PAGE FOUR
BURNHAM
by L.D. Burnham
. “Grandpa, Grandpa, wake up!
Why are you screaming in your
sleep?” the young boy yells.
‘Where? What? Who?,
Oh,oh...screaming you say, boy. I
must have been dreaming,” I say.
“Yes, I was dreaming. It was
terrible.”
My hands are shaking and the boy
notices.
“Holy asteroids, Grandpa. You're
having a real fit. What's the mat-
ter?”
“It must be the time of year,
grandson,” I say.
“Is it something in your dark and
seamy past, Grandpa?” the boy
asks.
“You might say that,” I say. ‘It's
known as September Syndrome. It
begins at the end of August through,
and it gets really terrible right after
Labor Day.”
“I bet I know, Grandpa. It's a
throw back to the dark times.
September's when school started
wasn't it?”’ he says.
‘““Ahhhhh! Are you trying to freak
outan old man? Yes, yes, that's it!”
I confess. I assume the fetal
position, pulling my solar blanket
up close to the side of my face.
“Tell me about it, Grandpa. You
know I'm always an eager little
learner, and besides, It'll do you
good to talk about it.”
“Perhaps you'reright,” I say. ‘It
would start in August.” I begin.
‘The mother would begin sneaking
off on shopping trips, bringing back
ill-fitting shoes and stiff, scratchy
pants. The kids would never wear
ONLY YESTERDAY
® «
them. They’ de wear their old stuff,
but the buying was a part of the
ritual.
**Soon the kids would grow fidgety
and irritable. They’'de begin to get
mouthy at their beloved parents.
They’de begin to throw food at
dinner time. They'd slouch in their
chairs. They'd refuse to help around
the house.”
‘Was this some pyschological
change, Grandpa?”
‘No, they were just practicing for
school, grandson,” I say. ‘‘Soon
parents buy them reems of
notebook paper, pens, tweezers to
pluck up the little leads for
mechancial pencils, book bags,
lunch boxes, safety deposit
notebooks with 27 separate com-
partments...all manner of
educational paraphernalia.
“They were preparing to learn
new things, Grandpa?”
“No, they never used these
things. It was a way of punishing
their parents for sending them out
of the house. Just another part of
the ritual.
“In the evenings, grandson, the
mothers and fathers would gather,
usually after dark, and form giant
ring-around-the-rosie circles. They
would hold great festivals of
rejoicing, tossing valiums -all
around, singing things such as, ‘No
more kids, the little crooks, into
teach they'll sink their hooks.’
“And what about the teachers,
Grandpa?”
“They usually scrambled around
on the ground picking up the
valiums the parents threw. Some
spent time ‘in prayer and
meditation. Others spent time in the
bar.”
“Relax, Grandpa, you're shaking
again.”
“I'm all right now, grandsen,” I
say. ‘Well, that's about it, the tell-
tale signs of September.”
“Didn't any of the kids want to go
back to school, Grandpa?” the boy
asks.
‘Oh, some did, secretly, of
course. Rumor had it they met in
little covens come the end of July.
Some of them held clandestine
meetings in libraries to insure none
of the other kids would ever see
them. Some communicated by
letter. That was safe also.”
‘Gosh, Grandpa, didn’t they
realize what a wonderful thing
learning is? Things must have been
really tough before the compulsory
intelligence laws were passed.
Compulsory attendance seems
dumb.”
“Oh, the laws weren't that dumb,
grandson. Some of the products
were, but we got by. We still learned
some valuable things.
“Some folks learned to read so
well they got jobs on the radio. We'd
sit out at our picnics, the rain
pouring down on us, and listen to the
radio announcer read the ‘‘Sunny,
and mild...” forecase all day, over
and over.
“People .learned the art of con-
versation. They learned to say
things like, ‘Hey, how are ya?’ and
the ever notable, ‘What's up?’
‘‘And they learned to balance
50 years ago-Aug. 22, 1930
Dr. Henry M. Laing firemen plan
big clambake hoping to wipe off all
. debts on fire fighting apparatus
with the proceeds.
Police officers Avery and Elston
reinstated after Dallas Burgess and
council members reach an
agreement.
Lehigh University, Penn State
and Yale participate in study of
Pennsylvania anthracite coal.
Noxen team drops from Rural
Baseball League with Dallas, East
Dallas and Beaumont tide for first
place with two more games to be
played before elimination takes
place.
Now playing at local theatre-
“Ladies Love Brutes’’, George
Bancroft, Himmler Theatre.
Deaths-Mrs. Roy Gordon, Maple
Grove.
You could get-Sliced bacon 33c
1b.; frankfurters 24¢ 1b.; corn flakes
2 boxes 15¢; coffee 25¢ 1b.; con-
fectioners sugar Tc pkg.
40 years ago-Aug. 23, 1940
Burgess Herbert Smith of Dallas
proclaimed Aug. 29 as ‘‘Corey
Frantz Day’’ when townsfolk will
joinin a gesture of appreciation for
the contribution Frantz, banker,
retired businessman and long-time
resident, has made to Dallas.
Glen. Miller, who once milked
cows for $2 a week, breezed into
Dallas Monday night and left early
Tuesday morning with a large
chunk of cash to be added to the
$500,000 or so his band will earn this
year. Miller played at Fernbrook
Park.
Dallas Council may ask state to
reconsider the site of the Mill Street
bridge.
Miss Jean Bogart of Dallas is
appointed to the faculty of Lehman
schools.
The post-season playoffs to decide
- the championship in the Bi-County
Baseball League has to be post-
poned until Dallas and Beaumont
break their second place tie, since
ruling requires that the first place
team, Vernon, must play the second
place team. :
Negotiations are underway to
build a Catholic church at Harveys
Lake.
Now playing at local theatre-
‘‘Saturday’s Children’’, John
Garfield, Himmler Theatre.
Married-Grace E. Lindsley and
Rev. Herbert Dwight Oliver, Jr;
Helen Jeter and Ellsworth Wilco;
Eleanor Kunkle and William
Frederick.
Death-John Hoover, Harveys
Lake.
You could get-Hams 13¢ 1b.; fish
fillets’ 11¢ lb.; butter 2 lbs. 57c;
coffee 23¢'1b.; peanut butter 2 1b. jar
19¢; - sweet potatoes 2 lbs. 9c;
bananas 5c lb.; Elberta peaches 5
lbs. 25c¢.
30 years ago-Aug. 25, 1950
Back Mountain Memorial
Library Board votes to buy the
Parrish home on Main Street ad-
jacent to the library.
Back Mountain Citizens Com-
mittee for Better Schools heard
reports on enrollments and seating
capacity in Dallas Borough, Dallas
Township and Kingston Township
at its meeting Monday night in the
Dallas Post building on Lehman
Avenue.
The old Goss School bell will soon
be housed in the Prince of Peace
Church bell tower.
Harveys Lake Lions will hold
their Miss Harveys Lake Beauty
Contest Sept. 3 and 4 at Sandy
Beach.
Now playing at local theatres-
“The Damned Don't Cry’, Joan
Crawford, David Brian, Shaver
Theatre; ‘‘Conspirators’, Robert
Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Himmler
Theatre; ‘Yellow Sky”, Gregory
Peck, Ann Baxter, Richard Wid-
mark, Dallas Outdoor Theatre.
Engaged-Marie Calkins to Jack
“THE
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Editor Emeritus
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James Smith Advertising
Jan Jones Advertising
Virginia Hoover Circulation Manager
Bea LaBar Circulation Assistant
Ruth Holthaus Circulation
Jane Opalicki Production Manager
Olga Kostrobala Production
Betty Meeker Production
Kay Whitehead Production
1979-1980 Carol Budziak Production
Debbie Zurinski Production
Paul Strasser Production
Marianne Trynoski Production
Jim Dougher Production
Peggy Poynton Office
Mark Moran Photographer
1889. Subscriptions $7.00 per year.
Dallas, Pa. 18612
Lamoreux; Cecelia C. Kupstas to
John Link.
Married-Estella Mae Evans and
Cpl. Donald Chamberlain; Carol
Scouten and William Space; Lucille
Disque and George Bittenbender.
Birthdays-Mrs. Allie Moris, 86
years; Mrs. A.A. Neely, 84 years.
Deaths-Almon T. Rood, Meeker.
You could get-Steaks 99¢ Ib.;
bacon 59¢ 1b.; American cheese 25¢
2lb.; salad dressing 25c pt.; rye
bread 16c loaf; M&M's 27c¢ 7-oz.
pkg.; frozen red raspberries 47c
.pkg.; frozen orange juice 2 cans
45c; cantaloupes 19¢ each; green
beans 10c 1b.; yellow cooking onions
3 1bs. 13c.
20 years ago-Aug. 25, 1960
Dallas Rotary Club will offer
opportunity for high school students
to study abroad under the Rotary
District 741 Student Exchange
program.
Dallas teachers plan all-day
session for day before opening of
school.
Dallas schools to open two days
after Labor Day, according to Dr.
Robert Mellman, superintendent.
Lehman coaches build new
football team with only four let-
termen back. Head coach Edward
Edwards reported that 41 boys
turned out for practice.
Head Coach Eddie Brominski is
pleased with the Westmoreland
football squad who will scrimmage
with Larksville High School on
Wednesday.
Now playing at local theatres-
Walt Disney's ‘‘Pollyanna’’, Dallas
Outdoor Theatre; ‘‘The Apart-
ment’, Jack Lemmon, Shirley
MacLaine, Fred MacMurray,
Sandy Beach Theatre.
Engaged-Peggy Maza to Robert
Davis, Jr.; Carol Newberry to
Jerry R. Hendler.
Married-Charlotte Lois Perkins
and Dr. Bruce Schmucker; Theresa
Andrea Polachek and Howard J.
Shiner; Alice W. Ide and John J.
Hudak.
Anniversary-Mr. and Mrs. Guy
checkbooks, and how to talk to the
bank official about the overdrawn
accounts to straighten out the whole
mess.
“Sure we learned all kinds of
things, grandson.”
“I learned one thing toay,
Grandpa,”
“What's that?” I say.
“September Syndrome was bad
enough to give anyone night-
mares.”
Drive
safely
Labor
Day
weekend
Zerfoss, Sr., 34 years.
Death-Philip Dodson, Broadway.
The White Church on the Hill,
Trucksville, officially broke ground
for the new educational building.
Dallas Dairy, Wyoming League
champions, opens the semi-finals at
home Sunday against a rugged
Swoyersville team.
You could get-Chuck roast 35¢ Ib.;
cube steaks 9c lb.; stuffed olives 4
6'%2-0z. jars 69c; tuna fish 2 cans
57c; coffee T9¢ 1b.; frozen French
fries 2 pkgs. 37c; frozen potato
patties 2 pkgs. 3lc; Calif. Bartlett
pears 2 lbs. 29¢; cucumbers 3/ 14c.
10 years ago-Aug. 27, 1970
Natona employees reach set-
tlement after 280 workers were on
strike since last May 22.
A demonstration in snake han-
dling by a Pittston doctor will
highlight this year’s Fall Fair. The
fair will open at noon on Saturday
and closing ceremonies will include
the drawing for the portable TV at 8
p.m. on Sunday.
Wyoming County residents op-
position mounts on nuclear power
plants.
Leonard Harvey, justice of the
peace for 24 years, has been
unanimously endorsed as the
candidate for magistrate in District
3-8 by Sen. T. Newell Wood, County
Republican Chairman Patrick J.
Solano, and Republican leaders in
the municipalities comprising the
District.
School bells ring the end of
vacation on Sept. 8.
Mrs. Ronald Ertley, Dallas, takes
Irem golf championship.
Married-Eleanor Ruth Jones and
Richard V. Yanalunas; Rebecca
Lovell and Leighton Ross Scott, Jr.
Anniversary-Mr. and Mrs.
Stanley A. Cook, 50 years; Mr. and
Mrs. John Kriel, 25 years.
You could get-Frying chickens
28c lb.; rib roast 87c lb.; white
bread 3 lvs. $1; raisin bread 39c
loaf; Wisk 59c qt. bot.; frozen
beefburgers 53c pkg.; frozen
pierogies 2 pkgs. 69¢; carrots 2 1-1b.
pkgs. 23c; radishes 2 pkgs. 19¢.
Pennsylvania Prk
ablaze in torn newspaper.
familiarity.
by Howard J. Grossman
Recently, the Economic
Development Council of Nor-
theastern Pennsylvania, through a
contract with the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation,
issued a final document covering a
1979 update of the Rural Public
Transportation Plan for Nor-
theastern Pennsylvania, The
document provides recom-
mendations for improving public
transportation service in parts of
Northeastern Pennsylvania which
are currently underserved or not
served at all by public tran-
sportation.
The plan suggests the feasibility
of increasing service through
paratransit facilities, support of bus
companies, increased usage of taxi
cabs and the coordination of
agencies with common carriers.
In the rural areas of Luzerne and
Lackawanna Counties, as well as
the more rural counties in the
Pocono Mountains, public tran-
sportation needs to be further
developed. Some new elements
have been added in recent years
which very likely will increase the
access for work, shopping, and
other purposes on the part of rural
families.
For example, in Monroe County a
transportation authority has been
established and is operational.
Increased attention is being placed
onrural townships and areas within
the metropolitan areas of Nor-
theastern Pennsylvania which
allows for increased concern for
moving people and goods.
A rail passenger service proposal
from Scranton to Hoboken with a
change to New York City will allow
more options for passengers to have
connections to major metropolitan
markets and areas.
The plan suggests strongly the
need to protect existing bus com-
panies and to tie together
transpdrtation
authority systems as well as the use
of public common carriers
wherever possible. One area which
requires further study, is the
relationship of school bus tran-
sportation and public common
carriers. As costs increase for
school districts to support bus
transportation, there may come a
time when public transportation is a
desirable option in certain in-
stances. On the other hand,
maximizing the use of school buses
when they otherwise are not oc-
cupied is an area deserving further
attention. 3
The Council can make available
copies of the rural public tran-
sportation plan for Northeastern
Pennsylvania at minimal cost.
Contact can be made by writing Box
TT7, Avoca, Pa. 18641.
Dear Editor:
Decision-making is important to
everyone, but especially to men
who are leaving prison for the
outside world. A program called
THRESHOLDS teaches decision-
making to men close to release
from the State Correctional
Institution at Dallas.
Its 6th cycle of training for
volunteers begins on Friday, Sept.
19 and runs through the weekend.
The place is Mercy Center, Dallas,
on the College Misericordia cam-
pus.
After certification, each volun-
teer will be assigned by Deputy
Superintendent G.A. Walters to
meet with a prisoner on a person-to-
person basis twice a week for ten
weeks, roughly from October
through December.
The meetings are held under
guard supervision in the academic
building on the prison grounds. No
pre-requisite education is
necessary to teach this, but
age.
For further information get in
touch with me, director of
THRESHOLDS, at Box 71, Pioneer
Ave., Dallas, or phone me after 5
p.m. Monday through Friday at 675-
1742.
Sincerely,
- Mrs. Ingrid Prater
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