DANVILLE INTELLIGENCER VOL LXXVI. ARBANBEIIENT3 COIPLIiTED All arrangement* to tiro Blooms burg State Noimal School educational tour to Washington, P. C., have b»ion compl ted. T'ie excarsi >n 11u• 11 will leave the Philadelphia uud Heading Railroad station at Bloomshuig Mon day morning, December I'.), at 0:45, fifteen minutes eaili«r I Inn li e time. Tliis hour is made necessary by the change in tho tcliedule on the Sha inokiu division A later hoar woald cause that much delay to tho train throughout the entire day. Arrange ment have been effected to reach Phil adelphia returning Thursday night, leaving Washington after all depart ments are closed and the sight-seeing is douo. This will provo a decided gain Instead of spending Thursday eveniug at the hotels in Washington, the excursionists will use the time in traveling, arriving in Pniladelphia at a reasonable hour and thus gaining Friday for sight seeing iu the "Quak er City." Persons desiring to remain longer iu Philadelphia cau do so at their own expense, as the tickets will be good to return to Bloomsburg Throughout the entire trip the excur sionists will have their own special train of vestibule c»rs. The cost of the entire trip including railroad fare, hotel expenses, trip to Mt. Vernon, transfer of baggage iu Washiugtou and fee 9of gua ds will be sls. This is a slight increase over the charge for pre vious years, auri is caused by the fact that some lit tels and the Mt. Veruou railroad havo raised their charges. The party will b* conducted by mem bers of the Faculty who are well-in formed in regard to all places to be visited. The excursionists will be divided iuto groups,so that all can get the full explanations of the taachers and guides. The same oversight of the students will be exercised as is exercis ed at the school. Alumni and friends of the school who desire to visit Wash ington, will bo permitted to join this excursion, if they apply promptly.and the number is uot too great. Y. n. C. A. NOTES. The Young Meu's Christian Associa tion in Japan, after months of delay lias been finally authorized by the Jap anese War Department togo forward with the troops with tents, riding matter, stationery, gramophones, masio, games and popular and Christian lit erature, magazines aid all the pira phernalia that the Y. M. C. A.'s have used in this country and tho Philip pines for their soldier Assooiatious. The secretaries put up their tents tirst at Antnng, Manchuria, and within a we«k h ul 1,500 of the Japanese soldiers about them. In one day they srvid ten buckets of tea, and 375 letters and postals wore written home. Tho most popular thing the secretaries do is to give gr.tmo ( :h me concerts and enter tiinmeuts at the hospitals, as tho poor fellows are glad of any break iu tho monotony. Eveu au Americau is an intending curiosity iu himself to the average Japanese soldier, who is from the country. He wondeis what tho man is there for,and appreciates every little atteutiou and help in the relief of the suffering and tedium of the day and night. O. V. Hibbard, secretary in charge was first taken for a Kussiau spy, and saved only by his passport from tho War Department. He soon got to bo well kuown, and instead of the call of suspicion, " Russian spy," it was of appreciation, "See the American " The acting governor of the city, the military governor and ohaucollor have called at the Association tout repeat edly. The Chinese Association members have undertaken to finance for six months another Association tent at Yiukow. Youug men of tho churches in Tokyo have beeu giving concerts to raise money to support these teuts. A number of Japanese secretaries who liave been in training with tho As sociation are already at the front. Their Annual Jaunt. Tho annual excursion of the Literary Institute and State Norm il Sdiool of Blonmsburg to Wadiingon.D C., will take plan next Mon lay. The pirtv will travel in a special train of vesti bule cars and will be divided into sec tions, each of which will be iu charge of a teacher. Members of the faculty well informed of the places of interest to be viaitel will couduct tho excur sion. The same oversight of the stud ents will be exorcised as is exercised at the schoil Iftoogreita number do not apply alumni will be allowed to accompany the party. Not only will points of interest iu W ishiugtou b* visitel, but circumstances are such that considerable fcimt can b) employ ed in t'liijad*lpliia. The party wiil return Friday night. An Experienced Electrician. H .rry Murty,former manager of the United Telpehotie and Telegraph Co. at Shamokiu, has ho no lie red aud ac cepted tin superitendeiicy of liie Sha mokiu Light, He it aud Power Co., aud will arrive on Dece uhrr 15, to as- MI ire cl aryn A largo aim tint of im provements are in contemplation at tin pi suit, but w I at ihey will be will not ho seitl-d upon until the arrival of M«\ Murty, who is mi experienced eleciiiii.ian aud will be a valuable man to the plant. The person who In grudges his pifts or who makes ilicm with the hope of gctfc i g tho het'or of the exchange has uo true COIIO Jilioii of tho rral Christ auas spirit jFIRST TROLLEY CAR ON MILL STEEET "Mill street!" The exclamation was made in ring ing torn s by a coudnctor on the Dan vil e aud Blojmbsnrg trolley line, last night. His car was the first to run through to the intersection of Bloom aud Mill stseets. llence his jubilant shout. The long expected had really occur red. It was exactly 9:25 o'clock. The car was packed from end to end with passenger*. There was "stand ing room only," aud hardly that. Both platforms and all the steps were crowd ed. A number of boys clung to iron rods at the rear of the car. The only space not occupied was the roof. The trip around the Bloom street curve, down '"A" street, through the sub way, along Walnut street to Mill was made with ease. Not the slightest trouble was eucouutered enroute. When the car stopped the motormau pulled the string and permitted the whistle to get in several minutes solid work. Its thrilling tones on the crisp air, was the first notice that mauy had of the arrival of the first trolley car to Mill street. Tuesday night's extreme cold weath er caused another delay in getting the Bloom street switch in position and the work of making the teed wire con nection at that point. Orders were giveu during the afternoou for every man employed in laying the switch to report for duty that night, in order that the work might be pushed to a finish with the utmost speed. It wasn't a pleasant order to re ceive. The workmeu were already tired aud chilled through. The thought of homes and warm stoves were more to their liking, tliau that of having to resume work again at night aud when mercury was hovering around the zero mark. American members of the crew readily consented to turn out aud work all night if necessary, but the Italian portion of the gang rovolted and em phatically refused to subject them selves to the bittor elements. "We no workee," too much colde; by aud by laboxe!" they said. Interpreted the expression is this: "We will not work at night when the weather is so cold. If we do we will get sick, dio and be putin a bcx." The few men who went to work coutiuued at it until 10 o'clock, notwithstanding the stinging, frosty air. But the work was not com pleted, and it took the full crew until 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon to finish laying the switch. At about the sauie time the liueinen made tho last wire connection. That left only a small portion of track requiring straighten ing aud strengthening to be attended to. A portion of tho rails on "A" street and extending along Walnut to Bloom, thence to Mill were covered with ice and snow to a depth that made them invisible. They had to be dug for, audit was necissary to clean them before cars could be run over the lino. A crew of men commenced clean ing the rails shortly after dinner aud it took them until 4:30 o'clock to reach Mill street, and au hour later to reach tho crossing of the D. L. & W. It was impossible for the men with picks and sorapers to remove the ice sufficiently for the current to have any effect on the wheels of the cars, so to expedite matters a heavy layer of salt was scattered aloug both rails the eutire length of the frozen track. I Then it was up to the salt as to the length of time that must of a necessity j iuterveue before the cars could run to Mill street. The Pure Food Farce. | It is suggested that the Pennsylvania pure food laws should bo enforced only agaiust dealors who have beeu warned that certain goods which they handle are impure and who nevertheless per sist iu selliug them. Justice would approve such depart ure from present methods of euforoing the laws. As now enforced these laws are farcical. The retailers agaiust whom the arms of the Commonwealth are leveled are in most cases iunocent of wrongdoing or of complicity in violations of the law. They buy what they believer are pure goods aud sell them under that belief. It is unjust to mulct them, up on the representation of ohomists from whose findings there is no appeal, for tho selling of alleged adulterated goods. It should be cleat to everybody that the retailer is himself the victim of the adulteration. What can be said iu defense of that law which punishes the victim of a crime or misdemeanor?! What would bo siid o' the mental lovel of a people who would send to jail the victim of au assault and take no action agaiust the assailant? Owner Pays if Dog Bites. The following will be of informa tion to many a person who owns a vic ious dog. In the case of Joseph Nor whose sou was bitten by a dog belong ing to William Mell, the jury in tho court of common plea* ac Carlisle,la<t Wednesday, rendered a verdict in fav or of the plaintiff. The father receives SB3O damages and the son $l,lOO. The suit was brought for $2,500 damages. Public Library for Williamsport. The will of tho late James V. Brown bequeaths $100,00') for the buildiug, equipment and maintenance of a pub lic library for Williamsport. This be quest is in accord with the expressed intention ol Mr. Browu made 10 years ago. He is estimated to have beeu worth $1,500,000. "PLBDfIBD BUT TO TBUTH, TO ÜBIRT A 59 LiW-HO FAVOR SWATS US AND NO JTLAB HHAT.L AW*" DANVILLE, MONTOUR COUNTY. PA., FRIDAY. DECEMRER it:, 1904 THE HOLIDAY VACATION The School Board held a regular meeting Monday. The members pres ent were: President Dr. Harpel, Sec retary Orth, Directors Pursel, Fischer, Trumbower, Werkheisor, Burns and Adams. The Finance Committee reported $3,584.75 in the hands of the Treasur er. On motiou the report was accept ed. The matter of moving the trolley pole from the pavement in front of the Third Ward school building, which was referred to the Building aud Re pair Committee at the last meeting of the Board, was disposed of. W. F. Pasooe, General Super intendent of the Standard Construc tion Company was present by request of the Building and Repair Commit tee. Mr. Fisctier, Chairman of the Committee,stated the ease to Mr. Pas coe.and informed him what they want ed done with the pole. The Commit tee desired that it be moved from its present location on the sidewalk out flush with the curb. Mr. Pascoe said that he had no objection to moving the pole, or of placing it wherever the Sohool Board should instruct him to place it. But he thought that it would be a mistake to move it out flush with the curb. "You will always regret it if you do, but I will put it there if that is where you want it,"he said. "™!rheu Mr. Pascoe suggested doing away with the pole entirely, and the placing of a bolt in the school build ing to which the trolley wire could be fastened. That was objected toon the grounds that it might be dangerous to attach tho wire to the buildiug. It was finally decided to instruot Mr. Pascoe to set tho pole out flush with the ourb. as had beeu first proposed. Mr. Werkheiser reported that new furnace pire had been plaoed in the Third Ward building. Superintendent Gordj was called on to explain a matter he had under con sideration. This was relative to a sys tematic outline of study in the schools. There was no complete, uniform line at the preseut time, and it was ex tremely necessary that ono should be compiled, aud adopted so that it could be placed iu use at the earliest possi ble moment. It should be a course of study that would be of advantage to the teachers aud understood by the people. It is as important for the teacher to have a system to work un der,as it is for a builder to have plaus and speoifioatious of the buildiug that he is erecting. Mr. Gordy is compil ing the kind of an outliue system that ho explained to tho Board. He has prepared sufficient matter to make a book of about 40 pages, aud before ho is through it may reach 60 pages. Ho had made inquiries as to tho cost of getting a certau number of the books printed, aud asked the Board to take some action in the matter. Ou motion it was referred to the Printing Com mittee, to bo reported at tho next re gular meeting of the Board. It wan decided to close the schools on Friday, December 23 and to re-open them ou January 3, 1005. The next meeting of the School Board falling on Monday, December 26, which will be observed as Christmas, it was deoided to meet Tuesday even ing, December 27. The following bills wore ordered paid: Standard Gas Oo I 2.05 Danville Stove & M'f'g. Oo 16.80 H. G. Salmon 2.80 Miles, Peifer & Oo 7.50 D. R. Williams 55.60 W. J. Williams 22.50 William Quigg 5.50 T. L Evans' Sons 7.50 Xmas Shoppers Out in Force. The near approach of the Christmas season is being heralded in this city in many ways, bat one of the most noticeable manifestations of the ad vent of the Yuletide is the steadily increasing 'number of shoppers that throng the Danville stores. Last even ing many persons were on the streets, aud nearly all were bent on gift pur chasing expeditious. In the toyland stores especially large crowds are to be found, many bring ing the little ones to see the wonder ful collection of toys. This season is always a delight to the children. The wiudows of the stores are also beginning to reflect the brightness of the season. Many have taken on their Holiday attire, aud are beautiful in their festive decorations. The merch ants of Danville deserve great credit for the attractiveness that is always a feature of the stores at Christmas time in this city. Ready for Distribution. The Executive Board of the Dan ville Fire Department held a meeting Saturday night in the hull of Friend ship fire company. The department hadgi s having arrived, the {secretaries of the four companies were given them to distribute to tho members. Each member is entitled to a badge and by calling on the secretary of their com [ panv they can get. oue. The badges | most be worn on the lapel of the lire men's coats, especially during a fire, iu order that they can ho recoguized and admitted within tho ropes. Shot a Rabbit. Tho Hev. S. B. Evans, pastor ot St. Paul's M. E. church, went to the woods ou a hunting expedition ou I Tuesday, aud bagged a rabbit. It • wasn't a good day for hunting either. NARROWLY ESCAPED BEING CREMATED The lond mewing, unusual noise and commotion made by a family oat at the home of Frank Arms, 23 West Front street, early Saturday morning, doubtless'saved the house from being destroyed by Are, aud the family, con sisting of the father and soveu chil dren, from beiug creinatod in their beds. The smoke from the kitchen range makes its escape through a large old fashioned stone chimney of wide di mensions. A few inohes below where the store pipe connects witli the chimney, the upper portion of the latter is sepa rated from the lower by a number of boards, leaving under them] a vault like space several feet square and about six feet high. This aperture during the early history of the house was no doubt nsjd as a Are plaoe, and the opening into it is closed by a wood en structure composed of light, thin boards that would ignite quickly from a spark. About 9 o'olock on Friday night, Mrs. Arms imagiued that she scented the odor of burning wood or soot. She oommenced an investigation in order to learn if her suspicious that some thing about the bulldiug was on Are, but finding nothing in any of the apartments,she went out side to look at the top of the ohimney to asceitain whether or not it was burning. Dis covering no flames issuing from the chimney and no more smoke than wonld ascend irom the fire in the kitoh eu range, she re-enterod the house and shortly afterward retired. Betwoen 1 and 2 o'clock the follow ing morning Mrs. Arms was suddenly awakened by an unusual noise of some kind. At first she was unable to either locate the point from where the sound came or what was causing it. Then she heard the eat mewing in a peculiar manner. The animal had frequently mewed at nights when wanting out of the house, but the placid, unruffled tones of her calls on those oooasions were vastly different from what she was giving vent to then. The cries, if such they can be called, weie loud, pierciug aud agonizing. The oat ap peared in great distress, and to be ap pealing for assistance with all tlae force and power at its command. Mrs. Arms interpreting the yells and mews to b) cries of diatross hurriedly responded to them, little ezpeoting, however, tho startling scene that was so sqon to greet her vision. When she reached the heal ot the sta'rs she heard another sound, ou;i that deadened the still frenzied howls of the cat. It sounded like the roar of an Niagara, fairly causing the house to tremble. Not knowing the oause of the terriflic, thunderous like'vibratious beneath her foet.and imagining any and everything, Mrs. Anns, after listeniug for a mo ment, hesitated whether to prooeed or return to her room and awaken iier husband. Hut she decided ou the form er, and courageously continued on down stairs. Throwiug open the door at the bottom of the stairs she discov ered tho kitchen filled with smoke,and the board covering of the old fire place behind the range buruing fleroely. The flames were leaping up the wide chim ney, and asceudiug high abovo its top on the outside. It was the roar of these which Mrs Arms had heard dur ing the short time she had stood at the top of the stairs. A thrill cry froin her after <\ single glance had taken i i the situation, re sulted in bringing imr husband quick ly to her side. He rushed to tle front door aud called to the night employes of thejWater Works, whioli is nearly on the opposite side of the street. They promptly responded and in a short time had the blaze under oontrol and a few minutes later extinguished. When assistance arrived the wooden covering in front of the ohimney was partly consumed aud the flamos mak ing rapid advancement toward the in terior of the kitchen. Had Mrs. Arms not discovered theiu when she did, they would SOOTI have reached the stairway leading to the second story. That would have cut off the ouly ave nue through which the imprisoned family could have esoaped, except to have jumped out of the windows,thin ly clad into the ohilly winds of a Dec ember night—provided tliev had been awakened in time to have taken the opportunity thus given |them to save themselves from being cremated. The only thing burned besides the ohimney covering and a portion of the floor under the range and near the stairway, was a small hole in the roof and a few articles of clothing which Mrs. Arms had suspended to tho shelf of the range before going to bed. Con sequently the damages are Blight com pared to what they might have been, had not the cat sonnded an alarm. Sparks falling from the stove pipe aud igniting the boards separating the chimney, and these buruing through and dropping down and setting fire to the soot in tho old fire plaoe is sup posed to have beeu the origin of the blaze. Favorably Impressed. The members of the Printing Com mittee of the School Rrard to whom the matter was referred at Monday night's meeting of the Board, are fav orably impressed with Professor Gor dy's proposed Outline of Study, aud shall so report to the Board at the next meiting. They have authorized Mr Qordy to get estimates of ihe cost of printing Ihe number of books re quired, so as to insert that item in the rep >rt. CHARGED Willi LAR-j CENYBY BAILEE; Saturday afternoon P. Miller,a farm er residing in Liberty township, wa< placed under #3OO bail by 'Squire Dal ton for his appearance at Court to an swer the charge of larceuy by bailee. The prosocutor was Benjamin Mill er, a junk dealer of this olty. He testi fied to having visited the farm of fie defendant on November 28, last and negotiated for the pnrchase of a lot of old iron, at 40 cents pur hnudrod. lie paid $3 ou account, and left for home with the understanding that lie was to return in a few days aud get the iron On Monday, December 5, lie weut back and upon looking around, discovered | that the pile of iron that lie was the one lie had purchased, was not as large as it had beeu at tho time of his first visit. In fact, he said, only a few pieces of it remained aud as they were of an iuferior quality,he refused to take them. He asked P. Miller what had beooine of the pile, and the latter replied that he liai sold them to Jaoob Bugle that moruiug at 50 cents per hundred. Ooutiuuiug the prosecutor said that he oane home, and had a warrant issued for the arrest ot' P. Miller. Tho latter claimed that lie made no specific agreement with Beu jamin Miller to sell him tho iron. He oame there ou November 23, and Fald he wanted a load of iron. He did not say whether he wauted scrap or oast iron, nor did lie mention how mmy hundred weight he desired to seoure. "Iliad seven piles of iron abiut my premises. He simply saidhewantel iron, and that he would be back in a few days. He offered uie £2 to bind the bargain. At firit I refused to take it, but when ho insisted that I should, 1 put it In my pooket. Jaoob Engle came to my place ou the moruiug of December 5, aud I sold liiiu I(500 pounds of iron at 50 cents per hundred. Later in the day Benjamin Miller put in an appearance again. Ho threw a load of iron into his wagon, then lie got mad aud thiewjit off, saying lie didn't want it. I gave him bank his $2 and he threw it ou the Riouud, where it buried itself in the snow. After he weut away I picked it out of the snow aud put it in my pocket. "Yes, I have it now," he replied to a question addressed to him by tho mag istrate. Beujamiu Miller was held iu his owu recognizance to appear and prosecute the caeo Growing in Interest. Under the supervision of Physioal Director Carpenter the work of the Y. M. C. A. gymnasium is gaining a high standard. All the classos are well at tended aud growing iu interest aud popularity. Five physical culture classes are now in successful operation. The busi ness men's evening class aud the busi ness men's afternoon class both meet twice a week. The latter is not as well attended at present as it might be,but will, doubtless, have a larger number prei-ent at the uieetiugs after tho holi days. The class for yonng men aud the boys class eaoh meets twice a week in the evenings, and the young ladies class twice a week in the afternoons. The latter olass is popular with the young ladies, well attended aud grow ing in interest. It is confidently ex pected that after the first of the year greater interest will be manifested in all the classes. Parents who have an interest in the physioal development of their boys aud girls, should present them with a Y. M. C. A. membership ticket,which will be good for one year iu any Y.M. C. A iu the Uuiteil States and Canada. Council Will Attend Funeral. There was a special mooting of Town Couuoil last night, at 7 :30 o'clock, to take suitable actiou on the doath of Councilman David A. Montgomery, of the Third Ward. Joseph M. Gibson, Amos Vastiue and George F. Reifsuyder were ap pointed a Committee to draft appro priate resolutions, and to report the same at the next meeting of Council. It was decided to attend the funer al, which takes place at 12:30 this af ternoon, in a body. Couuoil will meet at the City Hull at 12 o'clock, and from there proceed to the family resi deuoe, corner of Mill and Centre streets. Abutments To Be Filled in. The Commissioners of Northumber land and Montour Counties liavo taken the initiatory stops toward having the Danville and South Danville approach es to the new river bridge filled in. At a joint meeting held in the Com missioners' office in this city, yester day, the two boards of Commissioners decided to take immediate actiou iu the matter by advertising for soaled proposals. These will be received at the Moutour County Commissioners' office on or before Saturdny, Decem ber 24. Bidders must statn the kind of material to be used, aud the Commis sioners reserve the right to rejeit any or all bids. Tho coutract, as a matter of course, will bo awarded to the low est bidder or bidders, aud he or they will be required to do the work with ; the least possible delay. Shoe Shining Parlor. William Anderson has opened an up to-date shoe shining parlor in the Loticr building opposite tho Post Offioe. This establishment will no doubt be well patronized as it is the only shoe shining pallor in tho oity. Hours from Ba. m.to Bp. in. Satur days until 9 p. m. Ladies' shoes a specialty. ' 'DEATH OF | 1). A. MONTGOMERY David A. Montgomery, one of Dan ville's most promiueut citizens and a member of Oounoil, died at 9 o'clock Monday eve, after suffering with a complication of diseases for about two years and a half. The deceased was born iu what was then Newbnrry, but now the "til and lltli Wards of the oity of Williams port, 44 years ago. He was married to Miss Emma Pursel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Pursel. April 1, 1895, lie moved to Danville from Hughes viHe. At the latter place he was en g igod iu tho livery business with liis father-in-law, Mr. Pursel,aud iu Dan ville he was in the grooery business with his brother-in-law,E. K. Pursel. Mr. Montgomery was elected to Council about 3 years ago, aud took au active part in the affairs of the Borough. He was a member and deacon of the Trinity Lutheran church. He is survived by liis wife, also his moth er—Mrs. P. C. Miller, of Tivoli, Ly comiug county, and the following brothers: George Montgomery,Eagles mere ; Edward, of Tivoli; William, of Picture Rocks aud a sister, Mrs. Charles Rooker, ot Muncy. Music of Great Composers. During the time intervening between now and Christmas day the Amerioan will publish a number of music al programs to bo rendered by the churches aud Sunday schools ou Christ mas. It has become the oustom to present in the church ou Christmas eve or Christmas day, the choicest vocal aud iustrumental sacred musio of the great est composers with augmeuted choirs. Elaborate docoratious are also au at tractive feature, aud the churohes in every way endeavor to show their jubilation and joy iu commemorating the coming of the Savior of mankind. The choral Holy Eucharist on Christ mas morning in Christ Episcopal olinrch has come to be one of the mark ed religious features of the year's ser vices in the parish. This service seems to meet the convenience of a large number of people who keep a religious Christmas before the duties day begin. The service begins at 6:30 o'clock. Following is the musical pro gram to be rendered at this and other services at Christ church ou Christ mas day : Prooessional—"Adeste Fideles" Reading Kyrie Eleison, Gloria Tibi, Gra tias, Credo Simper in C. "Blessed Morn" Roper Presentation of Alniß Whitney Sursam Corda.Sanctus, Benedict us Qui Venit, Agnus Dei, Gloria in Excelsis Nunc Dimittis in E Flat Stainer Recessional—"lt Came Upon the Midnight Clear" Willis Low Celebration Ba. m. Moruiug Prayer 10 a. m. Choral Holy Eucharist.... 10:30 a. m. "Hark the Herald Angles Sing". . Mendelssohu Kyrie, Gloria Tibi.Gratias, Credo Simper iu E Flat "Sing, Oh Sing, this Blessed .... Mom" Smart Preseutation of Alms Anon Snrsum Corda, Benedictus Qui Venit, Agnus Dei, Gloria in Excelsis Simper in E Flat Nunc Dimittis Gregory Adeste I'ideles Reading Choral Evening Prayer 7:30 p. in Processional "Regent Square" Smart Psalms 89, 110, 132. Magu ificat Gregory Nunc Dimittis Gregory Hymu—"O Little Town of Bethle hem" Redner Hymn—"While Shepherds Watoh ed Their Flocks by Night".. Tausur Presentation of Alms Whitney Recessional— "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" Mendelssohn. Tlust Pay Annual Tax. Representative Snyder of Scliuylkill oounty, is preparing a bill to present to the next Legislature askiug that a dollar tax bo put upon every man who carries a gun. In every senso of tiie word this law would be a good oue if it were properly euforood aud tho pro ceeds of tho tax wero applied in the direction of increasing aud piotectiug the game supply in the State, whiuh, iu this section at least, has readied a low poiut. The trus sportsmen will doubtless welcome a law of this oharacter. Cer tainly those in those counties where for many years a few men interested iu hunting have clubbed together aud footed bills for importing birds from the west—putting them out in most likely places iu tho couuty ouly to have them slaughtered by the hordes of gunners who take to tho fields the first few days of the season. Preparing for the Holiday. Tho publio schools will olose for the holidays on Friday afternoon, Decem ber 23. During the closiug afternoon interesting and appropriate Cluietmas j exercises will be held iu the several buildings All the grades will be giv en au opportunity to part oipate aud as a result,the members of the various o Ises are kept busy in the double task of preparing themselves for the oorning entertainments aud keeping up their regular studies. The programs will be arranged with the greatest oars,and iu a manner that will not ouly interest the pupils of the j school, but all of the parents and ' friends desiriug to attend. !THAMS CROSSING RIVER ON THE ICLI Teams and vehicles are now crossing the liver 011 tiie ioe. The mail was brought over in a wagon Tuesday even inn; teams crossed yostorday withooi mishap. Pedostrians are still making good ase of the foot path. Trie path way is safe in every respect at the present time, but in order that it maj coutiuue in that condition, the New! suggests that wagons, sleds aud othui heavy vehioles be given an entire li different aud distinct route to follow Wheels and horses hoofs will weai the ioe through more rapidly than tin feet of men aud women. Consequent ly there should be two roads acrosi the river. Leave the present path fo pedestrians and locate another fo: vehicles. As a safe guard against possibli slipping and falling when desceudiof the South side bank, the snow aud ic< should be coveted with ashes. Tin same precaution should he taken 01 this side. Thoughs on Christmas. Christmas with its many hallowei and enchanting associations is agaii about to dawn upon the world. Christmas! What magnet in the Eound: wha l subtle charm iu the word. How i stirs the fount of memory. With the quickness of the lightning' flash it restores childhood. Old ago 1 given a baokwaid glauoe into the dis tant past. A moving panorama por trays soenes of other days when tlx years were young and hopes bright The faoes aud forms of youthful com pauions, now either bout with age o gone to their reward, distinctly ap pear on the canvass. Loved- parents around whom children gather at tin old homestead and listen to tho storj of the babe born in the maußer, ar< presented with startling effect. Thei features are so distinct and clear tha the beholder is nearly forced to believi that the picture before him,is real ant not a trick of memory. The whole world loves Christmas It gives pleasure to youth and .joy am oonteutment to age. Children loot forward to it with bright anticipation wondering what the day of all days ii going to have iu store for them. Par ents anxiously await its coming, hap py in the thought of the pleasure tlies oau give their children. It is a day of family re-union, whet parents, brothers and sistors loug iopa rated, are re-uuited around the olr family hearth stoue,wishing each otli er "A Merry Christmas and a Happj New Year." On Christmas old acquaintances ari renewed aud friendship re-cemeuted, Angels rejoice and again heralc abroad the glad tidings of "Peace 01 Garth—Good Will to All Men." Let everybody try to make the coTiT ing Christmas one of geuuiue pleasnri and rejoicing throughout Danville Above all things else "remember tin poor,whom ye have always with you.' Make it au object to make some om outside of the pale of your immediate family aud friends, happy on Christ mas. From your abundance give ti the needy aud the distressed, remem beriug that it "is more blessed to givi than to receive." Holding Church Fair on Sund. Despite the fact that the church au thorities are violently opposed to til scheme, the churoh fair in the base meut of a Shamokin house of worshi| is open to the publio Sunday evening and there is great indignation ove the deseoratiou of the holy day. Tho fair is run full blast aud one o the prominent features is the wheel 0 fortune giving each and every one i ohanC3 to wiu a prize. Although the profits resulting fron the fair are turned over for a gooi oause, there is great objection over tin praotioe of conducting the place o ainusemout opeul.v 011 Sunday even ings. During tlip progiess of the fair Sun day evening, Wallie Bellsfeey, of On eida street, aud Joseph Zubky, of Mo hawk street, Shamokin.got into an al tercation over a girl. A fight ensuei aud Wallie laid his antagonist out foi some time by dealing him severa wicked blows on the head with a " bil ly." The defeated youth was uncou scions for some time aud was scverelj out about the head. Vacation for Rural Carriers. Representative Lafoau. of Peunsyl vauia, has introduoed a bill in Con gress which provides for the grautiui to all carriers who have beou in sorvic for over a year prior to July 1, 1905, leave of absenoe of fltfeen days with out loss of pay. Carriers who hav been less than one year iu the servio are to be entitled to a leave of ab sence of one and a quarter days fo each month served. The bill also pro vides for the employment of substi tutes at a salary of SBOO per annum. National Guard News. The bill for the construction of arm ories has been prepared aud will be iu trodaoed early in the session of tin legislature. The olive drab oap, recently mad regulation iu the Uuited Stales arm has not yet been adopted iu Peunsyl vama but probably will be before til next encampmeut. Some of the oompanies of tho Twelft are making good progress with th New Drill Regulations but othors ar taking tilings so easy that tho spriu inspection is bound to catch them uu prepared. NO. 5 SCfIABFFER WANTS SOME NEW LAWS lu his annual report Dr. N. C. Sohaeffer, Superintendent of Pablio Instruction advances arguments in favor of increased salaries for teach ers, claiming that better paid teaohers give better results in school work. He commends the act passed by the last Legislature placing the minimum sal arv for rnral teachers at |35 per month and asserts that this increase of salar ies has raised the standard of scholar ship, for passing the examinations for liceuse to teach, fifty per cent. The supeiintcndent further asserts that the increase of teachers' salaries in the rural districts emphasizes the need of a similar increase in the cities, where the cost of living is in excess of that of the rural districts. Concerning new legislation for the schools he says: "The law should specifically empow er directors to haul children to sohool whenever tliey deem it expedient to do so, t3 provide a safe escort over stream* and along railway tracks and in other ways to bring the pupils to school when the school is situated too far from the pupil. There should be a law the payment of the pupil's tuition in nearer or more accessible schools in adjacent district! when the distance to the nearest school in his own district is over a mile and a half,or when the road to said sohool is impassable during a portion of the year. "The directors should have all the power necesasry to bring all the chil dren to school by conveyance or other wise when this end can not be accom plished in tho usual way. It is only by granting to tho directors the most ample powers that the Legislature can succeed in banishing iguorance and il literacy from the Keystone State." Dr. Sohaoffer is opposed to director! assuming the duties of health boardi, saying: "The schools are seriously hamper ed and sometimes absolutely crippled by the duties which the law impose! upon the directors when they volun tarily assume the functions of health officers. It is undoubtedly a mistake to mix the administration of the sohool! with the functions of a Board of Health. Funds raisod by taxation for school purposes should not be diverted from their legitimate pse." Don't Bny Guns for Boys. Parents who contemplate giving their sous a flobert rifie, air gun, or spring gun as a Christinas prosent.are remind ed that the discharge of any such gun on any street or alley of the city i! prohibited by state law under penalty ot a fin 3 and imprisonment. The Act of Assembly,approved April 15, 1903, is as follows: Section 1. Be it euacted, etc., That six months after the passage of thi! act it shall be unlawful for any per son to discharge, on the streets or al leys of any city or borough in thi! commonwealth, a flobert rifle,air guu, spring gun, or any implement which mpels with force a metal pellet of any kind. Section 2. Any person violating thii act shall be arrested and fined in the sum of five dollars before any commit ting magistrate; and for the second offense shall be fined iu the sum of fifteen dollars, and undergo an im prisonment in the county jail for a period not less than ten days and not exceeding thirty days, the person !0 offending to pay all costs of prosecn ion. Engineer Insane Over Accident. Worrying for almost a year over hi! locomotive running down and killing an old crossing watohman at Mahanoy Plane, on the Philadelphia and Read ing Railway, Michael MoAndrew. of Frackville, has worked his mind into such a condition that it is necessary to place him under restraint, and a commission has been appointed to in quire as to his mental state, with a view of placing him in a sanitarium for special treatment. The stricken engineer was known a* a careful man,but when l.is engine,on a foggy morning, struck aud killed Peter Kissinger, the old crossing watchmau, he became unnerved. Hii fellow railroaders argued in vain that he was not to blame, and ho finally is olated himself at home and persisted in assuming tho responsibility. There is much sympathy for him, and it ii considered possible that a ohango of location may relieve his mind. An Important Question. An attorney now comes forward with the statement that boroughs can not compel railroad companies to employ watchmen or to erect gates at cross ings, that this right is reserved to sec ond cla-s cities. He says boroughs may pass an ordinance regulating the speed at which trains shall run over cro!! ings aud if such ordiuauce is violated the police may arrest tho crew for vio latiug the same. Plymouth appears to be up in arms iu this respect. Acci dents at un watched crossings are num erous aud the council at a recent meet ing instructed its attorney to draw op an ordiuauce amending the present oue, to the end that the evil could be remedied. Wallize—Luckenbill. George F. Wallize, of Exchange,and Miss Mary Luckenbill,of Valley town ship, Montour couuty, were married yesterday morning. The ceremony wai performed a* 417 Mill street,at 9 o'clock by the Rev. O. D. Lerch.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers