The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-07-10
"reminiscences OF SkOwhegan From
0ne-time Resident
The Independent Reporter
Skowhegan, Maine.

The lndependent-Rep
Skowhegan, Maine.
MIR. Business Manager:
The Reporter" came today having
made the usual fast time across the
continent. 1t arrived on the eleven
o'clock train and | carried it home
from the office To read after lunch.
BY the way did you notice that | call
ed it "The Reporter 1t Is no use
trying. | just cant think of the
"lndcpendent" part of it's official
title. To me it's The Somerset Re-
porter and always will be, and by
slight stretch of imagination j. o.
Smith is still the Editor, and George
Otis Smith Is the same youngster who
used to come into the "Old Brick
Store" occasionally, to sample Miss
Pages sage cheese, usually taking
home IA good-sized piece, as most
others did who came early enough.
The Brick" store had monopoly
OF the cheese and butter from the
Page dairy which was always in great
demand, with waiting list OF orders
from Skowhegan epicures.
But what am | writing? | sat
down to this old typewriter for the
express purpose of commenting on
several things in the Reporter of
last week, having finished reading 1t
soon after luncheon. First, | rise to
remark, Roland, that your article
anent the use of the typewriter is all
to the good especially so far as my
writing ability is concerned. | am
past sixty chow far past is "A secreD
and am able To knock out some thirty
or forty words per minute, using
three fingers. Which reminds me
that | learned to write official reports
on an old Oliver in 1893 and had con-
siderable practice for about two years.
From 1901 To 1916 | always had two
or more stenographers and hadn't any
personal use or practice on machine
for nearly fifteen years. Three years
ago 1t occurred TO me that possibly |
wasn't too old to try it again. l
bought rebuilt Underwood, and after
a few minutes of practice my fingers
were instinctiyely finding the letters.
Like riding bicycle, once thoroughly
learned the art of keeping balance
cannot be forgotten.
Now, about those two photographs
portraying the married couple who
have lived long years in old Skowhe-
gan, taken when they were in the
adolesccnt age. and leaving it for us
"old-tmers' TO guess who they are.
Surely, none of the present generation
can be expected to know either of
them, especially the curly-haired
youngster with the high forehead and
the look of world conquerer. AS
for the lady there isn't any doubt.
What great boon Is memory espec-
tally for those of us who live more or
less In the past | want to ask all
you old residents of "the Garden Spot
OF America" does it really seem so
very long ago If you have good
memories, that Kate Eaton could be
seen, almost any pleasant day, trip
ping up Water street, dispensing
smiles and cneery salutations to all OF
us lucky enough TO enjoy her friendly
acquaintance? 1t doesn't seem long
to me, as / close my eyes and visual
ize the home of my young manhood,
and early struggles for toehold In
the world. She usually turned off at
the railroad crossing and headed for
the depot where her father, Ben Eat
on; reighed supreme for many years,
and one may be pardoned the guess
that probably she was after little
pin money to defray expenses OF the
shopping trip, which would include
visits to viii Wildes' dry goods en-
porium, or perhaps to Palmer Mer-
rills footgear palace, or Ed Curtis
millinery establishment. Maybe she
visited Bixby & Bucks, Al Blunts or
Estes IL Ward in the course of the day,
and If she went farther up Water
street her errands may have taken
her to the Grin Priests or Kendall
Brothers stores. II she crossed
Water street the young lady may have
dropped into the First National Bank
ana have cashed check, waited upon
by either Ed or George Page Stroll