Home Paper -—For lie Borne The circulation of this paper is in creasing rapidly. It will pay you to advertise in the AMERICAN. SUBSCRIPTION $1 PER YEAR DR. IRVING H. JENNINGS, DENTIST. Office Hour* 9A. M.to 12 M. 104 MM IP. M.to 4P. J/. Danville, Pa. mum, m. u. 425 MILL ST., DANVILLE, PA. Diseases of the Stomach and Intestines a Specialty W. P. ASIUL.K, DENTIST OFFICE: 218 MILLSTBKKT. Teetb Extracted without Pain. Crown and Bridge Work a Specialty. Equipped with the latent and most improved Instruments and prepared to execute the most difficult work. DR. C. H. REYNOLDS, (FORMERLY OF CATAWISSA). DKNIIBI OSoe, Opposite Boston Store, Danville, Pa Dentistry in ail its branches. Charge Moderate and all work Guaranteed. Established 1895 J. CONDENSED IWS. Santa Claus is tilling his sock. Scrapple is at its best just now. Only nine hours of day light. Farmers report that all of the country roads are in excellent condition. The express companies are doing an immense business. Many Christmas boxes are already being shipped. The housekeeper who persists in wash ing pavements these cold mornings is certainly endangering the lives and limbs of pedestrians. Wrap your hydrants carefully and avoid trouble. The children are impatient to hear, the eleigh bells merry jingle. Justice-of-the-Peace Hunter yesterday afternoon married Alfred Swartzlander, of Snydertown, and Miss Cora Heim, of Quitman. The water has practically been drain ed from this level of the canal, all that remains being pools in the low places. The trapping Beason is now on and the big and little boys iu the rural dis tricts are earning some extra spending money by the use of "dead falls" and steel traps. The idea of having a big night on the eve of the new century is obtaining fav or. Both a severe and a mild winter is predicted, but, whether agreeable to prediction or not, we shall have to take it as it cornea. So there's no use worry ing. The temperature yesterday was fifteen •degrees warmer than on Tuesday. As a result the ice in the river began to break up. Prothonotary Miller yesterday issued a marriage license to Clark McMichael and Miss Maggie Dye, both of Strawberry Ridge. The ice man will soon begin harvest ing the crop for summer use. The small boy is now slyly searching for the Christmas presents that he thinks his parents have bidden about the house. No more hunting can be done legally this season. Mill street was thronged with people on Saturday evening and all the store clerks were busy. Nearly all the clear toys sold in Dan ville this season are home made. The members of the Mausdale Milling Company purchased the Minnetonka mill on North Mill street and two dwell ing houses of the Heading Iron company on Saturday. The purchase price was $9,01K). The company expects to im prove the property and operate the mill. Many young people are enjoying the skating on the pond above the Bessemer rail mill. Diphtheria seems to be spreading in many sections of the State. Danville will be very lively during the holidays. The Eola, one of the long delayed toy laden vessels from Germany steamed into port at Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon with its Christmas cargo safe and sound. Plenty of ice to be found about the city now. The membership of Sunday school I •classes is right up to the limit these days. Many of the churches are preparing 'Christmas decorations. Precocious youngsters are now trying to figure out how "Santa" is going to get his pack through the chimney and stove pipe. The reserved seat board for the Parry concert,under the auspices of the Wash ington Hose company, is uow open at Lore's drug store. Remember the suffering poor when drear old winter threatens them. Take a peep at the store windows as you go along. They display many ar ticles suitable for presents. The last day of school during the pre sent century will be held tomorrow. Af ter that the school* will remain clos ed until January 1, 1901. If Danville is to have a midnight cel ebration to welcome the 20th century, it is time to take the matter up and make the necessary arrangements. Co. F. is ready to join with any of our organiza tions for a jubilee. xl Jit-. 3 * N ' | "THIS COUNTRY WILL NEVER BE ENTIRELY FREE UNTIL IT SUPPLIES ALL OF ITS OWN DEMANDSWITH ITS OWN PRODUCTIONS." VOL. I.V-NO 51. WILL ASK HIM TO REMAIN Committees to Urge Mr. Laumaster to Withdraw Lis Resignation. It was expected that a successor to W. I). Laumaster, as general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. would be appointed at the meeting of the board of directors of the Association held last evening. In stead, it was decided to make another etfort to have Mr. Laumaster withdraw his resignation, and nothing was done about appointing his successor. A committee from the Ladies' Auxili ary of the Association met with the di rectors. They expressed the desire of all members of the Auxiliary to have .Mr. Laumaster remain. They stated their belief that the Association work will suf fer greatly if he leaves. They asked that an etfort be made to have him remain. After the situation was thoroughly discussed, the directors decided not to consider the question of a successor for Mr. Laumaster, but act on the ladies' suggestion. The president was accordingly em powered to appoint a committee consist ing of four directors, who shall wait on Mr. Laumaster together with a commit tee of four ladies from the Auxiliary, to see if they can prevail on him to with draw his resignation. The president will appoint this committee later. Success of Firemen's Fair—Ladies Will be Admitted Free. The Friendship Fire company's fair continues to be well attended, and the sale of articles at the different booths still helps add to the financial success of the enterprise. It was decided last even ing that hereafter ladies will be admit ted to the fair free. Ticket No. 6 last evening drew a fine lamp that has been on exhibition through out the fair. The holder of this ticket, who is unknown, can have the lamp at once by presenting the coupon. Much interest was aroused at the "fish pond" last evening when a young man canght a live frcg. "Hanukah'' Costume Party. Mrs. Hannah Wyle gave a "Hanu kah" costume paity to a number of friends at her home on Cross Keys Place on Saturday evening. Those present j were: Mrs. Eli Rosenthal, Mrs. Samuel I Bloch, Mrs. Julius Heim, Mrs. Isaac Gross, Mrs. Herbert Wyle, Mrs. Harry Ellenbogen, Misses GertriWe, Bertha and Blanche Goldsmith, Gertrude Heim, j Cora Dreifuss, Blanche Lowenstein.Sara Gross, Clara Ellenbogen, Dora Meyer, j Ida Goldsmith, Bertha and Ella Mey- J ers. Met With Mrs. Scarlet. The Woman's Home Missionary society of the Mahoning Presbyterian church met yesterday afternoon with Mrs. James Scarlet on Mill street. Mrs. \V. I. Steans led the devotional meeting, the subject being "The Older States and Mountaineers." A letter was read from Miss Stevenson, a missionary working among the Southern mountaineers. Miss Margaret Ammerman sang. Following the business meeting a social hour was enjoyed. Refreshments were served. Married at the Jail. Elizabeth N. Grimes and Charles A. Baker, both colored, were married at the jail Monday evening at 7:30 o'clock by Justice-of-tbe-Peace Hunter. The cere mony occurred in front of"the cage'' and Boyd Wintersteen and Harvey Lamberson witnessed it. Several of the colored friends of the bride and groom j were present. The costs for Baker's arrest and bringing him from Lock > Haven have not been settled,so that the groom was compelled to remain in jail after his marriage. Putting in New Boiler. The work of installing the new boiler at the Water works was begun Monday under the direction of L. F. Nolan, of Philadelphia, representing the Babcock & Wilcox company. After the boiler is in place the Annex will be ceiled, the floor will be cemented and the side walls will be plastered. As soon as the new boiler is ready for use, the old ones will be thoroughly overhauled and putin good condition. Wagon Was Turned Over. While Charles Kase and family, of South Danville, were driving on Sunday evening, they had a narrow escape from serious injury. Mr. and Mrs. Kase and their two children were in their wagon near Blue Hill, when the horses became frightened by a freight train. Turning suddenly they tipped the wagon over, throwing all of the occupants out. Mr. Kase clung to the reins and kept the horses from running. The only damage was a slight break in the harness. "Santa" Had a Large Audience. The appearance of "Santa Claus" in the window of Murray's store crowded the street at that place last evening. As long as the genial old fellow remained on exhibition, children of all ages crowded around to laugh at his funny ways, and grown up children appeared to derive fully as much pleasure as did the young er ones. Mr. Morgan Much Improved. It was reported yesterday that~Elliott R. Morgan, formerly of this city, was in a critical condition at his home in Kings ton, as the result of a stroke of paralysis suffered on Tuesday afternoon. It was learned last evening that he was not as bad as at first reported, and that he is much improved. i DAN VILLI:, PA., THURS DAY, * J JECEM BEI i 20, WVO. ! DANVILLE TO IUVE NEW PARK Mr. Hunter Preparing Dancing Pavilion, Cottages and Picnic Grounds. Work has been begun by Erw in Hunt er on a new park that will add greatly to the summer amusement possibilities of Danville. A few days ago Mr. Hunter purchased from the Reading Iron company fifty acres of land situated on the main road between the fair grounds and Mausdale. This tract is about a mile from the post office. The land is well suiie 1 for a public park. Thirty acres of it is wooded and can easily be converted into an attrac tive grove. There are three springs of excellent water which will be piped to different parts of the ground. Mr. Hunter expects to spend several thousand dollars in fitting u;> the park before next summer. Work will soon be begun on the erec tion of a dancing pavilion ">0 by 100 feet in size. Four cottages will be built to rent to campers or tor any other use desired. The grounds are leveled off", and they will lie nicely urrauged for picnic parties, with eating p;,viii.;iis, cook houses, etc. In the spring iiovt r beds will be set on , and the entire grounds will be ui.ide «•> attractive as possible. Music will be furnished twice a week, and attractions of different kinds will be introduced. A bus line will be established from the central part of town to the park, the fare being placed at five cents. Arrangements have already been made with several churches and Sunday schools to hold their annual picnics at this park. Danville Musician Who Sang in Concert With World Famous Artists. A recent issue of the Paterson, N. J. Call contains a long account of a con cert, in which one of the prominent parts was taken by a well known young lady from Dauville. Among the other musicians participating were Hobart Smock, the celebrated tenor singer, and llerr Kronald, whose fame as a cello player is world wide. Of Miss Harriet Woods, of this city, the paper says: "Miss Harriet Woods, soprano, with a pleasing stage personality and an in imitable Parisian gown, won the appro bation of the audience by the brilliancy of her methods of attack in several com- 1 positions which admirably displayed the perfection of her vocalization, especially in the higher register." New Telephone Directory. A new directory of the subscribers of the Montour <4 Columbia Telephone company has just been printed by Tin: Morn'inq News job department, and is being distributed to patrons of the com pany. The directory contains thirty-three' pages,and in it are to be found not only j the names of oversoo subscribers of this ! company, but a list of about 2,500 sub scribers of other independent companies whose lines connect with those of the Montour & Columbia. All patrons of this company can now i converse with people in sixty Jillereut j towns within a radius of fifty miles. With many of these towns, free service j is given to subscribers of the local com- ] pany. The charges on the to}l lines are much less than they were before the in- J troduction of the independent service. Gave a Pedro Party. Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Peters gave a progressive pedro party at their home on West Mahoning street Thursday evening Prizes were won by Mrs. Leniger, Mrs. Howe, Mrs. Sechler, Elmer Peters, Mr. Jameson and Mr. l'entz. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Leniger, Mr. j and Mrs. W. A. Sechler and son Jay, Mr. j and Mrs. F. W. Howe, Mr. and Mrs. VV. j G. Pursel, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jame son, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Sidler, Mr. and i Mrs. Harry Ellenbogen, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Price, Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. E. 1). l'entz, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Peters, Mr. and Mis. Simon Hoff man, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Vincent, Mrs j Pierce, Misses Jennie Oberdorf. Lot lie Divel, Laura Divel, Miss Curtis and A. M. Peters. To Organize a Basket Ball Team. The members of the Danville High school athletic association are talking of having a basket ball team. So far the foot ball eleven has occupied the atten tion of this association, which was or ganized this fail. Now that the foot ball season is passed, it is desired to have the basket ball team for winter work. If the club is organized, games will be ar ranged with teams in other towns in this part of the state. In the spring it is hoped to put a strong base ball team in the field. This would give the association a representa tive sport for each season of the school year. Engiae Broke Down, The spring hanger on the engine of the Lackawanna train due here at 4:35 p. m. broke at Bloomsburg on Saturday evening delaying the train over an hour. The 0:10 train west was also delayed about forty minutes. Building the Annual Dam. Division Foreman 11. D. Quick aud his assistants Tuesday constructed a wood en dam across the canal just west of the Mahoning creek. Such a dam is con structed each winter so as to turn water into this level and hold down the dock j during the high water in the Mahoning [ creek. PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS. Brief Mention of the Movement of Tour Friends and Acquaintances. Mrs. C. P. Hancock visited friends in Bloomsburg yesterday. Mrs. James Foster left yesterday for a visit with friends in Scranton. Mrs. William Geiger returned to Cat awissa yesterday after a visit with Mrs. S. Lormor on Pine street. Mrs. cust Gap, is the guest of the Rev. M. I. O'Reilly, on Ferry street. Dennis Bright left Monday evening for Florida, where he has several large orange groves. Mrs. Joseph Wright, of Berwick, and Mis. Vincent Maym, of Brooklyn, N. V. returned to their homes Tuesday after a visit at the home of Angus Wright on Upper Mulberry street. Miss Cordelia Woolley,W. B. Rhodes, Dr. J. B. Gearhart and Arthur Woollev attended a dinner given by Mrs. Eliza beth Jackson in Berwick Tuesday even ing. Dr. Ella E. Everitt, of Philadelphia's visiting her mother, Mrs. E G. Everitt, Centre street. Mrg. U. M. Leniger left Tuesday afternoon to spend several days in Nan ticoke and Wilkesbarre. Mrs. T. W. Henderson, of Philadel phia, is a guest at the home of Robert Morris, East Market street. Peter Dietrich made a business trip to Plymouth yesterday. I James Coyne, of I'ittston, will attend the funeral of Matthias Klarsch today. Maurice Guest, of Carbondale, is visit- j ing his parents, Mr. tind Mrs. David ! Guest, Nicholas avenue. Mr. Edward Kase, of Lebanon, is spending several days in this city. Charles Watson, of Philadelphia, is spending a few days iu Danville. Dr. W. C. Flakerty, of Scranton, call ed on friends in this city yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Foster and daughter, Helen, returned from a visit in New York last evening. Miss Nellie Zaner returned last even ing from a trip to Philadelphia. Mrs, K. J. Curtis returned last even- i ing from a visit with relatives in Pitts burg. Howard Clark,a student at State Coll ege's spending the holidays at his home in South Danville. Ilarmou Sechler was in Sunbury yes terday. Jacob Bloom transacted business in Milton yesterday. Miss Lizzie Vastine, of South Danville visited Sunbury friends yesterday. Theodore Hoffman, Sr., transacted business in Bloomsburg yesterday. Robert Gable spent yesterday with Berwick Iriends. Master Warren Johnson is visiting rel atives in Bloomsburg. The Rev. Adolph Meyer spent yester day afternoon in Berwick. Charles Fenstermacher, of Mausdale, a student at State College, arrived home last evening to spend the holidays. George Hoke, of Sunbury, transacted business in town last evening. Henry Craig and daughter, Jennie, of Lairdsville, visited friends in this city yesterday. Miss Amelia Phillips returned last eveuing from an extended visit to Niag ara Falls, N. Y. School Board's Special Meeting. A special meeting of the School Board will be held this evening. The regular meeting would come on Christmas eve, and the Directors preferred to have the ( meeting tonight. ! HOUSE AND BARN BURNED DOWN I Miss Hartman Rescued From her House as the Roof was Palling. The blackened and thoroughly roast ed bodies of five cows and a horse and a few twisted pieces of iron were all that | remained Friday morning to mark I the spot where a few hours before had | stood tho barn of {Catherine Foust, at | East Danville. Not even as much as that remained besides the founda lion walls, of the home of Miss ! "Teenie" Hartman, a few feet east of the barn. Miss Hartman, who is eighty years old, is an invalid. Mrs. Ann B'oomer, who cared for her, and she were alone in the house. Shortly after one o'clock Mrs. Bloomer awoke tn find the house all in flames. She succeeded in dragging the old woman out just as the roof was falling in. Before that Miss Foust awoke to dis cover that her barn was nearly burned to the ground. It was some time before any of the neighbors could be aroused; and then all that could ba done was to form a bucket brigade to extinguish the flames on Lloyd Krum's house and other build ings in the neighborhood. Miss Hartman aud Mrs. Bloomer es caped from the burning house with only their night clothes. Neighbors soon contributed articles of clothing to pro tect them. Nothing was saved from the house, and a calf, badly burned, was all that was saved from the barn. The origin of the fire is not definitely known. It started in the barn and is supposed to have been caused by some smouldering fire left by young men who gavs a "belling" party early in the even ing to a newly married couple living a few doors from the burned buildings. The serenaders were not permitted to enter the house of the bride and groom, and it is supposed that they went into the barn to celebrate. About nine o'clock Miss Foust heard a noise in the barn that sounded like some one driving the bung from a beer keg. No one, who had business in the barn, was in the building after dark. Besides the barn and live stock, Miss Foust lost all of her hay and grain,wag ons, farming implements, etc. Her en tire loss amounted to SOOO or S7OO, with no insurance. Mists Hartman carried £7OO insurance on her house and S2OO on the furniture, which nearly covered the loss. During the day Wellington Hartman, a nephew of the burned-out woman, took her to Grovania, w here she has several relatives. Sixty Cars of Machinery Sent. A good share of the tearing out work of dismantling the steel plant has been accomplished, although less than half of the machinery has been shipped away. So far sixty car loads have been ship ped. About five cars are now being load ed each day and there are still eighty or ninety carloads to be shipped. This machinery is being sent in train loads, the cars being held for a few days after lhey are loaded, until there are enough for a fair sized train, which makes it possible to ship it right through without having the cars side-tracked. It is expected that the last of the ma chinery will not be sent until the middle of January. Reception and Devotional Service at the Mahoning Presbyterian Church. No plans have yet been started for a general celebration in Danville of the close of the Nineteenth century, but meetings will be held in some of the churches on the night of December 31. Acting on the suggestion made by the general assembly, arrangements are be ing made for a meeting at the Mahon ing Presbyterian church on that even ing. At nine o'clock a social will be j held in the lecture room aud parlois. Refreshments will be served and a pro gram will be rendered, which will in clude reports from all departments of the church. At eleven o'clock a service will be held in the auditorium, the first part of the hour being devoted to a hymn service by the choir, while the closing minutes of the old century and the first ones of the new will be devoted to a prayer service. Reception for Gen. Gordon. The Y. M. C. A. directors are sending invitations to a few of the business and professional men of the city for an in formal reception to be tendered the cele brated Confederate leader, General John B. Gordon, at the Montour House on Friday evening, after his lecture at the opera house. General Gordon has long had many Northern admirers, aud he has always been recognized as one of the most able "wearers of the gray." This will be a welcome opportunity for Danville men to meet him. Broke Bones in Foot. George Stahlneeker, who is employed in the dismantlement of the Steel Plant, met with a very painful accident Fri day afternoon. He was assisting in load ing a car of rails, when one of them slipped falling on his right foot, break ing two small bones just above the toes. Dr. Curry attended him. Death of Wilfred Kimbel. Wilfred, the tbree-years-old son of Mr. and Mrs. William Kimbel, died at two o'clock Tuesday morning at their home at Riverside, from membraneous croupe. SIGNATURES OF FAMOUS PEOPLE An Interesting Autograph Collection at the Y. M. 0. A. A collection of autographs of promi nent people of the world is attracting much interest at the Y. M. C. A. The idea originated with the young men of the association, and they, as well as Sec retary Laumaster, take great pride in the two large albums that have been fill ed with cards since October 1, when the first applications were sent out. These cards contain genuine signatures of several hundred people,written especi ally for this collection. The signatures of William Jennings Bryan, M. A. Hanna, Adlai Stevenson and Thomas C. Piatt cause no trouble, although they are all on the same page. Several of the prominent artists and cartoonists have decorated their cards with small drawings, easily recognized by people familiar with illustrated maga zines. Among them are "Zim" and Grant Hamilton,of "Judge," Pugheand F. M. Howarth of "Puck," Frank Beard, C. J. Bush, Charles Dana Gibson, "Davenport," Frederick Remington and E. W. Kemble. Among the national statesmen repre sented are President McKinley, Chief Justice Fuller, Speaker of the House Ilenderson,ex-President Harrison,Grov er Cleveland .Thomas B. Reed,Chauncey M.Depew. "Pitchfork" Tillman, Sena tor Dolliver and Chairman of the Natio nal Democratic committee Jones. Other names taken at random through out the collection are Gov. Roosevelt, Governor Stone, John Wanamaker, Ad mirals Dewey,Sampson and Schley,Lieut. Richmond P. Hobson, Generals Miles and Fitz Hugh Lee, "Fighting Bob" Kvans, Captain Sigsbee,Duke of Argyle, Andrew Carnegie, Helen Gould, Clara Barton, Mrs. Julia Dent Grant, Mrs. Frances Folsom Cleveland, Mrs. A. J. Drexel, Walter Damrosch, Reginald DeKoven and John Philip Sousa. Several signers have included a brief sentiment wishing success to the As sociation or giving advice to young men. Danville Merchants Complain of Petty Pilfering. Tho holiday season is the time when merchants always expect shoplifters to be most active. A number of Danville merchants say that this year they have been bothered more than common by "light fingered" persons. It is not thought that any profession al shoplifters have been in the city, but the pilfering has been done by residents of town, and frequently by persons whom no one would suspect. It is mostly articles of small value that have been taken. In dry goods stores handkerchiefs, pieces of ribbons, lace or such small articles seem to have the most, attraction for the pilferers. Most of this kind of work is done by women, who seem to be unable to resist the temp tation to slip exposed articles under their capes or jackets or up their sleeves. Several people have been detected in committing the thefts, and when spok en to about it, they have readily given up what they have taken, go that no complaints have been preferred. In some cases the clerks have said nothing when they have seen women take articles of small value. One woman, who is well able to buy any thing she wants, looked over all of the articles on a counter of a Mill street store, slipped a three cent toy under her cape and went out. The merchant who saw her commit the theft said nothing to her. He says he hopes she is deriv ing much satisfaction from the toy. Even grocers and confectioners com plain that they are losing too much in this way. Some people succeed in slip ping into their pockets or mouths more than they purchase, while waiting to buy half a pound of candy. Death of Matthias Klarsch. Matthias Klarsch died at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Mayan, on C street. He was seventy-four years old. lie lias beeu in poor health for a year, and for the past three months he has failed rapidly. He was a well known resident of this part of the state since he came from Germany fifty-six years age. Mrs. Klarsch died last May. The funeral was held from St. Hu bert's church this morning at nine o'clock. Interment was made in St. Hu bert's cemetery. Mr. Klarsch is surviv ed by two daughters and five sons, Mrs. John Frederick, of I'ittston;Mrs. Joseph Mayan, of Danville; Anthony, of Cana da; John, of Jameson City; Peter, of Pittston; Jacob, of Mooresburg, and Henry, ot this city. Entertainment By Children. The members of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. are busily engaged in preparing for a Christmas entertainment to be given in the association hall by a number of children on Thursday even ing, December 27. The program consists of a tableau; Kindergarten exercises, conducted by Miss Kase; song, by small boys; recitation, "Grandma's Land" dialogue, by three little children; Christ mas song, by children; "The Singer", Miss Russell; recitation, "Christmas Dream"; motion song, by four little girl*, tempeiance song, by children; tableau, "Swiss Bell Ringers." The ad mission for adults w ill be fifteen cents, and ten cents for children. Next Basket Ball Game. A game of basket ball between the Danville team and the Frankford Athle tic club will be played at the Armory in the near future. ESTABLISHED IX 1855. till DECISION REACHED YET Hope to Continue to Operate the Danville Plant on a Reduced Capital. It was expected that the directors of the Danville Bessemer company would decide this week whether to continue to operate part of the plant in this city, after the machinery sold to the Canadi an company is removed. Instead the decision has been postponed, as ex plained in a statement issued to the shareholders. It was expected that Mr. Barber, assistant to the president of the company, would be in this city yester day, but a telegram was received saying that he will not come for several days. In the statement to the stockholders, the directors say: "Investigation has been pursued as to whether those por tions of your plant which still remain could by the addition of such modern machinery as would equip the plant in an up-to-date manner manufacture skelp so as to show a profit upon a capital re duced to proper proportions. "The importance of deciding til's question correctly caunot be overestimat ed. The necessity for the gathering of expert opinions on the future market conditions, and reports on the probable results of our embarking in either one of the several branches of iron manufac tures to which our remaining plant may be adapted is apparent to everyone. Notwithstanding the fact that no time has been wasted your management do not at this writing feel that the inves tigations made and the data gathered warrant them in calling you together at this time, hence this letter. It is hop ed, however, that within s-ixty days we will be able to lay before you well di gested plans of operation. These plans, if found feasible, will include not only a continuance in business .upon a reduced capital, with assurance of dividends,but also a distribution of such a portion of the cash on hand as will be gratifying to you and at the same time leave the com pany sufficient to carry on its business with good credit. In the meantime ex penses have been reduced to a minimum and you are given the assurance that the integrity of your property is being carefully preserved. Mr. Byerly's Christmas Candy. Officer Lewis Byerly is certain that he will receive at least one Christmas pres sent this year. It will be the same piece of candy that he has received fourteen times before during the past thirty years and the donor wiil be Henry Search, of Ash street. Thirty years ago, Messrs. Byerly and Search were standing in a store on the day before Christmas,when Mr. Byerly said : "Henry, give me a Christmas present." Laughingly, Mr. Search broke a stick of striped candy in two and gave half of it to his friend. The next year Mr. Byerly gave back the same piece of candy, and the next year it came back to him. So for thirty years the candy has spent one year in the possession of one man, and the next the other has had it. There is now less than an inch of the candy stick left. For years it has been carefully tied and preserved in a small box ready for its annual exchange of owners. Elected Officers. Washington Camp No. 304 P. O S. of A. is recognized as one of the strongest and most influential lodges of this order in the state. The camp now has 104 members. At the annual election of the camp held Tuesday evening,Laac Dreifuss was elected president; Frederick Wendell, vice president; Stephen Nevius, master of forms; H. H. Allen, recording secre tary; J. V. Wilson, financial secretary; Isaac Gross, treasurer; H. G. Wagner, conductor; C. E. Beyer, inspector and guard; A. Childs, outer guard; Fred Henrie, trustee; Fred Henrie, 11. H. Allen, Alex Mann,lsaac Gross and Isaac Dreifuss, delegates to the district con vention at Berwick on February 22. Social and Watch Meeting. The members of St. Paul's M. E. church are planning to see the old cen tury out with a fitting service. From nine to ten o'clock on the evening of December 31, a social will be held in the lecture room under the auspices of the Epworth League. This social will also be observed as a reunion of the families of the church. Light refreshments will be served. From ten to eleven o'clock a musical and literary program will be rendered. The last hour ot the century w ill be ob served by a prayer and praise service. The pastor, the Rev. H. C. Ilarman, will also give an address, reviewing brief ly the events of the passing century and the possibilities of the new one. Costly Stone Throwing. A large plate glass window is wanted in the front of Bloch's store on North .Mill street, because of the prowess of a small boy who "tired rocks'' not wisely but too well. On Tuesday three small boys playing in front of the store be came engaged in a quarrel, because two of them took away the toy of the third. The youth in the minority promptly tried to even matters by throwing a stone at his comrades. The boys were not hit; but it will cost quite a sum to replace the glass through which the stone went. Under Auspices of Epworth League. The A and T. Biograph Company, of Bloomsburg, will give an entertainment in the opera house ou Tuesday evening, January 1, under the auspices of the Epworth League of St. Paul's M. E. church. The proceeds w ill be used to defray the League's subscription to the church improvement fund. JOB PRINTING The office ol the AMERICAN oeing furnished with a large assortmen of job letter and fancy type and job material generally, the Publishei announces to the public that he is prepared at all times to execute in the neatest manner JOB PRINTING Of all Kinds and Descrption. our prices before place your orders. ARE .41.1. USES REPORTED? Board of Health Becords Show Only five Cases of Diphtheria. A meinb-r of the Board of Health was yesterday asked concerning the reports about diphtheria in this city. He said that the records of the Board show only live cases of that disease to exist in Dan ville at present These records also show that during the past month only two deaths have resulted from the disease in this city. When his attention was called to the fact that several other deaths have been reported to the newspapers as having resulted from diphtheria, he said that if those statements were correct, there has been negligence on the part of the at tending physicians in reporting the cases to the Board. The same was true, he said, in regard to the number of cases in the city at present, if there are as many cases as have been unofficially stated. According to the reports that have Keen made to the Board, there are fewer cases of diphtheria in the city now than for any time for two months past. The Health official said, however, that he believed that some cases have not been reported to the Board that should have been. In regard to the difference between diphtheria and membraneous croup, a prominent physician said yesterday that many physicians make no distinction, and that membraneous croup is just as contagious as diphtheria. Improvements at St. Josephs Church Near ly Completed. The workmen Tuesday began taking down the scaffolding that has been used during the decorating of the interior of St. Joseph s Catholic church. It is ex pected that the improvements to the church will be completed before the Christmas services. A little touching up of the side walls and painting the seats is all that remains to be done, This work will add greatly to the in terior beauty of the church. The ceiling has been painted in distemper colors. In the center is a painting of the "Imma culate Conception" ten by seventeen feet in size. At the four corners are the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The side walls have been painted in oils, with ornaments over the windows. The paintings of the "Nativ ity' and "Annunciation" have been completed, and will be placed over the side altars this week. Over the organ is a "St. Cecelia." The columns have been dressed in imitation marble. The sanc tuary has been nicely decorated, and the interior of the church has been im proved. The regular services of the church have not been interrupted while this work was in progress. The contractor for these improvements was F. Baraldi, of Philadelphia. The artists who have done the work are also from Philadel phia, and are A. Loeffier, Philip Erbach er and Joseph McDonough. Salute for Century's Close. The members of Company F have de cided to do their part to give the old century a "send ofi" and welcome in the new one. Since they have made a start they are desirous of having other organ izations of the town join with them and make the celebration general. Captain J. Beaver Gearhart and the members have decided that on Monday evening, December 31, the company will be divided into several firing squads, which will be assigned to different parts of town. Just at midnight, these squads will fire salutes. The company members hope that plans can be consummated to make this part of the program simply the finale of more extensive ceremonies. The officers suggest that if other organizations will join with them, a parade might be held earlier in the evening ; to which music, torches and fireworks would add inter est. What other organizations are ready to assist Company F. to make this a celebration worthy the birth of a new century? Christmas at St. Joseph's Church. Masses will be celebrated at St. Jo speh's Catholic church at 5:30 and nine o'clock on Christmas morning, and a seryice will be held in the evening at seven o'clock. The children will sing the special Christmas music at the nine o'clock service. A children's entertain ment will be held some evening during Christmas week, the exact date not hav ing been fixed. In Good Financial Condition. At the business meeting of the stew ards of St. Paul's M. E. church on Monday night it was auuounced that the church is in excellent financial con dition. If all of the subscriptions pledg ed for different departments of the church were paid, all of the debt and current expenses could be met, and S3OO would be left in the treasury. Married at M. E. Parsonage. David Hull, of Bloomsburg, and Miss Margaret Ilile, of Lewisburg, were mar ried by the Rev. H. C. Harman at the Methodist parsonage on West Market street at 7:30 o'clock Tuesday evening. Deitz -Merrill. Louis C. Deitz, of Danville, and Miss Viola J. Merrill, of Mausdale, were mar ried at Mausdale by the Rev. C. D. Lerch at eight o'clock Tuesday t veiling. The bride and groom were attended by Peter Fry and Miss Laura Pursell. Christmas shoppers were out in large numbers last night.