THE DANBURY REPORTER. 'WE XXXIX. nOUT THE CQMET Ifc VTHE- TAIL A SOLID? Hjt la U Only GM and Fire? Speculations 0! a Leading As tronomer. Bar BY PBOF. GEORGE DAVIDSON. K it is only when some brilliant, fglfcuexpeotod Visitor appears in the or when sqme predicted comet ooines to oQr view w«at popular interest is aroused. e comets are regarded by mil os «-f people as fcarKngera of but by others us the causes o. good oropH ami prosperity iu I general, though «f course they L} Gave nothing to do with the affairs T. of men exoept as objects of scien tific study. ' The space of our universe is ocoupied by the sun and its series of planets and their satellites, and also with hundreda of known asteroids and millions of raeteorio bodies suoh as fall to the earth and reveal theirconstitution. We may assume that all the planets have solid material, as our earth and the moon and the meteors. But of what great matter are the great oouaets composed Y Are they essentially of one class of matter, with envelopes of vari*ble' character Y The appearanoee dif , fer in size, atructure and bright fef* so muoh that it may be as serted that no two are alike in their enveloping medium. The comet of 1858, Donati's, waa remarkable for the beautiful ourve which it presented, and for its brilliancy. That of 1861 was as straight as a rapier, and in the South it was sometimes called the Sword of the Avenger. It did not match Donati's comet in brillianoy. . >. The live question now open to the physicist and the astronomer is in regard to the question of the character - of the tails of these bodies. Aub the tails composed of matter streaming for millions _of miles in the wak# of the head Y Do we see the medium of celestial space, put in wave motion and re> " vealed to us as white matter—for 4 no oomet tail has even been re ported to us as bearing any color aa do the stars Y To us it 6eems inconceivable that it can be mat- Jsr,.*a we understand the term. ** ** The tails of some of the great oometsare many millions of miles in length. The heads have passed around the sun and close to that body in a very few hours, and so the outermost particles or the tail would have to sweep around the sun at a velocity exceeding the velooity of light, or more than 177,00U miles per second! We - oannot believe or imagine matter moving at such a velooity. We cannot oonceive that the .tail of a comet is composed of matter. Matter is not needed for the conveying of an impression from any object to the retina of the eye. We have an example of this in the transmission of the tick of a watch through a long plank, the ticking being heard at ■> the end opposite that which the watoh was held. There is oertsin ly no transmission of matter in tbia instance. The transmission * of the force of a great breaking wave through miles of water to a tide-guage means no transmission of matter, but the force is impart _ed to the self-registering gauge. Other examples are in the trans mission of messages through cable and telegraph lines, and the aending of messages 4,000 miles by wireless telegraphs In all these oases, force is transmitted from one object to another, but there is no transmission of matter. Is' it, then, posssible that the i transmission of force from the aun through the edge of the molten oomet may oause the transmission of another form of force to the retina of the eye ? We have now in our bands that powerful help to astronomy, the specttpaoope, and while it reveals * to ua the oonstituenta of the body of the comet, will it revea' to ua the obaracter of the tail Y On aooount -of the okaracter of the . instruments and methods now available to aatronomers, we mav ', hope that the present visitors will us tnncb that is not now ON SANDY RIDGE ROUTE L Rumbling la Flat Shoal Mt. Can Be Heard In That Community—Other News. Bandy Ridge Route 2, Feb. 28. —Several farmers of thia vicinity marketed aome Win ston and Stoneville the past week. Mr. Jamea Wall ia preparing to ereot a nioe six room house on his premises. Mr. Lee Martin has nearly com. pleted his residence and Mr. John Price ia adding considerable im provements to bis dwelling. Mrs. Laura Shaffer, who haa been ill with aomething like diphtheria, is-able to be out again. Mr. Hardin Joyoe recently pur ohased a farm near Ayersville from Mr. John Price. Mr. A. L. Qunter has added a nioe poroh and room to his dwell -7i eon was born to Mr. and Mre. John Perguson recently, Mr. and Mra. James Martin spent Saturday and Sunday with Mrs. Martin'a parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Hutcherson. Messrs. Jesse Vernon and Lee Joyoe expect to go to Bassett, Va., in a few days to seek employment. Mr. Wallie Joyce has recently Surohased an organ from Sears, oebuck & Co. Happenings On Walnut Ceve Route 1. Walnut Cove Route 1, Feb. 27. —Owing to the rough weather, the farmers are behind with their work. Mrs. Cora Johuson afad chil dren visited her sister, Mrs. Lilla Tatum, Saturday and Sunday. Miss Hattie Meadows returned home Friday. She has been visiting ker sister, Mrs. Dicie Young, of Winston, for several days. Mr. R. C. Carroll and family are going to move to High Point this week. Miss Manie Chapman returned to her home near Wilson's Store, sfter a stay of about three weeks with her sister, Mrs. Lizzie Smith, nesr Walnut Cove. Mr. J. F. Allen visited at Mr. Walter Rierson's Saturday night. Mr. and Mrs. John R. Smith visited their daughter, Mrs. J. W. Young, Sunday! « There will be a quarterly meet ing at Palmyra next Saturday and Sunday. Miss Katheriue Smith visited Miss Hattie Meadows Sunday. Mr. J. B. Chapman has been on the siok list, but is some bet ter. Mr. and Mra. Bud Montgomery visited their daughter, Mra. Min nie Chapman, Saturday and Sun day. ' Mr. W. I. Smith visited his father, Mr. S. A. Smith, Saturday night and Sunday. Mr. S. L. Smith visited Mr. J. B. Chapman's Sunday. ERA. King. King, Feb. 28. —Mr. and Mra. Lat Rutledge spent Saturday and Sunday with his parenta. Mr. and Mrs. James Caudle are spending a few-days in Greensboro with their daughter Mrs. Lillie Boy lea. Miss Mamie' Newsom spent Sat urday and Sunday with friends at King. Mrs. Laura Newsom died Feb. 23. Her remains were laid to rest at the Baptist cemetery. She leaves a husband and eight chil dren and a host of friends to monrn their loss. Miss Mary Early passed sway at her home Feb. 27. Mr. Charlie Boles returned home Saturday from a flying trip. Mra. Tanie Caudle visited her aiator Sunday, Mrs. Fannie Gun ter. Walnut Cove Route 4. Walnut Cove Route 4, Feb. 28. —Mr. iddleton haa been .very siok with rheumatism, but ia improving now. Mr. Marshall Strader a visited atiDannil last Sunday., Mrs. Meina Baker ia visiting bar relatives near'Dennis.^ DANBURY, N. C., MARCH 2, 1910. SMALLPOX OVER SAYS COUNTY PHYSICIAN Meadows School Out This Week — The Sick Improving—Nr. C E. Neal Moves. Meadowa, March I.—Mre. Amer Neal, who haa.been in poor health for several weeks, haa improved some, but is atill feeble. Mre. J. A. Neal and children, of Spencer, are viaiting relatives at Meadowa. J Mi. C. E. Neal, who haa been living in Winston several years, is having a rough time moving hia things from Walnut Covs through so much mud. He moved his family last week. Hia wife'a aia ter, who has been visiting them, has returned home. Mrs. Kate Neal, who has been ill a few weeks, is up again. The free school conducted by Miss Lula Tuttle will be ont this week, but she will continue to teach another month. /Misses Jessie Pepper and Grace Taylor, of Danbury, who had been visiting friends at Mt. Airy, atop ped here Monday out of a rain storm to wait for the tide to fall so they could get home. Dr. Neal, County Supt. of Health, reports smallpox orisis over unles new cases keep bop-1 ping iu from Winston. Pinnscle. Pinnacle, Feb. 28. Dear Reporter : Rev. A. L. Hunter tilled his regular appointment on last Sun day at 11 a. ui. The congregation was small aa the weather was so rough. Measles is all you can hear at present, there is several cases of it in this place, but seem to be taking it easy. - Mrs Permelia Spainhower passed away on last Tuesday morning at 2 o'clock and was buried at Mt Pleasant Cemetery Thursday at 11 a. m. An entertainment was given on Washington's birthday by the P. H. S. girls clio society. A large crowd was present and a good program was given. The High School boys debat ing society is progressing nicely. They gave a publio debate on the 18th of this month. The beys will give another publio debate soon. Rev. A. L. Hunter began a singing school on last Saturday evening. Thirty-two members were there. Miss Nannie Watson's school was out at Flat Rock near Mt. Airy. She has now entered school here. The high school is progressing fine, new students entering every week. We now have near 140 students. We also have good teaohers. Germanton. Germanton, Feb. 27. —Chop- pings are all the go these days. Mr. W. Y. Gordon and daugh ter went to Winaton Wednesday. Mrs. Baker is improving some, we are glad to note. Flat Shoal school will close March 26th with an old-time ex hibition. Everybody cordially invited to attend. Farther notioe and program will be given later. Mr. L. B. Neal was a visitor in our school Thursday. Mr. John Covington is seen in these parts quite often. Mr. Csrlis Davis spent Sunday at his home near Danbury. Everybody ie behind in their farm work in this section. "Farm Boy" will have to oome again. He certainly gave the teachers a bone to gnaw. There are too many auoh animate like "Farm Boy" at large now. NANCY. Mr. B. F.' Palliam, of, King, spent Tuesday night here. Pan river was higher Monday tfcaa it has bean in quite a^while. L*Jlr. B. R. Voas, of (Walnut * GERMANTON NEWS JOHN W. KURFEES ILL Hss Baca Safferiag With Rheuma tism Bat Is Now Mack Improved. Other Persoaal aad News Items. ♦ Germanton, Feb. 22.—Mr. Jno. W. Kurfees, representative of the J. F. Kurfeess Paint Co., who re turned home last week suffering from an attack of rheumatism, is much better and left this morn ing for Va. to continue his work. The many friends of Mrs. Kur fees are glad to aee her out after a two week's illnees of lagrippe. Oscar, the little son of Capt. Pegram, has been quite Ul with pneumonia, but is improving. Miaa Mary Matthewa, who has been attending the State Normal and Indastrial College, ie at home very aiok with tonsihtis. Mr. Tom Riermon, the accommo dating youag clerk of the firm of Hampton & Charles, went to Winaton yesterday on business. Mra. N. D. Sullivan, of Walker town, ia apSnding the week with her eiater, Miss Carrie Poindex ter. Mrs. Geo. W. Pheonix and ohildren, of Atlanta, Ga, arrived last week and will probably spend the winter with her mother, Mra. Vaughn. Mr. Cleve Crews, oonductor on the Southern railroad between Winston and Sanford, is visiting his mothsr, Mrs. J. E. Crews. Mr. J. H. Hampton has pur chased L. M. McKenzie's black smith shop and fixtures and pro posea to run the same. Mr. Geo. Charles is remodeling one of his houses for Prof. J. C. Carson, who has been boarding, but will go to housekeeping soon. S. M. Ia Meraoriam. Celia Davis, (M. S. W&rd) was born Nov. 5, 1868, and died Feb. 23, 1910, aged 41 years, 4 months and 26 days. She was converted early in life, and joined the Methodist ohuroh at Bethesda where she was a faithful member until her death. She bore her sickness patiently, and expressed j a great desire to get well. While I all that loving hands could do was done, yet it was the will of our Saviour to take her away. She leaves a husband and nine children, one sister, Mrs. G. W. Hester, of Winston, and an aged mother, and a host of relatives to monrn their loss and we believe her eternal gain. "A precious one from us is gone, A voice we loved is still, A vacant place is in our home, That can never be filled." A FRIEND. In Reply to Two School Girls. Sandy Ridge Route 2, Feb. 28. j —We csn say if any of our scholars were kicked over the sohool room last winter, it was done when we were not present, and when the atove was knocked to one side, it was done on aoeount of one of the scholars not obeying the teaoher, and try ing to outdo him, when he tried to punish him. You stated in your reply that there has been no suoh conduct in our Buffalo school as reported. We haven't reported anything only what we saw and know to be true. There haa even been a hole out in thepartition to alip notes through. We are sure it is there to show for itself. More than that, all we have reported we can prove it to be true. THEM THAT KNOWS. \ Referee £uit la Progress, A referee case in whioh J. C. Wall is defendant and the other heira of the late Wm. Walt are Slaintiffe was begun here yeeter ay. The oase ie being heard be fore Messrs. I. G. Ross. J. W. Neal aad L. S. Grabs, referees. Quite a number of witneßsees are in" attendanoe. Attorneys W. W. King and N. O. Petree are repre senting the defendant, while W. M. Hendren and J. D. Humphreys ara appearing for the plaintifra. The suit waa oontinusd this afternoon without day or date, on %ooount of the absenoe of oertain important witneasaa. I County Organiser C. W. GHde ofUieftrmers' Co-operative MUCH BUILDING GOING ON. People On Sandy Ridge Route 1 Fixing Up—Mrs Laura Shaffer Better. Sandy Ridge Route 1, Feb. 28. —Farmer#' have not burnt muoh plant land on aooount of the bad weather. Our school closed at Delta Sat urday Feb. 26. It vas the beat sohool we have ever had. It was taught by Mr. J. A. Leake and Miss Lilla Hawkins. A large crowd viaited at Mr. E. K. Vernon's Saturday evening. Among those who visited at Mr. J. M. Nuun's Sunday were: Messrs. Sam Terrell, Lester Ward, Sam Carter and Miss Millie Ward and Bettie Francis. Miss Sarah Ward, who has been ill for several months, is not muoh improved, we are sorry to know. There was not very many at tended Sunday school Sunday on aocount of the bad weather. Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Kallam visited their parents Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Hawkins Saturday and Sunday. Among thoae who viaited at Mr. W. T. Ward's Sunday were the fol lowing: Messre. Sam Carter, J. L. Ward, Sam Terrell, J. M. Haw kins, J. N. Ward and Miss Bettie Franois. The rumbling in Flat Shoal mountain can be heard in this community. E. AND M. Box Party and Supper On Dan bury Route L Daubury Route 1, March I. The box supper and party given by our teacher, Mr. O. M. Ben nett, last Friday night, proved a success. Think all that were present enjoyed the occasion. The good music made by W. V. Bennett and D. C. Nelson and others was enjoyed by all that were present. The auctioneers were W. R. Bennett and L. Fordrell. The result of the sale was as follows : Miss Maggie Mabe's box, $2.00 " Mattie Nelson " 1.30 " Bettie Mabe " 2.00 Ellen Nelson " 1.50 Mrs. Maggie Southern " 1.10 Little Necie Bennett " .20 Miss Sadie Nelson " 1.00 Miss Trudie Hall " .75 Miss Bessie Hall " .80 Little Amy Flinchum " .2» Miss Verder Bennett " 3.25 " Dora " " 2.00 " Isabel Fagg " 1.50 " Nettie Bennett " 2.90 " Bessie Mabe " 1.50 " Nannie Be inett " 1.00 " Dora Nelson " .80 " Bessie Bennett " 2.25 Little Mattie Mabe " .50 Total amt. of sale s2G.fto A STUDENT. A Growing Local Union At Smith. bmith, Feb. 27. Mr. Editor : Please allow the Union a little corner in your paper, so we can correspond with one another, and keep ourselves posted es to what is being done all over the county. Collins' Union was organized the 22nd day of December with only eleven members. Our first meet ing wBB not advertised. Bro. Glidewell was just passing through, aud we halted him and got out enough to organize. Sinoe that day we have not had any outside help, but every man has pui W ahoulder to the wheel and worked like a man. We have talked Union in the day time and dreamed Union at night and the result is, we have 89 membera on roll, and will reach 100 at our next meeting. Now, if any of you can beat that, we would be glad to hear from you. And if any of you need any help juat send for 972. Some say that our meeting re mind them of an old-time revival meeting. YOURS IN UNION. J Caught a Fox la Steel Trap- Mr. W. H. Flinohum, of Pied mont Springs, caught a large gray fox Sunday night. Reynard hay been tasking aerioua inroads od Mr. Flinohnm's ohiokens and he set a steel trap for him. The fox was not hart and Mr. Flinohum will probably keep it for a pat. If it's a good watch you Want at a see E. P. New- No. 1,976 RAILROAD COMING THIS TIME SURE THING The Troublesome Creek It Dan River Traction Company—A Paying In vestment. The Troublesome Creek & Den River Traction Company is the latest traction company heading thia way. It is proposed to start at a point in Rockingham county and traverse the rich valley of the Dan, keeping close to the banks of the stream, eo that the grade . - may not be more than 2 per oent anywhere. The terminus will be Hanging Rook, a point on the Sauratown Mountain. One original and interesting feature of the new road is that it will operate both bv water and rail. Esch car will be fitted up as a boat, so that when ths rail line is blocked with transportation, or a wreck should oocur to disturb traffic, the cars will be transferred to the stream and traffic will go on without hindrance. Moreover, it will then be easy to water the stock. But the main idea in adopting this peouliar feature is to float bonds in case there should be a sinking fund. In this svent the authorities of the county may insist upon the bonds being justified. Another advantage in using the Dan will be the important fish eries obtained, suckers being in great demand by the promoters of the new oompany. People are expected to begin work on the road at once—indeed ' a few are reported to have already been worked. The route will be due west of the starting point. All towjis along the line are ex pected fo be taken in—infact, a 1 olose residence to the line is not required in order to be taken in. ■ A great industry at the terminus, L whioh is expected to furnish • freight, will be rattlesnake skins. Sk.'uning of all kinds will be in ' order from the start. The prospectus of the company 1 stipulates that no stockholder will be allowed a free pass. It is iu -1 ferred from this that the con -1 stsnt assessment plan will be adopted. Property adjacent to 1 the line will go up from 1 the start —that Vis property of the native stockholders of the road. One striking feature of the constitution 1 and by-laws, which will doubtless meet with wide approval, is that the board of directors will be paid. Hotel keepers may demand this in ad vance. The motive power of the road will he compressed air. . School Reopens At DiUwtf— People Much Better. Dillard, March 1. —School re opened here yesterday with a fairly good attendance. Parents should consider this matter more seriously than they are doing and send the children to school all they possibly can. They will not miss the amount of work the chil dren can do nearly so much as the children will miss their school work. They should go now while they are young. Miss Lemma Duncan came home Saturday from near Sandy 1 Ridge where she taught this win ter. She was accompanied by Miss Kate Moore, who is spend | in? the week. Mr. Anderson Duncan, who has been with Mr. L. J. Lackey at : Madison, is at home for a few davs. | Mr. C. A. Mitchell has gone to Danbury today on business. ' The sick have all gotten much ' better, except Mrs. J. W. Davis, whose death was reported last week. 1 We are having plenty of rain of > late. The women folks are ' anxious for it to turn warm so ' turnip salad will grow. 1 Mr. L. A. Duncan has gone to Roanoke today. i . Board of Education Meets. The Board of Education for Stokes was in session a few hoars at the oourt house yesterday. . Only routine business was tnfns- . r acted, suoh as paying off , etc. The board was to have ft. i • 1 oeived the new school bniMitUt *t-, ; \ s Sandy Ridge, but the ooMMatyr, i l Mr. Win. Berger, was not iifc j get here. Another session will be held next MnfjMl Men's nice pentjfl ■i- k lj| Wj