Bemorralic atm: Bellefonte, Pa., December 24, 1915. County Correspondence Items of Interest Dished Up for the Delec- tation of ‘“Watchman” Readers by a Corps of Gifted Correspondents. PLEASANT GAP PICKUPS. Some people are born mean, while others thrust themselves into mean ways. Pleasant Gap, owing to the season of * the year, is at present unusually healthy. No doubt our doctors think we are mis- serably healthy. The happiest individuals in this world are those who are so constituted that they grow to full size, have good appe- tites, can witness the antics of a rat with- out screaming, and get their feet wet and not take their death of cold. Frank Barnes is busily engaged in erecting some necessary out buildings, hennery, coal and wood house, etc., be- sides beautifying the surroundings of his cosy and attractive little home; another illustration that honesty and industry is bound to win. Husbands are not always what they seem, neither are wives; and each are very much what the other makes of them. Most young women regard matrimony as the aim and end of life. So it is to many. Too often ’tis but the shadow they have caught. Our late postmaster, George Coble, -after a vacation of over six months, re- turned to Pleasant Gap on Monday and was busily engaged in shaking hands with old associates at the postoffice. Ap- parently he seems to enjoy the sunshine of liberty immensely. The farmers’ institute convened here on Friday last and continued until Sat- urday evening. Instead of holding their meetings at Noll’s hall they secured the M. E. church. The meetings were fairly well attended and the addresses delivered were very interesting and highly appre- ciated by our farming community. A Mr. Dale, motering up the pike the latter part of last week, ran over and killed George Hile’s favorite hunting dog. George says that if the careless driver would have had sense enough to sound the alarm of approaching danger, the dog would surely have had sense enough to get out of harm’s way. George loved to feed his little dog, And pat him on the head; But now it is all off, Since the poor little dog is dead. Both of our Sunday schools, the M. E. and Lutheran gave their annual Christ- mas treat to the children on Sunday last, a commendable practice that has been in vogue at the Gap for many years. To say that the happy recipients were over- joyed in the extreme would be putting it mildly. A little act of charity of this character will go farther, and yield more true happiness in this world, than all the haughtiness and asperity we can possibly assume. It was a grand and pleasing sight to see the effect that this kindly act of charity had on the boys and girls of our Sabbath schools. Compare. the life of a brilliant woman with that of a good, every-day sort of a housewife. Which is the happier? - the brilliant woman is tortured with the blues, racked with pains, rendered mis- serable with nervousness. The every- day all-around woman sleeps soundly, laughs without fear of a stich in her side, eats heartily without a thought of un- pleasant results, hangs out of a window to chat with a neighbor, or stands bare- headed on the corner to see a circus go by, and never a twinge of headache. When carefully dressed the brilliant woman may be pretty and have a dis- tinguished look, but the every-day speci- men, when she gets her best dress on, is simply handsome. Our Bellefonte and Pleasant Gap mo- tor car line is certainly a great and most desirable convenience to our shoppers and pleasure seekers. We now can leave the Gap on the noon car, do our shop- ping in Bellefonte and return on the 1.30 p. m. car, thus being absent from home only two hours. While this new depar- ture is quite beneficial to the purchasing public, it proves somewhat detrimen- tal to our home merchants. One re- marked the other evening that he actual- ly believed that some of our people in need of a poke of tobacco, or a nickle’s worth of tobies, would take advantage of the opportunity of hopping a car and going to town and making their purchas- es there, instead of patronizing home industry. Anyway, it is but natural for people who reside in small cities to have a desire to occasionally visit a larger metropolis. It has always been so, and ever will be. Pleasant Gap has twenty-two widows. The youngest is twenty-two years old, and the eldest eighty-eight, and it must be admitted that they are a very cheer- ful, contented and respectable bunch of humanity. One of this number, not the oldest, for unknown reasons has it in for the bachelors. She ventilated her opin- ion rather freely at the postoffice a few evenings ago. She said the bachelor was living only for his own comfort, a hot house plant to be nurtured and cared for by others; he is appreciated only by a doting mother or a maiden sister. There are some good purposes for which he might be used. He might be put in those positions attended by much danger; then, if lives were lost, there would be few to mourn. - And again, he might be heavily taxed, for certainly no others have as much right to bear the public expenses as those who have none depending upon them. When drafts are made to fill up depleted armies, the proclamation might read: “Draw only from the list of bachelors.” They might be made gas inspectors, dynamite supervisors, or as- signed any position in which it would be dangerous to put a great and good man. In the hot arraignment the bachelor did not receive a square deal, as he was not present to defend himself. Even government officials are not ex- empt from unpleasant annoyances at times. Our assistant postmaster, John Mulfinger, has a slight limp in his loco- motion, occasioned by a troublesome corn. John’s usually pleasant disposition is in consequence transformed into a slight attack of crankiness. But then a painful corn is always regarded as a sufficient excuse for indulging in mild profanity. Even the ladies are permitted to “darn a corn, any way,” when they would not be allowed to “darn” anything ' else. Preachers have been heard to say that the tenor of their sermons is some- | times so changed by the little monitors upon their toes, that instead of dwelling upon the painless life of the saved they do up the sufferings of the other fellows in a most realistic manner. John wants to know why people have corns? Be- cause people wear ill-fitting shoes, some contend that they are the product of tight shoes. This is not correct. They are caused by the rubbing of the leather against the foot, not by close fitting. The two combined produce the finest ! specimens. The trouble with most shoe- ' makers is that they make the shoe to fit the last and not the foot. Corns have to be raised; they will not come voluntari- ly; and when they do come they must be cultivated or they will go away. They do not care for exterminators, so long as you insist on their company, they are stayers. The credit system is becoming an in- tolerable nuisance, and has a tendency to embarrass the consumer and bank- rupt the merchant. Sixty-six per cent. of the goods purchased at our country stores are charged on the books, and it is esti- mated that at least twenty-five per cent. of that amount is a dead loss to the mer- chants. Under present corditions this is all wrong. The laws of our State com- | pel the employer to pay all employees every two weeks. This is imperative, hence the consumer, if judicious in his financial affairs, has no excuse for asking credit. The sooner the wage-earner realizes this fact and adopts the cash system instead of the credit, the better for him as well as for the merchant from whom he procures the necessaries of life. In the event of a strictly cash business, the merchant could afford to sell cheap- : er, and the consumer would have a far better bank account at the end of each year. As an illustration to verify my | contention: Two women go to the store ' to make their weekly purchases. The one as a five dollar bill, she buys what she really needs and stops right there. She wants as much ctange back as pos- sible. The onebuyiag on credit buys first what shé really needs then takes a general survey or invoice of the contents of the store and keeps on buying unceremoniously, just as though the goods cost nothing, and in many instances they don’t. The person who adopts the cash system will never regret it We, the people of Pleasant Gap, have | in the course of human events been very | highly favored. Some ten or twelve years ago conditions were quite different. At that time you seldom saw a man on our streets. Women and children galore could be observed promenading continu- ously up and down our thoroughfares. The obvious reason was that there was no employment for our men and they were obliged to go elsewhere to seek and obtain employment. It is happily different now, since our Whiterock lime ' works and the new Western penitentiary | have become permanent fixtures. About everybody wanting and needing work | can be accommodated. They can follow ! their daily vocations and be at home | with their families over night, which is a | pleasing and much desired transforma- | tion from the former condition. The consoling fact is that about everybody : here has employment and doing well. We are in a position to defy the wolf from entering our habitations. It is true, rents and the cost of living have increased somewhat, but when we have the dough to meet all demands, we are assured that we are a happy and con- tented people. One moral certainty is that our landlords and property owners : have no cause to complain of not ob- taining superlatively high rents. Small shacks that rented five years ago for two , dollars a month are eagerly sought after | and now rent for five dollars; while the | better class of tenement houses rent | readily for from twelve to seventeen dol- ! lars. That is going some. And even at | this rapid advance not a vacant house i exists in our village. Rents here are | higher than in Bellefonte, in view of which fact some of our renters are talk- | ing seriously of moving into the county seat the coming spring. i Cork Forests. | i | s—— ! The cork oak is a kind of jack at all ! trades among trees, and its service indi- cates well the new kind of freedom that these may give us by their new helpful- | ness if we will just give them a chance. | If the garden of Eden story had been | written in Spain or Portugal I think the | fortunate couple would have been placed | in possession of a cork forest. If a man in either of these countries has a forest of good cork trees you will find him in Madrid, Lisbon or Paris. His cork for- est works for him and he stays in town. Cork trees grow on the rockiest and poorest land. The poorer the land the finer the quality of the cork. Every eight or ten years the outer bark is strip- ped from the trees to furnish the ever more highly prized cork of commerce. By dividing the land up in blocks this decennial harvest will produce a fairly regular income. These same oak trees produce acorns, often heavily, which are sold to some farmer, who drives his herd of lean hogs into the forest, where they harvest the acorns and turn them into salable meat. A Portuguese hog is expected to gain two pounds a day for ninety days when acorns are ripe. More than this, there is beneath the oak trees some herbage fit for goats to eat. Thus the cork forest owner in Lisbon gets income from three contrac- tors—the cork stripper, the pork raiser and the goat raiser. And with care the forest lasts forever. The individual cork tree is good for a hundred years or more, after which it is a fine big salable tree, with enough young ones near it to take its place when it is gone to market. In Portugal a cork tree, ready for its third stripping, is considered worth $25. When in full bearing an acre of these oaks will yield from one to three tons of cork at a stripping, now worth about $70 a ton to the grower. Most of this is profit. The pork is profit. It is the common rule that the income from the pasture pays the small cost of the caring for the forest.—]. Russell Smith, in Coun- try Gentleman. CASTORIA Bears the signature of Chas.H.Fletcher. 1n use for over thirty years, and The Kind You Have Always Bought. | grass is intended for Christmas In Porto Rico. While tbe American children are hanging up their stockings their cous- ins in Porto Rico are placing their shoes and a pasteboard box filled with fresh grass on the window sills. The the mules on which the three wise men rode. After the presents are removed a note 1s usually found at the bottom of the box. The note states that the children have not been as good as they should have been. therefore the wise men do not deem it praper to leave better pres- ents. Magnificent presents are prom- , ised for the next Christmas provided the children behave themselves dur- ing the next twelve months. Then a postscript follows, stating that the mules were offended at some little sins committed by the children and couldn’t eat the grass. The Secret of the Tree A tall fir whispered in the wood, “I'd tel! a secret if | could.” Then 2ll the dry leaves on the ground Whisked up and down and all around To see if they the news might hear And sprea‘l it quickly far and near. But the tall tree answered not the call. It bowed politely, that was all, And flung its tassels to the breeze And looked the wisest of all trees. But when | came beneath the tree It whispered, “Yes, I'll tell it thee.” Then, as | rushed in eager haste And threw my arms about its waist, I held my breath that | might hear— “My child, I'm coming soon to be Your very own dear Christmas tree.” EMPTY STOCKINGS WAIT THE CALL, OF SANTA = MAY HE FILL THEM ALL PD rm—— DER [SAS 127: A a ' Long Ago Christmases In Some Other Lands In “Merry England” long ago one of the joys of the children on Christ- mas morning was the going about from friend to friend singing happy carols and greeting all whom they met with “A Merry Christmas to you!” This custom is still kept up in a few parts of England. It is from old Mother Eng- land, girls and boys, that we get our cheery greeting. In Germany the Christmas tree was the chief joy of the children. In Bel- gium the children hung up their stock- ings on Christmas eve and at the first peep of day the next morning were out of bed to see what gifts were left for them. In France the little people, in- stead of hanging up their stockings, ranged their shoes on the hearthstones to be filled with Christmas toys and sweets. And in Holland the children were always sure of a happy Christ- mas, for that is the country from which Santa Claus hails. The children of Sweden and Den- mark did not depend on Santa Claus, but bundled their gifts up in all sorts of queer packages, sometimes covering them with hay, sometimes cotton or wool and sometimes strips of different colors of cloth, and instead of sending them about by messengers, as we so often do in America, they started out bright and early Christmas morning and delivered each bundle in person. Their manner of delivery was pecu- liarly their own too. They would knock at the door, and when it was opened, instead of handing their gift to the parson before him, they would hurl it into the middle of the room, then turn ard skip away. A Christmas Secret. Christmas is a time of secrets, 8o I'll whisper one to you; Grandpa says that all who try it Find that every word is true: “Would you have a happy day? Give some happiness away.” Grandpa says this little secret Should be carried through the year And if all wquld try to heed it Earth would soon be full of cheer. “Would you have a happy day? Give some happiness away.” Here's Official Notice That Santa Is Real NY one who doubts that there really is a Santa Claus—and it is reported that a few boys’ and girls have such doubts— has only to refer to official communi- cation 34,926 from the office of Henry D. Hamilton, former adjutant general of the state of New York, which was delivered by special messenger to a committee of seven youngsters cared for by the Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Word spread among the 200 children who were to spend their Christmas at the headquarters of the society in New York city that their elders were ro- mancing when they told of a jolly old fellow who traveled in a sleigh and distributed presents at Christmas time. Miss Ada A. Penchoen, the matron, first learned of the skepticism of her charges when a committee consisting of four little girls appeared before her and wanted to know the truth. She consulted Ernest K. Coulter, the ! superintendent, and then advised the committee to communicate with the ad- jutant general of the state. Three little boys were added to the committee at a mass meeting of the children, and this communication was forwarded to Albany: General H. D. Hamilton, General, Albany, N. Y.: We are a committee of seven little boys and girls, and we want to know whether Santa Claus is really coming to see us at 7 o'clock next Saturday evening with a sleigh full of toys. Some bigger boys and girls have told us there ain't no Santa Claus and that even if there was he wouldn’t be coming in a sleigh and with reindeer, for there ain't no snow and there ain't no reindeer that we ever saw. Anyway, Jimmy Farrell says that in these days, if there was any Santa Claus, he would be coming in an airship. Won't you please tell us? . And don’t make us wait, so we won’t be disappointed. This communication was signed by George Collella, Frank Conway, Roc- co Fanella, Levina Cavanaugh, Lillian Otto. Rosie Gennoldi and Rosina Gen- noldi. Here is the reply: Received A. G. O., Dec. 18. No. 34,926. : First Indorsement. The Adjutant General's Office. Albany, N. Y., Dec. 18. Returned to writers through the official channel with the information that accord- ing to our roster the distributing officer referred to was last on duty issuing and delivering supplies at posts in the vicinity of these headquarters on or about Dec. 25 last. At that time his means of trans- portation was especially noted, as instead of an army wagon of the standard pattern, or an aeroplane, he used a sleigh, drawn by a team of reindeer instead of army mules. The speed made, however, was swift, and deliveries, according to the best information obtainable, were accomplished with a promptness rarely attained in our service. A disbursement request on Form ES5,708,- 031 has been transmitted to the quarter- master of your post for the purchase of forage for the reindeer before arrival on your reservation. By command of the governor. HENRY D. HAMILTON, The Adjutant General. the Adjutant Christ and the Children. When rulers and titled men ques- tioned him Jesus placed a child in the midst of them and said, “Of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Socrates sneered at the grief ol a mother weep- ing for her babe. If Plato suggested that every village should select a dis- tant hilltop and build a pen for the exposure of unwelcome children; if Aristotle urged laws making the drown- ing of sick and weakly babes com- pulsory on their parents; if Seneca said, “We slay the wornout ox and horse, and it is not wrath, but reason, that separates weak children from strong:” if Cicero rebuked his friend for grief because he missed the dead babe. then every lover of childhood must rise up to speak for that Christ who took a child in his arms, whose love brooded over the child as the stars looked down upon the little town of Bethlehem and who sent down through the ages this word. “Suffer little chil- dren to come unto me.” Jesus said, “Take heed that ye offend not one of my little children,” and “Their angels do always behold the face of my Father,” ard hope dawn.d for child- hood. From that hour Jesus’ disciples began to make lifc happy for children. —Rev. Newell D. Hillis. Why is it that a barber will scratch and rub your head for an hour and not touch the particular spot that itches. —— Medical. moms, ———————— rs I] Dire Distress IT IS NEAR AT HAND TO HUNDREDS OF BELLEFONTE READERS Don’t neglect an aching back. Backache is often the kidneys’ cry for help. Neglect hurrying to the kidneys’ ai : Means that urinary troubles may follow Or danger of worse kidney trouble. Here’s Bellefonte testimony. Mrs. S. S. Leitzell, 118 E. Beaver St., Bellefonte, says: “I was troubled by backache in a severe form. I was nervous and run down and dizzy spells were common. The kidney secretions caused me annoyance. Doan’s Kidney Pills fixed me up right good. Whenever I feel a re- turn of the trouble, I at once get a box at Parrish’s Drug Store and they prevent the attack from becoming serious.’’ Price 50c, at all dealers. Don’t simply ask for a kidney remedy— get Doan’s Kidney Pills—the same that Mrs. Leitzell had. Foster- Milburn Co., Props., Be ng ——— ———— Tae Nativity. The Nativity has found its best treat- ment in painting. The early painters dealt only with the fundamental theme —the Virgin, in humility and adoration and without the holy joy that the Christ Child had been born into ‘the world. largely introduced by later art- ists; St. Joseph. gravely, wonderingly silent, the shepherds and the hymning angels. The chronology of the several events generally grouped under the subject of the Nativity has, of course, scant observance, as a rule, at the hands of the artists. The adoration of the Magi and the annunciation to the shepherds are depicted on the same canvas. An altar piece now in the Metropolitan Art Museum, New York city, makes use of the simultaneous scene in its arrangement. The shep- herds are hearing the message of the angels, and the kings come not, how- ever, as commonly shown, with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, but un- attended. Medical. A Prescription That From Girl hood to Old Age Has Been a Blessing to Womanhood. Johnstown, Pa.—“T can speak high- ly of Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescrip- tion. It bas been used by myself and one other member of our family. We have always found it just as repre- sented and perfectly satisfactory. We have also used Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets. They are a reliable medi- cine.”—MRs. ErL1zaBETH BoyLE, 303 Haynes Street, Johnstown. ‘When a girl becomes a woman, when a woman becomes a mother, when a woman passes through the changes of middle life, are the three periods of life when health and strength are most needed to withstand the pain and distress often caused by severe or- ganic disturbances. At these critical times women are best fortified by the use of Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription, an old remedy of proved worth that keeps the entire female system perfectly regulated and in excellent condition. If you are a sufferer, if your daugh- ter, mother, sister need help get Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription in liquid or tablet form from any medicine dealer today. Then address Doctor Pierce, Invalids’ Hotel, Buffalo, N. Y., and get confidential medical advice entirely free. You can also obtain a free book on woman's diseases. Dr. Pierce's Pellets regulate and in- vigorate stomach, liver and bowels. Dr. Pierce’s Common Sense Medical Adviser—a great doctor book—a family book of over 1000 pages, cloth bound— answers many important question re- arding sickness. Your free copy will sent on receipt of three dimes (or 30 one-cent stamps) to pay wrapping and mailing charges from Dr. Pierce, Invalids’ Hotel No, 663 Main Street, Buffalo, N.Y. Insurance. Attorneys-at-Law. — S KLINE WOODRINCG—Attorney-at-Law,Belle fonte, Pa, Practicesin all courts, Office- Room 18Crider’s Exchange. 51-1-1y. B. SPANGLER.-Attorney-at-Law. Pra tices in git the Coutts, Conelistion ja English or German. ce in Crider’s xchange. Bellefonte, Pa. 40-, S. TAYLOR—Attorney and Counsellor at Law. Office in Temple Court, Belle fonte, Pa. All kinds of legal business at. to promotly. 40-46 H. WETZEL—Attorney and Counsellor at Law Office No. 11, Crider’s Exchange, floor. All kinds of legal business att to promptly. Consultation in English or German Practices J in all the courts. Consultation in English and German. Office south of court house. All professional business will receive Prop tention. J KENNEDY JOHNSTON. Attorney.at-law ttention given al Bellefonte, Pa. Prompt legal business entrusted to his care. Offi- ces—No. 5 East High street. 57-44. G. RUNKLE.—Attorney-at-Law. Consul. tation in English and German. Office in Crider’s Exchange, Bellefonte. 58-5 sam— Physicians. M. KEICHLINE—Attorney-at-Law. GLENN, M. D., Physician and Su: State College, Centre county, Pa. at his residence. 35-41 W* Dentists. R. J. E. WARD, D. D. S,, office next door to Y. M. C. A. room, High street, Bellefonte, Pa, Gas administered for painless extract. ing teeth. Superior Crown and Bridge work. Prices reasonable. 52-39 R. H. W. TATE, Surgeon Dentisi, Office the Bush Arcade, Bellefonte, Pa. All mod. ern electric appliances used. Has had years of experience. All work of Superior quality and prices reasonable. 45-8-1v ————] Plumbing. Good Health and Good Plumbing GO TOGETHER. When you have dripping steam pipes, leaky water-fixtures, foul Seweral , Or escaping gas. you can’t have good Health. The air you reathe is poisonous; your system becomes poisoned and invalidism is sure to come. SANITARY PLUMBING is the kind we do. It’s the only kind you ought to have. We don’t trustthis work to boys. Our workmen are Skilled Mechanics, no better anywhere. Material and Fixtures are the Best Not a cheap or inferior article in our entire establishment. And with good work and the finest material, our Prices are Lower Our than many who give you I, unsanitary work and the lowest grade of finishings. For the Best Work trv Archibald Allison, Opposite Bush House - Bellefonte, Pa. : 56-14-1v. : X The Preferred Accident Insurance enn THE $5,000 TRAVEL POLICY BENEFITS: $5,000 death by accident, 5,000 loss of both feet, 5,000 loss of both hands, 5,000 loss of one hand and one foot, 2,500 loss of either hand, 2,000 loss of either foot, loss of one eve 25 per week, total disability, limit 52 weeks) iy 10 per week, partial disability, (limit 26 weeks) PREMIUM $12 PER YEAR, pavable quarterly if desired. Larger or smaller amounts in proportion Any person, male or female, engaged in a referred occupation, including house eeping, over eighteen years of age of good moral and physical condition may insure under this policv. Fire Insurance {invite your attention to my Fire Insur. ance Agency, the strongest and Most Ex. tensive Line of Solid Companies represent’ ed by any agency in Central Pennsylvania H. E. FENLON, 50-21. Agent, Bellefonte, Pa, Flour and Feed. (CURTIS Y. WAGNER, BROCKERHOFF MILLS, BELLEFONTE, PA. Manufacturer, Wholesaler and Retailer of Roller Flour Feed Corn Meal and Grain Manufactures and has on hand at all times the following brands of high grade flour: WHITE STAR OUR BEST HIGH GRADE : VICTORY PATENT FANCY PATENT The only place in the county where that extraor- dinarily fine grade of spring wheat Patent Flour SPRAY can be secured. Also International Stock Food and feed of all kinds. All kinds of Grain bought at the office Flour ged for wheat, OFFICE and STORE—BISHOP STREET, BELLEFONTE, PA. MILL AT ROOPBSURG. 719 Coal and Wood. A. G. Morris, Jr. DEALER IN HIGH GRADE ANTHRACITE, BITUMINOUS AND CANNEL FOAL Wood, Grain, Hay, Straw NAVA TATA TAT ATLL TAT LATA TAP BOTH ’PHONES. Yard Opposite P. R. R. Depot. 58-23-1y Funeral Director. H. N. KOCH Funeral Director Successor to R. M. Gordner. STATE COLLEGE, PENNA. Day and Night Service. 60-21-tf. Bell and Commercial Phones. Restaurant. ESTAURANT. Bellefonte now has a First-Class Res- taurant where Meals are Served at All Hours : Steaks, Chops, Roasts, ters on the half shell oF in any on, Sand- wiches, Soares and anything eatable, can ET nts on I have a complete p! Pp furnish Soft Drinks in bottles such. as SELTZER SYPHONS, ETC., for) picaics, families and the public gered, which the purest syrups and ly carbonated. C. MOERSCHBACHER, 50-32-1y. High St., Bellefonte, Pa,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers