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VOLUME 10
McCONNELLSlJUUG, PA..APKIL 15,190).
NUMliER 30
PROF. THOMAS EXPLAINS.
Resents the Accusation That Plans For
Comnfencement Were Changed On
Account ol "Colored Girl."
NORA WATSON TO BE VALEDICTORIAN.
Editor or News:
1 copied the following par
agraph from an article in an issue
of the Fulton Democrat dated
April 8, headed "Color Line
Drawn.
"The newsgatherer for the
Democrat has heard it rumored
that the High School of the Bor
ough will hold no commencement
exercises this spring, and the
reason given lor this omission is
that a very bright colored girl,
the only one in the schools of the
borough stands at the head of the
graduating class, and . would
easily take first honors," etc.
Now, Mr. Editor, In reply to
the above I wish to say that the
commencement exercises have
been planned for a month, and
the valedictorian, the aforesaid
"colored girl" Miss Nora Watson,
has had her address prepared
for two or three weeks, and has
been given the most desirable
place on the program, as those
who attend the final exercises
will see for themselves. It is
true that the commencement ex
ercises, as such will consist only
of the Valedictorian's address,
but this will be followed by a
good jolly play.
Now, for the reason of the play.
Last year (1908) while the High
School was preparing a play, I
asked one of the County Com
missioners for use of Court House
in which to have a play. He said
the commissioners were in ses
sion, and that he would bring the
matter before the board and let
me know. I saw the same 'com
missioner shortly afterwards,
and he said that we might use it
so far as he was concerned.
Shortly afterwards I saw another
of the commissioners, and be as
sented to our using it, but said he
wished that we would get the
.New Auditorium in the Public
School Building furnished before
we would hold our Commence
ment Exercises, as there was
soma dissatisfaction about using
Court House for entertainments.
I mentioned the matter (that
there is nearly always trouble to
get the use of Court House for
entertainments) to Dr. Mosser at
the dinner table, I think the next
day after having conversation
with second commissioner. He
proposed two plans tor furnish
ing Auditorium. First, by sub
scription, and he further stated
that he would give as much as
any one else if it did not exceed
125. Second, that we could raise
the money without interest, those
inestingit to wait until High
School could pay it by entertain
ments. He further stated that
be would invest $100 in this plan.
We both agreed that the money
could not be raised by sub
scription. I am sorry to say
that I cannot claim the honor of
originating the plan used in furn
ishing the new auditorium as
shown above, but I did carry
plan into effect Again, af jer the
new board of County Com mis
Burners were sworn in, in Janu-
ary (1909), 1 asked one of them
for use of Court House in which
to have a play by High School
shortly afterwards. The satis
faction I received made it very
doubtful, the commissioner as
signing apparently good reasons
Shortly afterwards I met the
school board of this place, and
made the following proposition,
that 1 believed we could get, men
to put up the money without in
terest to furnish tho new auditor
ium, aud wait until the High
School could make the money to
refund by entertainments. Fur
ther, I told them that I had $100
in bank which I was willing to be
used in raising the'fund. I knew
that the board could not (for time
to come) furnish the auditorium
at the expense of the taxpayer.
FIRE BURNS CAMP GROUNDS.
Many Cottages at Newton Hamilton De
stroyed by Flames.
Fire believed to have been start
ed by tramps destroyed nearly
all of the 250 wooden cottages on
the grounds of the Juniata Valley
Camp Meeting Association at
Newton Hamilton, Tuesday night
of last week. The hotel and a
few isolated buildings alone es
caped the flames.
Because of a very high wind
nothing could be done to check
the fire and all efforts were de
voted to saving the town.. Fiery
embers were blown there by the
wind and two or three- buildings
ignited, but there was no serious
damage.
I want to add that the taxpayers
are not responsible for a cent of
the $G0J put in the furniture of
the new room, nor for a cent of
the lighting outfit. Those of us
who furnished the money for fur
niture of room have this contract
with each other, that we hold the
seats as security for payment of
the above sum until it is paid by
entertainments, each one receiv
ing his proportionate share of
proceeds from each entertain
ment. We easily raised the mon
ey on the above condition, and the
persons furnishing it, as copied
verbatim from contract, are Mer
rill W. Naco, $100; D. L. Grissing
er, $200; Emery Thomas, $100;
Dr. J. W. Mosser, $100; G. W.
Reisner, $50, and S B. Woollet,
$50. I believe that the persons
who thus put up the money were
confident that I would make the
greatest effort possible to return
the money. The High School
had intended to give two enter
tainments this year, from which
I had expected to net about$1.50.
The plans of the first one have
been frustrated.
From two entertainments given
last year, the borough teachers
returned to the schoolboard $115.
This the board has used for put
ting the lights into the building.
The first thing necessary for
any. entertainment is a place to
hold it. The High School nad no
such place, they having been re
fused the Court House. 1 put
into effect the above plan of fur
nishing the auditorium. For
putting which plan into effect, I
admit that I had expected praise.
The plan saves the taxpayers
more than $700. When I made
the above proposition to the
board, it was for the High School
either to raise money by enter
tainments to prepare a place to
hold such entertainments, or to
prepare the entertainments with
out a place to hold them.
Now a word with regard to
"Color Line." I asked these
three questions in the High
School on the same day that I
noticed the article m the Demo
crat: First, how many of the
graduating class are willing to be
qualified that I never suggested
to any one of you, in any way,
any thing about having a play on
account of the colored girl in the
class? All members were will
ing to be qualified that I did not.
Second, has any one of you ever
suggested to me in any way that
we should have a play instead of
commencement exercises on ac
count of the colored girl? All
members of the class were will
ing to be qualified that they
did not Third to the colored
girl did I in any way, whatever,
ever attempt to take advantage
of you? The answer wts, "No
Sir." It seems to me that any
fairminded person can easily see
that gossip has established the
Color Line, and that the colored
girl is perfectly at home in her
school, and that necessity and
not color, has -fi xed the plan of
our final entertainment, consist-
ol the Valtdictorian'8 address
and a play.
People of McConnellsburg. vou
now have the facts governing the
case. Decide for yourselves
whether the plan, deserves criti
cism or not
Respectfully,
Emery Thomas.
A Worlhy Object.
Now that base- ball is about
ripe, and the festival se ison about
to open, we would suggest that
some mite society take up the
matter of holding a swallop sup
per or giving a dance to raise
funds for the replacing of the
steps on the eai t side of the jul.
The pile of rocks that has been
doing service there for "lo these
many years," looks as though it
had felt the inlluence of some
seismic disturbance. Not to re
fer to the inconvenience of the
Sheriff and his family having to
crawl in and out over that stone
pile, the most shocking thought
comes to mind, when we contem
plate what might happen to pris
oners attempting to escape by
the front doorway some night.
Unless they we. e pi ovided with
a lantern they would be sure to
fall and break their legs, and
maybe their necks.
Surprise Party.
A very pleasant surprise was
held at the home of Oliver Oak
man one of L'cking Creek town
ship's oldest citizens, to celebrate
his 75th birth day, and that of
his daughter Mrs. Grant Ficks.
About 10 o'clock, Wednesday,
April 7 th, Mr. John D?shong
called at the home of Mr. Oak
man and asked him to go to the
woods with him to hunta piece
of timber.
When they returne'd a number
of Mr. Oakman's children, grand
children and neighbors were as
sembled and had a bountiful din
ner prepared to which all did
ample justice. The day was spent
very delightlully, and all depart
ed for their homes about 5 o'clock
wishing Grandpa and daughter
mauy more such happy birthday
occasions, lioth received a num
ber of useful presents.
Those present were: Oliver
Oakman and wife, Grant Picks
and wife, and children Dessie,
Harry, Louella, Hildred and Ros
alie; John Deshong, wife and
children L9roy, Lewis, George,
Guy.Hazel, Edith and Margarette;
L. D. Oakman, Edith Sipes, Pearl
Sipes, and Mrs. Mae Luke and
children Bruce, George and
Maude.
One Who Wekk There. t
Business and the Outlook. '
The most striking, if not the
most important, commercial
event of the week was the official
crop report, indicating that the
condition of winter wheat was
much below that of a year ago
and substantially lower than that
of an average of the past ten
years at this date. Of course,
there was wild speculation, and
prices went up higher than they
have been for more than twenty
years except during the Leiter
corner. On Saturday in Chicago
July wheat, which has been sell
ing 14 cents under May, at $1.-
112, was rusbed up to $1.15, and
the other options went up four
cents. Europe, it is said, will
need 50,000,000 bushels of our
wheat in the next four months.
But the total visible supply in
America and Europe is less than
7,000,000 bushels below that of a
year ago, and the price of May
wheat is 81 cents higher. It is
reported that 5000 bushels of No.
2 red has been sold to an Ohio
miller for $1.88, butgenerally the
millers are taking a calm view of
the situation and intimate that
there is no immediate occasion
for an advance in Hour. Pittsburg
dealers, however, have advanced
prices 10 to 25 cents a barrel.
New wheat will be coming on the
market inside of three months,
and the estimates of wheat in
farmers' hands March 1 indicat
ed a good supply for home con
sumption and 80,000 000 bushels
or more tor export. The Modern
Miller's report on weather con
ditions is favorable. Corn prices
broke under general selling. Sell
ing on stop orders was general.
Receipts of corn are light, and
the firm tone of the cash market
and the strength in wheat and
oats have a tendency to . rally
prices.
Mrs. Rhoda Garland,
Mrs. Khoda Garland, widow of
the late Abram Garland, died at
the home of her son, Aaron M.
Garland, m Belfast township,
Friday evening, April 9, 1909,
aged 77 years, 8 months and 10
days. Her funeral, conducted by
Eld. C. L. Fund, tok place Mou
day at 10 o'clock, and interment
was made in the cemetery at the
Sideling Hill Baptist church.
Mrs. Garland was a daughter
of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jacob
Lake, of Belfast township. Her
late husband preceded her to the
grave about thirty-three years
ago. She is survived by 13 great
grand children, 33grand children
and nine children, namely, Job
L., Bethel township; Rev. Will
iam Garland, Buffalo M'lls, Bed
ford county; Rev. J. Calvin Gar
land, Belfast township; J. Lake
Garland, Ayr township; Uriah,
Artemas, Bedford county; Mag
gie, wife of Jonathan P. Peck,
Tod township; Etta, wife of Reu
ben Sipes, Licking Creek town
ship; and Aaron M. Garland, Bel
fast township.
Mrs. Garland was a consistent
member of the Primitive Baptist
church for over 50 years. While
she had been in failing health for
a long time, the immediate cause
of her death was pleuro-pneumo-nia,
from which she had been
sick but a short time.
Di-urest mother, thou ham left us,
Mere thy loss, we deeply feel;
Hut tls(iod thut hth bereft us,
He euu nil our sorrows heul.
Reducing Lumber D.ities.
Tho House last Tuesday by an
overwhelming vjte decided on
the reduction in the duty on lum
ber and struck out the proposal
that a countervailing export duty
abroad should be added to the
duty here. Free lumber was de
feated largely by Democratic
votes.
The imports of lumber ran to
$:!l,57G,54ti in 1907, the largest
on record. The average for five
years has been $25,000,000. Ono
hulf these imports come in as saw
ed lumber and pay $2 per thous
and feet under the present tariff.
In 1907, 859,339 thousand feet
came in this way, valued at $14,
023, G50.
This is the center of the tariff
on lumber. The duty was $1 in
the McKinley tariff, free in the
Wilson tariff, and $2 in the Ding
ley tariff. The P.iyne tariff cuts
this to $1, as it was in the McKin
ley. For thirty years half our
lumber and wood imports fall un
der this item. Much else is
brought in, but this settles the
market. "
The timber lands of Canada are
owned by the provinces. They
lease them and impose a stump
age charge. This varies In On
tario the export of logs is prohib
ited altogether. Lumber must
be manufactured at home. Que
bec puts on a countervailing duty.
British Columbia is satisfied with
a stumpage charge on all alike.
The Payne tariff, as reported,
would have added all or part of
these to the duty, making it sub
stantially equal to the present
charge. The House wisely pro
poses to make it easy to import
lumber.
Under the present tariff about
5 per cent, of our lumber supply
is imported and under a duty av
eraging about 15 per cent. The
new duties will average about
half this, and as prices rise, less.
It is possible that 10 per cent of
the lumber consumed will come
from Canada under lower duties
not much more. Prices will
change little, but Canadian for
ests will be used instead of Amerl
can.
While seated at the supper ta
ble Mouday evening with the fam
ily of M. Luther Kirk, of Hubton
town, where she was (siting,
Mrs. Margaret Lyon suffered a
slight stroke of paralysis, and
was unconscious from that time
until Wednesday morning, when
she seemed to be regaining con
sciousness somewhat Mrs. Ly
on'a many friends hope for a
speedy recovery.
McConnellaburg Schools. Seventh Month.
PlUMAKY.
Number enrolled, 45; average
attendance, 37; per cent, of at
tendance, 88; attended every day,
John Black, Ted Hanoi, Carl
Houpt; Charles Lynch, Donald
Nace, Floyd Sipes, Chester Wood
al, Tommy Woodal, Marion Gend
er, Mary Fisher, Mazie Hamil,
Beulah Johnston, Erma Kennedy,
Nettie Mellott, Mary Pittman,
Anna Mary Sipes, Helen Steach,
Ethel Stevens, Martha Taylor.
Nora Fisher, teacher.
Inteumkdiate.
Number enrolled, 39; Average
attendance, 33; Per cent of at
tendance, 92. Attended every
day during month: Eleanor
Sinnott, Minerva Pittman, Doro
thy Hamil, Faith Reed, Raymond
Grissinger, Guy Reed, Ross
Hamil, Harry Steach, Robert
Hamil. Gertrude Hoke, teacher.
Could Do It For Nothing.
Among the many bright young
sters in McConnellsburg is one
George age five years whose
last name may be guessed cor
rectly by any one residiug in the
neighborhood of Court House
Square. A few days ago, George
was watching with a great deal
of interest a carpenter driving
nails, and noticing the supply fast
diminishing, George offered to
go to a nearby store and get some
more nails provided the carpen
ter put up the price for the nails.
"And what would you charge
me for your services ?" asked the
carpenter.
"O, I usually charge five cents;
but if I can't' get that much, I
will take a cent." Then sizing
the carpenter up thoughtfully for
a moment, he added, "If you have
no cents, I guess I can do it for
nothing."
CHARLIE ROSS' MOTHER IS INTER.
ESTED IN EYSTER'S STORY.
Has Sent a Man From Germantown to In
- vesiigate Case of McKees' Rocks
Brakcman.
Pittsburg, April 12. Serious
consideration is now being given
to the suspicion of William Grant
Eyster, of McKees Rocks, a
brake man on the P. & L. E , that
he is Charlie Ross, who as a child
was kidnapped 35 years ago from
Germantown, Philadelphia.
Mrs. Christian K. Ross, of Ger
mantown, mother of Charlie Ross
has sent a man to McKees Rocks
to confer with Eyster. The latter
8avs that he was raised by a fam
ily named Eyster at Shamokin,
Pa., and that although he was
calling the heads of it father and
mother when his first doubts as
to his identity came to him, he at
no time could recall a feeling that
he was really a member of the
family. His suspicions in con
firmation of this were afterward
supported by various incidents.
The description of Charlie Ross
as a boy, he says, tallies with that
of himself in every detail. He
will make a trip to Philadelphia
shortly to confer with members
of the Ross family, who are now
aiding him in an effort to estab
lish his identity.
ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Snapshots at Their Comings and Goings
Here for a Vacation, or Away
for a Restlul Outing.
NAMES OP VISITORS AND VISITED
A Shower.
Last Sunday morning being
Easter, Mr. C. L. Bard was pre
paring to go to church, when
there was a shower not of the
usual kind, but as if a paper mill
had exploded, and upon investiga
tion, it proved to be a shower of
post cards from his numerous
friends. It then dawned upon
him that it was his 58th birthday
anniversary, and his friends had
taken this plan to surprise him.
When the shower was over and
all cleared away, it was found the
post cards numbered just 118, of
as beautiful an assortment as one
might wish to see. Mr. Bard
thinks a post card shower a more
complete surprise than a birth
day dinner. While it is a little
harder on the nerves, it is not so
hard on the digestive organs. Mr.
Bard wishes to extend through
the News his most sincere thanks
to his many friends for the cards
and greetings. Uko.
Harrisonville M. E. Chureh Notices Sun
day, April 18th.
Siloam: Sunday school, 9:30,
a. m.; preaching at 10:30. Pray
er meeting Thursday evening at
7:30.
Ebeuezer: Preaching at 2:30
p. m.
Asbury: Sunday school at 10
o'clock, a. m.; preaching at 7:30
p. m.
Come and hear the new preach
er, and get a blessing by resolv
ing to attend faithfully the wor
ship of God during this Confer
ence year.
L. W. MoGarvey, Pastor.
Baseball.
Kiiobsville played Wood burn
last Monday afternoon on the lat
ter 's grounds. Score 6-3 in fa
vor of Knobsville. The lino up
was as follows :
Gunnells p E. Glunt
Peck c Kelso
W. Glunt lb Peightel
Campbell ' 2b Snyder
II. Kerllo 8b Stluson
B. Fore ss Wagner
B. Kerlm rf B. Wible
Allev If M. Fore
Hamil cf Wible
Umpire, Wash Kelso.
Suhicnbe tor the Nawa
Back From California.
Mr. William Reed, of Ayr town
ship, called at the Ntws office
While in town last Saturday. Last
May, Mr. Keed, in order to grati
fy a desire he had long maintain
ed to see the Pacific Coast set
out upon a journey. His first
stop was iu Chicago, where he
stayed a week or two, then went
on to Iowa and stayed a short
time with friends there, and then
went on to San Francisco. From
San Francisco, he made side trips,
visiting Los Angeles, The Big
Tree Country; Oregon, Washing
ton, aud even taking a little trip
across the border into Canada.
Mr. Reed is glad he made the
trip, and feels that the informa
tion he gained, and the pleasure
that the trip afforded him, more
than compensated for the ex
pense attending the outing.
While Mr. Reed found in Californ
la many things that were pleas
ant to an Easterner, he says there
is too much difference between
the temperature in the daytime,
and that at night. The tempera
ture through tho day is warm
and phasant, but about four o'
clock in the afternoon it begins
to grow cool, and through the
night there is a damp chilliness
that is anything out comfortable.
ENID.
Geo. S. Edwards, of the Uni
versity, is spending his Easter
vacation with his parents, A. G.
Edwards and wife.
Harry Lockard, of Altoona,
spent a few hours with his moth
er last Saturday.
Frank Keith and family aud
Will Keith, of Altoona, spent a
few days at home recently.
W. R. Keith is quite poorly at
this time.
The Easter services at the Val
ley M. E. church last Sunday ev
ening were well attended.
Robert Early finished his
school at Robertsdale last Thurs
day, and is now at his home in the
Valley.
The schools of the Valley, with
the exception of the High and No.
4, will close this week.
Some person with little to do
set the mountains afire in the up
per end of the Valley last Sunday.
Many Animals Burned.
The large barn on the farm
owned by Jacob F. Stiarretts, six
miles from Gettysburg, was de
stroyed by tire last Saturday
morning, together with eight
horses, 21 head of cattle, 11 hogs.
1,000 bushels of corn, a lot of
wheat, and farming implements.
Loss, $5,000 with insurance. The
family slept during the conflagra
tion and awoke at the usual time
to find the property ia ruins.
U.E. t'alsgrove, o'Hustontowu,
was iu McConnellsburg on Mon
day. Mrs. G. J. Mellott, of Gem, was
in town a few hours last Satur
day. Burgess Wm. II. Nesbit, spent
a few days last week in Bait
more. Mr. Robert Everts and son
Denton were in town last Satur
day attending to business.
Orville Taylor, of Hustontown,
called at the News office a few
minutes 'vhile in town Monday.
Miss Lillian Fleming, of Clear
Ridge, spent Saturday and Sun
day with Miss Katie Fore in Tod
township.
Mr. Aaron Koepper, one of
leylor's substantial farmers,
spent last Saturday in town at
tending to businesa.
Miss Mamie Speck, of Burnt
Cabins, is spending the time this
week in the home of Mr. and
Mrs. J. Nelson Sipes.
George W. Chesuut, one of
Bethel's representative citizens,
came up to the County Seat Tues
day and returned Wednesday.
Russel Runyan, who is home on
a vacation from Perkiomen Semi
nary, is making good use of his
time wielding the yard stick be
hind the counter in J. K. John
ston's store.
Miss Maude Cunningham, of
New Grenada, and Miss Grace
Lodge, accomr anied by Dr. R. B.
Campbell, also of New Grenada,
spent some hours in Huntingdon
on Saturday. These ladies are
teachers aud very good ones.
Mount Union Twice a-Week Re
publican. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Comerer, of
Thompson township, spent the
time from Saturday until Mon
day in the home of the hitter's
mother, Mrs. Sarah Pittman in
this place. Mrs. Pittman, who
has been in frail health for a good
while, is now very uncomfortable
from a bunch of boils on her
scalp.
HUSTONTOWN.
A few days of cold weather ac
companied by an Easter snow
sets hard with the potatoes and
oats that are now in the ground.
Miss Hester Witter, of Rob
ertsdale, is spending some tune
at the home of Gideon Ritchey.
Miss Elsie Laidig. of Dublin
Mills, was in our town last week.
tl. P. Barton, one of our most
ambitious young men, left for the
Shippensburg State Normal
School last Monday. Pete, we
wish you abundance of success.
Miss Lydia Mumma spent a
few days very pleasantly among
friends and relatives at Laidig
last week.
Mr. Nevin Lailig, of OwlCieek
spent a few hours at bis home m
this place last Saturday.
W. F. Laidig purchased a new
planer weighing 3200 lbs. and is
now ready to do the best of work.
Miss Mae Mamma and Miss
Sallie Fields were a couple over
land tourists to Laidig and back
last week. ,
Dr. A. K. Davis attended a
horse sale at Everett last Thurs
day, but came home without an
extra horse.
B. IX Shaw and wife who have
been at Saxton for the past two
weeks returned home Sunday.
Misses Gertrude and Louella
Laidig, of Hiram, called to see
their Uncle John Laidig Satur
day afternoon.
Our new preacher, Rev. Harry
Moyer, preached a very good ser
mon in the M. E. Church last
Sunday evening.
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