Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1917 — NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS ITEM [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS ITEM

FAIR OAKS Barring a few colds health is reasonably good in our village. Cottage prayer meeting was held at A. M. Bringle’s Wednesday evening. C. B. Steward of Rensselaei- was here Tuesday on insurance business. Mr. Teach has abandoned work on tl?e Wildrick stone road until warmer weather. <-- >r Hillis & Totten received several car loads of stock cattle the first of the week, which will be fed on the ranch. We have been having zero weather for several days this week with about ifouT inches of snow, which helps to make is pretty sharp. Born, Monday evening, to Mr. and Mrs. Frank McKay, a bouncing baby girl. They now have three bright little boys and one girl. E. Hamilton, who has been cutting a dredge from the James Elijah farm in Cobfax township to the Kent ditch, went through the C. & E. I. railroad Sunday night. The big box supper, which was to have been pulled off in the Makeever implement shed by the North Star Ladies’ Aid Monday night, was called off on account of the cold weather. Miss Porter, one of the teachers who resigned Thanksgiving and went home, returned the latter part of the week and finished up the work of grading the pupils’ examination papers. The work of carrying the mails to and from the postoffice was changed back to the Monon Monday, being moved within the distance limit where the railroad company is required to do the work. William Kaufman of east of town returned Monday after a couple of ■weeks’ visit with his brother John at Camp Taylor, Kentucky. He reports about eighteen inches of snow down there, also that John is getting along fine. Last Sunday afternoon -when everybody was assembled around their fireplaces away from the severe cold and wind, the house in ■which Barney DeWitt lives, owned by T. J. Mallatt, cauight fire and was burned to the ground. The contents of the house were lost excepting a couple of stoves, a barrel of meat and what clothing they had on. They had their supply of potatoes stored upstairs, enough to last them until spring, also 300 quarts of canned fruit, and all was lost. Mr. DeWitt, carried S3OO insurance on his gqods, -which will nearly cover the 16$.

JUNGLES James Woods is home for a few days. | Daniel Chapman was a Lee goer Monday. There will be preaching services next Sunday. Miss Liza Martin is visiting her parents thie week. Misses Irma and Ora Clark were Wolcott goers Friday. Elmer and Ludd Clark were Monon goers Monday. Miss Emma Tow visited Sunday afternoon with Ora and Oline Clark. Elmer Clark and William Harwell were McCoysburg goers Thursday. John Swartz and Jaimes Woods called on Elmer Clark Saturday morning. Mrs. Dora Tow and son Johnnie spent Wednesday with her daughter, Mrs. Roy Walls. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Harwell and son Elmer visited William Harwell’s Friday evening. Ernest Clark is home this week. The weather being bad has delayed many in corn husking this week. Walter Chapman, visited from Tuesday morning until Wednesday with his uncles, Daniel and Lonzo ChapmanMiss Freida Wineland of Remington visited with William Chapman and family from Saturday night until Tuesday morning. Frankie Sommers spent last week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mart Soimmers of Rensselaer, returning to his grandfather’s Saturday evening. The weather being so bad Saturday night kept most of the people

in the house. It being the night of the box social there weren’t very many people out, but all reported a good time that were there. Those who were not present surely missed 1 a lot of fun.

VIRGIE Col. W, A. McCurtain was a Rensselaer goer Saturday’. “Duke” Miller helped Jack Reeder kill a beef Tuesday. Mr. and Mrs. Frank >Hooper were Rensselaer goers Monday. James Wiseman hauled a load of hogs to Comer’s Tuesday. John Maher hauled hogs from over near Laura Monday. Rev. Fleckinger will hold his regular service here Sunday. The, Ladies’ Aid served lunch at the Middlecamip sale Thursday. The snow storm Friday drove the corn buskers home for a few days. Miss Hazel Hurley’ called on Miss Flossie Wiseman Thursday afternoon. Mrs. Thomas Florence entertained the Red Cross workers Friday afternoon. Mrs, Marion Cooper and daughter Lucille were Rensselaer goers Wednesday. Dick Gasoway and James Wiseman were in Rensselaer on business Wednesday. Miss Bertha Florence spent the week-end with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Florence. George Cover butchered a 700pound hog Tuesday. Now George will live fat for a while. The little daughter of Mrs. Blanche Aylesworth was badly burned Tuesday morning. Sunday night was pretty cold for sparkers but a few gritty ones ventured out to the homes of their lady love in our vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Zellers and r on Dean took supper with the latter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mallatt, Tuesday evening. Charley Reed and Wallace Miller went to, Gary Sunday to seek employment in the tin mills, but returned Tuesday evening’ with the report that employers would not accept men of’ the draft age. <

MILROY Mrs. Fred .Saltwell was in Lee Tuesday. ■. Orvil Blankenship is here to visit ho»ne folks. Elmer Clark is working for William Horwell. James Wood spen)t Wednesday evening in Monon. W. B. Fisher and son Clarence went to Chicago last week. The Aid met Wednesday at Mrs. G. Foulks’ and a pleasant 1 afternoon was enjoyed by all. Mrs. Lillie Mitchell and Maggie Foulks spent Monday with Mrs. R. V. Johnson in McCoysburg. Owing to the cold, stormy weather Saturday night the box social at Lone Star was not a success. Only a 'few boxes were brought, but they sold well. The program will be given Saturday night, December 15, with an Xmas program, so don’t forget to come.

LEE Roy Heltzel has purchased a new piano for his children. Morris Jacks and wife did shopping in Chicago Tuesday. Culp & Sons received another car of soft coal this week. Mrs. Joseph Stewart has been suffering very touch during the past week with rheumatism. Raymond and Orvil Warren and Chloa and Edith Overton spent last Sunday with Glenn and Gail Culp. Mrs. Alvin Clark of Kankakee, Illinois, spent Monday night at J. H. Culp's, returning home Tuesdav. Mrs. Ida Lewis has gone to visit relatives in the southern part of the state for the remainder of the winter. We sure have been having real winter weather the past week, the temperature going as low as fifteen beloyy zero. Mrs. May Jacks, who had been at Rensselaer 'for the past two weeks for treatment for rheumatism, has improved very much and returned to her home Tuesday.

WALKER TOWNSHIP John Fenzel went to Rensselaer Saturday on business. | William Jasperson made a busi- , ness trip to Chicago last Saturday. Joseph Fenzel returned Friday from a week’s visit with relatives I and friends in Chicago. His brother Frank, who has been employed

for some time at the Mitchell automobile service station in Chicago as an auto mechanic, has enlisted in the military service and left last Monday for Colutobus, Ohio, he expects to be in training*--for about three months. Mrs. E. M. Erickson, who was formerly a resident of Walker township died at her home in Chicago Tuesday evening, December 4. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Ethel Paul of Chicago, Mrs. Marie Kitchin of Tacoma, Washington, and Miss Annetta, who resided with her mother. Funeral services were held at the home on Sunday at 2:30 p. m., and burial was made in Graceland cemetery.

SOUTH AMERICA Mrs. Albert Dolfin is on the sick list this week. „ George Foulks called on Mr. Dolfin Saturday. Mrs. Foulks spent Thursday with Mrs. Lillie Mftehell. We have certainly had plenty of snow the past week. Albert Dolfin and son Henry were Monon goers Thursday. John Swartz called on Elmer Clark Saturday morning. 'Miss Jessie Dolfin called on Miss Irma Clark Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Marion Dunn spent Wednesday with Mrs. Lillie Mitchell. The Aid was entertained by Mrs. George Foulks Wednesday afternoon. Elmer Clark and children called on Ludd Clark and fatoily Thursday. Mrs. Lillie Mitchell called on Mrs. George Foulks Wednesday afternoon. Miss Freida Wineland spent Sunday with William Chapman and family. If the men keep on hunting like they have been Milroy will soon be rabbitless. Mrs. George Foulks and Mrs. Lillie Mitchell were McCoysburg goers Monday. i Mrs. Fred Saltwell, Miss Jessie Dolfin and George Woods were Lee goers Tuesday. Mrs. George Foulks and Mrs. Lillie Mitchell spent Friday with Sam Mitchell and wife in Remington.

POSSUM RUN Some fine sleighing we are haV- ( ing. j T. J. Parker called on E. A. Merrill Thursday morning. Mrs. E. A. Merrill called on Mrs. T. J. Parker Wednesday. Charley Parker helped Clyde Ward haul straw Thursday. Jack Reeder butchered a beef for George Davisson last week. Lyde Ward and Charley Parker' were Rensselaer shoppers Tuesday. 1 Everett Parker and Clyde Ward were in ■ Gifford shopping Tuesday evening. Charles Brouhard and family helped Jasper Cover butcher Wed-, nesday. Several from this yicinity at-] tended the James Britt sale Wed-. nesday. Miss Nile Britt returned home • Thursday after a week’s visit with relatives at Attica.

COUNTY EDUCATIONAL NOTES The first semi-annual examination will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, December 19 and 20. The date is set by the state department and will interfere with some of the programs for Xmas. The preparation oif a Xinas program should be done before Wednesday. Teachers can have pupils return Friday to give this program. Prof- Thomas F. Moran of Pursue will address the teachers in a joint institute at the high school auditorium on Saturday, December 15. His subject will be “Some Fundamentals in the Teaching of History.’’ The afternoon subject will be “The Euro pean Background of American History.” The Rensselaer high school orchestra will furnish several numbers. There will also be solos, singing, grade exercises, etc., from the Rensselaer schools. The domestic science classes will serve dinner cafeteria style to the teachers. All teachers should patronize these girls. Oscar Williams, the state high school inspector, will be in the county in the near future. The Rules and Regulations for the Jasper county schools will be submitted to the board of education ; for adoption at the January meeting. The boys of the basket-ball team gave a box social at Fair Oaks last Friday night and cleared about $27.

They still have a deficit but the $27 went a long ways towards ■ straightening the team financially. I A number of the schools are waiting to join the Junior Red Cross. The organizing blanks are not here as yet. All schools should join this worthy organization. Fair Oaks School Items. I The new school house is progressing very nicely. Most of the material is on the ground. If weather permits the roof will soon be on. After the roof goes on then the inside work can be done in all kinds . of weather. J The new teachers have instituted , the “Interest and Deportment” system. The pupils’ records are kept in a large book so that teachers, i parents, other pupils and school bfficials may examine the book to trace the school spirit of any pupil ,in the high school. This record contains merit as well as demerit I markings. In case a pupil beI comes refractory at any time his record becomes evidence for or against him by the authorities who are to pass upon the expulsion or retention of any such pupil. Each teacher who records offenses or merits must sign the statement as it is entered in the record. Pupils are privileged to talk with teachers who have recorded an offense to clear any mistake that the teacher might have made in recording same. In case of mistake the teacher indicates an O. K. This system is a protection to the pupils who are in school for good and soon eliminates the pupil who is there to retard. Patrons must feel contented when

a record is presented thus revealing the conduct of their children daily. A few parents do not know just what their children are or are not doing in school. When advisable the principal of the school sends a duplicate of this pupil’s record to the parent. The Fair Oaks basket-ball team gave a box social for the benefit of their association last Friday night and cleared $27. They are still in ’ debt but this helped them very much. They played Wolcott Friday night of this week. There are three years’ high school work offered in the Fair Oaks high school. There are eleven Freshmen, eleven Sophomores and seven juniors. It is looking as though Fair Oaks will soon be ranking third in size in the county. Fair Oaks ranks fourth at present. . Wheatfield ranks third but the new ‘ school building, coupled with the | excellent school spirit that is crystallizing in the Fair Oaks community will out-strip its nearest comi petitor in the course of a year or so. A large Freshman class next year will do that.

ITALIANS MAKE NEW GAIN Repulse Attacks East of Brenta—Foe Suffers Big Losses. Rome, Dec. 14.—Attacks in force were renewed by the enemy upon the Italian lines east of the Brenta, the war office announced. The attacks continued the entire afternoon, but because of his heavy losses the enemy at night abandoned his efforts. An Italian counter-attack regained a great part of the trenches previously lost to the Austrians. Fifty-nine prisoners were taken. Berlin, Dec. 14. —“There was very little fighting, owing to the snow and mist,” says the army headquarters statement regarding the Italian front. Rome, Dec. 14. —The first American ambulance section to enter active service bn the Italian front departed from Milan. There were three units, comprising sixty-five ambulances and 110 American university students in the detachment. The . Americans were given a great send-off by citizens of Milan. They passed in review before high officials and then were ‘ba.de fhrewell as they entrained.