_
Eifht
MIDWINTER BEAR HUNT
P There was a heavy crop of chestnuts
and the bears had become very
fat before hibernating for the winter;
and while Harrison Aldridge had
killed a few bears during the fall,
he was not satisfied and he wanted
to get another. After the first snow
had fallen he had gone over a number
of trails, and vhen he failed <o
fjsd aiiy tracks he knew that all fat;
bears had gone into winter quarters,!
and unless they were disturbed they!
would not come out until spring.
\ .g snow fell about ihe middle
of December and this lay on the
ground until about the middle of
-January, when a general thaw came
and ail the snow had vardshco Harry
thought that he would try to locate
s,. he and four others started
out early one morning, armed
with flintlock rifles, muskets, tomahavks,
ax and their dogs, they went
into the cliffs and ledges on Grandfather
Mountain, and after dividing
up the party, the five men began to
make diligent sear, h 01 ail the ledges
and cliff> which might be suitable
for m uem" den; and they knew that
if a Hear had sought to pass the winder
under some cliff h?' would leave
some sign near the entrance to the
den.
Aftc a long anil tedious search
one of the party gave a signal to the
other members ??f the party and waited
until their arrival. When all the
parties had collected at the spot
\rh- re brum had i-een located they
began to p^er into the different cav-J
ities of the cliff to see him. but it
".va dark back under the ledge
it .. M?k pome mv. * ? locate him. Final
y Birr;. ? ruwlet! a par' of the way
ict-? ti *.a?ity and after shutting
eff the iight, the bear raised his head
and he could .-e?. si- eyes spark-big,
so .! * cabiv' for hi- gun cat tin* i. c >
of . he jpening wt-ie s?? close u>g
. c . v.ie^ to g: ; the
p<r ;*u Khtk i ' thief part of his
beau . -.a u-.fi.".'. ami when the
bear inhaled a few puff3 of the burnt I
:iev. f fit smarting from littio
from he giaut it g bullet, he
began - p.-t?-his jau> together and
newie foi th?- oPcrjKg ir. the cliff.
im it from the cliff
v . f-uirn u'jn, e mucv ana spcea,
not a 1511 one of the party was
<,l.: k enough lo get in a shot, but
the i acked him from behind
so . Iciously that he had to make
short stops and repel the attacks,
\vh tile tiu n followed in close purs
ii. and a hen one of the party could
get ili a shot h?* would fire, and every
t:m the bear wouid attempt to ascend
n tree the dogs would snap him
and then he would run for a short
dist:i nee and until he was Dressed
so cltwely that he would stop to defend
Hjmscif. and then he would receive
a charge from one of the guns
of the men.
Tin hear being inactive for such
a period and being fat, after such '
violent exertion he stopped suddenly
K;-- id an opening in the forest, backed.
himself against a tree and fought,
the dog.- on the defensive, then the
party approached witiiin a short distance
.-tnii poured a voile3- of shot
into tne near ane ine^e allots atsuoJed
him so thai he could go only a few
pat . > a a time, and when he made
his final stand the men were near
enough. to place the hr.nl shot about
f.h* bun 41 i* the ear, and soon he
lifeless jjorm of the monster of the
forest lay before them.
By the time the party had killed
iW- the be-.2- the sun was sinking low in
the west, and by the time they had
him dressed it was nearly dark so
they . impended -he meat on poles
#jjand souE.lishelter for the night under
a .e.ulving iliif. After making a
fire they carved some of the meat
from ?i niece of the bear and broiled
it over the coals for their supper,
tjr.ci lired after their arduous
dkj' ' they reared for the night
and soon fell asleep. Durfijg the night
a hard rain fell and as they had
neglected to place their guns under
the cliff, they found upon examination
the next morning* that the barrels
of their guns were almost full
of water, but the party felt that
tht-y were well paid for their time.
WATAUGA FALLS ITEMS
Mr. Roby Vines, one of the County'.*
best teachers and business men,
vols married to Diss Edna Tester,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Tester of this community, on December
23. Rev. J. H. Farthfhg united
the happy couple in the bor.ds of
matrimony. After the ceremony a
sumptuous supper was served at)
the home of the bride. A few of the j
intimate friends were invited, including
one irtember of the old guard. |
The member of the old guard was
Mr. H. H. Hagaman who still remains
in single blessedness. The happy
couple will soon move to their
beautiful newly bought home on
Beaver Dam at the L. C. Wilson
place. The community wishes them
a long and happy life. E
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Johnson were
visitors at the home of Mrs. Johnson's
mother, Mrs. M. P. Edmisten,
Sunday December 24th, going on to
fhe home of Mr. Johnson's parents
Sunday afternoon to spend Christmas.
Mrs. M. P. Edmisten and family
entertained several of their friends
Christmas day. All had a delightful
A GOOD AUTO STORY
A man who had never driven an
automobile. recently purchased a;
high-powered car. After a few lessons
he was full of confidence in his
ability to manage it all alone.
He started out for a ride and pot
along all right until he came to a
place in the road where there was a
steep decline. Then the car began to
gather speed from its own weight
and the driver became confused. He
frantically manipulated every device
on the instrument board, but the car
only moved forward all the faster.
The telephone poles began to look
like a picket fence, and our motorist
friend gave up all efforts to stop the
machine, bending all his energies to
steering for the middle of the road.
Faster arc! faster the car flew,
unti when it had reached the bottom
of the hill it was traveling fifty miles
an hour. After it struck the levei
road, the speed gradually diminished
a.-'d finally, quite by accident, the
driver did something that caused it
to .-.ton. He wa_s iust leaning back to
take a full breath when a traffic cop
on a motorcycle drew up alongside
of him.
"Say/' yelled the cop, 44What do
you mean by speeding along here at.
fifty miles an hour? Don't you know
you are likely to kill somebody? Why
in blazes don't you use your noodle?"
"Nood'e!" gasped the man. Noodle!
Where in heck is the noodle? I
pushed and pulled and jiggered every
other durn thing I could see. I don't
believe ther/s a noodle on this car!"
RESTAURANTS AND CAFES
CHARGING TO MUCH
(Boston, Dispatch)
Down tow: ' rants and lunch
rooms are mal ilj} excessive charges
r food. District /ttev: oy O'Brien
ported i?> >., leg ::i;ure today a?
th cf the t . mty grand jury.
The charges i; J.-aviest on i'hoj-e
can least afford thor- hop
girls, ( '. uks. Rmogr-inhe's and men
itfc f?Ji:iots who t arn only small
.-alarie-. the jurori loimd. and they
for .e-.-:.-I.ii'. , on :i deration
a r? >: ar i he iaws now in
f' o ar --ade: uatc
i . a ivSKSiaivd to oc out of
rvopi -. .! :?? the cnpil.;:!. In our
chair. uucli room , operating on |
; oinpne. y sit,;/: capital, it was,
found tat one man drew S175.000!
- his of (h;f profits last .war.!
Two of his .issoc'^ts v.er> paid $ 1 1
000 each in sal.u. and di . blend.,
ami each had $10,000 as a bonus.
Another lunch rponi. not a part of the
chain system, made approximately
$ 150,000 last year, the report said.
The grand jurors found that while
prices of raw materials had fallen
ahov.t tio per c nt ill the past year,
there had been no substantial decrease
in prices- charged at lunch I
counters and restaurants.
BIG LIQUOR HAUL MADE
OFF FLORIDA COAST
While A. B. Stroup divisional prohibition
chief for Florida was on his
way to Ferandina to seize the Cuban
yacht Miguel Ferrarer and its cargo
of several thousand cases of liquor,
several of his subordinates we?*e bring
?? to ^Jacksonville an auxiliary sloop
registered as V-10220 seized near
Mayport, at the mouth of the Saint
John's river with enough liquor
aboard to put a dent into the supply
of Ch risimas cheer destined to be
distributed by Jacksonville bootleg
gers within the next few days.
Three white men and one negro I
were arrested while two men escaped '
The liquor is valued by tin prohibition
forces at $16,SG0. A part of
ELe cargo had been unloaded and put
in a safe place by the rum runners
before the officers appeared on the
scene.
The Ferrarer. with papers showingher
bound from Cuba iu New Foundland
with a liquor cargo of 3,000 cases.
put into Fero&ndino several days
ago in distress.
EXECUTIONERS ASK
HIGH RATE FOR SERVICES
Officials of Wetland county, Canada
arc worrying about a double hanging
which is set to take place in the
county jail on January 12th. One of
the chief causes of concern is that no
official hangman has yet been engagaed.
In response to a recent advertisement
several applications were filed
but the fees demanded, ranging from
$200 to $300, were considered too
high. In the past, officials said, $50.
was sufficient to get a man to fasten
the black cap on a condemned man
and spring the trap.
The men sentenced to die are
Harry Rutka and Nick Thomas. They
kiiied a neighbor in a row over a real
j estate deal.
I ESCAPE OF AVIATORS IS
SOMETHING REMARKABLE
A big airplane piloted by J. E
Walters of Lumbcrton* crashed 1,
S00 feet to earth at Chadboume
fifty miles from Wilmington Satur
day afternoon but Walter escapee
injury and his companion, Howarc
Bryan, of Lumbcrton, suffered onij
minor injuries.
In addition to a prison senter.ci
for speeders, a Detroit municipa
judge has the violators taken througl
the children's -ward of Receiving Hos
pital that they may see at close han<
what suffffering the speed craze ha
wrought. The judge also promises t<
take the speeders io the county mor
gue there to view thote who hav
been killed by veckleM driver*
i j
THE WATAUGA
NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE TO I
U. S. CLERGY IS ISSUED J
A joix t New Year's message to the !
clcrgv oi the United States was issu- t
ed Saturday evening by Alvin Ows- ]
ley. national commander and Rev J
William F. O'Connor, national chap- ?
lain of the American Legion. The 1
message follows:
"We extend to the clergy for the
year 192* our since rest greetings. ]
May every minister, rabbi and priest
of our country know that the America}:
Legion invites and needs ihcir
help and comradeship. We strive to
keep ever alive the- need of religion;
j we stand for iiberty of conscience:
we uphold the ideals of justice, charI
itv and democracy."
124.000 MEN AND WOMEN ARE
GIVEN EMPLOYMENT IN N. C.
Raleigh, N. C.?Twenty-four thousand
men and women were given employment
in North Carolina during
the past 12 months through the cooperation
of the state and federal ;
government in the employment ser- *
vice of which M. L. Shipman is director,
accordnig to the summary of ^
employment statistics made by Mr.
Shipman. Actual placement totaled
2-1,2d 1 against a toiai regisration of
: >b. Requests for help during thi 1
period totalled 24,722.
WOMAN IS ELECTED TO
GREENSBORO POLICE FORCE
.Miss Louise B. Alexander, lawyer
a a! state president of the North Carolina
League of Women Voters, w;e
' red a member of the Greensboro
Police Force, December 28th. It
was claimed that Mrs. Alexander, who
on duty January 1. will be the
i. 1 j I iIleal'.on bureau of the police
hr. : palic -v. oman in North Carolina.
She v. ! iie in charge of the depart I
.... :iT i i - i- !
1 ' <. t win ?.i spcviui |
I tfc# j varoination and invent Ration
riminais,
. 5*.
j U? rik is :i fruit grower. J
i- r >ud *: hi; -aration, not with- I
the fa ; th:.? we trace ail j
roubles to the fruit bush
! i f..- a Adam fell for
: noach, a jit! "ill < f lis have since
fallen for lemon::.
| ^ nil
1 Saxon I
| Days ^ II
(<?), iy~. Western Newspaper IftuA.:
npilK New Year begins precisely at
midnight, and almost everyone nowadays
sees the New Year In by general
festivities and many good resolutions,
which are promptly forgotten on January
2.
The festivities marking this occasion^
says Here ward Carriugton, scientist
' mid s'jirwr, art? very sncn1!!'., ami m
| ->1*1 Saxon days it was the custom to
| partake of a bowl of spiced ale, which
| was passed around with the expression
I "Wnsslmel/* which meant "to your
hea-th!" Hence the origin of the Wassail,
or Wassel howl.
We now keep New Year on January
j the first; but the Chinese, Jews, Turks
I and many others do not observe it on
I this day. Even Christian countries have
not always so observed it; the Romans
began the year with the March
equinox. The later Teutonic nations
for a long time continued counting the
beginning of the year from March 25.
It was only in 1563, by an edict of
Charles IX, that France changed the
time of the beginning of tin- year to
January 1. In 1600 Scotland made
the same change, and England only
did so in 1752, when the Gregorian
system was adopted there. It will
thus be seen that the New Year, observed
on January 1, is relatively new,
though we are accustomed to think
that it dates back from time immemorial.
It was Julius Caesar, in the year
46 B. C., who first reformed the calendar?aided
by the Egyptian astronomer
Soslgenes. He made it a few minutes
too long, and a second correction was
necessary. Pope Gregory made certain
charges in 15S2, A. D., and additional
minor changes were made later
on, from the "old style" to the "new
siyie" calendar." We now employ the
new style.
After the French revolution France
decided to set up an entirely new order
of things. A new calendar was
made. The Christian era was wiped
out, and was replaced by the newFrench
era, beginning September 22,
1792. Instead of our week of seven
days, a week of ten days was established?in
accordance with the decimal
system?the tenth day being set aside
' for rest.
Instead of the mythological names
of the months, others deduced from
. the prevailing seasons of the year wers
substituted.
Everything was to bs based upon
reason! The Notre Dame was converted
into a ^Temple of Reason."
- ftfme. Momero, tbe young and beautiful
I wife of a Jacobin printer, was chosen
II to represent Tteason." And ss tt
went.
* The months were chosen and given
3 french names which were thought to
0 Is characteristic of there Thus,
- iatuma had a vintage month, a hfO
DEMOCRAT
| New Year Wishes I
f ?y CHRISTOPHER G. HAZARD 3 %
Copyright, 1922. Western Newtpaper UbJos. (
I
ASSURANCE j
I11HATF'F,H ttc >ctf ai) Viif
A/ of thirds noi understood. \
We etitue are that ercnilUBf
Will fcire to rvree our rood.
We may to on wi'h joyous tread
And not a uajle :b.ag to dread
SOMETHING HEW
11 MID the fake, amnl the true,
^ Between the ben I aad the yew.
Thank God for aetnething young and newt
Aad may th-'a new leaf of tiine'a page.
This fair addition to ocr ace.
Be filled with sunny wit aad tage!
NINETEEN TWENTY-THRU
TY1 AY the New Year be threaded through
With strands of blue and void torsrw
Things hiah and preocut. far and fiatT
To ?rre.lnapirt. delight and abbe I
Vnd hero we stand to say "(iuod-byl" I
IWrf word??<and yrt vre Bfiirr# known why, |
riiey briiiR a nioixtnrc to the eye.
And to the heart no me qmikea and acheat
iV? oposik therj very tenderly.
With hnlf a sob and half a nijrh? ,
"Old Year, pood-bf! Old Year. ROOQ-hyl"
?W. K. llurleigli.
LJKUE we stand again on the <
L A borderland of Welcome and
Good-by. There is so little be- ?
tween them and so much either
Side of them.
When the great bell of time
strfk&s the midnight hour, and 1
lDlil! passes into the land of long
ago, there Is cue simple resolution
that we can all make with
pretty good surety that we can
keep it till the next midnight
chimes-?that we will be a better
man or woman in the next year
than in the last.
That won't be a hard resolution
to fulfill in sonic degree, ami if
everyone is even a lis hie better,
there will be a heap more goodness,
kii. In ess, suc-ess and love
in ;'ie w?>i id when I'd-."} rings out
th ;i ther" is now.
T".?- untried year brings with it
another chance for-all?a chance
to raakb good wlure we have
failed?a chance to benefit by
what we have counted as failures
in the year that is passing out.
The old jear has been a difficult
one lor many. Some have lost
heart. The new year, which gives
promise of so much that is better,
will bring new courage and hope
to them.
If we can let the unhnppy part
of the past year go with it, and
only remember the good, it will
help toward all that Is l?e.st in the
new.
One of the best things that we
can hope for the dniriod year Is
that it will be a busy one for
everybody. Work is the best promoter
of goodness^ and happiness,
and the best cure for trouble and
sorrow that there is.
When the solemn, ^jappy bells
Ting out across the snow,*' let
them ring out with ttiem the bad
things and ring In all that is good
and true and beautiful that is
within the power of each one
of us.
ANIMALS AND NEW YEAP'S DAY
Oxen, Cows, Sheep, Goats and Pigs
Blessed in Churelies of Italy,
Spain and Franc?.
TN ITALY, Spain and France more is
made of New Year's day than
Christmas and on St. Sylvester's eve as
the last day of the year is called the
utmost joyousness prevails. Even Llie
animals are blessed in the churches.
A correspondent who attended one of
these quaint ceremonies, writes:
The priest lifted high the host and
said some words of benediction at
which the people fell on their knees
ft jui a response, -va acmyie wnn a
holy-water sprinkler passed through
the columns cf animals deftly throwing
the sacred water upon them. The
oxen and cows were thus blessed lirst,
then the sheep and goats and lastly
tiie pigs. A moon nearly foil glittered
high abn\e the mountain stones and
combined with the light from the candles
revealed the long, polished horns
and heaving sides ana sleek coats of
the cxen and cows and the white
woolly skins of the sheep. The acolyte
passing among them, incensed thera
and iheir bellowing, bleating and
squealing arose to a tumult. But. high
above all, the voice of the priest was
heard, as he chanted these words:
"My children, God in his goodness
sends me, his unworthy servant, here
to bless your flocks, according to an
ancient custom of our mountains, so
that these animals by whose aid yon
live may join in oar religious ceremonies
which usher in the New Year,
Let us then sing a loud hosanna of
praise to the ever-merciful Lord so
lenient to sinners."
t windy month. Spring, a budding
month, a flowery month and a pasture
month. Summer, a harvest month, a
hot month and a fruit month.
Each month began somewhere between
the 18th and the 22nd?according
to our reckoning. Thns the flrst
month of the autumn trio began on
September 22, and lasted until Oc|
tober 21. etc.
With the restoration of a stable
government in France^ this calendar
was repealed, and the usual one substituted.
But for a time, as we have
seen. New Year day did not begin on
January 1, in France, ae late as the
last century, and It docs aat begin
en that date tn nan Christian coontrtns
area today I
rAMISKED TIMBER WOLVES
EXACT TOLL IN HUMAN LIVES
Port Arthur, Ont., Dec. 27.?A c
rreat roving band of hungry timber
volves has devoured throe men. ac- I
rording tp meagre reports sifting a
n today from the snow covered trails c
>f the Sturgeon river country. These
epcrts told of a losing battle fought s
>v two Indians after a white trap- 1
>er had been downed and killed. i
Last Saturday an elderly trapper
eft his cabin in the woods 70 miles | ?
:orth of Ignace in Mush down col]
lie settlement for his Christmas mail, t
Je arrived in safety. There was no J
nail, however, and the old man said . i
v would come back Christmas morn-! z
ng. At noon he had not arrived. The '
:?0't:na-Ur stit two Indians to fol- \
o\v the trail until they found him. ; i
About two miles from the settle- j
ment the Indians found a spot pound-' <
pd in the snow and crimson huod. ' .
Bits of dog harness torn to shreds j
iver? scattered about. In the midst! <
:>f them the Indians found human
hones. They hastened back to report <
their discovery.
The lure of the bounty on wolves 1
however urged the Indians to take*! t
the trail again with extra ammunition t
They sped behind their dog teams
Into the woods as the villagers waved
good bye. They did not return. 1
Yesterday a new searching party <
deprrtcd. They found anothei patch
trodden in the snow about two miles' i
beyond the first. J
The two guns of the Indians were
laying there and scattered about were J ?
bone.-., bits of clothing and empty 1 '
shells. I i
The carcasses of sixteen dead ! s
wolves lay stretched in a circle about!
the trampled patch of snow. 1
THE MOONSHINER OR THE LAV/
^ I
There sTems no mistake about the
fact that the Government ha- made
determined acceptance of the challenge
by the bootlegger. The tissue j!
j .. v" for the Nov Year : . whether
bootlegger >r the law shall run .
tne ce' r.try. Wit:: the tii 1 of the
r divisional headquarters of the
bibition n;f<--- . .nent bureau will
* opened at High Point, vherc ID:
agents will he assembled under v hiefjS
Sams. The territory over which the^c,
men will have active charge is composed
of the whole of North Parol i ^
and part of Virginia, and it is signiti-!
cant that the offices were moved to
ibis center from so important a placet
as Xorfork. H'gh Point, therefore. (
is to be the center from which prohibition
enforcement operations will
he conducted next year. High Point
..:cms duly appreciative of the distinction
that has come its wav. and
has promised hearty co-operation and i
support.?Charlotte Observer. ,
11 mms f?T:r
ct. u jMriiMa .
I Gree
|
TO OUR MA
(=1141
gjj
p While we ma3' be r
Ipt at the old stand and a
of Bargains and Squa:
We want your tradi
shall do all in our pov^
as We shall mention o
to time and call your a
P
M LARGE AND COMP
m
gl CERIES, SHOES,
J? GOODS, HOS1E1
AND OTH
OUR PRICES AE
If
jg . . COME A^
| WATAUGA:
\;t -y
i
JANUARY 4. 1923
ROM1NCHR HAPPENINGS i^L
Deputy Sheriff Johnson '.vas here
ollecting taxes on the 21st.
Mr. Custer Baird was here with
lis truck buying apples last week
tnd hauled away a load of very fine I
31 r. Willard Presnel! and family H
pent Christmas with W. P. Mast.
They have been living for some time HK
n Tennessee.
Mr. Manuel Komir.ger and son, Coy
md wife. O A. Baird. and Daily
*r< snell have gone to Akron Ohio
o work this winter. ^?31
In the way of road construction jff
t is hard to get to the bridge with
in empty wagon.
A little child of Wesley Presnell's Hi
vas buried at the 3Iast Grave yard mk
H
Little Miss May. daughter of Chas. |MjY\
jillam, is a very sick giri at this \
W. 8. Kominger has been on the
nek list recently.
Mr. Ben barman made a business
nil at (' \\. Gillian's last Sunday. S
Messrs. Charles Gilliom Boyd, and ,
Harman and Charier- Mast, are con- |HT?
emulating going to Akron Ohio about WR
he first of the year.
Mr. Carson Mastin of Matney and
Miss Cameline, daughter of \V. R. H\
Ward of this place were married rercr.tly.
(rt
Mi-. E. Harmon a highly res- i
pected old gentleman, died here a
few days ago.
The bridge near John Mast's is
completed and will be a great conren;e::ce
if we had a road to it. It
seems like money thrown away ii'
something isn't done.
PIRATES GET $1,000,000
WORTH OF LiQUOR IN RAID
A itport received from customs
officials today from Nassau, Bahamas, ^
i'-* i $l.OUO,00G liquor robbery on >
lie ) gh seas was : ken by customs I \
Oil;* i:21 n< IT r f *>'' reports that pir- J *
\. . ;>m runners off the? ?[
i o.i . ".\u report said the
i in ont A. White, which cleared front
.\'v au !'- Miqudon, on October 21
!(>. 1 -an . of potior, had been
boarP i York coast and
nil kk aquor hmu ."lit* *:?*rriod
U,E*- M
When an Amcricaji .offered the J
Passion players of Oberammerg&u a m,
million dollars for the privilege of A
filming tin Pas. ion I'lay without a
change in cast, the player.-: sacrificed \ 1
their locks tin' saved their self-re
perl ami honor. Owing to the de- M a
preciation of the mark, the temptation
io violate a tacreil tradition
was gnat. Antcn ] ang's philosophy
that riches do no ring contentment
and happiness, two assets the players
now possess.
?j iM i J liiH; t2=3=IFS ? V
23 I
n
tings |vBiNs"'!
NY FRIENDS If .
?:'o A
TOMERS: p /
iew merchants we are H
ire old in the business !H|
re Dealing. |fi -a
e during this year and M \
^r to merit it. tyEj ' N
ur hargains from time g V
ttention now to our
ia I
LETE LINE OF GRO gj -r*
CLOTHING DRY ? k.
\Y, furniture j|
[er lines 1 *
le attractive bi
id see us ii
SUPPLY C8. if