his company bbing a holding company, or something of that kind, so that there is a dlstnc- tIon without a difference that lets MT Atkinson out and opens the doors for the army of stock sellers who are waiting a. the border of the state to come in ana reap the harvest they know awaits them at the hands of the suckers.
 The legislative intent is plain, but the Id wer regions are said to be paved with gbod intentions. In providing a number oil exceptions to the operation of the Blue sky law the lawmakers got all balled up nbt to do-that is, gave those bond sell e1s who did not represent corporations the right to sell stock to the people or Mississippi.
 1t was stated at the capitol the day after Judge Potter's decision was mace known that injunctions will be served OH MT. Atkinson and all other stock-seliers who claim such exemptions. That will settle them until the legislature can take a better hold on the situation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-06
NEED NOT PAY LICENSE

IT. NJ. Henry, state insurance commls- sioner, has stated that world war SOL diers who return to Mississippi crippled and maimed disabled and infirm do not have to pay license to get into the insurance business. The law on that SUD- feet was written, of course, to benefit the Confederate veteran who was disabled In "any disabled or infirm person, whose annual income is not as much as SSJO per year" This gratulty IS to De Passeu on to the soldiers who were dlsaoieu iii the war with Germany It IS suppose" that other tax collectors VIII uo as 'ie insnrance commissioner has done.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-06
unrrina cnnditinns

service conditions.
 But, if pneumatic tires are better today than ever before, they nevert9c- less are still the least fool-proot DOT tion of the motor cars equlpmehI Whatever fire faults are to be found, can generally be blamed on the driver himseE who fails to use caution to re- pair the cuts and bruises as soon as they make their appearance, and who overlooks the warning of the manufac- turers to keep the tires pumped to the proper pressure to prevent the flatteh- ing and undue bending of the side walls. Improper use of the brakes pro duces a harmful effect, also. while the results obtained from the harsh clutch are not to be overlooked.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-06

been taken in recent raids by the po- lice
 Hon. N. L. Miller, lieutenant goVer- nor of Alabama, will speak in the First Methodist church here Sunday on Re construction and Centenary work
 The condition of Thomas F. Hay, who has been a patient at the city hospital. suffering from fracture Of the skull, sustained in nn automobIs accident. was reported as much im- proved this morning. NIT. Hays condi- tion has been regarded as hopeless sev- eral times during the week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-06
JACKSON KIWANIS CLUB

The Kiwanis club of Jackson was or ganized this week with banquet at the Edwards for 100 members and guests, Mayor Behrman of New Orleans and c.
 q. Holloweu. secretary of the New Or
 leans club, among the nJ mber, and both making interesting talks in support of the gapiZation. Isidore Dreyfus we'll know capitalist, was elected president
 Oscar Newton, bank president, vice-pres- ident. and I. Y. Downing, merchant, sec re retary-treasurer. Fifty mine members were enrolled, and constitute the nucleus of the first Kiwanis club in Mississippi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-06
BLUE SKY LAW OF
 MISSISSIPPI SHY
 ON MANY POINTS
Carefully Laid Plans Go Astray When Judge Holds Law Does Not Apply
 to NOnincOrpOratiOns
Ky F. E. FRANTZ

Jackson, Miss, April 5.--(SpecialD When the legislature of 1916 enacted what is known as the Blue Sky Law" it was satisfied that it had the wildcat and all other objectionable corporations, firms, individuals. joint stock companies or organizations from selling stock in this state, but it seems not, and once more Mississippi has seen her best laid plans "gang aft a-gley."
 A week or more ago one c. w. Atkin- son was charged by Paul Ratliff, prose-