In
mw.
VOLUME 5.
McCONNELLSllURG, PA., APRIL 13, 1904.
NUMBER 30
DAYS OF AULD LANG SYNE. !
A Glimpse at the Earlier Half of the j
Last Century. ,
WRITTEN BY "UNCLE" JAKE MILLER.
Telia of the Schools la Hit Boyhood Dayi,
and Weaves In Many Things of In
terest In his Auto-blography.
Continued from Inst week.
In those day9 people made
nearly all their own clothing.
You would see a weaver's loom at
uearly every house. Sheep and
llax would be raised, and women
would help to break the flax and
spin it into thread, and weave
towels ' and table cloths, and
shirts and pants for men and
boys ; they would spin the wool
and weave blankets, and fine
cloth all wool for the girls to
wear for dresses, and would
weave what they called linsey
half wool and half cotton. That
they used for every day wear.
All had to wear good woolen
stockings and good kip shoe.
Often we would have to go tbvee
miles to school and the girls
would laugh about it all hearty
aud cheeks as red as roses. I tell
you none of the girls had a grave
yard cough in those times, be
cause they were ordered by their
parents to keep their feet warm
and dry. What a great blessing
it would be to-day for the young
girls if they would set greater
value on their health, for good
health is worth more than all else
in the world. Then you would
never see a young lady with a
nat : they all wore either sunbon
nets or hoods, and the young
men wore home-made clothing.
Everybody was happy and con
tented. When I was a young chap
there was no coal oil and no
matches ; and if the fire would go
out the men would take a piece of
punk and a flint and the back of a
knife blade and strike fire, which
would ignite the punk, and then
with a little blowing and &ome
kindling you could soon have a
fire.
t People nearly all had log hous
es and big chimneys in them.
There were no cook stoves : they
had big tire places, ana the wom
en had Dutch ovens with" short
legs. They would rake a lot of
coals out on the hearth, set the
oven over them, put the loaf of
bread in and put a metal lid on,
and they could bake just fine
bread and cakes. They had a
lirge griddle with long legs to
bake buckwheat cakes on. It was
placed over coals drawn out on
the hearth, and five buckwheat
cakef, about the size of atop plate
of a cook stove, baked thereon. I
tell you those cakes with some
fresh butter and honey were just
grand. Those days they had to
use candles ; they had moulds to
to make them in and candlesticks
to hold them. They made a poor
light nothing compared with
those we have now. There was
only one buggy in Licking Creek
township in 1849.
I was married to my first wife
on March 6, 1849. Her people
lived near Port Littleton, and we
wanted to go to her father's and
get married. Mr. James Austin
was the man who had the buggy
I referred to, and I went to see
him about getting it. lie gave it
to me for five days and didn't
caarge me a cent for the use of
it. He'was a grand, good neigh
bor. I nearly forgot to give a little
politics as I went along. I cast
my first vote in 1848 for General
Cass for President, and I have
never missed but one election
since, have always been a Demo
crat and have stood close to my
party.
My first wife died in the
spring of ,1852, leaviug a little
babe three- mouths old. It died
of scarlet fever when it was two
years old. I married my second
wife October 24, 1854. Our first
child was born September 12,
1855, and to us were born nine
children ; seven are living, and
two are dead.
I waa elected constable In Dub-
0UR 0R0WTH ,N P0PULAT,0N-
Halted States Now About 80 Millions; New
York 3 3-4, and Chicago 2 Millions.
Including Alaska and the in
sular possessions, the estimated
population of the United States
19051, according to a Census Bur
eau bulletin issued the first of
this mouth is 79,900,38!).
This is an increase of 3,905,814
since he census of 1900.
New York now is a city of 3,-
716,139 inhabitants; Chicago is
rapidly approaching the two mil
lion marlr, having 1,873,880 inhab
itants; Philadelphia has 1,307,710;
St. Louis has just passed.and Dos
ton has almost reached the G00,
000 mark; Baltimore has 531,313;
Cleveland is now a considerable
distance ahead of Cincinnati,
which cities have 414,950 and 332,-
934, respectively.
Buffalo also has considerably
increased its population, being
credited with 381,403 inhabitants.
San Francisco and Pittsburg are
close competitors, the former
having 355,919, and the latter
345,043. Detroit, Milwaukee and
New Orleans have just passed
300,000 and Washington is close
to that figure.
New York leads in population,
with more than seven and a half
millions; Pennsylvania exceeds
six and a half millions.
Following are the estimates of
the population of cities in Penn
sylvania:
Allegheny, 138,018; Allentown,
38,574; Altoona, 41,505; Chester,
35,995; Easton, 20,775; Erie, 56,
363; Harrisburg, 52,951; Johns
town, 39,059; Lancaster, 44,294;
McKeesport, 38,274; New Castle,
32,593; Pittsburg, 345,043; Read
ing, 85,051; Scranton, 107,026;
Wilkesbarre, 55,921; Williamsport
29,246; York, 30,438.
Shives-Durand.
At the home of the bride's pa
rents last Tuesday.Frank Shives,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel
Shives of Belfast township, this
county, and Miss Nancy Durand
of Summerhill, Franklin county,
were united in marriage by the
Rev.C. C. Bingham, pastor of the
United Brethren church at Sum
merhill. The ceremony was wit
nessed by over 50 guests, who
were afterwards served with a
sumptuous wedding diuner. The
happy young counle have planned
to make their home in Summer
hill, where they have a house
completely furnished.
lin township in 1857 and 1858. I
enlisted in the war for three
years and served about eighteen
months, wiien the war closed. 1
had the stripes put on at Peters
burg in the spring of 1865 for
faithful service. I was crotnotod
to third corporal, which my dis
charge shows. There was an
election held in the army in the
fall of 1864. Each company held
the election in the captain's tent.
A regular board of officers was
elected, judge, two inspectors,
and two clerks were appointed.
I was elected judge of election in
my company, which the records
at Washington will show. Our
regiment gave McClellan 57 Dem
ocratic majority. I was in the
84thPenn'a Regiment Vol. Inf.,
Co. E., in the Second Brigade,
Third Division of the Second
Corps ; but in the spring of 1865,
owing to our regiment being so
reduced in ranks from having so
many killed, wounded, and dis
charged, it was consolidated into
the 57th Penn'a Regiment. I was
in Co. F, and was discharged in,
that regiment. ' Our corps was
first commanded by (Joneral Han
cock, but he being badly wound
ed at Gettysburg, and his wound
not getting better, he had to be
relieved and General Humph
reys took command of the Sec
ond Corps. Big, old Dutchman !
When we were ordered into bat
tle we would meet him coming to
the rear, and he would Bay to us,
"Now, boys, give them the Dev
il !" But Hancock would say,
Boys, follow me !'.'
Comlouod Bxt week.
Jesse Peck, Dead.
His many friends were pained
a few weeks ago to learn that Jes
se Peck was rapidly sinking a
victim t consumption, and at
noon on Monday the spark of life
was suddenly extinguished.
Jesse was a son of Mr. and
Mrs. Carl Peck formerly of Ayr
township, a grandson of the late
John H. Peck, aud was aged al
most 27 years.
After spending about a year as
fireman on the B. & O. railroad,
Jesse came to Michael Knauff's
iu Ayr township, about seven
years ago, in whose family he has
lived since, enjoying the full con
fidence and respect not only of
the Knauff family but of a wide
circle of friends. Ho was a young
man of excellent habits, and an
exemplary member of the Re
formed church. Funeral services
was held at the Knauff home this
morning at 8 o'clock, whence his
body was taken to Metal, Frank
lin county, for interment.
Moral Reform Meeting.
The association for Moral Re
form met on Monday evening,
April 1 1th, in the United Presby
terian church at 7:30 o'clock.
Owing to the absence of the pres
ident, Rev. A. G. Wolf through
sickness the devotional exercises
were conducted by Rev. J. L.
Grove, and consisted in the sing
ing of Psalm 1, the reading of
Psalm 119, followed by prayer.
A valuable paper was prepared
and read by Geo. W. days, topic:
"Self Control." Mr. W. C. Pat
terson read a very pathetic and
impressive sketch from real life
'How we saved Mary," in which
the methods of the philanthropic
and those in politics were con
trasted. The meeting adjourned to meet
in the Presbyterian church Mon
day, May Oth, at 7:30 p, m. The
program will consist of an ad
dress by M. R. Shaffuer, special
music and recitations.
Mrs. S. M. Cook, Sec.
WEST DUBLIN.
Mrs.Frank Price returned Sat
urday evening from a visit to Al
toona. Lee B. Johnson and family
moved to Greene county last
Monday.
J. H. Kirk has gone to Six mile
Run to clerk tor the MorrUdtile
Supply Co.
Some of the roads damaged ly
the high waters of March liuve
been repaired.
Joseph Price, the Lnidig black
smith, has made over 50u horco
shoes since lust fall.
Clevenger's school closed Tues
day of last week uud Luidig
school closed last Monday.
Harry W. Brant and family of
New Enterprise spent Mouday
night of last week with his broth
er Casper.
A. R. Edwards went to Roar
ing Springs, Blair county, last
Thursday to receive treatment at
the hospital there for his injured
face. He was accompanied by S.
D. Wolf.
Dowling Johnson returned
home last week after an absence
of several months in the western
part of this State and in West
Virginia, and is busily engaged
in repairing the engine prepara
tory to sawing.
Mr. Charles Selsor, who has
charge of the big steam flouring
mill at Mercers burg, spent last
Saturday with his uncle and
aunt, John and Annie Selsor, of
this place.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. S.
A. Nesbt, North Second St., was
tne scene of a very enjoyable
social event Monday, evening,
Apiil 4th, when about twenty
young ladies and gentlemen iu
vaded their home in honor of thoir
daughter, Miss Netha's blrthduy.
It was planned and executed as a
surprise, but Miss Netha after
receiving congratulations proved
equal to tho occasion, and all were
made to feel that it was a very
agreeable surprise.
MISS ALICE WISHART.
Describes a Specimen Day's Missionary
Work in India.
THE SACRED WATERS OF THE GANGES,
To Which Long Pilgrimages are Made for An
Opportunity to Wash Sin Away.
Poor, Deluded People I
Ai.laiiahaii, India. Jiinuury 20, 1UH.
I have been longing for descrip
tive powers to tell you about one
of my days in this wonderful
country. Yesterday Miss Todd
and 1, after 10:30 breakfast, load
ed with several hundred tracts
and gospels in Undu aud Ileiede,
took a conveyance and drove to
the Mela ground by way of Dara
Zunj. You know how it looks :
The miles aud miles of smooth,
wide streets lined with beautiful,
big mango trees; the rows of na
tive mud huts along the way;
naked children, goats, oxen, now
and then a camel, or an elephant,
miniature donkeys laden with
dirty clothes, and driven by the
washermen; ekka after ekka full
of men in purple and gold, and
some garbed only with a dirty,
white, loin cloth and pugri. the
ekkas being pulled by miserable
little, starved ponies.
We stopped at a heathen tem
ple on the way where a crowd had
gathered to see the Raina (Prin
cess) of Benares and her retinues
who had come over to worship
and bathe. We distributed a lot
of tracts; none were refused and
every one seemed auxious to get
them. All the way to Dara Zunj
we had opportunities to give them
and we were not slow to improve
the opportunity.
Miss Todd had an errand in a
house so I sat outside in the gari
and amused mysell seeing people
pass, and hauding out tracts. I
used always to have a horror of
tracts, but I see the good they ac
complish here. The houses on
both sides of the street (street
about 10 feet wide) were of mud,
and as the one opposite where we
stopped happened to be a "green
grocery" I could see that part of
the town buy their vegetables for
dinner. Miserable looking old
women would come, along aud buy
half a dozen very small potatoes;
than a half naked youngster load
ed with aiiUets and bracelets
would bargain for two guavas.
Women with rings in their noses
and rings on their toes, with ank
lets and bracelets of tin or silver,
would clank and tiukle by. Tiny
girls with their younger sisters
or brothers astride their hips,
stoo,d staring at me. Of all the
strange peoule and conveyances
that passed in the twenty minutes
I sat there, it would take hours
to describe. We drove through
streets that perhaps no mission
aries ever see, much less work in,
and were so glad to put Christ's
word into many, many hands that
had never seen or heard of it be
fore. Wheu we reached the Ganges,
instead of going down to the river
as we did last week, we walked
round on the upper bank where
dozens of the most hideous crea
tures I ever saw were sitting
about in groups, or loafing in the
sun. Most of them were priests
with naked bodies daubed with
yellow clay and ashes. Their
hair was matted and hung in long
plaited ropes down their backs.or
was wound round and round their
heads. If we saw one, we saw a
hundred hideous idols within a
distance of a quarter of a mile or
less. The people were willing
enough for tho tracts, and we
sold a number of gospels at a
quarter of a ceut each. There
were the "holy" (!) men on spiked
bods, and the men with withered
arms or legs. Oh, it was heart
sickening to see and to know the
coudition of those souls for whom
Christ died ! In the river below
us were thousands of the same
deluded creatures, trying to wash
away their sins fu the "sacred"
waters. It was heathenism with
a vengeance; and, to thiuk, some
of these came great distances and
stayed the entire month, Oh, the
L0NQ JOURNEY.
Mr. Emanuel Shnrpe and Family Have
Arrived in Montana.
( The niauy friends of M r. Emari-1
i uol Shnrpe and family will be glad ;
i to loam that they arrived at Big-j
l timber, Montana, safe and are i
pleased with the appearance of
I the country.
j Mr. Sharpe and family left
their farm at Necdmore and
went to the highlands of Mon
tana in the hope that a change of
climate might be bouehcial to the j
failing health of Mrs. Sharpe. j
From a private letter from
Mrs. Sharpe we take the liber- j
ty of making the following ex
tracts :
We left Hancock at 1 o'clock
Monday afternoon, March 28th,
over the B. it O. railroad, and aft
er a ride covering over 2, 100 miles
we arrived atBigtimber, Montana
at 9 o'clock ou Thursday eveuing
of the same week.
From the name "Bigtimber"
you will imagine that we are liv
ing in the woods, with the trees
so tall aud the foilage so dense
that the sunlight never reaches
the ground. That's not quite the
case. This is a beautiful prairio
country with scarcely a tree of
any kind in sight, and Bigtimber
is the name of a beautiful littlo
town something larger, I think,
than McConuellsburg. It is a
county-seat and has a line large
court house aud a number of
big stores.
While this is not a lumbering
country for the reason I have
stated before there being no
trees, neither is it a farming coun
try but sheep aud cattle are
raised by the thousands and by
the tens of thousands. The wide
range of pasturage, the peculiar
climate, combine to make herding
most profitable.
It is not cold here and I am in
formed that the winter has not
been severe. There is no snow
here; yet the peaks of the Rockies
are iu plain sight with their heads
capped in white that dazzle in tho
suniight making one feel that the
Frost King must have his winter
quarters at no great distance.
From what we could see of the
country from the car windows in
onr journey, wo are led to think
more favorably of this section
than of the Middle West.
I endured tho long trip with
much less fatigue than I antici
pated. I really thought Beatrice
(our daughter) was going to col
lapse before we reached Chicago,
but she rallied, and came out of
the trip fairly well.
We spent from 10 a. m., to 0 p.
in., in Chicago Tuesday. We
were met by our cousins Pearl
Hart and Floyd Beach, through
whose kindness we were per
mitted to see much of interest in
the great city. While we ladies
were "doing"' the big stores, a
gentleman friend of Pearl had
taken Mr. Sharpe to see one of
the big packing houses. When
they returned, Mr. Sharpe
thought that the packing house
was the -"whole thing" m Chica
go. As to distance, we are about
twice as far west of Chicago as
Haucocli is east ot Chicago.
Mr. Will Morgret and family,
who have been residing at Clear
field for several years, came back
to Whips Cove last week and mov
ed into the house with Abnor
Mellott aud will take charge of
the latter's farm.
pity, the pity of it all ! We had
special prayer when wo returned
that God would bless his word,
and that souls might be convert
ed to Him through the reading of
sonio of these leaflets.
One day this week. Miss Todd
and soveral ot our workers, and I
are going to take a native boat at
Tuneua bridge and go up to the
Fort where tho bathers are. I
want to Bay that God was never
as real to me as lie lias been since
I came to the Orient, it is almost
what we could call a "trial by
fire" to live in India, and see these
tights day after day.
PROHIBITION CONVENTION.
Ticket Nominated and Big Mass Meet
Ing Held.
The Prohibition County Con
vention was held on last Friday
in theCourtllouse at 2 P. M.
The meeting was opened with
prayer, and organized by electiug
Rev.'S. B. Houston to preside and
Rev. J. L. Grove as secretary.
The State Chairman, C. R. Jones,
Kst., of Philadelphia was present
and gave a "stirring" address.
Delegates to the State Convention
were chosen as follows: Rev.
Henry Wolf and J. W. Johnston
his alternate. Mr. Johuston was
also made the member of the
State Central Committee from
Fulton County.
The convention then proceeded
to tho nomination of a county
ticket, which resulted as follows:
President judge, Homer L. Castle
Esq., of Pittsburg; legislature,
George W. Reisuer, of McCon
nellsburg; sheriff, Henry M. Tru
ax of Wells township, and coun
ty treasure, Rev. Henry Wolf of
Tod township. George W. Hays,
J. W. Johnston and Henry Wolf,
were chosen congressional con
ferred. The County Com mittee
was reorganized by electing Geo.
W. Havs county chairman and
Rev. J. L. Grove, secretary and
treasurer, with the following
township committeemen, namely,
Ayr, J. Houston Johnston; Bel
fast, S. M. Clevenger; Bethel,
Ezra Mellott; Brush Creek, Geo.
Mellott; Dublin, Dr. D. A. Hill;
Licking Creek, Edward Croft;
McConncllsburg, Rev. A. G. Wolf;
Thompson, ;Tod, Rev. Henry
Wolf; Union, ; Wells, Henry
M. Truax. Thecouuty chairman
and secretary were authorized to
till any vacaucies in this commit
tee; and, also, any vacancies that
may occur in the county ticket
nominated. The treasurer made
a report which was approved.
Rev. J. H. Hector, the famous
colored orator popularly known
as, "Ihe Black Knight," was
present and addressed the con
vention in the interest of Stat3
funds to whom there were a num
ber of liberal responses. Some
voluntary contributions were
made to the local work. Each
member of the convention was
constituted a committee to ex
tend the circulation of "The Peo
ple," the State prohibition paper.
The convention was one of the
most decisive and public spirited
which tho county has ever held.
One of the marked and euccurag
ing features about it was the at
tendance and active participation
of a goodly number of members,
who have not heretofore been
identified with it.
MASS MKKTIXU.
Tho Mass Meeting in the even
ing at 7:30 was a grand success.
TheCourtllouse was packed to
its utmost capacity, and the audi
ence was more than gratified with
the entertainment rendered by
Rev. J. H. Hector with his wife
and daughter.and MadameLyons.
Rev. Hector is a more than ordi
narily forceful speaker, and for
over two hours he treated his
audience to such a flow of wit and
humor refutation of political
fallacies and logical unfolding of
fundamental social principles as
could not but enforce conviction,
and carry his hearers with him
to his conclusions. The lecture
was literally light out of darkness
and pleasure out of sadness. The
pathetic songs by the singers
wore reudered with such touch
iug power of nature as to wholly
captivate all of the listeners.
The audience showed thoir ap
preciation by a voluntary contri
bution of about thirty dollars to
promote the cause of prohibition.
SfX'UETAKY.
The Hancock Star has entered
upon the sixteenth year of jts ex
istence, and judging from Us
eighteen, columns of advertise
ments, it is regarded as a first
class advertising medium. May
tho end of the next fifteen years
find the Wabash complete with
Hancock a big city, and the Star
a sixteen page daily,
ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Snapshots at Their Movements, as They
Come and Go.
NAMES OF VISITORS AND VISITED.
Home for a Vacatioo, Away lor an Outing, a
Trip for Business or Pleasure, You'll
Find it Right Here.
Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Pock of
Knobsville, spent last Thursday
afternoon in town.
Mr. Blaine Bergstresser of
Waterfall, spent Saturday even
ing and Sunday at McConnells
burg. Miss Annie Dickson was among
the number who attended "Mis
sionary" meeting and saw Ben
Hur last week.
Mr. and Mrs. U. Bruce Barton
of Brush Creek Valley, madeatrip
to McConnells burg on Wednes
day of last week.
Miss Minnie Reisuer, who had
been spending her Easter vaca
tion at home, returned to the C.
V. Normal Monday.
Mr. W. Bronsou Orr of Cham
bersburg, spent from Saturday
until Monday morning with
friends at McCounellsburg.
Mr. Aaron Lay ton and Mr. Lem
Smith of Whips Cove.were guests
of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Mellott
of this place Sunday night.
Mr. Walter Reed Sloan was
among the number from this
place, who went to Harrisburg
last week to see the Ben Hur
play.
Mr. Don Morton, who had been
spending his Easter vacation with
his parents near this place, re
turned to the C. V. Normal Mon
day. Miss Nellie Nace of Chambers
burg spent a few days during the
past week in the home of her
uncle and auut, Mr. aud Mrs. A.
U. Nace of this place.
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Garland
of Whips Cove, spent a tew hours
in town last Wednesday. Mrs.
Garland has been in poor health
for some time.
Our old friend Herbert Mor
gret of Belfast township, called
at this office a few miuutes while
in town one day last week and ad
vanced his subscription to the
News.
The name of our townsman,
Hon. W. Scott Alexander, will ap
pear on the electoral ticket at next
fall's election repieseuting the
Seventeenth congressional dis
trict. Walter C. Peck, who spent the
winter at Nassau, on one of the
Bahamas, returned t; Bedford
Springs last Thursday, where he
will be employed during the sum
mer.
There will be preaching ser
vices at the solvation Army
church near Big Cove Tannery
next Saturday evening at 7:30;
Sunday services at 10:30 a. m.;
2:30 p. m., and at 7 o'clock.
Mr. Percy Stiver of Bedford,
spent a day or two last week with
his uncle the editor of the News,
and was accompanied home by
bis sister Miss Mayo, who had
been visiting at the same place.
Mr. Thad S. Shoemaker of Hus-
tontown, has been transferred
from Jeannette tollollidaysburg.
Mr. Shoemaker is employed as
one of their chief electricians
by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company.
Pitcher Frank Bowden, of last
year's Lindner team but now
with the Harrisburg Athletic
Club, is in Carlisle and will as
sist in coaching the Dickinson
baseball players. Bowden is in
good shape.
A hundred-thousand-dollar fire
swept down on the town of Albia,
Iowa, on Easter morning, de
stroying many of the best busi
ness blocks, among which was
that of the Atchison's Grocery
and Queeusware establishment
in which Mr. J. Howard Atchin
son, husband of Jessie, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Kendall,
of the Cove, was interested.