flue Pafiir -—.Fur tlie Hie Ihe circulation cl ihi> paper is in creasing r. pidly. h will pay you to advertise in the AMERICAN SUBSCRIPTION $! PER YEAR DU. IKYING 11. JKNNINGS, <>jl.ce flourh V.I. M.to 12 M. "J4 Mi'l St., I /'. if. to i 1' M DunvilU, I'a. 420 M it.i. ST., DANVILI.K, I'A. Oiwtises of the Stomach and lutes,ines Special I» T YS. w. I». AI.K, DENTIST OFFICE: .M I 1.1. STRUCT. *i»tli Kx tract <*d withnct !' Crown mill Krlilst- Work H Specialty, c.qnlpped with 1 lit »'■ I trust improved Instrument- r.nd • - 'psired to execute the most dltHce > work. DR C. H. REYNOLDS, DENTIST— 28S Mill St., - Danville, Pa. Deui wtry in ail itf branches. Charges M 'derateand all worlc Guaranteed. Established 18i J *2 CONDENSED MM. M ire snow Zero weather. N .v for sleighim. Sharpen the ho He's shoes. F: j;:en pip* shave the call. The iceman ought to get busy now. Th.se sre >trenuous days for the s .le-ladies—and tlie salesgentlemen. W .tlier prophet Hicks predicts bliz zar.i-. and cold waves and deep snows tor Christmas What this • ect on of the country I.e. ds is a good soaking rain that knows its business and attends to it. Danville's Christmas trade gives promise of breaking all previous rec ords. Attached to the mining department when it goes into us new quarters in the new capitol at Harrisburg will be a museum of mines. Irs in ist interest ing exhibit will be the famous model of au anthracite coal mine which was one of the chief features of Pennsyl vania's exhibit in the Mine Building at the World's Fair. S.'iauiokin has a cloak mm who is causing cousideiahle excitement by stopping women on tee streets and , badlv frightening them Friday night , no less than fiv • women were stopped , aud although hotly pursued u<• uu- ( knowu individual was able to make good bis escape. The person who begrudges his tilts or who makes tlieni with ihe hope of getting the bettor of the cxd a has no true conception of tie rea. Christ inas spirit FOB SALE OH BENT—Farm of 115 acres. luqui eof A. H. Weitzel, Dan ville, H. C. I). No J. The assessors have been going their rounds tor the annual r gistry. With Christmas near at hand, tie attendance at Sunday school is steady ily on the increase. There is a water famine in many towns in Pennsylvania, and the de ficiency of rainfall in this vicinity, since .lauuary I, is twelve inches It isjclear that tie weather bureiu isn't treating the people right. The Lehigh Valley railroad com pany is installing snow curtains on all of its engines. This is in compli auce with a request of the Brother hood of Railway Trainmen. The storm curtains are a great protection to the firemen in cold weather. The Christinas rush will soon be at high tide. There are only two things needed to enable a man to experience the exhila ration of sleighing—snow, and the price. No use looking for a rain befoie tin/ freeze u n . Tlie latt-r is iu comma-id. InvitaM is have hi eu received in Danville for a dauce to ba given at the Etching H tel. Bloomsburg,Tuesday evening, December 2d as a fire place, aud the opening into it is closed by a wood en structure composed of light, thin boards that would ignite quickly from a spark. About 9 o'clock ou Friday night, Mrs. Arms imagined that she scouted the odor of burning wood or soot. She commenced an investigation iu order to learn if iier suspicions that some thing about the building was on fire, but finding nothing in any of the apartments,she went out side to look at the top of the chimney to ascertain whether or not it was burning. Dis covering no flames issuing from the chimney and no more smoke than would ascend lrom the fire in the kitch en range, she re-entered the house and shortly afterward retired. Betwoeu 1 and 2 o'clock the follow ing morning Mr®. Arms was suddenly awakened by au unusaal noise of some j kind. At first she was unable to either ! locate the point from where the sound came or what was causing it. Then she i heard the cat mewing iu a peculiar ' manner. The animal bad frequently | mowed at nights when wanting out of , | the house, but the placid, unruffled tours of her calls on those occasions were vastly different from what she was giving veut to then. The cries, if , such they can be called, were loud, J pierciufc aud agonizing. The cat ap- . peared in great distress, and to be ap- ; pealing for assistance with all the j force and power at its command. ; 1 Mrs. Arms interpreting the yells and | n»ws to h- cries of distress hurriedly j responded to them, little expecting, : however, the startling scene that was so soon to greet her vision. When she ' reached the heal of the stairs she beard i another sound, on.i that deadened the stTll freu..ivJ _r 1 sounded like the roar of an Niagara, ! fairly causing the house to tremble. | ' Net knowing the cause of the terriflic, j thunderous like"vibrations b neath In r feet.a'id imagining any and everythiug, Mrs. Arms, after listening for a mo- j meut, hesitated whether to proceed or ; return to her room and awaken tier husband. But she decided ou the form er, and courageously continued ou down stairs. Throwing open the door at the bottom of the stairs elie discov ered the kitchen filled with smoke,aud the board covering of the old fire place behind the range burning fiercely. The ' Haines were leaping up the wide chim ney, and ascending high above its top ou the outside. It was tlie roar of these which Mrs. Arms had heard dur ing tlie short time she had stood at the top of the stairs. A thrill cry from her after a single glance had taken iu the situation, re -ulted in bringing iier husband quick ly to her side. He rushed to the front door and called to the night employes j of the Water Works, which is nearly I on the opposite side of the street. J They promptly responded and in a I short time had the blaze under control and a few minutes later extinguished. When assistance arrived the wooden covering in front of the chimney was partly consumed and the flimes mak ing ripid advancement toward the in terior ot the kitchen. Had Mrs. Arms not discovered them when she aid, they would soon have reached the stairway leading to the second story. That would have cut off the only ave nue through which the imprisoned family could have escaped, except to have jumped out of the windows,thin ly clad into the chilly winds of a Dec ember night—provided thev had been awakened in time to have taken the i opportunity thus given them to save themselves from being cremated. The only thing burned besides the chimney covering and a portion of the floor under the range aud near the stairway, was a small bole i• i the roof and a few articles of clothirg v.hich j Mrs. Arms had suspended to the shelf j oft' e ringe before going to bod. Oou ; seqoently the damages are slight com- , pa r ed to what they might have been, 1 had not the cat sounded an alarm. ! Sparks falling from the stove pi pa j and igniting the boards separating the j chimney, aud these burning through land dropping down and setting fire to the soot in the old tiro place is sup- | posed to have been the origin of the ■ „■ Favorably Impressed. The members of the Printing Com mittee ef the School Heard to whom ihe in itter was referred at Mondav night's meeting of the Board, are fav orably impressed with Professor Gor j dv's proposed Ouilinn of Study, and shall so rei o t t i the Board at the next melting They have authorized Mr Gordy to get estimates of the cost of printing Ihe number ot books re quired, so as to insert that item in the • report. i BV BAILEE i Saturday Afternoon R Miller,a farm t er residiug in Liberty township, wa* 6 placed under #3OO bail by 'Squire D*l tou for his appear lUCO at Court to au ; swer the charge of lar:eny by bailee. The prosecutor wti Benjamin Mill er, a junk dealer of this city. He testi fied to having visite 1 the farm oft ie defenlauton November 23, last and negotiated for the purchase of a lot of old iron, at 40 cents per hundred. He paid 13 on account, aid left for home wit!) the understanding that lie was to return in a few days and get the iron Ou Monday, December 5. lie weut back land upon looking around, discovered I that the pile of iron that he alleges 1 was the oue he had purchased, was not as large as it had b*en at the time J of his first visit. In fact, he said, only a fe# pieces of it remained and as they ' were of an inferior qmlity,he refused to take them. He asked P. Miller what had become of the pile, and the latter replied that he hai sold them to Jacob Bugle that morning at 50 cents par hundred. Continuing the prosecutor said that he came home, and had a warrant issued for the arrest of P. Miller. The .latter claimed that he made no specifi; agreement with Ben jamin Miller to sell him the iron. He came there oil November 28. and said he wanted a load of iron. He did not say whether he wanted scrap or cast iron, nor did he mention how mmv ' hundred weight be desired to secure. "I had seven piles of iron about my premise. He simply said he wanted iron, and that ha would be back in a few days. He offered me $2 to bind the bargain. At first I refined to take ; j it, but when he insisted tint I should, 1 put it in my pocket. Jacob Eugle came to my pla;-e ou the morning of Dacenbir 5, au 1 I sold him HiOO pounds of iron at 50 cents per hundred. Later iu tlie day Benjamin Mill r put in an appearauce again. He threw a load of iron into his wagon, then he got mad and threw.it off, saying be didn't want it. 112 gave liiru ba k his #3 aud he threw it o:i the ground, j where it buried itself iu the snow. After he weut away 1 picked it out of i the snow and put if in my pocket. "Yes, I have it now," he replied to a question addressed to him by the mag istrate. Benjamin Miller was held in bis own recognizance to appear and prosecute the case. Growing in Interest. Under the supervision of Physical i Director Carpenter the work of the Y. | n% si , standard. All the classes a e w 11 at- ' | tended and growing iu interest and ] popularity. [ 1 Five physical culture classes are j i now in successful operation. The busi | ness men's evening class and the bu-i ! ; ness men's afternoon class both meet j ] twice a week. The latter is not as well | . attended at present as it might he,but will, doubtless, have a larger number present at the meetings alter the holi- ( days. The class for young men and the boys classeach meets twice a week < in the evenings, and the young ladies i class twice a week iu the afternoons. The latter class is popular with the young ladies, well attended anr in tl e city. Hours from Ha. in.to Hp. m. Sator days until SI p. tu Ladies' -hoes a specialty. DANVILLE, PA.. THURSDAY DECEMHHII 15, HMM. THE IIOLIDAV ; VACATION The School Board held a regular meeting Monday. The members pres | ent were: President Dr. Harpel, Sec retary Grth,Directors Pursel, Fischer, Trumbower, Werkheiser, Barns aud Adams. The Finance Committee reported #2,584.75 iu the hands of the Treasur | er. On motion the report was aocept- J ed. The matter of moving the trolley pole from the pavement in front of the | Third Ward school building, which was referred to tfie Building aud Re , pair Committee at the last meeting of the Board, was disposed of. W. F. Pascoe, Geueral Super intendent of the Standard Construc tion Company was present by request of the Building and Repair Commit tee. Mr. Fischer, Chairman of the Committee,stated the case to Mr. Pas coe,aud informed him what they want ed doue with the pole. The Commit tee desired that it be moved from its present location on the sidewalk out flush with the curb. Mr. Pascoe said that he had no objectiou to moving the pole, or of placing it wherever the School Board should instruct him to place it. But lie thought that it would be a mistake to move it out flush with the curb. "You will always regret it if you do, but I will put it there if that is where you want it,"he said. Then Mr. Pascoe suggested doing away with the pole entirely, and the placing of a bolt in the school build ing to which the trolley wire could be fastened. That was objected toon the grounds that it might be dangerous to , attach the wire to the building. It was finally decided to instruct Mr. Pascoe to set the pole out flush with the curb, as had been first proposed. Mr. Werkheiser reported that uow furnace pipe had been placed in the Third Ward building. Superintendent Gordy was called on to explain a niitter he had under con sideration. This was relative to a sys tematic outline of study in the schools. There was no complete, uniform line at the present time, and it was ex tremely necessary that one should be compiled, and adopted so that it could be placed in use at the earliest possi ble moment. It should be a course of study that would be of advantage to the teachers and understood by the people. It is as important for the teacher to have a system to work un der,as it is for a builder to have plans 1 and specifications of the buildiug that I he is erecting. Mr. Gordy is compil- ' iie explained to the Board. He has prepared sufficient matter to make a 112 book of about 40 pages, aud before he is through it- may reach 60 pages. H-? ( had made inquiries as to the cost of > getting a certan number of the books h printed, and asked the Board to take some action 111 the matter. On motion | it was referred to the Priutiug Com mittee, to be reported at the next re galar meeting of the Board. It was decided to close the schools ou Friday, December 23 aud to re-open them ou January 3, 1905. The next meeting of the School Board falling 011 Monday, December 20, 1 which will he observed as Christmas, 1 it was decided to meet Tuesday even- : ing, December 27. ( The following bills were ordered paid : Standard Gas Co ... $ 2.05 : Dauville St v & M't'g. CJ .. 4(5 HO j H. G. Salmon 2.50 I Miles, Peifer & Co 7.50 j 1 D. B. Williams 55.60 | ( W. J. Williams 22 50 j ; William Quigg 5.50: T. L. Evans' Sons 7.50 J \lllas Shoppers Out in Force. The near approach of the Christmas j season is beiug heralded iu this city j 1 in many ways, but oue of the most . noticeablo manifestations of the ad vent of the Yuletide is the steadily ' 1 increasing number of shoppers that j throng the Danville stores. Last even- j ing many persons were on the streets, j and nearly all were bent on gift pur- j chasing expeditious. In the toyland stores especially large 1 crowds are to be found, many brine- j ing the little ones to see the wonder ful collection of toys. This season is j always a delight to the children. The windows of the stores are also beginning to reflect the brightness of the season. Many have taken on their . Holiday attire, and are beautiful in their festive decorations. The merch- j ants of Danville deserve great credit for the attractiveness that is always a feature of the stores at Christmas time iu this city. Ready for Distribution. The Executive Board of the Dan- 1 ville Fire Department held a meeting Saturday night iu the hall of Friend ship lire company. The department hadg. s having arrived, the (secretaries of the four companies were given them j to distribute to the members. Each ni' in be r is entitled to a badge and by c tiling 011 the Fecretary of their coin pa-iv they can get one. The badges 11111 tbe woru on the lapel of the fire 111.'ii ci-ats, (specially during a fire, in order that they can be recognized and admitted within the ropes. Shot a Rabbit. Tht Bev S B Evans, pastor ot St. Paul's M E. church, went to the woods 011 a hunting expedition 01 Tuesday, and bagged a rabbit. It wasn't a good day lor huutiug either. !PERSONAL Ij PARAUAPIIS r J William Oh 1 of Bloomsburg spent . j Sundayjjwitli friends iu this city. ■ 1 Harry Deauer of Catawissa, spent . J Sunday with Da'iville friends. ' Herbert Sweitzer, who is employed iu Suubury, spent Sunday with his ' family iu this city. W. A. Sholeuberg of Berwick, spent Sunday in this city. Ernest F. Padeu of Berwick, svas a Sunday visitor in this city. C. C. Houseneck of Berwick spent Sunday in this city. Miles Houck of Pottsville, is visit ing at the home of his parents, Mr. aud Mrs. William Houck, Honeymoon street. Mrs. Bigler D. Moyer left yesterday for a visit with friends at Shamokin. Alex M. Dielil made a business trip to Watsoutown yesterday. Miss Florence Smith visited friends iu Son bury yesterday. Mrs. Daniel Byerly and son Lewis left yesterday for a visit with friends at Shamokin. Mrs. John Miller of Cooper town ship, is spending a few days with friends iu Suubury. H. R. Edmoudson transacted busi ness in Shamokin yesterday. Theodore B. Angle returned from Bethlehem yesterday. A. J. Leniger made a business trip to Shamokin yesterday. William L. Antrim returned yester day from a trip to Pittston. Mr. aud Mrs. John Edwards and j Charles Whitmeyrr of Muncy spent i yesterday in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Johu C. Zaner of Washingtonville were among the vis itors iu this city yesterday. J. W. Lindner of Milton was a vis- | itor in this city yesterday. B. F. Shultz of Berwick spent yes ' terday in this citv. John Coleman of Washingtonville \ called 011 friends in this city yester- I day. Jacob Winteroteen of Jerseytown speut yesterday in this citv. E. W. Beese of H r/.lotoj transacted i business in this citv yesterday. R. W. Smith of Bloomsburg was a visitor in this city yesterday. James C. Heddens and D. C. Will- ' iams relurned last eveuing from a bunting trip 011 Bald Eagle Mountain with 14 rabbits, 13 gray t-quirrels and .Tallies B. Casey or wnite rirui was a vi-itor iu this eity yesterday. Mrs. Elizabeth Baup, who for a few days has been the guest cf Mr. and Mrs. William Andy, East Market street,returned to her home in Miltou yesterday. Mrs. Frwik L. Miles arrived yester- j day from Nanticoke, and will sp nd a ( few days with Mrs. Rachel Wertbeim- j , er. East Front street. John R. Jacobs transacted business in Bloomsburg yesterday. Mrs. John Waters, Mrs. William Waters, Mis. Normau Hess and daugh ter, Miss Mildred of Bloomsburg.spent yesterday at the home of Mrs. Rebec ca Hess, Bloom street. Quail to lie Destributed. Yesterday the committee, appointed by the Danville Bifle aud Gun Club | to collect fands for the purchase ol quail for distribution was busy solicit ing aid atneng the sportsmen in this vicinity, aud met with eurcouraging success. Enough money was subscribed to j warrant the purchase of au additional ten dozeu of the birds. This, together with the twelvo dozen quail that the j Club decided to buy,will make twenty | two dozen to distribute. Not all of ! the sportsmen have been seen, how- j over, so in all probability the number j will exceed the twenty-two dozen now pledged. Anyone desiriug to order birds and wishing to take advantage of the club ■ rates, can leave their order with Rob ■ ert Y. Gearhart,Treasurer of the Dan 1 ville Rifle aud Gun Club. The quail can be obtained for $7.00 a dozen and ; can be takeu as soou as the consign ment reaches this city. Revivals Were Successful. The revival meetings at St. Paul's M. E. church have closed. They had , been in progress for several weeks un- j der the leadership of the pastor, the • Bev. S. B. Evans,and were one of the j most successful held at that church in many years. The attendance nightly was large, j not only 011 the part of the member ship, but on the part of members of other congregations and the public at large. While the pastor labored hard ; in bringing about the result which fol lowed, he bad the earnest support and | assistance of his people. Pulpit and pw worked together as a unit, slid reaped a rich harvest in return tor th. efforts put forth. Much enthusiasm was aroused. A spiritual awakening occurred, re sulting in a revival that has not only beuefite 1 the church in which the, series of meetings were held, but the 1 entire community. Penitents, having been convinced by the strong and earnest words of the pastor that they should change their manner of living, flocked to the altar and later professed conversion. During the course of the J revival.thirty new members were add- j ed to the church. DEATH 111-' 11. A. UlimOMEltV David A. Montgomery, oue ot Dau vill 's most prominent citizens and a member ot Council, died at 9 o'clock Monday eve, after suffering with a complication of diseases for about two years and a half. The deceased was born in what was then Newberry, bat now the 7th and 11th Wards of the city of Williams port, 41 years ago. He was married to Miss Emma Pursel, daughter of Mr. aud Mrs. J. F. Pursel. April 1, 18i>5, he moved to Dauville from Haghes ville. At rhe latter place he svas en gaged in the livery business with his father-in-law, Mr Pursel,and iu Dan ville he was iu the grocery business with his brother-in-law,E. K. Pursel. Mr. Montgomery was elected to Couucil about :! years ago, aud took au active part in the affairs of the Borougli He was a member and deacon of tlie Trinity Lutheran church. He is survived by his wife, also his moth er—Mrs. P. C. Miller, of Tivoli, Ly- I | coming county, aud the following ! j brothers: George Montgomery,Eagles j mere; El ward, of Tivoli; William, of Picture Books and a sister, Mrs. Charles j Booker, ot Muncy. .Music of Great Composers. During the time intervening bet ween ! now and Christmas day the American will publish a number of music al programs to be rendered by the churches aud Sunday schools ou Christ mas. It has become the custom to picsent i iu the church on Christmas eve or | j Christmas day, the choicest vocal and instrumental sacred music of the great est composers with augmented choirs. Elaborate decorations are also an at tractive feature, and the churches in every way endeavor to show their jubilation aud joy in commemorating the coming of the Savior of mankind. The choral Holy Eucharist on Christ- j mas morning in Christ Episcopal church has come to be oue of the mark ed religious features of the year's ser vices in the parish. This service seems / to meet the convenience of a large number of people who keep a religious j ■ Christmas before the duties day i begin. Ihe service begins at 6:30 j o'clock. Following is the musical pro- j gram to be rendered at this and other j services at Christ church on Christ- t mas day : ( Processional—"Adeste Fideles" 1 .. . . Reading ] Kyrie Eleison, Gloria Tibi, Gra- 4 tias, Credo Simper in C. j 1 Sursum Corda.Sanctus, Benedictus j j- Qui Venit, Agnus Dei, Gloria 'i in in Excelsis j t Nunc Dimittis 111 E Flat .. .Staiuer i s Kocessional—"lt Came Upou the I Midnight Clear". Willis N Low Celebration Ba. m.1 Morning Prayer 10 a. m. Sursum Corda. Benedictus Qui j Venit, Agnus Dei, Gloria in a Excelsi- Simper iu E Flat J G Nunc Dimittis Gregory : c Adesto Fideles Beading t Choral Eveiiiug Prayer 7 :30 p. m "] Processional "Regent Square" 1 Smart i Psalms 89, 110, 132. I Magnificat Gregory I Nuuc Dimittis Gregory Hymn—"O Little Town of Bethle hem" Beduer 1 Hymn—"While Shepherds Watch ed Their Flocks by Night".. Tausur 1 Presentation of Alms ... Whitney 112 Becessional "Hark the Herald Angels Siug" Mendelssohn. 1 .'lust Pay Annual Tax. 1 Representative Snyder of Schuylkill county, is preparing a bill to present < to the next Legislature asking that a i dollar tax be put upon every man who 1 < carries a gun. In every sense of the 11 word this law would be a good one if I it wen properly enforced aud the pro- I ceeds of the tax were applied in the < direction of increasing and protecting ' the game supply in the State, which, I in this section at least, has reached a I low point. The trus sportsmen will doubtless 1 welcome a law of this character. Cer- 1 tainly those 111 those counties where ( for many years a few men interested < in hunting have clubbed together and looted bills for importing birds from ( the west—putting them out in most 1 likely places 111 the county only to , have them slaughtered by the hordes of gunnels who take to the fields the first few days of the season. I Preparing for the Holiday. The public schools will close for the holidays 011 Friday afternoon. Decern- 1 ber J3. During the closiug afternoon ' interesting and appropriate Christmas exercises will be held in the several ( buildings All the grades will be giv en au opportunity to part cipate and ■ as a result,the members of the various 0 1 ses are kept busy in the double task of preparing themselves for the coming ent rtainments and keeping up I their regular studies. < The programs will be arranged with 1 the greatest care.and in a manner that < will not only interest the pupils of the i school, but all of the parents and 1 friends desiring to attend. KSTA BLISIIED (X 1855 Jfikst TROLLEY (All ON MILL STEEET '' Mill street!" » The exclamation was made iu ring ! ing tones by a conductor on the Dan » ville and Bloombsurg trolley liue, last 3 night. His car was the first to ruu through » to the intersection of Bloom and Mill 1 streets. Hence his jubilant shout. The long expected had really occur > red. It was exactly 11:25 o'clock. The car was packed from end to end • with passengers. There was "stand ing room only," and hardly that. Both platforms and all the steps were crowd ■ ed. A number of boys clung to iron i rods at the rear of the car. The only space not occupied was the roof. The 1 trip around the Bloom street curve, down ' A" street, through the sub way, along Walnut street to Mill was made with ease. Not the slightest trouble was encountered euroute. When the car stopped the motormau pulled the string aud permitted the whistle to get in several minutes solid work. Its thrilling tones on the crisp air, was the first notice that many had of the arrival of the first trolley car to Mill street. Tuesday night's extreme cold weath er caused another delay in getting the Bloom street switch in position aud the work of making the feed wire con nection at that point. Orders were given during the afternoon for every man employed in laying the switch to report for duty that night, in order that the work might be pushed to a j fiuisli with the utmost speed. It wasn't h pleasant order to re ceive. The workmen were already tired aud chilled through. The thought of homes and warm stoves were more to their liking, than that of having to resume work again at night aud when mercury was hovering around the zero : mark. American members of the crew ! j readily consented to turn out and work i all night if necessary, but the Italian portion of the gang revolted and em phatically refused to subject them selves to the bitter elements. "We no workee," too much coble; by and by jaboxe!" they said. Interpreted the expression is this: "We will not work at night when the weather is so cold. If we do we will get sick, die and be putin a bcx." The few men who went to work contiuued at it until 10 o'clock, notwithstanding the stinging, ' frosty air. But the work was not com pleted, and it took the full crew uutil ' 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon to finish ' laying the switch. At about the same 1 portion of track requiring straighten- ing aud strengthening to be attended to. A portiou of the rails on "A" street and extending along Walnut to Bloom, theuce to Mill were covered with ice and snow to a depth that . made them invisible. They had to be dug for, and it was necessary to clean them before cars could be run over the line. A crew of men commenced clean- . ing the rails shortly after diuuer and * it took them until 4:30 o'clock to ( reach Mill street, aud an hour later to reach the crossing of the D. L. & W. It was impossible for the men with picks aud scrapers to remove the ( ice sufficiently for the currtnt to have auy effect ou the wheels of the cars, so to expedite matters a heavy layer of salt was scattered along both rails the entire leugtli of the frozen track. Then it was up to tlie salt as to the * 1 length of time that must of a necessity intervene before the cars could run to Mill street. ( I he Pure Food Farce. It is suggested that the Pennsylvania 1 pure food laws should be enforced only 1 agaiust dealers who have been warned < that certain goods which they handle are impure aud who nevertheless per sist in selling them. Justice would approve such depart ure from present methods of enforcing the laws. As now enforced these laws are farcical. The retailers against whom the arms of the Commonwealth are leveled are in most cases inuoceut of wrongdoing or of complicity iu violations of the law. They buy what they believer are pure goods and sell them under that belief, ft is unjust to mulct them, up ou the represf ntation of chemists from whose findings there is 110 appeal, for the selling of alleged adulterated 1 goods. It should be cleai to everybody that the retailer is himself the victim of the adulteration. What can be said in defense of that law which punishes the victim of a crime or misdemeanor? What would be said of the mental level of a people who would send to jail the victim of au assault and take no action against tlie assailant? Owner Fays if Dor Bites. The following will be of informa tion to many a person who owns a vic ious dog. In the case of Joseph Nor whose sou was bitten by a dog belong ing to William Mell, the jury in the 1 court of common pleas at Carlisle,la t Wednesday, ieudered a verdict iu fav- , or of the plaintiff. The fatlu r re eives | $320 damages aud the son #l,lOO. The suit was brought for f2,500 damages. j Public Library for WilUanisport. The will of the late James V. Brown bequeaths SIOO,OOO for the building, equipment and maintenance *ot a pub lic library for Williamsport. fhis be- ; quest is iu accord with the expressed intention ot Mr. Brown made 10 years ago. He is estimated to have been worth #1,500,000. JOB PRINTING The office of the AMERICAN being furnished \*ith a large ssortment of job letter and fancy type and job material generally, the Publisher an nounces to the public that he is prepared at all times to ex cute in the neatest manner. JOB PRINTING Ofall Kinds and Description TH.UIS CROSSING RIVER ON HIE ICE j Teams and vehicles are now crossing the river on the ice. The mail was brought over in a wagon Tuesday even t ; teams crossed yesterday without mishap. Pedestrians are still making ( ' good use of the foot path. Tne path ! way is safe in every respect at the • present time, but in order that it may ; continue in t hr*r condition, the News 1 suggests that wagons, sleds and other heavy vehicles he given an entirely , different and distinct route to follow. Wheels and horses hoof.. will wear the ice through more rapi !ly than the : feet of men aid women. Consequent ! ly there should be two roads across the river. Leave the present patlkfor , ; pedestrians and locate another for I veliicles. j As a safe guard against possible ; slipping and lulling when descending the South side bauk, the suow and ice should be foveie:l with ashes. The satne precaution should bo taken on this side. Thoughs on Christmas. Christmas with its many hallowed I and enchanting associations is again about to dawn upon the world. Christmas! W hat magnet in the sound: what subtle charm in the word. How it stirs the fount of memory. With the quickness ot the lightning's flash it restores childhood. Old age is given a backwaid glance into the dis tant past. A moving panorama por trays scenes of other days when the years were young anil hopes bright. I The faces aud forms of youthful com | panions, now either bent with age or i gone to their reward, distinctly ap- I pear on the canvass. Loved parents, around whom children gather at the ' old homestead aud listen to the story jof the babe born in the manger, are j piesented with startling effect. Their features are so distinct and clear that the beholder is nearly forced to believe that the picture before him,is real and not a trick of memory. The whole world loves Christmas. It givos pleasure to youth and joy and contentment to age. Children look forward to it with bright anticipation, wonderiug what the day of all days is goiug to have in store for them. Par ents anxiously await its coming, hap py in the thought of the pleasure they can give their children. It is a day of family re-union, when parents, brothers and sisters long sepa rated, are re-united around the old family hearth stone, wishing each oth "oii f;iiVi=t'raa'= "old ' acquaintances are renewed and friendship re-cemented. Angels rejoice aud again herald abroad the glad tidings of "Peace ou Earth—Good Will to All Men." Let everybody try to make the com ing Christmas oue of genuine pleasure aud rejoicing throughout Danville. Above all things else "remember the poor, whom ye have always with you. " Make it an object to make some one outside of the pale of your immediate family aud friends, happy ou Christ mas. From your abundance give to the needy and the distressed, remem bering that it "is more blessed to give than to receive." Molding Church Fair on Sund. Despite the fact that the church au thoiities are violently opposed to the scheme, the church fair in the base ment of a Shamokin house of worship is opeu to the public Suuday evenings and there is treat indignation over the desecration of the holy day. The fair is run full blast aud one of the prominent features is the wheel of fortune giving each and every one a cliaucj to win a prize. Although the profits resulting from the fair are turned over for a good cause,there is great objection over the practiieof conducting the place of aniuseui' ut openly 011 Sunday even ing*. During progress ot the fair Sun day evening, Wallie Bellskey, of On eida street, and Joseph Zubky, of Mo hawk street, Shamokin,got into an al tercation over a girl. A fight ensued aud Wallie laid his antagonist out for some time by dealing him several wicked blows on the head with a "bil ly." The defeated youth was uncon scious for soui" time aud was severely cut about the head. Vacation for Rural carriers. Representative Lafean. of Pennsyl vania, lias introduced a bill in Con gress which provides for the granting to all carriers who have been in service for over a year prior to July 1, 1905, a 1. ave ot absence of litfeen days with out 10-s of pay. Carriers who have been less than one year in the service are to oe entitled to a leave of ab sence of one and a quarter days for • acli month served. The bill also pro vides for the employment of substi tutes at a salary of SBOO per annum. National Guard News. The bill for the construction of arm ories has been prepared aud will be in troduced early in the session of the legislature. The olive drab cap, recently made regulation 111 the United States army has ncit yet been adopted in Peuusyl vauia but probably will be before the next encampment. Some of the companies of the Twelfth are making good progress with the New Drill Regulations but others are taking things so ca=y that the spring inspection is bound to catch them uu prepared.