Newspapers / The Lincoln Times (Lincolnton, … / Feb. 9, 1909, edition 1 / Page 1
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T 5 State Library i,x.oVeR YEAR 5 CENTS PER COPY TWICE A WEEK . Hew to the Line. Let the Chins Fall as thty May. VoL III. LINCOLNTON. N, C, TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 9, 1909. No. 12 -i The Pennsylvania Germans. Their Social Customs And Religious Peculiarities As Told By One Who Lived Among Them For Several Years. HY KKV. I.. ARTICLE II Whatever may bo said of the Pennsylvania Germans, their vices and their virtus, uml like all men they certainly have their share of both, still it must bo admitted that they constitute a distinct and a unique clement in our American populations For 150 years they have been adding force and power to the current of our national life. However, it has been their .mis fortune to be occasionally mis judged and misrepresented by cer- .tain suferficial writers who wih nothing bnt second-hand informa tion, or information gotten at long range, have jumped at conclusions which the facts in the care would never havobavesustained. Ileuce the impression has gotten abroad especially in localities where they are not so well and so favorably known, that they arc little else than a muddy adjunct to the com posite population of which this country is made up, adding some thing in quantity, but nothing whatever in quality. It is true that thc have their share of weaklings: those who are intel lectually blunt, and into whose heads an idea uever ventures ex cept through a process of uncon scious absorption; those who never go to church except when attend ing their own funeral, or that of a very near relative; those whose chief concern seems to be that of providiug for the bar-keeper, even if their own families go hungry; and those who lounge about the village taverns and lean up against the hitching rails with that air of contentment known only to men who take the world as it comes and part with it as it goes. But to use these specimens as an argument for determining the character of this people as a whole would be as unwise and unjust as to try to measure the worth and excellence of a family by the thoughtless indiscretion of some wayward sou. The English, the Dutch, the Scotch-Irish, the French Huguenots and the Ger mans, are the principles nation alities which have entered into the make up of our national life. We as a nation owe a great deal to each. But it is said upon reliable au- thoriry that at least one sixth of the white population of the United States and three fifths of the peo ple of Pennsylvania, are of Ger- man descent or have German blood in their veins. Prof. Goebcl of ,tlie Leland Stanford Jr. University claims that for the" United States the percentage is as high as one third. But notwithstanding the in fluence wnich they have exerted all these years there have been no disposition on their part to project themselves too prominently before the public and to the exclusion of others who have done equally as well. The spirit of modesty and reserve is always commendable, but iu some instances they have carried it a little too for and have kept quiet when they would been justiiled in standing up and vin dicating their rights. ; Geo. Bancroft in his history freely admits that they have by no means laid claim to all that is their due. , ' These statements of course refer only to this people as a whole. They are not intended to cover each individual case. There aro notable exceptions. A German is as rule quite conservative in all he does. He invariably thinks his way to the conclusions which he favors. But if he takes a notion to become eccentric, he is the most eccentric mortal on the faco of the earth. ' Ho is a roan of intense con , viction. But, of course, in some things he is not always right: neither is the man from whom he differs always wrong. It wasr the good fortune I,. LOUR. of the writer to live for a number of years in the very heart of a "Dutch" community, where he had every chance to study at close range, the odd customs, the quaint ways, the strango peculiarities, but with all, the storing qualities of this people. This community occupies one of the most fertile sec tions iu the state. It is a verita ble garden spot, and beautiful for situation! And no better evidence can be given of the judgement and business ability of any people than that of holding and controlling through successive generations land such as this. The writer will never forget his first visit to this particular locality. He left the seminary with some thing of that feeling possessed by every theological student who goes out on a prospecting tour. This visit so as made with unusual in terest and with no small amount of curious anticipation, because it was known that the congregation Wits one rather to be desired on ac count of its venerable, solid and substantial make up, and because the locality as a whole was rich in historic association, and so full of tradition, romance and super stition, that these seemed to be suspended from the trees, and to hang from the eaves of the houses, making a scene as wierd as that of the moss-covered live oaks of Flor ida. But before speaking further about this place and its people, it maybe of interest to note some wayside observations. The journ ey was well underway, when there came into the train at one of the stops, a New . Meunonite farmer preacher from somo point in Mary land, "returniug to his home on the Conestoga about 4 miles above the city of Lancaster. This dembmi natiou takes all its preachers di rectly from the farm. The process will bo explained later. Ho at once became a scat fellow, not from choice, but necessity, as the traiu was crowded. He was a man of fairly good dimensions, with long flowing beard, and hair that al most touched his sholders, a face indicating reserve and suspicion, and all surmounted by one of those broad brimmed hats which could have been used to good advantage either in rain or sunshine. He pulled himself into about as small a compass on the seat as a man of his size could conveniently occupy, and showed no disposition what ever to talk about any subject un til some reference was made to re ligion. This brought him out in a flow of words that was kept up for the remainder of the way. It seems that his creed forbid him or any of bis followers to hear any one other than themselves talk re ligion, pray or even read the Be ble. It is Sitid that some even go so far as to stop their ears. Per haps he had forgotten his ear- corks. At any rate to avoid hear ing the slightest allusion to any theology not suited to his taste, he either had to get up and stand in the aisle, or do all the talking him self. He chose the latter. And strange as it may seem, kept up a continuous conversation on the one subject which he tried to avoid hearing, anything abut . The parting of the ways came lust as the traiu crossed the Susquehanna. He seemed quite glad when the op portunity arrived to stop talking. He made a hurried departure for another train, but not until he had taken from his grip a pamphlet of his own production, setting forth the absolute certainty of his doc trinal position, the future felicity of those oi his belief, and in no un certain language the warm recept ion prepared for all dissenters. We never saw him again although two years later one of the most elaborate weddings we ever had, was on the occasion of the mar riage of his daughter to a wcalty merchant. It toofc place at the home of the grooms partner in business. As the father of the bride, he should have been there to ofliciute. But neither he nor his wife were present. The wed ding could not be held under his roof, neither could ho have any thing to do with it, because his daughter had apostatized from the faith married a man of another denomination. Iu his judgement there could have been for him no greater sin thsn taking part in such an unholy alliance. The son who acted as best man exclaimed at the height of the festivities, "what would father say if ho vero here! No doubt, vanity and vexation of spirit" The bride was a lady of culture and refinement and made a good choice in the selection of a husband. She has a comfortable home into which her father has never entered for reasons already, stated and because the bull' brick and the Queen Anne style of arch i tcctureare just a little too much for his sense of propriety. At the last account he was still living on the banks of the Conestoga and more firmly convinced than' ever that he and his few adherents are right, and that all the rest of the world is wrong. MACHPELAH HAPPENINGS. The Local Farmer's Union will meet at Machpclah school house Saturday evening, Feb. 13th 100!), Rev. C. H. Little, pastor of the Machpclah Presbyterian church, has returned from a trip to Cuba. Mr. Will Baruett and iamily have returned to Salisbury. They have been visiting relatives and friends at Machpclah. Mr. E. D. Ballard, and sister, Miss Eunice, attended the teachers association at Lincolutou Saturday. Miss Ada Goodson, of Iron, visited her sister Mrs. R. H. Ball ard, of this place, Monday. Miss Ethal Ballard, governess in the home of T. H. Woniack Spent Friday and Saturday night with her father, Eev. J. M. Bal lard.:. Mr. Dave McCorkle made a fly ing trip to Lincolnton Saturday. Mr. Lattie Gilland was a visitor at Lincolnton Sunday. Mr. Evertt Keever spent Satur day night with Mr. Parris Ballard, of Macbpelah, What is the matter with Alpha, wo haven't heard any thing from him in so long! Has he gone to town for him a new derby! Rev. J. M. Ballard, will preach at Lawings Chapel next Sunday. . Violet. ITEMS FROM R. F. D. NO 2. . Misses Bessie and Gertie Hcdick are teaching at The Brick School house this week for Mr. C. C. Hoover. Mr. Jim McCaslin spent Sunday night with his undo, Mr. Jas. A. Lore. . . Messrs. Kent and Carl Turby fill spent Sunday at home. Messrs iPinckney Hoover, Jno. Finger and C. C. Hoover aro at tending court in Newton this week. Mrs. Lee-Hooverhas been 6n the sick list for the past few days but is better now. Miss Johnston Lore spent Sun day at home. Somo of our girls have "heart disease." Hope the right "doctor" will come nrouud soon. They are getting desperate. S. K. 8, The home of Mrs. M. E. Bright, of Rutherford College was totally destroyed by fire several days ago. The greater part of the household goods were saved. -. The Secret of Long Long Life. . A French scientist has discover ed one secret of long life. His method deals with the blood. " But long ago millions of Americans bad proved Electric Bitters prolougs life and makes it worth living. It purifies, enriches and vitalizes the blood, rebuilds wasted neryl cells, imparts life and tone to tho entire system. Its a godsend to weak, sick and debilitated people. "Kidney trouble had blighted my life for mouths," writes W, M. Sherman, of Cuching, Me., "but Electric Bitters cured me entirely." i Only 50c. at K. L. Lawing's. "TOWN COW" A PROBLEM IN CIVIC AFFAIRS. 'Women of Tennessee Town Begin Active Work of Improvement. What can be done in the way oi civic improvement in the smaller municipalities has been demonstra ted by the Civic Improvement Club, of Huntingdon, Tenu.' Organized in August, lOOfi, with thirty mem bers, the club now numbers fifty. Inasmuch as the club's member ship is limited to women, that part of the work for a more beautiful city which requires the services of- the men is left to the Huntingdon Commercial Club and, in many things, the two organizations cooperate to advantage. ' Interest iu the work for which the Improvement Club was formed was great from the beginning. Some of the questions to be con sidered were limiting the rauge of "the town cow," repairing the streets and sidewalks, the suppres sion of weeds along the sidewalks and the removal of waste paper and sweepings from the streets. By the cattle quarantine "the town cow" soon was kept within proper bounds. Councils was moved by public sentiment to re pair unsightly sidewalks and cut down the tall weeds. The Club bought a dozen garbage cans and distributed them in various parts of the town so that shopkeepers and householders could put their waste paper and trash in them Through the eflbre of the club the barreu square at the railroad station was transformed iuto a park. The railroad company fenced the park, set out the trees, and furnished the gravel for side walks. The Commercial Club paid paid for the work of grading, graveling the walks, and a supply of grass seed. The women's organ ization planned the walks and flower beds and superintended the planting. Much of that work was done by members. Two flower parks were placed in the town square under the sole care of the Civic Improvement Club. These formerly were vacant lots, adorned only by hitching posts, weeds, and a sundry collection of tin cans. All the plants, flower seeds, and shrubbery were sup plied by friends of the club. ' In addition, the club was active in getting seventy-five trees plant ed in the highways, and now is urging the planting of 500 more. For the benefit of the boys and girls of the town the club is plan ning for the establishment of a public library. Just Wanted the Ea rth. "Lawd," prayed the old colored deacon, "send us a bright prospect, but don't let it blazel Or, ef it does blaze, send down a flood to put it out but not enough water tcr drown us! Give us good craps, but not too much cbttonfer de sheriff tor levy on. Make us thankful fer what we receive, an' keep us receivin'. We're all po' creeturs, Lawd, but we won't be po' no longer ef you'll only make us rich.'--Frank LStantion. The Southern and Bessemer City cotton mills were sold under the hammer at Bessemer City Wednes day by Ceasar Cone, receiver. The Southern mill was bought by George Stephens, of Charlotte, representing a syndicate of credit ors, for 9110,500. The Bessemer City mill sold to Gen. John G. Gill, of Baltimore, for $45,000. Soldier Balks Death Plot. It seemed to J. A. Stone, a civil war veteran, of Kemp, Tex., that a plot existed between a desperate lung trouble and the grave to cause his death '1 contracted a stub born cold," ho writes, "that de veloped a cough that to me, in spite of all remedies, for years. My weight ran dowu to 130 pounds. Then I began to use Dr. King's New Discovery, which restored my health completely. I now weigh 178 pounds." For severe Colds, obstinate Coughs, Hemorrhages, Astbna, and to prevent Pneumonia it's unrivaled, 50 els. and $1.00. Trial bottle free. Guaranteed by K. L. Lawing. RICHLY MERITED TRIBUTE The Movement to Honor the Women of the Confederacy as Seen by a Northern Newspaper. Now York Tribune. However tho people of the country may differ as to the issues involved in the civil war, there can be only one opinion regarding the bill introduced in the Legis lature of South Carolina providiug for a monument to the women of the Confedracy. Full recognition of the heroism of these women has been unanimously accorded by Northern as Well as Southern writers, and it is fitting that future generations should have a visible reminder of the self-sacrifice of that part of the population which did its heroic work during four dark years, not to tue inspring music oi the military baud or in that excite ment of the battlefield which leads to self-forgetfulness, but on the de serted plantation, in the midst of almost inconceivable hardships. In any war the women arc called upon to carry fully as large a share of the burden as the men. It is not they who bear the arms and who hear the whistling of the bul lets over the field of battle, gray with smoke, but it is the women's ears that are strained for news from the front, and the women's hearts that ache for those uever to return. For them there is none of the inspiration which a united host creates; they must carry not only their own burdeus, but in many instances are compelled to pick up those laid down by the men who have gone to the front. All that the North suffered du ring the war the South suffered two-fold. The South was drained of its strong men to an exteut hard ly conceivable in the North. Not only were tho women left to carry on almost all the work of their country, year after year, with such assistance as they could secure from the negros who had remained faithful to them, but they were to a large extent deprived of the means with which to perform the simplest and most necessary tasks. Over and over agaiu the crops they had planted and hoped to harvest were destroyed and their field laid waste. There homes were in many instances pre-emptied by their ene mies, and many of them spent their days in nursing not only their own soldiers, but also the suffering men in blue. No one will begrudge the women of the South the monument which the men of theSouth are pro posing to erect in their honor. It is one more merited tribute to an ex ample of heroism which has few equals in the history of civilization. Random Shots. I shot an arrow into the air, it fell in the distance, I knew not where, till a neighbor said that I killed his calf, and I had to pay him six and a half ($0.50). I bought some poison to slay some rats, aud a neighbor swore that it killed his cats; and rather" than argue across the fence, I paid him four dollars and fifty cents $4.50). One night I set sailing a toy bal loon, and hoped it would soar till it reached the moon; but the candle fell out on a farmer's straw, and he said I must settle or go to law. Aud that is the way with the ran dom shot, it never hits in the pro per spot; and the joke you spring, that you think so smart, may leave a wound in some fellow's heart. Merchants Journal. C. C. & O. Completed to Bostic. Bristol, Tenu., Feb. 4.-With the completion of the steel bridge over the Holston river at King- sport, Tenn., today the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway, the new coal carrier,- was completed between St Taiil, Va., and Bostic, Nr 0.The- first coal -shipment over this road will be carried from the Clinchfield properties iu Vir ginia into the piedmont section of North Carolina this week. This road, built mainly by New York capital, has cost upwards of $50, 000,000. It is now being extend ed to Spartanburg, S. C. Don't be "smarty." Real wit is to "smartness" as a five-pound box of marrons to an "all-day sucker." r STATE WIDE Miss Eflie Stewart, a student at Salem Academyj Winston-Salem eloped with Mr. R. E. Wall last week. The young couple went to Blacksburg, S. C, where the cere mony was performed. The recent cold wave is reported to have destroyed the early peach crops in Scotland county. The trees were nearly in full bloom and it is feared that the trees might have been damaged also. The wife of Dr. C. Alphous Smith of Chapel Hill, wad pain fully injured several days ago by falling down s tail's aud breaking a bone in hc.i ankle. It is thought that the injury will cause no serious results. The citizens of of Reidsville have organized a law and order league to aid officers in iuforcing the, prohibition statute. The best citizens of the town are pushing forward the movement and it is thought that the town will be much benefitted thereby. Tho American schooner Belle O'Neill, bound from Perth Am boy to Savannah was straudid off cape Lookout two miles from shore Wednesday night. Messages say that the vessel had gone to pieces i and with the cargo was au entire loss. The crew were rescued by life savers. ' Madame Calve visited the State Normal College at Greensboro Thursday morning and sang for the student body. After which she took a walk through the college park, visited the barn and dairy, where she insited upon drinking some of the fresh milk out of a new tin cup at hand. Dwieht, the 8 year old boy of R. A. Crowell living near Alber marla fcund a dynamite cap sever al days ago and thinking it to be an unloaded shell filled with dirt, began to pick it out The , cap exploded, blowing three fingers of the boys left hand, and it is almost a miricle that ho was not instantly killed. Clarendon bridge, a famous old structure spanning the Cape Fear river at Fayettville, was burned last week. The origin of the fire is unknown but started in a pile of debris left upon it by the August floods, which it stood remarkably well. The bridge was a thousand teet long and was insured for 25,000. The public of Notth Carolina were startled last week by the suicides of two prominent men of of the. state: That of Charles F. Wads worth in the Hotel Clegg at Greensboro and Addison F, Cox, at Thomasville. - Both men ended their life by Shooting through the temple"."- Ill health is supposed to be the cause in both cases. While Will Honeycuttof near Mortimer, was being taken to jail last Friday night, for retailing the officers in charge were fired on from- ambushbyfriends pfthe prisoner. Deputy Garland was painfully though not seriously wounded and the prisnor Was kill ed instantly by a shot from his would be rescuers in their attempt to slay the officers. - Engineer P. D. Roueche, of Salisbury, who was crippled for life in a wreck at Black Mountain four years ago, has brought suit against the Southern railway for $50,000. Mr. Roueche lay for two years after the .wreck in a hospital and is now forced to use an invalids chair. He was the oldest engineer on the road and this was his first serious wreck. Miss Louise Sowell, whose home is in Rock Hill, S. C. had quite an experience in Charlotte a few days ago. The young lady recent ly won an automobile in the circulation contest of the Columbia State, and with her parents had made a pleasure trip over to Char lotte. In some way she got her finger fastened in parts of the mechanism about the machine and after attempting for nearly an hour to remove the finger it was necessary to saw away the brass iu which it was caught. 1 AROUND THE WORLD. Ultras of Interest From All Parts of The World Condensed For Tbe Benefit of Tho News' Batj Readers. Lucy Mitchell a young white woman living near Roanoke, Va., is on trial for the murder of 17 year old Minnie McBryde in the latter's home last summer. The murdered girl was soon to have beeu married. Her murderer is supposed to be weak minded. The fifth venire of 500 men each has been drawn in an effort to se cure a jury for the trial of the Coopers and only 10 men are in the box at the end of three weeks. Charges were brought against three jurors that had been chosen and they were subsequently dis missed. Virginia will soon elect her new Governor and already the interest is waxing warm and the canidates contiuue to come forward and offer their service. State wide prohibition will be one of the issues of the campaign, and all indications point to a hotly con tested battle. President Roosevelt was recent ly offered $300,000 by a circus man of Bridgeport, Conn., to do a Rough Rider stunt in connection with the performance. This sum is just six times as much as the President has received as his year ly salary, but he regarded the dig nity for which his position calls, more than the price. v The passing of the Johnnson bill by the California Assembly, thereby compelling Jananese children to attend seperate schools, has caused quite a protest to arise from the Japs here and in their native land. President Roosevelt opposes the action aud will test it iu thehighercourtstofind whether or not the bill is constitutional. He further says that the bill is offensive. Mabel Sturtevaut of Brookficld, Mo., has just won the Brown scholarship prize of $2500 in a competition open to the world. Her mother raised vegetable! and took boarders and the daughter had to give three years of her stu dent life to help her mother. She finally finished at the State Uni versity and won a trip to Europe where she learned of the world prize she had won. George Busse, brother of the mayor of Chicago accidentally shot aud killed Mrs. Lucis Tuck erman in her home in that city last week. Busse was showing his revolver to a maid when it exploded, the bullet passing across au areaway into the woman's apartments and struck her in the heart. Her little 7-year old son witnessed the tragedy. Busse is nearly overcome with grief and physicians are attending him. The Helpful World. Give the young and struggling a word of encouragement wheu ' you can. You would not leave those plants in your window boxes without water, nor refuse to open the shutters that the Sunlight might fall upon them, - but - you would leave some human flower to suffer from want of appreciation or the sunlight of encouragement, there are a few hardy souls that can struggle along on stony soil- shrubs that can wait for the dew and sunbeams, vines that climb without kindly training but only a few. Utter the kind wtodwhen you can see that it is deserved. The thought that - "no one cares aud no one knows," blights many a budjif promise. Be it the artist at his easel, the young preacher iu "" his pulpit, the workman at his bench, the boy at his mathematical problem, or your little girl at tho piano, give what praise you can. Opelika Post Don't giggle. A merry heart may be a good medicine, but the chronic giggler is like unto the pa tent nostrums. She should be legislated against
The Lincoln Times (Lincolnton, N.C.)
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Feb. 9, 1909, edition 1
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