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VOLUME 16
McCONNELLSBURG, PA., MARCH 4,1915.
NUMBER 24
1
V.
THE GRIM REAPER.
Short Sketches of the Lives of Per
sons Who Have Recently
Passed Away.
Jacob. L Finiff.
Jacob L. Finiff died at his home
in Hagerstown, Tuesday, Febru
ary 16v 1915, of tuberculosis af
ter an illness of one year, aged
44 years and 27 days. He was a
son of George Finiff, Sr., of Tod
township and was born in this
county, but had been a resident
of Hagerstown for eighteen years.
He was a sheet metal worker and
had been employed by the Craw
ford Automobile Works for sev
eral years. He was a member of
St Paul's United Brethren
church, the Knights of Pythias,
and the Odd Fellows. Besides
his wife he is survived by the fol
lowing children: Catherine, Ma
ry and Ernest; father and moth
er, and the following sisters and
brothers: Mrs. John Helman, of
McConnellsburg; Mrs. George
Wagner, Newville; Mrs. Jay Sar
gent, Illinois; Nicholas, of Cham
bersburg, ahd George and Philip,
of Tod township, this county.
Funeral at the house last Fri
day afternoon at 2:30 by Rev.
A. B. Statton; interment in Rose
Hill cemetery. The pallbearers
were members from the Hagers
town Knights of Pythias and
the Odd Fellows.
iJrs. S. E. Plessinger.
Mrs. Sarah Ellen Plessinger,
widow of the late Solomon Ples
singer, died at her home in
Hyndman Bedford county, Pa.,
Saturday, February 20, 1915,
aged 69 years, 4 months and 29
days. Her remains were laid to
rest in Shaffers Graveyard, and
the funeral services were con
ducted by her pastor, Rev, C. W.
Stine,' of Hooversville, Pa.
The deceased was a daughter
of Jonathan and Katy Peck, and
she was born in Ayr township,
this county, February 22, 1845.
On the 18th day of February,
1869, she was married to Solo
mon Plessinger, of Belfast town
ship, by Rev. Samuel Logue.
Several years ago, they moved to
Hyndman, where a few years
later the husband died. Mrs.
Plessinger is survived by two
children: Mrs. C. E. Sturgeon,
.of Hyndman and Emory W. Ples
singer, at home; by four grand
children, and by two brothers,
namely, David L Peck, Green
ville, 0., and Daniel F. Peck,
Caldwell, Kansas.
Jeremiah Sprowl.
Jeremiah Sprowl, or as he was
more familiarly known t o his
large number of friends "Jerry"
Sprowl, died at his home in Wells
Valley, February 27, 1915, aged
75 years. The funeral took place
on the following Sunday at Pine
Grove, where the Rev. Weise
preached from the text, "Lay
not up for yourselves treasures
on earth." After referring in
appropriate words to the life of
the deceased, Mr. Weise directed
his discourse to the living. The
church was full, and Mr. Weise's
sermon will long be remembered
by those present Mr. Sprowl
had been in ill health for many
years, but when he was able to
be around, was an active mem
ber of Pine Grove M. E. church.
He leaves, as near relatives, his
Iwife, son, and daughter; three
(brothers, County Commissioner
jWUliam L. Sprowl. and Charley,
jof Wells Valley, and. Frank, of
Everett; also, four, sisters, Mrs.
Hetty Gracey, of Gracey; Mrs.
'Amelia Hoover. " Altoona: Mrs.
EmmaHorton, Pittsburgh, and
.Mrs. Susan Mitchell, Altoona.
Peck.
Mary Ellen, adopted daughter
f Mr HrA T ! - TT Tl.
r- wiu mis, ounn n. jrtjca,
was born December 20, 1914, and
m February 7, 1915, aged 1
pont -nd 18 days. Interment
Vaa eatMt Zion cemetery.
f Three hundred pheasants were
pipped into Maryland last week
o Chief Game Warden George
jessops. The birds were shipped
y a New York game breeder.
. Recent Weddings.
Chilcote Carouthers.
As was noted very briefly last
week, Frank C. Chilcote and
Miss Minnie Carothers were mar
ried in McConnellsburg by Rev.
J. V. Rover on the 18th of Feb
ruary. The groom is a son of
Joseph and Laura Chilcote of
Hustontown, and the bride, a
daughter of Bruce and Effie Ca
routhers, of Mill Creek, Hunting
don county. Since the death of
her father, Minnie has made her
home with her uncle and aunt
Mr. and Mrs. George N. Sipes
near Hustontown. Mr. and Mrs.
Chilcote are industrious young
people and expect to go to house
keeping near Hnstontown about
the first of April. They have the
best wishes of their many friends
for a long, happy and prosperous
life.
Bivens -Mellott.
Mr. Elmer Reid Bivens and
Miss Edna Algie Mellott, both of
Ayr township, were married in
McConnellsburg, Thursday even
ing, Februayy 25, 1815, by Rev.
Robert E. Peterman, of the
Lutheran church. The bride is a
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G.
Johnson Mellott, and the groom
a son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard
Bivens all of Ayr township.
The bride and groom are excel
lent young yeople and will go to
housekeeping on the old Patter
son mansion farm at Webster
Mills now owned by the groom's
father. The father, will move
into the Dr. Sappington property
recently purchased by him.
Winter Snider.
A quiet but very pretty wed
ding was solemnized at the bride's
home on Thursday, March 4,
1915, when Miss Orpha Snider
became the bride of Mr. Morgan
Winter, of Union township. The
ceremony that united these young
people in wedlock was performed
by Elders Smoot and Funk of the
Primative Baptist church. Mr.
and Mrs. Winter will go to house
keeping soon on the Hays Mor
gret farm which they recently
purchased, two miles north of
Needmore.
Sowers Fittry.
Albert Sowers and Miss Ozie
F'ttry both of Ayr township
were married by Rev. J. V. Roy
er in McConnellsburg on Tues
day. The bride is a daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. George Fittry.
Garland Plessinger,
Mr. Daniel C. Garland and
Mrs. Ollie Layton Plessinger,
both of Belfast township, were
married in McConnellsburg on
Thursday of last week by Justice-of-the-Peace
John P. Conrad.
Fire Near Salnvia.
On last Fridaylafternoon a fire
that wiped out the principal
building on the Ned A. Mellott
place, situated along the moun
tain road one mile south of the
Austin place at Saluvia, originat
ed from sparks that fell from the
chimney to the roof of the dwel
ling house., Fanned by a strong
wind, the flame3 soon spread to
the barn and out-buildings. Both
of our reporters say that owing
to the rapidity with which the
fire burned, very little of the
contents of any of the building
were saved. Mr. Mellott carried
some insurance in the Friends
Cove Company, but not enough
to cover all loss.
Oar Honor Roll.
Elsewhere in this issue will be
found a list of new subscribers,
and others who have renewed
their subscription during the
month of February. The princi
pal object in doing this i3 to give
the subscriber an opportunity to
compare the date given here with
his receipt If there is anything
wrong, he can drop us a postal,
and we shall be only too glad to
make it right Then, this list
serves as a kind of reminder. It
sometimes causes persons to look
at the label on their own paper,
and to say, "My name will be
on the March list which will be
published the first week in April
DIRECTORS CONVENTION.
The Annnal Convention of School Di
rectors Was Held on Wednesday
and Thursday of Last Week.
The annual convention of the
school directors of this county
was held in the Court House at
McConnellsburg on Wednesday
afternoon and evening, and on
Thursday of last week. While
directors are paid for the time
spent in attending these conven
tions, there were several who did
not answer at roll call.
The convention was organized
by electing A. R. Edwards, of
Taylor township, president, and
T. Scott Hershey, af Dublin, sec
retary. The first question taken
up for discussion was: To what
extent should the Compulsory
School Law be enforced? This
question was opened by M. A.
Barkman. Mr. Barkman com
plained that the Vaccination Law
and the Compulsory School Law
conflict B. F. Cline said that
Todd township expects to be
more rigid in enforcing the Com
pulsory School Law in the future.
D. A. Nelson said that Ayr town
ship i3 enforcing the Compulsory
School Law. Levi Keefer ex
plained how Ayr- township was
compelled to bring suit against
four of its citizens for failure to
send their children to school. T.
Scott Hershey thinks that many
of the patrons do not understand
the Compulsory School Law, or
there would be less trouble about
its enforcement
Dr. Ezra Lehman, principal of
the C. V. S. N. S. was then in
troduced and gave a very sugges
tive address. His subject was;
What ought .a teacher to be
paid?" Dr. Lehman showed the
Convention the great advantage
in having good teachers, and ex
plained that the efficient teacher
should have a larger salary than
the teacher who does inferior
work.
Wednesday Evening.
Lecture by Dr. Lehman. His
subject: "The Public School as a
Community Center." Owing to
adverse circumstance, the audi
ence was not large, but the lec
ture was none the less interest
ing. '
Dr. Lehman told of the great
advantages of agricultural inter
ests as well as educational ad
vantages that may be derived
from meetings in the country
school house. He thinks that the
school house stands idle too much
of the time.
Thursday Morning.
The committee on nominations
reported the following named
directors to serve during the en
suing year, and the nominations
were accepted by the convention
by a unanimous election, namely,
President, Levi Keefer; Vice
Presidents, C. B. Stevens and
Dr. J. W. Mosser; Secretary, T.
Scott Hershey; Treasurer, Clark
McGovern.
Next in order was a discussion:
What is the Best Method to
Use in the Selection of Text
books?" Opened by Dr. A. D.
Dalbey, followed by B. F. Cline,
T. S. Hershey, J. E. Thomas and
others. All agreed that books
should be carefully examined be
fore making any adoptions, and
that care should be taker not to
put too much stress on the judg
ment of a teacher who may have
the interest of a book agent above
the interests of the school chil
dren. This was followed with an ad
dress by Dr. Lehman subject:
"The Selection of a Good Teach
er." This was a most interest
ing and helpful talk to the direc
tors. The Dr. made this talk so
plain that no director who heard
it can possibly go away from the
convention without bping pro
fited. The convention tendered a vote
of thanks to Dr. Lehman for his
untiring efforts in behalf of the
directors, and forthwith adjourn
ed. T. Scott Hershey,
Secretary.
Subscribe for the News.
Railroad Meeting.
That the people of McConnells
burg and vicinity are interested
in the progress being made to
wards getting a railroad, was
evidenced last Friday night by
the crowded condition of the
Court House every seat being
filled and more than a score hav
ing to stand.
The meeting was addressed by
Hon. John P. Sipes, Hon. D. H.
Patterson, George A. Harris, E.
J. Post and L. T. Peck. The
last named gentleman represent
ed the Westinghouse Electric
Company, and it is no reflection
to say that it was the prospect of
hearing him explain modern,
mountain-climbing machinery
that induced the 300' men and
women to brave the fierce wind
that night to hear what he had
to say.
For many years, it had been
the belief that Cove mountain
could not be negotiated by loco
motives. That was before we
heard of the electric locomotive.
Mr. Peck's description of how
these little giants do not have to
depend upon low grades, and his
citations cf railroads that are us
ing them, completely convinced
the audience that the proposition
to haul Cumberland Valley freight
cars across Cove mountain de
pends upon nothing more than
that the people of this county
shall give their hearty encour
agement to those who are pro
moting the enterprise. Mr. Peck
is not a "promoter;" his mission
at that meeting was to confirm
what we have been hearing about
electric railroads not simply the
kind we see on the streets of our
cities, but the kind that differ in
no way from steam roads except
that a different type of locomo
tive is used. Who has not rid
den up hill and down hill on com
mon trolley cars? To haul freight
trains over the same tracks re
quires but a slight difference in
the application of power. Long
before we began to plan for this
road, theWestinghouse people had
hill-climbing methods reduced to
a science, and all Mr. Peck had
to do was to state how his com
pany figured out the size and
power of the motor we would
need after his company has been
given the factors of the problem.
A stationary power house will
furnish power to lift freight over
steep grades at a lower cost than
by the use of steam locomotives.
This explains why steam toads
are electrifying hilly sections of
their systems.
Meetings of similar character
were held at Webster Mills and
at Burnt Cabins last week.
Hard Cider.
A Licking Creek township wri
ter who, evidently, has suffered
at the hands of parties who drink,
and furnish, hard cider, gives
warning that the sale or gift of
the stuff is illegal, and that in
case "A word to the wise"
should prove insufficient to stop
it, other measures to rid the com
munity of a nuisance may be ex
pected. A letter from that sec
tion to this office reads as fol
lows: "I think that the people who
furnish intoxicating drinks to
those who have not the will pow
er to refuse it are on a low'plane
of civilization. There are people
who would try to lead a better
life if the tempters workers of
his satanic majesty were not
ever ready and willing to drive
them from the sober path. This
refers to those who store cider in
their cellars, and when it is
"good" sell it for a few miser
able dollars. They had better
take warning in time, for trouble
is brewing which may cost them
more than the amount received
for their rotten stuff."
P. P. Mann removed his stock
of saddlery and harness goods on
Monday, from the shop adjoining
the Fulton House to the room
formerly occupied by him in the
Comerer building on south Sec
ond street The vacated shop
will be occupied as a barber shop.
"AILD ACQUAINTANCE."
Bits of News and Gossip Extracted
from the Letters from Oar
Distant Subscribers.
In remitting the wherewithal
to insure a continuation of the
weekly visits of the News, Mrs.
Oscar S. Johnston, whose hus
band is president of the Salt
City Business College in Hutch
inson,. Kans., says: "This has
been an exceedingly prosperous
year for the college. We have
all of western Kansas as a terri
tory to draw from, and these
people are anxious that their
children shall have an education
that is practical, and, at the same
time, have a place to spend some
of the wheat money of the past
year. There are over 400 stu
dents enrolled and as they are
coming and going all the time, it
means something to take care of
them."
L. C. Bailey, Saxton, Pa.: I
notice by the label on my paper
that I'd better "pay up" or may
be you may "shut up;" or, rath
er, "shut off" the allotment of
the Fulton County News that
comes to my address every week.
Hence, you will find enclosed the
"spondulix" to insure its contin
ued visits until next November.
Business is quiet here, and the
good times predicted by a change
of administration has not hit Sax
ton to any perceptible degree yet
The cost of living is away up so
high that it is about out of sight.
M. C. Greenland, Bedford, Pa. :
"In looking over the January
list of paid-up subscribers, I no
ticed that my name was not
"written there," and I herewith
enclose a check for renewal.
Work on the new postoffice build
ing that Uncle Sam is erecting
for us is being pushed along as
fast as could be expected at this
season of the year. When com
pleted it will be a structure that
will be a credit to our town. The
Hotel Waverly has been torn
down, and in its place will be
erected a building with marble
front and sides to be occupied by
the First National Bank of Bed
ford, and the Bedford County
Trust Company. Men, who in
former years were accustomed to
spend their money over the bar
at this place, for that which is
not bread, may shortly have the
opportunity of taking their money
there and leaving it in safe hands
where it will be drawing interest,
and accumulating a reserve fund
for a "rainy day."
I read in the News some time
ago, a communication headed,
' 'Why the Deer Sheds Its Horns. ' '
The reason given was, that it
indicates the time when the sea
son of selective attachment should
close. Well, the writer of that
article may be right; but I think
there are many oldtime hunters
besides myself, who know a little
about the habits and disposition
of those horny fellows, that will
not agree with him. While we
fail to see or understand in what
way the male is benefited by the
shedding of his horns, I think
we can readily understand that
the females and their helpless
young are greatly benefited by
being undisturbed and alone at
this critical time in life which I
think would not be the case,
were it not that an allwise Crea
tor has provided for their pro
tection at a time they are unable
to protect themselves. Conse
quently, the rather rough dis
posed male is humbled by the
shedding of his horns, and is
compelled, year after year, to
care for a tender, sore head at
the very time the female is car
ing for her young.
M. C. Greenland.
Our old friend L, L. Cunning
ham, who now lives in Akron,
O., sends us a dollar, and along
with the dollar comes the follow
ing "spiel:" I notice that the
label on my paper indicates the
necessity of my contributing
something to assist in getting a
Continued on pge 6.
Fulton County Soils.
As a clincher for the series of
articles we have been writing
under this heading, and to sum
up our pleadings for soil improve
ment by the use of humus, we
will quote extracts from Alva
Agee's writings, the reliability
of which no one has any doubt
Under "Office of Organic Mat
ter." he says: " The restoration
of an impoverished soil to a pro
ductive state is a simple matter
so far as method is concerned.
It may be a difficult problem for
the individual owner on account
of expense or time involved, but
he has only a few factors in his
problem. Assuming that there
is good drainage, and that the
lime requirement has been met,
the most important consideration
is organic matter. A profitable
agriculture is dependent upon a
high per cent of humu3 in the
soil. Average yields of crops are
low in this country chiefly be
cause the humus-content has
been greatly reduced by bad
farming methods,
"Nature uses organic matter
in the following ways:
"1. To give good physical con
dition to the soil. The practical
farmer appreciates this quality
in a soil. (Here follows a long
explanation of how humus? mel
lows soil.)
2. To make the soil retentive
of moisture. Yields of crops are
limited more by the lack of a
constant and adequate supply of
moisture throughout the grow
ing season than by any one other
factor. Decayed organic matter
has great capacity for holding
moisture, and in some measure
should supply the water needed
during periods of light rainfall.
3. To serve, directly and in
directly, as a solvent of the in
ert plant-food in the soil that is
known as 'the natural strength'
of the land.
4. To furnish plant-food direct
ly to growing plants."
Of course, we did not quote all
he says concerning the uses Na
ture makes of organic matter,
but the foregoing is sufficient to
convince thoughtful readers that
it will greatly reward owners of
run-down soils if they will ar
range, in some way, to set aside
one field at a time, grow legumes
and plough down heavy growths
at least twice before taking a
pound of it off, in order that fu
ture crops may be doubled.
The Lenten Services.
The Lenten services in the Re
formed and in the Presbyterian
church conducted by Rev. Year
ick have been well attended and
are full of interest On account
of the inclemency of the weather
Dr. Rose was not here to preach
in the Reformed church last
Wednesday evening as had been
announced, and the sermon was
preached by Rev. Yearick. Dr
Rose will be here later. For the
ensuing week, services will be
held a3 follows: Friday evening,
illustrated lecture for the young
folks in the Reformed church;
Sunday morning, sermon in the
Reformed church, by Rev. Year
ick: Sunday evening, sermon in
the Presbyterian church by the
same; sermon in Presbyterian
church next Wednesday evening
by Rev. F. W. Bald, pastor of
the Reformed church, Mercers
burg. Mail Order Fakirs.
Even though an enormous
sum of money is still being taken
from the public by mail order
fakirs, the practice is yearly be
coming more dangerous to the
operators, according to statistics
prepared by the postoffice depart
ment In 1914 a total of $08,000,000
was secured by such swindlers,
as were actually arrested, while
in 1913 the public was mulched
to the extent of $54,000,000. Last
year 702 arrests were made, re
sulting in 370 convictions. In
1913 only 510 arrests were re
corded and 304 convictions secur-
! ed by postal investigators.
DANGERS OF SPRING.
Little Talks on Health and Hygiene by
Samuel G. Dixon, M. D., LL. D.,
Commissioner of Health.
When nature arouses from her
winter lethargy and the first
faint promises of spring soften
the wind, man in common with
all animal life harkens to the
foretokening.
The desire for change and re
lief from the winter routine is
strong in us all and while this is
the time when caution should be
exercised our impulses seem to
lead us ti cast it aside. The
high death rate of pneumonia and
tuberculosis which is the inevi
table accompaniment of the ear
ly spring months is an irrefuta
ble evidence that this change
from winter habits requires the
exercise of caution to prevent
evil results.
The city dweller in particular
i3 apt to over-eat and under-exer-cise
during the winter season.
As a result when spring . ap
proaches his physical strength is
below par, he becomes easily fa
tigued and, therefore, suscepti
ble to the attack of disease germs
Old people who suffer from the
cold during the winter, and who
do not appreciate that ventilation
needs not mean exposure, are
apt to suffer from the sudden
changes of temperature at this
season of the year. It is parti
cularly due to these winter hab
its of poor ventilation and insuf
ficient exercise that when spring
arrives we feel debilitated.
The sensible liver who sleeps
the year round in the fresh air,
eats in moderation, and exercises
rationally, is far less subject to
spring fever and spring ailments
than the more self indulgent in
dividual. During March when fluctua
tions of the temperature are fre
quent care should be taken to
maintain an even bodily tempera
ture by proper protection in the
way of clothing. Better some
slight discomfort at noon than to
be chilled on the way home from
work at night Moderation in
diet is also advisable. This with
a reasonable amount of exercise
and well ventilated sleeping room
will aid in resisting the dangers
accompanying the approach of
spring.
Common Sense.
Longfellow could take a worth
less piece of paper and write a
poem on it and make it worth
$65,000-that's genius. There
are some men who could write a
few words on a piece of paper
and make it worth $8,000,000
that's capital. The United States
can take an ounce and a quarter
of gold and make it worth $20
that's money. A mechanic can
take material worth $5 and make
it into watch springs worth $1,
000-that's skill. There is a man
in Chicago who can take a fifty
cent piece of canvas, paint a pic
ture on it, and make in worth
$l,000-that's art A Greek can
take an article worth 75c and sell
it for $1 that's business. A v o
man could purchase a hat for 75c
but prefers one worth $27 that's
foolishness. A ditch digger han
dles several tons of earth for
$1,50 a day-that's labor. The
author of this can write a check
for $9,000,000, but it wouldn't be
worth a dime that's rough.
There are people who will tell
you that other papers are as good
as this that's nerve. Take $1.00
and get a years subscription to
the Fulton County News
that's common sense.
s Wife Has Her Way.
The other day a gentleman
called one of our doctors and said
he was not able to work, and de
manded a prescription telling his
wife that he must not work, so
the doctor wrote a prescription
something like this: "He must
not work only to pump and carry
in water, run the washing ma
chine and dfg potatoes." Tha
fact is, that was all his wife
wanted him to do.