4 THE SUN Has More Than Double The Circulation of Any Weekly Paper iu The Tenth Congres sional District, Comprising Thirteen Large Counties. xLhe THESUN Has More Than Doable The Circulation of Any Weekly Papei in The Tenth Congres sional District, Comprising Thirteen Large Counties. VOL. J6. NO. 2. RUTHERFORDTON, N. C THURSDAY, CECEMBER 19, t9J2. $1.00 A YEAR. THE SUN HAS THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY WEEKLY IN THE TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. WORKINGS OF THE NEW PARCELS POST THE SYSTEM APPROVED BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL. Instructions As To Different Articles To Be Transported By The Government-New Branch Of Postal Service Will Be Put In Operation January 1st. (Clialottt- Duly Observer.) The regulations that cover in detail the workings of the new parcels post system have been approved by Post master General Hitchcock, and the pamphlets containing them are being turned off at the Government Printing Office on a rush order for distribution. This new branch of the postal service will afford the American people the opportunity to send farm and factory products by mail from and to any point in the United States or its pos sessions. The minimum zone rate will be five cents for the first uound and three cents for each additional pound to any point not exceeding 50 miles from the office of mailing; the local rate, which is five cents for the first pound and one cent for each additional pound, ap plies to all parcels the delivery of which does not involve their trans portation on railway lines. The rates increase for each successive one of the eight zones, the maximum rate being 12 cents a pound which will carry a parcel across the continent or to any of our possessions. Parcels will be limited to 11 pounds in weight and six feet in length and girth combined. MAILABLE PERISHABLE ARTI CLES. Butter, lard and perishable articles such as fish, fresh meats, dressed fowls, vegetables, fruits, berries and articles of a similar nature that decay quickly, when so packed or wrapped as to prevent damage to other mail matter, will be accepted for local de livery either at the office or mailing or on any rural route starting therefrom. When enclosed in an inner cover and a strong outer cover of wood, metal, heavy corrugated pasteboard, or oth er suitable material and wrapped so that nothing can escape from the pack age, they will be accepted for mailing to any offices within the first .one or within a radius of 50 miles. Butter, lard, or any greasy or oily substance intended for delivery at offices beyond the first zone must be suitably packed Vegetables and fruits that do not de cay Quickly will be accepted for mail ing to any zone ir packed so as to pre vent damage to other mail matter Eggs will be accepted for local deliv ery when securely packed in a basket or other container. Eggs will be ac cepted for mailing regardless of dis tance when each egg is wrapped sep arately and packed in a container. There is no restriction on salted, dried, smoked or cured meats and other meat products but fresh meat in any form will be transported only within the first zone. Parcels containing perishable arti cles must be marked "'perishable" and articles likely to spoil within the time reasonably required for transporta tion and delivery will not be accepted lor mailing. MANUFACTURED ARTICLES. Manufacturers or dealers intending to transmit articles in considerabie quantities are asked to submit to the postmaster for approval a specimen parcel showing the manner of packiner. When sharp-pointed instruments are offered for mailing, the pointed must be capped or encased. Blades must be bound so that they will remain firmly attached to each other or with in their handles or sockets. Ink, powders, pepper, snuff, or other similar powders not explosive, or any similar pulverized dry substance, not poisonous, may be sent when enclosed in cases made of metal, wood or other material to render impossible the es cape of any of the contents. Flour of all kinds must he put up in such a manner as to prevent the package breaking or cracking or the flour be iDg scattered in the mails. Queen bees, live insects, and dried reptiles may be mailed in accordance with the regulations that now apply to other classes of mail. Seeds of fruit, Dursery stock, and all other plant products for propagation may be mailed under the same condi tions. Candies, confectionery, yeast cakes, soP in bard cakes, etc., must be en closed in boxes and so wrapped as to prevent injury to other mail matter, Sealed original packages of pro prietary articles, such as soaps, tobac co, pills, tablets, etc., put up in fixed quantities by the manufacturer, and not in themselves unmailable, will be accepted for mailing when properly wrapped. , Fragile articles, such as millinery, toys, musical instruments, etc., and article consisting wholly or in part of glass, or contained glass, must be se curely packed and the parcel stamped or labeled "fragile.'' UNMAILABLE MATTER. The following matter is declared non-mailable by law: Matter manifestly obscene, lewd, or lascivious; articles intended for pre venting conception; articles intended for indecent or immoral purposes; all matter otherwise mailable by law, the outside coyer or wrapper of which bears any delineations or language of a libelous, scurrilous, defamatory or threatening character. All such mat te., when deposited in a postoffice or found in the mails, shall be withdrawn and sent to the Division of Dead Let ters. Spirituous, vinous, malted, ferment ed or other intoxicating liquors of any kind and articles and compositions containing poison, poisonous animals, insects and reptiles; explosives of ev ery kind; inflammable materials, (which are held to include matches, kerosene oil, gasoline, naptha, ben zine, turpentine, denatured alcohol, etc.); infernal machines and mechan ical, chemical or other devices on com positions which may ignite or explode; Jisease germs or scabs and other na tural or artificial articles, composi tions, or materials of whatever kind which may kill, or in any wise injure another -r damage the mail or other property. Pistols or revolvers, whether in de tached parts or otherwise: live or dead (and not stuffed) animals, birds or poultrv: raw hides or pelts, guano, or any article having a bad odor will not b3 admitted to the mails. TREATMENT OF UN DELI V HRA BLE PARCELS. Perishable matter will be delivered as promptly as possible, but if such uaa"tter cannot be delivered and be comes offensive and injurious to health, postmasters may destroy it, or the injurious or offensive portion thereof. Undeliverable perishable matter which in its nature does not become offensive or injurious to health may be delivered by postmasters to the proper local municipal authority to be distributed to hospitals, asylums or other charitable or reformatory insti tutions. If there is no such munici pal authority, the matter may be de livered to any charitable institution or organization making application therefor. If no application is made, the matter will be destroyed at the ex piration of two weeks. Postmasters will refuse to receive for mailing parcels not properly en dorsed or packed for safe shipment. When parcels on which the postage is wholly unpaid or insufficiently pre paid is deposited for local delivery and the sender is unknown, notice of detention need not be sent but such matter will be delivered and the defi cient postage collected from the ad dressee by the carrier. If the addres see refuses to pay the postage the mat ter will be sent to the Division of Dead Letters. INSURANCE ON PARCELS. A mailable parcel on which the post age is fully prepaid may be insured against loss in an amount equivalent to its actual value, but not to exceed $50, on payment of a fee of 10 cents in parcel post stamps, such stamps to be affixed. When a parcel is insured, the sender will be given a receipt showing the office and date of mailing and number of the parcel. When a return receipt is desired by the sender of an insured parcel the postmaster at the mailing office will note the request on the margin of the insurance taer, and the postmaster at the office of address will obtain from the addressee a receipt and mail it to the sender. The liability for indemnity shall cease when delivery has been effected. Parcels may be re-mailed or forward ed on the payment of additional post age at the rate which would be charge able if they were originally mailed at the forwarding office, in which case the necessary stamps will be affixed by the forwarding postmaster. Payment must be made every time the parcel is forwarded. Parcels must be prepared for mail ing in such manner that the contents can be easily examined. A parcel will not be accepted for mailing unless it bears the name and address of the sender preceded by the word From." In addition to the name and address of tbe sender, which is required, it will be permissible to write or print on the covering of a parcel, or on a tag or label attached to it, the occupation of the sender and to indicate in a small space by means of marks, the letters. numbers, names or otber brief descrip tion, the character of the parcel, but ample space must be left ou the ad dress side for the full address in legi ble characters and for the necessary postage stamps. Inscriptions sucn as "Merry Christmas," "Please do not open until Christmas," "Happy New Year," "With Best Wishes." and the like, may be placed on the covering of the parcel in such manner as not to interfere with the address. The law requires that the postage on all matter must be prepaid by distinct ive parcel post stamps affixed. Post masters cannot receive for mailing parcels that do not bear such stamps. Parcel post stamps are not valid for the payment of postage on matter of the first, second and third classes, and when used for that purpose, the matter to which they are affixed shail be treat ed as "Held for postage." Parcel post maps, with accompany ing guides, are to be be sold to the public at their cost, 75 cents, through the chief clerk of the Postoffice Depart ment. In ordering maps care should be taken to specify the postoffice from which the postage rates are to be determined. LIQUOR BILL UP. Denunciation Of Mail Order Business As An Enemy Of State Proeibition. (By the Associated Press.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. Denun ciation of the mail order liquor busi ness as the enemy of State prohibi tion, characterized the opening hear ing today in the Senate for the pas sage of the Sheppard-Kenyon bill to prohibit the shipment of liquor across State lines into "dry" territory. Gal leries were thronged with men and wo men identified with the National Tem perance movement. Consideration of the bill was devot ed to addresses in its support by Sen ators Sanders, of Tennesse, and Mc Cumber, of North Dakota, both of whom had introduced bills similar to the measure pending. Legislative rules threw the back to the regular calendar when the short debate was interrupted by the conven ing of the Archbald court of impeach ment. Members will demand that a gain it be taken up, however, and an effort probably will be made soon to have it brought before the Senate as "unfinished business" insuring its daily consideration until it finally is disposed of. Interest in the constitutionality of the proposed law was manifest through out the day's debate. Senator Mc Cumber declared efforts to give State governments power to seize liquor shipments as soon as they crossed the State lines must fall, because the Su preme Court invariably had held such legislation to oe unconstitional. The Federal Government has entire right, he declared, to prohibit the ship ment of liquor into prohibition States. The measure pending which passed the House as the Sheppard bill, prohibits the present mail order and express or der business in liquor, in States where local prohibition prevails. PELLAGRA SPREADS. In Six Years Disease Has Claimed Not Less Than 30,000 Victims. (By the Associated Press.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 Pellagra is spreading in the United States and in the six years it has been known to med ical authorities has claimed not less than 30,000 victims with a fatality rate in excess of 40 per cent, according to a report of the Pablic Health Service to day. "It has reached," the report contends, "the dignity of a public health question of National importance." The report gives these figures by States for the period 1907-1911 : Virginia, total cases 628, deaths 349, deat rate per hundred cases, 35 per cent ; North Carolina, cases 2,412, deaths 1,067, rate 44 per cent; South Carolina, cases 1,880, deaths 582, rate 31 per cent; Georgia, cases 4,558, deaths 1,582, rate 34 per cent; Kentucky, 513, deaths 220, rate 43 per cent ; Alabama, cases 3,314, deaths 859, rate 37 per cent ; Mississippi, cases 2,895, deaths 1,250, rate 43 per cent; Louisiana, cases 670, deaths 296, rate 44 per cent The figures show pellagra either prev alent or sporadic -in the greater part of the United States, but particularly se rious in the Souih. UNION MILLS MATTERS. A Busy Week With Round Hill Stu dents Personals. fSnerial to The Sun.) UNION MILLS, Dec. 17. Attorney Robert S. Eaves, of Rutherfordton, was up Sunday to see his mother, Mrs. J. B. Eaves, who has been quite sick for some time, but we are erlad to learn is much better. Mr. John Stallings, who has been engaged in railroad work in Georgia for the past several months, has re turned to his home here, Mr. Vivian T. Davis, of Forest City, spent Saturday and Sunday in Union Mills with friends. Messrs. P. B. Logan and G. W. Morgan made a business trip to West minster Saturday. Mr. T. A. Bridges is having lumber delivered on the lot he recently pur chased from Mr. J - C. Guffey, where he will build another store house at an early date. Our mayor is due a vote of thanks for the improvements that have been made on the streets durinf the past few days, which had been needing very much. Mr. D. G. Padgett, the famous cab bage plant grower, of Rutherfordton, R-l, was in Union Mills last Thurs day taking orders for his plants. Everybody is looking forward with much pleasure to tho Mclver's public Friday night next, which promises to be one of the best of the season. There has been no pains spared in ureparing the proaramme, which is said to be exceptionally good. If you want to spend a deliarhtful evening, come out. It is a busy time with the Round Hill students this week, preparing for the second quarterly examinations, Thursday and Friday, but, as the holidays are almost here and they will get to rest, they do not care so much for it. The school will close Friday and remain closed until Tuesday, December 31st., when it will take up again. There will be a Christmas tree at Round Hill church Christmas Day for the Sunday school students and the little ones are looking forward with pleasant anticipations. Mr. Frank Freeman has gone to Caroleen where he has a position in Savings Bank. Mr. L. A. Hamrick, who recently sold his house and lot to Mr. C. M. Lewis, is this week movinsr io Spar tanburg, S. C, where he is engaged in business. We are informed that Mrs McCall, of McDowell county, will move in the house vacated by Mr. Hamrick the first of the year. GILKEY NEWS. School To Give Christmas Enter tainment Friday Night. (Special to The Sun.) GILKEY, Pec. 18. Mr. C. F. Chne left Monday night for a short trip to Asheville and Canton. Rev. Albert Shernll's first, sermon on Wednesday night was very much enjoyed by the Gilkey people. Prof. E. J. Abernethy, of Caroleen, spent Saturday in Gilkey. There will be a Christmas entertain ment at the school house Friday night, December 20th. Following is the pro gram: Song: Welcome Glad Christmas Time. Recitation: Let All The Children Love Him. Recitation: A Christmas Thought. Song: Baby Dear. Recitation: I Wonder. Sonsr: Jolly Old St. Nicholas. Recitation: When Santa Claus Comes. Song: Come And Spend Christmas With Me. Recitation: Signs of Christmas. Dialogue: Trials of a School Teacher. Play: Christmas Night. Song: Joy Bells. Recitation: Forty Years Ago. Song: The Song of Songs. Recitation: Annie And Willie's Prayer. Play: Christmas at Skeeter Corner. Miss Pauline Geer, who is attending school at Mars Hill College, is ex pected home soon for the Christmas holidays. In anticipation of an unusually heavy Christmas rush, calls for extra assistance, it is reported by the Post office Department, are being made by postoffices all over the country. The fact that the parcels post system will be inaugurated January 1 also con fronts postmasters and many of the emergency employes may become per manent fixtures as the result of the increased work. WALLS NEWS NOTES. Mrs. D. M. Spratk Returns Home From Hospiial Personals. -. (Special' to The Sun.) WALL'S, Dec. 16. We have been having some favorable weather this week. Farmers are plowing some. Mr. W. E. Padgett spent Sunday at Mr. W. L. Lee's. Mr. E. A. Jones is very low with pneumonia. We hope he will soon recover. Mrs. D. M. Spratt returned to her home near here Saturday from the Rutherford Hospital where she has been for some time. We are glad to see her home again. Miss Annie Harrill. who has been with her sister, Mrs. W. D. Edwards, for the past two weeks, returned home Sunday. The Wall's school is in a flourishing condition just now. We are proud of Mr. Stockton's fine work. The school will close Friday for Christmas. Mr. W. L. Lee made a business trip to Forest City Saturday. Messrs. J. C. Bridges and J. E. Bostic returned last week from Meck lenberg county, Virginia, where they have been inspecting land. They will probably move tneir families there. Mr. E. T. Weasj has moved his saw mill from our section to Mr. Dile Bridge's place near Hopewell. Messrs. E. T. Weast and W. L. Lee will make a trip to Juliette, Ga., in a few days. Miss l assie Byers, our assistant school teacher, spent the latter part of last week in Ellenboro on account of the illness of her sister-in-law, Mrs. Chivous Byers. Miss Alda Bostic had charge of the school during Miss Byers' absence. Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Early visited Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Davis Sunday. Mr. Jeff Earley will move into the Bud Davis house soon. Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Padgett, of Bos tic, were here one night last week Mr. Fay Hollifleld was here Sunday in his auto. Dr. C. O. Champion, of Mooresboro, was in this section Thursday. RABID FARM MULE BREAKS INTO HOUSE A STRANGE STORY FROM BOIL ING SPRINGS, S. C. The Mad "Critter" Enters Mr. Charlie Chapman's Home At Late Hour In Night And After Breaking Up Furni ture And Frightening Family Is Shot THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE Custom Originated With Northmen Hanging Their Stockings. Across the English Channel, where the Gauls and the Franks and the north men observed the stern rites of the se vere religion of a strong hearted race, trees formed an important part in the festal observances of the feast days. The pine tree ever in all ages an object of deserved admiration was greatly re vered by the northern folk. At the time of the midwinter celebration the north men hung gifts upon the tree for their gods. As is readily seen, when the ear ly fathers of the church came to this fierce people with their message of peac? it was easy to change the ideas of gifts proffered to heathern deities into a cus tom where offerings were made to the Christian God. Thus from such humble beginnings began the cherished customs which are our heritage of today. Gift giving on the birthday of Christ may be logically traced to that observance prevalent in the middle ages of having Christmas boxes wherein offerings were placed for the priests. Christmas boxes erradaally became au institution in Christian fami lies as well. Hanging op the stockings on Christ mas eve, as the institution of good St. Nicholas, old Santa Claus, is of purely Christian origin and started in Germany many hundreds years ago. It has be come one ot the most cnensued or Christmas customs of the civilized world. National Mothly. UNION MILLS RURAL MEWS. Big Tract Of Timbered Land Changes Hands School Entertainment. Special to The Sun.) UNION MILLS, R-l, Dec. 17. The Oak Hill School will give an enter tainment consisting of dialogues, rec itations and vocal music on Friday, the 20th instant, beginning at 1 p. m. Let all who love school children come and we promise to please you. Mr. P. Wilkerson and family, who moved to the cotton mill last year, are moving back to the Cove and say they like here best of all. The Hutton and Bourbonnais Com pany have bought a tract of timbered land from Mr. J. Yancey and others. Mr. E. C. Harris has just surveyed the purchase and is finishing the plats and informs us it includes Indian Grove, Mikes and Rich Mountains and the Pinnacle and contains 1,500 acres. Only a few years ago this land was sold for one dollar per acre; the present purchase is at 80. 50 per acre and still is -'dirt cheap." (Spartanburg Herald, the 14th.) Aroused from their slumbers at 4 o'clock yesterday morning by a furi ous battering on the front door of their house, near Boiling Springs, Charlie Chapman, who lives on J. D. Collies' farm, and the members of his family jumped hastily from their beds to find out who was trying to batter down the house at that unearthly hour of the night-time, when suddenly the door fell in with a fearful crash and Mr. Chapman's fine farm mule gave a fu rious snort and plunged into the room and cavorted around at a furious rate, putting the occupants of the house to flight. It was a fearful moment f-r Mr. Chapman and the members of his family, for they were in constant dan ger of being struck by the iron-shod hoofs of the rabid animal or being bitten. The mule lunged and pitched about the house, rising up first on its hind legs and pawing the floor and snapDinff at everything in sight, then kicking up its hind legs, knocking ta bles, chairs and other pieces of furni ture into smithereens. FAMILY IN DANGER. When the mad mule first broke into the dwelling Mr. "Chapman was so un nerved that he lost control of himself, not knowinsr ust how to handle the situation. He soon recovered himselr, however, and made a desperate effort to get the animal out of the house, though he dared not venture close to the rabid mule. He threw open all the doors, thinking perhaps that the mule in its mad career about the house might perchance leap through one of the openings and thus free himself and family from all danger of serious harm. Hismuleship, however, refused to leave the dwelling, but held the fort, as it were, smashing pieces of furniture in first one room and then the other by its wild antics. RABID MULE IS SHUT. After toying for more than an hour to put the mule to flight and failing, Mr. Chapman decided to use force and arms in regaining possession of his home. Securing his gun and after seeing that it was heavily charged he opened fire on the mad animal. When the first shot was fired into the mule's head it gave a hoarse bellow like some wild beast of the jungle and nlunged about the room like a whale struck with a harpoon. He fired again and again, the fifth shot putting the mule out of business. NEIGHBORS GATHER. There was no more sleep for the members or the Chapman family after their exciting experiences with the mad mule. When daylight came Mr. Chap man called at the home of several neighbors, related his unusual exper ience and asked that they come over to his place and assist him in removing the dead carcass from within his house. The news spread rapidly through the country and many farm ers from the surrounding neighbor hood gathered at the house and aided Mr. Chapman in getting the dead ani mal out of the house, which was no small task. GENTLE THE PRFVIOUS NIGHT. In telling his friends of the incident, Mr. Chapman said that the mule ap peared to be perfectly gentle when he fed his stock the night before. He en tered the stall occupied by the mule and placed the corn in the trough and the animal showed no unusual symp toms, but on the other hand, appeared to be perfectly docile. After feeding the mule he securely fastened the door to the stall. Dnring the night the ani mal became afflicted with rabies, broke down the door of the stable and made for the home of his owner and pro ceeded to break into his house. Mr. Chapman is unable to account for his mule going suddenly mad and if the animal was ever bitten by a rabid dog he is not aware of the fact. Mr. Charlie Chapman is nephew of Mr. H. Al Bell, of this place. The Sun.