Thursday, January 2, 1925
Dr. U. H. Hannah was in Marlinton on Wednesday closing up the business of his term as commissioner and president of the County Court. Six years ago, when he went into office, the business of the court was pretty small potatoes compared with what it has now grown to be. The roads are mostly the cause of the increase.
When the Doctor first started in on the court, they began on the first Class A road project between Marlinton and Buckeye. Today, there is a State Road from the Greenbrier county line on Droop Mountain thru county to the Randolph line on Cheat Mountain, a distance of about eighty miles. The grading is practically all done, some of it is hard surfaced, and the money appropriated for hard surfacing the rest. This is considerable of a record for our court, as the reader who investigates will find if he compares what has been done in other counties in the way of state roads, where the courts have not kept everlastingly at the job of looking after our interests with the road authorities.
SEEBERT NEWS
At 12 o’clock December 31, Old Father Time closed the door of the old year. He closed it on our past mistakes, short comings, longings, quarrels, pleasures, failures and successes. With another sweep of his hand, he opened the door of the New Year. As we peep through this door, we can see three hundred and sixty-five new days, and if we listen closely, we may hear them calling, “Walk in and use us. We are yours to use as you think best. So far, we are clean and pure. We are in your hands; be careful. We may be used for study, for service, for love or duty, or we may be used for idleness, for sloth, for hatred or neglect. Make up your mind as you enter the open door which it shall be – for some day, the door will close and “Too Late” be written on the portals.”
Around the State
Wheeling – Six boys were found in a serious condition from having had a “spree” on a gallon of moonshine they claimed they found. They are under physician’s care.
Morgantown – A signed pledge never to drink again opened the iron doors of the county jail and A. J. Hatfield emerged as a trusty. Shortly afterwards, he was arrested for being drunk and was fined $12.
Clarksburg – Daniel Wolfe, glass worker, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of Claude Wilson, a neighbor who undertook the role of peacemaker when Wolfe and his wife were having domestic troubles.
BEES AND THINGS
Our friend, David L. Beverage, of Stony Bottom, is getting into the bee business pretty strong. The season of 1924, he started in with 12 hives, had 62 swarms and went into this winter with 35 stands of bees. …
For two months in the spring and two months in the fall, Mr. Beverage patrols a fire route on Cheat mountain. This forest patrol begins on Leatherbark near Cass, then to the head of Elk Lick Run, to the Yew Glade, around the Bear Pen Ridge above Amos Woddell’s, over to and down Cheat River and back to the point of beginning. The distance is about 20 miles, and a day is required to walk over it. There was not a single fire this season as the region was protected by this patrol.
ALCOHOL
Dr. J. W. Price addressed the Kiwanis Club at a recent luncheon.
Among other things, he made the following observations:
I will give you an argument against the use of alcoholic stimulants from a physiological and practical point of view. The stomach is not an absorbing body for the substances that were intended to go there. It is an organ for the reception of foods to be prepared for absorption by the small intestines. One may even drink a large or small quantity of water and unless it passes on to the intestines or is returned through the mouth, it will stay in the stomach for days. Yet, if one drop, more or less, of alcohol touches the stomach wall it is absorbed at once. Somewhat like ink in blotting paper to use a familiar observation. This is the reason the effects of alcohol are felt so quickly. But for this rapid absorption by the stomach – this surprise and insult to a membrane that was not formed to resist the attack of such a poisonous substance – the effects would be felt very much more slowly. We would not then be so greatly deceived and injured thereby so quickly…
Practical politicians for years have been afraid of the liquor problem. This was one great reason why I favored women suffrage; for women, for the most part, have always been against liquor…
DIED
Jesse D. Wilfong died at his home at Linwood December 3, 1924, from typhoid fever after an illness of seven weeks. His age was 24 years, four months and 15 days.
Jesse is dead but not forgotten,
Never will his memory fade.
Saddest thoughts will ever linger
Around the grave where he was laid.
– – –
James L. Bright was born in Bath county, Virginia, April 16, 1849, and died December 14, 1924, aged 75 years, 7 months and 28 days. Mr. Bright was twice married. To his first union was born one child. Both preceded him to the grave.
In the year 1883, he was married to Margaret E. Dorman, of Buckeye. To this union three children were born: Mrs. G. J. Wheeler, Mrs. Resa Wilfong and Noah W. Bright, all of near Marlinton…
Farewell dear father, sweet they rest;
Weary with years and worn with pain.
Farewell, till in some happy place
We shall behold they face again.