The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-02-15

1arovement Society. The enter
iport mp was unique inasmuch as the
.an asnrent performers had written their
o'ne u.rts The high school orches
own n,rrnisbed music and when the
ua .,ain ain rose splendid representation
~ stores such as are round IN
Oh st communities was typified. Uncle
,aa;.b ,u,a the country store keeper
1eo9 uostmaster was the first to arrive
ah. rromained on the stage in charge
anu his establishment during the rest
.ho entertainment. He was a
a,,ea, old time grocer and started on
.sp up nropram with various witicisms
,ns u which local people were not spared.
This nj part was taken by Albert
!, "r nyor who has been a fayorite en-
.,oirar = D for years. His clerk, a
an;ne Rube from way back, imper-
eaatad by George Day, was soon
81 SuHt tbp scene and although naturally
',a.rv through the efforts OF
,.ncle ~o Teddy, he was made to ac-
oomnish certain duties about the
Mace and greatly amused his audi
inee p,a Mrs. |. J. Smith was an early
enstomer " to arrive in the morning,
coming with basket of eggs on her
way to spend the day with Samanthy
| a,len 1t was her good fortune to
roeeive letter which she read to Cy
IVA Ford) who was early on the
scone. telling him bits of news winch
contained the names of local resi-
dents. Uncle Hiram was another
oorlv arrival and as the hours pro-
uroseed became intensely Interested
IN n checker game with Cy. MISS
emma NJ. Hall, as Matilda, was an
oarlv bargainer bringing with her
several pounds of butter made last
lime when the cows were out to pas
ture" Matilda was somewhat deaf
and if was with great difficulty that
Uncle Jeddy made himself understood.
young Rube occasionally attempted
IN helm out the situation somewhat TO
Natilda's disgust. Matilda had an
account at the grocery store but un-
fortunately her book did not agree
with Jeddy's, compromise was how
oyer finally effected when Jeddy and
Matilda agreed to split the difference
nm the price Of a package OF cloves.
Article after article in. the store was
inspected at length by the customer
Init she finally retired agreeing to
come in some other time and make
her purchases. In the meantime
| Sarah Mrs. SMITH made carefui
inventory of the stock In trade.
Matilda was rather anxious for Cy
/ 10 take in the husking bee UP to Lester
Stevens that evening and Cy averred
"he should go if he could find any way
of gttin there" A return trip to the
store was necessary by Matilda as she
lost one of her mittens while she was
there which search of the store did
not reveal. as the good woman finally
found it in her pocket.
Another event of the day was the
arrival of the stage driver &c. c. Tar
| box) with the days mail. Soon after
wards Mrs. e. c. Tarbox. evidently a
vlllager, paid a visit to the store and
although somewhat annoyed, on the
whole she seemed to gain some pleas
ure from the SLY .lovemaking of Rube.
Her son, Bobby Green, also added to
| the general round of good times by
his long stay at the store when ne
should have been in school, An
emotional feature connected with
| these two villagers was the arrival OF
a big box labeled "Bill inside :
Mother and son and the other villag-
ers, who congregated felt sure that
this must mean that the husband and
! father whose name was Bill, had been
sent home dead, but finally when the
| box was opened it was found to con-
tain only clothing from Ira Norton FOR
the son and heir, with bill of large
proportion enclosed. This proved to
be as great shock to the mother as
It would have been had she found the
muilated remains of her husband
Contained therein.
An Innovation was the arrival OF MT.
Pestfer, a city reporter in the person
Of r. T. Patten, seeking for news.
No news seemed to be Forthcoming
but the smart pen pusher from the
city spied Sonic Indian clubs and he
gave the people congregated In the
store good exhibition of healthful
exercise with these implements.
Rube in the meantime, in his interest
and excitement. seized two tin cans
and attempted to follow the motion of
the Indians clubs. With an assur-
ance of more news next time and an
urgent request to come again, the re-
porter made his exit. A victorola
used by the reporter as an accompan-
iment for his club drill worked Nay
'arney up to the pitch of fancy dane
ing and he began to entertain with
some very good clog steps. ]. N.
smith, the choir leader of the village,
asked permission for choir rehear-
al In the store and Uncle Jeddy al
lowed they could have the use of the
same, heartily seconded by Rube, and
Mr. Smith with the stage driver, Hir-
an and Marsh Viles led off with some
sVod old-fashioned songs. In the
meantime Ernest Decker arrived and
travelling salesman told stories,
'speated ripping rhymes and incident
any sold Uncle Jeddy big list of
soods Two ladies from the city,
ars Alexander Van Dyke and her
laughter Mrs G. w. Goodrich and
ans. H. L. Sayage) arrived with "Too-
uss French poodle. There was lit
Nsin the store to suit their fancy and