4 THE COLUMBIAN, BLOOMSBURG, PA. First National Bank, Bloomsburg, Pa. K. AV. M. L.nv, President. J. M. Staver, Vice President. E. 15. Tustin, Vice President. E. F. Carpenter, Cashier. The First National Bank solicits a share of vour busi ess uion the basis of 'ound a n d Progressive ankinr, Liberal and Ac curate Treatment. THE COLUMBIAN. ESTABLISHED 1S66. THE COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1902. ESTABLISHED 1837. CONSOLIDATED iSfig Published Evkkv Thursday Morning, At Bloomsburg, the County Seat of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. CEO. E. ELWELL, Editor. D. I. TASKEK, Local Editor. GEO. C. KUAN, Forumas. Tkkms: Insitlethe county $1.00 a year in advance; $1.50 if not paid in alvancc. Outside the county, $1.25 a year, strictly in Advance. All communications should he addressed THE COLUMBIAN, Llcomsl.urR, Fa. The Value of Silver Gradually railing. If Downward Rush Continuet a Gold Stand ard Basil will Result. Speaking of the diminishing value of silver an exchange says: If the present downward rush in the price of silver shall continue the whole world will go upon a gold standard basis. Free coinage of sil ver at the present bottom prices for the white metal would be a national folly akin to the unlimited manu facture of dollars out of brass. Within the past fortnight silver .old down to the lowest price it ever ommanded. Bar silver sold in Loudon at 2i"yi pence the ounce 925 ine, which is equivalent at the rate exchange to 47.96 cents the ounce looo fine. At this low rate the ratio of silver to gold is not 16 to 1, but more than 2)2 times that. When silver a few days ago sold at 21 'A pence one ounce of gold would pur chase 45.10 ounces of silver. The bullion in one American silver dollar was worth exactly 37.09 cents. ABANDONING SILVER. Nations like Mexico, which have clung to silver for centuries, are abandoning it for gold standard. Two prime causes are responsible for the cheapness of silver. The smaller cause is the vast growth in the output of that metal, which in thirty years has been 135 per cent. The greater cause.and the oue which has brought about this acute crisis in silver at this time, is the Chinese indemnitv. Last year the world's output of silver bullion was 175,000,000 ounces fine. Of this the United States produced 55,214,000. The Chinese indemnity will require a little more than one-eighth of the total or 22,122,000 ounces every year. China has actually started in to scrape up all her silver, which is being converted into gold. These enormous quantities of the white metal which are poured upon the world have made the price of it melt away. Ordinarily China is a tre mendous purchaser of silver. It is the money of the Orient. WHERE SILVER IS USED. The Philippines, the Straits Set tlements such as Singapore, Penang and Hongkong, which are controll ed by the English, use silver dollars. They are usually called "Mexican" dollars, as they are of the same value as the Mexican, which is just half the American dollar. In that part of the world an American dollar is always called a "gold dollar" be cause it passes as a gold dollar. The following table shows the world's production of silver in 1873 and up to and including 1901, for each decade, with the highest and lowest price in each year given in English pence per ounce: THr. Ounoes. tll(rri. 1H7D A3,Jrt;,noa M 15-16 im 74,7ul.00i 676 1 ILMOUVMO ti lit") 17i,W,fc70 SO 1-1(1 1V U 175,740,00) W IMtt 77 27 III 15-16 RANGE OF PRICE. The range of price in 1902 up to the present time has been: Highest, 5 15-16. and lowest, 21 11-16. From 1833 to 1S73 the price of sil ver never dropped below 58 pence the lowest record being in 1848. Since 1873 there has been a decided reaction against silver as a money Statement cf Condition September 15, '02 . RESOURCES. ton nil .... $204,14447 U. S. Bonds . . . 50,000 00 Hoiking House . . , 27,56043 Stocks and Securities . . l8j.706.75 Cash & due from Hanks & U.S.Tr. 109,21;. SJ Total $664,629.18 LIABILITIES. Capital Surplus Undivided Trofits Circulation . Deposits , , Total $ 50, ooo.ro 125,000 00 1 1,067.24 . 50,000.00 428,561.94 $664,629. 18 standard, which, coupled with the larger production of it, has vastly cheapened the price. Soon after the Franco-Prussian war Germany de monetized silver, the United States followed that example quickly after ward, the Latin countries restricted its use as a legal tender nine years ago, the mints of India stopped the flood of rupees, which had beeu free and unlimited, and at the same time this country suspended the purchase of silver bullion which had been authorized by the Sherman act. Some of those countries which are not on a gold basis are debating the proposition of becoming so. notably, Mexico. Each one that deserts sil ver strikes a blow at the white metal from which it never rallies. As China's indemnity payments have now been added to the burden it seems likely that silver will sink even lower. And if the first year of the payment has produced such an effect what will be the result of forty years of the same transaction? Neck-wear! Neck -wear! Neck wear, all styles and shapes at Ben Gidding's. A UNIQUE 0A8E, And one Which May Constitute a Precedent. A case unique in the legal annals of Pennsylvania, says the Mr. Carmel Item, was tried in the civil court of Schuylkill county at Pottsville last week. It will doubtless be followtd to its conclusion with interest as it may constitute a precedent for similar actions in the future. On December 27, 1898, Thomas McDonald of Girardville, who had driven into Mt. Carmel, came into Robertson's livery stable on Second street and asked Mr. Robertson to telephone for Dr. Longicre a veteri nary sergeon of Shenandoah, to come immediately to Mt. Carmel as his horse had been taken sick. Mr. Robertson did as he was requested, but Dr. Longacre did not come and the horse died. On investigation it was found that the message was not delivered promptly by the representa tive of the telephone company at Shenandoah, and whije it had been sent from town between one and two in the afternoon it did not reach Dr. Longacre until about five o'clock. As the horse was a valuable one, and as Mr. McDonald thought the negligence of the telephone company agent was the cause of its death he brought action against the Central Pennsylvania Telephone Company for damages in the sura of $300, and the case came up for trial last Wednes day. Testimony and arguments last ed two days, V. V. Robertson, the local liveryman, being one of the chief witnesses for the prosecution. The prosecution tried to prove negli gence on the part of the defendant in not delivering the message promptly, but the defence contended that it could not be shown that Dr. Longacre would have saved the horse even if he had received the message earlier and had repaired to Mt. Carmel without delay. The case went to the jury on Thursday afternoon at four o'clock and Friday afternoon, after twenty four hours' deliberation the jury re ported that they could not agree. They were discharged accordingly and the case was continued. Report says that the jury stood eleven for the plaintiff and one against. McDonald is by no means discouraged but will proceed with his plans for pushing the case to a conclusion. Hog Cholera medicine at Mercer's Drug and Book Store. Hon. Fred Ikeler is mentioned prominently as a candidate for chairman of the House caucus of the Democrats at the coming ses sion of the legislature. This posi tion carries with it the party leader ship in the House. Mr. Ikeler's ability was recognized in the last legislature, and he was acknowl edged to be one of the best speak ers in that body. We are leaders in Holiday Goods, Ben Gidding. Pain in the Back Are !yia1itoTn9 of a weak, torpid or et.'vgrinnt oni'.tkia of the kidneys or liver, and aro a warning it is extremely hazardous lo reflect, eo important is a healthy anion of these orgins. They arc commonly attended Vy Vs of energy, liuk ol ecuraso, and sni;i times by g'ooaiy orcbou"r. ft: id de- uroiiden.'y. "I bad i r.ir.s i-t iv.y tics, rculJ not lc(p nnl wlirn I cot I : !ti t'.ie morning felt worpj llvn thi! nluM More. I beunii tak ing Hood's fnrs;io;.r!lla mid now I enn eet nnd ct tip feolini: rested find able to do my work. I attribute my cure entirely to Hood'a i' ir.'Rpnrliln." Mwi. J. N. Ferrt, card II. S. t.opeianu, 1 Ike i:?aa, Aia. Hood's Sarsapcrilla and Pills Cure kidney end liver troubles, relieve the back, and build up the whole aystcm IMPBOVEMENTd IN EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. The pioneer schools correspond ed with pioneer life in the early period of our country s history. Needs of school supplies were few and simple, as were also the oppor tunities ot the patrons to procure them. The attention of the people was chiefly directed to clearing up the country, which occupied all of their time, and their children could not le spared much of their time for intellectual improvement. The school buildings in those days, like the houses of the people, were rude ly constructed and school supplies were of the most primary character, and scant in quantity, and it was thought that if one could read, write and cipher, was all the edu cation that one needed, as so many people could neither read nor write. Probably half the children went to school without any books, as they were very costly and precious and hard to procure, as stationery of all kinds were .scarce, and many parents too poor to buy them. But it must be remembered that the printing press was also in its pio neer days, and labored under the same disadvantages that all other pioneer enterprises did. under such circumstances, nei ther teachers nor pupils could have any higher ambition than "go through the books," then in vogue whether they mastered them or not, as each teacher (perhaps then bet ter known as "master") was a law unto himself, and his qualifications certified to, by his ability to con quer the pupils, if not by moral suasion, then by brute foice and "hickory oil." Each school was independent of all other districts, and the only test of superiority of rival districts, was in the old fashioned spelling bee. It appears that the patrons of the schools in those days took more interest in these spelling bees than do the patrons of our schools in the more modern days of first class school facilities, and lull supplies, with all the paraphernialia of school apparatus. Whole communities, old and young, male and female, used to attend the weekly spelling bee, in which was as much interest manifested as in a circus show. Here the champion spellers within reach of all districts, assembled and engaged in the contest for the championship or "belt," which they prized more highly than a Jeffries or a Fitzsimmons could prize the pugilistic belt for the championship. At all events there was more honor in the spelling "belt" than is ia the pugilistic "belt." But with our country's develop ment and improvement the pioneer schools faded with pioneer life, and both were supplauted by a higher and more refined civilization, and hence the people and their children no longer grope in intellectual dark ness, nor stumble over superstitious relics of past ignorance, as our forefathers cleared the country from the forestry and removed all im pediments and rubbish from the soil that the industrious husband man might reap thirty, sixty and a hundred fold as the product of his labor, by properly cultivating the land; So, in like manner, they prepared the way for intellectual advancement and progression, that by the use of all modern education al machinery.our schools reap more than a hundred fold of educational advantages of which we boast as the triumph and glory of our American Institutions. Yet, with all the glorious im provements which lifted humanity to a higher and nobler state of life and general advantages in every department of human activity, we love to take an occasional backward glance, and crown with glory and praise the noble pioneers and their immediate successors that is, our ancestors, who paved the way that such glorious results might follow in the wake of their noble deeds; but which they never dreamed could ever be accomplished by their descendents. It the first settlers and founders of Bloomsburg could rise and see that beautiful and magnificent town, teeming with industry and busi- wyiit jwttx umui rtJarjuiauaii.i'uigj.aaL. are XMAS GIFTS. House Coats, Velours and Cassemeres 2.75, 3.50 to I5.00 Bath Robes, Imported Velours, 3.00, 5.00, to 15.00 Fine Silk Umbrellas English Twills, Etc. i. 00 to 6.00 Fine Dress Gloves Pique, Mocha, Rein deer, Silk Lined Driv ing Gloves, Fur Lined, 50c. to 5.00 Gentlemen's Silk Handkerchiefs. Fine Linen, Cambric, Initial Linens. 25c. to 1. 00 Gentlemen's Neckwear In the latest designs in all the various styles. 25c. to 1. 00 Suspenders-The latest novelties.IIarris, Presi dent, Guiot shoulder braces silver mounted. 25c. to 2.50 Question 2EC ness, and abundantly supplied with railroad and trolley facilities, and in communication with all the out side wortd by telegraph and tele phone lines and supplied with newspapers, dailies and weeklies trom a half dozen printing presses, and the financial wants supplied by three National Banks while the schools and churches met all the requirements of the intellectual and spiritual wants of people and child ren and second to none in any part of our country, anJ abve all the State Normal School, not only the pride and glory of Bloomsburg, but a state pride and the central star of the first magnitude in the constel lation of the institutions of learning in the educational sky of our great commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1 Thus Bloomsburg stands m point 1 01 importance in me iront row lor beauty of scenery, for architectural art, neatness of appearance, intelli gence aud refinement, and a high state of civilization, at all of which the pioneer founders would stand aghast in utter wonder and amaze ment and declare that they had never lived there. But what is true of Bloomsburg in this respect is true of every locality within the bounds ot our state. Can it be possible that for the next hundred years this marvelous improvement will accelerate and outdo the last hundred years? If so, what can we imagine Blooms burg to be at the end of the 20th century ? This is a thought that impresses us with wonderful possi bilities. Yet, it is all only the out growth of pioneer life and the development of pioneer ideas. Be hold, what "mighty oaks from little acorns grow," J. C. W. Sheriff Knorr, assisted by Frank Deitrick. J. S. Cole, J. T. Fetterolf and Spades Welliver took the con victed horse thieves Katz and Ber ger to the Eastern Penitentiary on Tuesday. The Columbia Countv W. C. T. U. executive meeting will be held at Mrs. Agnes Smith's, instead of w. t. 1. U. headquarters, on Saturday, 13th inst. Genuine seal driving gloves $5.00 at Ben Gidding's. David Mauser, one of Grovania's best known residents died at his home in that place on Tuesday, aged 64 years. Besides a wife, he is survived by two brothers, and a sister. The latter is Mrs. Levi Weaver of Bloomsburg. Judge Charles C. Jones, of Monte zuma, N. Y., is probably the most ponderous jurist in the United States. He is six feet one inch in height and weighs 416 pounds. . Seven years in business is our reference. Gem Steam Laundty. . Dr. B. F. Gardner has gone to Philadelphia, to attend the clinic of Prof. Lorenz, the noted Australian surgeon, which will be held before the seniors of Jefferson Medical College to-day. rf 1 rilh ffiii TOWNSEN Xmas Gifts. D'S Fit, r Wc Style JM. A l Best I 1 A- 1 1 ul ues -r M I'riee J and is I I Guaran- the Key Tf f ia''&Xtr 1 1 I isfaction to the iy Uv 0 in all Clothes rffiz&rU, 0ur f Dealings TOWNSEN D'S ESSE The Christmas Selling Begins. and it begns right. Begins with every section fully for tified to meet the demards of the gift givers (and who is not a gift giver at Christmas?) To tell you about this big stock is the object of this "ad." Can't tell you abou all of it by any means; can on1y suggest to you the strength of some of its most prom'nent features, a hint here and there to guide you in your buying. A visit to this store will do the rest, and this visit you are cordially invited to make at as eany a r'.te as possible. You'll find a Christmas spirit jn every part of this store. We've Bought Dolls Enough lo go Around. - At least we think so. Dolls of all sizes, dressed and un dressed. You'll find doll buv. ing here very satisfactory, 25c. to $2.98. Ij ICs an Umbrella Try This Shop A careful study of your wants in this important item has been made. Materials of the best. handles selected with the great est care. Price 50c. to $5.00. The Great Christmas Book Stock. ; The success of former Christ mas book selling has en couraged us to put in a big stock of all kinds of books for children and at prices that will clean them out by Christmas, Sc. to $1.00. A Great Christmas Sale of Gloves. The glove provision for gifts is most complete, especially bought lines all up to date. We know of no gift more sensible than gloves. Gray, tan and black mocha gloves at $1.00. Heavy mannish stitched gloves at $1.00. Colored Centimeri gloves at $1-45. Fine quality of ladies' kid gloves at Si. 00. 50 dozen ladies' golf gloves, assorted, 25c. and 50c. F. P. Freight Bates go up. The advance in wages made by the Pennsylvania and to be made by the Reading and other railroads will soon be followed by an increase in freight rates. An inability of the .oads in this state to handle the business offered to them has doub: less had something to do with th'.s decision. The ireight rate advauee will, it is asserted, suffice to pay lor the increase in wages. No nicer, in fact none as beautilul as the lamps that Mercer the Drug gist is selling. XMAS GIFTS. Hats Soft and Stiff. Dunlap, Knox and Miller style. 1. 00 to 3.00 Toques, Tarns and Novelties in Caps for Children. New and pretty. 25c. to 1.00 Shirts lor Dress, for Business. Monacle Gold and Silver in soft and stiff. i. 00 to 1 50 Dicss Suit Cases, Bags, Telescopes. New and special for the Holidays. 1. 00 to 15.00 Night Robes in Mus lin, Flannelette, Etc 50c. to 1.00 J Pretty Overcoats for Boys and Children. 2.0O to 8.00 Gentlemen's Swagger Overcoats . in all the various shades. 5.00 to 25.00 The Sale of Handkerchiefs. We have provided for the wants of handkerchief buyers as never before. More than double what we had last year. Fine Handkerchiefs for ladies and men at 5c. 175 dozen Ladies' Fancy Handkerchiefs for you to choose from at 15c. or two for 25c. The price 5c. to 2.98. The Toys and Games t A maze of wonders for the little folks. To itemize all is impossible in our allotted space. iron toys for the little folks, ioc. to $1.25. Mechanical toys, every kind, 25c. to $1.00. ' Most every kind of games there for children and big peo ple. Price ioc. to $3.50. The Host of other Hems for Gifts. These we can only hint at, but you'll find the inspection o them profitable and the buying more orofiuble still. Rocking horses, $2.98 to 4.75. Children's go-carts, 25c. to $3.98. Ornaments for trimming trees 5c. to 25c. Tinsel for trimming, 22c. a ?iece to 30c. ress Suit Cases, Silks, Fancy Rockers, China, Morris Chairs, Shoes, Side Boards; Jardinieres, Toilet Sets, Pocketbooks, Silverware, Beaded Bags, Wrist B'b-. " Dress Gnrs I Le ggins, Dinner Sets, I Co a ts, Bed Room Suits, Pursel. TAILOR-MADE BUIT8- N. S. Tingley has accepted 'the agency for Reinach, Ullman & Co. of Chicago, me chant tailors, and is ready to suoply made-to measure clothing at prices lower than can be obtained elsewhere. He has a large line of samples to select trom. Hii place of business is the third floor of the Columbian building. 41. L. E. Whary imports his china direct. He has uo jobber's profit to pay and hence his prices a'e the lowest. 4.3t,