Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, July 13, 1923, Image 7

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Bellefonte, Pa, July 13, 1923.
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.
By L. A. Miller.
To get something for nothing is an
innate disposition in man. It proba-
bly belongs to, or is an outgrowth of,
the animal side of his nature. Dogs
delight in stealing that which has
been caught, rather than going out
and catching for themselves. The
eagle watches the fish-hawk until it
makes a catch, then pounces upon it.
Among sea animals there is no end of
gathering without striving, and reap-
ing without sowing. From this it
would appear that it is an animal,
rather than intellectual, quality of
man. Man’s higher intelligence and
his reasoning powers qualify him for
indulging this disposition more than
the lower orders of animal life.
From the earliest times the means
most resorted to for this purpose have
been games of chance. Probably
there is no period in the known his-
tory of man when such games were
not in vogue. The right to take the
property of the weak, the unfortu-
nate and the foolish was the leading
principle of tribal and feudal govern-
ment. It was the doctrine of the
highwayman and the municipal officer
no further back than the seventeenth
century; and is yet, where the same
codes prevail. These were all based
on terse principles so agreeable to the
strong and so hateful to the weak,
that “might makes right.” Many ef-
forts have been made to modify this
in form without affecting its real sig-
nificance. Whatever is, right is one;
“That which is, was to be;” and what-
soever comes to pass was foreordain-
ed from the foundation of the world,
therefore, man is not responsible for
it. Whenever one tribe concluded it
was strong enough it pounced upon
another and robbed it of all it had,
made slaves of captured people and
compelled them to work for the bene-
fit and comfort of their captors,
This differs not greatly in principle
from the gaming of the present day.
When an individual concludes that
he is sufficiently skillful in handling
cards or other gaming devices, he
pounces upon some other individual
whom he supposes is less skillful and
proceeds to dispoil him of his wealth,
regardless as to whether he came by
it honestly or otherwise. Some per-
sons, under the guise of speculation,
knowingly take advantage of the ig-
norance of others. A few years ago
this was considered legitimate in
horse trading, only; now it passes
under the general title of “business
tact.” Those who are seeking justi-
fication for that which is of doubtful
propriety or righteousness, are prone
to stretch the blanket to its utmost
limits, even at the risk of tearing it.
They agree that if two individuals dis-
agree as to the ownership of anything
of value, and resort to the lot to de-
cide it, they could, with the same pro-
priety and justice to each other, agree
to decide by the same means which
shall have all the money they both
possess.
The element of chance enters as
largely into games for pleasure as it
does into games for gain. If this
element, as such, is wicked, then
games for amusement are wrong. If,
however, the motive is taken into con-
sideration, then there is a marked dif-
ference. The motive prompting one
to play a game of cards for pastime,
or for the entertainment it affords,
bears no close resemblance to the mo-
tive which prompts one to take the
money or valuables of another. In
fact, there is no resemblance save in
the elements of chance, which enter
into both alike. Even in the matter
of casting lots the motive appears to
have been the important element.
When those resorting to it as a re-
ligious rite, the ancients went before
God asking Him to show which one
was right in the matter at issue, but
their motives were different from
those of the soldiers who cast lots to
determine who shall fetch the water
and prepare the breakfast.
The sacredness of the lot however,
existed only in the minds of those re-
sorting to it. The laws of Moses no-
where enjoin it not even as a rule.
Prophets, teachers and rulers may
have sanctioned its use, and magis-
trates and priests may have enforced
its decisions, especially where the
parties had taken vows to abide by the
results, yet it was merely a custom,
and was no more sacred than any
other form or manner of deciding a
disputed point. This being the case,
there can be no such thing as profana-
tion of the lot; at least, not more than
the profanation of any other means
of reaching a conclusion. If any class
or sect of people accept a certain
form of arbitrament, to them it is
sacred, and may be profaned by them,
but not by those who have not accept-
ed
So great are the differences of opin-
ion in the matter of so-called harm-
less games, that what might be said
here can have no effect, or little at
most, in either direction. From a
philosophical point of view, it depends
entirely on the motive of the players.
There are those, probably, who are so
weak-minded as to become fascinated
with these games, and then rush into
the clutches of the tigers lying in
wait in gambling dens. These, how-
ever, are just as liable to be led astray
by anything else that is in the least
fascinating. A sensible person of
even reasonable moral strength, will
not be carried into a vortex of sin
that is in plain view. There must be
a weak spot somewhere. Those who
strive to get something for nothing
are generally lazy. Tramps, beggars,
bums and loafers, are fair specimens.
They feel that the world owes them
a living and they prepare to collect
it with as little effort as possible.
Another class are those who think it
is easier to speculate, peculate and
cleat than to earn by honest toil and
labor. Swindlers, embezzlers and
sharpers represent this class.
It will be seen that dishonesty is
also one of the characteristics of
those who live by getting something
for nothing, consequently a man must
part with his real manhood before he
can begin to succeed in this plan of
living.
The long distance glasses of the
philosopher are not necessary to re-
veal the general demoralization that
awaits all such. A reasonable recom-
pense for the time spent and risk
taken by those who handle goods for
the accommodation of the public is as
legitimate and honest as the hire for
those who till the soil or dig in the
mines. Excessive profit, when at the
expense of the toiling masses, is
something obtained without giving
anything in return; therefore, it must :
be classed with the rest. The power
to charge excessive profits does not
make it right to do so; neither does
the power to compel a sacrifice of all
profits make that right. The disposi-
tion to do these is very strong in the
average man, and he does one or the
other, just as opportunity is offered.
What a pity that so many dishonest
offenders exist.
THE DAVEY INSTITUTE OF TREE
SURGERY.
Kent, O.:—Tree owners need have
little fear, save in special instances,
of the threatened incursion of the
army of seventeen-year locusts, ac-
cording to a bulletin on that subject
issued by the Davey Institute of
Tree Surgery, of Kent, Ohio. At the
same time, a warning is issued
against impostors who, in times past,
have imposed upon owners of trees by
representing that locusts could be
killed by spraying or other equally in-
effective methods.
The relation of the locust to trees
is discussed in the bulletin by W. O.
Hollister, entomologist of the Insti-
tute, in part as follows:
“Seventeen-year locusts, or cicadas,
have received national advertising
and, because of this publicity, they
are often greatly feared. There is,
however, very little basis for this. It
is possible that locusts will appear in
considerable numbers in certain sec-
tions of the country this year, but
the injury they will do will probably
be small.
“A few years ago, one of the larg-
est cities in the East purchased sev-
eral tons of arsenate of lead with the
hope of combating a threatened on-
slaught of locusts. This was money
thrown away, for locusts are suck-
ing, not biting, insects and could not
possibly be harmed by poison even if
they wished to eat it. As a matter
of fact, they probably take very little
food and such as is taken must be
sucked through the beak. Adult in-
sects of any kind, as a rule, do little
harm. Their function is to reproduce
the species. The feeding is done in
the immature stage. These facts
show how useless any attempt at
poisoning locusts would be.
“Injury from locusts is caused by
the female which makes incisions in
the bark in which she deposists her
eggs. They usually select small twigs
about the size of one’s little finger,
sometimes making from twenty to fif-
ty gouge-like incisions, and usually
these twigs are killed. The larger
trees can generally stand this twig
pruning. On smaller trees however,
such as newly-planted orchards, where
there are only a few small branches,
the trees may become seriously injux-
ed if not killed. For instance, if an
apple tree having three or four small
branches has two or three or all of
these branches killed, it will never
amount to very much even if it does
not die outright. Of course, the larg-
er trees present an unsightly appear-
ance after a locust attack, with
bunches of dead leaves scattered
about here and there.
“One method of extermination is to
remove and burn the infested parts
before the young hatch and go to the
ground. There is no spray which will
kill the insects, unless it happens to
be applied directly to them—a ‘con-
tact spray’ just as they emerge from
their pupal cases and before their
wings have become inflated and dried.
As the locusts can fly they will leave
a tree if it is sprayed or disturbed in
any way. Some writers say that they
will not light upon a white surface,
and recommend that small trees be
sprayed with whitewash. It is ques-
tionable if such a plan is feasible.
Valuable small trees are sometimes
covered with mosquito netting until
after the locusts leave. Hand picking
is sometimes resorted to as the insects
come up from the ground. They
usually come up from the ground dur-
ing the night and may be picked off |
early in the morning.
“Swarms of seventeen-year locusts '
are growing smaller every year be- |
cause of the change caused by the re- !
moving of forests and development of |
towns and cities. In certain places |
they appear in considerable numbers, |
making a lot of noise, killing a few | P.
twigs here and there, and with the
publicity given them, cause consider-
able worry. We do not think, how-
ever, that they really need to be fear-
ed at all.
“It is only the males who do the
singing. The wives of the species keep
still and do the dirty work. The
males are perfect gentlemen and make
a lot of noise but do not hurt any-
body. There have been many reports
that they will sting a person, but
these are apparently unfounded.”
Thirty Miles an Hour.
Ever since we have had automobiles
it has been the law of Pennsylvania
that the speed limit was fixed not
over thirty miles an hour, or one mile
in two minutes. No person has a
right to risk his own life, much less
that of others who are with him, or
others on the highway. But the law
was not obeyed, deliberately flaunted
in many cases even by those whose
duty it was to see that it was obeyed.
There was a rivalry that demanded and
delighted in highpowered cars that
could shoot the highways at speeds
exceeding that of an express train.
At such speeds every thing is chance.
A broken bolt, one thoughtless mo-
ment and disaster follows. Many
lives have been lost and multitudes
have been injured.
Now the law is to be enforced. It
is given out by the Highway Depart-
ment that the speed shall not exceed
a mile in two minutes. It had to come
to this. A hundred extra policemen
are being put on the highways with
instructions to make arrests for this
and all other violations of the road
and automobile laws. You have no
one to blame but yourself, if you will
be arrested for speeding.
TO CENTRALIZE GREAT ELEC-
TRIC POWER PLANTS AT NA-
TION’S PITHEADS.
A digest of the voluminous infor-
mational data recently disseminated
in connection with the National Elec-
tric Light Association convention in
New York reveals several interesting
facts.
In the not remote future great
steam operated electrical power plants
will be located at the pitheads in the
coal regions of the country, and power
will be distributed by wire in the most
economical manner.
Thus will be eliminated the slow
and wasteful railway transportation
of coal from the mines to the distant
power plants. In fact, Pennsylvania
and other States whence the nation
obtains its coal supply, are already
taking official cognizance of this need.
Accordingly, surveys have been au-
thorized to determine most advan-
tageous locations for centres of elec-
tric power production.
Electricity is the amdibexthous gen-
eral craftsman of the world. It has be-
gun to pay its ancient debt to coal by
returning to the mines where its pow-
er is harnessed for innumerable tasks.
Of approximately 17,000 anthracite
and bituminous coal mines now in op-
eration in the United States, 46 per
cent. are untilizing electric current for
haulage, while 51 per cent. are using
electric cutting machines and illu-
mination.
A recent survey of modern methods
of coal mining made by the National
Electric Light Association reveals the
fact that animal haulage and hand
mining, while still in use, are rapid-
ly giving place to electric machinery.
At present the coal mining industry
demands 3,054,000 horsepower of elec-
tric current to be used in its opera-
tions. More than 11,000 motors are
kept whirring continually in shafts
and subterranean galleries. Much of
this power is produced at the mines
by operating companies, but an aggre- |‘
gate of 880,000 horse-power is fur-
nished each year by private compa-
nies.
According to a survey by the Con-
joint Board of Scientific Societies of
Great Britain, the United States leads
all countries in developed and poten-
tial hydro-electric power. It places
potential energy at 28,100,000 horse-
power,
American engineers, however, place
undeveloped power capable of com-
mercial utilization at 50,000,000 horse-
power, Norway third with 6,500,000,
Austria and the former components
of the dual monarchy fourth with 6,-
460,000 and France fifth with 5,587,-
000 horse-power.
MUST DEFEND AMENDMENT.
Governor Pinchot last week issued
a statement relative to appointees in
his administration which is another
evidence of the governor’s sincerity of
purpose to further, by every legisla-
tive means, the interests of the pro-
hibitory amendment and the enforce-
ment legislation incident thereto.
The governor declared that no one
will be appointed to any position un-
der his administration who will not
give his word of honor that through
his term of office he “will support,
defend and personally obey the con-
stitution of the United States, includ-
ing the eighteenth amendment and
the national and State laws enacted
to carry that amendment into effect.”
The statement said all employees
must be in full accord with and un-
dertake loyally to support the poli-
cies of the administration.
“I do not propose to tolerate any
boring from within against the poli-
cies which I was elected by the peo-
ple to carry out,” the governor said.
Governor Pinchot, in issuing the
statement, said, it was done in ac-
cordance with the pledge made in his
inaugural address. He quoted from
that section of the address in which
he said:
“The law is the law. It is the
foundation of order, safety and pros-
perity and of the Commonwealth it-
self. Every State official takes the
oath, and is in honor bound to obey
it. I shall expect and demand from
every public servant appointed by me,
from the highest to the lowest, en-
tire and ungrudging obedience to the
cighteenth amendment and the Vol-
stead law. They are part of the law
of the land.”
The governor’s demand is in the
form of a pledge which all employees
of the State will be required to sign.
These will include every man who
works for the State Highway Depart-
ment, employees at the Rockview
Penitentiary and other like institu-
ions.
-
Must Use Movable Frame Bee Hives. '
Harrisburg, Pa.:—Secretary Frank
P. Willits, in a statement issued, noti-
fies all Pennsylvania beekeepers that
that section of the 1921 Bee Law, re-
quiring the use of movable frames in
beehives, becomes effective on July
1 and will be rigidly enforced by the
Department of Agriculture.
The department is ready to proceed
with the examination of apiaries at
once. Additional assistance has been
procured so that the state-wide in-
spection, under the direction of chief
apiarist Charles N. Greene, may be
conducted thoroughly and completed
as speedily as possible.
In the two years that have passed
since the bee law was enacted, prac-
tically every beekeeper who observes
up-to-date practices in his business,
has made the movable frame improve-
ment which is now required by law.
The importance of equipment that
permits easy examination of the hive
so that the presence of the insidious
foolbroods and other bee diseases may
be promptly detected and controlled,
has long been recognized among com-
mercial beekeepers.
There are between twelve and thir-
teen thousand bee owners in Pennsyl-
vania. Approximately ten per cent.
of this number are operating on a
commercial scale.
It was principally through the ef-
forts of this commercial group that
the law putting the ban on dangerous,
makeshift receptacles for housing
colonies was placed upon the statute
books of the State, after careful study
of the most serious bee diseases dis-
closed the part played by the old-
style equipment in harboring and
transmitting disease.
FARM NOTES.
—The Bureau of Plant Industry of
the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture has been deluged with
letters from owners of cherry trecs,
seeking information concerning an un-
usual disease from which the trees are
suffering. Practically every cherry
tree in the central and southern por-
tions of the State is affected. The
leav2s of the cherry trees have turn-
ed yellow and in many cases the
leaves have fallen from the trees.
These leaves are affected by the com-
mon leaf spot or shot-hole fungus
which is so poisonous to the leaf tis-
sue that even a few spots on a leaf
early in the season will cause it to
turn yellow and fall off. The present
season has had so much moist weather
that the fungus has spread rapidly,
and has affected a far greater pro-
portion of leaves than usual. This
fall of leaves due to this leaf spot
is very damaging because the fruit
buds for next year are now forming
and the loss of foliage at this time
means weak buds and less fruit. The
disease can be controlled by spraying
or dusting (1) when the petals fall,
(2) two weeks later, (3) just after
the fruit is picked. Either lime sul-
phur, 1-40, or a 90-10 sulphur dust
will give satisfactory results when ap-
plied at the times stated.
—Honey is the one greatest substi-
tute for sugar. For the last few
years it has attained an importance
as a foodstuff, not enjoyed since the
discovery of sugar, with the result
that thousands of persons all over the
country have started bee operations,
many of them on a commercial scale,
whose crops now run into thousands
of dollars annually. From a minor
industry agriculture has sprung into
considerable prominence, which posi-
tion it deserves because it conserves
a valuable food product that would be
Jost to us were it not for the honey
ee.
Not only is the bee a valuable
food producer in itself, but it is one
of the most beneficial agents in cross-
pollinating the blossoms of plants,
thereby assisting very substantially in
the bountiful production of our more
staple crops. Many plants would fail
to set fruit were it not for the pollen
carried by bees. Bees are among the
most accommodating creatures in the
world. They are extremely fascinat-
ing as a study and their culture can be
undertaken without a large invest-
ment, but it is a mistake for the in-
experienced person to imagine that
success is assured without painstak-
ing work. On the contrary, few lines
of agricultural work require closer at-
tention to details, if a profitable yield
or honey is to be obtained. The work
is not laborious and it is most inter-
esting. Opportunities are open to ev-
ery one, everywhere. It is strongly
recommended, however, that the be-
ginner with bees should commence
operations on a small scale, as a side
line rather than as a sole occupation,
until such time as he or she has mas-
tered those intimate details which in-
sure prosperous hives.
In choosing a location in which to
raise bees on a commercial seale it is
imperative to first study the resources
of the country, because, while bees
can be kept virtually anywhere, they
will not prove profitable to localities
where the plant life does not yield
nectar in large quantities and for a
considerable period each year.
The beekeeper who contemplates a
few colonies in the back yard need
not bother about such particulars,
since almost any fertile section will
provide ample nectar for bees in lim-
ited numbers.
In selecting a site for the hives
bear in mind that the bees require a
certain amount of protection against
high winds and severe storms, extreme
cold and heat. An orchard or site
near shade trees, with some sort of
a natural windbreak to the north,
makes a desirable spot for the apiary.
If trees are lacking a trellis or arbor
of vines may be substituted; a board
fence makes a good windbreak.
Bees like open spaces in front of
their hives; therefore, sod ground
which is kept mowed is best. They
will not disturb passersby or other
livestock unless intruded upon, con-
sequently the unfrequented location is
to be desired. The hives should be
far enough apart to permit manipula-
tion on the part of the caretaker, and
so that the bees are not likely to re-
turn to the wrong hive.
The foregoing points are suggested
by way of making ideal conditions, it
being well understood, however, that
many colonies are kept on housetops
and in congested areas where condi-
tions are the reverse of a natural
habitat. The 2im should be to make
, the location as advantageous as pos-
sible.
While bees can be housed in boxes,
hollow logs and all sorts of make-
shift shelters, it pays to provide a
standard type of hive with movable
frames which can be made or bought
at small expense. Not omly are the
bees thus more productive, but the
quality of their product is greatly
improved by proper housing.
Honey is graded largely—in fact,
almost exclusively—on appearances,
which is the strongest argument in
favor of adequate equipment.
The hive should be raised a few
inches above the ground so that the
bottom will not rot, and so that other
insects and creatures will not prove
a nuisance. Suitable stands or foun-
dations can be made from bricks, con-
crete blocks, drain tiles or other
available inaterial. Where ants are a
pest special hive supports are some-
times necessary.
Italian bees are probably the most
widely used, though the question of
race is not so important as purchasing
a strain of vigorous stock, free from
disease. Selected breeding queens,
which really constitute the mainstay
of apiculture, may be obtained and
introduced in place of the original
queens, and in a short time the work-
ers will all be of the same race as the
introduced queens.
Whenever possible it is a good plan
for the beginner to purchase bees
that are already domiciled in a par-
ticular hive, and to make this the
nucleus of his operations.
Italian bees are said to have better
tempers than most other races. In
any event, they are proved vigorous
workers and good honey-gatherers,
defend their hives well and are bred
to a higher state of perfection than
most races.
$2.98
$2.98
Big Reduction
In Ladies Oxfords
We have placed on sale about one
thousand pairs of Ladies Low Shoes
CRS
oi at $2.98. These shoes comprise all i
is the White Canvas and White Buck LU
2h Oxfords we have in the store, also i
I Tan and Black Vici Kid Oxfords and I
= Strap Pumps—all with Rubber Heels. i;
The reason for this reduction is the i
Gel
lateness of the Spring season, and we
must move them at a loss.
IS
SRSA
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If yoy are in Need of Shoes of this Kind
Come to Yeager’s $2.98 Sale
on
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¢ Yeager's Shoe Store
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i THE SHOE STORE FOR THE POOR MAN =
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oh Bush Arcade Building 58-27 BELLEFONTE, PA. i
1
RR RRR
“Come to the “Watchman” office for High Class Job work.
seams —
Lyon & Co.
Lyon & Co.
Specials
For Week Ends
EEK
We are Going to Have these Special Sales
Every Week End
Friday and Saturday
All Summer Goods now at, cost,
and less, which means four months
wear this season. Watch our Store
and don’t, miss the many Big
Money-Saving Merchandise Sales
WE STILL HAVE OUR
99¢. Bargain Table
Lyon & Co. « Lyon & Co.