Thursday, October 11, 1917
John Fox, who used to survey down in the Cumberland Gap, and who got to writing pieces for the paper, figures out that the charm of these mountains lies largely in the fact they are adorned with trees. He says that the forests cover them just like a great rug. When you come to think about it, clothes do help sometimes. The woods hide the nakedness of the hills, and it is an every changing system of dress. Just now, there is a regular riot of color. We never saw a finer display. It makes an old work horse throw up his head and take notice. There is enough color in sight to dye the Atlantic Ocean.
Last week the heavens entered into competition with the hills, but the solar attractions were tame compared to the final performance of the foliage. On Wednesday we had the sun dogs cutting up their didoes in the firmament. But on Saturday, an interested populace watched a rainbow try a fall with the autumn leaves. The rainbow was compelled to retire, defeated.
On Saturday morning, it was spitting snow a little and presently the sun came out and some cold showers of rain fell. A large, A1, bumptious rainbow formed a brilliant arch against the mountains west of town, but the colors of the mountains was such that it could hardly be noticed. After a time, finding that it was playing but the part of a spot-light to an attraction, it retired from the unequal contest.
Saturday night came the killing frost, and that is the way that nature gets the best of our brilliant Indian summer.
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Hunting season comes in next week. Great preparations are made for the season ranging from the small boy with this first gun to elaborate hunting expeditions. It is a fair year for mast, and squirrels are more than usually plentiful and there is the average amount of game sign. Better to roam the fields for health unsought, than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught.
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Our troops in France are marching to the song: “We’ll hang the damned old Kaiser on a sour apple tree,” and the Emperor of all the Huns hears the sound and trembles, for when we sing that tune we are in a dangerous mood.
One of the most hellish things that war has ever produced is the destruction of the fruit trees in France by the Germans as they evacuated the country in front of the overwhelming forces of the allies. Orchards that it takes a generation to grow were by the commands of the overlords of Germany felled by the soldiers. That is one form of destruction that cannot be laid to the wantonness of private soldiers for it takes too much labor. In the days of the Dryads, who perished with the destruction of certain trees which had been their abode, the wanton destruction of a tree was an impious act and was severely punished…
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The churches are beginning to take notice of the knitting of the women of America. It is as good for their nerves as honey is for the bee. In Scranton the other day the ministers took up one phase of the question. That of Sunday knitting. The consensus of opinion was that Sunday was all right but only a minority favored knitting in church during service. Probably because it took up too much pew space, for when a woman knits with these new fangled needles, you gotta give her room according to her strength. Having seen our women folks lay aside their knitting at midnight of a Saturday and resume the same Monday morning before breakfast, the discussion would have been highly interesting to us could we have heard it. The newspapers only gave the conclusions reached and not the argument adduced.
SYNOD OF WEST VIRGINIA
The synod of West Virginia is being entertained by the Town of Marlinton. We are enjoying the experience, and we hope the Synod is also.
This is the first time that Pocahontas County has ever had so high a church court to sit within her borders…
The territory of the Synod is embraced in the valleys of the Elk, Tygarts Valley, New, Kanawha and Guyandotte Rivers. It is composed of three Presbyteries – Tygarts Valley, Greenbrier and Kanawha. There are over a hundred churches and fifty-six ministers.
Three years ago it was formed from the Synod of Virginia…
AGRICULTUREAL EXHIBIT ANDGALA DAY AT
MINNEHAHA SPRINGS OCTOBER 17
On the grounds and buildings kindly lent by the Allegheny Club.
Patrons – Governor J. J. Cornwell, Col. W. W. Beall, J. A. Viquesney, W. P. Shawkey, Colonel S. W. Oglebray, Major Randolph Stalnaker, C. J. Richardson, J. C. Harper, R. D. Rimel, H.M. Lockridge and many others…
Sports and competitions – including dash races for men and women; two-legged race; wheelbarrow race, potato race for boys and girls, etc. Competitions include eating ice cream blindfolded; nail driving; hat trimming, etc…
Mass meeting in the Club house at 7 p.m. With brief speeches to be made by Gov. Cornwell and others.
Prizes delivered by Gov. Cornwell at 8:30 p.m.
Everybody bring something. Everybody come to win a prize. Room and competition for all. Everybody welcome. Let no one miss October 17th at Minnehaha Springs – the day of delightful surprises. –
Burt Johnson
J. W. Leggett
TOP ALLEGHANY
We had a big frost Sunday morning.
Hiner & Gum did part of the threshing in this section last week.
Edward Freeman left last Thursday for Camp Lee. We hope the war may soon be over so our boys can come home.
Martin Colaw and family, of Crabbottom, were guests of W. Lee Wilmoth, Sunday.
Shorty McCoy took a load of potatoes and apples to Thornwood Tuesday.
Jesse Judy and wife of Arbovale attended Sunday School here Sunday.
Glen Spencer is the champion coon hunter of this section – he has caught six to date.
Aunt Polly Spencer has been visiting relatives in Highland and Pendleton counties.
BOYER SIDING
Alice and Lizzie Nottingham have been visiting relatives at Junior, Barbour county.
Albert and Fred Nottingham have commenced laying up their winter supply of chestnuts.
The stork flew over town a week ago and left an eight pound boy at the home of Ellis Wilson.
Miss Ada Collins, of Hosterman, was visiting friends in town last Sunday.
The people at the band mill are much pleased with the prospects of a post office at the Siding. It will save many trips to Durbin for mail.
DUNMORE
Mrs. John Ford, of Brownsville, is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Thompson. Her husband expects to be called to the army at any time, and she will make her home with her father. We are glad to have Bessie back with us again if her home must be broken up.
John Pritchard, Mrs. C. E. Pritchard and Mrs. June McElwee motored to Marlinton last Friday.
H. M. Moore and family and E. N. Curry and family spent last Sunday at Cheat Bridge.
School opened Monday with Miss Lillie Milligan principal, and Mrs. Verdie Mann in charge of the primary room.
The Raywood Band and a few of the town people were Dunmore visitors Sunday.
CHARLESTON
Seventy-four arrests and the confiscation of 390 quarts, 2,596 pints and 16 half pints of whiskey, 24 quart of alcohol, 177 pints of beer, 490 gallons of cider and 340 gallons of wine, were the results of the operation of the state prohibition department’s officers in the month of September.
