Show OYSTER SHELL HOUSES they are frequently met with ith in texas towns T S houses IIo uses built of 0 oyster ster shells can be seen in a large umber number of tex tesac xai sov avns ns said G A avii illand and a wil weil known newspaper man recently says the cincinnati gazette the state was vas at one time undoubtedly a part of the bed of the gulf of mexico how many years ago geologists do not know and natural historians historic ns are puzzled at the forms of life so different ire re they from any to be found elsewhere mr holland then proceeded to unfold a remarkable story running cro cross s the state from north to south he said is an immense ledge or sheet of rock formed of oyster shells this ledge averages about twenty feet in thickness akness and is used ifor for building purposes in in some places while in others it is ground up and placed upon the ground as a fertilizer there is a large quarry near henrietta in the northern part of the state and a number of handsome blocks have been constructed ru ted from it when first taken out of the earth it is white and soft but when exposed to the air it becomes liard hard and turns to a beautiful buff color it was formerly used for foundations only but during the past few years a great many handsome blocks and residences have been built of it one of mal males maines es widows there is now living in hartland me at the ripe old age of 75 years one of maines notable widows this is mrs ellen phillips relict of george a brother of wendell phillips her husband was a graduate from harvard college a member of the famous class of 28 among his classmates and intimate friends being dr 0 IV holmes and james freeman dark clark mrs phillips has in her house several antique relies relics of great interest and historical value among them beng a marble top table and drawer which be belonged lODged to john brown of harpers ferry fame and a copper ewer and sideboard once the property of john phillips the first mayor of the city of boston she tells many an interesting reminiscence of wendell phillips with whom she was intimately acquainted |