Bemorraic; Wald
ER AR Ran
Bellefonte, Pa., February 21, 1919.
To Correspondents.—No communications
published unless accompanied by the real
name of the writer.
P. GRAY MEEK, - - Editor
Terms of Subscription.—Until further
notice this paper will be furnished to sub-
scribers at the following rates:
Paid strictly in advance - i.
Paid before expiration of year -
Paid after expiration of year -
$1.50
1.75
2.00
A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE
WATCHMAN’S VETERAN
EDITOR.
(Continued from page 1, Col. 4).
others saw in him a constructive
friend and saved the day for him.
In 1871 he was again a candidate
for the Assembly and elected by a ma-
jority of 386. His opponent was Rob-
ert McFarlane. He had trouble in
this campaign also, for the Public Li-
brary Act had been repealed and the
“Watchman” had taken a stand
against the building of the then pro-
moted Lewisburg, Centre and Spruce
Creek railroad through Pennsvalley
on the proposed narrow guage plan.
The men who subscribed the $500,000
in Pennsvalley were opposed to a nar-
row guage road, but the promoters in-
sisted on building it that way because
it would be cheaper.
At the organization of the last ses-
sion of the Assembly in which he sat
he was the nominee of his party for
the office of Speaker of the House.
He was then thirty years old.
In 1873, 1875 and 1876 he had the
endorsement of Centre county for
State Senator. The counties then con-
stituting the district were Centre,
Huntingdon, Mifflin and Juniata.
IN THE REALM OF STATE POLITICS.
Here we let the Hon. George D.
Herbert, of Harrisburg, staunch friend
and devoted disciple of Democracy,
take up the story of his activities in
the wider realm of state politics.
In 1882, when the late Robert E.
Pattison became the nominee of the
Democratic party for Governor Mr.
Meek was unanimously chosen by the
party leaders as Secretary of the
State Committee. The party organi-
zation sensed the victory which was
subsequently achieved and with com-
plete harmony and hope put its best
foot forward. William Uhler Hensel
was made chairman of the committee
and with Meek as his Chief of Staff
inaugurated a campaign that was as
daring as it was in some features sen-
sational. For the first time in any
State special trains were engaged and
groups of orators sent into every
county.
Chairman Hensel who was an ora-
tor of great force and eloquence trav-
eled with the speakers and Secretary
Meek directed the movements of the
party from the headquarters in Phil-
adelphia. The Republican campaign
managers imagined that they were
having much fun about what they
termed the “Democratic Hippodrome”
and chaffed Meek incessantly on his
“railroad circus.” But he was not di-
verted from his purpose and as the
daily reports came to him of the en-
thusiasm created wherever the cam-
paigners stopped, he quietly accepted
the banter and confidently predicted
the result.
In those days party service was
properly rewarded and when the suc-
cessful campaign yielded not only a
Democratic Governor but a substan-
tial majority in the House of Repre-
sentatives, Secretary Meek was liter-
ally invited to choose his own reward.
While earnest and active in politics
Mr. Meek never neglected his editor-
ial duties which had by this time be-
come to him “a labor of love.” He
liked publie life and found pleasure in
the association of men who directed
public affairs. But he always kept in
view his obligations as an editor and
‘selected the office of Chief Clerk of
the House of Representatives for the
reason that he could discharge the du-
ites of that office and give necessary
attention to the editing and publishing
of his newspaper.
Upon the expiration of his term as
Chief Clerk of the House of Represen-
tatives Mr. Meek settled down to his
business life with the purpose of giv-
ing only spare time to politics there-
after. But it was impossible for him
to maintain that resolution. At each
State convention of his party he met
so many friends and was handed out
s0 many enticements to resume polit-
ical activity that he finally yielded and
in 1890 was elected Senator in the
General Assembly for the district of
which Centre county is part, by
the largest majority ever given any
candidate. While still in that service
President Cleveland appointed him to
the office of Surveyor of Customs at
the port of Philadelphia. It was pure-
ly a personal appointment, a token of
the high regard in which President
Cleveland held him.
In 1900 he was chosen by the Dem-
ocratic State convention in session at
Harrisburg, as its nominee for Audit-
or General of Pennsylvania. Politic-
al conditions were such in the State
as to discourage any hope of election.
He made no active campaign for the
office and was defeated by E. B. Har-
denberg, of Wayne county, by a ma-
jority considerably less than that nor-
milly rolled up for Republican candi-
dates.
In 1902 the Democratic convention
of Pennsylvania, sitting at Erie, nom-
inated Robert E. Pattison for Gover-
nor the third time. P. Gray Meek
imagined that upon his retirement
from the office of Surveyor of Cus-
toms he had retired from politics for-
ever, so far as active work was con-
cerned. He still attended the conven-
tions and showed unabated interest in
party organization and success. But
he wanted to view the processes from
his comfortable home in Bellefonte.
He had such an admiration for Robert
E. Pattison, however, afid so strong
a desire to see him succeed again that
a direct personal appeal from the can-
didate compelled him to again accept
the office of Secretary of the Demo-
cratic State Committee. During the
campaign which ensued he gave his
time and efforts until “it hurt” but to
no purpose. Governor Pattison was
defeated.
From that time on for several years
Mr. Meek continued to act as Secre-
tary of the State Committee. Each
new Chairman insisted on that as a
condition of his own service. The of-
fice became increasingly burdensome
as the labors of the other party offi-
cials were shifted upon his shoulders
and finally his health was broken by
the strenuous efforts in the campaign
of 1909 for Justice of the Supreme
Court when LaRue Munson, of Wil-
liamsport, was the candidate of the
party. For nearly a year he suffered
and sometimes his life was despaired
of. But he was as determined a fight-
er against sickness as he was in pol-
itics and in 1911 he resumed activity
as State Secretary, continuing until
the reorganization of the party in
1912,
Widely known he was popular with
the rank and file of the voters and im-
plicitly trusted by the leaders. Wal-
lace, Randall, Speer, Hall, Mutchler
and Pattison equally confided in him
because he was true to his word and
faithful to his obligations. He was
honored by the party but gave more
than he got.
Mr. Meek’s intimacies extended to
every section of the State. Much of
his time was spent in Harrisburg
where he was as well known as any
resident. His official life in Philadel-
phia brought him into contact with
leading business and professional men
and officials and his service as Secre-
tary of the State Committee estab-
lished relations with politicians of all
parties. He had difference with men,
of course, but no enmities and he was
as free from prejudice as he was from
cant and hypocrisy.”
The impression has been given by
the press of the State that Mr. Meek
was present and a party to the work
of the much talked of Allentown con-
vention at which Webster Grim was
nominated for Governor and the Key-
stone party had its birth. Such was
not the case. He was ill at Atlantic
City at the time and those in a posi-
tion to know are convinced that if he
had been at Allentown C. LaRue
Munson’s name would not have been
withdrawn from that convention. Ber.
ry and Bonniwell would not then have
bolted and John K. Tener would never
have been Governor of Pennsylvania.
That was the beginning of Mr.
Meek’s long illness. It was then that
‘the-beginning,. arterio sclerosis was
discovered and he was sent home with
the advice to withdraw from all ac-
tivities that might sap at his nervous
system.
He remained as inactive in polities
as he could but the trouble progress-
ed, progressed so insidiously that on
the night of February 12th, 1915, he
threw down his pen and ended his ac-
tive life on the paper that he had
spent his life in making.
Since that time he had lived quietly
at his home, able to be about until
six months ago when he became con-
fined to his room and became so weak-
ened that he fell an easy victim to the
attack of pneumonia that precipitated
his death on Sunday afternoon at
5:20.
In January, 1862, he married Susan
M., only daughter of George W. Meek,
of Ferguson township. To them were
born six children: Rachael Luella,
who died in September, 1909; Mary
Gray, Elizabeth Breckenridge, and
George Reuben, of Bellefonte; Dr.
Eloise Meek, in public health service
at Trenton, N. J., and Winifred Bar-
ron, wife of Thomas King Morris, of
Pittsburgh.
THE FUNERAL.
Funeral services were held at his
home in this place at 10:30 o’clock
Wednesday morning. They were con-
ducted by Rev Dr. E. H. Yocum, of
the Methodist church, of which Mr.
Meek was a member, assisted by Rev.
Dr. Ambrose Schmidt, of the Reform-
ed church.
The pall bearers were Hon. A. G.
Morris, Col. William P. Humes, Hon.
John Noll, James H. Potter, Charles
L. Gates, Hammon Sechler, A. Y.
Wagner, Hon. James Schofield, Dr. J.
L. Seibert, Isaac Mitchell, Col. H. S.
Taylor, John M. Keichline, Belle-
fonte; George D. Herbert, of Harris-
burg; Capt. William H. Fry, Pine
Grove Mills; Hon. John John T. Mec-
Cormick, State College; James E.
Swabb, Linden Hall; Cyrus Brungard
and D. J. Meyer, Centre Hall; W. M.
Grove, Spring Mills; Dr. G. S. Frank
and William H. Smith, Millheim;
John H. Beck, Nittany; J. Hile Giffin,
Stormstown; H. T. McDowell and
Abram Weber, Howard; Jerry Dono-
van, Axe Mann; John Q. Miles, Mar-
tha Furnace; J. T. Merryman, Bald
Eagle and Dr. F. K. White, Philips-
burg.
Interment was made in the family
mausoleum in the Union cemetery.
ooo —
J. M. Cunningham, local man-
ager of the International Harvester
company, recently received a carload
of International farm tractors. Last
season an even dozen of International
tractors were disposed of to Centre
county farmers, not counting the
number of other makes purchased,
and the indications are that many
tractors will be put out this year.
——William C. Rowe, clerk at the
Bush house, is the proprietor of a new
taxi line to be called the Bush Hous
Taxi Service.., «ais
THE TRIBUTE OF HIS FELLOW
CITIZENS.
(Continued from page 1, Col. 6).
that Gray Meek was as popular with
the Republican members in the State
in later years as with the Democrats
in the State.
As a boy he became at once the
Democratic leader of the county,
largely through the influence of his
paper, but that was his own personal-
ity. It was the paper that he made
and the effect of it was his effect up-
on the minds of Centre county. He
maintained that peculiar and unique
position in this county until he failed
in health. His leadership was shown
as a politician not only in the numer-
ous offices that he held, but in his ap-
pointments. As you will remember
the surge of surprise and pleasure
that came to this town when Presi-
dent Cleveland made him Surveyor of
the port of Philadelphia, but it was as
Secretary of the Democratic State
Committee, where he was long placed,
where his influence was most felt, and
where he dominated things most com-
pletely. No man since the founda-
tion of the Commonwealth occupied
that position I suppose as long as
Senator Meek. It came as a matter
of course that he should be Secretary
of the Committee, and he formed a
peculiar relationship with both par-
ties. In my own personal going
around through the State I felt that.
“Oh, you are from the home of Sen-
ator Meek?” that was what I con-
stantly heard. Bellefonte is known as
the home of Senator Meek throughout
the State from Philadelphia to Pitts-
burgh, and as I said in that way he
exercised his personal influence upon
the members of his party and those
of the other party.
Now this man has passed away.
The little enmities of his earlier life
have been forgotten. I refer to him
now as the evidence of his strength.
This man who could so swing the
State of Pennsylvania before he
could vote, and it is because of those
characteristics that we citizens come
here today to do honor to his memory.
Because we have a feeling that he is
the last of a great generation and
when we close his grave we close the
history of older Bellefonte. Our
Chairman has quoted him from anoth-
er line—his personal friendship with
his family and his neighbors. When
he came home from his public life he
threw off his public burdens and found
joy in his home and family circle, and
his family relationship has been a
very beautiful one, and after all, these
things count more than distinction in
high office and glory and fame, those
beautiful characteristics of the man.
Judge Orvis then read the following
resolutions which were later unani-
mously adopted:
Resolutions Adopted at a Public Meeting
at the Court House in Bellefonte, Pa.,
February 18th, 1919, in Memory of the
late Hon. P. Gray Meek.
Whereas, The Honorable Peter Gray
Meek died on the 16th day of February,
1919, in the seventy-seventh year of his
age; and
Whereas, ‘‘Senator” Meek by which ti-
tle he was best known among his many
friends, was born in Patton township in
.the year 1842, came to Belefonte fifty -
eight years ago and hegan his journalis®
tic career which resulted in making the
“Democratic Watchman” the best known
weekly paper in the State of Pennsylva-
nia.
Prominent in political affairs from an
early age, Senator Meek was elected , a
member of the State Legislature in 1867
and spent four years in the House. At
the end of his term he became Secretary
of the Democratic State committee, in
which position he served at various times
until late years. In 1883 he was elected
Chief Clerk of the House in the Legisla-
ture. In 1890 he was elected to represent
this Senatorial District and in 1894 was
appointed by President Cleveland Survey-
or of the Port at Philadelphia. At the
expiration of that term of service Senator
Meek retained his connection with State
politics as secretary of the Democratic
State committee and as one of the party
leaders for many years, and after his re-
tirement from these duties he continued
an active interest in his well-known paper
until within a short time of his death.
And Whereas, In this life of service
to his town, his county and his State,
notwithstanding the periods of storm and
stress natural to such an active political
career, Senator Meek was always found
to be a firm friend to his many friends, a
fair fighter by those who opposed him, a
hater of hypocrisy and deceit and a gen-
tleman in every sense of the word.
It is with heartfelt sincerity, therefore,
that we who are gathered here to com-
memorate his long and useful life &o
hereby resolve that we spread upon the
minutes of this meeting this testimonial
of our respect and affection for his mem-
ory, and direct that a copy thereof be
furnished to his family.
By order of the meeting,
HAMMON SECHLER,
Chairman.
John Blanchard Esq:
In order to be brief I shall
simply refer to one or two char-
acteristics along the line that
has been so ably spoken of by Judge
Orvis. The first I think would be
“law-abiding” in his position as a
journalist. I think we all feel that
there is a great distinction to this
county in having had, through this
long period of years, a paper of the
individual characteristics of the “Dem-
ocratic Watchman.” It is the only pa-
per in this county that has a uniform
history, that has represented the dis-
tinct individuality of a person through-
out all these years. There are other
papers here that hold the same name,
ut the individuality has changed
from time to time, but this paper,
dated from the time of our civil strife,
has been the same. The same typog-
raphy, the same taste that it has al-
ways had, printed well and printed
on the best of paper, it has retained
the same characteristics throughout,
and had the individuality of Gray
Meek back of it. In other words, it
is a paper where the individuality of
the editor stands out. It is not a cer-
tain paper with a man’s name, but a
certain man’s paper. Just like the
New York papers reflect the individ-
uality of their editors, the Tribune,
‘Horace Greeley, the Sun, the name of
‘Dana, so in the same sense, but a
larger sense in the State of Pennsyl-
vania, was the “Watchman,” Gray
Meek’s paper, and therefore I think
this county has a great distinction in
that respect. ;
There is one other point I just refer
to briefly, and that is the human
touch of Senator Meek. It shows not
only in him as the head of a family,
but it permeates in the whole family.
They are friends of everyone in this
community, friends of everything in
the community that would benefit the
community, friends of the poor and
downtrodden, and I venture that peo-
ple never hear from those who receg-
nize themselves the retainers of the
Meeks, things that were done by the
right hand and not known by the left.
My friend has spoken of Senator
Meek coming here as a young boy, in
his youthful appearance that we all
recognized. He has had in his heart
the spirit of the boy throughout all
his years, he never grew old, he main-
tained that charm recognized as the
green old age, very few of whom are
now left, so that we who are of a
younger age and were babes in arms
when he came here, have come to
know Senator Meek, and the same
touch of sympathy came from him to
the younger generation that was giv-
en out to the men of his own age.
When I came to know him I found he
had the same touch of youth as a man
twenty or thirty years younger. He
was never regarded as an old man,
was always in touch with the commu-
nity, and with all his varied career we
now have the feeling that notwith-
standing the great antagonism when
the history of our country was most
crucial, that it is appropriate and
right that we should meet here this
morning in recognition of what we all
feel, and that is that we have lost one
of our best friends and citizens.
James H. Potter:
What has been said here this morn-
ing is absolutely true, especially as a
citizen of the town and 2 man of the
family. We have lived down in that
store for thirty years and have been
very close to Senator Meek. As a pol-
itician he was the meanest man in the
county, because I am a Republican,
but we respected him anyway. He
knocked our heads off many a time,
but in the last two years I have been
very close to him and his beautiful
life, and he was satisfied with his con-
dition and was ready to go. It was
beautiful. I was surprised that Mr.
Sechler asked me to speak, but I am
glad to add my remarks to his ereat
Tork and the largeness of Mr. Meek’s
ife.
Colonel John A. "Woodward, Howard,
a.
Mr. Chairman, almost fifty years
ago when I became a citizen of your
county, coming from the town of Wil-
liamsport, and passing from the sta-
tion over to my home in Howard town-
ship, I saw a sprightly gentleman
walking in the same direction. I was
in my buggy. I saw he was a man
whom one could recognize as a gentle-
man and I asked him to get in and
ride with me. He introduced himself
as Mr. Meek. He was on his way to
visit his sister who lived next door to
me, and by the way, she was a re-
markable member of that remarkable
family, a friend and neighbor of
whom one could feel proud. Since
that time there has been no time in
which the personal relations of Sena-
tor Meek and myself have not been
pleasant. We have not always agreed,
have not always been on the same side
of prominent questions, but we have
always agreed to disagree in a friend-
ly spirit and cordial way, and I am
glad to bear my own personal testi-
mony to his personal worth. I have
improved the opportunities when I
have been in your town within the last
three or four years since his illness
of calling upon him on every occasion
excepting the last time I was in town.
Our personal differences were many,
but whatever differences we had were
afterwards forgotten, and he died my
friend and I stand here as very hum-
ble and regret his going.
Hon. Geo. E. Alter, of Pittsburgh,
Former Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Mr. Chairman, I think generally I
fully realize that a great man has
passed away in Pennsylvania. In
these days when we seize the morn-
ing paper with apprehension to see
what new doctrine has sprung up over
night, we can ill afford to lose one
who never lost his clear view of land-
marks, who never deviated in his
courage, supported that which he be-
lieved meant the righteousness that
exalted the Nation, and I sincerely
appreciate the opportunity to be per-
mitted to take part in this tribute to
his memory.
Warden John Francies, of the West-
ern Penitentiary:
Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to say
that I have known Mr. Meek for a
great many years. Out of the great
grind of humanity comes dew from his
individual character. P. Gray Meek
represented a real genuine Pennsyl-
vanian, and a real genuine American.
His opinions were absolutely his own,
and once they were his own he was
willing to stand by them, and he nev-
er deviated a hair’s breadth from the
path of his chosen road.
It was a good thing for Pennsylva-
nia that he was born, and it would be
a good thing for Pennsylvania and the
Republicans if we had more men who
were of his absolute and honest opin-
ions today. As I remember him in
Harrisburg during the time I spent
in that city, he was as distinct a char-
acter as ever existed. I can’t talk
here and say more, but it is unneces-
sary, especially in his home town. Mr.
Chairman he has gone down the Long,
Long Trail and we shall meet him in
the Sweet Bye and Bye.
It was then moved and seconded that
those present at the memorial serv-
ice proceed in a body to Senator
Meek’s funeral.
——S. D. Gettig appeared before
the Board of Pardons at Harrisburg,
on Wednesday, and presented the pa-
pers in an application for a pardon
for Mrs. May Viard, of Philipsburg,
serving a sentence of three years in
the western penitentiary for larceny.
She has already served half her sen-
tence and the pardoning power refus-
ed to interfere in her behalf.
——Charles Butz, of State College,
came to Bellefonte on Tuesday morn-
ing to. accept a position with the state
road engineers at the highway offices
here.
KRAPE.—Samuel A. Krape, who
was brought to Bellefonte on Tues-
day of last week in an unconscious
condition the result of injuries sus-
tained in a fall, died at the Bellefonte
hospital on Thursday afternoon. Mr.
Krape was employed as a janitor in
an office building of a large traction
company at Akron, and several weeks
ago accidentally fell down an eleva-
tor shaft, fracturing his skull and
breaking four ribs. He was brought
to Centre county last week in accord-
ance with his own desire.
Deceased was a son of George and
Anna Krape and was born near Spring
Mills on July 22nd, 1855, hence was
63 years, 6 months and 22 days old.
When a young man he learned the
carpenter’s trade and followed that
occupation for many years in Penns-
valley. A few years ago he went to
Akron, Ohio, and had since made his
home there. When he was fourteen
years of age he joined the Reformed
church and had always lived a con-
sistent, christian life.
He was twice married, his first wife
being Miss Sadie Bartges, to whom
he had one son, Ellery Krape, of Wa-
terford, Erie county. His first wife
died twenty-one years ago and some
vears later he married Miss Minne
Zeigler, who has been an invalid the
past several years.
child, Alice, aged eight years. He
also leaves the following brothers and
sisters: William B. Krape, of Aarons-
burg; James S., of Seattle, Wash.;
Mrs. Harriet Best, of Salona; Miss
Chestie A. Krape, of Pasadena, Cal.;
Miss Florence S. Krape, of New York
city; A. P. Krape, of Centre Hall;
Howard, of Rebersburg, and Charles,
of Spring Mills.
The remains were taken from the
Bellefonte hospital to the home of A.
P. Krape, at Centre Hall, where fun-
eral services were held at nine o’clock
on Monday morning by Rev. R. Ray-
mond Jones, after which burial was
made in the Heckman cemetery near
Millheim.
{i i
WALKER.—Mrs. Nettie O. Walk-
er died at her home in Williamsport
on Sunday, February 2nd, and was
buried at St. Paul’s cemetery, in Por-
ter township, Clinton county, on Wed-
nesday, February 5th, 1919. Her hus-
band, Mr. Harry A. Walker, died
about sixteen years ago. She is sur-
vived by two daughters, Mrs. Edna
Cochran, of Swissvale, Pa., and Miss
Alma, at home in Williamsport; also
one brother, Prof. Louis E. Reber, of
the University of Wisconsin, but now
in service in France, and two sisters,
Mrs. John M. Krape, of Lock Haven,
and Mrs. John H. Beck, of Snyder-
town.
Mrs. Walker was born and spent
her maiden days on the old Reber
farm at Nittany. After her marriage
to Mr. Walker they moved to the
Walker farm in Clinton county, and
then to Lock Haven. After the death
of Mr. Walker the family, consisting
of Mrs. Walker and her two daugh-
ters, moved to Williamsport, where
they have since made their home.
Mrs. Walker had been an invalid for
about ten years, confined to her room
and chair most of the time, but was a
patient and cheerful sufferer. Her
daughters kept up the home and did
everything possible to brighten her
life, hence deserve great credit for
the devotion they have shown their
mother. The esteem in which she
was held was shown by the flowers
and other kind tokens sent to the
home, and the presence of many
friends from Williamsport, Lock Ha-
ven and other places, at the funeral.
Mrs. Walker was a member of the
Mulberry Street Methodist church,
Williamsport, and her former pastor,
Rev. Metzler, now residing in Lock
Haven, conducted the services at the
burial.
Hi il
CONFER. — Raymond, the nine-
year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob
Confer, of Orviston, died on Monday
afternoon, February 17th. His death
came rather suddenly, as the result of
an abscess in his head. He suffered
convulsions all of Monday night. Dr.
McIntyre was called but gave the sor-
rowing parents no hope. Raymond
was a lovable little lad, bright and
playful. The writer knew and loved
him, and grieves deeply with the
heart-broken father and mother. He
is survived by two little brothers and
his parents, beside many relatives in
this place.
Gone, is our little Raymond,
With his heart so fond and true,
And our hearts feel as deep a sorrow
As loving hearts ere knew.
But Jesus has called our laddie
To the land of peace and rest;
And some day we all shall meet him,
Where the faithful are ever blest e
i l]
BURRELL.—Miss Louise Burrell,
of Spring Mills, died at the Bellefonte
hospital on Wednesday of last week
following a prolonged illness with a
complication of diseases. She was a
daughter of David and Mrs. Susan
Burrell and was fifty-six years old.
Surviving her are her mother and one
sister, Mrs. Edward Ruhl, of Penns-
valley. Burial was made at Spring
Mills on Saturday morning.
Company Stockholders
Elect Officers.
At the annual meeting of the stock-
holders of the Bald Eagle Telephone
company held at Howard the follow-
ing board of directors was elected: N.
F. Yearick, of Jacksonville; Dr. Wal-
ter T. Kurtz, of Howard; Ellis L. Or-
vis, of Bellefonte; J. A. Bitner, of
Blanchard, and George Peters, of
Beech Creek. The board organized
by electing the following officers:
President—N. F. Yearick.
Vice President—Walter T. Kurtz.
Secretary and Treasurer, and Gen-
eral Manager—Frank McCormick.
Telephone
She has one.
A. B. Steele Denies Bequest from
"Nephew.
A Bellefonte paper last week car-
ried an interesting story as to how
our fellow townsman, A. Brittan
Steele, had fallen heir to something
over eleven hundred dollars, left him
by his nephew, James Steele, who died
recently in Pittsburgh. James Steele
was a son of Samuel Steele, a brother
of Brit, and the beautiful part of the
story was that the little fortune con-
sisted of cash in a bank.
But the unfortunate climax is that
there is not a word of it true. Brit
was not left a cent. The story orig-
inated from the fact that relatives of
James Steele had been told that when
the latter was here recently on a visit
he had given his uncle about eleven
hundred dollars and now they are try-
ing to find out if the story is correct.
The result is that Brit has been busy
the past week making out affidavits
to send to Pittsburgh attorneys to the
effect that he never got a cent from
his nephew, don’t need any and don’t
want any.
Notes of the Bellefonte Academy.
The Academy basket ball team will
play the strong Dickinson Seminary
five of Williamsport tomorrow (Sat-
urday) afternoon at 4 o’clock sharp.
This will be an interesting match.
Lovers of basket ball should not miss
it.
The place, Y. M. C. A. gymnasium.
The time, 4 p. m., Saturday.
The price, 25 cents.
The annual mid-winter football
dance of the Academy will be given
in Bush Arcade hall this (Friday)
evening, at 9 o'clock. Maggro’s su-
perb orchestra, of Pittsburgh, will
furnish the music. Tickets are on
sale at Montgomery & Co’s store and
cost $3.00 per couple. Refreshments
will be included in this charge. This
will be the leading social function of
the winter season and should be lib-
erally patronized by all lovers of the
dance.
W. D. Port Resigns as Superintend-
ent of Union Cemetery.
W. D. Port has tendered his resig-
nation to the Bellefonte Union ceme-
tery association as superintendent of
the cemetery to take effect April first.
Mr. Port has been superintendent of
the cemetery for a period of seven-
teen years and has always given the
best of satisfaction. The only reason
for resigning now is because he finds
the work too exacting and difficult for
a man of his years.
Naturally Mr. Port’s resignation
will leave a vacancy which the ceme-
tery association is anxious to fill by
the first of April and due considera-
tion will be given to any and all ap-
plicants.
C. D. Casebeer Will Move to Brock-
' erhoff House Block."
On Saturday C. D. Casebeer, the
jeweler and optometrist, negotiated a
lease for the room in the Brockerhoff
house now used as a writing room by
the hotel, where he will move on April
first. While in the future he will de-
vote himself largely to the optical
business he will also put in a small
and select line of standard jewelry,
such as will meet the demands of the
local trade.
The taking of this room by Mr.
Casebeer will necessitate some chang-
ing around in the hotel, and the writ-
ing woom will probably be moved up-
stairs where it was formerly located.
John B. Stitzer Stricken Down with
Apoplexy.
While out in a piece of woodland
for a load of firewood, last Friday
afternoon, John B. Stitzer, a well
known farmer of lower Nittany val-
ley, was stricken with apoplexy. The
first intimation any one had of some
mishap having befallen Mr. Stitzer
was when a neighboring farmer saw
his team and wagon coming out of the
woods about four o’clock in the after-
noon without a driver. He went to
investigate and found Mr. Stitzer ly-
ing unconscious near a pile of wood.
where he lingered until Wednesday
when he died at 12:35 o’clock. He
was fifty-eight years old.
Knisely—Aikey.—Robert W. Knise-
ly, son of Mr. and Mrs. George H.
Knisely, of Bellefonte, and Miss My-
ra V. Aikey, of Milesburg, were mar-
ried last Saturday by Rev. M. C. Pi-
per, at his residence in Milesburg.
——The girls of the Patriotic
League are planning to give a play
after Easter. All members who wish
to take part or to help in any way are
requested to send or telephone their
names to Miss Sallie G. Fitzgerald
not later than Monday, February 24th.
Prohibition Amendment Now Up to
Senate.
Harrisburg, Feb. 18.—The House
joint resolution ratifying the nation-
al prohibition amendment is now on
its way through the Senate. It was
favorably reported to the Senate to-
for a hearing in the afternoon, later
again reported from the law and or-
der committee and will be on the Sen-
ate calendar for second reading Mon-
day night. It is scheduled to come
up for final passage on Tuesday.
Legislators Want More Pay.
Harrisburg, February 19.—An in-
crease of salary of members of the
Legislature from $1,500 to $2,000 is
proposed in a bill presented to the
House of Representatives today by
Mr. West, Montour. The bill also pro-
vides for mileage at the rate of 30
cents, circular and allowances for
postage and stationery. The salary
for special sessions is fixed at $500.
The stricken man was taken home"
day, read the first time, recommitted