ASA ————— Bellefonte, Pa., December 21, 1906. P. GRAY MEEK, - Evtron fl Teans or Susscmierion.—Until further notice this paper will be furnished to subscribers at the following rates : Paid strictly in advance... $L.00 Paid before expiration of year.......... 1.50 Paid after expiration of year......... - 2.00 {Continued from first page.) Immigration, Rev. C. E. McKelvey, of Pine Grove Mills. When we consider how many foreigners are coming annually to our shore, there ie occasion for alarm. Many men would say there is no occasion for alarm today, there are few men foresighted enough to see the danger. Dr. B. O. Mclntire, of Dickinson College, says there is danger, there is oc- easion for alarm. Josiah Strong says : ‘‘Political optimism is a vice of America.’”’ ‘Political optimism is as senseless as pessimism is faithless,” the one is a foolish attitude, the other isa wicked position to assame. There are at least two things which cause €0 many people to come to our shores. First, the attractive inflacaces of America; second, the repellant infinence of the East. America offers many inducements. The geographical situation is one. We havea large sea coast. We are approached from the north, south, east and west. This at tracts the seaman who desires to be a com- mercial man of the sea. Commerce bas been a very impo:tant fac tor in the development of every colony. It was commerce that developed Greece and made Carthage that great commercial city. Commerce developed our own colonies and made them the United States of America. Now she has lusters that are envied by many and paralleled by few. Commerce drives away isolation, the mother of barbarism. Commerce joins the bands of vations in’ bonds of peace and prosperity. It is commerce that is opening the barred doors of Africa, the closed gates of China, aud the once closed doors of Asia. Note the second inducement: There is plenty of unoccupied land. In some of the Eastern countries this is not the case. Compare the extent of land in our west with our east, or the far east. Note the size of some of our western States. Montana would stretch from Boston to Cleveland on the west, and for enough to include Rich- mond on the Sonth. Great Britain and Ireland would not occupy all of New Mexico. If Texas were placed over Nor- way, one side would cover London, the other side would include Denmark, Ger- mavy aod Austria, while the foot of Texas would be bathed by the Mediteranean sea. Another inducement is the fertility of the western lands. The soil is rich in moss places and there are few places that have not abundantly repaid the labor of man. By the power of modern science the desert of years past is now blooming like the rose and new and powerful industrial opera- tions are now working. Then think of the vast mineral resources and the abundance of valuable ores. We are told that the vast supply of mineral wealth is uot yet known. Note the repelling influences of Europe. Consider how Europe drives her people westward to America. We mentioned the fact that mach of Europe was crowded. Ger- man people seem to have one desire; that is, to make enough of money to come to America. The Italiaus are better cared for bere than they are in Italy. They get more food, of a better kind, and in larger amounts than they do in Italy. Great Britian demands tax. This we realized when oor colonies objected to pay more fax. If Great Britain continues these unresourceable demands, we must yet ex- pect to receive many thousands of her peo- ple. What arc the results of all this in the rush of people to our shores ? We do not, in the first place, wish to be depreciative of what some foreigners have done for us. Oar fore-fathers were foreigners. We are proud of such courageous, liberty-loving men. We laud the liberty that the Germans has put in our breasts. Bat not all of the im- migrants are such types of men. They have not all possessed that tireless activity, that loftiness of aim, and they bave not all bad that sacredness for our institutions which every loving American holds so dear. Immigration, in the first place, is demor- alizing. Dr. Strong asserts : “Immigraticn farnishes us with thieves, criminals, social- ists, mormons and Catholics.” We cannot discuss bere the problem of Catholicism. Saffice it to say our constitution graots its subjects freedom of speech and liberty of conscience. We aim to express this in our schools and institutions of learning. Pope Pius IX may have said thas “'lib- erty of conscience is an error of pesti- lence,” but the expressions of Gladstone, Bismark, Lafayette aud a Roman priest, are worthy of note. Gladstone said, ‘‘The Pope requires his convert to forfeit his moral ard mental freedom.” Bismark said, ‘“The Pope is more poweifal in our country than any other person.” Lafayette said, “'If ever our liberties are taken from us they will be taken from ns by the Roman clergy.” Mormonism is a very deadly foe, Itisa political power, no longer a church, that is destroying sacred homes, institutions and character. Its growth is alarmiog. Oar people oar wakiog to the disgrace is has brought, but our people do not see the danger, nor do they stop its acceleration of growth in our western States. There are two kinds of Socalism. The ooe does not directly aim at the destruction of the bome, iustitation and individual. The other aims at this destruction directly. In face of the above results of immigra. tion ought we not be more careful as to the kind of immigrants we are to receive. Ethnologists claim that mixed races are the best and by far the superior. But while this is trne ought we nut to some extent restrain the in-rushing tide of all kinda of people ? Shall we permit the seeds of the above evils to be sown and nourished into life at so great an accelerated rate? If we do our future is easily determined. Our country will not be the ‘‘land of the free aod the home of the brave’’ very long. Our country will not be the dominant power in all the world, civilizing and ehristianizing the world. The expression, ‘‘we live in an exceptional age’’ of Emerson wil! fade as a leal. Napolean said to his army as they rested beneath the shadows of the Pyramids, *' Re. member that from yonder heights forty gen- erations look down upon you.”” Men of this age, il these evils are not coutroiled we shail look hack to our present pyramids of prosperity, liberty and enlightenment upon which God has placed ue, and see what their tyrant havds bave caused. “We are living, we are living, In a grand and awful time, In an age on ages telling— To be living is sublime !" The Phonograph of Time—A Christmas Record, Rev. Jas. B. Stein, Bellefonte. The phonograph is no longer a novelty. rarely now excite amazement or wonder. Weli do we remember, however, our first experience with the phonograph, then con- sidered ‘‘the wonder machine.” What a sense of the marvelous, what feelings of awe, this latest triumph of scientifio genius inspired in us! To hear a voice, as it were, from the dead,a voice from that *‘andiscov- ered country from whose bourn no traveller returns,” to say the least, was suggestive of the uncanny and supernatural. We are now all familiar with the interesting *‘talk- | ing-machine,’”” yet to the thoughtfal and serious mind is has uot lost its peculiar charm. We confess the record-messages moie than simply please, entertain, and in- struct us. They grip our very soul and arouse the deeper sensibilities. This may serve as au introdnction to a Christmas message to you, dear reader. If the master-English poet was right in say- ing, that we may find ‘‘songs in trees, books in running hrooks, sermons in stones, and good in every thing,’ then truly may the phonograph farnish ous a text for a “thumb-nail’”’ sermon for this Christ mas-tide. Father Time bas revised his familiar equipment. In addition to the keen-edged soythe, the hour glass, and the proverbial fore-lock, the ‘‘up-to-date’’ pre- siding genius of the passing years now car- ries an imaginary phoaograph, in which each year, each century, has its record, and we may hear, at each returning Yaule-tide, if we have the ear to catch the silent voice, a thousand messages from the past. No sweeter, more blessed message than that of the first century of the Christian Era; than that of ““Anuo Christi; '~than that of the first Christmas Day,—the day thas records the advent into this old sin-cursed world of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, **very God avd very man,” for the redemption, the regeneration, and restoration of the world to righteousuess and peace. Can you, my friend, hear the Christmas record in the phonograph of time? Amid the dis- cordant notes of our modern strenucne Christmas shopping, and burdensome Christmas toiling for this joyous (?) event, amid all the worry, and anxiety, and some- times excessive financial coosiderations, what is the message youn hear from the Christmas record of Time's phonograph ? Shall we permit the popular conventionali- ties of the season to obscure, or confuse, the message of the real Christmas record? Do you now hear the silent message from the unseen record, as the revolving year tells out the glad, good news of that firss Christmas day, “nark ! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King ; Peace on earth, and merey mild; God and sinners reconciied.” That was the first ‘‘glory song" this world, full of sirife and sorrow, ever heard. Shall our century get bat the echo of that heavenly anthem ? Can we nos see some faint gleam of ‘‘the morning light,”’ the beginnings of that blessed con- summation, when “Jesus shall reign where e’er the sun does his successive journeys ran.” When the Prince of Peace shall rule the ‘‘people and realms of every tongue.” Listen again. Hear the angel messenger speak: “Fear not: for I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you 18 born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Hear tho “Magnificat” of Mary (Luke 1 : 46-55 ), and the “Nance Dimittis’’of the aged Simeon in the temple (Lukef2 : 29 32,). What do these mes- sages of the Christmas record mean to you, to me, to the world? To hear the trae Christmas message, and to realize its trne meaning, is to bave the genuine Christmas in the heart. When the real Christmas mes- eage finds a true interpretation hy humani- ty as a whole, then this old world shall have itajreal Christmas, world-wide, and full as the deepest needs of the human soul. May true Christmas peace and real Christ- mas joys come, this year, toall who read this message from the Christmas record in the phonograph of Father Time. -—Though it is decidedly rough owing to the sudden freeze up there is sleighing in some parts of the county. People in Halfmoon valley were using sleighs on Taesday. Its records still entertain and instruct, but | The Pre-eminent Christ, Rev. W. Henry Schuyler, Centre Hall, Who is he whose advent the angelic choir announced in the first Christmas anthem, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” and whose birth Christendom celebrates next Tues. day? Let us consider hriefly the answer given in Collcssians 1:15-18, 1. He ‘isthe image of the invisible God,” as he himeell said, ‘‘He that hath seen we hath seen the Father.” God can- not beseen by flesh and blood. “*Thou canst not see my face : for there shall no man see me, and live.” Bas so far as man can look upon God in thislife he sees him in Jesus Christ. Something of the Deity may be known in other ways, bus the vis- ion is dim, distorted, uncertain ; but he who beholds the power, the love, the wis. dom, the character, manifested by the Man of Galilee has certitude as to God’s oharac- ter ; and, unless Jesus can be effaced from history, God will hold his place in the uni- verse in spite of all efforts to crowd him out : for there is no other explanation of Jesus except that he was “God manifest in the flesh.” Moreover we need expect no further revelation of God than we have in { Christ : the image of the invisible is all | thas we can look npon. If this Christmas could see all men thoroughly grasp the thought that Jesus Christ i4 the only infal- lible revelation of the supreme being, and | that all otherwise acquired knowledge of God must be brought to the tess of the rev- elation made in him, great wonld be the ! strengthening of faith and the dissipation of error and uncertainty. 2. Heis ‘‘the first-born of all creation.” Not that be was created, bat the first-born in comparison with all creation, or as in the 17th verse ‘‘He is before all things.” Then follows the comprehensive statement thas all conceivable things not only on the earth, but in the entire universe, visible aud invisible, not only creatures but insti- tations, al! the multitudinous forms and kinds of existence of which we know so lit- tle—all was created in him, and unto him. In him as its source lay all, “like seeds | in a seed vessel,”” and through him *‘as the medium of the Divine energy’ all came into being, and thas for him. Thus he be- comes the beginning, the means, and the end of all things : and still more. “in him all things consist.”” The continuance of this wonderful creation, all its varied movements and manifestations are due to him. Here is something to think of these dass when some men are trying to explain all the various manifestations of matter hy the operation of unintelligent forces in such a way as to wake God unnecessary. In thas they cannot succeed so long as we believe | what inspiration here says of him whom we honor at Christmas. That is not to say shat we are to hold on to the exact method of creation taught centuries ago ; neither should we accept new methods till science itself comes to substantial agreement. The Bible simply tells ns that all things were created in, : 1 him ; bat does not tell us how all this is. The Christian can accept any method that does nos thrust the Son of God down from the lofty place given bim bere and else- where in Scripture ; and holding on ro this thought he can afford to be patient. 3. We bave considered the exalted sta- tion of our Lord with regard to the mate- | rial creation. There 18 also a Spiritual cre- ation, and in the 18th verse Christ is given the same exalted position with respect to it. Matter and Spirit include all oreated existence. Hence in all shings he has the pre-eminence. Now, he who is thus ex- alted above all things, who made all, both material and Spiritual, in himself, throngh himself, and for himself, who must there- fore be divine, humbled himself to be born of woman and partook of our vasure for our ealvation. “All that sce and share his love : Earth to heaven and heaven to earth, Tell his wonders, sing his worth ; Age to age and shore to shore, Praise him, praise him, evermore.” The Song of the Christmas Augels. Cn Rev. Edwin G. Richardson, Bellefonte, Glory here means recognition, thanks. giving : therefore, today, in public wor- ship with the words of inspired men of old time, and the bess music genius has pro- duced, from village church andgreat cathe- deal, this adoration and gratitude are publicly expressed by millions of the faith- fal. The world rejoices today to know that God is, and that He is Love, which love He maovifested by making the earth, through age-long processes a fit home for His dear child, immortal man. He farther manifested this Divine love by sending His only son to become one of us, that we mig' t always understand how sacred is the family, how divine is childhood, that heav- eo rilt in the earth cloud, that dream of Paradise perpetually realized before our eyes, whose innocence makes ue good, whose charming helplessness keeps alive all sweet buman sympathies, even as the life of the Heaven born child teaches ue dai- Iy how we ought to live the Heavenly and ideal, the noble and unselfish life, while He who died like a god inspires us also to sacrifice the sell for altrnistic aims and causes, Therefore, this Christmas anthem should be our daily hymn, reminding ail how near heaven is to each—"‘it lies about us in our infancy’’—summoning all to live evermore the spiritual which, indeed, is the Eternal Life. There was little, and that short-lived peace anywhere when that heautilnl music came floating down from the cloudless Syrian sky, for all men hated each the oth- er, everywhere the soldier marched, all lands were marred by altars built to the god of battles, Bat that song aud the child have be. stowed upon mankind the fair ideal of a Golden Age “When the war drums beat no longer, And the battle flags unfurled, In the parliament of mao, the federation of the world,” This is no iridescent dream, no hopeless vision of hapless seer, but an ideal strong and glorious, destined, in fact, on this sin- stained earth to achieve triumphant vie- tory. Is is sadly true that even yet in Chris- tian lands owe shell from an angry cannon | will drive Christ and all the prophets quickly off the field, but in an age mad for war, and screaming for fight, the optimist still bas hope, because, when the wonderful progress of the marvelous conutry so re- through, and unto Christ, and subsist in | cently begun, shall be reheaised in the ears | of fature generations, the acts which shall ' stand out clear and luminous above all | others, will be the magnificent deeds of | Roosevelt, the peace maker, fit bolder of | the Nobel Prize, for over-strenuous though | he he at times with his *‘Big Stick” and | brave talk, vet bas he done more than any living man to accomplish the Christian's hope of peace ‘when nation shall not lifs up sword against vation, neither shall they learn war any more.” It is just because men never before since time began felt so kindly toward each oth- er as the men of today feel that we are very sare peace will one day reign over all the earth. . The most significant movement of the present is the determined advance of the whole civilized world against savages, and the inferior races and nations. The immediate consequence is necessari- ly conflict, but when the work is done hu- manity will become one and harmonious. Rapid transit, electricity, trade, religions toleration, are making the whole earth to- day every man’s home, and are compelling us all to realize that we are ove family of the Living God, so bound together, so en- meshed that the weal and woe of one are the wealth or hart of all. There is good will today, perfect, com- plete, between north and south, east and west, for not only is our country at last so united that we are one America but, fur- ther, we are in accord and concord with Europe, the Orient and South Ameriza as never before. And the sense of a universal social unity expresses itself through the large gifts of the prosperous for education, philanthropy and charities such as the world has hither- to not seen, Be it ours also, in lesser ways, on the duy God gave His Son to us, to make some sad soul hear the echo of the angels’ song hy some token of good will, sent cheerily to the cheerless abode of poverty, hearing this message : ‘*You are vot forgotten on this bright day, that wakes your sullen lot | appear more sombre, for, in the midst of our happiness, we also think of you.” i EE — { An Important Issue, Rev. C. F, Hall, Milesburg. “The bulwark of our nation is the puab- lio school system.” This is an expression often heard in our midst. A true rayiog ; it ought to be traer than it is; it wou!d be if the all important office of school director was filled by men who appreciated the re- sponsibilities of that position. It is an of- fice that should be beyond the reach of re- ligious, social and domestic influences. In this sense, those influences should in no way govern the management of our schools or the appointment of teachers. Men (or women) who are known for sheir intelli- gence and breadth of vision are the ones we should seek to fill that all import- ant position, yet in many of our rural dis- tricts they are men who can scarcely read and write intelligibly and whose homes and farms are an illustration of their exeon- tive ability. Too often this is the type of citizen we choose for school director, to manage our taxesand the state appropria- tion for achools; the latter ought so be con- ditioned on the people choosing capable men to apply is. In addition to this it should also be required that she instruction given should reach a certain standard, es- pecially #0 in our country schools. In too many instances it isdecidedly low. In fact, it amounts to nothing but the undoing of the home training of the child in self dis- cipline and babits of promptoess and tidi- ness. Many parents never stop to think thas during the school term their children spend more of their waking hours under the infloence of a teacher whose character and habits of life, in many instances, is questionable. Who hold their position by virtare of their family, religious or social connections. There is on the part of parents entirely too much indifference in regard to the con- dition and disciplioe iw their school. The writer could cite an instance where the diphtheria spread through an entire com- munity because the directors neglected to properly famigate the room and supplies. The only thing they, in their narrow vis. ion, could see, was the expense attached to it. It was finally done because the parents demanded it. It is the duty of parents to stand back of the school hoard and see thas they throw proper safeguards about their children when at school. Not only in a physical scuee but in a moral sense as well. We have many reasons for being proud of our school syatem, buta little more in- terest on the part of the voting parents, in the spring election for diroetors, might give us more reason to be proud of is, in some places. —— Dunn, State’s big football captain for '06, has decided to devote his life to medical missionary work and to that end will take up the study of medicine. SRI The New Year. Rev. C. F. Garrett, Millheim. New Year is fast approaching; there is not much time left for us to do anything this year. Iu one way our heart will be sad when we think over the past year of mistakes, failures, misspens time, lost op- portunities. It did not seem possible at the beginning of 1906 that after the exper- fence of the pas: years we shouvld lose so many opportunities of speaking a word for Christ, so many chances of speaking a help- ful word to some one, aud yes the year has come and almost gone, and most of ns are obliged to say that of the many plans made and pledges given for special work for the year, very few have heen carried ous. We expected when the vear began to spend more time in prayer; we thought we should learn to love the Bible more; we hoped that we should overcome some of our old bad habits and not repeat the mis- takes of the past. But hare we are again at the close of another year, and although perhaps we have made some progress, ves it is nothing to be compared with what we expected. We have not been as ready to forgive as we ought to have been; we have seemed to be in the stream rolling belplessly along and almest powerless to resist the tide; we have not stood up for Christ when we have heard His name ridiculed and scoffed at; many times when we have not wanted it to be kuown that we are Christians, we bave kept quiet while those around us were taking the name of God in vain. We bave held hard bitter grudges against some one, and we never thought another year would come when we should do so much criticising, so much fault finding with other people, and yet while looking over the past year we find we have done our full share. Alter what God had previously doue for us we thought we never should doubt Him again. But how many times of doubting and distrust there have been in the past year. We did not think the year would find us so impatient as we were at times. Impatience has cropped ont in this place or that, and, indeed, is is surprising when we look over the past year to see how al- together inconsistently we as Christians have lived. It God were not so patient with us, so ready to forgive and help us to begin over again, it would indeed be a discouraging outlook when the past is considered. Bat God takes everything into consideration. Knows every thought and purpose and plan and failure, and so gives usa new command to forget those things which are past, and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calliog of God in Christ Jesus, While the past is discouraging, let us ask forgiveness for our failures and start anew the year 1907. Christmas and the Poor. Rev. H. I. Crow, Hublersburg. The Jews had their year of jubilee. This occurred every fiftieth year. If any one was unfortunate enough to lose his possessions in the year of jabilee it was restored to him. The prisoner was released. Christmas is man’s jubilee. Christ's coming into the world sends to equalize things. Man was created in God's image. Sin alienated man from God. Every day saw the breach grow- ing wider. God desired that man should attain more and more unto His likeness, ‘To impress mao with His love and to attain this end, God came to man in the person of His son. He came to the poor and lowly. He came to those who were living true lives according to the light of their day. The year of jubilee has come for the whole wcrld. Jesus was cared for by the poor. He ministered to rich and poor alike. He healed their diseases. He taught men re. spect for others. He taught them to live right lives. He broke with the ruling class only as they failed to he governed by this inner principle of life. Because of this new life, men sold their possessions and distri- bution was made to the needy. This spirit actuated the mission churches of Asia and Earope. They contributed to the needs of the poor in Jerusalem and Judea. God's gift bas caused man to become a giver. There is much in this old world that shows the power of evil ; but one muss be blind, indeed, who does not see the good. The poor are being ministered unto. Pablie schools and hospitals, orphanages and homes for the aged, the response to appeals in time of fire, flood and earthquake, all bear witness of a spirit abroad which means more for the world today than did the year of Jabilee to the Jews. Christmas revives this spirit. It keeps it alive in the hearts of men. It brings deliverance to the cap- tive. Employer gives expression of his love to employee and omployee to his employer, parents to children and children to parents. Those in far distant lands as well as the poor and the stranger at home are remem- bered. The year of jubilee has come. May we all catch the spirit of the Christ and be the means of lifting the burden from shoulders and give joy and gladness to the poor and needy; then it will be our year of jabilee. ——Jobu D. Sourbeck will this week about complete the manufacturing of his holiday orders for clear toys aud other candies and his factory will then be closed for the present. He has had a busy time of it during the past six weeks or more and bas manufactured many tous of sweet stuff. One Altoona firm alone took ten tous of clear toys and paid just double the price for them this year that they paid last. Theadvance was owiog to the fact that Mr. Sourbeck gives a guarantee that all his candies are pure and will stand the most rigid test of the pure food de. partment. OxE HUNDRED AND Six YEARS OLD. ~All the older residents of Ferguson and College townships very well remember Mrs, Elizabe k Stalker, widow of John Stalker, who years ago was a farmer near Pine Grove Mills, and will be pleased to learn that she celebrated the one hundredth and sixth auniversary of her birth on Wed- nesday in the very best of health. The writer of these lines feels more than a friendly interest in this good old lady’s health hecause it was on the Stalker farm he first saw the lighs of day and for this reason, as well as for the feat that a sketch of the life of such au extraordinary woman is iv itself interesting, that we publish the following from the Altoona Tribuse, of Wednesday : Mrs. Stalker's waiden name was Eliza- beth Moore. Her father, Joseph Moore, was boru in Ireland in 1757, and emigrated to America in 1785. Her mother, who was Mies Elizabeth Park, was born in York, Pa., in 1772. In 1795 Mr. and Mrs. Moore with several children moved to Blair county and located on a farm ahout foar miles west of Holli- dayshurg where, December 19sh, 1800, Mies Elizabeth Moore was born. She was the sixth of a family of ten children, five sons and five daoghters. March 22ud, 1831, Miss Moore was united in marriage with John Stalker with whom she moved to Warriorsmark, Huntingdon ceanty, where Mr. Stalker followed the trade of a blacksmith until 1838, when they moved to Centre county, where he was engaged iv farming until his death in 1865. Two years thereafter Mrs. Stalker, with her family, moved to Duncansville where she remained until 1882 when she moved to Williamsbarg. Mrs. Stalker's memory is remarkable, considering her extreme age. She tells of things long ago antiquated and for gene- rations unused, and nambers among herac- quaintances people who bave long, long siuce been gathered to the fathers. She has a punch bowl which she purchased when eight years old at a store in Franktown be- fore there were any stores in Hollidays- burg. She rememhers the days when preachers wore knee breeches and plaited their hair, when horseback was the chief means of sraffic, and arking was the mode of river transportation. She remembers seeing a squad of soldiers on their way to the army in the war of 1812. Then came the building of the Philadelphia and Pists- Lurg tuinpike. The canal was built after Mrs. Stalker bad lived an average life time. She saw its prosperity and decline during another average lif:time and has lived another similar period since. The first newspaper which she read in girlhood was the Hunt- ingdon Gazetie and Weekly Advertiser, when it was published hy John McCaban a hon. dred years ago. She can tell numberless otlier things of which the present genera tion can have no knowledge, either from faded avnale or historio legend. Mrs. Stalker's family consisted of six children, two sous who died in early life, and four daughters, Mrs. Washington Orr, died eight years ago, and Misses Mary, Martha and Elizabeth, residing with their | mother. She has also three grandchildren | and three great-grandchildren. | Mrs. Stalker's life covers the period of | the most marveloas material developuent in the history of the world. Her memory goes back to the time when Napoleon was first covsul of France, when Thomas Jefferson purchased the Lonisiaoa tract, when there were only sixteen States in the union. when the population of the United States was less than 6,000,000, when Lewis and Clark added the northwest territory to the wealth of the union. She has lived daring the terms of all the presidents of the United States except one, Washington, She was seven years old when the first steam hoat was bailt. She was tour years old when Barr and Hamilton fought their fatal duel. She was nine years old when Lincoln was born and 19 years when Queen Victoria was horn. Mrs. Stalker is wonderfully well preserv- ed for one of her age and retains all her faculties to a remarkable deuree, being able to read newspapers and the Bible each day. Her voice isstrongand audible and her bearing is good When the weather is favorable she walks from her home to church service in the Presbyterian churoh almost a square distant. About a month ago she called on several of her neighbors at their homes on Second street. It is only within the last year or two that she has desisted from reading the presidents’ messages entirely through. She still takes an active interest in political events. She has always been a firm believer in the prin. ciples upon which the republican party is based. She has always been industrious and frugal, very generons and thoughtful of others. She has never besn sick except some trival indispositions in recent years incident to her extreme age. Many people come from a distance to call upon Mrs. Stalker and cousider ita great pleasure to met and converse with her. The people of Williamsburg are very proud of her and lovingly call her “Grand. ma" She has received several serenades from the Williamsburg band, also compli- ments and congratulations from eome dis- tinguished people. Each year, on the anni- versary of her birth, a number of her most intimate friends gather as her home to eon- gratulate her and celebrate the event when a samgtuous dinner is served. She i= al- ways bright aod cheerful with an abiding faith in Him whose divine precepts have guided her through life. Being informed of the date of her anni. versary and on receipt of her card written by her on December 14th, 1906, President Roosevelt sent his ‘Hearty Congratula- tions’ to Mrs. Stalker. All who know her love her and hope she may he spared to celebrate mauy more birthdays. — ——Bellefonters had to go without any Philadelphia newspapers or wail last Sas. urday until 5.30 o’olock in the evening owing to a big wreck on the P. & E. rail. road near Halifax. Two traine, one of which was a fast freight running at a speed of thirty-five miles an hour, came togeth- er. All the trainmen jumped and escaped injory. Eleven cars were piled up and re- duced to a mass of wreckage. The majori- ty of the wrecked cars were loaded with sugar. It wasten hours before the road was cleared for the passage of trains. ———— ll —-Just for a change Wednesday morn- ing gave ns another real touch of winter when the thermometer went considerably below the zero mark. In this place the instruments registered from ten to thirteen degrees below according to location, while in some parts of the county it was even colder, though at Snow Shoe it was only from two to four degrees below zero.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers