Demorraliy atc,
Bellefonte, Pa., June 6, 1924.
EB ES Te,
W. C. T. U. Activities in Bellefonte
and Centre County.
A well-attended and interesting
meeting of the executive committee of
the Centre county W.C.T.U. was
held in Bellefonte recently at which
gathering it was decided to hold this
year’s annual convention at Howard
on Wednesday and Thursday, Septem-
ber 17th and 18th. An effort will be
made to secure a speaker of national
repute for that occasion. In addition
to the convention and program for
county work, law enforcement and
legislation were considered by the
committee.
In the discussion of legislative can-
didates John L. Holmes was favorably
considered. A committee was ap-
pointed to interview Mr. W. H. Noll
Jr., the Democratic candidate, as to
his position on the wet and dry issue,
the result to be given publicity as was
done in the case of Mr. Holmes. A
letter of appreciation from Mrs. Pin-
chot was read in which she thanked
the W. C. T. U. for the support given
her husband at the recent primaries,
Centre county being one of the fifty-
two counties which gave the Gover-
nor a small majority. A letter was
also received from Attorney General
Woodruff telling a little of the Gov-
ernor’s efforts in his program for law
enforcement.
During the meeting the president of
the county Union, Miss Rebecca N.
Rhoads, made the announcement that
her time will be necessarily much oc-
cupied during the summer with her
national W. C. T. U. work as super-
intendent of the soldiers’ and sailors’
department. The War Department
has requested her to visit a number of
the largest regular army encamp-
ments during July and August. The
list given her covers a wide range of
territory including New York, New
Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, Kansas,
Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Ohio.
Mention was made of the Belle-
fonte W. C. T. U’s generous support
of the hospital. For years this Un-
ion has maintained their room in the
institution but this year entered, be-
sides, into the special drive for funds
to “Help Centre’s Sick.” They gave
for the purpose a very successful and
beautiful cantata, “The Coming of
Ruth,” which netted nearly $400.
Two hundred in cash of this amount
was immediately handed over to the
hospital, the remainder being held by
the Bellefonte Union solely for their
hospital fund. This year, therefore,
the Bellefonte Union has given thus
far practically four hundred dollars to
this worthy cause, and before the year
is over expects to contribute further
to their room’s furnishings.
Prize essay contests, as usual, have
been held in the public schools of the
county and the Bellefonte Academy
and High school. Announcement of
the prizes awarded for these will ap-
pear in the county papers after com-
mencement.
The State College W. C. T. U. re-
ports a great increase in membership
and general interest. Bellefonte,
Philipsburg, Rebersburg, Centre Hall
and other Unions throughout the
county also show gratifying progress.
A new Union, organized at Wingate
two weeks ago, was reported, as was
also a flourishing Loyal Temperance
Legion for the children at Wingate.
The Young People’s Branches at State
College and Centre Hall have done
fine work. At State College it was
through this organization that Ad-
miral Sims was secured to speak in
the College auditorium, and it was
also largely at the instigation of the
Y. P. B. that the student council took
such definite action along law-enforce-
ment lines which attracted the atten-
tion of colleges and universities all
over the United States. One of the
State College Y. P. B. members, Mr.
Myers Lowman, spoke on law enforce-
ment on the same platform with Ad-
miral Sims at the national student
conference in Washington this spring,
while another member, Mr. Nelson
Hibshman, (president of the State
College Y. M. C. A.) took active part
at this same conference, being one of
the leaders who conducted 2a study
group on the program.
The first night of the county W. C.
T. U. convention at Howard in Sep-
tember is to be young people’s night,
at which time a gold medal contest
by the L. T. L.’s will be held and a
playlet given by the Centre Hall Y. P.
B. Much interest in the soldiers and
sailors department is manifest
throughout the county—a number of
afghans and sunshine bags having
been made by Centre county Unions
and sent to the disabled world war
veterans, and many more are being
made. The U. S. Veterans Bureau
calls the work of the W. C. T. U. of
“inestimable value” while the War and
Navy Departments have frequently
expressed their appreciation.
——James Crider and Edward
Brophy, the two Lawrence county
prisoners who escaped from the Rock-
view penitentiary on Wednesday
evening of last week and were caught
near Snow Shoe Intersection at two
o’clock Thursday morning, were given
the usual sentence by Judge Quigley
on Saturday morning and the same
afternoon were taken back to the
Pittsburgh institution by sheriff E. R.
Taylor. They will now have two
years or more in which to meditate
upon the foolishness of trying to
evade just punishment for the crimes
they committed.
~—Subsecribe for the “Watchman.”
Old Times in Bellefonte. The Rope Walk and the Footless Boy.
In response to our request that he write for the “Watchman” some de-
tails of the recollections he has of Bellefonte, when he lived here seventy-six
years ago, Mr. C. H. Starkey, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, has forwarded the
following very interesting contribution:
Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 15th, 1924.
Editor “Democratic Watchman,” Bellefonte, Pa.
Dear Sir.
I send you, herewith, a few little scraps, from the recollections of days
long gone by, that may be of interest to your readers of these days, who,
some of them at least, may be able to recall names and scenes that have long
been forgotten. As I said, in a former letter, the recollections of the old
town lie before me like a great map, or an airplane picture. The Diamond,
especially, in front of the court house, was always a central point of interest.
There we gathered for our evening games of “Blackman,” “Wolf and Sheep,”
or, sitting on the steps of the court house would tell the wonderful stories of
“Jack and the Bean Pole,” or “Old Mother Hubbard.”
My brother and myself were fairly well trained as singers, having taken
a course of lessons under a Mr. Basset, in the basement of the Presbyterian
church. We would get Ed Keene and Abbie Stone to go with us, some pleas-
ant evenings, when the streets would have a few strollers, wandering for
pleasure and a pleasant chat, and taking our stand back a little, under the
portico, would sing the then popular negro minstrel songs such as “Dolcy
Jones,” “Old Virginia,” “Suanee River,” “Sail on Silver Moon,” ete. Ed
Keene was a very good tenor, Addie Stone, the son of the Jew merchant who
had a store at the old Graffius’ stand on Allegheny street, could very easily
furnish the bass. We enjoyed a couple of hours, once in a while, there. As
there was never any complaint about disturbing the public, we flattered our-
selves that perhaps the public, at least, did not care. So we sang there many
evenings.
Looking at the court house reminds me of a little joke a few of the fun-
loving young men of the town played on the public, to raise money to help
some of the poor, or one at least, of the poor. They engaged the building for
a “Grand Concert,” one night to raise money for the benefit of a poor, unfor-
tunate, who was, fortunately possessed of a good voice and would sing some
of the popular songs of the day. Of course the public responded liberally.
The audience room was well filled. Pormptly at the hour, the leader stepped
in front of the curtain and announced that a popular song by (I have
forgotten the name) would be sung. The singer stepped out from behind the
CaHAln; Sracetally bowed to the audience, sang his little piece, closing with
these words:
“If you want any more
Just sing it yourself.”
Then he stepped behind the curtain, and through a window into the alley,
and went home. The audience waited patiently for a time, then, realizing
that they had been very neatly “sold” “for the benefit of the poor,” retired to
their homes, saying nothing.
About 1848 or 1850 when the little dwarf, Tom Thumb, just became
known his manager brought him to Bellefonte and gave an exhibition at the
court house. Tom was a curiosity in those days. He was full grown, but only
twenty-eight inches high. He had, on the platform, among other things, a
little settee, not more than two feet long, with the seat about five inches
above the floor. A very urgent invitation was given for some young lady lo
come and have a little chat with Tom. Ella Graffius, one of the prettiest of
the little folks of the town, probably about four or five years old, was lifted
onto the platform and gatianily led by Gentleman Tom to a seat with him.
e.
u
They were a handsome little coup
about Ella’s size who attracted the atten-
There was another little girl
tion of the younger element, for a time; her name was Ada Carpenter. She
and had a brother Charley, at that
was the youngest child of Abe Carpenter,
time about eighteen or twenty years of age. The mother was quite a large,
rather portly woman, rather commanding in appearance. Ada was my own
particular playmate. We made many mud pies for each other. The Carpen-
ters, shortly after some of the events mentioned, moved to Philadelphia. They
lived in a large stone residence on the corner of Allegheny street and the al-
ley that ran back of the Brockerhoff row, to the livery stable. (This was the
John Aull house that stood where Hazel’s store now stands).
I wish I could remember the name of an old gentleman who was a build-
ing contractor in the town. He built the large addition on the south end of
the Arcade. He was known as “Peaches and Cream,” because he would never
allow anything to ruffle his temper. “Peaches and Cream’ would smooth and
sweeten the way out of any difficulty.
The “Nigger Town” mentioned in a former letter was located at the foot
of the Big Hill at the east end of Bishop street. The houses all on the south
side of the street. The other side was a cow pasture. The inhabitants of
“Nigger Town” were all runaway slaves, from the South. There were three
prominent characters among them. One of them was a rather tall, fine, gen-
tlemanly looking fellow, not too dark, well liked by all who knew him. One
day a couple of young men drove into town in a double seated carriage, with
a rather fine pair of horses. They put up at a hotel and in due time it became
known that they were looking up a location for business in the surrounding
country, or in the town. It matters not, just now, what their particular busi-
ness was but they wanted a driver to go with them to take care of the team,
etc. They wanted a good, reliable man. The three prominent characters I
have mentioned were the only ones who were strikingly prominent and might
be able to fill the bill to the satisfaction of the young men. The tall, gentle-
manly looking fellow was the best of the three. His name was Washington.
He had a very peculiar mark that distinguished him from all the rest of the
colored population of “Nigger Town.” He had two thumbs on each hand.
These young men hired the four thumb driver. For some days they drove
around through the country, taking in the sights and hunting a farm or a lo-
cation, returning at night. One day they drove south. They did not return at
night, they did not need to. They had found a location for the present, and
had paid their hotel bill, taken their baggage with them and Bellefonte never
saw Washington after that. He had crossed the Maryland line.
Another of the prominent characters was John Gance. A big, stout, bur-
ly fellow, as ugly as he was big and had a wife who was a fair mate for him.
One Sunday John got on a “tare.” He was ugly and the only one who could dv
anything with him was his wife. John started down town. His wife followed
him trying to induce him to go home. Just about the corner of Bishop and
Allegheny streets, close to the Bond Valentine residence (now the Brant
House), they got into a wrangle and John knocked his wife down and pro-
ceeded to give her a sound drubbing. She yelled, of course, and John swore.
Bond Valentine opened a window of his home and cried for some one to sepa-
rate and arrest the parties. Very soon my father, who was a constable, at
that time, with three or four other big, stout men, separated the contestants
and proceeded to take John to jail; four men carrying him and one old gen-
tleman who had been constable before my father was elected, walking along
by the side of the brute would kick him, and swear at him, “kick your wife
will you!” kick—“kill your wife will you!” In the mean time John swore that
whenever he got out again he would “burn the d——d town,” especially the
constable’s residence. He was lodged in jail all night. His wife had been
quite severely injured having pieces bitten out of her neck and considerably
injured otherwise. John was in safe keeping in jail, but the question among
the authorities was—“What shall we do with that Nigger?”
One day the jailer accidentally forgot to lock the rear door of the jail.
He was very necessarily absent from duty. John saw the open door, he saw a
place where he could get over the jail wall; the jailer got back just in time
to see John climb for liberty. The alarm was given and men started affer
the convict. “Halt! Halt! Halt!” but John wouldn’t Halt! He made for the
tall timber and the mountains north-east of town. Bellefonte never saw John
Gance again. :
The other character was “Rache” Boston, one of the best wash women of
the town. A big, stout, hearty woman the equal of any of the street in
strength and as good natured as she was big. She was a whole washing ma-
chine, wringer and all.
You are wondering about the “footless boy” and the “Rope Walk.” The
walk was up near the Pine Woods and Quaker graveyard. I do not remember
who the proprietor was, but I remember that rope like clothes line rope was
made there. The footless boy worked there after his misfortune. The boy
was the son of a moulder who worked in a foundry somewhere near the In-
graham Ax factory. His misfortune came about through fear of punishment.
A very cold time in the winter, perhaps about 1848, the boy was sent from
his home near the Rope Walk to carry dinner to his father; in crossing the
creek, on the ice, he broke through and in some way spoiled his father’s din-
ner. Knowing that he would be severely punished if he went home, he went
to a barn, near his home climbed up into the loft and buried himself in the
straw. He was not found for some days but when found his feet were frozen
so badly that there was no hope of saving them; they were amputated, and
when warmer weather came he was well enough to be an assistant on the
Walk. What became of the boy after that I do not know. Perhaps some of
the parties who knew some things about the Starkey’s can give you informa-
tion on that line.
C. H. STARKEY.
By way of explanation for younger readers of the above the east end of
Bishop street, in those days, was the square between Penn and Ridge streets.
The Bishop street hill was much steeper then than now as it had not been
graded and filled as it is today.—Ed.
ANOTHER VOICE FROM THE PAST.
From D. M. Kerlin, of Rudd, Iowa, comes another side-light on the old
days. He writes:
“I have read the “ Watchman” for about sixty-four years and still think
I can’t keep house without it.
“In your account of old business places, published several weeks ago, you
left out the most important one, to my way of thinking. I mean the Harvey
McClure harness shop, just around the corner on Bishop street, off Allegheny.
On the door, in large letters was “Republican Headquarters.” And, what ar-
guments were carried on in there from 1860 to 1865. They talked rough
about Democrats in those days and some of us fairly dreaded to pass the place
where a Democrat was anathema.
“I like Levi A. Miller's reminiscence of the good old boyhood days and
have in my possession a copy of E. Uffington Valentine’s “Hecla Sandwith,”
which I get out often and re-read when I want to be carried back to familiar
scenes and faces of my boyhood days.
Finds Song of English
Cicada Very Pleasing
If the insects mamed 8s our best
are rare and local, or at all events
not common, what shall we say of
our cicada? Can we call him a singer
at all? or if he be not silent, as some
think, will he ever be more to us than
a figure and descriptive passage In a
book—a mere cicada of the mind? He
is the most local, or has the most
limited range, of all, being seldom
found out of the New Forest district.
He was discovered there about seven-
ty years ago, and Curtis, who gave
him the proud name of Cicada anglica,
expressed the opinion that he had ne
SONZ, ov si»
At all events, I can say that un-
less we have some orthopterous in-
sect, of a species unknown to me,
which sings in trees, then our cicada
does sing, and I have heard it. The
sound which I heard, and which was
new to me, came from the upper foli-
age of a large thorn tree in the New
Forest, but unfortunately it ceased on
my approach, and I failed to find the
Singer. ...v »
Had we, in England, possessed &
stridulating mantis, which is capable
of a slower, softer sound than any
grasshopper, 1 should have concluded
that I was listening to one; but there
was not, In this New Forest music,
the slightest resemblance to the ci
cada sounds I had heard in former
years. The cicadas may be a “merry
people,” and they certainly had the
prettiest things said of them by the
poets of Greece, but I do not like
their brain-piercing, everlasting whirr;
this sound of the English cicada, as-
suming that I heard that insect, was
distinctly pleasing.—W. H. Hudson, in
“Hampshire Days.”
Odd Formations Found
in the “Hoodoo Region”
The Hoodoo region, near the head
of Miller creek, beyond the east
boundary of Yellowstone National
park, is said to furnish probably the
most striking example in existence of
the effects of erosion and wind action
upon masses of moderately solid rock.
The region was discovered by miners
in 1870, and was first explored and
reported upon by Col. Norris in 1880,
who thus described it:
“Nearly every form, animate or in-
animate, real or chimerical, ever ac-
tually seen or conjured by the imagl-
nation, may here be observed. Lan-
guage does not suffice to describe these
peculiar formations; sketches may
probably do something, and photo-
graphs more, to convey a conception
of thelr remarkable character, but
actual observation is necessary to
adequately impress the mind with the
wild, unearthly appearance of these
eroded Hoodoos of the Goblin land.
These monuments are from 50 to 200
or 300 feet in height, with narrow, tor-
tuous passages between them, which
sometimes are tunnels through perma-
nent snow or ice fields, where the
Bighorn sheep hide in safety; while
the ceaseless but ever changing moans
of the wild winds seem to chant fitting
requiems to these gnomelike monu-
ments of the legendary Indian gods.”
A Faulty Recovery
Norman has made his last appear
ance in the social whirl for this sea-
son, or at least until a certain matron
by the name of Curtis has had time
to cool off and let her better, forgiving
nature assert itself.
It happened at a dance at the club.
Norman found that he had a certain
dance with Mrs. Curtis. Mrs, Curtis
is considerably above the average In
weight. Then, on top of this fact, she
did not dance well, Now, Norman dis-
likes fat women and detests to dance
with poor dancers. So he proposed to
Mrs. Curtis that they sit out the dance.
They were watching the other danc-
ers, when Norman rather absently, as
much to make some effort at conver-
sation as anything, observe:
“Isn't Miss Rodgers pretty? So
tall, and slender, and graceful!”
“Oh, I suppose so,” Mrs. Curtis
agreed, rather grudgingly.
Then Norman realized the implied
comparison and blurted out:
“Oh, but I like fat women, too P
Plant 76,000,000 Years Old
The horsetail rush or its ancestors
dates back some 76,000,000 years, to
the day when the world was uninhab-
ited by human life. It is one of the
ten species of the sole genus of plants
that has survived from the carbon-
iferous era, when its forbears reared
thelr majestic heads to a height of
ninety feet and more on stumps six
feet thick. The plants of this era
ceased growing many millions of
years ago, when the world was swept
by oceans which buried forests, but
for more than half a century they
have provided the greatest agent of
modern industrial development and
have been the bone of contention, un-
der the alias of coal, in many a fed-
eral investigation. It has the oldest
genealogy of any living thing.—De-
troit News.
Making It Clear
A titanotheriid has arrived in this
country from Asia. That didn’t mean
anything to us until the scientists kind-
ly explained that a titanotheriid is ¢
perissodactyl upulate.—Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
Keeping to the Point
Porter—This train goes to Buffalo
and points east.
Old Lady—Well, I want a train that
gets to Syracuse, and I don’t care
which way it points.—Dry Goods Econ-
omist.
ie - — re —— ——
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First National Bank
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it_is always ready "tor serve—often with-
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We are known by the
friends we have made.
The First National Bank
81-46 Bellefonte, Pa.
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Lyon & Co. Lyon & Co.
June Specials
we
The sale of Under Muslins we will
continue while the stock lasts.
Crepe and Nainsook Gowns, Envel-
ope Chemise, Childrens Gowns----
only 98 cents.
Colored Bordered Scrim ony 10c. a yd.
One lot fine Washable Dress Goods,
all colors values up to 75¢c.--sale price 35c¢.
Coats, Suits
Reduction Sale.
TLE
® H
We have all our
Coats and Suits in this June
Long Gloves One lot of Ladies
and White only) the $1.00 quality—sale price 48c.
This Sale will Meet your Every Summer
Requirement at a Good Saving
arid
Lyon & Co. « Lyon & Co.