AA i i ma VOLUME 17 McCONNELLSBURG, PA., AUGUST 3,1916. NUMBER 46 RECORD OF DEATHS. Short Sketches of the Lfres of Per soos Who Have Recently Passed Away. William H. Downes. Wm. H. Downes died at his home near Franklin Mills, this county, Tuesday evening, July 25, 1916 after a long illness from paralysis. Mr. Downes was born in Mc Connellsburg April 29, 1837, thus making his age 79 yrs. 2 months and 26 days. He was the son of George and Elizabeth McDonald Downes and his - boyhood days were spent in and around Mc Connellsburg. After his father's death, which occurred when he was about four teen years old, he was taken in to the home of Wm. Hoke with whom he learned the tanner's trade, which vocation he follow ed for a livelihood until he was stricken down more than 24 years ago. He was a Civil War veteran having served in Co. G., 28th Pa Vol. He was a member of Chosen Friend Lodge I. 0. 0. F. of Cum berland, Md. Mr. Downes was twice married his first wife was Miss Nancy Ambrose, who died a few months after their marriage. His sec ond wife was Miss Elizabeth Chisholm, who together with five :hildren survive him; children are: Ella, wife of J. D. Ranck, of Cumberland, Md; Newton T. of Mill Creek. W. Va. ; Reed M. D. of Hancock, Md. ; George C. who resides near the home place and Miss Devona at home, with her parents. v Also two sisters and one broth er are living, Mrs. Mary Ray, of Chicago, 111.; Mrs. Kathryn Da vis, of Indiana, and Warren Downes, of Wheeling W. Va. Funeral services were conduct ed at the Presbyterian church at Warfordsburg, Friday morning, July 28th, at 11 o'clock and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. Dr. Webster, of Hancock, Md., and the Warfordsburg Lodge I. 0. 0. F. Burial was in the ceme tery connected with the church. Mrs. RuthSprowl. From the Everett Press A widely loved resident of Ev erett, Mrs. Ruth Sprowl, died at the Nason hospital, at , Roaring Spring, July 20th, after a linger ing illness of many nonth's dura tion. She was born in Fulton county, November 29, 1856, and was the daughter of Thomas L. and Elizabeth Ensley Salkeld. Her early years were spent in JVashington, D. C. Returning to the home of her nativity she was joined in matrimony to Mr. Frank Sprowl, December 25th, 1889. At the time of her death she was a membe-of the Barn dollar M. E. church. She wa3 an earnest christian woman who liv ed her life- for others. In her Quiet, humble, unostentatious, tender wav she did not care to have her charity known and al ways belittled her sacrifice. Fu neral services were held Satur day morning from the Lutheran church, Breezewood, conducted the Rev. J. R. Dalling, assist ed by Rev. Frum, of the M. E. church of that place. Left, to aourn her loss are-the bereaved husband and two brothers, Thorn L. Salkeld, of Pittsburgh, and J. C Salkeld, of Breezewood. Mrs. Eve Ann Mathias. Mrs. Eve Ann Mathias, widow of David Mathias, died at the home of her daughter Annie, Mrs. E. C. Wright, Monte Vista, Colo rado, July 26, 1916, aged 86 years, b months and 18 days, of a com Plication of diseases incident to advancing years. Her remains, 1 accompanied by her sons Abram atd Albert, were brought to her W home at Burnt Cabins and laid tost in the family lot in the cemetery at that place on Monday of this week. " She is survived by three sons ; nd two daughters, tamely, Abra bam D., Albert C, Edward, An- Received Sad News. Word reached this place two or three days ago that John Bishop, who is on the Texas border with his regiment, was seriously ill with blood poison which Btartcd in one of his feet, and some time last week the whole limb became affected, including the hip. His companion, J. G. Alexander, of Franklin county, who enlisted and went with him, wrote to Mrs. Alexander, advising that she find John's parents and noti fy them of his condition. She did so, and John's father, W. M. Bishop, of Big Cove Tannery, at once came to the News office to get exact data concerning his son's address in order to get word to him or to the officers of the Company and Regiment to get John home on furlough if he was able to travel. Fultotl coun ty has three sons at the front, and their friends will be shocked and saddened to hear of John's misfortune. BartonHinn. Mr. Guy Elton Barton, and Miss Anna Grace Hannwere united in marriage August 1, 1916, at the M. E. parsonage in Cumberland, Md., by Rev. Dawson. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Hann, of Saluvia. She is well known in the county a3 one of its most successful school , teachers. Two or three years ago, her father bought the store at Saluvia and Miss Grace wa3 appointed postmistress. She enters upon the duties of her new ife with the best wishes of a host of sincere friends. The groom is a son of 0. A. Barton, near Akersville, and is an industrious young farmer of abil ity. Mr. and Mrs. Barton have not determined where their fu ture home shall be. Both have interests at their respective homes which require their atten tion for a short time at least The Water Is Fare. It seems that there was 'doubt in the minds of some concerning the purity of the water from the old well near the top of the moun tain at Tuscarora Heights. We have been informed that three recent analyses of the water have been made by State authorities, and the water pronounced unus ually free from impurities that would be detrimental to health. Mrs. Harvey Richards and two sons, or MercersDurg, were guests last week in the home of her sister, Mrs. Oscar Truax, of Ayr township. nie, wife of E. C. Wright, and Mattie, wife of Isaac Waters all living in the same neighborhood in Colorado, and all present at their mother's bedside when death came. J. E. Johnson. John Eric Johnson died in Bos ton, Allegheny county, Pa., July 19, 1916, aged 82 years 6 months and 7 days. The remains were interred in the Everett Cemetery July 22nd. Mr. Johnson was born in Swe den and came to this country about the year 18G and settled atEmmaville, this county. He worked until he earned money to send to Sweden for hia wife and children. From this county he went to the far west. He then went to Everett where he purchased property and for many years he had been a highly re spected citizen of that place. Isaiah Layton. Isaiah Layton, whose death we mentioned briefly last week died at the home of his. daughter, Mrs David Jay, seven miles east of Everett, on Thursday night, Ju ly 20, 1916, aged 87 years. Fu neral was held on the following Sunday, interment being made at the Memorial Christian church six mile3 east of Everett. 4 He is survived by three daughters, Mrs Hattie Daniels and Mrs, David Jay, of Bedford county, and Mrs E, B, Cornelius, of Hancock, ,:, ::--- Vj i !.:., AAA"A 'I'Sw t "Jy'AA. ::A?Z'i- r: . U ' i;v.V J .v-.a-;-:; ;;,r:;f-i;-' 41 j I AAA ? ' A certain city In Kaalorn rcnnsylvania, located on the main line of the Pennsylvania railroad suddenly awak ncd to tho fact that not only every visitor practically entered through Its back yard but that hundreds 1 thoiwanils of travelers every year wore gaining an unfavorable Impression of their city because all that they, couid oo of It from tho car window was slovenly and IllkepC This point of view was brought about by Commissioner of Health, Samuel 0. D!son, who gave orders through the Dureau of Housing that certain neglected sanitary and housing conditions should be Improved. .When the matter was pointed out In the above fashion the local authorities, the business men and the clvlo Wganlzatlons co-operated to bring about an Improvement. The alloys and poor residential districts were thor oughly cleaned and arrangements wore mado for the regular collection of rubbish. PrlzeB wore offered for the moat attractive working men's gardens. Through this co-operation and stimulation of general Interest and civic pride, what was a most unpromising area bids fair to become attractive. This town's back yard has been made presentable and may now serve as aa xamole to other communities. . Snakes Bite Ladies. One day last week, while Airs. Emory Thomas, wife of our coun ty Superintendent, was in her garden, a snake bit her on one finger. Blood flowed freely from the wound, but she suffered no pain to speak of. A slight numb ness wa3 all the ill effect. The reptile was killed. It was one of the non-poisonous species. Last Friday, while Mrs. John Rasp, of Ayr township, was in the field bringing home the cows a rattlesnake bit her on the left foot just above the heel. Infla- mation and swelling at once set in, and Dr. Mosser was hastily summoned.. He rendered what aid there was, and it i3 hoped she will not suffer permanent ill effects. This is the second time Mrs. Rasp ba3 been bitten by a rattler on the same foot. Doctors and others report more snake bites for the summer of 1916 than have been known for a long time. Some peculiar atmos pheric conditions feem to bring the reptile from their hiding pla ces out into the open where hu-1 man beings come in contact with them. One day last week Bert Doyle, a railroad hand, killed two rattlers on the east side of Cove mountain, and on the same day, surveyor John Taylor killed two be.low the old tollgate not far from where Mr. Doyle killed his. Many others have been seen and killed, Mr.' Taylor wears two thicknesses of leggings, having been struck twice this summer by poisonous snakes. Twenty two rattlers have been killed this far by State Road and sawmill workmen on Sideling Hill. Wil liam Bair, of Green Hill, was horrified one morning last week to find that two big black .ratt lers had shared his' cabin on the mountain during the night Billy sleeps at Green Hill now. Killed A Tucasant. When Scott Palmer was in town last Friday, he said that some one had recently run over and killed a pheasant within sight ot the store and . Post office at Sipes Mills. For a long time this summer, 'the pheasant had been seen almost daily taking a dust bath in the road near the store. The bird was never disturbed and in this way lost its Ufa through too much confidence in its human friends, but it is not thought that the beautiful bird was killed pur posely, ' ONE TOWN'S BACK YARD - 1 A Soldier's Funeral. DearEditor:-On July 30, 1916, I witnessed something that I have not seen, or taken an active part in for fifty-odd vears. I at tended the funeral of John Auk erman, a soldier who was killed while on picket duty on SantoDo mingo Island, on the 27th day of June 1916, and conveyed to the home of his father in Mt Union Pa. He was a son of Curtis Auk erman who married Jennie Gra cey, a daughter of Thomas Gra cey (deed j. The funeral was a sad one. A stout man apparent ly, lying in his beauliful casket, in full uniform, who gave his life of 24 years for his country and flag. His body was escorted from Mt Union, to Taylor town ship by upwards of 30 soldiers in uniform, and some 20 Boy Scouts from the same place. There were also present about 12 or 15 Old Vets of the "Sixties". All took an active part in laying his remains to rest at 1:30 p. m. in Center M. E. cemetery. I was told that the minister and under taker was also from Mt Union. All the honors that could be pos sible were bestowed. The pulpit was a mass of flowers and flags with the same display at the grave. There were representa tives of old Vets of the G. A. R. The soldiers of the present ,day, Boy Scouts, and I. 0. 0. F. Par ties who are pretty good judges of crowds of people estimated the attendance of the funeral at five hundred or more people. They gave him a military burial by firing a salute of 14 guns three times across his grave while the fife and drum corps beat a dirge, with five flags waived to and fro at half mast. No doubt there were many persons saw there something that they never saw before,' or ever will see again, and which I do sincerely hope I may never see again, a real dead soldier in full uniform lying in his casket. All men may learn from that noble Patriot what a soldier may have to come to in defence of his country and flag. M. D. Mathias. One- day latter part of last week, a bumble bee stung George Comerer, of Ayr township, on one of his arms. In a shorttime rn?h and hives broke out all over his body and he became very sick and stiff. Very much alarmed he called Dr, Mo3ser who reliev ed hia Buffering. , n w i Must Pay Two Cents. Everybody knows that a sealed letter with a one cent stamp on it may be dropped into a home office and it will be handed to the party asking for it at that same office, and if the letter has to be sent to another office, a two cent stamp must be affixed. But all do not know that a two cent stamp is necessary if the letter is to be delivered by a mail carrier "to the farm gate. Let us illustrate. Mr. Troift, north of town, get3 his mail at McConnellsburg, and a letter carrying a one cent stamp, dropped in at this office, will be handed to the one asking at the office for his mail. But if the Knobsville mail carrier is expect ed to deliver the letter to Mr. Trout's box at the farm gate, the sender must put a two cent stamp on it or the letter will remain in the office until Mr. Trout or his agent calls for it. The law ap plies to all post offices in the United States. Court News. An adjourned session of Court was held July 29th at 10 a. m., with President Judge Donald P. McPherson, and his associates, Wm. B. Stigers and Wm. Melloti on the bench. This special ses sion was held to hear testimony in the John and George Magsam estate regarding the - amount of damage that might be due them by the taking over of the right of way for ' the McConnellsburg and Fort Loudon Railroad Com pany. The question of sufficien cy of bond had been raised. So bonds to the amount of $7oo were given and accepted. A Supoena in divorce was awarded in the case of Minnie Denisar, vs Daniel S. Deniaar. Business Changed Hands. Last Friday, W. H. Greathead sold the stock, fixtures and good will of "Ye Smoke Shop" pool room and news stand to B. F. Shinier who took immediate pos session of all but the periodical department which was turned over to him on August 1st Mr. Greathead has not announced what his future business will be. We wish Mr. Shimer success. Mrs. Martha Kennedy and Mrs , (Dr) Shartel, of Greencastle, I were recent guests of Miss Olive Pittman. Annual Report, Fulton County. Dr. Nathan C. Schaeffer, Supt. of Public Instruction, Harrisburg, Penna. Sir: The following is my annual report of the condition of the schools of Fulton County for the year ending Monday, July 3, 1916. buildings. We have only eighty-four school rooms in our twelve school districts. A few of these being graded schools, we have seventy- seven school buildings. Many of our one room build ings are old and in poor condition, but our school-boards are loath to ppend much money on them as consolidation is much discuss ed in some districts. The districts of Thompson and locia nave each constructea one new up-to-date building during the school year. These buildings are very attractive and reflect credit upon the boards of those districts. Bethel district divided the Warfordsburg school and estab lished in its stead a graded school This was a much needed improve ment, as the school numbered be fore division sixty-seven pupils. The board deserves much credit for this progressive step. I had anticipated that Dublin district would do the same w ith the Burnt Cabins school whioh also numbers more than sixty pu pils. I am informed by the sec retary of the Dublin school board that a petition of the patrons of the Burnt Cabins school for its division and the establishment of a graded school in its place is now before said board of directors. Belfast district has decided to construct a new school building at Maple Grove to have ready for use at the opening of the coming school term. During the school year, Taylar district added several large porches to their school buildings, and gave both porches and build ings a coat of paint This added much to the attractiveness of the buildings thus improved. This district also is building a modern, up-to-date, one-room house at Hustontown. scholarship. The greatest source of weak' ness in the profession of teaching is superficiality of knowledge in the branches to be taught I do not believe in the dictum that some teachers teach more than they know. In fact, no teacher teaches quite as much as he knows. It is, therefore, obvious that any one who has only a smattering of a subject cannot teach that subject well. For this reason I have been most careful in my examination to se lect from those persons examined a sufficient number to fill the schools having the best qualifica tions to teach so far as scholar ship is concerned. The only means we have in the county for preparing young per sons for the profession of teach ing is the McConnellsburg High School and the Summer Normal, We have previously been getting some excellent teachers from our High School, but the course has been so changed in the last three years as to make it almost impos sible for the graduates of the High School to pass a teachers' provisional certificate examina tion. The schools of the county are beginning to feel thi3 loss. examinations On June 28th, an examination was given to the students of the Needmore Summer Normal. On June 29th and 30th, an examina tion was given to the students of the McConnellsburg Summer Normal. The number examined at these two places was fifty-nine, of whom fifty successfully passed the ex amination." , At our County Institute, last December, we adopted in our course on professional reading, School Discipline, by William Chandler Bagley. This text was not only to be read but to be Continued on pipe 4. ' DIRTY BREAD. Little Talks on Health and. Hygiene by Samuel C. Dixon, !R."D., LL D., Commissioner of Health. Even should the process of making and baking of bread be sanitary, the loaves are often fsr from being clean when they do reach the consumer. It is fre quently loaded into containers for the delivery wagon by hands that have just swept the stable, curried and harnessed the horse. Enroute the driver may divide his time between the dexterous dandling of the dirty reins or the smoking of a pipe or cigar ette. The contents of hi3 wagon he delivers from house to house and from shop to shop with his hands besmeared with dirt from the stable, horse, harness and mud or d.i3t from the road. If he cannot carry enough bread in his germ laden hands he takes a loaf under each arm. The bread that is delivered to the cor ner grocer may pass through two or three sets of hands before it reaches the children's mouths. If a servant were to stick a finger in a dish that was being served you would vehemently protest but tentimes the careless ness in the handling of your fam ily';? bread supply is passed with out thought If you have any doubt as to the accuracy of the observations noted above, nuke some of your own and imagine the danger of the transmission of disease. No other food is more subject to contamination from handling than the "staff of life." Alfalfa. We have received a few re quests for information concern ing alfalfa. It is getting a little late in the season to sow alfalfa this year. While the latter part of August, just after a shower, is the time to sow, there is not time to prepare the seedbed prop erly. The ground mustbe plough ed and harrowed, then after grass and weeds have started, they must be killed by harrowing and this must be done several times until very little more wiil come up. If this is not done, the alfalfa will surely be smoth ered out by weeds and grass, if you have a patch of ground that has been well cultivated this summer, say a potato patch, and if it has been limed, you might try alfalfa on it Unless the seed is inoculated, you may have to try the same piece of ground two or three times before it 'catches' The reason for this is that each time seed is sown, a little alfalfa will grow. Then in a year or two, enough alfalfa bacteria will have been created in the soil to enable a full crop to lay hold on that particular piece of ground. Always try the second and third time on the first piece of ground, if the first sowing failed. But the first sowing should not fail if weeds and grass have been killed, lime used, and the Peed inoculated. Have the seedbed well settled, and do not loosen it up very much at the time of sow ing. Badly Injured Elbow. Last Friday, while a hand wag on wa3 being brought down Cove mountain, . Duffield Sipes got on the wagon which wa3 loaded with wood. In some manner the wagon upset, and in falling, Duf field struck his elbow on the hard surface of the pike and bruised his elbow so badly that it was thought some of the bones were fractured. He went to the Chambersdurg hospital and had the X-rays turned on, but a care ful examination revealed no broken bones. The injury was very painful." Mr. Sipes -lives near the tollgate at the east end of McConnellsburg. Mr. and Mrs. George E. Clous- er, near Big Cove Tannery, were interested spectators while wu were at pres last week.
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