The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-10-19

but this that | am going to tell,
That on certain day befell,
Is just as true as the devils in hell.
For my own part think 1t Is, II
possible, more true.
In 1880 when | was a young mani
1t occurred to me that | would like
to be one of Uncle sans census emu
merators. The pay was four dollars
a day and appeared to me very at
tractive. Also. there was sort of
adventurous look to the job, chance
for change and excitement.
| imagined at that time, perhaps
without any cause that In order to get
such Job one must have political
pull, thing | have always lacked.
However, | knew a man who did have
such qualification and so in signing
my application | left out the middle
initial letter of my name and signed
it H. Whipple. Almost forgery.
TO my surprise by return mail,
got an appointment as census enumer-
ator for several of the thinly settled
plantations in Northern Somerset
County The enumeration was to be
completed in a month and about every
day of that June was a red letter day
to me. On one OF those days |
started with Joe Newton in birch
canoe from Moose River bridge for
Holeb Town to get such statistics as
the census required concerning two
men who were in a lumber camp. Pet
err Smith and a man whose name |
have forgotten | think Joe was
II
dump him into the lake as he kept
very close to the shore but as nothing
happened he soon took straight
course for the head of Wood Pond.
we carried from Attean to Toeh Pond,
interviewed our men and came home
by the river, a distance. | think, of
thirty miles, surely long distance to
go when we consider the total amount
of the enumeration.
These results, however, small and
insignificant as they may appear. we're
not reached without much worriment
of mind and lack of bodily comfort,
for it was June and what with moose
flies, black flies and mosquitoes and no
chance to brush them away as | was
obliged to paddle, my face when we
IbdClltNl tHc III ih6t ltotllDlcu IL DlNNV
of raw beef A part of my territory
bordercd on Moosehead Lake and a
little later | started with Charlie
Pierce for Greenville. Charles was
good singer and | have a keen re-
collection of looking back after pass
ing a certain school house to see a
row of seven barefoot boys with seven
straw hats lined up across the
road to listen as increasing distance
made Charles notes less clear. He
stopped at Greenyille and | hired
canoe, put it on steamer and went
to Kineo. There | took the canoe
and went to the mouth of Moose Riv
err following the lake shore to the out
let. There, as my work in that sec
ton was done. having a fair wind
stuck a little spruce ton in the bow of
the canoe for a sail and started for
Greenville. think | must have been
half mile or more from land when
encountered a red squirrel swim
ming the lake as they do at times. He
was very willing to climb onto nay
paddle when | gave him an opportuni-
ty and he Immediately took a look
out station in the spruce top. | am
sure that while we sailed together |
enjoyed his company but later the wind
died away aud | WAS glad TO be over
taken by steamer which kindly slow
ed for me to get aboard while the
squirrel disappeared in scow load
of rails which the steamer was tow
ing. AS far as I know there is no
other record concerning this SPUR
rel. On our return from Greenville
Charles and | engaged lodging for
the night at a place which shall be
nameless AT about eleven O'Clock
we lighted lamp TO investigate the
cause of some feelings and irritations
that were troubling u.s. We discover
ed bed bugs and leaving pencled
farewell note on the stand we very
quietly went downstairs. out to the
stable and hitching UP the old spike
tailed horse, continued our journey by
starlight One man Who didn't thor
oughly understand the census bust
ness, thought it was something to sell
and upon my opening the big book to
record his answers, said, ~ don't want
it, | am poor enough now AT an
other place the people had a notion
that | was finding who were liable
to he drafted for the army.
The census schedule now takes in
many things that were not included
forty years ago and as a sort of prac-
teal school a job as enumerator is
well worth the undertaking.
II. r. WHIPPLE.