i Dewy atc, Bellefonte, Pa., December 21, 1923. THE NATIONAL LIBERAL ALLI- ANCE AND THE “LIBERTY BELL.” . By Margaret H. Barnett. The National Liberal Alliance was organized in June, 1920. Its purpose, first and foremost, is the “modification of the Volstead Act so as to permit the manufacture and sale of light wines and beer.” Some other purposes of the Alliance are mentioned, but opposition to prohibi- tion seems to be its chief feature. “Liberty Bell” is the official organ of the Alliance. A picture of the em- blem of our national independence ap- pears on its title page. Sample copies of “Liberty Bell” are sometimes mailed to persons not sub- scribers. One recent issue contains some vio- lent attacks on Prohibition and pro- hibitionists. It also contains some dire prophecies of evil to come through prohibition. But there are in it, also, some very interesting and illuminating state- ments. One of these is as follows: “The reason we have prohibition is because the “drys” work consistently and co-operate with each other. When the “wets” do so, they will find suc- cess crowning their efiorts. The inference from this quotation is that the “wet” forces are scattered and disorganized, while the “dry” forces are united and organized. There was a time within the mem- ory of those not yet the “oldest in- habitant” when a very different state of affairs could be found in this coun- try. There was a time when the liquor forces were a power in politics. The election of a candidate who had their support was practically assured. There was a time when these forces were a power in business circles. Not so long ago many persons feared to oppose them, as their business would be injured if they did so. There was a time when it required a great amount of moral courage to attack the liquor traffic. Those who did so risked financial loss, sometimes persecution, sometimes even death,” for the temperance cause has had its martyrs. Even the pulpit feared, sometimes, to antagonize the liquor interests. Ministers who did so, frequently had to seek new fields of labor. There was a time, within the mem- ory of those yet living, when there was not one prohibition State in the Union. The sale of liquor was legal- ized throughout the United States. There was a time, within the mem- ory of those who are still compara- tively young, when there were but two prohibition States. There was a time within the mem- ory of those still younger, when Na- tional prohibition was defeated in Congress. A radical and revolutionary change has taken place, as indicated by the quotation from “Liberty Bell.” The temperance forces and the liquor fore- es have changed places. The liquor forces have not been able, with all the odds in their favor, to hold the ground which they had held for two hundred years. One Prohibition State in 1858 had became thirty-three when National Prohibition was adopted, and the Eighteenth amendment was ratified by forty-six of the forty-eight States. In Pennsylvania, at the last guber- natorial election, the candidate of both the leading parties had declared for Prohibition enforcement. There was a “wet” third party candidate, but it is not recalled that he polled a heavy vote. What has change ? “Liberty Bell” tells us in the fol- lowing paragraph taken from a re- cent issue: “Liberty Bell” wishes to say just at this point that it recognizes there are good brewers and bad brewers.” “But ‘Liberty Bell’ has no time for the bad brewer. The head of the National Liberal Alliance would not continue to work another day for this cause if he thought the old crowd of bad brewers would benefit therefrom. It was that bunch that brought about iniquitous conditions that culminated in Constitutional Prohibition.” “But there must be no return to the distressing conditions which prevailed under the old “bad brewers’ regime.” Remember that the above para- graphs are not from an organ of the Anti-Saloon League, or the W. C. T. U. They are from the organ of the National Liberty Alliance, an organ- ization opposed to Prohibition. Mark the words “iniquitous condi- tions” and “distressing conditions” and “bad brewers.” “Liberty Bell” is right in saying that the “iniquitous conditions” and the “distressing conditions” in the old license days made Prohibition nec- essary. The paragraphs quoted from “Lib- erty Bell” are an unanswerable argu- ment against the modification of the Volstead Act to permit the manufac- ture and sale of light wines and beer. The liquor forces have never been conspicuous for law observance. Where is the new order of “good brewers” which “Liberty Bell” seéms to promise, to come from? Who is to keep them “good?” Who is to prevent a return to “in- iquitous conditions” and “distressing conditions,” in any other way, than BY et Prohibition, strictly enfore- brought about this ! Truth Will Out. Jake was a worthless and improvi- dent fellow. One day he said to the local grocer: “I gotta have a sack o’ flour; I'm all out, an’ my family is starvin’.” “All right, Jake,” said the grocer. “If you need a sack of flour and have no money to buy it with, I'll give you. a sack. But, see here, Jake, there’s a circus coming to town in a few days and if I give you a sack of flour are you sure you won't sell it and take your family to the circus?” “Oh, no,” said Jake. “I got the circus money saved up already.”— | Progressive Grocer. Violet and Her Christmas Catch By ETHEL AUGUSTA COOK Girl’s Kindness 19 Hann and Understand- was the “best ing Appealed to catch” in Wil- Handsome Young liamsville. At Dick Barnes least that is what ~ the mothers of un- Aunt Sophia married maidens P. there told them- Played Clever selves and some- Part by Supplying times each other. a Dinner Party But what is more, : the maidens them- selves thought so. And Violet Mar- tin, who was neither the prettiest, nor the richest, nor the cleverest of the maidens, agreed with them in their es- timate of the big, handsome, wealthy fellow. But it was, witb her, not his riches, or his good looks, or even his great popularity that gave her this thought. No, it was a feeling she had for the whole two years since he had come to Williamsville, that he would make one of the best comrades in the world. She understood his spe- cial sense of humor. She loved his laugh. Violet Martin was honestly in love with this big, congenial boy. Richard was in love with Violet, too. He was quite certain of that. But he was spoiled. Anyone would be spoiled who was adored as Richard was adored. You see, it was not only the girls—there was his mother who had spoiled him from infancy. That is why Richard, although he knew he loved this girl who wasn’t the prettiest, nor the richest, nor the wisest in Wil- liamsville—no, not by far, had not quite come to the point of proposing. For Violet, who was honestly in love with him (not like the others who were in love with the idea of perhaps being loved by this hero) dared not show her adoration. No, she dared only be as frank and comradely as a boy, and treat him like an equal. And Richard was a little put out with this. Any reflection of himself in a girl's eyes short of a hero’s reflec- tion made him fe ec” 05; oer @es@o GooDee@ui Bee 1090s Des Bese Dod y mir Te ————— The Land of Christmas Trees By Grace May North in Youth’s Companion 32 like fo find the country where trees of Christmas grow; 3t ought to be a pine mood with candles all aglom. Aud if J had a basket, I'm sure that Santa’d say, “Just pick as many presents a8 gout ran fake amay!” There Is Satisfaction in Trust in the Future HE was shabby and old and stooped. As she walked along the streets people turned and looked after her with pitying eyes and thought to themselves what a hard lot hers must be. Yet, had they but known the truth she needed no pity, for, although poor in material wealth, she was far richer in other things than many of those who looked upon her with compassion, For her heart was full of contentment, she had a childlike faith and trust in the future and she was content with her lot in life, realizing that while she lacked many of the things which wealth could buy, God had given her many other gifts instead: The full- ness of years, good health, a little fireside to call her own, an income which, if very meager, was enough to supply her with necessities, and, best of all, the ability to see and en- joy the things which were hers, Ro, while the merry Christmas throng looked at her pityingly as they { passed, she went serenely on her way everything as if all the earth was hers.—Katherine Edelman. (©, 1923, Western Newspaper Union.) across the hall at Aunt Sophia he ! as happy and as much at peace with: MAH-JONGG. its Authentic Source. By Jeseph Park Babcock Originator of the Game and Author of the Rules. To Mr. Joseph Park Babcock, the Ameri- can public is indebted for the thrilling game of Mah-Jongg. In the following article he tells of its authentic source. Mr. Babcock’s message follows. During the past ten years I have spent a great part of my time travel- ing in the interior of China, where I was dependent almost entirely on the Chinese for my recreation. Speaking the Chinese language, I became inter- ested in a game played by the Chi- nese, with attractive tiles of bamboo and ivory, brightly decorated in the inimitable Chinese colors and typical of Chinese art. I was immensely im- pressed, not only by the entertain- ment, but by the cultural features of this game. It seemed to me that, if properly in- troduced, it would appeal tremendous- ly to Americans and Europeans. For a number of years, I made a | special study of these Chinese tile i games as played in the various prov- | inces of China. I found that it was known by a variety of names in the different provinces, and that the fun- damental game was played, in almost every case, in a different way. I sought rule books but found that the Chinese learn these games as chil- dren, and consequently, feel no need ‘ for a book of instruction or rules. I saw that it would be necessary, therefore, for me to write rules of my own and devise my own terminology, as practically all of the terms used by the Chinese in playing had no mean- ing to foreigners when translated. In fact, some of the terms used were col- loquial merely, and had no equivalent Chinese character in the Chinese writ- ten language. Such terms as “chow,” “bamboo,” “characters,” “dots,” “dragons,” etc., now used by all play- ers in the United States and all coun- tries foreign to China, were given to the game by me. In codifying my rules, therefore, I have embodied the best and most in- teresting features of the various Chi- nese tile games, as played in the many sections of China, and have de- veloped one game which is adapted to foreign thought and usage with var- ious sets of rules. My first edition is fundamental, but is for beginners principally. In my second edition I have given variations of play as well as Chinese versions for the advanced scholar. In subsequent editions I shall elaborate more on additional variations as well as examples of possibilities and chance. My thought was to incorporate in my first edition a set of rules that one could play easily or one in which SH without limit could be employ- ed. One of the greatest problems I had to face in introducing the game abroad was the necessity of being able to read Chinese characters in order, to understand the significance of the tiles, for people who could not read Chinese could not learn to play. I overcame this difficulty by invent- ing what I call “index playing sym- bols.” These are the English letters and numbers in the corners of the tiles which appear on all sets used in the United States today. To designate the game as I evolved it, with these English indices and with the codified and standardized Babcock rules, I applied the word “Mah-Jongg,” pronounced “Mah- Zhong,” trade marked in the U. S. Patent Office and applied it also to my book of rules which I had copyright- ed. I then presented it to the Amer- ican public as well as to foreigners in China. This is the source of Mah-Jongg— the one authentic source. I happened to be the first to intro- duce Mah-Jongg, and if I have given pleasure and a new and valuable game with many thrills and all the age-old mystery of China in it, to thousands of people—in so doing I am well re- warded for my efforts. I make this statement at the re- quest of my friends and readers who have asked me to give them the true story of Mah-Jongg.—Vogue. RUNVILLE. Pat Warner, of Fillmore, spent last Monday at the home of his aunt, Mrs. Charles Rodgers. Mr. and Mrs. William Jodon, of Bellefonte, spent Sunday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Sallie Friel. Mr. and Mrs. John McClincy, of Clearfield, visited at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Walker, on Wednes- day. Frank Bennett, Grace Kline and Marie and Esther Bennett spent Sun- day afternoon at Fillmore, at the Mrs. Spicer home. Mr. and Mrs. James McClincy and two daughters spent Sunday after- noon at Milesburg, at the home of Lewis Davidson. Mrs. Paul Tuful, after spending two weeks with her parents in this place, departed for her home, at Mil- ton, on Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mogel and Charles Molton, of Tyrone, visited at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Lu- cas on Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. Willis Poorman and son and Mr. and Mrs. George Shuey, of State College, spent Thursday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Poor- man. Walter Lucas, Mrs. E. R. Lueas, Murs. Ira Wagner, Mrs. John Hite, and Mrs. Calvin Snowberger and two chil- dren, of Altoona, spent Thursday at the home of L. J. Heaton. L. J. Heaton, Framk Lucas, Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Poorman and Mrs. Joseph Reese attended the funeral of Mrs. William Poorman, at Milesburg, on Monday. ’ The next meeting of Grange will be held January bth, 1924, and will be an all day meeting, beginning at 10 a. m. Attend the meeting and take your lunch. The officers for the ensuing year will be installed. Drie Two weeks ago we put on a sale of any pair of shoes in the store for $5.85. Hundreds of our customers and the other fellow’s customers have taken advantage of this sale. Why not? This is plain talk but you are a fool if you are in need of shoes and do not take advantage of Yeager’s $5.85 sale; for the reason that we are saving you from $2 to $3 on a pair. BIS Reduction in Satin Slippers Until Christmas you make your choice of any pair of Satin Slippers, and Pumps for $3. This reduction is on all my stock of $5, $6, and $7 satin slippers. We have Until Christmas all reduced many styles and shapes. to $3. Yeager's Shoe Store THE SHOE STORE FOR THE POOR MAN Bush Arcade Building 58-27 Shoes Reduced BELLEFONTE, PA. Come to t Lyon & Co. he “Watchman” office for High Class Job wo rk. Lyon & Co. Special Suggestions BEDROOM SLIPPERS. HOSIERY—Silk, wool and cotton, in all shades. BATH TOWEL SETS. VANITY CASES from 35c¢. up. SILK UNDERWEAR, $1.00 up. LINEN AN exclusive selection of HANDKERCHIEFS, NECKTIES, SILK SCARFS, UMBRELLAS. SPECIAI, REDUCTION PRICES on all LADIES’ MI and CHILDREN’S COATS. We cordially invite you all to visit our store. will be merrier if you do so. FOR Christmas BATH ROBES and Bath Robe Blankets. TOWELS—all colors and prices. Your Christmas Lyon & Co. « Lyon & Co. PA NP 0 a PRN a NNN