/) day our ' » J L-. teacher read \ JM B From a hisfry P' book that told 'Bout George Wash- Qar ln'ton.iand/said i <jt He wu 2 always gooder'n gold. Didn't act like boys now does. And he never told a lie; Never said a thing but wuz Honest Injun, hope to die; And we fellers wished that we Wuz as good's he uster be. Teacher read us 'bout that ax That his father gave him, and How George, he skips out and hacks Down a tree to beat the band; And his pa wuz wild, you know, 'Cause 'twuz a expensive tree. But George couldn't lie, and so He just sez; "Yes, pa, 'twuz me"— And his pa, he almos' cried, He's so glad George hadn't lied. Well, last night I wanted some Marmalade down off the shelf In the pantry—it wuz plum— And I thought I'd help myself. Then—"twuz just my mean, old luck— Hit a Jar I hadn't seen, Down it went, and, course, it struck Right on top the soup tureen. Goodness sakes! Don't say a word! Worsest smash you ever heard. "Well, I just skipped out of that- Heard pa comin' on the run— Alight a-laid it on the cat, But I thought of Washin'ton, And I says: "Now, I won't shirk;" So, when pa had seen the mess, And says: "Sam, is this your work?" Just like George, I answers: "Yes." Golly! what fixed him all right Never worked for me a mite. What's the use of tellin' more! If your ear had just been pressed Up against our woodshed door You'd a-found out all the rest. George's pa said, right away: "To my arms, my noble boy!" I went on pa's knee, and say! 'Twuzn't nuthin' to enjoy. Boys that's Washin'tons, gee wh'js! Need to have a pa like his. —Joe Lincoln, in L. A. W. Bulletin. vVt» | A WASHINGTON STORY. I jt jjj '/ 4 "»( Probably Is Not, But Might Have Been, True. 1? 4 i jSL „ y, W W V '/if W *>iV- V|V I HAVE just been reading a note ficm the diary of Gen. Washington, who will remain until the crack of doom the one great, flawless, dignified hero of the nation, if not of the world. A hero means one w ho is a brave gentleman all the time. Hays Gen. Washington's diary, June 30, 1755: "Dined with only Mrs. Wash ington, which 1 believe is the first in stance of it since my retirement from public life." That was 18 months after coming home from his victorious wars. Think of the horror of it! For all that time the inquisitive hero worshipers had been dropping in just about dinner time to say: "llow wonderful, realty, Mr. Washington! It makes me quite ehudder to think of; really and truly it does. Oh, I must kiss your hand!" And poor George would have to be polite and ask them to stay for dinner. How cozy that little dinner on June 30, 1755, must have been; how homelike at last, when (Jen. Washington raised his glass and said: "Martha, my love, your health. That ribbon becomes you vastly. You look too young for a bat tered old hulk like me." "George," said Mrs. Washington, "don't dare talk like that! You a battered what-did-you-say! The idea! Why, not a young man in old Virginia lias your figure." Then she got up and came round the table and kissed him, the cupbearers having withdrawn, and they walked to gether in the gentle summer afternoon, and his excellency said, as he gathered some cherries: "Why can't people al ways leave us in peace, Martha? How nice this is. Let's go and look at the P'gs." There were heaps of birthday pres ents awaiting his excellency, and all the jolly black house servants wished him long life and happiness, and a table was weighed down, with 5,000 birthday poems from the 5,000 most promising pcets in the country, and there was a heap of newspapers with marked editorials in his praise, and every man who had ever invented any thing, from a clockwork clambaker (a most curious and amusing contrivance) to a baseball, sent the general one, and every man, woman and child who had written a book, even if not published, sent a copy to George Washington. Yes, everybody sent him a present and wished him joy, and most of them wished something for themselves in re turn. Certainly (ieorge Washington should have been happy with all these beauti ful, costly things; but somehow lie slipped to the attic and left all the gifts and looked at the little hatchet his father had given him years and years ago, and he said, as he put it back: "When was I happier, then or now?" Then the visitors came, very old men, who told him he could never hope to live as long as they, for they had constitu tions like iron, and he must enjoy him self before it was time to give him a state funeral; and very old ladies who hai kpo'sn his father and called him "Georgie," and very young misses who trembled so they could hardly utter the words of congratulation they had learned by heart. And there was one man!)-little rascal who rode on his pony bearing his grandfather'! compliments, fiL'l pushed straight at the hero, crving: Gen ral, grandpa's eompymens, happy returns, mine, too. General, I want to know, grandpa says you're a hero, and I want to be a hero, too, when I'm growed up. Can't I, please? Grand pa says not to talk nonsense. It isn't nonsense, is it, general? Can't 1 be a hero when I'm growed big?" Big Washington stooped and lifted the child—did you ever know a hero that didn't love children?—and kissed his cheek and whispered: "None of us can be great or good without God's blessing. To be a hero you must be good as great. So pray lirst and always that God will make you good." The little enthusiast looked deep and grave into the general's eyes, suddenly kissed the kind mouth hard, said.: "I will," and, sliding down, rode off with his groom—always a better man for that caressing whisper. When it was still long from the state ly festival dinner George Washington slipped away from the crowd at the house and wandered off by himself, though with great dread that some pale young man should jump out from a bush and fire a birthday ode at him. ■Now he was otr Mount Vernon farm, and by a lane away from the main road. In the corner of the lane, in a most de serted, newlj--cleared spot, about 50 feet back in the bushes, was the new est of tiny cottages, with unpainted walls, and rough timbers, and a newly laid-out garden at the back. George Washington looked from the wood through which he was wandering, and paused. "That was not there when I had time before the war to run about," said he. "Who can they be? They're not Af ricans. Oh, no!" P'or from the house came a bright voice that was certainly Virginian. "Now, Jack," said the voice, "you must not be so lazy, because there is ever so much to do before father comes home." "I ain't lazy, Martha," said another voice, unmistakably the shrill one of a boy. "I'm doing what dad said— I'm looking after you and protecting you." "Oh, Jack, do you call eating rais ins and sitting on the table protecting me?" "Well, it is. If anyone was to come round now to hurt you, even King George himself, wouldn't I be ready to kill him?" "Well," said Martha, with a laugh, "I don't expect King George this morn ing. Our George, bless him—" "Hooray*!" "Has boxed his ears. But there is work to be done." "I don't see any." "You are looking only at the raisins. "WHAT A MAN YOU'D BE AROUND THE HOUSE!" How do you expect to eat if you don't work? And how am I to get supper for daddy in the evening?" "Oh, I have thought of that. I'll go fishing, and you'll fry them." "Oh, and who would protect me while you're fishing, please?" "You can come, too, if you won't always call out: 'Mind j-ou don't fall in.' " "lie good. Jack, and fetch me some water fiom the well, and chop a little firewood." The general had been listening and chuckling. Always the sound of chil dren's voices brightened his eyes. Now lie suddenly stepped up to the open door of the little new house and bowed. He was dressed very plainly for his muddy walk, and his boots were spat tered, and he looked quite plain and homely. He saw a neat little woman of 12 or 13 busy in her kitchen and a pert, bright-eyed, snub-nosed young rogue of seven sitting on the table. "I wish you good morning, ma'am," said the general. "Good morning, sir," said the maid en, with a frightened courtesy. "Halloa!" said Master I'ert, seizing a carving knife. "Where did you come from? Are you a friend of King George?'' "I am a true —" "You're not an Englishman?" "I am a—" "You're not a royalist?" "Because if you were I'd have to kill you, that's all." "He quiet. Jack; you're very rude," said his sister, reprovingly. "Please sfr; he's only a little boy. and some times they're a little vexing, but he's a. good boy. Is there anything I can do for you, sir?" "If it were not too much trouble, a glass of water—" "Oh, certainly," said the willing housewife, and ran off. Up came Jack and stood very erect in front of the visitor. "I do believe,*' said the little boy, "you're the biggest man I ever saw. Ain't you?" CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1900 "How could I tell you that, Master Jack?" "Are you bigger than my father? Do you know my father? My father's a big man, bigger than me a good deal. My father's just come to live here and farm. I)o you live near here? Were you in the war? Did you kill any Englishmen? Did you get hurted? My father fought in the war and got a bullet through his nose. It makes him look awful funny. You've a big nose. A boy hit me on the nose once, and it bleeded awful. I guess your nose would bleed lots, wouldn't it? Oh, what a nice chain. Won't you show me your watch? Oh, what a nice watch —will you show me the in side?" "After," said the general, with his arm gently round the child, "after we've given up thinking of going fish ing. and brought the water for sister, and chopped some wood." Jack, looked quite startled and turned red. The big. kind, yet firm eyes looked into Master l'ert's and Master Pert stuffed his knuckles into the corners. "Toot,toot!"said the general, "come, I'll help you." So the gray-eyed, pleasant-faced lit tle girl, coming back, found the father of his country breaking up wood at a great rate, while her little brother was laughingly gathering chips. "Oh, sir," said Martha, with amaze, "what a man you'd be around the house!" And she was still more amazed at the effect her words had upon the stranger, who dropped the ax and threw his head back with quite a roar of laughter, until, for the pure happi ness of it, little Jack and Martha laughed too. "I like you," said Jack, grabbing the general's hand as they went into the house. "Come and see us often and I'll show you where the best fishing I>iace is." "My father would be glad to wel come you, sir," said the courtly maid en. "His business takes him away just now almost every day, but in tho spring—" "I thank you kindly," said the gen eral. "And as I live near here, I hope I shall be friends with my new neigh* bors. But this is milk?" "I thought you'd like it better than water, sir. And please try these cakes, which I made this morning, because—" " 'Cause it's her birthday," cried Jack. "She's 13 and I'm seven." "Now that is a happy coincidence," said the general, "because it is also my birthday. I beg to wish you-many happy of the day." And he bowed very low, and she bobbed her very best courtesy, and Jack cued out: "You look so you was dancing." Time was getting 1 on, but the gener al was loath to go. lie was enjoying himseif for the first time in a long time. lie brought water; he mended the window latch; he planned out a flower bed. lie was thoroughly happy in the merry company of these chil dren, who only thought him a passing, unusually good-natured stranger. But at last he went, with a grimace at the thought of all the laced and silken crowd waiting for him. The two children, quite brightened by his presence, worked about busily, and played about merrily, and made things pleasant for lather at sun down. liut an hour before sundown came riding by two people who called them selves gentlemen, but nobody really thought them so. They had been merry-making, and one man's horse had lost a shoe, and his drunken dig nity was such that he must pause at the cottage to send for a blacksmith to come to him or else have his horse led to the blacksmith's while he wait ed. It was evident that Ihe dwellers at the cottage were poor folks, and these gentlemen felt assured their lordly orders would be obeyed. Now, Miss Martha was civil, if frightened, but Master Jack was sullen, and when the young, wine-lieated man bade him lead the horse or fetch the smith, Jack flatly refused to do either. "What, what! You'll be paid," shouted the owner of the horse. "Come, young mistress, have you no wine for weary travelers?" "Indeed, no, sir," said Martha, "but further on the post road—" "I'll go no further on the post or any other road. Haste now, Flibber tigibbet, and do as you are told." "I'll stay here and protect my sis ter," said Jack, "as my father bade me." "Ila, ha! A brave protector! But in truth a pretty sister. Come, my dear, iet me also be a brother—" lie staggered up, and rack —Jack flew at his throat like a terrier. The girl screamed, the other man raised his riding whip and struck down on the boy. Jack yelled from rage and anguish, but clung to the choking throat, never heeding the first blows rained on him. The cottage was in a dreadful uproar; when in rushed the stranger of the morning, and it is said —but you need not believe it unless you want to—he used a dreadfully bad word. Those two foolish young men never were in such trouble before. In George Washington's great right arm swung one of them, helpless, and in the left another, and bump, bump, bum pet 3' bump, went the two empty, foolish, braggart, blackguard heads, cracking against each oilier like cocoa nuts on a tree in a storm. When they were almost senseless the general laid them down with force and thrashed them villi their own whips, and so mangled and maltreated and mashed them that, when at last they got to their knees and begged for mercy, their own loving mammas would have indignantly repudiated them as being offspring of theirs. In the meantime Jacky Pert danced about cheering on his new friend, and Martha sobbed in a corner, hiding her face and begging "Mr. George." for so the general had called himself, not to kill anybody, and not to get hurt himself. And then the general threw aside his whip and made the rascals stand up before him, but they could only face that rag'ng, righteous eye with bowed heads and bowed knees. "Gen. Washington," they mumbled, "please let us go. It —it was only the wine. There was no harm done." He waved them out, but the mis chief was done. At the words "Gen. Washington" little Jack's jaw dropped and he shook like a felon at the thought that lie had threatened to kill the best and greatest man in that or any other country. Martha dropped to her knees, but the general made her rise and accept the birthday gift he had run to Mount Vernon and back to get for lier. Still, it was not the same, and the general felt saddened as he went homeward, just as everybody has felt saddened because he could not be a boy again. "However," said he to himself, with a smile, as he was dressing for the ball in ths evening, "I have not had so much fun on a birthday since I chopped up that old cherry tree."— Edgerton Davis, in St. Louis Globe- Democrat. RELIEVED THF, SENTINEL. Wanliliigton Walked on Guard al V'aJley Forge While a Starving Soldier llreakfaMted. William Perrine- gives a graphic pic ture of Washington's memorable win ter of suffering at Valley Forge in the Ladies* Home Journal. "Sentinels pac ing in the snow on the outposts took off their caps and stood in them to save their feet from freezing," he writes. "Here and there could be found even officers in a sort of dressing-gown made of old woolen bed-covers. The stout hearted women of New Jersey sent their quilted clothes as Christmas pres ents, with the patriotic jest that as women were said sometimes to wear the trousers, so now there would be an excuse for men, who might wear the petticoat. Washington, who never ex aggerated, said that few men had more than one shirt, many only ha.f a one, and some none at all. Nearly 3,000 men were barefooted, and occasionally might be seen a soldier who was ail but naked ! Sometimes there was noth ing to eat in the camp but rotten salted herrings. were known to snatch at the dough of half-baked cakes in the kitchens of farmers' wives. The con tractors and the commissary agents and the continental congress had brought 12,000 men to the verge of starvation, and the blood of Gen. Wayne ran hot with rage as he looked on his poor fellows weak with hunger. In deed, there was but one horn tumbler and also but one wooden dish for every mess. Washington himself dined one day on potatoes and hickory nuts. 'My good man,' lie said to the sentinel in front of his headquarters, pacing up and down in the bitterness of a cold morning, 'have you had anything to eat?' 'No, sir,' was the reply. 'Give me your musket, then, and go inside and get some breakfast,' and the tall commander gravely walked up and down as guard over ais own house."' 1110 WAS THE MAN. Mr. Whiteman—l say, Uncle Dan, d« you— Expressman—Yo" ivrong, boss, mah name's not Dan; hit's Gawge. "George, eh? George what?" "Gawge Washington, suh." "Ah! that sounds familiar; seems to me I have heard that same before." " 'Spec yo' has, boss; ah done ben round dese cawners evah since free dom CUhl." Two llendN. Two heads may be better than one. but one big head is usually enough.- Chicago Daily News. BY A MAJORITY OF 17. Tlin (Jnlted States Senate Pameii th« Hill tbe t»old Standard In* to Law and lor Itefiiudlnx Hie Hub lie Debt. Washington, Feb. 10.—The senate substitute for the house currency bill was passed by the senate yesterday by the decisive majority of 4-0 to 29. Prior to the final passage of the bill amend ments were considered under the ten minute rule. Only two of these amend ments were adopted, viz: one offered by the finance committee keeping the door open to international bimetal lism and one providing for national banks with $25,000 capital in towns of not more than 4,000 inhabitants. 'J he votes taken on the various amendments '►lTered were practically along party lines. .Mr. Chandler (rep., N. 11.) voted for the bimetallic amend ment. but against the bill. .Mr. Caf fery (dem., J<a.) and .Mr. Lindsay (dem., Ky.) voted against the commit tee amendment, but for the bill. -Mr. Kyle (S. J).) was the only senator who did not vote and was not paired. The free silver substitute offered by Mr. .lones. the leader of the democrat jo side, was defeated by a vote of 47 to 28. 'I he bill as passed consists of ten sections. It provides that the dollar of 25 S-10 grains of gold nine-tenths fine shall be the standard unit of value and that all forms of United States money shall lie maintained at a parity with it; and that treasury notes and greenbacks shall be re deemable in gold. The secretary of the treasury is t.i net apart a fund of $150,000,000 in gold for the redemption of these notes and, to maintain this fund at a figure not below $100,000,000, he is empowered to sell bonds of the United States, bear ing interest not exceeding o per cent. It shall also be the dutv of the sec retary of the treasury, as last as standard silver dollars are coined, to retire an equal {/mount of treasury notes and to issue silver certificates against the silver so- coined. Under certain provisions, too, gold certifi cates shall be issued against the gold held in the treasury. No United States notes or treasury notes shall be issued in denominations of less than $lO and no silver certificates in de nominations of more than $lO. The secretary of the treasury is au thorized to refund the bonded debt of the United States in 30-year bonds bearing 2 per cent, interest, the prin cipal and interest of these lwnds to be paid in gold. The 2 per cent, bonds shall lie issued at not less than par. Representative Wheeler, of Ken tucky, introduced in the house the following resolution: "Resolved, That the secretary of state is directed to inform the house of representatives if Charles K. Mae rum, as consul of the American gov ernment informed the state depart ment that his official mail had been opened and read by the J'ritish censor at Isurba'" and if so what steps if any have been taken to obtain an ex planation and apology from the Brit ish government. "lie is further directed to inform the house of representatives whit truth there is in the charge that- a secret alliance exists between the United States a/lid Great I'ritain." The resolution was referred to the foreign affairs committee. HONORED THE VETERAN. Eightieth ISirlliday A mil versa ry of Su nan 11. A ntlion) IK Made tlie Occaaioli of a Keiiiarkable Tribute. Washington, Feb. 10.—Several thou sand people, including the delegates to the National American Woman's Suffrage association, which has just ended its unmual session here, assem bled Thursday at the Lai'"- opera house to do homagi ohkhi i!. An thony, the veteran worker in behalf of the enfranchisement of women, who then celebrated the 80th anniver sary of her birth. Grouped on the platform were the national officers of the association and all the pioneers in the equal rights movement who are alive. There was a long program replete throughout with stirring tributes to Miss Anthony's great career, while tears and applause mingled as the voices of the speakers rang through the theater, recounting the hardships and struggles and at last the crown ing achievements of the veteran work er. Eighty children, boys tund girls, passed in single tile across the stage, each depositing a rose in Miss An thony's lap as they passed her, one for each year of her life. Greetings and gifts from the en franchised states were made by Mrs. Warren, the wife of Senator Warren, of Wyoming: Virginia M. Shafroth, of Colorado, a magnificent silver loving cup; Emily 8. liichards, of Utah, and Nellie Woods, of Idaho. The gift from Wyoming was a gold enameled flag and four large diamonds, repre senting the four enfranchised states. The celebration closed with an ad dress by Miss Anthony. Were Swindled in I*arl»> Indianapolis, Feb. 10.—It is relate! here that both ex-President Harrison and his wife were systematically rob bed and otherwise swindled during their visit to Paris last summer, when •the general was engaged in the Vene zuelan claims affair. The ex-president was asked about the matter last night and he confirmed the story, lie thinks that a. young Frenchman who acted as his valet was the swindler, or. if not. that he knew all about the lar cenies. Aside from sums of money that the ex-president missed, the boldest oper ation consisted in a series of forgeries perpetrated on Mrs. Harrison. "African Napoleon" Defeated* Paris. Feb. 10. M. Decrais, ministes of the colonies, has received a tele gram from the governor of the Frencn Congo, announcing the defeat in bat tle of Kabah, the principal chieftaij of the central Soudan, bv a Frenc expedition. Uabah has long been the strongest opponent of the extension of French influence in the Soudan. Hi' was formerly a slave of Zebehr Pasha, himself a great Soudan ruler, but revolted and formed a kingdom of his own in central Africa, subjugat ing potentate after potentate until In became head of a vast empire. IN THE COURTS. Kentucky's Gubernatorial Contest Must be Decided. Jud [e Tuft licfiinen (o I'iiijoin Demo* t rail)' OfilelalM Mini »lr»»r*. Ill) lor uml ll<<kliuiii Suit* at Law to Uett-rmiiin Uhu 1* (.ovcriiur. Frankfort, Ivy., Feb. 12. —All of Sun day troops poured out of Frankfort on special trains and only the soldiers from Covington, Newport, Lexington and .Morgan town are camped in Capi tol square. The leaving 1 of the troops was the only feature in the political situation in Frankfort yesterday. Adjt. (Jen. Collier said that only a few companies of infantry would be kept on duty here for a -short time, to do police work around Capitol square and guard the public building'. They would, he said, interfere in no way with the actions of the members of the legislature. Access to the legis lative halls would be as free as it was before Gov. Taylor issued the procla mation declaring' Frankfort in a state of insurrection. Cincinnati. Feb. 13.—1n the United States circuit court of appeals yester day Judsre Taft heard arguments for over three hours on the applications for injunctions against the Kentucky State board of election commissioners and the contestants for the state of fices other than governor and lieuten ant governor. After the conclusion of the argu ments Judge Taft advised counsel that he would announce his decision, as regards the court having jurisdic tion in the cases are concerned, at 2 p. m.on Wednesday next. Cincinnati, Feb. 15.—Holding that the federal court had no jurisdiction In the contests in Kentucky, .Judge raft yesterday refused to grant the application for injunctions against the Kentucky state board of elections and the democratic contestants far state offices other than governor and lieutenant governor. While the court held that no injunc tions would issue, yet it also held that after the eases had been heard in the state courts they could get in on error for review in the United States su preme court. After the decision wis announced, ex-Gov. Bradley and his associate counsel announced that they were unable to state what would be the next step of the republican state officers of Kentucky. Frankfort, Kv., Feb. 15.—When in formed that Judge Taft had refused jurisdiction, Gov. Taylor gave to the press the following signed statement: "The decision of Judge Taft holding that his court has no jurisdiction in the case of the minor state officers does not affect the merits of the case. He does not determine that the peti tioners had no merits in their cases, but only that his court could not take jurisdiction and right the wrong, if he had held that he had jurisdiction it all would have been over, for the outrages were so glaring that, the re publicans would have won hands down. The decision in said cases does not in the least alt'ect my case." The suit of Beckham vs. Taylor for possession of the office of governor was filed Wednesday in the circuit court at Frankfort. The committee of the democratic members of the legislature which came from Louisville for the purpose of investigating conditions here and determining whether it is safe for the democrats to venture within the pre cincts of Frankfort, returned to Louis ville last night. The members of the committee declined to hold any con versation with Adjt. Collier or Gov, Taylor and made Custodian Thomp son, of the executive building, the go between. They first sent word to Gov, Taylor that, before the democratic members could think of returning to Frankfort the soldiers must be sent away. So objection, they said, would be raised to a small number for a body guard for Gov. Taylor. Gov. Taylor replied that the request of the committee could not be com plied with, but promised that the leg islature should not be molested in any way. Louisville, Ky., Feb. I",.—Suit was filed in the circuit court yesterday by counsel for Gov. Taylor, seeking to restrain J. C. W. Beckham from act ing as governor and Gen. John B. Cas tleman from attempting to discharge the duties of adjutant general. Cincinnati. Feb. 10.—Attorney Mac key, with ex-Gov. Bradley and other attorneys interested in the Kentucky election contest, cases, appeared Thursday before Judge Taft and tiled notice of an appeal from the decision rendered by the latter on Wednesday. The appeal will be takein directly to the United States supreme court. Frankfort, Ky., Feb. 10.—The state canvstssing board took up the case of the minor officers on the state ticket yesterday. It is not expected that any decisions will be rendered inside of three or four days. Louisville, Ky., Feb. 10. —Following the lead of Gov. Taylor, who has brought suit for an injunction against Gov. Beckham, claiming to be gover nor of Kentucky, and Gen. John B. Castleman, claiming to be adjutant general of Kentucky, Lieut. Gov. Mar shall yesterday filed suit for an in junction against Gov. Beckham and against Lilian! 11. Carter, president pro item, of the senate now meeting in this city. The suit is similar in it general averments to that of Gov Taylor. No application has yet bee made for a restraining order in eithe case. $150,000 !.<>«.*< by u flood. Montpelier, Yt., Feb. 15.—The flood? which have visited the river basin* ol New England have been particularly disastrous here. The financial dam age will reach $150,000, and it will bt several days before railroad traffic can be completely restored. The lloo<l is the worst experienced here for ovei 30 years. Lrll a Mliorlaue. Chaska, Minn., Feb. 15. —It is now said to be certain that. County Treas urer Gebhard Bongard. who has been missing since Saturday, has left a eon sjue.rabK-. shortage in his accounts 3
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers