BRO Bellefonte, Pa., May 27, 1910. The Last of the Batch. “In the early days of the Colorado minin' camps,” said the old prospect: or, “one of the best payin’ holes in the groun’ before it ran out was the Last Hope mine. Its name was given it by the man who struck it, who was much down at the heels at the time and fully intended that if it didn’t re- lieve his necessities he would bang himse!f to the limb of a tree that ex- tended directly over it. He sold his claim for $100,000 to a company and retires first off from this here story. “The president of the Last Hope lived in the east and sent out a man- ager from that region. Mr. Parkhurst, among other things, at home had been superintendent of a Sunday school. Naturally he didn’t like the appear- ance of a Colorado minin' camp. The cussin’ that was going on was just like fireworks. The saloons did a bet- ter business than the store. When- ever the wind riz the playin’ cards filled the air like a snowstorm. As for Sunday, there was no work on that day, but instead of services there was gamblin’. There was a few women In the camp, but they was worse'n the men. “Nir. Parkhurst looked the ground over and sized up the situation. What that camp needed was wives. He ar- gled that men without the restrainin’ influence of women would naturally turn into wild animals, and he resolv- ed to send for some gals. He called the miners together and told 'em that if they would turn out the women there was in camp he would send for a carload of real good, true members of the female sex to be helpmeets for em. The miners agreed, and Mr. Parkhurst wrote Miss Amelia Bowers, who had succeeded him as head of his Sunday school, to come out with a dozen of the best behaved and best lookin’ young women she could pick up. Her influence was far more need- ed in the west than where she was. Husbands would be provided. “Miss Bowers, a middle aged, con- sclentious woman, concluded that fit was her duty to accept the situation and proceeded to collect a dozen young women who would rather get married than work. She also shipped several hundred Bibles and hymn books. The company paid all expenses and give each gal a hundred dollars to sit up housekeepin' with. “The day Miss Bowers arrived with them twelve gals was a screamer, Not a man would work, and every one of ‘em went to the tavern where the coach was to unload. While they was waitin' Ben Huggins, an old feller who was a leader among 'em, made ‘em a speech remiadin’ ‘em that they mustn't be in too much of a hurry to wed and that gals liked to be court- ed. There wasn't enough gals to go round by any means, but any fightin’ for 'em would spoil the whole busi- ness, If the men behaved right an- other lot would Le provided; if they didn’t those who had come would go back. “When the coach drove ud to the tavern door there was a yell. Some of the gais was on top, and they was mighty good lookin. Them miners hadn't seen a decent woman in years— some of 'em—and they wasn't used to such beauty. It was like angels comin’ down from heaven. The men was re- spectful, you bet. There's no place where a good woman is so reverenced as where she's a rarity. A way was opened from the coach to the tavern, and the gals went inside, but there was sich a howl for ‘em that they come out on to a balcony and stood there, while the men at an order from Huggins, the old feller who had spoken to 'em a short time before, took off their hats. The gals looked kind of funny, as if not knowin’ what to make of the reception, “If the manager had sent for enough gals to go round in the first place there wouldn't likely have been any trouble. As it was, several of the most desperate men each saw among the lot a gal he wanted, and some of ‘em wanted the same gal. The gals hadn't more’'n gone back into the tav- ern before there was half a dozen fights. Huggins he goes off to the manager, and he says: “Mr, Parkhurst, I'm afraid there's a-goin’ to be a commotion in this yere camp. Why didn’t you send for enough for a feed? “ ‘What do you suggest, Huggins?’ “ ‘The most natural way, the way the men would take to easiest, would be to raffle ‘em.’ “Mr. Parkhurst looked glum. ‘You forget, Huggins,’ he said, ‘that a wo- man has the right to marry whom she chooses. To raffle them would be to give them away without their consent. That wouldn't do at all.’ “ ‘Well, Mr. Parkhurst, all I've got io say is that if scmething isn't dons, and that pretty quick, there won't be enough men left to furnish husbands for this lot of gals.’ “‘I'm afraid we'll have to send the women back,’ said Mr. Parkhurst. “‘I reckon,’ sald Huggins, scratch- in’ his head. ‘we moght git the men to draw lots for a chance to git some one on ‘em.’ “‘That’'s a good idea; try it.’ “Huggins went away and called a mass meetin’ of the suitors. He told them that a dozen men must be cho- sen by lot to offer themselves each to a girl. If a man failed to find any one of the girls he wanted and who wanted him that left a girl for ——— a second drawin’ of chances. Maay of those present would rather have fought for their chance; but, recogniz- in’ the delicacy of the situation and the plan bein’ the nearest that could be suggested to a raffle, it was unani- mously approved. Blanks and ten prize slips were placed in a bat and ten men were selected. Every one of the lucky ten was ordrred to black his boots, take his trousers out of them, wear a coat if he bad vie aud report at the tavern that evenin' for introduction by Miss Bowers. “The next mornin’ Mr, Parkburst called for Huggins. “ “Well, Huggins,’ he said when the old man appeared, ‘how did it turn out last night? “sAt the courtin'? Tol'able, sir, tol'able. Three men proposed to gals as tuk 'em, four men was too or'nary to go down with any of the gals, two men wanted the same gal and was killed in a shootin’ match afterwards. One man got up on his ear with a gal who wouldn't have him and said he had a wife already in Frisco and didn’t want no more of ‘em. This leaves seven gals for the next drawin’ and three men less to be provided for. “Seven names were next drawn and presented the same evenin'. This was Huggins' report of the second pair ol: * “Three paired off. One feller was drunk and wasn't let in to the courtin’. Three men wanted the same gal. They had a triangular fight, the survivor to win; little feller with red hair win- ner. Gal wouldn't have him. Tha leaves four gals for prizes.’ “In this way eleven of the gals was paired, leavin’ one, the purtiest of the lot, to be disposed of. All the feller: wanted her from the first, and mos! of the men that got killed was fightin’ for her. But she wouldn't have none of em. She's mighty particular, seein’ she's had twenty men to pick from. She's got snappin’ black eyes, kind of reddish hair and is purty and plump as a robin.” “Now, If you want to work out a scheme for furnishin' wives you den’ want nary of the women to be a jin dandy. One purty woman with tb old Nick in her will spoil any practicai plan that was ever got up. This gal. Becky Riggs, bein’ the only unmarried woman left ip the camp—Miss Bower: had gone back for another load—anud every wan left wantin’ her, set up & conflagration. Every day there was fight about her, and some one was sure to be killed. The wives begge! her to choose some one and stop the fightin’. But she wouldn't. She'd make b'lieve she was goin’ to take one of 'em and then start in to en- courage another. If anything was needed to keep up the list of casualties this filled the bill “Well, it got so bad at last, so many good men bein’ killed, that Mr. Pari: hurst sent Miss Lizgs word that he'c be pleased to furnish her a ticket baci where she came from. She sent worl to him that she'd ruther be an old maid in Colorado than a bloomin’ mar- ried woman in the east. Then Mr. Parkhurst went te see her to reascu with her. She jist set there listenin’ to him with her head on oue side and her nose in the air and didu't answer never a word. “Things kep’ goin' from bad to worse. Some of the men Miss Riggs had re- fused tuk to drink. and most of ‘ews wouldn't work. It was impossible tu git other hands, and the dirt taken out was glttin’ less an’ less every day. It begun to look as if Miss Riggs wasn" married or didn't go away the mine would have to shet down. The presi dent wrote to know what was up. Mr. Parkhurst wrote to send on a cariocad of women. The president wrote that Miss Bowers had come back and wouldn't advise no more gals to go to sich a benighted place. This looked purty black. Mr. Parkhurst called fcr old Ben Huggins and axed him what was best to be done. “ ‘When I was livin’ with my ole woman, Mr. Parkhurst,’ Huggins said knowin'ly, ‘I found out that women must have their way.’ “ “What do you mean by that? “ “Well, sir, there's nothin’ fur a pu: ty gal here but to git married. Ever; man here has axed Miss Riggs but one.’ “I thought they had all asked her.’ “No, sir; there's one left, and the knowin’ ones among the wives say that’s the one she wants.’ “ “Who is he? “¢ think it's you, sir. bods § of “ ‘Yes, slr—you.’ “Mr. Parkhurst concluded to make a call on Miss Riggs. “The young woman was perfectly aware that the manager understood the situation. Furthermore, she had brought with her some becomin’ cos- tumes and had put one of them on for his reception. When Mr. Parkhurst saw her, to have her for a companion didn’t seem to him such a hardship, after all. It had been more than a year since he had seen a refined wom- an. He passed the evenin' with her in general conversation and found her intelligent. He might spend years in a minin’ country, and it occurred to him that Miss Riggs would take away from his loneliness. He thought the matter over that night and the next evenin’' made another visit, durin’ which he surrendered. “The visit of the girls to the minin’ camp was a lottery with one prize. Miss Riggs got it. But in her case there was more management than luck.” inca New Light. Actor-Playwright—I have been told, sir, that the Corot you sold me is not genuine! Art Dealer—Who said so? Actor-Playwright—The art critic of the Daily Whirl. Art Dealer—~Do you be- lieve what their dramatic critic says about your plays? Actor-Playwright— I never thought of that! What have you to show me today ?—Smart Set. A Hundred Million Stars Gleam In That Silvery Scarf. The census of the starry sky is con- terned almost entirely with the Milky way. The number of stars not con- nected with it is negligible. But when you look at the Milky way the idea of numbering its stars seems the dream of a madman. It stretches all round the sky. Its extent is so unthinkably immense that science has never under taken to measure it, and the imagina- tion could not grasp the figures that such a measurement. if it was possible to make it, would involve. Yet that whole enormous expanse of space occupied by the Milky way is so crowded with stars that they make over thousands of square degrees of space, hanging In great festoons, spreading in vast banners, where billions g trying to estimate the space which they occupy, has succeeded in forming a fairly correct enumeration of the stars of the Milky way. The most extravagant estimates do pot put the number at more than 800, 000,000, and the most trustworthy and probable make them a third less. A hundred mililon stars, then, is the total population of the glittering uni- verse, and when we see what a mar- velous effect of innumerableness they produce we begin to appreciate what a hundred millions mean.—Garrett P. Serviss in New York American. A Good Gargle. Where one is subject to sore throat the tendency can often be overcome by learning to gargle and keeping up the practice daily, whether there is or is not cause. If mothers would see that their ba- bies were taught early to gargle there would be fewer casualties when diph- theria develops. An excelient homemade gargle is made from half a cupful of boiling vinegar, one teaspoonful of cayenne pepper and three teaspoonfuls of salt. Mix well together and when settled strain and bottle. This has been used Groceries. i : £ ; i Bascie § ) g g : i iH gs 3s : £2 i y sg g 8 a FES | fe LE £3 i § love man’s third duty is to be a good hbor, to carry his share, no matter EEE, iii TF 33g 133 8&2 gig gig R28 i asset to his community. man has done these three he bas time and means and he can and should think in circles. But the man who does three well is doing more than if contributed millions and neglected three. The man who neglects 'e or his children or his neigh- no matter what other apparently things he may have done, will Gabriel's trumpet very faintly if on the morning of the great day. ~Erman J. Ridgway in Delineator. ir i [FEEE 155 e When the Mule Kicks. “No man unless he is blind should ever be kicked by a mule. There is no excuse for it. If kicked he is as much to blame as the mule,” said a mule raiser. “A mule pever kicks without first wagging his ears and switching his tail,” said the breeder. “All you have to do Is to keep your eyes on his ears and tail. And when he begins to wag his ears or switch his tall then it is time to dodge. And if you dodge quickly you will never be touched.”—Kansas City Journal. A Cold Bite. “You were twenty miles fom ho north pole and starving!” exc the credulous housewife. “And how did you save yourself?” “Why, mum,” responded Frigid Fred as he wiped away a tear, “in me starving moments I remembered de Eskimo dogs. Pushing out through the snow, | twisted one of der tails, an' den—an’ den" — “And then what, my poor man?” “I got a cold bite.” —Chicago News. Groceries. Sechler & Company 18 cent 20 cent goods paper you saw this ad COFFEE When goods advance on the market the retail price usually follows. But in regard to the recent advance in Coffees we have not followed the by marking up the ce or reducing have found a new more favorable market in which to buy the goods and maintain the high standard of our leaders at 18c, 20c and 25 cents per pound. If you are using a Coffee at 20 cents per pound fry our grade. If you are paying 25 cents for your Coffee try our Or if you are buying at 30 cents try the high grade goods we sell at 25 cents per pound. This is a severe test but we are very confident we can make good. Give us a trial, and please mention in which course, either t Bush House Block, - Sechler & Company, 55-1 - Bellefonte Pa, = IF YOU WISH TO BECOME A Chemist An Engineer An Electrician 55-1 a as Ls Ss Bb Sl Bl Bl Bl BB BA Bl AM BB. BB BB A Scientific Farmer Or secure a Training that will fit you well for any honorable position in life. TUITION IS FREE IN ALL COURSES. TAKING EFFECT IN . 1900, the General Co n exten EER TE ducatior As oat Chia, Sh Sgt Mekince and Mg wn YOUNG WOMEN are admitted to all courses on the same terms as Young Men. Coufecs Of study, expenses, €hc. and snowing postions hed by graduates. address. The Pennsylvania State College. The Pennsylvania State College Offers Exceptional Advantages A Teacher A Lawyer A Physician A Journalist Yeagers Shoe Store JonDnie’s New Panis. Johnnie told his mother that his new pants were much tighter than his skin. Why, how could that be? Well, I can sit down with the skin on and I cannot with the pants on. That is the trouble with the average ladies shoes, they are too tight that they cannot sit down or stand up. Come and be fitted with a pair of Fitzezy Shoes, they are made without linings and can be worn tight with com- fort. They are just like a kid glove, they give with every movement of the foot. Corns will vanish when you wear them. Your bunions will be relieved at once. We rantee to give you re comfort or refund the money. Ladies, if you have foot trouble come to us. ET SOLD ONLY AT Yeager’s Shoe Store, Bush Arcade Building, BELLEFONTE, FA. . wd oO 2 & Q O § Bi Fee is s3°% ged gigad 3 H ; x i 5 i rei ie fh 295807 it i 5: : : : {1 ; £ BEF | E i, bh i | : § i; 8 : ; ik 88 ; i § i i 5 E i i ga i g 8 = 2! cf 2 3 i ; R and from 8 contoite 7S.oants. ne of Jory Shige. e are each week. e can show you - the new and patterns in satin, foulard, pongees, &c. All new colors, in 36 inch All new colors in plain soft silks. LYON & COMPANY, Allegheny St. 47-12 Bellefonte, Pa.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers