Thursday, October 14, 1920
What times are these?
It just depends on how you use them. As always, there are persons getting richer, and persons getting poorer. It is not certain whether it is better to eat your cake or keep it, but it is certain that it is mighty convenient for your family to leave a fortune. There is a general belief that if you manage to break even during this reconstruction period that you are doing well, but if you are willing to do it, you cannot only do that, but save money.
A case has come under our personal observation that is in point.
We have a colored neighbor by the name of Wm. H. Stewart. His wife’s name is Roxie Stewart, who was Roxie Jackson. They own a good home and have a family of children. Just a year ago today, they had an opportunity to buy a 20-acre farm for $900.
They had not quite finished paying for a lot adjoining the home, but they wanted the farm, and they put a deed of trust on it and bought it.
Last week, the deed of trust was paid and released.
One year, one farm.
No hardship about it.
Roxie kept boarders and William operated his mule team. The mules are fat and have not suffered. Here were parents that had a living to make, and a family of small children to provide for. It is a good illustration of what any family can do in times like these if they manage right.
As to whether it is better to spend or save, that is another story, and much is to be said on both sides, but this is a time to accumulate.
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An old Virginia gentleman by the name of Yoder from Graham, Virginia, wandered into this town during the fair. He was a pleasant, chatty sort of old man, but it was soon apparent that he was out of his mind. “Thirty-nine years ago,” he said, “I was camping on the Greenbrier River, and the flood came and washed my camp away, and I am on the back trail now.” The authorities took him up and sent him to Wes-ton to be transferred to the State of Virginia.
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E. M. Richardson, of this town, owns a celebrated coon dog known to all as Ring. During the summer months, he farms him out with a friend on Williams River, who lives in the ground hog range. The dog lives on ground hogs and keeps himself in fighting trim pursuing them.
A few weeks ago, this man and his family took a walk through a patch of brush and briars near the house. They heard the dog fighting something out in the brush, but thought nothing of the matter, believing he had bayed a ground hog. On their return they found the faithful dog lying helpless in the path all mussed up as if some powerful animal had attempted to tear him to pieces. In the soft ground were strange track imprints, like the imprint of a human hand. They believe the ape which is known to be in the Black Mountain, was on the point of attacking the family, when the faithful dog came to the rescue and came near forfeiting his life in their defense. Old Ring was carried home and is slowly recovering, but he will never be the same dog again.
FROST
We had a considerable freeze in this section last week. Jack Frost got in his work.
Numbers of candidates visited this section. Of course, some of them will be elected. Our citizens have come to the conclusion to vote for a dry man.
A. A. Sharp and family are visiting Mrs. Sharp’s sister, Mrs. H. H. Schofield, at Raywood, also their son, Roland, who is attending school there.
Mrs. Adam Rhea and Mrs. Hugh Rhea, of Linwood, are visiting home folks in this place.
Gum & Hiner, of Highland county, were here buying cattle this week.
Apple picking is the order of the day – good crop and as yet the freeze has not hurt them.
WOMEN OFFICERS
Miss Mary McClintic qualified as deputy County Clerk of Pocahontas county, the first woman in the State to hold this position. She and Mrs. P. T. Ward have received their commissions as notaries public. The other woman officer of the County is Mrs. Mary E. Williams, Democratic registrar for Marlinton precinct No. 1 of Edray District.
AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE
The oft related stories of a chimpanzee that was canning blackberries, milking cows, and finally working on automobiles that met with misfortune in the mountainous sections near Mr. Jno. Galford’s, again aroused in this old veteran hunter an ambition to add to his collection the scalp of this unwelcomed intruder.
From the early days of his boyhood when he would set snares around his father’s cornfields to catch the little chipmunks that dug up the corn, down to recent years, many a denizen of the forest, both great and small, have fallen prey to his cunning. Turkeys, foxes, wildcats, panthers, deer and bears were in large numbers the victims of his gunning and trapping. Indeed, so common had this sport become that Mr. Galford had lost interest in it and had turned his equipment over to his sons.
One day, one of them came to his house and reported seeing a varmint which he described as a man-like animal covered with black hair and walking upright. This was too much for this old hunter and he said, “Bring my bear trap up, and I will get him.”
After finding what he concluded was a trail used by this animal, he very carefully placed the trap in the most likely place and slipped away to wait results. One night he was awakened by a dream in which he thought he had gone to his trap and found the animal which he had been trapping for and as he approached it, in a manner that seemed human, it began to plead for mercy at the hand of its captor.
Spending the balance of the night in fruitless effort to again return to slumber, Mr. Galford arose early and with unusual preparation started for the place he had set his trap. But no trap was there. The mental picture of his dream the night before flashed into his mind. Half in hope and half in fear, he followed the trail left by the heavy clog attached to the trap. Just now he finds a piece of his trap which appeared to have been broken by being skillfully beaten over a log. This did not have a tendency to steady his limbs which were already trembling beneath him. But with the determination of an old time hunter he pressed onward to overtake, if possible, his catch. He did not have to go far until, to his great and agreeable surprise, he came upon him. A large harmless, sheep eating, black bear. So the chimpanzee is still at large. B.
HOUSE FOR SALE
I will offer for sale, my property in East Cass, one nine room house in good condition, with well on porch, a good cow, stable large enough for four cows, also hen house and other outbuildings, and about two acres of land. A fine location for boarding house, can easily keep twenty boarders.
My reason for selling is I have bought a farm. For further information, apply to
Samuel Hevener
Cass, W. Va.