Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1918 — HAPPENINGS IN OUR NEIGHBORING VILLAGES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HAPPENINGS IN OUR NEIGHBORING VILLAGES

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NEWTON COUNTY Cheer up. We are over the worst. Mt. Ayr is talking community church. Only a short time now till flowers aad birds and green leaves. Whoop —whoope! The Jackson Township Farmers’ Institute will be held in Mt. Ayr February 5. Everybody shoveled snow but father, and father helped some, too. Poor old Ifather! The fellow whose business it is to kill off the Michigan peach crop is due now most any time. The days are long enough now for a man to take a good smoke between breakfast and supper. Mrs. Joe Wildrick of Colfax township was reported quite sick with pneumonia the fasa. part of the week. If snow and steady cold weather is good for the wheat, then give me snow and steady cold weather. Hein? It is quite safe to say that the first bluebird will meet with a reception this spring little short of an ovation. What has become of the plain, blunt citizen who unerringly prognosticated the weather by that “feelin' in his great toe?” Clarence Blankenbaker lost a good young mare the other day, due, he thinks, to the new disease mentioned elsewhere in these items. The man who prophesied a mild, open winter has not been doing any prophesying lately. Too busy trying to stave off a horrible death by freezing. This is going to be a year of great things. Will you be a good sport and push and holler or will you take on a grouch and sulk in your tent? Son views the Saturday school proposition as an invasion of his God-given rights, but Dad takes to the scheme with an enthusiasm that is almost indecent. Old Boreas, it seems, dealt none too gently with the potato crop in this locality. The loss of potatoes from frost, it is feared, may prove to be considerable. May as well discontinue the thing of German in our public schools. For the next twenty years or more no one will believe anything that is said in German anyway. And then, too, the nation’s corn crop would be materially increased, no doubt, if a certain class of farmers could be persuaded that spring is the time to plant corn instead of early autumn.. Dr. E. R. Schanlaub, veterinarian, reports a strange disease among horses and which is due, he thinks, to some poisonous substance in stalk fields. The disease, the doctor says, is generally fatal. This section was swept by a young blizzard last Saturday. Not very cold, but the snow drifted badly, necessitating some more hard work on the part of our “Shoveling brigade.” \ Seymore IHJckman, according to the Mt. Ayr Tribune, found a snake five feet long cavorting in the snow during one of the recent cold days. We have been flattering ourself that we were something of a liar, but it seems that we are merely a cheap imitation. The truly patriotic farmer will not be satisfied with the knowledge

that he has enough seed corn for his own use; he will go to some trouble to see that his neighbors also are supplied. "Help each other’’ should be the motto with farmers this year. What’s this we hear about an order prohibiting our soldier b,oys from speaking profanity to the government mule? When our longeared friend is ordered to throw himself against the hogskin how is he to understand unless the command is supplemented by the usual flow of language? If the snow and cold weather continue much longer there is bound to be a rough feed shortage in this locality long before the usual time for grass. There should be half of the rough feed supply remaining on February 1, cattle feeders say, but, as things look now, not a few farmers may consider themselves lucky if they are able to begin February with even a third of their rough feed left. Yes, pride goeth beifore a fall. For example, Abe Bringle, not long ago, leaped several feet above the earth and crowed loud and long over the fact that he had not lost a single day during his fifteen years as mail carrier. And then old King Winter laughed far back in his whiskers, performed a stunt or two in the matter of weather, since when, A. B. has not pointed with pride to any great extent. The death of Scott Clark occurred at his home in west Jackson township on Thursday night of last week. Mr. Clark’s death was due to an accident while he was hauling wood a day or two before, the load overturning with the result that he sustained a fracture of the leg and internal injuries. Deceased leaves a wife and two married children — Lawson Clark of near Thayer and Mrs. Henry Moore of Morocco. Here is another way to bring the unspeakable Hun to a realizing sense of his unworthiness: Let every American citizen refuse absolutely to buy, use of offer to sell any article made in Germany no matter what it may be. We are well aware that this course would not be in accordance with the Golden Rule — the Golden Rule and the Hun won’t mix—it would simply mean putting into practice the old adage about “fighting the devil with fire.” Just east of what was at one time known as Little Lake, in northern Newton county, there is an ancient burying ground which dates back no doubt to the time df the Mound Builders. Besides the discovery of human skeletons, excavations in this burial place have brought to light fragments of the most beautiful designed pottery, together with weapons for use, doubtless, in war and in the chase, and of whose workmanship the Indians, it is said, knew as little as do the American people at the present time. J. M. Hufty of Mt. Ayr has been in quite poor health since the beginning of winter and is showing little or no signs of improvement at this writing. Mr. Huifty is one of Jackson township’s oldest and most widely known citizens. He conducted the Pilot Grove store here from 1874 to 1883, when he remdv/d to Mt. Ayr and continued in business there for a number of years. He served as postmaster under the Cleveland administrations, and has held the office of justice of the peace for many years. The writer is recovering from his annual siege of grippe, which, if he has kept correct tab, is the forty-ninth time he has been laid low by this fell disease during his short life. And, speaking of grippe, permit us to remark from an overflowing heart that it is more relentless than Kaiser Bill and more treacherous that a Digger Indian. Grippe lays hold Of a man in the very bloom of physical and mental vigor and in a few short hourss the victim is merely a shadowy reminder of his former greatness—with a mind so depressed and weakened that he turns away from the simple proposition of pounding sand in a rat hole or pouring water out of a boot as presenting a problem entirely too deep and complex for human understanding. We picked up a local newspaper the other day and read the following list of questions, addressed to boys: ‘‘Why does a horse eat grass backward and a cow forward? Why does a hop vine always wind one way and a bean vine another? Gan

you tell why a horse, when tethered with a rope, always unravels it, while a cow always twists it into a kinky knot? Why do leaves turn upside down just before a rain? etc., etc.” Nice work, this, but so long as the boy doesn’t object, why not continue the lesson? For instance: HOw milch dick Fond du Lac? What made the Dead sea die? Who did Amsterdam? What caused poor old Magellan’s Straits? Why will men vote the Republican ticket when there is no law compelling them to do so? and why will newspapers ask questions which they themselves cannot answer? Since the beginning of the present war the wooley, wild-eyed U. S. alarmist has sure had the time of his life. For this country he has prophesied every ill, Teutonic, imaginable. He has seen our President exiled by Dutch Bill and his crew, every American home adjacent to our sea casts put to the torch, our luxurious crop of millionaires deprived of their wealth and turned out to graze on the hillsides of New York, and our citizens groveling in spaniel-like humility at the feet of the “all-powerful” Hun. It seems never to have occurred to the alarmist that this country might possibly interpose an objection to the above and 'foregoing. His eyes are sot, so to speak, and only two things, seemingly, appear within the scope of his vision—Germanic strength and American weakness. Might it not be well for this class of writers to stop and do a little thinking? To ask themselves if there is anything in the history of this country, as a fighting nation, to warrant these doleful predictions, and is it possible for the widespread publication of this brand of "hot air’ to be followed by any result other than evil?

LOVERS’ CORNER James Hill is on the sick list this week. Winnie Williatns was a Kniman goer Monday. Winnie Williams is on the sick list this week. Mr. Sutton called on Mr. Lockard Monday evening. Miss Ethel Hill was a Kniman goer Wednesday. The Virgi© boys are busy cutting cord wood at Williams’. Miss Fay Williams visited her brother, Carey Williams, Sunday. Earl Wiseman and James Hill were Rensselaer goers Wednesday. Earl Williams and sister Fay attended church at Kniman Sunday. W. W. Zellers is closing his store Mondays because of the fuel shortage. Misses Maud and Ethel Hill took dinner Sunday with Miss . Mamie Binge. Jack Gasaway and Louise Hill took dinner Sunday with Miss Hazel Hurley. Miss Fay Williams called on the Misses Ethel and Maud Hill Tuesday afternoon. Misses Maud, Ethel and Mamie Hill spent Wednesday with Miss Margaret Shuey. Mis s Mamie Binge was the guest of the Misses Maud and Ethel Hill Tuesday evening. Paul Booth, James Hill and Jay Williams were Demotte goers last Thursday evening. Mrs. James Hill returned Saturday morning fromi visiting her daughter, Mrs. J. B. Crownover, at Kniman.

FAIR OAKS Sam Potts moved back to town Wednesday. Health is reasonably gopd in our village this week. Miss Edna Wood is visiting relatives here this week. Cottage prayer meeting was held at Abe Bringle’s Wednesday evening. Rev. F. W. Johnston occupied the pulpit at the Christian church Sunday evening. Mrs. C. A. Gundy was a Rensselaer caller a couple of days the first of the week. F. O. Garriott and wife of the old Beaver lake region, were visitors here Wednesday. Part of the material !for the plumbing of the new school house arrived the first of the week. Our merchants lined up on the Monday holiday order and closed their doors Monday afternoon. Charles Gundy and John Dean, who are working at Indiana Harbor, were home this week with their families. The task of keeping the roads in a passable condition the past two or three weeks has been very continuous. Guv Potter moved Tuesday from one of Abe Bringle’.s properties in with his grandfather, F, M. Goff, in the north part of town. Mrs. Jessie Garriott. who has been on the sick list for some time, had a very severe attack of her trouble Wednesday, but has improved some since. ' . • We are still having"‘kaiser* weather—that, in other words, is all kinds of weather. The man who likes cold, stojrmy weather is the man who has wood to sell. Ray Wood, who has worked for Mr. Tolin in Newton county since last spring, moved Thursday to the Marshall farm of John Kimble’s, where he will remain indefinitely. Rev. F. W. Johnston of Kenton, Ohio, was a guest at the Bringle home from Thursday until Monday. Rev.' Johnston taught school in this township some six or seven years ago.

SOUTH AMERICA Albert Dolfin was a Monon goer Friday. Mrs. Fred Saltwell was a McCoysburg goer Wednesday. Miss Jessie Dolfin called on 'Mrs. James Blankenship Friday.

Lew Swartz and Walter Chapman Were in MeCoysburg Saturday. Russel Clyde and Gail Ward called on William Chapman Saturday., Albert Dolfin and children called on Mr. and Mrs. Fred Saltwell Sunday. Miss Jessie Dolfin spent Wednesday with the family of James Blankenship. Albert Dolfin and children spent Sunday with Milton Bunnell and ifamily. William Chapman and family spent Sunday with Lonzo Ward and family. Clarence Cludy and Orval Blankenship attended Mr. Warren’s sale Friday. Oliver Hamilton and Miss Jessie Dolfin called on William Chapman and family Saturday.

GIFFORD Miss Vesta Brown was a Rensselaer goer Saturday. Reuben Snow of MeCoysburg Is visiting relatives here. Mrs. Ellen, Swisher is reported seriously ill at this writing. Mrs. Della Reed called on Mrs. Eva Caster Tuesday afternoon. Will Obencbain and Tom Lambert were Rensselaer goers Saturday. Wesley Scott of Medaryville spent a few days thig week with Charles Scott. We are having a coal oil famine in our burg, as our stores) haven’t had any oil for two weeks past. Mr. and Mrs. Grover Norris and family spent Friday with Mr. and Mrs. George Snow, north of here. Will Ste?l returned to his home here Friday from the hospital at Rensselaer. Mlsg Edith Smith also returned Friday. Lyde Ward, so we understand, is going to move on Ed. Oliver’s headquarters farm and has contracted to raise 1,000 acres of sugar beets. He is an experienced man in this line. The Parr mail carrier, Mr. Lowman, was unable to cover his route and bring us any mall Saturday and , Monday owing to the condition of the roads. He was also unable to cover all of his route yet Tuesday. Teddy Keen and Cliff Grimm started to Gary Monday to secure positions there. But they stopped off at Kersey and thinking of the big town efi Gary got tired of it, and returned the next Monday. How close is Demotte to Kersey, boys? Jesse Grimm went to Rensselaer Friday to be examined for army service, as he is in class one. He walked’ to MeCoysburg and telephoned back that the snow in places on the railroad was four and five feet deep. Mr. Grimm passed the examination and is expecting to be called for service about February 15: We hate to see himi leave us but he is anxiously awaiting to do his bit for Uncle Sam and his country.

HAPPENINGS IN OUR NEIGHBORING VILLAGES