VOL. LXVI.
SCHOOL REPORT
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Sapt. Gramley's Educational Report of Cen.
tre County for the Year Ending June
Oth, 1893,
The report of the schools of this
county I submit will be brief, as only a
part of the school year came under my
supervision. My thanks are due the
retiring Superintendent; Mr. D. O. Et-
ters, for suggestions given me in my
official duties. It is to regretted
that our county covers so large a terri-
tory-—the largest in the state—that it
is impossible for a superintendent to
accomplish much by way of supervis-
ion, being able to make but one or at
most two visits to each school in
year,
No enthusiastic spirit has been
shown to improve school grounds by
way of fencing, planting trees, eto.
While a few districts are moved to a
just sense of duty in this respect, too
many utterly neglect this work, by
providing no grounds at all, or locating
the houses op the edge of some forest,
where private property in the form of
a large uncultivated domain, issuppos- |
ed to answer the purposes of the play-
ground. Many out-houses are in a bad
condition, but recent legislation will,
no doubt, bring about much needed
improvement.
We still have a number of poor
houses, but they are fast disappearing
and giving way to a popular demand
for better facilities. In a number
instances I have noticed that teachers
succeeded in arousing an interest on
the part of patrons by way of decorat-
ing the rooms, and thereby
make school life home-like. Some have
shown taste in this direction that
highly creditable. Do we err when
we say that beautifully decorated
school rooms are indicative of good dis-
ipline and successful teaching?
Seven new houses were built during
the year. Space forbids to give details
of each one; all are good buildings, fur-
nished with improved seats and desks.
The house in Miles township is an ele-
gant two-story brick building, contain-
ing four rooms,—a model of conven-
ience and comfort, and certainly re-
flects great credit upon the directors
under whose supervision it was erect.
ed.
Credit must be given to some of our
boards, for the interest shown in fur-
nishing school rooms with valuable
apparatus; many more boards should
do likewise, but a suggestion kindly
given may not be amiss. Buy the
needed apparatus at fair prices, but
give no audience to agents who come
asking exorbitant figures for ordinary
material, and whose sole object to
deplete your treasury and replenish
their own purses accordingly; also re-
quire your teachers to use the apparat-
us furnished.
The increased state appropriation
has stimulatéd the directors in eight
districts to increase the teachers sal-
aries, while in eleven the term was
made longer, but the tax rate of quite
a number of districts was diminished,
on account of the increased liberality
of the state, thus necessitating a mis
application of the appropriation.
The progress of the schools in a
number of districts has been hindered
by a lack of books, and by irregular at-
tendance, but a panacea for the former
evil has been furnished us by our late
legislature; the latter evil still con
fronts us, and will so continue, until
parents comprehend the importance
of regular attendance, and will not,
on the slightest pretext, allow the
children to remain out of school for
days at a time, and thus permit them
to acquire careless habits.
Columbus Day, Friday, October 21,
was the great day for the children of
our county. In many of the rural
towns, the schools, patrons, members
of the G. A. R., and other civic organ-
izations, celebrated the occasion in an
appropriate manner. Bellefonte and
Philipsburg each had over one thous-
and children In procession every day
carrying the national flag.
Our Teachers’ Institute was held in
Bellefonte, Dec. 26-80, and was unus-
ually well attended by teachers, di-
rectors and citizens. The exercises
were interesting and practical, Those
in attendance prondunced it one of the
best Institutes ever held in the coun
ty. Instruction was given by Supt.
James M. Coughlin, Maj. James M.
Lee, Prof. J. G. Anderson, Gen. Jas.
A. Beaver, Gen. D. H, Hastings, D.
F. Fortney, and Rev. W. E. Fischer.
The evening entertainments consisted
of lectures by Supt. Coughlin, Maj.
Lee and John R. Clarke, and a musie-
al and elocutionary entertainment by
“The Schuman Concert Company.’
On Thursday--Directors’ Daya very
large number of directors assembled in
the Bellefonte High School Building
and were addressed by Maj. Lee, Prof.
Anderson and D. F. Fortney, Esq.
Local were held in a num.
be
a
of
school
is
is
well attended. This educational fea-
ture is slowly developing, but will ul-
timately become a potent element for
good,
While a majority of our teachers re-
alize the importance of special prepa-
ration for school work, and are avail-
ing themselves of every opportunity
to increase their usefulness, we still
have too many who simply “keep”
school—who have no love for the work
and should not be employed.
For the improvement of our schools
I would offer the following
SUGGESTIONS
More professional study by teach-
ers,
o
3. Parents and directors, visit your
schools,
8. Exercise more care in selecting
teachers,
4. Abolish
school.”
Place more dictionaries in the
schools, and have the pupils taught to
use them.
6. Comply with the law regarding
the study of physiology and hygiene
in the schools.
I desire to acknowledge my appreci-
ation of the help received on the part
of teachers, directors and the press of
the county, in the performance of my
the night ‘spelling
5.
I also tender my sin-
cere thanks to the Department of Pub-
lic Instruction for prompt advice and
favors received.
C. L. GRAMLEY,
Co Bupt.
mins fp fl
A Serious Ranaway,
On last Thursday Mr. E. H. Carr,
of Milesburg, died at the home of John
Bilger, in Spring township, from in-
juries received in a runaway at that
place on Tuesday evening. Mr. Carr
was accompanied by another gentle-
The
team became unmanagable and ran
into a ditch where they fell, and the
buggy turned over them. Mr. Carr's
injuries consisted of several ribs being
dislocated and a stick piercing his
lung. He was about 60 years of age
and one of Milesburg’s leading and
most respected citizens,
A —
Nominated for Judge,
General Benjamin F. Fisher was on
Friday informed of his nomination by
the Bucks county Republican Conven-
tion as Judge in the Seventh judicial
district by a committee of three, who
came down for that purpose. Gen.
Fisher was formerly of this valley.
He was a son of the well-known Re |
formed minister, Rev. P. 8. Fisher, of |
Boalsburg., The General is a brother
of Dr. Fisher of Zion, one of our prom-
inent physicians,
his
i orsdesic—
Gives the Law
The Lewistown Gazette, of last week
lays down the for the informa
tion of the dummies in the town coun-
cil of that town; it justly cautions the
borough dads agsinst going beyond
their authority as the people will fall
back upon their rights as against any
illegal actions of that illustrious body.
It is a good thing to have a fearless
newspaper to guard the people's inter-
ests; it makes the jades wince, when
they find an obstacle to wrongs and
impositions,
——————— A ——
The Trouble at an Ead,
The trouble between miners and op-
erators in the Clearfield region is at
an end, the miners agreeing to accept
monthly pay as long as the present
stringency lasts. A number of mines
that were closed started work last
week.
The Clearfield region as well as the
Centre county mining region has ex.
perienced dull times for three years,
and it is gratifying to learn that a new
trouble has been averted, which would
have made bad things worse,
law
Automatic Signals,
The Pennsylvania railroad company
have formally adopted what is known
as the automatic electro-pneumatic
signal on the entire system. This
device is controlled by the acting of
the trains on the rails and is so arrang-
ed that the signal is given when a
train is quite a long distance from any
point of dan ger.
Kill Him at the Start.
When a man playfully points a pis.
tol or gun at you, knock him down;
don’t stop to inquire whether it is
loaded or not; knock him down.
Don’t be particular what you knock
him down with, only see that he is
thoroughly knocked down, If a coro-
ner's inquest must be held, let it be on
the other fellow-—he won't be missed.
»
Starting » Boom for Hastings,
was inaugurated in Chester by the
organization of the “Daniel H. Hast
ings Republican Club.” There was a
large attendance of enthusiastic Re-
publicans. A committee of five was
Poioted to tender a
CAPITOL GOSSIP
WEAK KNEED DEMOCRATS ADVIS
G DELAY.
of the Corner Stone of the Capitol,
Committees at Work.
WASHINGTON, 18~One
dred years ago today the corner
of a building which many
foreigners have pronounced to be the
most beautiful and imposing structure
in the world was laid in this city in
the presence of a few hundred people,
That building was the
day a mighty host estimated
150,000 SK) IKK) people
around the statue of George Washing-
ton, which sits majestically facing the
rising sun upon the plateau east af the
Capitol, to do honor to the centennial
anniversary of that
sion. Congress made the day
holiday and attended
President Cleveland
ceremonies made a short speed
Sept.
Capitol, and to-
at
assembled
from
io
momentous occa
a legal
in a
of
h in his
happiest vein, introducing Hon, Wil
liam Wirt Henry, de-
scendent of Patrick Henr
tion was an epoch of patriotism entire
ly worthy of the occasion: Vie
dent Stevenson spoke for the
Speaker Crisp for the House
tice Brown of the Bupreme
the Judiciary. A trained
1500 voices sang patriot
last of which—"America”
ed in by the entire
was truly sublime.
There is no material
silver situation in the
slice
shortly try to force a vote
Meanwh
to
as chairman
of Yirgiuia, a
. W $1 A OTR
Presi.
Senate
and Jus
Court, for
of
th
Join-
chorus
BODEN,
Was
it
audience, and it
the
Senator
change in
Noenate,
that
Oy
he will
prolong-
Vorhees has given ne
ing the sessions. the Ben-
ators will continue
against repeal.
The attempt of some of
kneed Democrats in the Hous
nately for the future of the party they
are few in number,
wrath of the Republicans as
delay whenever a move
ile
1% g ¥
tai for
i
iortu-
fear the
i
ita
Who
advise
is made to-
wards carrying out the promises of the
i 0 have
they do not
House
Democratic nationa a atform,
the impression go , if
that
election
the
of
openly charge,
mittee on Preside
Vice President and Repr
in Congress, in deciding to rep
Tucker bill for the repeal of the
al election laws, t
chairman of t
Fitch,
at the bedside of
dangerously ill, with proper
Here are the facts: Mr. Fitch was
anxious to get the bill reported to the !
House at the earliest moment,
when he was called away from: Wash. |
ington by mother’s he
went to Speaker Crisp and requested
CO
1
i
and
{
sentatives
iil
feder-
the
Repre
who ja
the
had treated
hat commitiee
of N. X.,
his
no
LOW
mother who is
courtesy. |
and
his illness
Tuek- |
er, of Virginia, the second Democrat |
on the commitiee, and to ask him
see that there was no delay in getting |
the bill before the House. This the
Speaker did, and from that time until
now, Mr. Tucker, as acting chairman |
of the committee, has had the advice
of Speaker Crisp upon his
$
every act,
frofn Mr. Fitch telling bim to push
things. That the bill not already
before the House is not the fault of the |
committee, but of the absent demo!
erats. If the House is to do anything
promptly a quorum of democrats must
be in their seats every day, and, in
view of the large democratic majority,
it ought not to be difficult to keep
them there. The republicans have
shown that they propose taking ad-
vantage to the utmost of the too liber.
al rules of the House to block legisla-
tion whenever there is not a quorum
of democrats on the floor. The report
that President Cleveland was encour-
aging democrats to stay away from
the House in order to prevent this bill
being taken up is a villianous libel
is
creating dissension in democratic
ranks, ”
Representative Wilson, chairman of
the House Ways and Means commits
tee, says lots of nonsense is being talk-
ed about the intentions of that coms
mittee and about manufacturers being
afraid to continue at work lest the new
tariff should ruin them ete. Now, as
a matter of fact, any manufacturer can
ascertain by addressing chairman Wil
son or any democratic member of the
committee~the republicans on the
committee also know it, but they
would be tempted in order to make
political capital to suppress or distort
the facts—that the committee propos.
es to give ample time to every indus
try before the new tariff goes into ef-
fect for every manufacturer to dispose
of stock on hand and to make his ar-
rangoments to meet the new and low
ered duties. The democrats have no
desire to ruin anybody; their sim is to
make a tariff that will confer the great:
eat Sumit, and in Soing 80 it will, of
been legislated into the pockets of cer- |
{tain favored classes of manufacturers
| at the expense of the people,
{ public hearings on the tariff will close |
[this week,
| bers of the committee will then de-|
vole their whole time to the prepara-
tion of the bill.
nr A
DENS OF COPPER HEADS,
Two Weird and Startling Stories From |
Bayder County.
Middleburg Post, last week,
the following weird and
startling stories, which we give in full
benefit of our readers, It says:
while Lew Troup was
up on Shade mountain hunting foxes
The
furnishes
On Saturday,
of copper-heads. He was coming
along what is known asthe “old road’!
en he discovered one of the snakes
Seizing he
About this time he dis
another and killed it.
I'hen seeing the third he stepped aside
to get a stone when his hand almost
touched another of the reptiles that
lay coiled near the stone. This was too
a stone
crushed it.
covered one
much for his nerve and he began to
At the first report of the gun
{to off, and
had a breech-loading shot
ould not rapidly
he wished as the shells were
shoot.
4
hy »
he reptiles Ix
i
vo}
mal ae
iil move
althou
:
in he
gu
{ shoot ax us
brass and
| st
ick iu his gun after it got hot
however, In killing
of which were
and how many
tell but he estimat-
For several
has known to
best acquainted with
least to pay it a visit,
Friday, 4. D. Wetzel,
town, on his way
ip he suddenly
imselfl in the midst of a den of
head sus
He
BEVEL Nore,
thick
8
sucoeeded,
SOIe n=
arn,
i
as fis got
away he could not
MI Over dozen,
this den
o
been
ore. but those
as of
Was to the
uniain to eh
Bi RE
F131 wood,
found
Oo pper
ooeded with
akes, and at once pro
all vigor to decimate their
in a
ites he had slain sixty of the
Upon his return home he
related his adventure whereupon some
that he
on them,
chalenged them to ac
number, succeeding so well that
foun ¥y §
CW nin
re
of his townsmen suspected
was drawing the
fw
“long bow’
wii reupon
of the
A.
truth of his
Specht accepled
them
W.
statement.
astonishment found the
rect to the letter, for he
large and fortydwo
half-grown copper-hicads dead within
a very narrow space of ground.
his
stalement cor
¥
£3)
found eighteen
a
. KB
The hundreth anniversary of the
Inying of the corner stone of the Uni-
ted States Capitol will be celebrated at
Monday, September
momentous,
orations will
well-known speakers
and intended
have other fitting tributes paid to this
an occasion so nationally
Patriotic and histori
ivered by
¢
w del
anda statesmen, it is to
national commemoration,
That people from other cities and
1 excursion tickets from all points
cast of Pittsburg and
except the Downingtown and
Lancaster branch, at one and a third
ares, which is a considerable reduc-
The tickets will b2 sold by the
17th, and 18th, good going only on
those dates and for return passage un-
til the 2ist of the month, which will
permit of quite a little visit in the na-
tion's capitol.
ls —
Got Caught.
Wm. Bolich, a farmer residing near
Tylorsville, was week before last ap-
proached by a well-dressed, smooth-
tongued gentleman who wanted to buy
a farm. The fellow soon had the old
aan interested in a game of cards in
which he (Bolich) won $5,000. But
the money could not be paid over une
til $1,000 was deposited in the hands of
the stranger as a guarantee of good
faith. He did so and was handed a
box that was to contain the prize. Af
ter the stranger had left ason of Bo-
lich returned home, opened the box
and found it to contain a lot of bark
from a tree on the farm of Mr. Bolich.
served him right. Bolich evidently
did not subscribe for a paper or affairs
would have turned out otherwise.
We'll bet a year's subscription to a fip
on that,
No Water Works,
MifMinburg, our neighboring town,
down the road, in Union county, held
an election on the question of building
waler works for the town. The ma.
majority was greatly In favor of the
schone, but ier wurds it was Jewrned
that according to the law they
levy sailiclent tax (o raise the required |
0 OPPOSLARIty:
189; 8,
STATE TICKET
i
INATION.
Thompson the Nominee for Supreme Bench
and Osburn for State Treasurer —
The Convention Harmonious,
The standard bearers of the
ing campaign were selected
| by the state Democratic
held at Harrisburg.
| Gustine
laesday
They are Bamuel
| Thompson, ot Philadelphia,
| the unanimous choice of the party for
Justice of the supreme
Frank C. Osbourn, of Sewickley,
has been named for state
The platform is a concise declaration |
of principles worthy of the most earn- |
est consideration of every voter
The convention held in
opera house and was a surprise in the
at it was not entirely lifeless |
and devoid of interest. The arrange- |’
ments for the comfort of the delegates |
|
Secretar i
i
|
i
court, and
was he
|
{4
|
sense tl i
'
newspaper correspondents and specta-
y
, & guaran- |
tors were looked after by
Nead, of the state committe
tee that all were comfortable
lack
of th
tented. There
tions in the interior
the Harrisburg band was present and
by
tion of a number of inspiring airs,
of
hall,
decora-
3
but
was a
gave life to the occasion its rendi-
The convention was called for twelve
o'clock, but it was twenty
later when Btate Chairman
rap ped for order. The hall
fortably filled, with but
uous party Jeaders in the
Al one o'clock
i
i
i
i
i
§
minutes
Wright
Was Conl-
few CONEPic
assemblage,
took
long
CoOnven-
the couvention
hour it was
o'clock ore the
tion reassembled for the ond time.
The committee on permanent organiza-
tion reported the name of ex-Cx
man E. P of Mercer, for per-
manent chairman, and reccommended
the temporary
other officers,
rules and platform was adopted and
the convention proceeded to the selec
a recess of one and
after two bef
ET ERR.
. Gillespi,
the retention of BOT
taries and evised
tion of a candidate for state
Walter W, Patrick, Pittsburg,
named by "Squire Cornelius O'Donnell
of that city and Frank C. by
Tim O'Leary. nomination of
Patrick was seconded by an eloguent
young delegate from Westmoreland,
and that of Osburn
more delegates from
the state, The roll of delegates was
called by counted on the vote for this
nomination.
The nomination
treasurer.
of Ws
Osburn
The
by a half dozen or
various paris of
made unani-
mous on motion of County Chairman
Brennen.
Judge Thompson's name was placed
in nominatian for the supreme
by Attorney General Hensel and sec
onded by James M. Beck, of Philadel
phia. There being other candi-
dates named, the nomination
made by acclamation. Mr. Osburn
was introduced to the convention by
Chairman Gillespie. He made ja brief
speech, returning his thanks for the
honor conferred upon him and pledg-
ing himself to make an aggressive can-
Vass,
The chair appointed Messrs, Hensel,
of Lancaster; Beck and Wilhere, of
Philadelphia; James L. Lenahan, of
Wilkesbarre, and John J. Fahey, of
Seranton, a committee to inform Jus
tice Thompson of his nomination.
There being no further business before
the convention it was declared ad-
Journed sine die.
The delegates and visiting spectators
were in a hurry to leave the city and
had nearly all disappeared at an early
hour.
was
bench
no
wa”
i, tO LA
A Million Friends,
A friend in need is a friend indeed,
and not Jess than one million people
have found just such a friend in Dr.
King’s New Discovery for Consump-
tion, Coughs, and Colds.—If you have
never used this Great Cough Medi-
cine, one trial will convince you that
it has wonderful curative powers in
all diseases of Throat, Chest and
Lungs. Each bottle is guaranteed to
do all that is claimed or money will
be refunded. Trial bottles free at J.
D. Murray's Drug Store. Large bot-
ties 50c. and §1.00
Purchased the Getaie.
At the real estate sale of John Bholl,
dec’d., held in Miles township last
week, the real estate of sald deceased
comprising three tracts were purchased
by Dr. G. W. Hosterman for $7200.
” Blew Down Tents.
Friday nights rain storm blew down
about a dozen tents on the pienic
ground. They were not occupied at
Coal for Sale,
A car load of soft coal, for sale. at a
*
£3
ois
NO.
IN OTHER COUNTIES,
| Itevas of Interest Clipped and Condensed
from our Exchanges,
{ The creditors of G. W. Delamater, of
| Meadville, will get $23,008.40,
About twenty-five tons of pure
the New
jead
Cinlena
Tuesday 119,000
their studies in the
children resumed
. 3
schools of
public
the fall term.
A. J. Meyers, of Big Bpring, Cum-
berland county, had twenty-eight out
of thirty sheep killed
Thursday evening last,
by lightning
Beranton choral union,
singing at
Fair, was welcomed by
which won
the World's
20.000 people
Contest
live when
ustus IGOss,
Not caring to
vas dead, Aug
ville, near Allentown,
‘aris green and hanged himsel
cellar,
his wife
litters.
pint of
{in the
i
of
sie a
The storm of Friday last
ticularly heavy in and about
port. The rain fell in torr
ightning struck
Was par-
Williams-
nts and the
several buildings do-
damage.
(ton
Creamer, sex of St. James
1 attack
sotughs which continued wit
for
From a stalwart man he
H
George
E. church, Lancaster, had an
out
ny interruption twelve days.
was reduced
i to a mere skeleton. ¢ is now recov-
ering.
1’
vB
tha
Jacol
county,
ir
front
in
A red elm tree stands
of th
:
e premises of b Morlock,
Halona, Clinton
feet in circumference,
ground, the
to be considerably over
years old,
Fr
Williamsport,
plaining
MEAs res
four feet
thought
hundred
fifteen
from the tree is
one
of
a
Herman
while
iday afternoon Smith,
working in
with accident
badly
ation between
mill met an
by which his Hight Arr Was so
hurt that its ampu the
wrist and elbow was found to be neo
essary.
Lewis Fisher, a young man formerly
{ Frederick, Md., up before the
{ Carlisle court on a charge of surety of
the
#0 revolting that
he was convicted at once and sentenc-
penitentiary
was
the peace and wife-beating, and
gircumsianoces were
ed to seven years in the
and one year in jail.
Max Valintz, of Nanticoke, Luzerne
county, sent money and a wedding
gown to Poland to his fiance so that
she could come to this country and
marry him. When she arrived she re
fused to become his wife and was ar-
rested and held for court for receiving
money under false pretense.
The timber land belonging to the
Stephen Girard estate in Girard coun-
ty, owned by the city of Philadelphia,
comprises 11,000 acres. This tract is
the most valuable to the acre of any
hemlock land in Pennsylvania. None
of the timber can be cut, however, and
the dense forest is full of wild game.
On one acre of the land State Botanist
othrock found 9,600,000 feet of mark-
etable pine.
missense cm—a—
Plans to Stop Illegal Fishing.
Fred W. Ebel, of Harrisburg, the
fish commissioner, has sent notices to
the sheriffs of the different counties of
the State, requesting them to give
their attention to illegal fishing in the
streams of the Commonwealth. By
the notice the sheriff is reyuired to is
sue a proclamation against unlawful
fishing. The sheriff is also required to
destroy all dams, nets and baskets,
which have been placed in the fishing
streams in defiance of the law by fish-
erman. The sheriffs and their depu-
ties are instructed to proceed at onoe,
and any interference is punishable
with a $50 fine.
BA A AS A.
An Over-Cautious School Marm.
It is related of an Irwin school
marm, who, having an inordinate
dread of contagious diseases, sent a lit-
tle girl home because she said her
mother was sick and had symptoms of
something alarming. The next day
the girl presented herself at school
with her finger in her mouth and her
little bonnet swinging by the string
and timidly said, “We'se got a little
baby at our house, but mamma told
me to tell you it lan’t eatching.” The
teacher blushed slightly and said she
was glad, and told the pupil to take
her seat. Greensburg Demooral,
Sas A ———
An Important Land Case.
An important case, involving the
right and title to eleven thousand
acres of land in Bnow Shoe township,
this county, was on trial all last week
before Judge Metzgar at Beilefonte,
and will be continued this week. The
land was originally covered with tim-
ber, and later was found to contain
don pries, for sass
Kurtz & Sox.
i"