Thursday,
February 24, 1916
LEAP YEAR
Leap year or Bissextile year is now being endured. Formerly instead of having a February 29th, they made February 24th to be forty-eight hours long every fourth year and that took care of the intercalary day that is necessary to keep Christmas from coming on the fourth of July. It was the sixth day before the calends, and hence the name, bissextile. We are not satisfied with any of the theories as to why the year is called leap year…
The leap year privilege given to the most adorable half of the species to propose marriage is a custom of long standing. We never could see that it made much difference about young people falling into each other’s arms but it is template. And it may have been the case at a day when women was cruelly and inhumanely treated, this was something in the nature of a privilege…
There is a legend that when St. Patrick had got everything settled to his mind in Ireland under a splendid reform administration, that St. Bridget approached him on the question and asked the privilege for her sex which was granted. Then St. Bridget proposed to St. Patrick before he could wind up the interview. St. Patrick was a sternly single man and sworn to celibacy, but we read that he was a gentleman and no doubt he was able to refuse the honor in a graceful manner.
In 1288, a law was passed in Scotland giving “ilk mayden ladye of highe and lowe estait” the right to bespeak the man that she likes, and if he refuses he is to forfeit not more than one pound, provided, that he can show that he is already engaged. A writer in England in 1606 says that it had been the common law of England to such an extent that a man could be executed without benefit of clergy who treated a lady’s proposal with slight or contumely. Those were perilous times…
ON THE FARM
Did your corn mature well last year? Let’s test it this winter and see if it will germinate, and save replanting this spring.
Have you plowed your sod land? Be sure to plow enough so that you can raise enough corn to fill that new silo you are going to build. If you are going to build a homemade silo, now is the time to have your lumber sawed; ask your county agent to give you a bill of material for the silo.
Club Members
Have you measured and plowed your eighth of an acre for potatoes? If not, you should manure and plow as soon as possible. Berry Coyner and Frank Mann have theirs plowed. Now, boys, you must get busy.
Are you club members testing your corn yet? Neal Williams and Glenn Barlow are making their corn testers and will test their corn as soon as they get the testers finished.
Do the poultry club members know where they can get good eggs? Are they going to get rid of the lice before they set their hens?
What about the pig club members?
CASS
Baseball enthusiasts held a big meeting recently. Cass is going to have the strongest team in this part of the state this year. To obtain funds and have a good time, it was decided to have an oyster supper, musical comedy and moving pictures at the Cass Theatre, Saturday, March 4. In the near future a minstrel show will be held.
We are glad to report an improvement in the health of the public. Grippe seems to have lost its charm.
MINGO
F. D. Maxwell is fixing to put out a large crop of grain on his farm here. He has plowed sixty acres of meadow and is cleaning off fifteen or twenty acres of pasture land to plow. He believes in using lime. A fellow that has the money can make the mare go.
Teddy Moore got him a fine saddle horse the other day.
L.D. Sharp, of Slaty Fork, was here one day last week buying fur.
The people here were sorry to hear of the death of Harmon Sharp. He was a good man.
GREENBANK
Last Monday was a zero morning.
The health of the community is at a low ebb just now. Almost every family is afflicted with the dreaded grippe and cold. Our postmaster says the grippe sticks to him closer than a brother.
The latest report is that Greenbank got the high school, and the board of education will get busy as soon as the weather will admit, to get the building completed as soon as possible.
MAN HURT
IN RUNAWAY
On Tuesday morning on Cranberry near Camp 45 when a log train belonging to the Cherry River Boom and Lumber was ascending a grade the loader, which was in the rear, became unhooked in some manner from the trucks and started down grade at a rapid rate of speed. A number of men on the loader jumped to safety when it became detached, but Bill Abster, a tong hooker, in some way became fastened and was delayed and later when making the attempt to embark from the rapidly moving car, he was thrown against some ties and his head coming in contact with same resulted in a fracture of the skull. Two large gashes were cut in the head, one in the forehead and one in the occipital region.
He was rushed at once to the McClung Hospital where he has lain since in an unconscious condition and small hopes are entertained for his recovery.
Abster is about 30 years of age and had been employed only a few days when the accident occurred. – Nicholas Republican
36 YEARS AGO
The body of Robert B. Brown, formerly deputy sheriff of Pocahontas County, was found in the road near Amherst Court House, Va. on February 5th. Mr. Brown passed through Lewisburg a few weeks ago for the East with a number of horses in his possession. A letter addressed to Capt. Wm. L. McNeel, of Pocahontas County, tells of the finding of the body and its identification as that of Mr. Brown from papers found on his person. He had at the time two horses and a sum of $180 in money. His brother, N. J. Brown, of Pocahontas, went at once to Amherst to take charge of the body.
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John Kelley, whose home is at Marlinton, Pocahontas County, came to Charleston Friday from Coal river with his family and they are in destitute circumstances. He has a wife and two children. One about six years old and the other one about eight years old. They had all their belongings in a suitcase. They were cared for by Captain Swann, of the Salvation Army, and were given quarters at Jack Moore’s hotel on Kanawha street. Since coming here and being without a cent of money, the oldest girl has taken ill with pneumonia and is cared for by Dr. A.T. Mairs. Human Officer Mike Ryle was called to investigate the case, and the family will be seen after. The little girl will probably be taken to one of the hospitals for treatment and care. The man’s story is that he was employed at a plant and lost all his money when the company became bankrupt. The least girl, six years old, has the scars where she was shot through the body. – Charleston Gazette