PAGE FOUR BURNHAM by L. D. Burnham When I was in school, it was con- stantly said that my generation was inferior in many ways to those who had gone before. We were less am- jl bitious, had poor taste in clothes and music and were generally dumber. I eventually discovered that the people who said that were just getting even for being called dumb when they were kids, and we happened to be the first § new dumb kids to come along. I found that this ‘“‘you guys are dumber than us guys” game goes back 2,000 years or so to Aristotle’s time and beyond. If it were really true, if each generation were a little dumber than the one before it, then we’d all be morons now, and even the apes would be denying any con- nection. Education has become a popular problem in America these days. The kids aren’t living up to the high standards of times past. The gene pool is depleted (too many immigrants in the country.) The whole system is collapsing around us and the future of America often seems in serious SWer. It’s a simple matter of supply and demand, the foundation of the American way. There’s simply too much education flying around. The supply is high, therefore the demand is decreasing. Nobody wants what there’s plenty of and there are plenty of B.S. degrees. Everybody is educated in America and everybody has simply lost their appetite for it. It’s just like eating steak or lobster every night; what used to be a rare treat has become a commonplace bore. My plan calls for a gradual de- escalation® of education’ in this country. Through effective de- escalation we can limit the numbers of schools and educators and even- tually phase out all such nonsense. California has already instituted step one of this program. After a number of years everyone would be so dumb they wouldn’t realize how dumb they had become. If they didn’t realize how dumb they had become, they surely wouldn’t realize the importance of education. If education weren’t considered so important no one would worry about it. If no one considered it important and no one worried about it, it would soon cease to exist. And who would care? Everyone would be dumb anyway and they wouldn’t know what they were missing. Voila! No more education--no ‘more problem. It’s all so very simple. We must all pull together, however, if we're going to make this work. Much of the burden of compulsory de- education falls on the parents, just like in the good old days. Parents, check your kids when they come. Do they have books? This is a bad sign. Don’t encourage this practice. Try to ignore it. If you say nothing they’ll probably grow out of it. Don’t ever ask them if they have homework. If you do happen to slip and the child gives the required, “I finished it in school’’ response, accept it without question. Check the amount of TV your children watch. Are they falling asleep and missing prime time programing? Then they probably wear. themselves out reading or are engaged in other foolish non-passive activities. Do something about it! Refuse to take them out any place, cut off all forms of discussion in the house until the kids are encouraged back in the prime time track. If “there are book stores and libraries in your area be sure your children avoid them. Lastly, look for the Ten Warning Signs of Education as published by Citizens For A Dumber America. Know these signs, and remember, nobody ever thinks it can happen to their family. 1. Does your child ever make sense when he speaks? 2. Does your child ever have to read in the morning? 3. Does your child feel he has to read to get along with others, to help him cope? about his reading? 5. Does your child ever fail to watch a top 10 Nielson for no apparent reason? : 6. Does your child ever show evidence of curiosity other than the normal, ‘‘What’s on next?’ type? 7. Does your child know in what year he was born? 8. Can your child make change for a quarter? 9. Has your child ever written anything you could read? = 10. Has your child ever written anything he could read? Any one of these signs could be insignificant, but together they could mean your child is suffering from intelligence. Get help. There’s no future in being smart. Compulsory de- education is the only way to solve America’s education problem. ot GUEST COLUMNIST by Howard J. Grossman For many years, Northeastern Pennsylvania has been threatened with a severe lack of eommitment to clean up many of the blemishes which hide much of the region’s beauty. The bottle and beer can syndrome which litters the landscape of Northeastern Pennsylvania, as well as the tendency - to avoid cleaning up, has created a poor atmosphere for showcasing the region’s assets. What is needed is the conscious commitment to change direction by which beautification and the elimination of our ugly and lit- tered areas can take place ap- propriately. Words alone, however, are not” enough to accomplish this task. Some very specific ideas must be generated to improve the region’s physical climate. For example, Columbus, Ind., a relatively small community, has created an architectural atmosphere second to none in the United States. Most new developments, buildings, ete. within this community have taken on a precise architectural theme so that Columbus has become the ar- chitectural capital of the United States. Citizens and officials, alike, have sponsored this effort; and the program has received wide national acclaim. Neighborhood areas throughout several cities of the United States have taken on project beautification programs which have led to major neighborhoods being completely rehabilitated and -renevated. What was once an eyesore has now become a community asset. Downtown. beautification projects have been sponsored in many parts of the United States, accelerated through the use of federal and State funds, but spearheaded by local public and private actions. Ray Carlsen Editor & Publisher Blaze Carlsen Asst. Publisher Mrs. T.M.B. Hicks Editor Emeritus Charlot Denmon News Editor . Tom Mooney Editorial Department James Smith Advertising Florence Updike Advertising Virginia Hoover Circulation Manager Bea LaBar Circulation Assistant ‘Estella Parker Production Manager Olga Kostrobala Production Betty Meeker Production Joe Wright Production 1979-1980 Bob Tomaine Production Kay Whitehead Production Sally Riegel 4 Production Judy Stredny Production Joe Erdick Production Peggy Poynton Office | March 3, 1889. Subscriptions. $7 per year. 366, Dallas, Pa. 18612. by the Rev. Charles H. Gilbert When I was a little boy my mother, who loved. to do all kinds of fancy work, including tatting, saw an ad in a magazine for a ‘‘Peerless Lace Loom.” She sent in $5 for it and began a fascinating hobby making Belgian lace with the bobbins and loom. Even though, or perhaps because, I was a little boy and around the house alot I learned to do it too. But that is not all that hobby meant . to my mother. About that time a new tenant moved into the upstairs apartment over where we lived. Mr. and Mrs. Provost were Belgian people. Mr. Provost spoke both French and Flemish, for they came from the part of Belgium where that was the native language. Mrs. Provost knew neither French nor English, speaking only Flemish. They were newly married and far from home and very much in love. He went out to work and knew enough English to get on, but at home they spoke only Flemish. She was lonesome and homesick, surrounded by a strange 50 years ago-Feb. 9, 1929 Sen. A. J. Sordoni donated land for the construction of two tennis courts to the YWCA near its Blue Triangle Lodge at Harveys Lake. Dallas Orchestra which is organized and practicing several nights each week has changed its meeting place to - Higgins College Inn. Dallas Rotary Anns are hosting the Rotarians at a Valentine Party at the Witch Kitch Inn. John Sullivan is remodeling the rear portion of his building on Main Stret, Dallas. New Dodges are on display in the window of Jim Oliver’s showroom on Main Street. Now playing at Marinos Theatre- “The Water Home’, Jack Holt, Nancy Carroll. Local school board reports receipts of $872.30 from 1928 taxes and $1,142.45, state appropriations. Treasurer Brickel reported $16,185.64 on hand. Deaths-Hannah Fitch DeWitt, Falls; Mrs. Floyd Spencer, Alderson; Glendon Sutliff, Trucksville. You could get-1929 Oakland, two- door sedan $1145. 50 years ago-Feb. 10, 1939 Dallas Borough school directors approve 60 percent slash in per capita tax. Hopeful attitude marks negotiations between the publishers of Wilkes- Barre’s three suspended daily newspapers and striking guildsmen as they resumed this week. Prominent 27-year old member of a Baltimore family provided an iron- clad alibi to elear himself of suspicion in the Margaret Martin case. Eight-year-old Jackie Drake is badly injured when his sled rocketed over 10-foot wall of a cellar ex- cavation. New Luzerne bypass expected to be completed by July 1. Lehman faculty members plan donkey basketball game between the faculty and the school’s varsity team members. One of the best building years since 1929 is predicted for the Dallas region this year by Willard E. Johns of Luzerne Lumber Company. Engaged-Dorothy Wilcox to Robert Cooper. Married-June Shaw and Lawrence Brown. Boy Scouts mark anniversary week, Feb. 8-15. Now playing at local theatres- “Straight, Place and Show’’, Ritz Bros., Himmler Theatre. Deaths-Prof. Will S. Moore, Hunlock Creek native; Albert E, White, Shavertown; Mrs. George S. Cross, husband went out to work. My mother saw the situation and took it upon herself to interpret the surroundings to this person who needed friendship. Over and over I heard Mother telling her what this was and that. Then one day Mrs. which delighted her as something from home. ‘Real lace”, according to Mrs. Provost, was only the kind made with bobbins like that, and she had she was learning our language. It is also called ‘pillow lace” or ‘‘bobbin lace.” I learned how to hold the pairs of wooden bobbins in each hand and do a “cross, twist, cross’ motion which formed the stitch. The threads were heid in place after each stitch by sticking a pin into the pillow. The pillow was quite stiff, not a soft downy one to sleep on. It was filled with bran, and could be made using the lid of a Undefeated Dallas Township cagers to play Borough quintet tonight. You could get-Pork shoulder 15 cents lb.; young turkeys 33 cents 1b.; sliced bread 5 cents loaf; eggs 2 doz. 45 cents; coffee 15 cents 1b.; baking soda 5 cents pkg.; strawberries 2 baskets 25 cents; lemons 25 cents doz.; beets 2 bchs. 9 cents. 30 years ago-Feb. 11, 1949 Members of the Dallas Business Association approved a list of local organizations to whom they will contribute once each year. Dr. Roger Owens opens dental of- fice in his home on Spring Street, Dallas. 3 opening of Sweet Valley Frocks last week. Four-year-old Nesbitt Garinger won fourth place national award and first place local award in the 14th National Children’s Photography Contest held recently. Workmen this week completed the steel framework for the new Acme Market being built on the former Oliver Used Car Lot in Dallas. Now playing at local theatres- ‘Johnny Belinda’, Jane Wyman, Lew Ayres, Himmler Theatre; ‘Key Largo’, Humphrey Begart, Lauren Bacall, Shaver Theatre. Married-Doris Dymond and Charles Piatt, Jr. Dallas Borough girls defeat Laketon girls 36-19. Bertram annd Sands herds lead in production of butterfat for January, 1949. You could get-Steaks 59 cents 1b.; sliced bacon 59 cents lb.; hamburg 43 cents lb.; Wise potato chips 4%-o0z. pkg. 23 cents; coffee 51 cents lb.; party Rye bread 15 cents loaf; margarine 36 cents lb.; American cheese 2-1b. loaf 99 cents; mushrooms 45 cents lb.; rutabagas 4 cents Ib.; Danish cabbage 3 cents lb. 20 years ago-Feb. 5, 1959 Miss Miriam Lathrep, librarian, reported library attendance was 17,052 during 1958. She also paid glowing tribute to Janet Smith for her skill with Children’s Hour. Two Kingston youths picked up by Dallas Borough and Township police after they broke into the Maples on Demunds Road. David Schooley, Trucksville, becomes Potentate of Irem Temple. Dallas Borough Council announces tax millage willsbe the same as they adopt $47,535 budget for 1959. Lake-Lehman quintet topples West Wyoming in thrilling 74-64 contest. SA All of these efforts plus many others can be undertaken by any group desiring to achieve constructive, physical change in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Economic Development Council Image Improvement Program which was launched July 1, 1978 is designed to help encourage this type of im- provement. Several activities include the availability of information and technical assistance to encourage citizens and officials throughout the region and to undertake projects as described in the above paragraphs. One example is the entire State of Nebraska which has adopted a community improvement program to highlight positive steps’ taken Nebraska communities. sylvania identify image and the need twist, cross wodden cheese box. I especially like making what was called ‘insertion lace”, which was set into a blouse or whatever, instead of being attached to the edge. When Dottie was in Belgium Belgian Congo, she saw women making bobbin lace, and sent us a picture postcard ‘showing them at work. She sent Catherine a lace butterfly pin made that way. Just recently a friend loaned Catherine a magazine full of patterns and directions for various kinds of fancywork. One of them is bobbin clothespins and drilled holes in them to make bobbins. She didn’t have a wooden cheese box to make the pillow from, but she found a rather firm sofa pillow and set up a few bobbins to try it out. Lo and behold, the directions worked so that she made a few of the basic stitches. They still say to go ‘cross, twist, cross’’ or to add one straight win in the North League overwhelming Fairview 73-38 on the Dallas floor. Engaged-Sharlotte S. Williams to Richard V. Murphy; Alice Strait to Sp.4 Ralph E. Evans. Married-Janet Marie Stahl and Thomas W. Evans; Betty Lou Miller and John Hartan. Anniversary-Mr. and Mr: Kozemchak, 18 years. League-leading Shavertown team meets second place Alderson Saturday night in the Back Mountain Church League. Charlie Williams bowls two con- secutive 700 series at Crown Lanes. Enthusiastic crowd thrilled as Westmoreland downs Swoyersyille in high school league. Deaths-George J. Eddy, Oak Hill; Mrs. Harriet Pappas, Exeter Twp.; Mrs. Esther F. Pilger, former Dallas resident. You could get-Legs of lamb 59 cents Ib.; chuck roast 47 cents lb.; bread 25 cents loaf; sharp cheese 65 cents lb.; Chiffon liquid 12-0z. can 36 cents; frozen green peas 2 pkgs. 29 cents; stuffed olives 2 61%-0z. jars 69 cents; potatoes 50-1b. bag 98 cents; Anjou pears 2 Ibs. 25 cents; cucum- bers 3 for 29 cents. Tames 10 years ago-Feb. 6, 1969 False alarm turned into Trucksville Fire Company near midnight Sunday said by police to be the work of a prankster. Whether Harveys Lake Borough residents are pleased with the progress made by their first officials will be determined in the May primaries. for a concentrated attack on blight, dilapidation, and ugliness, as well as littering to be high on the agenda for action. None of this can come about unless citizens and officials alert themselves to the problems as well as identifying potential solutions. Resources exist to help accomplish this,” and all communities in Nor- theastern Pennsylvania should adopt a positive strategy to prevent the unwanted littering and ugliness which prevades too much: of the Nor- theastern Pennsylvania scene. The Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, through its Image Improvement Campaign, can help provide the technical assistance and help mobilize the public and private sectors to achieve community improvement objectives. All it takes is a phone call or a letter to Box 777, Avoca, Pa. 18641 (655-5581). very many bobbins wound so as to do more than practice the basic stitch, Provost showed us way back when. I haven’t yet rried my hand at the wouldn’t see where to stick in the pins. how to do that basic motion and maybe sometime when it is fixed on a firmer surface I'll try it. While I was typing this, Cathy took Kynarion down to Dr. Bishop for her door, Kynarion could hardly wait to come over to the desk where I was for comfort and protection. Cathy reported that Kynarion was very good until they got into the inner office and she had to get on the hydraulic lift treatment table; she wouldn’t get on and had to be dragged and pushed. It’s not getting the shot itself that is so bad. It’s remembering that once the afraid he’ll do that again! A three-car collision at East Center Hill Road and Route 309, Dallas, Sunday, sent the driver of one car to the hospital in the ambulance. College Misericordia plans its 10th Reading-Education Conference on April 18-19. Married-Carol Guilford and S. Kenneth Higgins; Donna Jean Hoover and Rodney P. Sorber. Hanover downs Dallas matmen 36- 9. Abington Heights Comets bow to Dallas wrestlers 31-18. Lake-Lehman matmen lead the high school wrestling league with Ron Sorber, Donny Spencer and Tim Woodling undefeated. Now playing at local theatres-‘“The Outdoorsman, Luzerne Theatre; “Bullitt”, Steve McQueen, Paramount Theatre. Deaths-Mrs. Millie Elston, Hunt- sville; Mrs. Eva E. Lloyd, Shaver- town; Mrs. Loretta Miers, Lehman; Mrs. Alfred H. Ackerson, Lehman. Anita Matte stole the limelight at Crown Imperial Lanes when she spilled pins for a 602 in three games. Dallas Junior High Falcon wrestlers remain undefeated as they take Hanover 30-17. Harveys Lake firemen dor 1969 in service. You could get-Frozen beef steaks 2- oz. serving 9 cents; smoked hams 39 cents lb.; pork sausage 79 cents 1b.; coffee 2-l1b. can $1.39; ketchup 2 Ig. bots. 61 cents; Jewish rye or Vienna bread 4 vs. $1; jelly eggs 29 cents lb. ; orange juice 1» gal. 59 cents; Temple oranges 59 cents doz.; Ida Red apples 3-1b. bag 49 cents; Emperor grapes 25 cents 1b.; strawberries 39 cents pt. Harveys Lake Borough Council entered into a contract to purchase two parcels of land in the Sandy Beach Area at last week’s meeting. The borough will pay $53,000 for property including a stone house owned by John and Michael Sgarlet. The parcel of land directly behind the stone house and adjacent to Harveys Lake which is owned by Helen Sgarlet and Richard Hevner will cost $27,000. Solicitor Joseph Kasper was authorized to complete necessary paper work which must be submitted to the Department of Community Correction Affairs for approval. Ned Hartman, Independent in- surance agent, was retained to supply borough insurance for 1979. Hart- man’s bid of $10,552 was $384 lower than a bid from Nationwide Insurance representative Charles Gordon. Council announced that the new recreation building in the area near Sandy Beach Little League field is completed. Anyone wishing to use the building can arrange to do so by contacting Council Chairman Robert DeRemer. The estimated cost for construction of the new Lake-Lehman Elementary School building is $4,270,000, not $2,7000,000 as published in a release the Dallas Post. 3
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers