THE PORTLAND TRANSCRIPT, June 9, 1887

                                                     MAINE MATTERS
                                                             LINCOLN
          While tearing away the brick work in the house of J. B. Rafter, at Damariscotta,
     workmen found two hollow bricks. Inside of two of them, as they laid together,
     was a purse made to hold five $20 gold pieces. One of the bricks was dated 1777.
     They also found in the house a rat with two heads.


                                                              OXFORD

          F. Fulton Wormwood, editor and proprietor of the Oxford County Record, a
     local weekly paper printed at Kezar Falls, has decided to move his paper and job
     to Fryeburg. Elijah Russell, a somewhat famous printer of his day, started the
     Russell Echo, or the North Star, in Fryeburg, nearly 100 years ago, it being one
     of the first papers published in the district of Maine.
         The Democrat say Miss Grace Weeks, supervisor of schools, is teaching in the
     Weeks district, East Brookfield. She visits the schools on Monday and teaches
     Saturdays.
          The Rev. W. C. Stiles, whose mysterious disappearance from Pittsfield, N. H.,
     caused his friends great concern, arrived safely at Norway, Me., his old home. Parties
     left Pittsfield to bring him back. A letter written to his wife, received Friday night, was
     full of insane delusions.
          Arrangements are being made for a great temperance celebration at Lake
     Anasagunticook, Canton, July 4th.  General Neal Dow and Honorable John J.Perry
     will be among those selected to treat that subject. Mrs. Ada Cary Sturgis is engaged
     for contralto. Mrs. F. A. Bent, the finest lady cornet player in this country will be
     present. To this will be added bands of music, children choruses and other features.
         
                                                             PENOBSCOT
          By will of S. H. Blake, of Bangor, his  house, grounds, etc., are left to his wife,
     with interest of $100,000; to his nephews, W. A. and E. H. Blake, he gives six-
     twelfths of his estate; but by codicil E. H. Blake is given $50,000 more in place of
     three-eights of a township; Edward Hutchinson gets $50,000; Mabel Packard $50,000
     and $50,000 is given to the children of Mary Sterns. Two of these children-the boys-
     are given a farm in Paris, Me., "providing they give their father a life estate therein."
     He enjoins upon his executor the collection if possible of a loan, without security or
     extra interest, made to W. H. Curtis, who he says, has paid his mercantile debts, but
     instead of discharging this debt of honor "has manifested ingratitude and sourness"
     toward his benefactor.   
          A pension has been issued to Galen Worcester, Bangor.
          A novel industry has been started in Dexter. A "still" have been erected there
     for extracting the oil from cedar boughs. These boughs are cut fine and packed
     close in large wooden tanks, through which steam is passed until the oil is extracted.
     This is probably the only establishment of the kind in Maine, although they are said
     to be quite common among the green hills of Vermont. The product is worth some
     $150 for each barrel of 300 pounds. Leslie M. Johnson and Herbert Chase are now
     carrying on the work. The boughs are given them by parties who are glad to have
     their pastures cleared of them.