| SQUAN CREEK FOLK. & Jep Jones Tells About a Fourth of »",« Jul# Celebration. JjS Copyright, 18r>8. By M. QUAD. |j| One y'ar, along about the Ist of May, things was goin' so well in Squan Creek 1 tiat everybody was fevlin' good, an<l Joshua Uriiliu got up at a meetiu' ot the Liar's club and said: "Bein' this town would hev fit the British to the last gasp, if tha' had bin any town here doorin' the revolution ary war. and bein' all of us stand ready to sacrifice our last drop of blood fur this glorious republic, I move that we go in fur a reg'lar old-fashioned Fourth of July celebrashun this y'ar. We ain't bad a celebrashun since the cannon busted and killed two men. seven y'ars ago, while liarnegat and Brigantine hev putin their best lieks every time " Joshua's words was received with shouts of applause, and Moses Leffing well got up and seconded the moshun and said: "When this guv'ment wants patriots to shed their blood by the gallon all it has to do is to telegraf to Squan Creek. 1 don't want to be carried off by mumps or measles, but when it cums to layin' my life down on the alter of my ken try I'm ready to stretch out both my legs and die. I know that the rest of ye feel the same way. and I feel that we orter set an example to the kentry at large." Several others spoke in the samp strain, and it was unanimously re solved that Squan Creek should holt! the biggest and gloriousest celebrashun in all her history. Varus committees was appinted. and every man present put down his name fur five dollars. There was sicli enthoosiasm that four benches was broken all to smash and the door busted off its hinges. Fur two or three days everybody was brag THEY WAS STILL J A WIN' ABOUT IT. v _ gin' around about what was goin' t$ be done, and sum of the folks felt otic that they couldn't stand sthi, but •then sunthin' happened. Adlnabad Jones went to Josh Griffin an'isaid: *'Look-a-here, Josh, whenever a town Siolds a celebrashun they alius hev sum foody to make a speech, don't they?" . "They alius do." says Josh. "Somebody to talk alwnit tyranny j thro win' the tea in the Boston harbor, battle of Bunker Ilill, anu so on?" "That's the sort." "And who's goin' to do it fur us?" said Adinabad. as he begins to gesture with his right arm. "I reckon I'll tackle that job myself, I ain't no great speech-maker, but I've liin readin' up on things, and if I don't happen to hev a cold in my head I think 1 kin keep the crowd a-sboutin* from start to finish." "Josh. I want that place fur my self." said Abinadab, as he swallers a Jump in his throat. "I ain't no brag, ns you know, but I kin make the be«t speech of any man in this town. I've read more about that revolutionary war than all the rest of ye put together, and I've got a voice that kin be heard two miles." That was the beginnin' of the row. 3Tsoth men wanted the place, and both •said they'd go right outer the celebra shun onless they got it. They was still wranglin' over it when Levi Stokes meets Sam Andrews and says: "Sam. if we hev a celebrashun we will hev a parade with it, won't we?" "Of course," says Sam. "And the feller who leads that parade on a hoss will be the grand marshal?" "Yes." "Wall. I ain't dyii.' to show off, but bein' my great-grandfather fell at Lex ington, arid bein' I was a three-months' man in the last war, they'll naturally ■expeet me to be grand marshal. What kind of a uniform v/culd you wear if you was me?" "I wouldn't wear any." says Sam. "If I was you I'd git into about the middle of the pureeslnin. and march •along shoutin* fur liberty or death." "Fur which reasons?" asks Levi. "Fur the reasons t Jiut Fin to be grand marshal myself. I ain't doin' no brag gin', but I'm free to say that when I'm on hossback everybody says 1 looks like Gineral Washington crossin' the Delaware. I was grand marshal of the parade al Keyport seven years ago, anc" it was the howlinest success ever heard of." "Sain," says Levi, as he tiM'ns red and white, "I'm either goin'to be grand marshal of that parade, or I won't give a red cent fur the celebrashun nor yell one yell fur liberty!" "Same here!" says Sam, and they was still jawin' about it, when up corns Absolam Honeyman, and says: "Thar' ain't no use of you fellers wastin' breath over it. My grandfather fit at Bunker Hill, and I was wounded at Bull Run, and I don't take a back seat fur nobody. It's already settled that I'm to be the grand marshal." On the same day, as Ike Tanner was goin' down on the wharf wliistlin' "Yankee Doodle," and wawtin* to die fur his kentry, he meets Mark Duster, who says: "Ike, it's a glorious thing to die fur liberty, ain't it?" "You bet," says Ike. "I'm wishin' I could perish this very minit, though my ole woman is goin' to hev pork and beans fur dinner. Say, Ike, thar'll be fireworks in the evenin', won't they?" "Of course. Can't hev no celebra shun without fireworks." "And tliar's got to be a boss of them fireworks?" "Fur sure, and he's got to be the big gest kind of a patriot, too. Nobody around Squan Creek has ever heard me do any braggin', but I'd jest as lief tell you that I lost a grandfather and four uncles at Monmouth. British killed the hull five of 'em right thar'." "I had two grandfathers and five uncles killed in the same battle," says Ike, arter a little thinkin'. "And what of It?" "Nothin', 'cppt that I'm the man to I boss them fireworks." "Not this y'ar, Jke, 'cause I've al ready been selected fur the place. I'm dependin' on you to bring up the tail of the daytime parade with a banner of 'Death to Tyrants' above yer head." "I'll bedurned if I will!" shouts Ilcc; and the two fell to abusin' each other and ruakin' threats of what they would do. In the crowd which gathered round 'em was Hank Taylor and Dr. Green, and as they shook hands the Hoc says: "Hank, whenever ye kin spare them Hve dollars fur the celebrashnu I'll take 'ern and check ye off." "What'll you take 'em fur?" asks Hank. "Fur the reason that I'm goir.' to be treasurer. I don't care for the honor, but bein' I lost seven cousins in the revolutionary war, it was thrust upon me." "T don't care nuthin' about your cousr ins," shouts Hank, "and I'm goin' to be treasurer myself." "But you can't be." "But I will be, or I won't mix in." Then Silas Beebe, .Tohn Wakefield, and Joe Horner all chipped in, and said the place was to cum to them; and there was a row in which several men got battered. It was a reg'lar ruction all over town fur three or four days, with everybody wantin' an office and nobody wantin' to be plain folks; and then a special ineelin' of the Liars' club was called. When it was opened, Deacon Hardbuckle got up and said: "Thar ar' sum towns which ain't got ro patriotism 'tall, and sum which has got too blamed much. One 'pears to be about as bad as t'other. As we all want to die fur our kentry, but as thar' ain't no chance jest at present, 1 move that we postpone the celebra shun and keep right on diggin' fur damn and tongin' fur oysters." That was the way out of it.and \v< took it, ami nobody's bin id jit 'nufi since that day to more for another eel cbrashun. CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1898. MRS. LILLIAN STEVENS. Minn Willard'" Saeee»i»or no Head <>l the W, C. T. IJ. Well Kqul|>i>ed for the Work. It was a foregone conclusion before the meeting of the National Women's Christian Temperance union, at St. Paul, that Mrs. Lillian M. N. Stevens, Dl' Maine, would succeed the late Miss Willard, as president of the National W. D. T. U. When the day for the election of officers came Mrs. Stevens received all but 39 of the 356 votes cast for the president of the greatest organization of women in the world. Mrs. Stevens comes to her new offic* admirably equipped for the duties that MRS. LILLIAN M. N. STEVENS. (President of the National Woman's Chris tian Temperance Union.) before her wait. She was one of Miss Willard'® nearest and dearest friends, and was with her duringher last hours. Few women have had larger experience in temperance and philanthropic work. She has for 22 years held the oflice of president of the state W. C. T. U. of Maine, and is now president of that most active tempera .ce organization. She has been recording secretary of the national W. C. T. U. She had also been vice president-at-large of the national union, Miss Willard, herself, nominat ing her to that office. She has always been one of the most aggressive work t rs, not. only in the temperance move ment, but in the cause having for its object the uplifting of humanity. She is now the Maine representative on the National Conference of Charities and Corrections. She was the warm per sonal friend of Neal Dow. They spent many years working together to bring rbout the present temperance laws in Maine. A large-hearted, intensely earnest ai d active woman and one of very clear and acute perceptions, Mrs. Stevens will wear worthily the mantle of Miss Willard. NORWAY'S NEW FLAG. It* Adoption Will He Fixieht Vig orously and Pernlntently hy the StvedlKh People. A great stir has been caused in Nor way and Sweden by the recent action of the storthing at Christiauia in the matter of the Norwegian flag. The storthing has voted that hereafter Nor way's banner shall float without a jack —the symbol of the union with Sweden. Some say iliat should King Oscar veto the resolution two more diets must pass upon the matter before it can go into effect; others that the new flag will come into immediate use. Since 1844 the closest relations have been main tained between Norway and Sweden. At that time the flag of each nation was changed so that the jack in the upper left-hand corner combined the colors of the other nation. For several years past, however, there has been a growing feeling of discontent in Nor way concerning the close relatious of WITHOUT THE JACK. (Norway and Sweden Are at Outa About Their Flags.) the two powers. This dissatisfaction King Oscar has striven to assuage. The two countries have entirely separate and distinct governments, but are ruled by the same king, Oscar of Sweden. Each country has its own parliament, which passes laws for its respective country. All laws are subject to the approval or disapproval of the king. The flag of Norway, with the jack left out, will be four red corners, with a Greek cross of blue through the center. The Swedish flag has four blue corners, with a jack of red, blue and yellow in the upper left-hand corner and a Greek cross of yellow in the center. The Nor wegian flag had formerly the jack, which contained the bar of yellow as a symbol of the union with Sweden, but this will not appear in the flag in the future. Not In Need of Hint*. Nothing galls the natural pride of the true-blue Scotchman more than to have Scotland overlooked. A striking instance of this feeling is said to have occurred at the battle of Trafalgar. Two Scotchmen, messmates and bosom cionies. happened to be stationed near other when the celebrated sig nal was given from Admiral Nelson's ship: "England expects every man to do his duty." "Not a word about poor Scotland," dolefully remarked Donald. His friend cocked his rye, and. turn ing to his companion, said: "Man. Don- Rid, Scotland kens weel eneuch that nae son o' hers needs to be tell't to dae his du'y. That's just a bint to the Eng- Ushreg." BLIND TOM'S MOTHER. Her Name Is Charity Wiggins and She Is 85 Years Old. Convinced That Her Talented Son liiix Keen Prejudiced Aieulimt Her b> I'erNoiiN Who Want to Con trol Ilia Money. It is 110! usually known that Blind Tom's mother is alive, writes Annie Hittenhouse in the Philadelphia Press, ller name is Charity Wig-gins. &lie lives in Columbus, (Ju., with one of her daughters. Aunt Charity is 85 years old. and is one of the colored people who belong to the old southern regime. She is courteous, intelligent, deferential and wins the respect of her own race and the white race. She is looked upon in the light of an oracle by the colored people in Colum bus, for she has traveled far and wide with her son, the famous Blind Tom, musician Aunt Charity never gets tired of tell ing of her son Tom. If the northern visitor who frequents the Georgia re torts will go out to the suburbs where she lives Aunt Charity will receive the guest with courtesy and good will and sit and lalk to her about her son, the genius of the age. But Aunt Charity has a grievance, and she will tell you that as soon as she tells you anything about Tom. She says he is not writing to her as often as he should. Aunt Charity believes that the people he is living with at Highlands, X. J., have prejudiced him against her and that is the reason she rarely iiears from him. She probably has a good deal in her favor in this prejudice, for there is something very queer about Blind Tom's being kept so closely and guard ed so secretly in that queer old her mitage on the coast of New Jersey. The natives in that place say that it is as much as a man's life is worth to talk to Blind Tom; that he is guarded like a prisoner. If poor old Aunt Chari ty knew all about her son that the natives are saying, the old soul would be sorrier than she is now. It certainly AUNT CHARITY WIGGINS. (Better Known as the Mother of the Fa mous Blind Tom.) is true that somebody has Blind Tom's money, and his mother has not a bit of it. She traveled for nine years with Blind Tom, and that traveling was as near Heaven as she will ever get this side of there a i lleaven. The other Heaven which she enjoys in this life is the ex ceeding astonishment she creates in her own race by talking to them for hours in the dusky southern twilight of the wonderful things she saw and the things she heard during these great nine years when she was north. How ever, old Aunt Charity always winds up with a shake of the head and says: "But I am mighty glad to be back in Georgia!" Aunt Charity says the reason she has for believing that Blind Tom was prej udiced against her was the same rea son that made her leave New York. She was there four years ago. and Tom came to her and said: "Mother, you must go home." "Tom, what put that into your head?" Then he put out his hands as if he would shove her away He said: "If you don't go we will make you go,'' and he intimated that the peo ple had told him to say this. The people were evidently those shrewd ones who knew that if Tom's family had Tom's money there would not be much left for them. Aunt Chari ty gives it out as a fact that Tom is only 40 years old, whereas the world has always considered him to be a de crepit oid man because he has gone out of its sight. Aunt Charity is n«>t only a character in Georgia as the mother of Blind Tom, but she is the mother of 20 other chil dren. When you ast< her the names of her children it is impossible for her to recollect all of them. Nothing is more pleasant to the visi tor to Columbus than to find Aunt Charity and togo out and talk to her about Tom's being imprisoned away from her and hear the stories of his great power. She is as perfectly sure as she is of Heaven that he is the only great genius that America has produced. With a great deal of interest she tells you of the first day when the little Blind Tom crept to the master's piano and played a tune. The Atlanta Constitution recently published this excellent picture of old Aunt Charity, which is here repro duced. As this picjure sliowa, she is in perfect health, is as fine as ever mentally, tmd expects to live to be moie than 100, and has only one trouble — Blind Tom's behavior to her. Very Olil Chinese Coin". There are in circulation in China at the tire sent time coins bearing the names of emperors who died 2,000 years ago. Ohlrfli of ttrltifth Famlllen. The oldest family in the British islands is that of Mar in Scotland, which dates from 1003. \«> A p|»n r<>n t Motive. Jack the Kisser was brought into court. "Are these the complaining wit nesses?" asked the judge. "We are," they answered. The judge inspected them. "Oflicer," he said, "take the prisoner to the detention hospital for examina- j tion as to his sanity. This is not a criminal case."—Chicago Tribune. An Issplaiintinii. Says the dominie: "These dames protest they're poor— Vet see the sumptuous gowns they wear." "Mayhap they've paid for their gowns, my dear," Says the dominie's wife, disposed to be fair. —Detroit Journal. AMONG THE PARTRIDGES. /HP"#' | is "You'd better 'urry up into line, sir, or you'll bag some big game."—St. Paul's. In fn <li •• inn lile MyKtery. "'Nothing so hard, but search will find It out," The poet writes—untrue, beyond a doubt; \V hen she the truth would I'iue, no bard nor sage Can lear»> the figures of a woman's age. —Chicago Record. The Smile Thing. Leon—l want to get a private mes sage to Benidick about our stag racket to-morrow night. I'll just drop him a letter marking it "Personal and Pri vate." Perkins —Why don't you address it to Mrs. Benidick and be done with it? — N. V. Evening Journal. 10r I i "That's a very full moon," said the visitor to Hobbletown. "Full!" sneered the oldest inhabit ant, contemptuously. "Mister, you ought ter hev seen how full the moons got way back in the winter of thirty nine!" —N. Y. Truth. lln«l SiM'ii One. "Did you ever see a horse race that jou could say was absolutely honest?" "I think 1 did, wunst," said Rubber neck Bill. "The feller what was ahead had stoled the hoss." —Indianapolis Journal. llln I'oor ArKiiinelit. "Your money Is nothing at all to me," The lover impatiently cried. "l'hen get out; you haven't a business head," Her ricl old father replied. —Chicago Daily News. MAKING SITtK. Maud —Do you pin your faith on Charlie? Ethel —I'm not satisfied with pinning. 1 want a good, hard knot tied. — Phila delphia Press. An OIIN< rviitlon. Chill breezes now The tree-tops woo. The snowbird's note I falling due. —N. V. Truth. OIT fur (lie ..oneymoon. Bridegroom—l am afraid we will look so happy and contented that everyone will know we are just married. Best Man (consolingly)— Don't worry, old chap; it will be only for a day or two, you know! —Puck. Still <ill (he Gu. Yeast —I see that joke about a fel low's stolen umbrella is still going around. Criuisonbeak —So is the umbrella. — Yonkers Statesman. Out of the Service. "So your engagement to the Lafay ette avenue millionaire's daughter is off, eh?" "Y'es; I've been mustered out." — Judge. A Fr«'«| uon ( llpltiipli. No more he'll ever Kreet ua, He now Is with the blest; He got appendicitis. And tlie doctors did the rest. —Judge. Wasn't Noeewwn r>\ Singleton—Did you send cards tr> your friends announcing the birth of your baby? Benedick —No; none of my friends are deaf.—N. Y. Truth. Hon It Hnppened. Sympathetic Visitor (to prisoner)— My good man, what brought you litre? Facetious Prisoner —Borrowing rnon ey. "Hut they don't put people in prisou for borrowing money!" "Yes, I know, but I bad to knock the man down three or four times before ho would lend it to me." —I'ick-Me-Up. A (luewtion of Dt-fteent. O'Brit n—And so Jaykers is prcud his descint, is ht#? McTurk--Yes; he is terribly stuck up about it. O'Brien —Well, begorra, Oi've a bit av a dt.'Scint ineself to boast about. Oi (icecinded four stories wanst whin lha 1 idder broke and niver sphiiled a brick!— Baltimore Sun. Succetmf ill. ILiram —How's your boy Zeke gittiu' along down in Noo York? Silas—\Yal, 1 hain't heard fiom him in a long time, but 1 guess he's gone iuto the noospaper business, coz 1 rea ] in tlie paper that he wuz corespondent in a big lawsuit down there. —Town Topics. Very Strangle. "Did you know that th~fc scien tists have come to the conclusion that a decapitated head can think, al though it cannot speak?" "That's queer, when it is so much easier to talk than to think."—Cincin nati Enquirer. Siune Herniation. Abe Johnson —Did you evah walk ten miles to rob a chicken coop and den find dar was nullin' in it but a bear trap, a spring gun and a bulldog? Pete Jackson —No; but I married fo' money once! —Puck. I'erlla of Mediocrity. Meek Husband —You ought to re member, Henrietta, that you married me for better or worse. Aggressive Wife —That's just it! I got fooled. You are neither one!— Ch icago Tribune. The Tent. If you want to know the age of a horso You can tell It by his teeth, of course; But the age of a turkey best Is known Not by his teeth, but by your own. —Judge. Hi; KNEW. m. II f\ - Elderly Spinster (to young reprobate, who has been swearing)—Oh how can you use such dreadful language? Da you know what becomes of little boyn who do so? Billy—Y'es'tn; they gits ter be cab drivers!— Fun. Mental Uenelitn. At clubs now woman makes a spread Arrayed in silks and smiles: Her ear upon the papers read. Her eye upon the styles. —Chicago Daily Record. Monotououxly Fiipennlre. "We had to give our pet dog away." "Why?" "Well, he ran away nine times, and every time the same boy brought hini back and charged me 'ii cents." —De- troit Free Press. A Hurry Cull. "I called Bigguns a liar right to hil face yesterday." "Is that so? What did he say?" "I don't know.l happened to b« called away before lie had time to re ply."—Chicago Daily News. Tlie lie*; in II mm; of Her Utile. Susie —Papa, what makes a man al ways give a woman a diamond engage ment ring? Her Father —The woman. —Jewelers' Weekly. Itrotlierly. They quarreled over her, but now They as two brothers be— For the tfirl since haa declared herself Each fellow's sister. See? —Detroit Journal. FAMIL.IAH LINES. I COlTOJj^l Young Man —I came to inquire wheth er you have read those jokes yet that I left here a few days ago? Editor—Oh, often. —St. Louis IJe public. A tinnnclary. Loving my friend and loving truth, By doubts and fears I'm torn In half. Because mj friend has asked, in sooth» That 1 should write his epitaph. —Robert Gilbert Welsh, In Judge. Unco mint n lon able. "Toby Boggs can't stand his own so ciety a single evening." "Well—he knows himself better thaa we do." —Chicago Daily ltccord.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers