.1
SI)C Jfnlton County Tcuis.
VOLUME 8.
McCONNELLSBURG, 1A., FEBRUARY 7, 1907.
NUMBER 1
KANSAS SCHOOL 1W4R1H.
Wiilcs of Educational Conditions Out
. There, and Thinks Thos in The j
Keystone Stale Suffer in The
Comparison.
FOMERLY A TAYLOR TOWNSHIP (HRL
DBAS Editor. Ore of the cop
ies of your paper came to me the
Other day and Drought old memo
ries back to mind -memories of
old frieuds, old times, and old
scenes in the deir homo county;
and, while I am thinking of those
deaf old days of the past, 1 will
' write a few lines to you, trusting
they will not drop into the waste
basket.
A six years' sojourn in the
West has not taken the love for
the hills out of my heart :yet since
I: left Pennsylvania, I have met
many other strange wanderers,
who seemed to wear strange ex
pressions on their faces which
reminded me greatly of the map
f Pennsylvania. However, there
is f.lways a kind of brotherly feel
ing conveyed in that kiudly smile,
nod I don't, feel so far away from
home after meeti.ig such friends.
1 had f;he pleasure of spending
my Christmas vacation in Km
poiia with my sister Alice and
brother Gilbert, who are both
teaching near there. My broth
er John, also, who is farming in
western Kansas, spent Christmas
with us. 'VYe have been wander
i ig ovor the earth for at, long,
that it seemed a rave treat tp have
that many of the home folks to
rgether at ouo time.- We sang all
the old songs, told all tbeold tides
over, and talked ahcut the old
tin.es, until we almost felt that
we were back again among the
lulls jf the woodsy haunts of
' Dear Old Fulton."
' Out of the abuudauco of the
heart the mouth speaUeth," was
uttered by one who "spake cs
neve.- man spake, "and as" 1 am
endeavoring to help the Kansas
youth up the stony path of ki:ow
ledge, I will try to give you s'.me
information about the schools
and the "Teachers' Fraternity."
First of all, I want to say the
system of mauaging rural schools
iu Kansas is far in advance of the
system used fi Pennsylvania in
rural schools. The system in the
city schools is about the same.
The rural schools do not have
long enough term. Most of them
have' seven or eight months, but
in western Kansas, where teach
ers are scarce, six months is the
average term in rural schools.
Nine months makes a good term
for a rural school.
Teachers' wages range from
to $00 a month. A few inexperi
enced teachers will teach for less,
out they don't have it to do. If
teachers ask for a good price and
stick to it, they will get it. Of
course, these salaries are paid in
rural schools. The cities pay
about the same, according to
grades, but principals get from
$(C to $1 00 in second and third
class towns the size of McCon
nollsburg or, probably nbt so
1 irge. Inexperienced teachers
get from $35 to $45 per month.
In western Kansas where my
brother is, teachers' wages are
from $50 to $00 per couth, and
sx months is the average term
Teachers holding a professional
or llrst grade certificate of any
c uuty, may have it endorsed in
'uuy othfr county iu tho State.
Second and third grades may bo
endorsed if the Cmnty Superin
tendent sees til to do so. No one
. can hold a professioaal who has
n t taught, at least, thirty two
school months, and no oue can
hold a first grade unless he has
taught at least twelve months;
and the average grade of all sub
jects must be ninety per cout. or
mi re. The State Board of Edu
cation makes out all questions
for teachers', examinations. All
examinations are held through
out the whole state on the same
day, and have the sa.me questions
Tins makes it convenient for the
teachers aud county board of ex
aminers. Kansas is now iu one of the
greatest eras of prosperity, that I
she has ever known. !rops have
been excellent for the last five
rears. 1 heard a farmer remark
the other day that he had cleared :
tltipO outside of all expenses, '
from his crops this year off three !
"eighties." Another farmer J
near hore, made $1700 in three
months feediug sheop; 'that is, I
counting all expenses except his
own labor. He bought tho sheep
in New Mexico, and shipped them
honle aud fattened them for Kan
sas city markets. Of course, he
will not always do this well; but
he can easily make good interest
on his investments.
When i first came to Kansas, I
found it difficult to accustom my
solfto tho level plains they
seemed so silent and lonely, but
I have couquored that leeling.
The prairies have taken on a dif
ferent Appearance. When deck
ed in a royal vesture of dark
green, it looks like a vast garden
with its teeming wheat fields or
cornfields gleaming under its
bri.liant sun; or, showing its sort
tints under tho glorious moon
light. Here and there a golden
sunllower bowing its face above
tho hedgerows: lous days with
out a cloud in the blue depth of
heaven, and cool nights bringing
refreshing sleepare only some
of tho natural beauties that peo
ple hardly seem to no! ice.' One
t hing compensating iu the Kan
sas climate when the weather is
intensely hotduringthe mid-summer
days, is the cool nights which
never fail us. No one ever snl
fers with heat in the nighttime
through the hotte t weathor.
When winter comes and covers
the earth with the dazzliog robe
of snow, the plains present a
most beautiful asj ect. The roll
ing prairie shows up best then.
Yhe hills leprosent the waves of
a great white sea, sparkling with
millions of jewels under the daz
zling sunlight.
To the north of luy schoolhouse
isalowrang.3 of blulfs, which
are used as pasture lands. All
pasture land is unbroken prairie,
and the native grass is the prin
cipal food for cattle and horses in
the grass season.
Wheat averages from 6 to 45
bus hels per acre in a good season
in this (Jewell) county, aud alfal.
fa is the principal hay crop.
Many of the farmers pasture tho
wheat iu the fall after it is high
enough. This does not hurt tho
next spring's crop. Many think
it does the wheat good to pasture
it.
Thero is one thing that Kansas
will never be able to do, and that
is to raise fruit with the llavor
Pennsylvania fruit has. It lacks
the lusciousuess of eastern fruit.
Some believe the cause of this is
that Kansas f. uit matures too
soon.
During this fall and winter we
have had delightful weather. We
have had one snow of about four
inches, but it only lay on the
round a few days. We have
plenty of timo.vet for winter, and
I expect wo will hive a blustering
time when it does come.
Kansas smiles under her years
of prosperity, and I don't behevo
you will find a jollier or better
class of people than tho average
(Canaan. Thoy are good nat.ired
and iu for a good time iu this
world.
Kansas has always reminded
me of a big, overgrown, homely
baby with a sweet disposition.
You must get acquainted with it
belore you can see it? good qual
ities.
Noka K. Stkvknn.
Jewell City, Kas.
January 1-', 1007.
WHO PAYS THE FREIGHT? IT RAINS ALL THE TIME. AGAINST RACE SUICIDE. OUR OBITUARY LIST.
Partners' Institute.
Those interested iu agriculture
are coraially invited to attend the
local institute to be held in the
school house at Webster Mills,
February 15, 1007. The exercises
will commence at I o'clock p. m.
The cash road tax quostion will
be discussed as well as other
questions of interest. A iaiye
turn out is desired.
. W. C. Patterson,
Secretary.
McConncllsburj! School District Brings
Suit Against (he Neighboring Dis
trict of Ayr, to Recover
TUITION OF HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS.
Tho McConnellsburg school
district and the neighboring
school district of Ayr, arfc having
a little legal tilt, the outcome of
which will be watched with some
interest by the school boards in
other parts of the State.
The facts iu'tho contention are
about as follows :
For many years citizens of tho
districts of Ayr aud Tod hving
adjacent to the Horough, have
sent their childreu into the Bor
ough schools, for tho reason that
it was more convenient to do so
than to send them to thrir own
township schools, which, in some
eases, were at a greater distance
from their homos; and, also, be
cause they could obtain bettor fa
cihties in tho Horough schools.
For this privilege, a sum tlxod
by the Horough board, was paid
by the citizens sending the pupils;
and thus the matter passed along
from yea to year without any
frk-tion.
lint, in 1905, the legislature
pas-.od the following act : "That
children residing in school dis
tricts in which no public high
schoil is maintained, may attond
a high school in some other dis
trict, located near their homes;
provided the c hsont ol the di
rectors of the district in which
such high school is located, be
first obtained; tho cost of tuition
and school books, whi :h shall Dot
exceed that of the tuition and
-chool books of children in the
same grades or courses in the
district maintaining such high
school, shall bo paid to the dis
trict receiving such children, out
of the monovs raised by taxation
for public school purposes in the
district in which said children re
side; provided, that before admis
sion to a high school, such pupils
shall be oxamined and fouud qual
itied for high school work, by the
principal of such high school."
At the opening of the schools
in 1905, in compliance with a res
olution passed by the Borough
board, the citizens of the town
ships named who sent pupils into
the Horough high school, paid to
the Borough school board the
sum of six dollars, it being one
half tho amount the boaid had
fixed per pupil for the term. Lat
er it was discovered that there
was a law fixing the responsibili
ty for the payment of the money
upon the districts from which the
pupils ctme, and the Borough
board presented bills to the re
spective townships for theamount
of the tuiti.on for the term.
By calculation it was found
that the pro rata cost of each pu
pil in attendance at the high
school was $21. As four pupils
were atteuding from Tod, and
seven from Ayr, Tod's bill was
$84 and Ayr's $147. The school
board of Tod paid their bill
promptly, and the six dollars paid
at the oponing of the term was
refunded to the citizens wh ) had
paid that sum. The bo u d of Ayr
refused to pay their bill. Among
other reaso; s for their refusal to
do so, was, th it the so-called high
school iu McConnellsburg was
not a high school in the strict
sense of the law.
To settle tho matter judicially,
tho Borough school board sued
the Ayr board tor the amount of
their claim before Justice of the
Peace H. 8. Daniels, of Licking
Creek township, and the hearing
was set for last Saturday after
noon. The defendants not ap
peariug, judgment was given the
Horough by default.
The probability is, that as Ayr
did not appear, an appeal will be
taken from the decision of Squire
Dauiels.aud the matter settled in
the Court of (Quarter Sessious in
Maroh before Judge Swopo.
With reference to whether .ho
McConnellsburg high school with
its three years of graded course
Elmer E. Peck, s Former Well Known i Thinks Eleven a Decent Average Number Afler a Long Period of Suffering. Mrs.
Traveling Salesman In This Cnun. of Children lor Each Fam- William Harr Dies at Her Home
ly. but Now Touring The
South. Writes of
ily to Have.
at Big Cove Tannery.
ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Snapshots al Their Comings and (ioinis
Here for a Vacation, or Away
for a Restful Outing
SO SAYS A FORMER FULTON PASTOR. HANNAH BROWN. AT CLEAR RID0E. NAMES OF VISITORS AND VISITED
A STRANGE PNEN0MEN0N IN 0E0ROIA
There is a land that lies far to
the North which is known as the
land of perpetual snow; a little
farther still is tho land of perpet
ual light; but it remains for ieor
gia to furnish the region of per
petual rain.
Abou', five miles from the town
of Mr Viae, within a stone's throw
of where the lines of Telfair,
Niontgoraery, Dodge and Laurens
counties converge, there is a spot
some fifty by one hundred feet
where through winter and sum
mer, through heat and coid,
through day and hight, rain falls
constantly.
With a genial companion, we
recently repaired to this point
from whence had come so many
wonderful rumors rumors which
almost everyone discredited.
Gum Swamp, whero the spot is
located, is about three hundred
yards wide: at the particular
point where the phenomenon oc
curs is about two hundred yards
from the bed of the outer edge.
A slight chilliness com 3s over
ono upon entering the enchanted
spot, aud upon exposing our ther
mometer, it fell two degrees, with
in five minutes. All the while
this rain or mist, or rattier an ad
mixture of raiu and mist, was
making a morry patter on the
dead leaves aoout ua. 1 or ten
I Race suicide was discussed by
i tho delegates of the Pennsylvania
Auxiliary ol the Auie lean Socio
ty of Religious Education, which
held a three days' convention at
Heading, last week.
' Childlessness is the distin
guishing crime of the American
home." said the president, Dr. R.
H. Gilbert, Methodist minister,
now of Berwick, and formerly
pastor of the Uu: tontown charge
10 this couuty, in speaking on
"The Family the Divine Insti
tution for Producing Men." He
thought eleveu a decent average
number of children for each fam
ily. To the clergymeu present
he emphatically recommeded the
exploiting in the pulpit of the Hi
ble's teaching of the increase of
the family and its mlluence.
"There should be large fami
lies in Christian homes," he add
ed. Presideut Roosevelt's exhorta
tton relative to large families was
alluded to, and Napoleon Bona
parte's exclamation, "He is the
best citizen whoiaises the best
and largest family," was qui ted.
DRASTIC MEASURE.
Mr
Savidge Would Eliminate The Cig
arctic From The State.
The most drastic anti-cigarotte 1 1 the needy and distressed.
bill ever offal ed to the Legisla
BROWN,
Mrs. Hannah Brown died at
her home near Clear Ridge at five
o'clock, last Sunday evening, in
the 70th year of her age. Funer
al on Tuesday, services conduct
ed by Rev. Harry Daniels, of
tiustontown, and intermeut was
made in the cemetery at the
j Methodist church at Clear Kidge.
Mrs. BrOWtl had been in failing :
health for scverrl years, but her
last illness in which she was bed
fast, lasted only about eight
weeks.
She was a consistent member
of the M. B church for a period
of twenty live years prior to her
death, and was always seen in her
place in the church at services,
when her health would permit.
She leaves to mourn her de
parturo three children, namely,
Mrs. Nettie Winegardner, of
Cl ar Ridge, and Bert and
Cnarles, near the latter place
She also leaves a sister, Mi s.
Jane Madden, pt Three Springs,
and two bi others, John Starr, of
Huntingdon county, and Isaac, in
Minnesota.
Tho bereaved relatives have the
sympathy of a host of friends,
who will miss the kindly intluenco
of this good woman, who was ev
er ready to lend a helping hand
seconds tho rain would be com- turo is that fl (,m Mr- Savidge, of
mgdown through the foliage of Phlladelpbia,oeire4 m the Mouse
a beautiful magnolia, ten seconds i of Representatives at Harrisbuig
more and it could be seen falling
from a mammoth birch tree.
Scaling the magnolia we were
surprised to find its leaves com
paratively dry, with the excep
tion of here and there, a drop of
water as if a heavy dew had fal
len. Our view from the tree top tow
ards the sun was good, but con
siderably clouded by the spray.
Upon investigation no cataract or
waterfall was found anywhere
within a half mile of this strange
occurrence.
Areas four or five feet wide
and the same m length, are mushy
sodden with wator, while the next
few feet are almost dry. Upon
perfectly calm days, with bright
sunshine and high temperature,
the precipitation is greatest.
When the weather is cold and th?
wind high, there is but little of
the rain. Within the past two
months more than a thousand
people have visited this place and
no one as yet has furnished a
satisfactory solution.
Notice.
There will ba a meeting of the
lot holders of Union cemetery in
the church at 1:30 p. m , Tuesday
February 12, 1907.
By Order of Board.
of study is in reality a high school
the reader may get some light
from the opinion of State Super
intendent Schaeffer in his Seven
ty second Anuual Report. Dr.
Schaeffer says i "What consti
tutes a high school f Not a tine
I u i ling, nor a liberal salary, nor
a large attendance, nor a course
of study on paper, but pupils tit
ted for study beyond the com
mon branches, and correspond
ing instruction by competent
teachersjeonstitute a high school.
"In due time the growth of edu
cational sentiment will always de
ii. and tine bui'diugs, liberal Bala
ries an 1 teachers who uro special
ists; but these are not necessary
when u high school is first organ
;zed. One efilciont teacher and a
suitable room in which the pupils
may study and recite, are suffi
cient to start a high school with
a two years' course of study."
1 1 looks a little like Ayr was
hunting ant ther Road-plow case.
last week. There is a law at
present on the statute books
which provides a penalty for any
one who gives or soils cigarettos
to any person under twenty-one
years of age, but the Savidge bill
would abolish the cigarette in
Pennsylvania. It holds that "it
shall be unlawful for any person,
duectiy or iudirectly, upon any
pretence or by any device, to
manufacture, sell, exchange, dis
pose of or give away, or keep fcr
sale, any cigarettes, cigarette pi
pers, cigarette wrappers or any
paper made or prepared for the
purpose ot being tilled with to
bacco for smoking, or keeping,
owning or being in any way con
nected, concerned, engaged or
employed in handling or keeping
any such cigarettes, cigarette
wrappers or cigarette papers."
A violation of the act is a mis
demeanor and punishable by a
tine of not less than $L'0 or more
than $100. The act does not ap
ply to the sale of jobber's doing
interstate business with custom
ers outside of the State.
WOULD TAX BACHELORS.
Indiana Legislator Proposes Thus To
Provide Teachers' Salaries.
Representative Victor Obert
ing, a member of the legislature
out iu the state of Indiana, failing
to procure advanced salaries for
teachers, now proposes to tax
bachelors to pay teachers' sala
ries. His bill was referred to a
committee, ifip addressing the
Ways and Moras committee, Mr.
Oberting said :
"it is not good for mau,to hve
alone, and if he does he ought to
have to pay for it."
Mr. Oberting explained the
purpose of the bill, and pointed
out how it would operate success
fully. His plan was to require
unmarried men betweeu the ages
of 85 and 00 years to pay 2 50 a
year into tho schoil fund. Btch
elors botwoon 80 aud 85 years he
thought should jiay $4 a year, and
those between 85 aud 40 misfit be
assessed at $5. His bill provided
a tax of $7 a year for continued
bachelors those who are between
40 and 50.
Local Registrar John S. Harris,
has been confined to the house
for several days. Of course, we
will illume it on grippe.
BAKU.
Amelia Josephine, wife of Wil
liam Hair, died at their home
near Big Cove Taunery, Thurs
day morning ol last week, after a
lingering illness, of which she
had oeen confined to her bed for
a period of nearly two years.
Mrs. Harr's maiden nanu was
Matthuos, and she was a native
of Allegheny county, having been
born on the 20lh of September,
IVS'.i. For many years a consist
ent member of the Reformed
church, she "boro her suffering
with Christian fortitude, and wel
comed tho day when it was the
will of her Heavenly Father to
take her to that homy where pain
aud suffering are not known.
Besides her husband, she is
survived by three sons and two
daughters, namely, Robert, of
Pittsburg; G:lbert, in the Regu
lar Army, stationed in Texas;
Ed ward, residing at Riddlesburg,
Pa.; Mayo, wife of Mervin Kluck.
of Gettysburg, and Grace, wife of
Charles E. Bonder, McConnells
burg, Pa.
Funeral last Saturday. Ser
vices conducted by Rev. S. B.
Houston, and Interment in Union
cemetery.
HEATTY.
Rosa, wife of Mi . Isaac Beatly,
died at thtir home in Buck Yal
ley on Wednesday, January 29,
1907, aged !!! years. Funeral on
the following Ft iday conducted
by Rev. A. W. May, and her re
mains were laid to rest in the
cemetery at the Buck Valley
Christian church.
For mauy years Mrs. Beatty
had been a consistent me liber of
the Christian cnutch.aud her loss
to the church, the community,
and her immcdiato family will be
keenly felt.
A husband and throe children
survive.and they have the sincere
sympathy f their many friends
in this hour of sore bereavement.
Wo m ly 'e a little late in toll
ing that Judge Peter Morton is
helping to run the law-mill down
at Harrlsburg this winter.
Through the courtesy of senator
Miller, the Judge was made as
sistant doorkeeper" in the Senate
at a Ihtlo salary of six dollars a
day- The Judge Is too practical
a man to fool away auy tune, aud
when the lawmakers shut up and
go awiy for a few days for their
health, he comes home and hauls
U e.
Merchant J. Kendall Johnston
is confined to his room this week
with an attacK of grippe.
Dublin's hustling lumbermen,
Walter M. Comerer and Geo. (.'.
Fraker, were in town Monday.
Mis. Jane Ann Suyder and
daughter MissAddie, are both
suffering from a severe attack of
grippe.
Geo. W. Fisher and wife, of
Thompson, took advantage of the
snow, to take a sleigh ride to Mc
Connellsburg, aud were register
ed at the Fulton House yesterday.
At the residence of the officiat
ing clergyman, Elder C. L. Fujok,
near Xeodmore, on Sunday, the
27th ult., Henry Deshong and
Miss Ella Thomas, both of Ayr
township, were united in marriage.
RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT.
To The Memory of Miss Belle Stout
eagle Who Died While Teaching
in Franklin County.
The following resolutions to
the memory of Miss Belle Stoui
eagle were adopted by the teach
ers ot Peters township, Frankliu
county, at a receut local iust;tuto.
Whereas, It has pleased God
in His intinite wisdom to remove
from our midst our osteamed fol
low teacher Miss Belle Stout
eagle : and
Whereas, While we deplore
the loss of a valued worker in the
cause of education i and
WHEREAS, While we bow in
reverence to His omnipotent will:
and
WHEREAS, It is our privilege to
pay a small tribute ot respect to
the memory of one who has
taught for sixteen terms in our
county : therefore be it
Resolved, That in the death
of Miss Stouteagle, tho township
has lost a teacher who was faith
ful aud conscientious in the dis
charge of her duties and uplift
ing and inspiring iu her inllueneo
on t'ie young.
Resolved, That the cause of
education lias lost one of its earn
est supporters, aud the comttiu
uity a lovsd, valued, and highly
appreciated teacher.
Resolved, That a copy of
these resolutions be sent to the
family of the deceased and ulso
published in the iocal papers.
Olive Kendall, ,
Sarah Walk,
.Sue M'Culloh.
Com mittee.
Death of Mrs David Moult
MoNt'irv -In Laurel, Md . onJann
ar.v lUth, IliOT. Luoretla I'.., wlfeof Mr.
David L. McNuliy, in thu "M year of
br line.
Mrs. McN'ulty, whose maiden
name was Sterrett, a daughter of
Col Sterrctt, who was a C olonel in
the Mexican war and who died ui
lsls, was born in Chamberurg.
March 19, 1884, and was married
to Mr. McNulty in Mit'mnelU
burg, on Dec. (i, 185.". She was
the mother of twelve children, s of
whom were at the funeral.
Mrs McNulty was a good moth
er, devoted to her children, a lov
ing wife, who for more thin fifty
years was a helpmate to her hus
band, a good neighbor and above
all, a true Christian, ono who be
lieved in prayer and who .always
prayed. She lived a noble life
and died in tho assurance of eter
nal life. For many yesra Mrs.
McNulty was a member of Cente
nary M. K. Church,' of Laurel. .
As she was married by a Metho
dist minister she oluog to. that
church as her spiritual home. Sim
has gone home to rest and be
works will follow her. Truly it
can be said of her:
"For weary feet await n BlitM
Of wonderoua vn and jroklen,
For liHitrU that brr.k Hi. oge?
wftke
'I'll'- htory soft a&d oldttii."
Laurel (Md ) Democrat.,