Bellefonte, Pa., February 24, 1922.
FROM JOLLY CORKS TO ELKS.
The dawn of Februay 16, 1922,
marks an anniverasry of keen inter-
est to nearly 1,000,000 American men.
Fifty-four years ago—on February
16, 1868—a little group of fourteen
men sat in a stuffy room in New York
city. Twice they voted on a matter
they had been debating for weeks. On
the second ballot, the now almost-for-
gotten fraternal order of the “Jolly
Corks” was disbanded. And the Be-
nevolent and Protective Order of Elks
was born.
The first membership report in the
archives of the Elks is dated Decem-
ber 27, 1868. New York Lodge No.
1, the Mother Lodge of the Order, was
then its only lodge. There were 76
members on the rolls.
The fifty-fourth anniversary of the
Order’s birth shows a membership of
more than 818,000 Elks in more than
1,400 lodges that dot the United
States of America. At Anchorage,
Alaska, the farthest north Elk lodge
stands amidst almost polar ice and
snow. Elk lodges rise at Brownsville,
Texas, and Key West, Florida—farth-
est southern points of the continental
United States. Our Canal Zone has
its lodge at Balboa Heights. Our
island possessions are starred with
Elk lodges at Manila in the Philip-
pines, at Honolulu and Hilo in Hawaii,
at Guam, and at San Juan in Porto
Rico. And the Elks of America are
working to initiate their millionth
member by July, 1922, when the Grand
Lodge meets at Atlantic City.
The founder of this organization
that is today America’s greatest fra-
ternal order? He was a strolling
English actor! He never lived to
know how well he and his little group
of brother-actors had builded.
His body rests today in Mount
Hope cemetery, Boston, Massachu-
setts, beneath a great granite boulder
bearing a bronze plate with the in-
scription:
“Charles Algernon Sidney Vivian.
Founder of the Order of Elks. Died
March 20, 1880. Aged 34 years. A
lover of his kind, who founded a great
Order and in so doing wrought much
good.”
Vivian, who was the presiding “Jol-
ly Cork” at the momentous meeting
in 1868 when the fourteen men voted
to organize under the name of “Elks,”
died in Leadville, Colorado, after a
life of theatrical vicissitudes that
ranged from touring in affluence at
the head of his own company, to be-
ing stranded penniless in Denver.
There in Leadville his body rested,
his grave marked only by a weather-
stained pine board on which an in-
scription was scratched with some
sharp instrument, until on April 28,
1889, Boston Lodge No. 10, B. P. O.
Elks, exhumed the body, took it to
Boston, and buried it there with splen-
did ceremonial.
Only in Elkdom’s archives and the
memories of the few surviving “old-
timers” is the history of the Jolly
Corks held intact. And only one char-
ter member of Elkdom still survives.
He is “Joe” Norcross, of New York.
The “Jolly Corks,” actor-folks all,
met in those days of the ’60’s in cafes
and bar-rooms of New York’s theat-
rical district. The “cork trick” was
their initiated ceremony. A group of
Corks would bring in a candidate, who
was assessed fifty cents. This was
taken by Charles Vivian, and entered
in a pocket memorandum book. Each
“Jolly Cork” produced a champagne
cork from his pocket.
The bar-keeper supplied the candi-
date with a new cork. The men lined
up in front of the now-extinct Ameri-
can bar. Each man placed his cork
in front of him on the bar. To the
candidate it was explained that at the
signal “Three!” of the “One - - two - ~
three!” called by the ruling Cork, the
last man to lift his cork from the bar
was “stuck for the drinks.”
The signal would be called. The
Jolly Corks, all initiates, would sim-
ply cup their hands over their corks
and leave the corks on the bar. The
candidate, with a swift swoop, always
would be the first man to lift his cork.
He would also be the last man to lift
his cork. For he would be the only
man to lift his cork. He bought the
drinks.
One other law the Corks obeyed.
Any Jolly Cork, meeting another Jolly
Cork, was at liberty to challenge his
brother by producing his own cork
from his pocket. If the challenged
man could not also produce a cork, he
must pay for the drinks. The cham-
pagne cork became the insignia of the
Order.
Stuart Robson, noted American ac-
tor of that period, was a Jolly Cork
and the target of a deep-laid plot. It
was at Robson’s wedding. As the ac-
tor entered the church, he found the
aisles solidly lined with Jolly Corks.
At the altar awaited the minister. The
organ was playing the Wedding
March. As Robson started down the
aisle, with the future Mrs. Robson on
his arm, every Jolly Cork, with the
precision of an army officer drawing
sward and saluting, held aloft a new
and shining champagne cork in salute.
But Stuart Robson was ready. In-
stantly he reached into the tail-pocket
of his dress-coat, produced a cham-
pagne cork equally new and shining,
and marched down the aisle, his bride
on his left arm, his cork held aloft in
his right hand. History does not tell
who bought those drinks. But it was
not Stuart Robson!
New York’s “Excise Laws,” rigor-
ously enforced in 1867 and 1868, clos-
ed all places of public entertainment
on Sunday. The Jolly Corks installed
a piano, a keg of beer and a box of
sandwiches, in the attic of “Mother”
Geisman’s boarding house in the the-
atrical district, and met there, with
music, songs, stories and mock-courts
at which fines were imposed for var-
ious whimsical “offenses” to provide
the fund for next week’s beer and
sandwiches. Their festivities cost
them their home. Irate at the noise,
“Mother” Geisman drove them out.
Then they “hired a hall” and form-
ed their fraternal order. It was near-
ly named the “Buffalos,” after the
“Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffa-
loes” of England, to which Vivian, the
ruling Cork, belonged. The vote stood
seven to seven, deadlocked on “Buf-
faloes” and “Elks.”
Only a handful recall the name of
W. L. Bowron, of New York, today.
Yet it is to him that the “Elks” owe
their name. On the second ballot he
switched his vote from “Buffalo” to
“Elk.” Vivian, in the chair, though
an ardent advocate of “Buffaloes,”
ratified the majority of one, and the
Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks was born.
One other circumstance, little
known, paved the way for the name
of “Elks.” The committee charged
with selecting a name was to meet at
Broadway and Ann Street, New York.
Some were tardy. Others, weary of
waiting, strolled into Barnum’s Mu-
seum on that corner, and wandered
through the famous animal collection.
“Bears” was suggested, but discard-
ed as animals of few inviting traits,
coarse, brutal and morose. ‘“Beavers”
were brought up as examples of in-
dustry, but cast aside as too destruc-
tive. “Foxes,” suggested, were voted
down as too cunning and crafty. A
large moose-head attracted attention,
but was at last turned down. Then an
Elk’s head, with graceful, spreading
antlers, met with general approval
and divided honors with “Buffalos,”
which Vivian had advocated strongly,
but which half the committee opposed
because they did not wish to copy the
name of an existing order.
From this trip to Barnum’s Mu-
seum the committee went to the meet-
ing where the name of “Elks” was
chosen.
Since then the Order has grown by
giant strides. It embraces American
citizens from the humblest, to Warren
G. Harding, President of the United
States, and life-member of Marion
(Ohio) Lodge No. 32, B. P. O. Elks.
In 1922, Elkdom, with gifts to char-
ity already totalling more than $20,
000,000, stepped out of the role of the
purely fraternal organizations into
the rank of one of America’s greatest
humanitarian brotherhoods.
Willlam W. Mountain, of Toledo,
Ohio, Grand Exalted Ruler of the Or-
der, announced his policy:
“Make every Elk Lodge the civic
and humanitarian center of the com-
munity in which it makes its home.”
In Chicago, by Lincoln Park, over-
looking Lake Michigan, the Elks are
building their $3,000,000 National Me-
morial to 70,000 Elks who served the
United States in the world war, and
the more than 1,000 Elks who died in
that service. The building will also
house the Order’s central executive
organization, and the National Elks’
Magazine.
Only men of 21 years or more,
American citizens, are eligible, to
membership.
“The faults of our brothers we
write upon the sands—their virtues
upon the tablets of love and mem-
ory,” is Elkdom’s motto.
The four cardinal principles of the
Order are “Charity, Justice, Brotherly
Love, Fidelity.”
“I guess we built a little better than
we knew,” says old “Joe” Norcross,
only surviving charter member.
And from the Great Beyond, where
those long-dead “Jolly Corks” look
down upon this earth, they probably
agree with him.
MAY REMOVE BEAVERS.
Officials of the State Game Commis-
sion may remove two beavers to
another habitation next spring if they
continue to interfere with the flow of
the stream which supplies the source
of water power for the summer home
of Mrs. Charles Knobbs, near Milford.
The beavers stopped the water supply
so often for the Knobbs home during
the summer and fall that Mrs. Knobbs
complained to the State Game Com-
mission.
The beavers wanted the water used
by Mrs. Knobbs to operate a small
power plant by means of a water
‘wheel for their dam and blocked off
the flow at the sluiceway as fast as
workmen on the Knobbs place could
remove the obstructions. Since fall
they have quit their activities for the
winter, but in the spring if they con-
tinue to cut off the water supply to
the Knobbs home the Game Commis-
Sionge will move them to other quar-
ers.
Seth E. Gordon, secretary of the
Game Commission, says the two bea-
vers on the Knobbs place are not any
of those with which the State stocked
various game preserves a year ago.
They are from a colony of original
Pennsylvania beavers discovered a
couple of years ago along Bushkill
creek. What caused them to migrate
to the vicinity of Milford is unknown.
—Exchange.
Over 400 Perfumes.
It is an interesting thing to know
that 4,200 species of plants are gath-
ered and used for commercial purpos-
es in Europe. Of these 420 have a
perfume that is pleasing and enter
largely into the manufacture of
scents, soaps and sachets. There are
more species of white flowers gath-
ered than of any other color—1,124.
Of these 187 have an agreeable scent,
an extraordinarily large proportion.
Next in order come yellow blossoms,
with 951, 77 of them being perfumed.
Red flowers number 823, of which 84
are scented. The blue flowers are of
594 varieties, 34 of which are perfum-
ed, and the violet blossoms number
308, 18 of which are pleasantly odor-
iferous.
SHE LOOKS SO WELL
: AND HAPPY.
See the Rich, Red Blood, the Sign of
Health, Showing in Her Lovely
Cheeks.
Some women have naturally beauti-
ful complexions that tell you there is
plenty of richness in their blood.
Their figures become well formed,
supple, rounded and graceful. Those
are the results of rich, red blood, and
plenty of it. There is no need of be-
ing thin and scrawney from poor
blood. Get a few bottles of Gude’s
Pepto-Mangan—take it with your
meals for a few weeks. It will give
you plenty of red blood. By building
up the blood, you give the entire sys-
tem a chance to restore itself natur-
ally, and that brings natural bloom
and beauty and all the effects and joys
of good health. Get Gude’s Pepto-
Mangan at your druggists in liquid
or tablet form.—Adv. 67-8
ALASKA’S RAILROAD.
Anchorage, Alaska.—Uncle Sam’s
Alaskan Railway, talked of for two
decades, and under construction for
six years, is completed. The last
spike was driven February 14th.
This last spike was on the comple-
tion day, driven into place on the
bridge at Riley Creek, near McKinley
National Park, by one of the track
layers. Later, some time in the sum-
mer, it will be replaced by a golden
spike when the formal dedication of
the railway will be celebrated.
The railroad runs from Seward to
Fairbanks, 467 miles, and has branch-
es of coal fields which make a total
trackage of 539 miles. The cost was
approximately $56,000,000.
Work during the winter months
brought many hardships. Supplies
had to be carried by tractor and by
truck through heavy snows, over for-
est lands and through streams. There
were few roads—the gasoline convey-
ances made their own pathways as
they ploughed their way along.
All of Alaska is looking forward to
the formal dedication, when President
Harding with most of his cabinet is
expected to be present, as well as
thousands of people from all over
Alaska and the United States.
Scott C. Bone, Governor of Alaska,
and Lieutenant Colonel Frederick
Mears, head of the Alaskan Engineer-
ing Commission, and builder of the
road, are in Washington making plans
for the big event.
The railroad will make vast changes
in Alaska’s commercial affairs. The
Yukon River will still be a factor, but
time, distance and expense for interior
transportation will be cut considerably.
The big coal fields of Manatuska
have been reopened and coal is al-
ready starting toward the ocean, and
ships for the Pacofic Coast States,
where there is a big demand for coal
at reasonable prices. : ;
Several choice farming districts, is-
olated by lack of transportation, are
now able to dispose of products. A
flour mill has been opened at Fair-
banks, to supply people who hereto-
fore had to send thousands of miles
for this product. Other plants to
supply local markets are also spring-
ing up.
And, in the meantime, Governor
Bone is working to have all the Alas-
kan governmental agencies in the na-
tional capital co-ordinated and put
under one head. He also wants lib-
‘ Pa. = . !
eral mining and land laws to aid in
colonizing the area opening by the
railroad.
To Colonel Mears is given much of
the credit for the big construction
job. He made good despite his base
of supplies, Seattle, being 200 miles
distant, and the fact that the field
was too snowbound for track work
five months of each year. :
When President Wilson appointed
the Alaskan Engineering Commission
in 1914 to build the railroad, he nam-
ed Mears, on the recommendation of
Major General Goethals, Panama Ca-
nal builder.
location and construction work to head
of the entire Canal Zone railway sys-
em.
——The “Watchman” gives all the
news while it is news.
Honor System Store Helps Pay His
College Expenses.
A student at The Pennsylvania
State College a few days ago conceiv-
ed the idea of setting up .a little can-
dy store on the campus which, oper-
ated on the “Honor System” of pur-
chase, would earn money to help with
his college expenses while he was busy
attending classes. He is Louis L.
Kaufman, a Sophomore, from Pitts-
burgh, and after a week of daily sales
he reports the venture a great suc-
cess.
He has arrayed a tempting display
of five and ten cent sweets, and each
morning places a little small change
in an open pasteboard box, trusting to
the honor of the student purchasers
to pay for the goods they desire. He
states that the students have implic-
itly observed his “Candy sold on hon-
or system” sign. The store is on the
open porch of Old Main just outside
of President Thomas’ office, and so far
as known, he is the only college stu-
dent to make a venture of this kind.
THE BOY THAT IS WANTED.
“Wanted—a boy you can tie to,
A boy that is trusty and true;
A boy that is good to old people,
And kind to the little ones, too.
A boy that is nice te thé home folks
And pleasant to sister and brother,
A boy who will try when things go awry
To be helpful to father and mother.
These are the boys who are wanted,
In the workshop, the home and the store.
a —
Children Cry
age is its guarantee.
to feed?
o
VS ]
The Kind You Have Always Bought, and which has been
in use for over thirty years, has borne the signature of
: , and has been made under his per-
Zc Te sonal supervision since its infancy.
g "Allow no one to deceive you in this.
All Counterfeits, Imitations and * Just-as-good ” are but
Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of
Infants and Children—Experience against t
Never attempt to relieve your baby with a
remedy that you would use for yourself,
. - 4 -
1d
What is CASTORIA
Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Paregoric,
Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is pleasant. It contains
neither Opium, Morphine nor other narcotic substance. Its
For more than thirty years it has
been in constant use for the relief of Constipation, Flatulency,
Wind Colic and Diarrhoea; allaying Feverishness arising
therefrom, and by regulating the Stomach and Bowels, aids
the assimilation of Food; giving healthy and natusal sleep.
The Children’s Comfort —The Mother’s Friend.
GENUINE CASTORIA ALwaY
Bears the Signature of :
ec —————]
for Fletcher's
riment.
Te &
in Use For Over 30 Year
The Kind You Have > S0 Boss
THE CENTAUR er NEW YORK Sy
Near East Relief Week
IN CENTRE COUNTY
At five cents a plate how many
Near East Children are you willing
Send all contributions to Charles
M. McCurdy, Treasurer, Bellefonte
This space devoted to the cause by the Centre
County Banking Company
APU UPUOT ISSA OPAL APP PSAP ASAP PPPS PPG
I lL i i ———————————
Mears had risen from |[L
Mid-Winter Shoe Bargains
at Yeagers
$10.00 Shoes Reduced
TO
$6.00
FOR TEN DAYS YOU
can have your choice of any
pair of Men’s $10.00 Shoes
FOR $6.00
Yeager’s Shoe Store
THE SHOE STORE FOR THE POOR MAN
Bush Arcade Building 58-27 BELLEFONTE, PA.
Come to the “Watchman” office for High Class Job work.
Lyon & Co.
4
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$ Your money commands the greatest variety of
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$ good quality here. We will give you wider choice of
$ honest value than you find anywhere else in town.
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Lyon & Co.
Spring and Summer Dress Goods.
Dress Goods are here, stripes, figures in light
and dark grounds.
Radium Sport Stripes in all the new colors for
Skirts, in all wool, silk and cotton from $1.75 up.
NEW SILKS.
Our line of new Silks are in. Satin Crepes, Can-
ton Crepes, Crepe Failles, Baronet Satins, Geor-
gettes and Crepe de Chenes ,all the new dark and
high colors at prices one half.
SPRING COATS, COAT SUITS AND WRAPS.
Our Ready to Wear department is receiving
new models every day.
All Wool Tuxedo Suits at
$10.00 up
All WoolCoats -» = = =~ = $10.00 up
All Wool Jersey Jumper Dresses - - $3.98
Men’s Fine Dress Shoes that were sold for $8.00
now $4.98.
Men’s Working Shoes that were sold for $6.00,
now $3.50.
Women’s Dress Shoes that were sold for $8.50,
now $4.50.
Women’s Oxfords in Tan and Black, that were
sold for $8.50, now $4.50.
Children’s Shoes from $1.50 up.
Lyon & Co. « Lyon & Co.
|
SHOES SHOES : |
A big reduction in men’s, women’s and chil-
dren’s Shoes.