Letters From the Front |
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HARRISBURG BOY FINDS
LIFE IN FRANCE INTERESTING
A letter Just received from George
Erb, a member of the Bell Telephone
Signal Corps, who left for France in
August, contains much interesting de
scription and narration for those who
expect to go to France to serve their
country. The letter follows:
On Active Service
With the American
Expeditionary Forces
'Somewhere in France
August 24, 1917.
Dear Frank:
Well, here we are, you know you
can't keep a good man down, so when
Uncle Sam decided to send us over,
there was nothing to it. The Atlan
tic Ocean and Fritz's "tin fish" didn t
scare us a rap, consequently "yours
truly" and his outfit are camping
"somewhere" in France.
Our days of watchful waiting ut
the training camp were finally re
warded with the announcement one
evening that we were to pack and
get ready to leave the next morning.
We had breakfast the next morning
at 3 o'clock and at 4 shouldered our
kits and hiked for the station. Here
we boarded the train for our port of
sailing. On arriving we immediately
went aboard our transport and said
good-by to "good old America. 1
must admit there was a good-sized
lump in my throat as the shoreline
faded away and you could see
ing but water everywhere you looked.
However, that gradually disappeared
und 1 settled down to enjoy the ocean
voyage.
Didn't Get Sick
The trip was mighty fine and 1
wasn't the least bit sick, but then
one couldn't possibly get sick for.
barring one day, the ocean was as
smooth as old "Swatara. 1 spent
every minute I could on deck, and 1
didn't miss a trick if I could help it.
1 was detailed as one of the ship s
CONSTIPATION CAUS E S
OBSTINATE HEADACHES
no.* saqo'B pwaii jno.< uatiAV
will usually find the bowels have
been inactive, and if you relieve
this condition, by clearing the
intestinal organs of the ferment
ing congestion of stomach waste,
foul gases and bile, the head is
relieved immediately.
Remember this the next time
you suffer from headache. The
combination of simple laxative
herbs with pepsin sold by drug
gists under the name of Dr.
Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin, is
highlv recommended as a gen
tle laxative that acts easily and
quickly, without griping or dis
comfort. It contains no opiate,
narcotic, or habit-forming drug,
is pleasant to the taste, and a
most effective household rem
edy. Mothers find it especially
desirable as a laxative for chil
dren.
You can buy Dr. Caldwell's
Syrup Pepsin from your drug
gist for fifty cents. Get a bot
tle and have it in the house
when needed. A trial bottle,
free of charge, can be obtained
bv writing to Dr. W. B. Cald
well. 456 Washington St.,
Mnn'ticello. Illinois.
DOCTORED FIVE YEARS
IN VAIN HE SAYS
Couldn't Even Got Temporary Re
lief and His Work Was a Burden
SAYS TAM-AC HELPED HIM
"For five years I tried in vain to
get rid of my stomach trouble," says
W. H. Harmon, of 135 E. Baptist
street. York, Pa. "I went from doc
tor to doctor, but couldn't get any
relief and I tried medicine after
medicine without result.
"The pains in my stomach kept
getting worse and worse for I got
so bad that I couldn't get the gas
off of my stomach. I was so con
stipated that I had to be constantly
takinx laxatives, I lost my appetite
and had become so nervous that 1
couldn't sleep and I could feel my.
self growing weaker. It was awful
indeed.
"Finally after hearing so many
good reports about Tanlac I started
taking it and to my joy it helped me
right away. My stomach was quick
ly restored to health, my bowels be
came regular and now I feel better
in every way than I have in years."
Tanlac, the famous reconstructive
tonic, is now being introduced hore
at Gorgas' Drug Store who have se
cured the exclusive sale of this mas
ter medicine in Harrisburg.
Tanlac is also sold at the Gorgas
Drug Store in the P. R. R. Station;
in Carlisle at W. G. Stephens' Phar
macy; Elizabethtown, Albert W.
Cain; Greencastle, Charles B. Carl;
Middletown, Colin S. Few's Phar
macy; Waynesboro, Clarence Croft's
Pharmacy; Mechanicsburg, H. F.
Brunhouse. —Adv.
Miller's Antiseptic Oil Known as
Snake 0 il
Will Positively Relieve Pnln in
Three Minutes
Try It right now for Rheumatism,
Neuralgia, Lumoago, sore, stiff and
swollen Joints, pains In the head, back
and limbs, corns, bunions, etc. After
one application pain disappears as if
by magic.
A new remedy used Internally and
externally for Coughs, Colds, Croup.
Bore Throat, Diphtheria and 'lonsilitia.
The oil is conceded to be the most
penetrating remedy known. Its prompt
and Immediate eftect <n relieving pain
Is due to the fact that it penetrates to
the affected parts at once. As an il
lustration, pour ten drops on the
thickest piece of sole leather and it
will penetrate this substance through l
and through in three minutes.
Accept no substitute. This great oil
Is golden red color only. Kvery bottle
guaranteed; 25c, 50c and SI.OO a bot
t'e, or money refunded at Geo. A. Gor
gas' drug store. —Advertisement.
ffiolil.ilmlrciibach&Dausc
OPTOMETRISTS BEOPTICIANS
tIo.SS N.AISST.
HARRIS BURG ■ PA.
Bight."
CSBET
f£asy to apply. Su/t, dalcli, Sate.
25c. Gorgas, Kexall Druggist, 1# IV.
Third St. and I'enna. Statloa.
MONDAY EVENING, •
watch whose duty it was to keep a
sharp look-out for submarines, and
made it a lot more interesting.
We saw school of sharks, one ot
porpoises and a whale. After a while,
however, the deep blue ocean gradu
ally lost its charm and we became
anxious for the sight of land. It cer
tainly was a "gland and glorious
feeling" when the lookout iinally
shouted "Land ho." I don't think
land ever looked so good.
The country around here is beauti
rui and 1 only wish 1 had the time
to trave. around and see everything
.o be seen. The quaint white houses
with their red roofs stand out in vivid
contrast with the rich brown and
green of the landscape. Then, too,
the water right oft the coast is tilled
with small lishing boats which make
a very pretty picture with their
brown, red and blue sails. Every
thing seems so odd—the houses, cos
tumes of the people, their ways and
manners, and last but not least, the
language. If you want a man's-slze
Job, come over here and try to un
derstand theiu; and if you think you
are real good try to talk to 4hem.
If I am ever unlucky enougli to lose
both my hands over here, the good
Lord only knows how I'll get out of
the country, for I certainly know 1
couldn't get cut of the country on my
knowledge of French.
The first night we were in camp
we were given liberty to go into town
and it certainly was some experience
looking then: over. You can get
plenty of French tobacco, bu it is too
strong and is enough to put you to
sleep and you can rest assured when
1 can't get any American tobacco any
more, 1 will quit smoking.
When you address my mail, make
it: Company D, First Telegraph Bat
talion United States Signal Reserve
Corps, American Expeditionary Force,
France, via New York City.
Prisoners Contented
Had my first view of the enemy in
the shape of German prisoners. They
certainly look contented and healthy
and seem to be well taken care of.
I may miss my guess, but 1 don't
think they would need anybody to
guard them, for I don't believe you
could drive them out of here with a
gun.
1 am writing this letter in the Y. M.
C. A. tent, and let me state I am for
them first, last and always. I never
knew what great work they were
doing until I entered the Army. You
can imagine how good it must feel
to be able to walk into a place thou
sands of miles from home and feel
perfectly at home. Be able to sit
down and read or write letters, hear
someone playing good old ragtime on
a piano and further be able to buy
candy and tobacco. There, too, dur
ing the day they have baseball games
and track meets between the various
companies and at night band con
certs, lectures and entertainments.
My advice is that one of the best
ways you can help the boys "abroad"
is to "back up" the Y. M. C. A.
Finds Hoys Front Home
Was handed quite a surprise the
first day I was aboard ship when X
ran into two boys from home. 1
thought I was going to be the first
Lebanon boy to set foot in France,
but had to divide the honor with the
other two. There are a number of
State College boys in camp and last
light we rounded them up and had a
reunion. One of the secretaries at
the Y. M. C. A. is a classmate of mine
and he had a dinner for us at his
home. We sure had a mighty pleas
ant evening talking over old times,
and, best of all, we had a real square
meal.
I sure do miss those old pinochle
games at the Lebanon Club. There
are quite a few of the "boys" in the
outfit that can play pinochle and we
play quite often, but they aren't like
the games at the club. Please re
member me to all the boys the
club and tell them 1 am in the best
of health and hope to see some of
them over here before long. Write
whenever you can and if possible
tend me some Lebanon papers.
GEORGE.
New Rabbi Is Installed
With Fitting Ceremonies
at Chisuk Emuna Temple
Rabbi Morris Romanoff and Can
tor Morris Abramson were installed
with fitting ceremonies yesterday at
the new Chisuk Emuna synagogue.
The churclimen were met at the sta
tion by a delegation from the tem
ple and escorted to the synagogue.
The Biblical committee was com
posed of Max Williams, W. Freed
man, Eli Goldstein, Abe Freedman,
Lewis Baturin and David Goldberg.
* Letter List
LIST OF LETTERS REMAINING IN
the Post Office, at Harrlsburg, Pa.,
for the week ending October 2V, 11)17:
Ladies' List Margaret Addams,
Genea Alexander, Mrs. John Aunght,
Hannah Baird, iMazie Barnes, Mrs. Bit
tinger, Mrs. Mamie Bolton, Mrs. Celia
Bowen, Pearl Boyer, Miss F. Brown,
Emma Cambel, Mrs. C. E. Dawson,
Mrs. E. E. DeMill, Nettie Engle, Mrs.
C. Epens, Mrs. Martha Finkle, Mar
garet Fisher, Alay Fox, Irene Freed
man, Atha Gardner, Mrs. Jack Gor
man, Ollin Hall, Mabel Haney, Miriam
S. Hemmings, Mrs. Clarence Hench,
Mrs. William Henderson (2), Goldie
Hilty, Ella Hobaugh, Mrs. Mary Jack
son, Emma Janice, Mrs. Anna John
son, Mrs. Francis Johnson, Gertie
lvelley, Ethel A. Knapp, Miss M. Leal,
Mrs. E. Noble, Sara May. Mrs. Ruth
Markel, Winnie Martin, Gertrude M.
Marion, Mrs. Mertia G. Miller, Elsie
Mincemoyer, Miss A. Rivers (2), Mrs.
Sarah Roberts, Mrs. Claude Satter
field, Mrs. L R. Schantel, Mrs. Lucy
Schartz, Anna Serch, Mrs. C. Smith.
Mrs. Charles SJoberg, Mrs. Alice
Sweigert, Mrs. Mice M. Talin, Grace
Payne Therton, Sallie Towler, Han
nah Vawn. Ruth Wealing, Eniily Wil
son, Flessie Williams, Florence C,
Yates, Mrs. A. Zimmerman.
GentlemenT! List—Sam. Adeleallen,
L. M. Alleman, Oliver Barksdaie, W.
M. Bolden, J. R. Bowers, John Bueh
ler, Jessie Carey, Charley Clice, R. p.
Cowad, C. E. Davis, Thomas Daw
son, Wm. Dosson, Levin F. Fisler
Fred A. Gates. Harry Gieb, J. W. Gor
don, Martin Green, B. S. Hart. Andrew
Hutcherson, George I. Hykas, Jr.
Frank E. Johnston, Leßoy Johnson'
Samson Knot, Andrew Lidbetler, Rev!
H. B. McConnell, J. E. McPherson C
F. Markel, W. J. Merritt, N. H New
waiil, George Ramsey, Samuel Rich
mond, B. F. Rittenhouse, Mr. Scheef
fer, Isaiah Scheeline. Warren Shana
brook, C. Shelby, H. S. Sievert. W W
Stonebraker, William Stoudt, W. T
Thomas, Frank Thompson, Ralph
Thrush, John A. I'hler, George Wal
ters. Louis Weinberger, R. Wlest But
ler Williams, J. B. Woods, W. P. Zart
man.
Firms Mechanical Service De
partment, Pine Creek Lumber and
Timber Co. (2).
Persons should invariably have their
mall matter addressed to their street
and number, thereby insuring prompt
delivery by the carriers.
FRANK C. SITES,
Postmaster.
WOMAN REGAINS SIGHT
Duncannon, Pa., Oct. 29.—After
being blind for a half decade with
cataracts on both eyes, Mrs. Abram
Krleger, of this place, is now able to
see after having a slight operation
performed by a Philadelphia Vpe
ciallst.
CONSTITUTION
BLOCKS MERGER
Because Telephones Were Not
Invented in 1873 Companies
Can Not Consolidate.
Because telephone companies have
always been classed as telegraph
companies In incorporation laws and
decisions thereon and because the
constitution, drafted before tele
phones were given to the public, for
bids the merger of competing tele
graph lfnes the Public Service Com
mission in a decision Just handed
'
> X
WILLIAM H. TAFT, former President of the United States, has
joined the staff of the Public Ledger as Contributing Editor,
the connection becoming effective on November 1.
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Philadelphia
PUBLIC LEDGER
The National
, .
$
/ # ,
One Dollar will pay for the PUBLIC LEDGER daily and Sunday, delivered by mail to any;
address in the United States, for a trial period of six weeks. Address Box 1526-A, Philadelphia.
The PUBLIC LEDGER may also be obtained at leading hotels and news stands throughout the
United States. - - - " v ~ ~ w
down refuses Its approval to a
merger with a statement of its regret
ut being compelled to take such ac
tion. Commissioner John S. Billing,
however, declines to take the view of
the majority of his colleagues and
has filed a dissenting opinion in
which he holds that there is no con
stitutional bar to merger of tele
phone companies when it will relieve
a condition where there is "half the
service at twice the pay."
In its decision, one of the most
interesting rendered in many
months, the commission states that
it finds that the operation of the
Cochrunton Telephone and the Mer
chants and Farmers Telephone com
panies, which have lines in Craw
lord, Mercer and other counties in
northwestern Pennsylvania, as com
peting companies is uneconomical
and wasteful, but refuses to sanction
a merger of the companies because
both were incorporated under the
general incorporation act, which was
enacted the year after the present
constitution was framed and under
which consolidation of telegraph
companies is forbidden.
The companies applied for ap
proval of a merger and the decision
states that it has been ascertained
that they have competing lines, but
that the opoiation of the lines re
sults in a duplication of service and
facilities which places a burden upon
the public and prevents the compa
nies from making extensions neces
sary to afford adequate service. The
decision says that if the question of
improvement of the service and
benefits to the public was the only
one it would unhesitatingly approve
the application filed. However, the
courts nave held anil the Legislative
has followed the ruling that the act
authorizing formation of telegraph
companies included telephone com
panies so that the commission must
follow the constitutional prohibition
of mergers of telegraph companies.
"If it were not for this constitu
tional provision wc would hold that!
the public fiervice company law has!
repealed those provision of various!
acts of assembly which prohibit the |
consolidation of telephone compn
nies owning, operating or controlling!
competing lines," concludes the de-j
cision.
Commissioner Killing has filed a
dissenting opinion containing forty
two points in which he holds that
the constitutional prohibition applies
only to telegraph companies and
that "it is a well established rule of
constitutional und statutory con
struction that the words used must
bo given that meuning which they |
: had at the time of the adoption of
the constitution of enuctment of the
statute." He says when the consti
tution was framed there was no tele
. phone and that the l'ramers of the
constitution did not mean anything
that was non-existant, while when
the telephone was invented anu
it became necessary to organize tel
ephone companies and there was
. no law on the books for Incorpora
tion "the courts by a latitudinous:
power exercised in rare cases" held
| that for tho purposes of incorpora-1
i tlon telephone and telegraph 1 compu
• i nies might be included as in the:
il same general class. He also holds|
| that the public service company law I
■j has repealed former statutes andj
;| that the commission has authority to]
(approve a telephone merger which i
(would result In "more adequate ser-
L vice at more reasonable rates."
OCTOBER 29, 1917.
Wife of Governor
Dies in Auto Crash
Wilmington, Del., Oct. 29. The
wife of Governor Townsend was
crushed to death beneath an over
turned automobile and the Governor
sustained painful though not serious
injuries when the car which he was
driving toward their home at Selby
ville upset near Georgetown late
Saturday night. A rain-spattered
windshield and haste to escape the
; downpour are believed to have caused
I 1 the accident which sent the machine
from the roadbed, spinning over and
over.
In the blackneßs the Governor, who
, had been thrown clear, groped toward
j his wife, guided by her groans. She
'I was pinned down by the back of the
l rear seat. He managed to free her.
she revived as he lifted her. He
, had taken but a few steps, however,
when she expired in his arms. The ex
act cause of death Is not yet known.
I The Governor is nearly frantic with
grief over the accident.
DM. IJI'.MBA COMBS TO LIFE!
Amsterdam, Oct. 29. A dispatch
received here from Vienna aaya that
Dr. Dumba, former Austro-Hunsrarian
Ambassador to the United States In
f. a . p ?F^ h the Reichstag asserted
that the giant naval program of the
united States was mostly bluff.
RUSSIAN ADKIRAI, MISSING
Petrograd, Oct. 29. Admiral!
yiadislavoff. who was In command of
the submarine flotilla during the Oer
man operations against the Russian
islands in the Baltic, has disappeared
It is believed he fell overboard from
a submarine.
During Dr. Ellen
berger's absence Dr.
Phillips will occupy his
offices from 6.30 to 8.30
p. m. Other hours in
cluding Sunday by ap
pointment.
7