==
BY PP. GRAY MEEK.
—
Ink Slings,
~ Remember, itis very bad form to
break that good resolution until tomorrow,
at least.
—Abous all there seems to be in Ohio up
to this minute for brother CHARLES is
snow-water.
~The Keystone Gazette came ous yes.
terday looking quite spic and span in a
dress of new type.
—There were many new leaves turned
over to-day that within a week will have
that sear and yellow look.
—1It looks like one of two things, either
Pittishurg is too bad for Mayor GUTHRIE
or Mayor GUTHRIE is too good for Pitts.
burg.
—A New Jersey lad bad an eye shot ont
on Christmas. Fortunately it was a glass
eye. The moral doesn’s follow that we
should wear glass eyes,
—Itis altogether probable that New
York city could make a judicial saving on
silk hose that wonld enable her to buy
enongh of the good rubber article to make
fire risks less bazardons over there.
—Greater earthquakes occurred in Pekin
and Autioch than that in Sicily, but they
were an hundred years or more ago, con-
sequently we can't fully realize what aw-
fal calamities they must have been.
—The mayor of Philadelphia bas signed
the ordinance that will make a tunnel nnder
the Delaware to New Jersey possible.
What’a fine place it will be for the Sam
SALTERS, JIM MCNICHOLS, ET AL, todo
business,
—ABE REUF, the San Francisco political
boss and grafter, has finally been sentenced
to fourteen years in the penitentiary.
Pittsburg papers gave the item very little
space ; probably for fear of unduly excit-
ing some of the distinguished residents of
that city.
-~While Miss ETHEL ROOSEVELT is
probably a very charming girl it is to be
boped the country will be spared the ridio-
ulous reporte of ber every act. The over-
doing of ALICE was enough to prove die-
tasteful and if Washington space writers
are permitted to report each time ETHEL
readjusts her rat or bas her naile cleaned
we'll all be hoping that her dad totes her
off to Alrioa with him in the spring.
—Mr. SHEATZ may well appeal to the
country to take sides with him in the sena-
torial fight against Mr, OLIVER, of Pitts.
burg. What did BEEATZ do for the coun-
try Members when he was in with the
Philadelphia crowd in the Legislature and
was chairman of the appropriations com-
mittee ? There is invariably a time for
ohiokens to come home to roost and this
may be the one in Mr. SHRATZ'S career.
~The earthquake and tidal wave tbat
almost totally wreoked the island of Sicily
and the lower part of Italy will probably
stand as one of the greatest disasters of the
world. So far a= is known now more than
one hundred and fifty thousand lives have
been lost, with a possibility of the number
reaching muoh higher figures. Recent
disasters such as the eruption of Ms
Pelee were mere incidents when com.
pared with this one.
~The Gazeite makes its New Year how
in an entirely new dress. While its gen.
eral makeup remains the same ite headings
have been changed in a way that gives ita
rather striking appearance. Brother HAR-
TER bas a good paying proposition in his
paper, and what, with four years more of
the postoffice and all the county printing
won't be be able to buy new dresses just as
often as he likes. We congratulate him on
this evidence of sucoess,
~The death of former State Treasurer
WiLLram L. MATTHUES at his home in
Media is a rather tragic ending for his part,
at least, of the capitol graft trials. He
contracted pneumonia at Harrishurg on
December 13th, when he was sentenced to
two years in the penitentiary and to pay a
fine of $500. He was released on bail
pending an appeal, bat the humiliation of
his position is suppesed to have contributed
to the advance of the disease.
~The spring elections are not two
months off and, up to this writing we have
beard of no aspirants for councilman.
Messrs HAMILTON, SHUEY and WAGNER
will retire. The first will not be an as-
pirant again because he is after the tax
oollestorship. As for SHUEY and WAGNER
it is not known whether they care to be re-
tarned. For burgess JouN J. Bower and
James C. Furst, both young attorneys,
are willing to represent their respective
parties and indications are to the effect
that neither will bave opposition for the
nomination.
—-Every year the action of the public
school teachers while attending institute
here attests a marked improvement in
manuers and babits. There is somistakable
and daily apparent evidence that the young
women and men who are in charge of our
public schools are dignified, gentle and
thoroughly conscious of what they are here
for. The institute of to-day is as different
from that of twenty years ago as a meeting
of a Peace Commission is from a Fourth of
Jaly picnio. While we believe there has
been and there is now in progress a general
uplift to a higher plain of living among
men the fact that better salaries and longer
terms of school are offered teachers has re.
sulted in attracting people to teaching as a
profession rather than as a steppiog stone
to something else.
Since President ROOSEVELT bas seen
proper to announce Senator PHILANDER
C. KNOX as a member of his cabinet, that
gentleman has blossomed out into a won-
derful stateaman, according so the Repub-
lican press of the State. While these jour-
nals are going into ecstacies over Pennsyl-
vania gettiog a member of the cabinet, and
almost into hysterics over the alleged abil-
ities and greatness of the appointee, they
carefally refrain from referring to anything
particular that he bas done to make him
great, or anything he has suggested or advo-
cated that would show him to be a man of
the size they would have bim appear.
To people who know Mr. Kxox, and
know him olear through, there is no ele-
phantine bigness about him either physie-
ally, morally, socially or intellectually. If
one were to ask, what has be done to make
him great, or in what way has he shown
the woundeiful abilities we are now told he
possesses, it is doubtfal if an answer would
be attempted.
Before he was thrust into politics,
through the kindly efforts of HENRY CLAY
Frick, Epwarp H. HAnRIMAN and the
late A. J. CAsSATT, be was known only as
an ordinary corporation lawyer in Pitts.
barg. When you come to think how
many of these there are in the country yon
will soon catch on to the fact that being a
corporation lawyer don’s necessarily make
a man great. Nor did is do this for Mr.
KxoxX. What bas done it for him we are
at a loss to know, just as bis glorifiers of
today are at a loss to know what to point
to as evidence of what be bas accomplish-
ed, or wherein the people are better off or
the government more justly administered,
than would have been the case bad he
never been brought to the front by the cor-
porations.
It's what men do that give them credis.
Is is what they accomplish that meas-
ures their worth as statesmen. And
until Mr. KNOX does something, or ac-
complishes something for the public good
or to the credit of the country, it would be
just as well for Pennsylvania papers to
show a little modesty in their praises of his
greatness,
He bas bad opportunities galore. As
Attorney-General, he talked and promised
much about what he would do with the
Trusts but these still flourish and every
evil that sucked at the vitality of the gov-
eromens, before he was appointed to
the position, is still banging on and fatten-
ing off the people. He bas been a United
States Senator since 1904 and no where
upon the statute hooks, or in the records
of that body, can there be found tangible
evidence of either an attempt or effort to
do that which would prove him great or
useful. He has not bothered abouts the
little things, that have ocoupied the atten-
tion of Senator PENROSE, bat ho~ much
more, in the way of public good, or in the
way of abolishing publio wrongs, has he
accomplished thao the berated and abused
senior Senator.
Please get down tocold facts and show
us some results, or be kind enough to give
the pablic a rest from the ceaseless drivel
that is going on about the statesmanship
and greatness of Pennsylvania’s member of
the incoming cabinet.
The Question of Good Ronds,
When the Legislature meets next week
there will probably be a surplus in the
state treasury approximatiog $12,000,000.
The revenues under the most unfavorable
conditions will be anout $25,000,000 a
year, making cash resources from which to
draw during the two years for which ap-
propriations will be made of $62,000,000.
The requirement of the schools will be in
the neighborhood of $14,000,000 for the
two years. The maintenance of the hos-
pitals, penal iustitusions and corrective
concerns, not ieoluding building operations,
can hardly exceed $20,000,000. Allow say
$10,000,000 for building and repairs and
we bave an aggregate of $44,000,000, leav-
ing a balance of $18,000,000. Assuming
that there ought to be a treasury surpius
of $3,000,000, we bave left a sum of $15,
000,000 to be dieposed of.
Of course the average mind will drift to
the conclusion that most of this available
balance ought to he appropriated so road
construction and maintenance. Except
that used for edocational purposes, no
money could be more wisely spent than
thas appropriated to road boilding. Perfect
highways are not only the best evidense of
advanced civilization but they coutribate
in greater ratio than any other public
utilisy to popular advantage. They facili-
tate the marketing of the products of she
farm and dimioish the cost of living to the
consumer. They are a source of enjoyment
to the citizens who owns an aantomobile
ond an agency of safety and comfort to
those who bave no other vehicle than a
farm wagon. In fact good roads are a
source of universal advantage and comfort.
They belp urban and saburban resident in
equal proportions.
Bat the Legislature should not sppropri-
ate a dollar for the construction and main-
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
BELLEFONTE, PA., JANUARY 1, 1909.
A —.
——
tenance of roads until the party machine
in control of the State Highway Depart-
ment relinquishes its strangle hoid upon
the throats of the people. That depart-
ment was created for a political asylum
and ever since its organization is has been
conducted as a party asset. Most of she
roads built wonder its direction have heen
badly constructed, enormously expeoeive
and practically worthless. This being the
case it is the plain duty of the Legislature
to call a balt and inaugurate such reforms
as will work a correction of the abuses.
The quickest and best way to achieve this
result is to reorganize the department and
the new organization ought to be vis the
plan of the present school department,
giving the local authorities control of the
disharsements.
Sentence of the Labor Leaders.
It is almost impossible to calmly review
the sentence imposed upon SAMUEL GoMmp-
ERS, president ; JoHN MITCHELL, vice
president, and Mr. MORRISON, secretary of
the American Federation of Labor, by
Chiel Justice WRIGHT, of the Supreme
Coart of the Distriot of Columbia. These
reputable, conscientious and useful citizens
were charged with contempt of the court
in which the sentence was pronounced. A
manufacturing concern which had black.
listed a number of its employees had been
denounced by these labor leaders and hoy-
cotted by their followers and organized la-
hor generally. Because of this the gentle.
men named had been summoned into court
to answer for the violation of the law
against boycotting. They protested that
the law was invalid but offered to raise the
boycot if the blacklist was withdrawn. The
offer was declined and the court ordered
the boycot to be raised without cousidera-
tion or concession.
The American Federation of Labor at a
subsequent weeting decided to pay no at-
tention to the order of court and the Amer-
ican Federationist, the official organ of the
organization cordially endorsed this action.
Mr. SAMUEL GOMPERS, editor of the Fed-
erationist, editorially encouraged this pur-
pose of the organization and at subsequent
meetings of the organization at which Mr.
MITCHELL and Mr. MORRISON were pres.
ent, Mr. GOMPERS was as warmly endors-
ed. In resentment of this contempt pro.
ceedings were inaugurated against Messrs.
GoMPERS, MITCHELL and MORRISON. They
were snbpoenased to testily against them.
selves which shey did with perfect frank.
ness. The contempt was completely es-
tablished and acknowledged and it was
expected that they would be fined in a
nomival sam. But they were as free from
turpitude as the Chief Justice of the Su-
preme court of the United States and as
little deserving of a jail sentence.
Bat during the recent campaign these
gentlemen had severely offended President
ROOSEVELT. They bad absolutely refused
to be bribed, cajoled or dragooned into the
eupport of the cavdidate for President
whom he preferred and bad she surprising
temerity to exercise the rights of American
citizenship in the manly American way.
Because of this fact, probably the Chief
Justice of the court of the Distriot of
Columbia, a creature of the presidential
office, and probably with the view of gain-
ing presidential favor in the future, put
the mark of the criminal upon them by
sentencing them to jail for various terms
ronning from six months toa year. Of
course the case will be reviewed by the
higher courts and the chances are that the
sentence will be revoked aud the judge
fitly rebuked. But the possibility of the
contrary result isa grave menace to the
personal and political rights of citizens.
Starting Early.
One of the interesting revelations made
at she annual banquet of the Centre connty
Bar Association, at the Country club on
the evening of December 19th, was that
the association proclaimed itselt for
Hexry CUTE QUIGLEY Esq.,for State Sen-
ator. After they had ail immersed them-
seives in the mellowing depths of a ponder-
ous loving cup they acolaimed HENRY
CUTE as Senator and it is related that he
looked even more conscious and important
than bad been his mein on the first Tues-
day nigbts after the new moons of 1908.
While the Bar Association is not a political
organization many of its members are
recognized leaders in their respective par:
ties therefore this annouucement may be
regarded as the launching of the QuiGLEY
boom for Senatorial honors. Since his last
try for the seat occupied by Senator
GEORGE M. DIMELING it has been obsery-
ed shat Mr. QUIGLEY has been most cir:
cumspeot, building fences everywhere and
playing the part of ‘‘Shifsy Sadie” in local
politics; all this in preparation for she an-
nomncement which the lawyers have made.
Of course there could be no possibility of
the public mind running contrary to the
wishes of this scintillating loving-cup-ized
conglomeration of law aod politios so it
may be accepted that Henry Cure Quia-
LEY E+q. will be the next Republican
nomioee for State Senator, |
Where the “Graft” Egg is Laid.
If one were to look closely into the cause
of the great ‘‘grafs’’ that characterizes the
management of wost of our manicipalities,
it would not be surprising if it were found
to be lodged in the single fact that most of
our cities give away that which is valua-
ble, and in the scramble to get that which
each community has to give, the corruption
we are used to hearing so much about ie
created. Certain it is that there would be
much less temptation to ‘‘grals’’ in our
municipal government if those things,
which are of value to others, were retained
for the use of the people, or sold to she
highest bidder for the benefit of the munio-
ipality.
It is the franchises and special privileges
that are vsoally given away by couneil-
men, that are chargeable with the “‘grafs”’
that debauches and disgraces so many of
our municipalities. Were these worth
nothing, there would be no one after them
and consequently no corruption connected
with them. Bat as they are usually valu-
able, it is from the desire to possess them
that all the worry springs on the one side,
and on the other the temptation to make,
what opportunity offers, is placed in the
way of public officials.
It these things are of value, then this
value surely belongs to the municipality,
and it should only be parted with in a way | go
that would secure the greatest amount for
the benefit of the people paying taxes so
the municipal government.
There are cities in this country that have
sold their street railway, and other fran-
ohises, on terms and conditions that
will iusare their treasaries annual incomes
80 long as they are cities or their franchises
exist. There are others that permitted
their councilmen to trade theirs off, for
what each individual member could secure
for himself. It is from shis latter olass
that *‘graft’’ has grown, and itis probable
that no matter how careful a community
may be, as to the character of its public
servants, so long as opportunities exist,
there will be those who will stoop to take
advantage of them.
The sale of all municipal franchises at
public outery, would end much of this bus-
iness. Is would be a simple method of re-
de pp from the path of public
and it wonld give something to]
the citizens in retora for that which they
had turned over to the company or corpora-
tion seeking it. /
Why nos try is?
The Limit of Discourtesy.
The other day President ROOSEVELT and
some members of his tennis cabinet were
horseback riding in one of the public parks
adjacent to Washington. A party of ladies,
members of Washington families, were en
joying themselves by indulgence in the
same exhilerating exercise, at the same
time and in the same neighborhocd. The
young women, either becanse they didn’t
koow the President, or for the reason thas
they didn’t know it was harmful, rode
past the presidential party. Thereupon
President RoosEVELT, inflamed with pas-
sion, road ap to the ladies and severely
rebuked them, for thas presuming to ride
past the President of the United States.
“How dare you,” be said rudely, ‘‘throw
mud from your horse’s heels into the face
of the President.”
This is about the limit of impudent as. | jai
surance. The German Emperor or the
Czar of Russia wonld not ge so far because
they are at least gifted with the manners
of gentlemen and while the rules govern-
ing social amenities between men and
women in those conntries are less exacting
than here, rule of politeness is universal
among well bred men. Bat the insanely
vain oreature, who, by the accident of
national calamity, bas become President
of the United States, appears to be amena-
ableto none of the laws of courtesy or
desenoy, and beoanse he imagined that his
imperial rights were encroached upon, he
bebaved like a drunken blackguard and
insulted the ladies. It was an outrage
beyond parallel in the history of the coun-
try.
Mr. Roo0SEVELT'S absurd idea of the
delerence due him would be awusing if it
were not bomiliating to every sell-respeot-
ing American citizen. The fact that the
Chief Magistrate of the greatest Republic
of all time should so flagrantly violate the
ethios of courtesy is amazing. The safety
of American womanhood from insult or
outrage has justly been a subject of pride
to American wanhood from the heginning
of our government. American women have
felt that they might safely travel, unat-
tended and secure against danger, in any
part of the country. But it appears that
they are not in the enjoyment of that price-
less privilege in the neighborhood of the
seat of our government while the present
brain-storm rough rider occupies the
White Hounse. *
——Alfred Stewart, colored, who two
weeks ago went to Philadelpbia and had a
small sliver of iron removed from his eye,
returned home on Christmas, able to see
though his eye is still a little sore.
The Effect of High Pricos,
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Is took $3623 lass year to pay for the
necessaries of living shat conld be boughs
for $2500 io. Jed. Sixty-nine Copy it
years ago e Buying power t
dollar of to-day. This is graphic way
in which Professor Joseph French Johnson,
of New York University, drives home the
meaning of “‘increased cost of living.”” His
two simple statements make it startlingly
plain that there is a seamy side to modern
Awerican prosperity,
Oar Repablican Triends commonly point
to the existing high scale of workmen's
wages as evideuce of the exceeding bless.
ings of the country under Republican poli-
cies. It hardly need be pointed ont thas
an advance of wages is of no advantage to
a workman if everything that be buys has
advanced in she same . The
trae gauge of a laboring man’s isy
is the purchasing power of his income, and
even those workmen whose wages have
most advanced are lucky if they can live as
well pow as they oonld ten years agu.
With the professional classes and with
clerks, saleamen and other middle. priced
employes, the situation is wach less favor-
able. Lacking onions to promote their
interests and baving no organized class
identity to enlist the attention of stump
orators and legislators, they have had no
advance in income to keep abreast of the
advance in prices. For the most part, the
position that paid $2500 in 1897 pays the
same ealary in 1908. The ome evident
financial difference that the decade has
bronght to the man who holds it is that
the $2500 of 1897 is worth only $1725 to-
y.
From the standpoint of the 7ast class
which lies between the great captains of
indastry and those who labor for them, is
there not something of mockery in a high
tariff ity ? Just what is shere in it
for the bank clerk, say, who macried ten
years ago on $25 a week ? Would not even
the bigh-paid skilled workman prefes to be
free to purchase his in the
cheapest market and take his chance on
being able to exact a good li wage for
his labor ? 8 ving
Knows What He is Talking About.
From the Daily Iron and Steel Report.
Mr. Carnegie was himself on Monday in
hie tariff testimony before Ways and
Meaus Committee at Wi a e
never claimed to understand the minute
details of steelmaking, but he did claim to
understand and be proved thas be did in.
fe
y
Demoozats or Republicans taking turns
cording to the side the witness was on.
Mr. Carvegie they did not badger, oliefly
because he is a past master of dealing wit
Washington folks. He showed by his
manner and his testimony that he aunder-
stood them, and he showed also that he
understood the steel manufacturers who
have aiready testified. He told she com-
mittee just what it needed to kuow, that
there was no sense in trying to get at costs
of prodaction from parties who had a self-
interest in the matter, and who talked in a
language they did not understand.
Treat All
From the New York World.
The World believes in one law for Gom-
pers and Rockefeller ; in one law for
Mitchell and Ryan ; in one iaw for Mor-
rison and Harriman ; in one law for labor
onions and Wall street. If isis “‘prac-
tical” to obtain writs of injunction re-
straining labor leaders from violating the
Sherman law, it is equally ** ical” to
obtain writs of injunction forbidding Trust
managers from violating it. If itis “prac-
tical’”’ to sentence labor leaders to jail for
violating such Court orders, it is equally
‘‘practical’’ to sentence Trust managers to
1 for violating them. It is no more diffi-
cult to find she ‘“‘one responsible man’ in
one case than in the other.
When the trades-unionists charge thas
nobody hat labor leaders have ever been
sentenced to imprisonment under the
Sherman law they frame a damning indios-
ment against Mr. Roosevelt and bis ad-
ministration. How can gleie en ox.
pected to respect a law w e ent
of the United a Smeal dou not
respect, and w persistently re-
fused to enforce against any individual
“malefactor of great wealth’ ?
Will See Things in =a
Light.
From the Johnstown Democrat,
It the Laird of Skibo Castle bad given
his tremendously weighty tariff testimony
before the election mavy thousands of
men employed in the irov and steel mills
of the country would have had their eyes
opened as they have them open now since
they have his assurance that those great
industries do not need protection, either
for themselves or their employes. What
the result would have heen can be guessed.
Bryan's vote in Pennsylvania alone would
have been greatly increased. The iron and
steel workers especially have been peculiar-
ly devoted to protection, largely becanze
their masters wanted is, but now that snoh
leading lights in the steel world as Mr.
Carnegie and Judge Gary ineist that pro-
teotion is not needed and that it does not
affect the wages of laboring men they will
not be so loyal to it in the future as they
have been in the past. The day of proteo-
tion is about over.
—— Mr. and Mre. W, A, Canfield aod
family have decided to make Bellefonte
their home and have leased the Orvis resi-
dence on east Lion street. Mrs. Canfield,
who has been at the Bush hoase the past
few months, will leave within the next few
days for Germantown to oversee the pack"
ing and shipping of their honsehold goods
to Bellefonte ; they expecting to have their
home opeued up in two or threejweeks.
Alike,
Different
Spawls from the Keystone,
—J. A. Emerick reports thet while he was
hauling prop timber near Rams Horn, Clin-
ton county,last Wednesday he killed a black
snake, four and one-half feet in length, that
was along the roadside in the snow.
—Through the generosity of P. B. Shaw,
of Poco farm, near Williamsport, Captain
Wilson, of the Salvation Army, was suthor*
ized to purchase codl for everygaworthy poor
family in the city, as a Christmas gift.
—Rev. James E. Dunning, pastor of the
Centre and Sandy Ridge Methodist Episcopa
churches, Centre county, has been appointed
to fill the pastorate of the Lumber city
charge, Clearfield county, made vacant by
the resignation of Rev. Hugh Strain, on ac.
count of ill health.
—Charles Johnson, eagineer ‘at the Dull
works of the Pennsylvania Glass company,
near McVeytown, has a most remarkable
record as an employe of the sand works there
in the fact that in twenty-one years of con-
tinuous service he has not lost a single day
on account of sickvess or from any other
cause.
—An increase of a million dollars in the
assessed value of Williamsport property will
be reporied by the city assessors, who will
complete their work this week. The ad-
vance is due largely to the fact that public
improvements have been made in nearly
every ward. The total valuation will ap-
proach fifteen millions of dollars.
—Alderman Batzle, of Williamsport, has
disposed of the Trout Run cases, in which
M. W. Bailey was arrested for selling and
Hiram Speicher for buying deer hides in
violation of the state game laws. The two
men paid a fine of $100 each and all costs,
thus ending the prosecution, which was
brought by the state authorities.
Three ladies who attended the service
in the First United Brethern church, in
Chambersburg, on Sunday evening, discovers
ed on their return home that their gold
watches were missing. A search made in
the church afterwards was fruitless, and the
belief is that in the large crowd which at-
tended the service there were some thieves
who stole the watches,
~Three suits, to recover a total of $65,000
damages, were entered in the Westmoreland
county courts Monday against the American
Reduction company, of West Newton. John
8. Long and William L. Sauers sue for
$15,000 each, and William T. Gibb claims
$35,000 for injuries sustained in a naptha ex.
plosion at the plant of the defendant com-
pany June 22nd, 1908.
—John E. Washer, of the United States
secret service, and chief of police Pennman,
of Greenville, Mercer county, it is alleged,
found a complete counterfeiting outfit, in-
cluding moulds, metals and dies, for meking
quarters, balf dollars and dollars, in a bad in
the isolated shack of Matthew E. Ralston, .
ten miles from Greenville. Ralston was ar-
rested and the outfit was taken to Pittsburg.
—Two years sgo William Stonesifer, of
y REE wm '
16 inches in circumfe
actly one pound. i
~The two daughters of John H. Jones, the
millionaire owner of Marianna mine, in
which about 160 lives were recently lost,
Misses Bertha and Jeanette, aged respective-
ly 16 and 13 years, recently told their father
that they would receive no fancy Christmas
gifts but that they wanted all in money that
he intended to expend on them. Then they
went to work and provided a basket filled
with a turkey, vegetables, fruits and toys
for every home in which a father had lost
his life, to cheer the bereft ones at Christ.
mas,
—Fire of unknown origin destroyed the
Lewisburg opera house and several business
places in that town on Sunday entailing a
loss of $75,000. ‘The loss on the opera house,
which was owned by H. E. Spyker, is given
at $50,000, The Masonic hall, operas house
restaurant, Oberdorf Plumbing Supply com-
pany, W. R. Roland’s dental offices, and the
offices of the H. E. Spyker Coal company
were burned out. The flames threatened
such wide aestruction that the assistance of
the Milton fire department wus secured. The
loss on all property is covered by insurance.
—David J. Lewis, who lives near the Troy
mine, just a little north of Philipsburg,
where be keeps a small store, made the dis
covery on Sunday that a tin box, containing
$75.00 in cash aud two Moshannon bank de-
posit certificates, one for $800 and the other
for $200, had been stolen from him, probably
on Saturday. The box containing these
valuables had been secreted in his bed room,
and the fact that two young neighbors sud-
denly disappeared on Saturday night. oue of
whom had been staying around his premises
most of the time daring the past week, leads
Mr. Lewis to suspact them as the guilty
parties.
—John Stormer, a blacksmith, of Johns+
town, on Sunday shot his wife, her brother,
and the latter's wife, Mr. and Mrs. William
Kartz, of McKeesport, Pa., and then blew
oat his own brains in plain view of a crowd
of horrified bystanders. Stormer had not
been living with his wife for several years
ad domestic trouble is assigned as the cause
of the tragedy. The three wounded persons
were removed to the hospital, where it was
ascertained that the Kartz’s are both dan-
gerously wounded. Mrs, Stormer was shot
in hoth legs and sustained a scalp wound bat
wilk recover. Stormer was dead when offi-
cers arrived.
—D. Arthur Midgley, state manager for
Thomas L. Jeavon,at the auditorium theatre,
Latrobe, was seated for dinner at the Parker
house at the same table with Miss Ada C.
Cox, of Jeanette, who under the stage name
of Grace Davenport, had some to Latrobe to
fill a vaudeville engagement at the Star
theatre. A conversation was started, which
soon ripened into friendship and the friend-
ship into love so ardent that the two were
married the next evening, less than thirty
honrs after their first meeting. The bride
left on Sunday to complete her engagement
this week at Cambridge Springs, after which
she will return to Latrobe.