ONE OF THE FUNNIEST STORIES EVER WRITTEN, “ TOO MUCH EFFICIENCY”, IN EACH ISSUEOF THE STAR. A LAUGH IN EVERY LINE. reliable home paper Of Shelby And The State's pertile Farming Section, Modern Job Department, VOL" XXXIII, No. 107 Utoelanft tar SHELBY’S POPULATION 1925 Census_8,854 Where Industry Joi.is With Climate In A Call For You, . “Covers Cleveland Completely.’ SHELBY, N. C. MONDAY, DEC. 14, 1925. Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday Afternoons. $2.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE Water Service Is Extended |ncj, Main Through South Shtl ®IX Ln is |'ut in Operation—Ap proximately 1,400 Patrons H Now a six inch water main extending . nl'the South Shelby Pharmacy reariy to the new corporate limits 'n(i branching out a new street to ‘;.VP the new South Shelby School building was put in operation Friday, g{,-„rding owners living in that vl~ ■nit}. an opportunity to secure water t"‘ in addition to the water main, a sewer line was laid, thus improving sanitary conditions. Tim riew water and sewer system v.ere laid bv‘ l; J. and F. L. Wagner, local con tractor-. Along the water main there five fire hydrants which afford fire-.protection to the citizens living’ j., that vicinity. ? It is estimated that the city water! Svstem now has 1,400 patrons and this number is being added to every week. Supt. W. V. Toms stated yes terday that 134* water connections hnd , been made so far this year and that I 237 light connections had been added, showing that these facilities are be ing gi'cn to the property owners as rapidly as possible. This large num ber of new services connections is fine indication of the rapid growtl of the town and it looks as if records this year will exceed any previous year. Putnam Will Leaves $1,000 To Church The Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Rev. Will Walters, pastor, of the Cherry vine section, has been willed $1,000 to be used by its deacons “to do as they think best” by the late M. A. Putman, who died last week in the Lincoln ton hospital, it was learned Saturday from Clerk of Superior C urt S. C. Hendricks, 0f Gaston County.. The will, in the form " of a letter, was addressed to the deceased's bro ther. George Putman. Fifteen shares of Building and Loan stock were be queathed to two of the man’s nieces a-Hl nephews, John William and May Putman. They will receive this amount when they become 21 years of age. Mr. Putmann, lived in Shelby for 5cars and was engaged in the meat business here. He left Shelby about months before his death going to Cherryvilie and entering busi iie.'v with his brother. Ideal Ice To Build Dressed Poultry Plant Special Building With Cold Storage for Dressed poultry to be Erect ed Here. ' • B. Cabaness, secretary-treasur er °f the Ideal Ice and Fuel Company announced yesterday after a visit to !' llkesboro where he inspected a dressed poultry plant, that the Ideal h’e Company will begin right away ^he erection of a similar plant for this territory, the same to be run in connection with the present Ice and cold storage plant here. Live chick ens, turkeys, ducks geese will be pur *d5.ea trom the farmers, killed, ressed and placed on cold storage. ‘ roni the storage plant the dressed ! '\v!s will be sold at wholesale to ho cafes and meat markets through 0U! th.is section. Mr. Cabaniss says L f‘le *s a demand for such a plant in !territory and that he expects ater to milk-feed the chickens be they are killed, as milk fed chick (i - are considered more of a delicacy 'n< ^ring higher prices. Chickens ' 'pd dry buttermilk for seven .ajs l*cfore killing, such a feed add '"g to the weight and improving the tlavor. * ^1e dressed poultry department W|l occupy a building 20X50 feet ‘'l w'^ be of brick construction with le '°bl storage compartment in con n'.tt,“«- ft is expected that the plant be ready for operation the first of the year. New Central Church Scene Of Small Fire 1 lie fire department responded to alarm Saturday afternoon only a u block away, to the rear of Con i'11 Methodist church, where the awn l,lkrsf.on the rear window had caught o" ire presumably from a falling •sl>ark from a nearby chimney. ,nt' or two of the awnings were Pitied while the window ledges were '"im-what charred, but the blaze was ll,sruished by chemicals from the (lu'n, tlUC*t before little damage was l'tith a clean record for October in n'l‘V 's makin£ UP for fire alarms sin ■ having had three calls bv"..1 e first. One was at the Shel „ a‘e the other to the Eskridge and the third to the church ,t'Ur,u«s Saturday. 1 mmmmmk MRS. FRANCIS BACK IN JAIL AFTER SUNDAY NIGHT VISIT 10 GANG CAMP Visited Bang Camp Again Surniaj Night and Carried Box of Chick en Presumably for Old Lover Several final chapters have been written to Cleveland county’s colorful Francis-1 ‘hi lbeck romance, but .appar ently all were only intermissions ard the episode is a serial story that will perhaps never end, that is in the life of Mrs. Francis and the husky Phil beck. Back in the county jail again is the nr.ee beautiful woman, Mrs. Francis. The lure of the man for whom she left her home, husband and children and over whom she served a jail sen tence, is sdemingly too strong to re sist. Sunday night she made anothet visit to the county convict camp, where Sloan Philbeck is a prisoner. And the visit was forbidden by law Back when the trial was attend 1 y hundreds the judge in sending the two illegal lovers up forbid their eve? seeing or talking to each other again Then Mrs. Francis served her time, and shortly thereafter she was appre r.ended near the convict comp when, her arstwhile lover was confined. A preliminary trial resulted in her ac quittal. The evidence was none too I indir.g. but more has been added to the story. Sunday night, Claude Harrill,, gang camp official, became suspicious and be called in Chief B. O. Hamrick and Policeman Hester. They waited about the camp for what might happen. About 10 o'clock they say a car stop ped near the cemetery. Mrs. Francis wot out and made her way to ti e camp. The officers followed and learn ing enough to classify her mission, they say, she was arrested and taken to jail. Took Him Chicken. Love Is always mindiul, or so tao.se stricken with romance say. Lnder her arm, presumably for the husband of another woman she loved, Mrs. Fran cis carried, officers declare, an ap petizing array of chicken—something to break the routine meals the con victs are given. Never say again that a woman knows not the way to me mart of man. Just who she was talking to or what, ivas said when the officers stepped jp hasn't been told, but Messrs. Har •m Hamrick and Hester know that his time the woman was en route to the- camp, for they arrested her after ,he had arrived, not while on her way. Just what the judge's terms were ibout the couple, both married to oth ?r people, seeing each other again Is i matter of memory. Those who at tended the trial should remembet. Mow, it looks as if what the judge said may be said over again. The postlude of this chapter of Hie romance that continues to bloom de spite prison bars and convict chains is to be written yet. The date of tho hearing hasn’t been set. Mrs. Hill Hudson and infant daugh r, Carolyn, re-entered the Shelby ospital yesterday where the oa>y, hich has not been doing so well,,is iHlergoiug treatment, j Schools To Close I Friday For Holidays The city schools of Shelby will close Friday afternoon, of this week. December 18, for the Christmas holidays and will re main closed until- Monday, Jan uary 4, according to an an nouncement today by I. C. Grif fin, city superintendc nt. In connection with the holi days it is further announced by the schools for the benefit of parents and others that on Fri day morning at the f:rst period the children of all the e.lemen tary grades will give Christmas carols and program to which the public is invited. Friday from 12 o'clock to 1:30 the high school punils will ren der a Christmas program at Central school. < Agent Announces Poultry Car Coming A live poultry car will be placed at the Seaboard Station Wednesday, Morning December 16, 1925. All far mers having poultry for sale must bring it by 3 p. m. The following prices will be paid at the car for all [poultry loaded. Turkeys 27 cents a pound. Hens 20 cents a pound. Cocks 10 cents a pound. Do not bring chickens with their j feet tied or in sacks. Your county agt. will be at the car. Hitchcock Says New Farm Demonstrator Fine With Poultry T. C. Hitchcock, proprietor of the Cherokee Poultry Farm is highly pleased with Alvin Hardin, the new farm demonstrator who succeeded R. E. Lawrence the first of December. Mr. Hardin has a thorough know ledge of poultry, having at one time operated a plant of his own, which gave him practical experience along this line. Rece.ntly he visited the Hitchcock farm and gave him valu able pointers and when one can give Mr. Hitchcock pointers he must be an expert because Mr. Hitchcock is regarded locally as one of the most thoroughly posted men in this indus try. It is therefore worthy of note that Mr. Hardin, is in the position to give poultry raisers in Cleveland wonderful assistance and that he can be had for the asking. Cleveland is rapidly forging to the front as a poultry producing county and with fWr. Hardin here to offer advise and suggestions, the poultry industry 'holds a bright future for many. Attorney Mull’s Hudson Car StQlen On Saturday Night — T Attorney O. M. Mull's Hudson su per-six coach was stolen Saturday night at 6 o’clock frojn in front of hl3 office in the Webb building on War ren street while he was ii» Austell’s barber shop getting a shave. He had been gone from his gwr^nly half aa 1 hour when he returned to find it gone from the spot where he had parkeit it after returning from the Cleveland Springs golf course. No trace what ever is left as to the identity of the thief or thieves, except suspicion that it might be taken to Florida. Tom Eskridge, groceryman, in the Roys ter building says two or three strange looking youths whose appearance w ould indicate that they were not above such a crime, came in the gro cery store about that hour of the ev ening and asked the route to Florida. They were riding in an old Chandlet and soon left. Many telegrams went out Saturday to police officials to keep on the look out but no trace or clue had been J found Monday. The car was about • year old. No insurance was carried. High School Will Give Fine Comedy The senior class of the Shely High school will present an entertaining four-act comedy, "Second Story Peggy”, Tuesday night at 8 o’clock in the Central school auditorium. The play is directed by Miss Mae Wash burn and the cast is as follows: Mrs. Delancey, a woman of words— Blanche Dudley. Billy Durand, her star boarder— Whitelaw Kendall. Daisy, a little smarter than she looks—Elizabeth Spangler. Murphy, the cop on the boat—Ver non Grigg. Helen Henderson, more fickle than faithful—Olive Singleton. Kenneth Sterling, the luck man(?) —Heyward Austell. Peggy, wanted by the police—Lula Moore Suttle. Dexter, a detective—William Har ris. Noah Perkins, fresh as a country egg—Claude Hoke Thompson. The music will be furnished by the high school orchestra, a treat in ie self. Banquets And Dances At Cleveland Springs Cleveland Springs hotel is putting on gala attire for the holiday season with a large Christmas tree in the spa cious lobby and forest trees through out the dining room. Evergreens and Christmas decorations adorn the walls Manager Vanstory has booked five elaborate banquets and three dances to be held during the Christmas sea son. These banquets and dances begin the 18th and continue through until New Year, with a few open dates which he exDects to fill up between now and Christmas. Special Christ mas menus will be served and club 1 orate preparations are being made to i reflect the spirit of the season in a!! 171 Members of Masonic Order En joy One of Lodge’s Outstanding Occasions Friday Evening. The Master Masons of Shelby and surrounding section, builders of tbe handsome Masonic tethole tut the court square corner, will mark dew a Friday evening past as one of tl'.eii most outstanding occasions in the’i public relations record. One hundred and seventy-one member* of Clev*> land Lodge N’o. 202 A. T\ and A. M were most royalty lunquete 1 in the magnified ; b my.j“' hall of tin* temple by the Woman’s ebib-of ShntfiI as the “Chiistmas shoti-erV Edition." It* it the men he.'t. nf Shelby will [a ant in the advertising t'vliM.'ns th.br gifts suigest ions rod t V a.no.s .Kindl'd* bargains ofierp.i for ii.bay shoppers. I'- i t ill' all I \';.l merehnr.ts In th s i ■ mi: if is.»ue present :.a ■, ■< f ."I•'I' and in such a" "i t • vvj:l .;ake shopping M 1 for < • eland county folks. it ■!«» v id Ive only even more shopi.lny d;,\ :.'t r Wednerday. Tb.it mean- a week parked with rushing about t get the last nitrite rift i nd everything in reiiln e; t. So ti e this is; v of Tie Star to an advantage. Let the advertising columns of your favorite county paper help you h this last week's rush befoio he greatest of holidays. Mountain Cotton Now Moves Ahead Charlotte Observer Interested in Cot ton in Mountain Counties Sees Great Progress Made. The Observer has been interested in the progressive sweep of the “cotton belt" up into the mountains. It was not so long ago that cotton-growing in the upper regions of Cleveland county was regarded a risky venture, but last year Cleveland went up next to head in cotton production. John son county alone, being above her. Since then cotton-growing has been steadily advancing toward the ranges. We had lost track of the experiment started several years ago in the moun tain county of Burke, but last week there was opportunity to get the in formation first hand from County Agent Sloan, who reports a cotton crop in that county the past season of over 1,000 bales. So new is this in dustry there that the grower ha> e had to send the staple down into the lower counties to be ginned, as no gin has been built in Burke. Next season, however, there will bo a Burke county gin for Burke-raised cotton and the probabilities are that this county will 1m? added to the list of commercial producers.—Charlotte Observer. Movie Stars Coining To Chimney Rock Chimney Hock, Dec. 11.—Represen tatives here today for the Famou Players Lasky-corporation, motion picture producers, leased the Esmer-, a)da Inn for the exclusive occupancy of 50 stars of filmdom, the directors and others coming to make several pictures requiring mountain and take scenery as a background. Prominent among these artists is Gloria Swan son, leading lady in one of the scen arios. Namey of other artists were not known to the advance represent*' - tivos here to select a location for their activities. It is understood (hat in moving the studio here a large number of horses and tame animals will be brought along. Fred Logan Named Captain At State Nows dispatches from Raleigh Sunday stated that Fred G. Logan, Shelby boy, had been elected captain of the State college football eleven for next season. Young Logan is the son of Sheriff and Mrs. Hugh Logan and has been playing center on the State team for two years. The announcement was made by R. H. Ferguson, State alumnus at his country home near Neuse, where a banquet had been tendered the Wolf pack. RECEIVES SIX CARS IN A SINGLE DAY IN SHELBY Pierce, Young, Angel Company, wholesale dealers in vegetables, fruits and candies received in a sin gle day last week six ear loads of Christmas merchandise. One car was loaded with choice apples, another with oranges, another with bananas, another with coeoanuts and still an other with cabbage and such like. Orders had been taken for most of these cars and shipments went out promptly to merchants throughout this section to stock their stores for the Christmas trade. Mr. Pierce says business is good and that the demand for fruit promises to exceed all pre vious records. Did you ever notice that the man [who follows another is always behind. Average Age Of Cleve land County Girl Who Married This Year Was 22 1-4 Years— Men 26 2-5. “They marry younger nowadays than they did years ago,” is a favor ite expression with the old folks, but the statistics on the marriage license books at the county court house here do not prove the saying. In fact, they do not marry younger. In 1!>25 the records show, Cleveland couples married were beyond what so-called experts term the sensible marrying age. Twenty for girls and 23 for ttpya, is the near perfect plan say experts. This year loving couples added an other year or so of experience and the girls married at the average age of 22 1-4 years and the boys at 20 2-5 years, to be exact. That may be n surprise, but it in proved by statistics. Of course, many girls married below 20—ttie books show that 69 of the 174 married left their parental home before reaching 20—but the general average, consid ering that some were high in the twenties and some slipping into thirty was above 20. Not Decreasing Much. The statistics for the >">ar almost upset another prediction. Total mar riages in 1924 in Cleveland county were 197. So far this year, up to December 12, there were 174 license issued. That’s not much of a slip back. It’s safe to wager that the 20 other couples plus several more mo tored across the South Carolina line to their favorite Gretna Green for the ceremony. The knot tied at a low er price was the reason. The Love Period. As usual the records leave the love period to the young folks. There were license issued to a number of elder ly couples, but such were few. The vast majority were below 30, includ j ing the men. However, a half dozen | or so of the ladies married during ! the year were slightly beyond the three-times-ten mark and naturally the lesser halves were in the pro ximity of two score and maybe more. Beyond the age 40 there were few culminating love affairs. The record goes with both men and women from a prelininary view of the figures to the couple, of which the man was 67 and theWoman 59. Love, or its carry ing into reality, came late with them. On the other hgnd there \yere several youngsters that started off in ‘double harness” this year. Tvfro of the girls to whom license were issued were one year below “svfeet sixteen,” or 15 years of age. None of the boys married dropped that low in years. Few boys of that age have many spare $5 bills, and it takes $5 and then some to get married in this state now. “My Own Man” Marriages A boy apparently never gets ovev the day when he becomes his o>yn man, the 21 st anniversary of his birth. The celebration throughout th^ year usually means getting married for when a youngster reaches that age the county statistics for 1925 show that he figures that he is able to support someone else and protect a partner. The result of this “my own man” feeling is that more of the 174 men married in the county this year were married at the age of 21 than any other one age. The average is greater, but remember that those far above 21 are greater in number than those below 21. To be exact 32 twenty-one year-old boys were mar ried in the county this year. The next best marrying age with the boys seemed to be 23. 18 got married at that age, while 13 got married at 20, 14 at 22, eight at 19, seven at 24, and five at eighteen. Otherwise they were 25 more. ,< When Girls Are Best Eighteen, when a little fullness adds to the “sweet sixteen” appear* ance, seemed to be the most favored marrying age with the girls. The 21 year-old boys must pick ’em at thi^t age. Twenty-nine girls have been married in the county this year at the age of 18. Right on the heels of the 18-year-olds for the record are the nineteen-year-old lassies. 28 of them were married at 19. An even 20 girls were married at the age of 21, while sixteen were married at the age of 20. Ten were married while 17 years' of age, and the “sweet sixteens” were few in number—they're begin ing to get ready to get married at that age. Two didn’t even wait for the 10-period and were married at 15. A summary of the marriage figures, showss that 85 girls were married before reaching 21 years, while 2U( more married before they were 22, which leaves 09 girls that were mar (Continued on page eighty