-~ ' Belletonte, Pa., November 8, 1918. SR Te Correspondents.—No communications published unless accompanied by the real name of the writer. : P. GRAY MEEK, - = Editor, Terms of Subscription.—Until further motice this paper will be furnished to sub- scribers at the following rates: Paid strictly in advance - - $1.50 Paid before expiration of year - 1.75 Paid after expiration of year - 2.00 ON FRANCE’S SUNNY SLOPES. How a Centre “County Young Man Visualizes the Country and People He Went to Fight For. Private Ralph M. Musser, son of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Musser, of Boggs Twp., and who is a member of Company F, 56th Pioneer infanmtry, has got a knack of getting down to the details when it comes to observ- ing things in France and describing them in a way that everybody can un- derstand, as witness the letters re- cently received from him by his par- ents: In France, Sept. 17. You are probably wondering as to my whereabouts now. I am located in camp at St. Nazaire, France. Our company is stationed in barracks very much like large sheep sheds. When we entered them they were entirely empty, but we were issued ticks with hay to fill them, and with our cloth- ing and equipment have made our- selves fairly comfortable. While the boys do dream of heme, there are few cases of homesickness, and I guess they dream as much of the things of the future, under arms. A matter of interest to father (George H. Musser) is that they do have nice horses in France; they also have various other kinds. The driv- ers invariably rig up a small string of sleigh bells from the top of one hame to the other. Some of the peo- ple wear wooden shoes, but I do not think they are very popular. Some of the houses are thatch-roofed, a rather unusual sight to me. The gen- eral lay of the land is very similar to the other camp I was in—gently roll- ing and quite sandy. The women here are workaday-looking folks; come to the camp with a wheelbarrow and a sack looking for clothes to wash in order to earn a few francs in cash. There are plenty of soldiers here who have seen active service at the front, and who delight in standing around and telling yarns to see the as- tonishment upon the faees of the new men. Some of them wear the gold chevron and others have two and three, denoting wounds and every six month’s service over seas. The prices here are rather high, and especially seem high to us when we - learn that the shoes we carry are worth 40 francs, (5.6 frances now equal $1.00). This country is full of the war spirit. Little boys from six to ten years ef age have the soldiering down pretty well and are always ready to give a demonstration of the manual of arms. They feed five hundred men here three times a day out of a kitchen very little bigger than ours at home. Nearly all of the food is prepared somewhere else but some of it is re- heated here. When we hear the first call we can always see near the front what gifts are most suitable for sol- diers over here. Kindly bear these sug- gestions in mind when you are in a mood te give, and hoping you may be that way soon I will mention blades for the Durham Duplex razor, candy that will not smash to pieces, a spool of khaki thread, and if practicable, one of the home county papers. The difference in time between over there and here is five hours, so when we are having dinner you are prob- ably at breakfast. We are now about 4,000 miles from the homes of our childhood. I am quite well. So far I have wanted much but suffered for little. However, a piece of good old Pennsylvania peach pie would taste about right. Somewhere in France, Sept. 24. We are now in active training near the centre of France, I think, but I do not know. Airplanes are a very com- mon sight to us nowadays. It must be a grand sensation to go soaring over the country at such a great height. Conditions in this country are much different from those at home. The houses are mostly in small villages and the “estates” are shut in from the gaze of the “vulgar public” by a high stone wall. The people are friendly but rather scarce. Most of the young men are either at the front or in training camps. To show the attitude of the people: One of our fellows died on the train the other day and the body was brought here where it lay in state in the town hall over night. When they brought it in the casket was draped in Old Glory and one bouquet of flowers. In an hour it was buried under an ava- lanche of flowers and others piled nearby on the floor. The women who brought the flowers were from all classes of society, judging from their bearing and appearance. Had the boy died at home there may have been more: real grief, but I doubt if there would have been as many flowers. The people here are also much more frugal than in America. Their wood- lots have been largely planted by hand and are very carefully trimmed and kept. The wood used for fuel is largely bundles of small branches (fagots) secured in trimming the trees. The roads are not perfect, but very good, about like new state roads at home. Nearly all of the houses are of stone, wooden houses being un- known. Their methods are in the main rather primitive comparcd to they ours, but they get results. They | hau! their goods in two-wheeled carts, and many pleasure vehicles are two- wheeled also. Some parts of the coun- industry, and is honey combed with wine caves, while other parts are de- voted to farming. The country in general reminds one very much of a big garden. One of the leading sta- ples is mangel-wurtzels. The railroads do not have the fine service as is given in America, at least we have not found it so, but the roads show that when they were built much money and trouble were spent on them. They are looking quite rag- ged now. There are many crossings and at every one a house and garden occupied by a family, who is the gate- keeper. The traveling public is thus protected from railroad accidents. ‘Most French homes have a grape- vine growing over the walls of the house, usually between the first and second story, where they are support- ed by wires. French bread is made in large loaves about eighteen inches in diameter and three to four inches thick, shaped like a doughnut. The field in which we drilled today had several kinds of flowers growing in it. I am well as usual but busy most all the time. In fact so much so that I had to write most of this by candle light. RIGHT IN THE BATTLE LINE. Robert Willard Tells How Centre County Boys Strafed the Huns. The following very interesting let- ter received by Mr. and Mrs. D. 1. Willard on Monday from their son Robert tells of one of the first en- gagements against the Huns by Com- pany A, (old Boal Machine gun troop) 107th machine gun battalion. Read it and see how the Centre coun- ty boys deported themselves under fire: Somewhere in I'rance, Oct. 12, ’18. I have been unable to write any let- ters for about fifteen days, so I sup- pese you have been wondering why you have not heard from me. Having been up to the front for the last half month my time was pretty well occupied. When I say “at the front,” that is: what I mean, as we were fighting ahead of the infantry. You have probably heard of the big drive we made on the Argonne sector. Well, we were in the whole affair, and we saw lots of Boches, and I put quite a number of them at rest. It was the first time that we have taken a real part in the war, and anybody will say that we did good work. The infantry that was with us say that we saved their bacon. : We were taken up for the purpose of laying in reserve in case of any re- sistance from the enemy, but they made an attack fifteen minutes before our doughboys were to attack. We were lying along the road, having just arrived, and were awaiting orders when a big barrage came over and shells, of high explosive fell all around us. Of course some of us’ paid the price, but every one whom you know is well, with the exception of slight wounds or. being gassed. As soon as the bakrage slackened a little we took our guns gnd went up the hill about twenty-five yards, and there were the Germans coming at us as thick as fleas. We mounted our guns wher- ever we could, with no protection, and started to give it to them. I saw many fall, and those who could ran away. Shells were falling all around me but none touched me. I could tell you lots more but it takes so much space and time that I will wait. I have twenty-four letters to answer so must not spend ‘oo much time on each one. I suppose you have heard about “Pinkie.” It sure was an awful shock to me, and it came just before we started up to take our place in the drive. I had seen him and talked to him just two days before. I saw the place where he rests and it is well fixed up. The fellows in his company did all they oould for him. I am writing from the Salvation army rest room, and will write more in a day or so. soe Joseph Ayers Killed at Josephine. Joseph Ayers, a former resident of Bellefonte was fatally injured in an accident at Josephine about 4:30 o’clock on Sunday afternoon and died at 10:30 o’clock the same evening in the Indiana hospital. Mr. Ayers was employed as foreman on the dock of the McKenny Steel Co., at Josephine, having been employed in that capaci- ty for eleven years. He was oversee- ing the dumping of hopper cars when a wrench in the hands of a workman caught and was thrown violently around, hitting Mr. Ayers on the head and crushing his skull. He was given treatment in the company’s emergen- cy hospital then taken to the hospital at Indiana but he died six hours later. The unfortunate man was a son of George and Margaret Ayers and was born at Hollidaysburg on October 13th, 1871, hence was 47 years and 21 days old. When a boy he came to Bellefonte with his mother and broth- er John and lived here until Novem- ber, 1907, when he went to Josephine, where he had lived ever since. In June, 1897, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Miller, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Miller, and she survives with no children. He leaves, however, a brother and two sisters, John Ayers, of Pittsburgh; Mrs. Kate Buchanan, of Chicago, Ill., and Mrs. Alice Everett, of Beckett, Montana. The body was brought to Bellefonte on Tuesday and taken to the home of Mrs. Ayers’ parents in Bush Addition, where funeral services were held at two o'clock yesterday afternoon by Rev. C. C. Shuey, after which burial was made in the Union cemetery. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P., and delegations of these or- ders attended the funeral. try is devoted to the grape and wine { way to fight the Fun in France. INCENTRE COUN SZ z HAROLD IDA VID ZIMMERMAN PLEA SANT GAP Buried at Sea Harold Zimmerman was a son of Mr. and Mrs. ARTHUR UNDERCOFFER CHRISTIANA 5th. Arthur Undercoffer was a son of TYS"HALL OF FAME” JOHN B. ISHLER STATE COLLEGE Died On Board “Transport Oct. 5th and Killed in Action in France, On October Wounded in Action in France On Octo- ber 8th. The young soldier is a son of Mr. Hany E. Zimmerman Joseph and Clara Undercoffer and and Mrs. John Ishler, of State Col- and was born in Benner township on was born near Bellefonte, July 27th, lege, and will be 22 years old in De- Nov. 17, 1890. He was sent from But- 1888. He trained at Camp Meade and cember. He is first gunner in Com- ler to Camp Lee on June 28 and sailed after going across was assigned to pany B, 311th machine gun battalion I g 2 £ for France Sept. 24th. AFT SEA, Homer David Zimmerman First Cen- tre County Wictim in Transit to France Homer David Zimmerman, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Zimmerman, of Pleasant Gap, is the first Cente coun- tian to die and Le hwied at sea on his His death is recorded as having taken place on October 5th, the announce- ment of which eame to Mr. Pimmer- man in a letter recdved last Friday from his commanding officer. The letter is as follows: Somewhere in England, Oct. 9. Mr, Harry E. Zimmerman, Bellefonte, Pa. Dear Mr. Harry E. Zimmerman: As company commander of Company D, 605th engineers, of which your son was a member, and as me who placed special trust in your son, I wish to ex- press my personal sorrow for your great loss by the death of first-class sergeant Homer D. Zimmerman, who on October 5th, 1918, died at 4 a. m. on board ship. In his burial at sea with prop- er military honors I can say that his duty as a soldier to his coun- try is well done and his memory will remain long with us all. HARRY J. LEMP. : 1st Lieut. Engineers U. S. A. Commanding Co. D, 605th Engs. While Mr. Zimmerman feels loath to accept the above as conclusive ev- idence of his somn’s death, the letter came in an official army envelope and would hardly hawe been sent if not correct. Harold David Zimmerman was born in Benner township on November 17th, 1890, hence was 27 years, 11 months and 18 days old. He was ed- ucated in the schools of Benner town- ship, took a course in the Benner township High school and also the Bellefonte High school. He then took a course in horticulture at The Penn- sylvania State College, graduating there in the class of 1916. While at State College he joined the Y. M. C. A. and the Lutheran church and was a conscientious, upright christian young man, Early this summer he was working at Butler and when the call came in the latter part of June for 158 na- tional army men to be sent to Camp Lee he was inducted by the local board and sent direct to the camp from Butler on June 28th. He train- ed there and was assigned to the 605th engineers, sailing from Hobok- en for France on or about the 24th of September. Early in October the Zimmermans got the customary card announcing his safe arrival in France and were anxiously looking for a let- ter from him when on Friday they re- ceived the above missive telling of his death at sea. In addition to his parents the young man is survived by the following brothers and sisters: Oscar, of Belle- fonte; Roy, of Nigh bank; Harold, Eva and Marian, at home, and Mrs. LeRoy Moore, of Camden, N. J. KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE. Mrs. Joseph ¥Xull received a notifi- cation from the War Department on Monday that hex son, Fred M. Hull, had been killed in action in France, though no particulars were given. The young man was sent to Camp Meade on February 27th, 1918, but was turned down by two doctors. By persistent efforts, however, he man- aged to pull through the examination and after four month's training went across in July, being assigmed to Company K, of the 314th infantry. Just where he was killed is unknown, but the date was September 26th. He was a son of Joseph and Mary Flack Hull, and was born in Belle- fonte on May 7th, 1886, hence was 32 years and 5 months old. His father died some years ago but surviving him are his mother and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. H. C. Ba- ney and J, H. Hull, of Niagara Falls; Harry, of DuBois ; Martha, of Tyrone; Mary and Mrs. W. W. Bicketts, of Bellefonte. ARTHUR UNDER COF{ER KILLED IN FRANCE. Last week the ““Watchman’® carried an item stating: that Arthur Under- coffer had been wounded in France and on Sunday the young man’s fath- the 316th Regt. Liberty division. er, Joseph W. Undercoffer, word that he had be on October 5th. thur went from his home in I er county to Camp Meade where he trained and de- veloped into an expert with the Browning machine gun. After going across he was assigned to the 316th regiment Liberty division, and it is presumed met his death in the Ar- gonne region. Bad received n killed in action pa Arthur Undercoffer was a son of Joseph W. and Clara Carr Undercof- fer and was born in Spring township on Julv 27th, 1888, hence was 30 years, 2 months and 8 days old. He left Bellefonte when a young man and located in Lancaster county where he lived until called into service. He was married to a Lancaster county girl about two years ago and she survives with no children. He also leaves his father in Bellefonte, one brother, William, at Carnegie, and a sister, Esther, at home. DIED OF INFLUENZA IN FRANCE. Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Dunlap, of Pine Grove Mills, on Tuesday received a communication from the War Depart- ment apprising them of the death in France of their son, Ralph L. Dun- lap, who passed away in a base hos- pital on October 12th of pneumonia, the result of an attack of Spanish in- fluenza. The young man, who was 22 years old, was one of the original members of the Boal machine gun troop, having served with that organ- ization, on the. Mexican border. He | went, with, the troop to/Camp" Han- cock in September, 1917, and in the reorganization of the National Guard at that place was continued as a mem- ber of Company A, 107th machine gun battalion under Capt. Wilbur F. Leit- zell. The “Watchman” on August 30th published a letter written by the young soldier in which he told in glowing terms of the good work the Y. M. C. A. is doing in France. Whether he saw service in the front line or not is not known at this writ- ing but he was a man of sterling qual- ities and irreproachable character and would do his duty whenever or wher- ever assigned. In addition to his par- ents he is survived by the following brothers and sisters: J. C. and Ran- dall Dunlap, of Cherrytree; Kate, Le- ah, Edith and George R., at home. DIED FROM WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION. A notice from the War Department reached Mr. and Mrs. William Tay- lor, of Harris township, last Satur- day, announcing the fact that their son, William F. Taylor, had died on : October bth, in a base hospital in France, of wounds received in action. The young man was sent to Camp Lee with a contingent of national ar- my men early in July and after a month’s training was sent overseas | and assigned to Company H, 314th infantry. It is supposed he was wounded in the drive in the Argonne sector. Only recently his parents re- ceived a letter from him dated Sep- tember 19th, in which the young man stated that he had a presentiment he ! would be killed and arranged for a division of his money and personal effects among his parents and sisters and brothers. He was twenty-three years old and in addition to his par- ents is survived by six brothers and sisters. CENTRE COUNTY SOLDIER GASSED. James R. Askey is in a base hos- pital in France recovering from a se- vere gas attack, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Askey, of Pine Glenn. The young soldier trained at Camp Meade and went across early in July, being assigned to Company B, 314th infant- ry. In a letter to his parents private Askey writes that he has been receiv- ing fine treatment in a base hospital and expects soon to be able to join his company for active duty. ~~ : LIEUT. SHOEMAKER WOUNDED. Word was received in Bellefonte yesterday that Lieut. Philip Shoe- maker, of Company A, 107th machine gun battalion, had been wounded in the hand while in action in France. Just how bad the wound is has not been learned though in a letter to his mother he has given her assurance that there is no cause for alarm, as his condition is not serious. INTERESTING NEWS OF THOSE IN SERVICE. W. C. Collins, of Pine Grove Mills, has received a letter from his daugh- and is now in a base hospital. ter, Miss Minnie Collins, a trained nurse in France, stating that she is well located in safe quarters outside the range of the shells of the big guns and likes her work very well. Before going to France Miss Collins was a nurse in the University hospital, Phil- adelphia. Mrs. Maurice Yeager, of New York, this wezk reeeived a letter from her gon Lieut. Fred Yeager, in which he states that the doctor has inform- ed him that he will not have any use of his third and little fingers on his left hand, where he was wounded re- cently, but as he is right handed he avers that he will not need them. He is now in base hospital No. 22, near Bordeaux, and his general health is so good that he expects to get back to his company in a few weeks. He says that peace seems pretty near but the army does not believe in tak- ing chances in anything but uncondi- tional surrender. In speaking of Liuvet. Yeager last week we stated that he was about 26 years old, wheras he is only 22. Miss Margaret McFarlane was in Bellefonte on Tuesday, being home from Camp Dix on a ten day’s fur- lough. Miss McFarlane has had ten month’s service as a nurse at the New Jersey camp and has had’ three month’s training in, anesthetics. In the latter work she has become very proficient and ‘when she returns to camp will be placed in: charge of the anesthetization ward. = : Abe A. Long, of this place, who has been attached to the navy recruit- ing station at Williamsport ever since war was declared against Germany, has gone to a training school in Phil- adelphia to prepare to enter active service in the navy, the Williamsport recruiting office having been closed for the present. : In the list of commissions handed out on Tuesday was one as a second lieutenant to Samuel B. Schenck, of Howard. : To Buy Gloves for the Sold¥er Boys. Some time ago Mrs. S. Kline Wood- ring sent to Miss Bertha Laurie twen- | ty-five dollars for use in her canteen work in France, the money being con- tributed by members of a club to ! which Mrs. Woodring belongs and last week she received from Miss , Laurie the following letter of ac- knowledgement: France, Oct. 6, 1918. I can’t tell you how touched T was by your kind letter and the check en- closed. It was so kind of all of you women to trust me to do something for the boys in your place, and it does them so much good to know that the i women at home are thinking of them and sacrificing for their comfort. I wonder if you will be pleased with what I'm going to use the money for. Last winter I so well remember how the boys would come in with freezing cold hands. Uncle Sam had, of course, given them all warm gloves but they had either lost them or some one had taken them, afid it takes a long time and yards of red tape, evi- dently, for them to get new ones. So I am going to spend your money and some other I have received for warm handing them out and telling the boys that friends from home sent the mon- ey for them. There are so many of them just like careless children and we feel just like mothers urging them to put on their heavy underclothes and take castor oil when they need it. We have been moved from our home of ten months and although we hated to leave there, yet we love this new place, which is much nearer the front, and we see men a few hours after they come out of the trenches and can feed them good, hot choco- late, and fresh bread and jam, and cheese sandwiches. We expect to do much more for them when we get into a bigger house. Thank you all again very much. Yours very sincerely, BERTHA A. LAURIE. ——Owing to the fact that the Cen- tre county teachers’ institute was of necessity postponed from its regular date, next week, on account of the ep- idemic of influenza, the sessions have been definitely cancelled for this year, as county superintendent David O. Etters deems it inexpedient to at- tempt to hold it at a future date. gloves and oh, how I shall enjoy | With the Churches of the County. St. John’s church (Episcopal). Services beginning November 8th: Friday, Octave of All Saints, 12 noon, wartime intercessions; 7:30 p. m., evensong and instruction, “All Saints and All Souls.” Saturday, 12 noon, intercessions. Sunday (twenty- fourth after Trinity), 8 a. m., Holy Eucharist. 10 a. m., church school. 11 a. m., matins and sermon, “The Church and Human Liberty.” 7:30 p. m., evensong and sermon, “Some Lessons from the Epidemic.” Every day at noon a ten minute service of prayer, with the Litany on Wednes- day and Friday.. Friday, 7:30 p. m., evensong and instruction. Visitors always welcome. Rev. M. DeP. Maynard, Rector. Every man, woman or child in or about Bellefonte, who is physically able to do so, should attend services in some church next Sunday. St. John’s Reformed church inviter you to services at 10:45 a. m. and 7:30 p. m. Sunday school at 9:30 a. m. Seats free. Every one welcome. Presbyterian church—Rev. W. K. McKinney, Ph. D., minister. The reg- ular services will be held in this church on Sunday, November 10th: Morning worship, 10:45; evening wor- ship, 7:30; Sabbath school, 9:45 a.m. The Rev. J. T. Marshman, of State College, will officiate at these services next Sunday. By appointment of Presbytery the Rev. Dr. McKinney will preach in the First Presbyterian church of Tyrone. United Evangelical church, E. B. Dunn, pastor. The regular services will be resumed at the United Evan- gelical church on Sunday, November 10th, as follows: Sunday school, 9:30 a. m.; preaching and Holy Commun- ion, 10:30 a. m.; Christian Endeavor, 6:30 p. m.; preaching and Holy Com- munion, 7:30 p. m. All members of the church and Sunday school are urged to be present at all services. Services will be held in the United Brethren church next Sabbath, No- vember 10th, as follows: Sunday school at 9:30; Christian Endeavar at 6:30 p. m.; preaching service at 10:30 a. m. and 7:30 p. m. General tepic for the month of November, “Keep the Home Fires Burning.”. A home missionary campaign. It is earnestly requested that all the con- Fiogation will take advantage of the ifting of the ban, and assemble for worship at these services. T. H. MacLeod, Minister. “He Missed the Crow and Hit the Cat in the Window.” Tommy Jodon is butchering at Pleasant Gap and has had his share of the fun already. A few days ago he had a lot of wild steers that couldn’t be driven into the slaughter house and they had to be knocked down by a rifle shot outside. Floyd Horner happened alomg and wanted to try his hand at the shoot- ing so he took a crack at one of the animals. He knocked it down, but it was up again in a second and Hor- ner took another shot but missedithe steer and hit Abner Noll’s pig that was sleeping in a nearby lot. Bellefonte to be Opened Today. At a special meeting of the Belle- fonte board of health on Monday evening the announcement was made that acting Health Commissioner Boyer had decreed that Centre coun- ty can be opened wide at noon today (Friday) with the exception of Snow Shoe, Sandy Ridge and Osceola Mills. This includes the churches, moving picture theatres and bar-rooms. The local board decided to keep the schools closed until Wednesday of next week, when they, too, will open. ees Brouse—Zeigler.—Married at the United Brethren parsonage on Mon- day, November 4th, by the Rev. T. H. MacLeod, P. Victor Brouse and Miss Hazel E. Zeigler, both of Shamokin Dam. : Clearfield county gave Tobias for Congress 3800 votes and Jones 3695, while for State Senator Matt Savage polled 3555 votes and S. J. Miller 3638. ——The Beatty Motor company this week received a consignment of Ford- son tractors ordered by a number of Centre county farmers. Profiteering in Peanuts. Scarce anything seems to have ad- vanced so much in price as the once humble but now exalted “goober.” Twenty-five years ago a “bag” of peanuts ordinarily held a pint. Since then it has had a tendency to shrink. But of late the shrinkage has been progressing so rapidly as to excite alarm. Buy a bag tomorrow; count them, and you will find that you have, in return for a perfectly goed nickel, about twenty-five peanuts. There may be no more than twenty. Five peanuts for a cent are not enough.” A cent for four is a swin- dle. The only thing to do is to quit buying peanuts until the price comes own. The acreage planted with peanuts in this country is increasing enor- mously year by year. There is no reson or excuse for such an advance in price. Manifestly the wholesalers | are profiteering and the retailers are getting their “bite.” Peanuts in the shell, at the present retail price, cost about five times as much as bread, weight for weight. ‘ And at that they are usually of an inferior grade. It will be of interest to those who love the dahlia to know that it first appeared in the botanical gar- dens in the city of Mexico. It was in 1784 that the director of the Mexi- can gardens sent to the director of , the botanical garden in Madrid the first specimen of the plant that bot- anists had ever seen. The Madrid di- rector called it “dahlia” in honor of Dr. Dahl, a Swedish botanist. ——Subscribe for the “Watchman.”
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