Thursday, June 20, 1918
I take sanctuary in an honest mediocrity. ~ Buyere
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Last week for the first time we saw a humming bird’s nest. We never could think to search them out in a museum, and while the ruby throated humming bird is common in these parts, we never chanced to see one of the nests. This year there is a nest on a pear tree in the front yard of Dr. J. W. Price’s residence in this town. It is as delicate and exquisite as the work of fairies. Probably nothing could equal it unless it was some creation of the jeweler’s art. You cannot get close enough to this nest to tell just what fibers and lichen it is made of, but it looks like a little cup of chased silver set upon the bough of a tree.
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After some years of service, the lady telephone operator at Webster Springs recently resigned her position and published a card in the county papers thanking the company and the patrons for the kind and courteous treatment accorded to her as the Hello Central. We do not know where the good lady is going from there, but we know that eventually she will go to Heaven. For nothing is more certain than if she can look back on her experience without bitterness that she has that kind of a disposition that is more than gold.
We have cut out the card of the good lady to preserve as a literary curiosity. We always were interested in martyrs. And we never yet have seen a card from any of them thanking their executioners for the kindness and promptness with which they were dispatched….
All public positions in which the public servant comes in actual contact with the public are trying. Though he be as full of grace as infinite as man may undergo, and though he wait on a thousand persons in kindness, and then allow one cross grained patron to offend him, his reputation becomes that of a high tempered man and takes corruption in the general censure…
LOCUST
Owners of locust trees will be interested in the publication of the Department of Agriculture to farmers about the great demand for that timber. The enormous number of wooden ships now being built call for locust treenails, pronounced “turnnels.”
There are shipyards from Maine to Texas, and on the Great Lakes and on the Pacific Coast busy in the construction of wooden ships, and each ship takes from 20,000 to 50,000 treenails. These huge wooden nails, from 2 to 4 feet long, are used to fasten together the outer shell, the frame, and the inner shell of the ship.
The black locust or as we call it the yellow locust is the wood used. The wood must be straight grained. The density, hardness, strength, and durability of locust makes it the wood most desired for the purpose. Treenails are what the old time builders called dowel pins, only they are bigger than the ones generally used in the old barns, bridges and houses. The industry is already well developed in this county by the timber men, and it is hardly necessary for any locust tree owners to go outside of the county to get a market for their timber. Forest locust is the best, but the locust that grows in the blue grass hackings is the kind that is mostly used. There is a lot of it in this county as the second growth runs to locust largely here.
The Department urges locust timber owners to get their timber to market as speedily as possible to “help down the Hun.”
ARBOVALE
Mrs. John Ralston, of Cass, is visiting her daughter, Mrs. L. O. Beard.
Miss Flora Gillispie left last Tuesday for Camp Humphreys, Va., to see her brother Granville. Upon her arrival there, she found that he had left the day before for New Jersey on his way to France.
Rev. W. B. Varner, who graduated at Bridgewater College last month is spending a few weeks with his parents. He will preach in the sugar grove up North Fork Sunday afternoon.
J. B. Orndorff had a misfortune to lose his sawmill by fire Thursday night.
L. D. Wooddell has just finished a large cement cellar.
HILLSBORO
Mrs. R. F. Yeager, after some months teaching at Hosterman, her second term for this year, is now at home for a much needed vacation.
Mrs. L. P. McLaughlin is visiting her home people and relatives at Maxwelton this week.
Misses Elizabeth and Mary Arbuckle, daughters of Dr. and Mrs. Julian Arbuckle, of Maxwelton, are spending the weekend with their cousin, Miss Elizabeth McLaughlin.
Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Stulting in company with their daughter, Mrs. Lemuel Smith, went to Charlottesville last Monday, where they will visit for a week or more.
Mr. and Mrs. George Fuller, of Ronceverte, are visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Sydenstricker.
R. C. Shrader, of the Hill country, spent the weekend with his son, Bliss.
There has been unusually heavy rains here this week and the ground is thoroughly soaked.
LAUREL CREEK
Mrs. George Burgess has been on the sick list for some time.
Mr. McCue, Supt. Of Mt. View Orchard, Asa Barlow, of Onoto, and James and Robert Gibson, of Yelk, were business visitors in this section recently.
Edmund Buzzard of Huntersville, and Davis Shinaberry and John Lantz, of Knapps Creek, were looking after their stock here a few days ago.
DIED
The venerable Clark Cochran died at the home of Miss Clara Cochran on Droop Mountain, June 11, 1918, aged 79 years, 7 months and 19 days, having been born near where he died October 22, 1838. His body was buried at Droop Church…
Mr. Cochran was one of five brothers, David J., Thomas, Samuel B., and George B., the latter surviving him. His wife was Miss Sally Underwood, who preceded him to the other shore some years since.
Mr. Cochran was noted for his kind and jovial disposition and for his rugged health. He never wore glasses and until his last sickness had never taken a dose of medicine…
