the baltimore county union (towsontown, md.) 1902-12-20 [p ]€¦ · baltimore county, has secured...

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WLnion. TOWSON. M<l. Saturday, December 20, 1902. LONGNECKER BROS., Editors and Proprietors. SI.SO perannum —in advance. Postage pre- paid. No subscription taken for less than six months. MARYLAND TELEPHONE—TOWSON, Q, 121. LOCAL ITEMS. KALES ADVERTISED IN “THE UNION.” Saturday, December 20, by A. P. McComas. on the farm of Mr. J. Glenn McComas, near Greenwood, horses, cows, wagons, etc. Monday, December 22, by Harry E. Mann, attor- ney, etc., on the premises, leasehold proper- ty corner of Third street and Fait avenue, Highlandtown. Monday, December 22, by Leigh Bonsai, assignee, etc., on the premises, three houses on Govane avenue, near Harwood avenue, Govanstown. Monday, December 22, by Mrs. Maria Slatterly, on the North Point road near the Philadel- phia road, stock, farm and garden tools, Household effects, etc. Monday. December 22. by Julius Itudigerof A., on the York turnpike, near the 8-Mile House, horses, cows, wagons, farm implements, in- cubators. ice-cream machines, etc. Tuesday, December 28, by Robert M. Taylor, on the Regester farm, on Regester avenue, south of Towson, postponed sale of horses, mares, cattle, hogs, implements, etc. Tuesday, December 23, by M.T. Stirlingand Dr. W. M. Stirling, administrators, at Shane, Tth district, potsponed sale of the personal ef- fects of John Stirling, deceased. Monday, January 5, 1903. by Robert H. Smith, attorney, on the premises, real estate in the village of Mt. Washington. Monday, January 5, 1803, by John S. Biddison, trustee, on the premises, adjoining Brehm’s Brewery, near the Belair road, horses, cows, wagons, etc. Tuesday, January 6. 1903, by Robert H. Bussey, attorney, at the Court House door, house and lot in the Bthdistrict, near Quaker meeting- house. —► Fresh pork sold off the road in Towson on Thursday at i cts. per pound. —► Hard coal sold in Baltimore this week at sll and sl2 a ton and soft from $8 to $lO. —► John J. Mullaney has been appointed constable for the 12th district, vice Nicholas Ilevell, resigned. —► John A. Tiepe, of Baltimore county, has been granted his discharge in bankruptcy in the U. S. District Court. —►Call at The Union office and get a pretty calendar for 1903. The New Year will soon be here and then you’ll need it. —► The grass keeps green unusually long this year and it looks as though a “green Christmas” is to be a reality. —*The Union extends the compliments of the season to all its friends and patrons. A merry Christmas to one and all. —Frescoers from Philadeipbiaarenow en- gaged in decorating the interior of the tine new Catholic Church in Towson. —►Elder F. A. Chick, of Hopewell, N. J., will preach at Black Rock Baptist Church, Sunday, December 21st, at 11 a. m. —Elizabeth E. Gibson, widow, of Sbawan, Baltimore county, has secured a Government pension at the rate of 88 per month. —►Mr. William A. Lee, of Towson, bought a four-horse wagon load of potatoes on Wed- nesday for which be paid 60 cents per bushel. —►ln digging a grave in Prospect Hill Cem- etery, Towson, on Tuesday, it was found that there was not a particle of frost in the ground. ►The early Christmas services will be held in Towson M. E. Church and St. Francis Catholic Church, next Thursday morning at the usual hours. —►Next Monday, according to the almanac, is the first day of winter, but we’ve had a good enough taste of it already—and don’t care if it never comes back. —►Several dogs were killed at Govanstotvn this week as a precaution against hydrophobia. They were thought to have been bitten by a rabid dog last Sunday. —*lt is thought the list of appointments for 1903 will be announced by the County Com- missioners next Tuesday. They will take ef- fect from January Ist. —A license was issued in Washington on Wednesday for the marriage of William T. Rollings, of Bengies, Baltimore county, and Miss Carrie J. Biddison. —►The Northern Central Railway Company has declared a semi-annual dividend of 4 per cent., payable on January 15th to stockholders of record December 31st. —Golden Rule Council, No. 6, Jr. O. U. A. M., of Woodberry, paid a fraternal visit to John Eager Howard Council, No. 55, of Tow- son, on Wednesday evening. —►The members of the Junior Epworth League will be given a Christmas treat next Thursday afternoon, 25th inst., in the lecture room of Towson M. E. Church. —►The contract for erecting the new resi- dence at PikesviTle for Mr. Randolph Barton, Jr., has been awarded to Messrs. Gladfelter and Chambers. It will cost about SII,OOO. —►The public schools closed on Friday, 19th inst., and will remain closed until Mon- day, January sth. This long Christmas holi- day is due to the scarcity of fuel for heating. —►The corner-stone of the new Lutheran Church in West Arlington was laid last Sun- day afternoon, with appropriate ceremonies. Rev. S. J. Miller will be pastor of the church. —Mr. William B. Cockey, of Garrison Farm, near Pikesville, took advantage of the first freeze and filled his house with a fine quality of 3-inch ice from the pond on the farm. —*A fine new barn to replace the one de- stroyed by lightning last summer, has been erected on the farm of Mr. John P. Chilcoat, at Verona, 7th district. The cost was about $1,500. —►Some Baltimore county farmers are hauling a rather inferior article of firewood to Baltimore and selling it at $6 and $8 per cord. Here good wood, already sawed, can be bought at $6 per cord. —Mr. John A. Wright, of the Towson in- surance firm of Offutt, Wright & Emmart, slipped and fell on the ice while in Baltimore a few evenings ago and broke a piece off one of bis front teeth. —►The December meeting of the Senior Gunpowder Agricultural Club was held last Saturday at Filston Farm, Glencoe. A full report of the proceedings will be published in The Union next week. —►The good as well as the wicked stood in slippery places last Sunday and it was noticed that the former got just as many bumps on the ground as the latter. There is someconso- lotion in this, no doubt. —►Exhibits of apples were made at the annual meeting of the Maryland Horticultural Society held in Baltimore this week by Messrs. S. S. Merritt, Richard Vincent, Jr., and George Prechtel, of Baltimore county. —As Christmas occurs on Thursday of next week the local correspondents of The Union will oblige us by sending in their favors as early in the week as possible. Otherwise they may not receive attention. -L*lt has been a long time since we have experienced such a rain as that of last Mon- day night and Tuesday. An immense quanti- ty of water fell and some streams were greatly swollen by the steady downpour. —►Mr. Elisha M.'Mays, who owns what is known as the Hipsley farm, near the old Har- ford road, raised last harvest 300 bushels of wheat on 12 acres of ground. Considering the season this was a remarkable result. —* Mr. Thomas W. Offutt, manager of the Mt. Washington Electric Light Company, will have the avenues of Towson lighted Christmas morning for the benefit of those who will at- tend the early services at our churches. —old Jupiter Pluvius must have had it laid up for the Christmas shoppers. What he did to them this week was quite enough to dampen their ardor and make them feel like too much of a good thing is a decided super- fluity. —>A remarkable coating of ice covered everything last Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but did no serions damage. Travel of all kinds was difficult and even dangerous and there was no more going about tban was ne- cessary. —► Mrs. Pilson, wife of Mr. Frank W. Pil- son, who lives on Willow avenue, near the York road, fell on the ice in Baltimore early this week and broke an arm. Mrs. Pilson is a sister of Messrs. James H. and Tobias C. Lin- zey, of Towson. —A handsome residence is in course of erection at the corner of Roland avenue and Kenwood road. Roland Park, for Mr. E. M. Sanford. It will contain sixteen rooms and the estimated cost is SII,OOO. Mr. A. F. West is the contractor. —Tbe sale of the personal effects of the late John Stirling, of Shane, 7th district, an- nounced to take place last Tuesday, was post- poned on account of the rain until Tuesday next, December 23d. See advertisement in The Union today. Next Monday will be the shortest day of the year. The sun will rise at 7.24 and set at 4.46. There is an old saying that “when the days begin to lengthen the cold begins to strengthen,” but we earnestly hope it will not be verified this year. —A party from Towson went to Rocky Point this week, but had no shooting worth speaking of. One morning the river appeared to be literally alive with ducks, but the wind was northwest and they were so far out that there was no shooting. ►The Wilson & Kenney Company, of Towson, received another supply of coal this week and the stringency has thus been con- siderably relieved. A member of the firm said that Cumberland coal cost them $7 per ton delivered in Towson. —►While driving in a break-cart on the Franklin road last Saturday, Mr. Frank Holton, nephew of Hon. H. B. Holton, was thrown out, caused by the colt taking fright and running away, and had his collarbone broken besides sustaining other injuries. ►Grange Hall in Towson, that had been advertised in The Union several weeks, was offered at public sale, on the premises, on Mon- day last and withdrawn on a bid of $2,450. Mr. W. Jeff. Shanklin is president of the board of managers of the property. —*The sale of Mr. Robert M. Taylor, an- nounced to take place on the Regester farm, Regester avenue, south of Towson, on Tues- day last, was postponed on account of the weather until Tuesday, December 23d. See advertisement in The Union today. —*A beautiful lake 100 feet wide and 300 feet long is being constructed on Emory Grove campground. It will be used for boating in summer and for ice cutting in winter. The water for the lake will be supplied from the fine Minnehaha spring on the grounds. —►The little pink slips of paper are com- ing back to The Union office fairly well, but not so rapidly as they should. Those who re- ceived them should remember that they were not sent out in fun. We are in “dead” earnest in this matter and want to be so understood. —►Heavy sleet like that of the past week makes much extra work for the telegraph and telephone line men, although the lines did not suffer as much as they did during the storm of la9t February when the trees were so seriously damaged by the accumulations of ice on their branches. —Mr. Peter K. Fowble, of Butler, sth dis- trict. a few days ago killed 22 hogs that weigh- ed, dressed, 4,382 lbs., and sold 2,200 lbs. at 8i cts. per pound. He still has 10 to kill. Mr. Fowble took advantage of the first freeze and filled his ice-house with ice four inches in thickness. —►Remember that the open season for pheasants, partridges and rabbits ends in Bal- timore county next Wednesday. Prohibited game found in possession after that date will lay you liable to fine. The deputy game war- dens should keep their eyes open for violators of the law. —►The weather of the past two weeks has been very trying on the county roads and com- plaints will again be numerous. O, for the time when hard roads will be a reality and not simply a vision. The realization of this eu- topian period seems as far off in Baltimore county as ever. —►The suburban burglar is again at work and that means that the lot of thesuburbanite, like that of the policeman in Pinnafore, is not a happy one. But this is the season when sneak thieves reap their harvest and it would be well for all to take extra precautions against their incursions. —>Mr. Robert M. Taylor, of “Mt. Pros- pect,” near Towson. has sold his thoroughbred chestnut stallion The Tory to Mr. John Rush Streett, of “Farmington,” Harford county, by whom he will be used in the stud. The horse is 7 years old and was sired by imported Jaco- bite, dam Victoria. —►Mr. George R. Willis, attorney for Elmer H. Stansbury, has filed a bill in equity against Annie E. Stansbury and others for a petition of the real estate of the late Charles W. Stans- bury, consisting of two tracts of land em- bracing together 305 acres, situated in the 15th district of Baltimore county. —►Two up-country farmers drove through Towson a few days ago on their way to Balti- more with their wagons loaded with Christmas trees and green wood cut into uneven lengths. They must have thought that any old thing will go as fuel these days. Perhaps they ex- pected to sell the stuff by the yard. —►The National Bank of Cockeysville is sending out to its customers and friends an attractive calendar for 1903. It has a very sug- gestive picture beneath which is the excellent motto : “A penny saved is a penny earned.” The Cockeysville institution has a savings bank feature that is proving a great success. —The month of December thus far has surely been trying itself and has furnished samples of almost every kind of weather that could be imagined, but exceedingly little of the sort that met general approval. But some philosophical person says we’d better have the winter now than later, and perhaps he’s right. —► “Maltie,” the pet Maltese cat of little Miss Lydia Reed, granddaughter of Mr. Joseph 8. Bowen, of Towson, arrived home on Sunday after having attended the pet stock show in connection with the poultry show held in Washington, D. C., last week, having captured the blue ribbon for being the best of his breed on exhibition. —►Charity Lodge, No. 134, A. F. & A. M., of Parkton, N. C. R. R., will attend public worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Monkton, on Sunday, December 28th, at 3 p. m., when a special sermon will be preached by Rev. J. T. Marsh. Members of other lodges are cordially invited. Rev. Richard G. Koontz is chairman of the committee in charge. —>A few days ago the Ladies’ Aid Society of Hiss’ M. E. Church paid a visit to the par- sonage and surprised their esteemed pastor. Rev. F. R. Isaac, with a bountiful supply of almost everything for the table, as well as provender for his horse. It is almost unne- cessary to add that their kindness was highly appreciated by the pastor and his family. —►"Pathfinder,” the fine jumper that Mrs. C. Stewart Lee exhibited successfully at the late Richmond horse show, and that had been sent to her mother’s farm at Sunnybrook to winter, had a leg broken from the kick of another horse a few days ago and had to be killed. The horse cost S6OO and was highly prized by Mrs. Lee, he being an exceptionally fine animal. —► Mr. G. W. Battee, of Lauraville, whorep- resents the William J. Corse nursery, reports an unusually brisk season in his line. Upon being asked how he accounted for it he said that last year being locust year, many who needed nursery stock held off for fear of in- jury to the young trees by the locusts. To this fact he partially attributes the large sales of the present year. —>At the meeting of the Vansville Farm- ers’ Club last Saturday Col. William S. Powell exhibited a specimen of Savoy kale, grown on his farm at Annapolis Junction, that sur- passed anything of the kind the members had ever seen. It measured 50 inches in diameter and weighed 7i lbs. Col. Powell also exhibited some ears of yellow corn grown by him that were exceptionally fine. —On Tuesday morning last the dead body of an unknown white man, apparently about 35 years of age, was found in a vacant bouse on the Philadelphia road near the Gunpowder bridge. A jury summoned by Justice Schutz declared that the man had died of starvation and exposure. Rev. J. W. Larmour, rector of St. John’s Church, Kingsville, had the re- mains decently interred. ►The Union made an awkward blunder in publishing last week the figures furnished by our Hyde correspondent as the result of Mr. B. W. Ady’s hog killing. Correctly given the figures are: 200 lbs. lard, 150 lbs sausage and 1,116 lbs. meat, dressed. That four fat hogs should yield but 20 lbs. of lard—as pre- viously published—must have struck the aver- age reader as simply ridiculous. —►The police authorities of Baltimore city have issued an order against the repetition of the disorder that has heretofore been permit- ted on the streets on Christmas eve. The racket created by the ringing and jangling of cowbells, tbe blowing of borns, etc., was some- thing terrible and at times almost amounted to a riot. It is highly creditable to the police that they have taken this stand. —Next Thursday is Christmas, the most important holiday of the year, and to many it will not prove the most pleasant. Living ex- penses are higher this winter than usual and the high price of fuel weigh heavily upon many. The men who are responsible for this state of affairs will have a serious account to answer for hereafter. Perhaps there will be plenty of fuel on hand where they will go. During the recent sleety weather teams experienced a great deal of trouble getting over the new bridge at the Sherwood crossing of the Northern Central road. No one appears able to explain why this structure was raised so high in the centre, although it is said to have been built that way so that the engineers of southbound trains could see the tower, which is located a short distance below the bridge. —►The hunt clubs have done very little in the field this month, the weather having been unfit for outdoor sports. The Overland Club will have a meet at the club house. Towson, on Christmas day at 10 a. m. The Green Spring Valley Club will have a shooting match iu the morning, to be followed by the annual "farmers’ dinner” at 2.30 p. m. To this latter the club invites all over whose lands it hunts. —►Santa Claus has his “Busy Day” sign out now and his hands will be full for a few days yet. The little folks are getting a good deal worked up over his prospective visit and the excitement will increase as the day of all the year, to them, approaches. Santashouldmake special provision for the less fortunate children this year else it may prove anything but a "Merry Christmas” tothem. And many could assist him in his good work who seem never to think it necessary to do so. time for adopting that new resolu- tion is drawing near rapidly and we ought to be thinking about it seriously. There are a thousand and one things that are open to re- formation and while it would be, perhaps, fu- tile to attempt all of them, yet there are some —just a little few—that might be tried with profit to ourselves. This is something that can be done at all seasons, but the beginning of a New Year seems to be an especially suita- ble time to undertake one or more of these new resolves. Don’t forget to do it. —A well known Methodist clergyman of Baltimore county writes to us as follows: "While the coming of your excellent paper to the parsonage for the past year makes no de- mand for pay, yet I deem it highly deserving of a word of praise. Its clean, attractive and interesting reading matter is worthy of appre- ciation, and together with the urtfaneand gen- erous consideration of its editors I herewith ex- tend my most sincere thanks, wishing you not only the good cheer of the glad season, but long and continued prosperity in all virtues that make noble manhood.” Aged Colored Men Dead.—William Mack, a former slave of the late Richard Johns, of Dover. 4th district, died at his home near Shawan, Wednesday last, aged 91 years. He drove the farm market wagon for Mr. Johns and was implicitly trusted by him. Mack is survived by three sons, two of whom live in Towson, and three daughters. John Beard, who was a friend of Mack and who had attended his funeral, was found dead in his bed at his home near Shawan. on Satur- day morning. He was over 80 years of age and is believed to have died of heart disease. For some years Beard carried the mail between Cockeysville and Shawan. Another Barn Fire.—The barn on the property of the National Fishing Shore, near Turner’s Station, 12th district, was burned early on Monday morning last, causing a loss estimated at SSOO. How the fire originated is a mystery but is supposed to have been caused by tramps sleeping in the building. Mr. Christian Seifert lives on the farm. Jacksonville and Sunnybrook, 10th District.—Mis. Jesse Price and her daughter. Miss Francis Price, of Baldwin, will leave on Friday after Christmas for Pittsburg to spend the winter with Mrs. Price’s daughter, Mrs. Maggie Jessop. They will be much missed by their many friends. Miss Price is superinten- dent of the Junior C. E. of Chestnut Grove j Church and an active worker in the church. It is hoped they may have a safe and pleasant journey. Mr. William Price, son of Mr. John R. Price, of Jacksonville, is attending a business college in Baltimore, where he will take the full course. The missionary society of Chestnut Grove Church met last Tuesday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Knight, near Sweet Air. The members were very pleasantly entertained by Miss Kate Knight. The Sunday school of St. John’s Lutheran Church, near Sweet Air, will hold its annual Christmas entertainment on Friday evening, December 26th. A very entertaining pro- gram has been prepared and there will be a tree loaded witb good things for the children. All will be welcome. The weekly prayer meetings held at the homes of tbe members of Chestnut Grove Church are well attended. The last was held Wednesday evening at the home of Mrs. Jesse Price. A sunrise prayer meeting will be held at the church on Christmas day. Mrs. Perry Carroll, of Jacksonville, is very ill at this time. Mother earth presented a beautiful picture last Sabbath morning—such an one as no ar- tist could rival. It is rarely that ice remains so long on the trees as this did, but fortunately no serious damage resulted. Coasting has lately been much enjoyed by the young folks, the icy hills affording good places for this exhilarating winter sport. The Sunday school of the First German Re- formed Church at Jacksonville will hold its usual Christmas festival on Thursday evening, December 25th, commencing at 7.30 o’clock. All welcome. A certain young Harford countian who takes long drives below tbe Harford line, was in a serious dilemma last Sunday because he failed to see his best girl that day. The roads were fearfully icy and he knew* he could not dnve unless he took his horse to the shop to be roughed. After debating the thing a long time in his own mind he at last determined that the horse must be roughed. Then he went to the shop but, horror of horrors, the blacksmith had closed up and gone away ! And so the young man had to stay at home while some other fellow occupied the time of the best girl. But he may still be able to re- gain his lost ground. Mr. Cook led the Y. P. C. E. at Chestnut Grove Church last Sunday evening and pleas- antly entertained his hearers. M. Monkton, N. C. R. R. —Some of the weather prophets who sometime ago predicted a mild winter because of certain unmistakable “signs,” are now advised to take a back seat and retire from the prophet business. We have had excellent samples of tough winter weather for more than two weeks, with snow and ice and tbe mercury below the freezing point for days at a tima. The heavy sleet of last week did some damage to our telephone lines, being the second time this year that the wires have been down. The heavy coating of ice that covered everything so completely for- cibly reminded us of the remarkable sleet storm of last February. Farmer’s operations have been practically at a standstill and the complaint of almost im- passable roads comes from every quarter. Our new road law, about which there was so much talk, has not yet afforded us any relief in this respect. Now is the blacksmith’s harvest and he has “been making hay while the sun shines,” or to be more correct, while it does not shine, for sunshine has been ata premium for some time. Over 400 shoes have been nailed on at Monk- ton shops since the snow fell. Mr. Nicholas Miller, the N. C. Railroad agent at Monkton Station, gets two week’s vacation each year and usually takes his time off during tbe gunning and trouting seasons. He missed both this year and his smiles are not now so bewitching as they commonly are. His vaca- tion was to begin the morning the late blizzard visited Monkton and as it has been doing very little but “bliz” ever since he has been disap- pointed all around. Thus the cotton-tails have managed to escape his unerring aim. Miss Olive L. Smith, principal of the public school here, who had been living at Corbett, has removed to Monkton and taken up her abode with Mrs. Sudler. Mrs. Robert Merryman has removed from Monkton to Corbett and is occupying the house vacated by Miss Smith. Mrs. Merryman’s fineresidence at this place having been burned some time ago necessitated her removal. Mrs. Elizabeth Bull, wife of Mr. Thomas M. Bull, who lives near Corbett, died on the 13th instant after a long illness from a complica- tion of diseases, aged 62 years. The funeral took place on Monday and tbe remains were taken to Middletown Baptist Church for inter- ment. S. Bklo, 6th District. —Many of the county roads in this district were pretty well blocked by the snow and sleet of last week. The free delivery carriers, in many instances, had to cut their way through. If our road super- visors would only take enough interest in their business at a time like this they could remedy the entire difficulty and thus prove to the taxpayers that they are w’ortby of the po- sitions to which they have been appointed. We had hope for a more scientific method of working the county roads, after the Solons at Annapolis had provided by legislative enact- ment for a professional road-maker; but alas, I fear we are doomed to disappointment. It has been said there is no surer thing than taxes (unless it be death,) and all the citizens are willing to contribute their amount to the road fund. Now, have they not the right to expect a judicious expenditure of their money? Re- member taxpayers that we have our redress at the polls—a place to remedy evils in all laws that are made. The wife of Mr. Thomas N. Bull, who lived near Corbett Station, 7th district, was buried at this place last Monday. She had been sick forsome months and was about 62 years of age. Mr. George W. Baker still continues quite feeble, suffering from asthma and dropsy. Mrs. Wilhelm, wife of Capt. Henry Wilhelm, met with what might have been a very serious accident on Friday night, 12th inst., but fortu- nately for her no bones were broken. As sbe was walking across the floor, arranging her work in the dining-room, her foot struck some object which caused her to stumble and fall against the cupboard, which she struck with great force. As Mrs. Wilhelm is quite a stout lady it was thought at first that sbe was badly hurt, but her many friends will be glad to learn that she is rapidly recovering. As Christmas is approaching very rapidly we wish, Messrs. Editors, that it may be an enjoyable one to you and your numerous readers. S. Perry Hall, 11th District. —Christmas is near at hand and many of our people have been busy for some time preparing greens for decorations, which they sell in tbe Baltimore markets. Some are making a handsome profit in disposing of these wreaths, festoon- ing, etc., of their own handiwork. Butchering has been one of the leading in- dustries in this section the past week. Mr. John C. Halbert killed five hogs the average weight of which was 250 pounds. Much firewood has been hauled from this section of thecounty to Baltimore this winter and the work still goes on as the demand seems brisk. Good prices are obtained and the work is therefore profitable. A largely attended wedding took place on Thursday, 18th instant, at St. Michael’s Luth- eran Church, Perry Hall, when Mr. Henry Lassahn, of Fullerton, was married to Miss Christine Rey, daughter of Mr. George R. Rey, of this place. The ceremony w r as per- formed by Rev. A. Ballhorn, pastor of the church. The groom, who is a well known young business man, has many friends. On Sunday next, December2lst. Rev. Alfred Ballhorn will be regularly installed as pastor of St. M ichael’s Lutheran Church at this place. The ceremony will commence at 2 r. m. and will be conducted by Rev. Richard Jungfer, pastor of St. John’s Church, Parkville. At the same time four of the recently elected church council will be installed by the pastor. After these ceremonies several new members will be admitted to tbe church. The holiday trade in the country stores is good and this shows that there must be plenty of cash to spare among the people. The Sunday school at St. Michael’s Church is preparing for its regular Christmas festival to take place on Friday, 26th inst. The pas- tor is working energetically for the success of the affair. X. Upper Falls, 11th District. —The cold and disagreeable weather of the past week placed an embargo on almost everything and there was little doing in any line. It was feared that the heavy ice on tbe trees would do much damage, especially to the young ones, but I have heard of no serious harm from this cause. Mr. Frank Ridgelv, who bad been living near Bradshaw for the past three years, sold out his personal effects at public sale a few days ago and has removed to Baltimore. He is in the employ of the B. & O. Railroad Com- pany. The oyster supper held at St. Stephen’s Church, on Friday and Saturday evenings of last week, was only fairly well attended, owing to the unfavorable weather. Bad colds are prevalent and there are some cases of measles in this community, but the malady appears to be in a mild form and noth- ing serious is apprehended. Mr. E. F. Rapbel, one of our most worthy citizens and kind neighbors, who had been much indisposed for some days, is better at this time. His family and friends are much relieved at the change for the better. Mr. William Dunty, of Perry Hall, has re- moved his stone crusher to Kingsville and is preparing to crush stone for the county roads. May the good work go on. Mr. William S. Crossmore, merchant and canner at Upper Falls, owns a fine horse that is very sick at this time. Mr. Frank Hammond, of Baltimore, ac- companied by his daughter, spent last Sunday with his brother, Mr. Joshua Hammond, of this place. Jcdge. It is queer that the shortage of cars for haul- ing coal always happens at the moment when fuel becomes an imperative necessity. White Hall, N. C. R. R.—The Sunday school of the Presbyterian Church at this place will hold its usual Christmas entertainment on Wednesday, December 31st—New Year’s eve. Judging from rehearsals which are being held almost daily the cantata promises to be a mark- ed success. Santa Claus will be very much in 1 evidence to gladden the hearts of the little | folks. Jack Frost and other members of San- ta’s household will also be present. Ail are I asked to attend. Admission 10 cents, i Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Foster, of this place, J pleasantly entertained a number of their j friends on Wednesday evening at their home, “The Terraces.” Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Black, of White Hall, i gave an informal tea to a number of their i friends on Thursday evening of last week. Miss Maud Elliott, who has been extremely ! ill for several weeks with typhoid fever.is now | improving slowly. Y. Q- X. Getting in Training for the Offices.—The j Baltimore Herald of last Sunday had the fol- lowing: “While it is perhaps a little early, ; nevertheless Republican politics in Baltimore j county has commenced to simmer. Although the election will not be held until next fall, i yet the grooming of the candidates is already j under way. Particular attention is being | paid to the office of State’s Attorney and | several aspirants are getting ready to shy their | nominating tiles into tbe ring. Among the ! candidates mentioned for this office is Mr. William H. Lawrence, a rising young lawyer of Highlandtown, better known to his friends and constituents in that community as ‘Billy’ Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence is also known as the ‘mayor of Highlandtown’ from the fact he is a big factor in the social, commercial and political life of that enterprising village on the hill. All classes, conditions and nation- alities of Highlandtown seek the advice of ‘Billy’ in matters of moment pertaining to the village. A wedding, christening or even a wake cannot be properly conducted without the presence of ‘Billy’ Lawrence. “There is another Richmond in the field for the State’s Attorneyship in the person of John S. Ensor, who, it is said, will be led out at the proper time. There will also be a vacant judgeship in the Third Circuit at that time, when the term of Judge James D. Watters will have expired. Mr. Ensor, it is understood, is an aspirant for this officealso, and if he should succeed in becoming the Republican candidate for the judgeship, Mr. Lawrence would have a comparatively easy time in landing the nomi- nation for State’s Attorney. The ‘framing up’ process is going on and the political pot,which is now simmering, will begin to boil after the holidays. Should Mr. Lawrence be successful in receiving the nomination it is safe to say that he will make an aggressive campaign, and the Democratic other fellow will have all that he is looking for.” The writer of the above is not very well in- formed as to the judgeship. He should know that the successor to Judge Watters must come from Harfordcounty. Meeting of the School Board.—The School Board held a meeting at Towson on Monday with the president, Mr. Thomas B. Todd, in the chair and Prof. A. S. Cook, sec- retary. Mr. Rice brought up the question of the time for closing and reopening the schools for the Christmas holiday. Coal being scarce, he moved that they close Friday, December 19th, and reopen January sth, 1903. The motion was adopted. On motion of Mr. Shoemaker Secretary Cook was requested to ask the State Board of Education to act on the question, Has the Bal- timore County School Board the right to pay out a small amount of money from the coun- ty’s school tax to transport pupils in order to consolidate two small schools as an experi- mental illustration to the people of the coun- ty? If it has not the right, will the State Board empower the Baltimore County School Board to make such an expenditure? The matter of grading the Roland Park School ground was referred to Commissioner Arthur, with power to act. It was ordered that the Manual Training School be allowed to expend S3OO for the year for supplies. Teachers’ contracts were confirmed with Jackson L. Duncan, School 6, district 2 ; Jessie G. Dilworth, School 7, district 7; Samuel R. Fox, School 2, district 7. It was ordered that the teachers’ salaries for the first half of the winter term and bills passed be paid. In the Orphans’ Court.—The will of Jos. Trainor, late of Washington, D. C.,which was admitted to probate on Tuesday, gives the sum of SSOO to the trustees of Reisterstown Metho- dist Episcopal Church, which is to be invested and the income to be applied toward the pas- tor’s salarj-. All the rest and residue of his estate is given to Richard Bernard and Alfred I). Bernard in trust for his brother, and they are appointed executors and letters testamen- tary were granted to them. The will of Mrs. Mary Hoen, which was ad- mitted to probate, gives the sum of $l5O to Rev. William E. Bartlett, of St. Ann’s Church, of which sum SSO is to be expended for masses. All the rest andresidue of her estate is given to her children and grandchildren, and John Hoen and Harry E. Parkhurst are named as executors, and letters testamentary were grant- ed to them. Mrs. Hoen was the widow of Henry Hoen. The will of Henry Cronhardt was admitted to probate on Tuesday. His entire estate is bequeathed to his children and grandchildren. The will of Mrs. Eva W. Baughman, pro- bated the same day, leaves her estate to her three children. The will of Charles Akehurst, late of Mt. Washington, was admitted to probate on Wed- nesday. He bequeaths bis property to his widow and names her as executor, without bond. Letters testamentary on theestateof Charles B. Taylor, late of Lutherville, were granted to his widow, Mrs. Anna M. Taylor. Vigorous War on Diseased Trees.—At the last meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Agricultural College State Ento- mologist Quaintance and State Pathologist Norton were authorized to select assistants in tbe work of inspection, treatment and re- moval of diseased trees or plants in the State as in their judgment are necessary to carry out the law. The names of such persons, and their proposed pay, are to be submitted to the president of the college for his approval. Such employees shall be designated as inspectors, and endowed with all authority given them under law relating to this subject.’ The ento- mologist and pathologist were charged with the enforcement of the law, and rigid rules were laid down for enforcing the law in dif- ferent cases. Any abuse of the certificate given nurserymen will be cause for its with- drawal. Messrs. Charles A. Councilman and E. Git- tings Merryman, of Baltimore county, mem- bers of the Board, attended this meeting. Fine Residence Burned—Heavy Loss.— A little after 8 o’clock on Sunday evening last tbe beautiful residence of Mr. James E. In- gram, Sr., situated on the east side of Park Heights avenue, near Pikesville, was discov- ered to be on fire and in a short time it was reduced to smoulderingruins. Mr. and Mrs. Ingram had gone to church and some of the younger members of the family, who had been left in charge of the house, detected a smell of smoke. Upon investigation it was found that the dining-room was in a blaze, the fire having been communicated from n open fireplace. The flames spread so rapidly that only a few articles on the lower floor could be saved. Several county engines responded to the alarm but arrived too late to be of any ser- vice. Tbe estimated loss is $35,000, witb $20,- 500 insurance on the house and contents. It is said that Mr. Ingram will rebuild on the same site, which is a most attractive one. Grand Jury Report.—The report of tbe grand jury for the December term of the Cir- cuit Court, which adjourned finally on tbe 12th inst., says they have been in session 10 days, examined 123 witnesses, investigated 43 cases, found 19 true bills and dismissed 28 cases. They visited the jail and found 43 prisoners confined therein, eight of whom were ordered released. Thirteen were awaiting trial, 2 are insane and 20 are serving sentences. They recommended that the succeeding grand jury summon all the magistrates of the county to produce their dockets to show their receipts of fines and costs. The committee that examined the Court House reported that they found it iu bad con- dition and made certain recommendations in regard to it. The jail is reported to be very unsafe and the committee recommended the building of a new one, with all modern improvements. Railroad Company Executes a Mort- gage.—A letter from Westminster says: “A mortgage for $25,000 from the Rockdale Rail- road Company to the York Trust Company of York, Pa., to secure the payment of bonds to that amount, has been placed on record in the office of the clerk of the Circuit Court for Carroll county. The bonds are of the de- nomination of SI,OOO each, payable in gold, with interest at 5 per cent., redeemable in 1922, or at any time after 1907, at the option of the maker. The Rockdale Railroad Company, which was incorporated July 31, 1902, under the laws of this State, will build a railroad from Hoffmanville, Baltimore county, to con- nect with the Western Maryland Railroad, and the mortgage applies to this road.” Ladles Working in a Good Cause.—The second meeting of the Ladies’ Aid Society of Hamilton, Harford road, which was organized for the purpose of assisting the Hamilton Vol- unteer firemen with their entertainments and receptions, was held last Thursday night in Lauraville Hall. Addresses were made by several of the members of the society. An election for officers was held, resulting as fol- lows : Mrs. A. M. Darling, psesident; Mrs. John M. Ramming,vice-president; Mrs. Fred- erick Linck, treasurer; Mrs. Thomas Griffith, secretary. Retail Dealers Elect Officers. —The Re- tail Liquor Dealers’ Association of Baltimore county held a meeting at Towson on Thursday and elected the following officers for the en- suing year : President,Harry Bosley ; first vice- president, Thomas Kenney; second vice-presi- dent, John Mulligan; "recording-secretary, Henry M. Pollock ; financial secretary, James C. Brown ; treasurer, Paul Hoffman ; sergeant- at-arms, Thomas Healey. THE “FARMERS’” TRAIN. Arrival of Green Spring Valley Agricul- turists—Daily Junket of Tillers of the Soil to Their Business In Baltimore. Baltimore News. important event in the daily routine life at 12Ji Vert T? ta** on is the arrival of the “Farmers’ J 2? ln - It sets in, when on time, at 8.50Ja. m. inose who do not bestir themselves sufficiently to make this train show up usually on the one that pulls into the depot at 9.55 a. m. , ls ,? ® ne body of agriculturists that alight trom the 8.50 or 9.55. They are just in from r ®e h Spring Valley, declared by its residents to be the garden spot of Maryland,” and what tney don’t know about raising wheat and corn, tat cattle and blooded horses, pigs, potatoes, squash and other rural products is not worth knowing. , Now, forinstance, there is “Farmer” J. William Middendorf. Who will dare say that he is not wise when it comes to a question of the proper time to plant turnips or to begin seeding tor barley? Incidentally, Mr. Sliddendorf is a Bal- timore banker, and is accredited with inside knowledge of how to buy and sell railroads, and his ability to handle great financial problems is unquestioned. If any one criticised him as a banker he would probably not give the matter a second thought, but to reflect upon him as a tiller of the soil would be to add insult to in- jury,and, like every other good resident of the Valley, he would be justified in feeling hurt. Gen. Felix Agnus also knows a thing or two relative to agricultural pursuits. The General has had various experiences in his career to which he can look back with gratification. He is proud of his war record and the wounds he re- ceived in honorable combat, to which he some- times makes reference in public speeches. A friendly wag around town has often said that if "you shook the General you could hear the bul- lets rattle,” and no one enjoyed the joke more than the object of it himself. The General is proud of his business enterprise and of his plant, at the southwest corner of Baltimore and South streets. He is proud of having been born a Frenchman and of having been converted into a loyal American. But ho is even prouder of one other thing—that he is a "farmer.” Nacirema (the name of his newspaper spelled backward) is one of the finest estates in the picturesque Val- ley, and the General derives a great deal of pleasure from it. He has broad acres of grain and large herds of stock; but probably most pride is taken in his Berkshires. No one will deny that they are the nicest-looking pigs in the vhole country-side. AU of the Stewarts are imbued with the coun- try-Afehabit, and, being enthusiasts, they usual- ly are early risers, and come to town on the 8.50 train. M. Redmond C. Stewart, who is on his honeymoon trip, will spend the early winter in the Valley at the residence of his brother, Mr. John Stewsrt, Jr., and later will take possession of his new iouse now in the course or erection. Mr. CharlesMorton Stewart, Jr., Mr. Gustav L. Stewart, Mr John Stewart, Jr., and Mr. W. Plun- kett. Stewari, who married a daughter of Presi- dent Cassatt of the Pennsylvania Railroad, are among the laily patrons of the “Farmers’” train. Most of thefamilies who merely have summer homes in the Valley have returned to town for the winter, aid the passengers landing at Cal- vert Station these sometimes bright, generally gloomy, Decenber days are the men who stick it out from the beginning to the end of the year. There is notking in which sentiment plays a stronger part tjan in rural life. The man who was born and reared in the country usually has a stern realization of what it actually is, and in nine cases out o! ten is more than willing to quit it for town whet severe weather arrives, but it is the fellow that adopts the country and is not bred in it that is the genuine enthusiast. Rural surroundings have a fascination for him that is as the glamour of the stage to the amateur who dreams not of the thorns to be encountered be- hind the footlights. It should not bo difficult to surmiso that the writer is a dyed-in-the-wool countryman. As the commuters alight from the trainat Cal- vert Station, a single glance is sufficient to con- vince the observer that they are pictures of health and excellent advertisements for the sec- tion from which they come. They all look hale and hearty. Their step is elastic, their eyes are bright and the color in their cheeks denotes a life of regularity. They live up to the tradi- tions, and when the weather is cold they come provided with storm coats, woolen gloves, and sometimes with boots. While there is no written law in regard to what actually makes a “coun- tryman,” the man who has the nerve in this age to wear heavy high boots with his breeches sticking in them should certainly be permitted to pass muster. In addition to the “farmers” mentioned, among those who usually come to town daily from Green Spring Valley, taking the train at various points from Green Spring Junction to Melvale, are : Mr. Joseph C. Whitney, of the Merchants and Miners’ Transportation Company; Mr. T. Dudley Riggs, Mr. Horace White, Mr. John Mc- Henry. treasurer of the Mercantile Trust and Deposit Company ; Mr. J. Vernon Campbell. Mr. W. Stewart Diffenderffcr, Mr. William Voss Elder, Mr. Arthur H. Hall, Mr. William Gilmor Hoffman, Jr., Mr. Ryland C. Moore, Mr. Alfred Poor, Jr., Mr. Harry Mordecai, Mr. George P. Mordecai, Mr. C. Lyon Rogers. Jr., Mr. Colum- bus O’Donnell Lee, Mr. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Mr. Jacob A. Omanand Mr. George Ward. Some of these gentlemen do not go in for "farming” to the same extent as others, but they are all interested more or less in country life, and their knowledge of agriculture in its various phases seems to make the trip to town a pleasant diversion. Everyone knows everyone else, and it might be said that the passengers of the 8.50 and the 9.55 are drawn together inan atmosphere cloud- ed with the smoke from Havanas and from pipes, but, nevertheless, very agreeable because it Is congenial. Even Christmas Trees Higher in Price. —Like most everything else this year, whether necessities or luxuries, Christmas trees will be higher than for years past, says the Baltimore Herald. Dealers attribute this to the cut- ting away of the trees near the city. Each year hundreds of them are cut down to supply the demands of the young folks, and as none are planted again the dealers are compelled to bring them from greater distances. This applies only to the cheaper grades, for nurserymen raise spruce pines especially for the holiday trade, but they get a price accord- ingly. As' yet comparatively few trees of any sort have arrived here, but by Christmas it is expected that there will be plenty of all sorts. Most of the buying is done in the last two or three days before Christmas, and much of it on Christmas eve. Cedars are largely used and these command good prices, bringing from 50 cents to $1.25. Common pines can be bought as low as a quar- ter,and the spruce pines cost from $2.50 to $5.00. A dealer in the Cross street market got his cedar trees from Prince George’s county and hauled them fifty miles to market. Trees of the common sort are brought to the city over Light street bridge and taken to the Point market, while those for the larger grocery stores and the Lexington market come in by rail. Some of the wholesalers think that the popularity of the Christmas bush is on the wane, and that not near so many trees are used now as was formerly the case. Condemns Chemical Fire Engines.— Mr. James E. Ingram, Sr., whose line resi- dence on Park Heights avenue, 3d district,was destroyed by fire last Sunday night, this week sent a letter to the County Commissioners in which he condemns the county tiro department and declares that it is practically useless. In part he says : “The engines did not arrive until after the the fire had made such progress that the firemen themselves thought it useless to attempt to check it. After the building was consumed by the flames the firemen turned the contents of one of the engines on ihe front of my stable, the paint of which was not even blistered by the heat of the fire. This was about all they did.” Mr. Ingram says it appears to him that if the money expended on the support of this department of the county government was wiselv used to encourage volunteer compa- nies it would be of greater utility to the tax- payers. He dislikes, he says, to make com- parisons with the volunteer company of Pikes- ville, but that companyrendered such efficient service that he cannot refrain from so doing. The work of the regular department, meas- ured by that of the volunteer company, suf- fered by contrast. Mr. Yellott said he concurred in what Mr. Ingram said in regard to the county fire de- partment, and he favors encouraging volunteer companies. Harford Fire Insurance Company’s Af- fairs.—The December meeting of the Harford Fire Insurance Company was beldat the office in Belair Monday last, with IV. H. Harlan in the chair and A. P. Silver, secretary. The re- port of the directors, stating the receipts less than the expenses the past year, and a similar report from Agent Webster was received, read and referred to a committee for examination and report. The committee appointed by the chair, consisting of A. P. Silver, 8. A. Wil- liams and Wm. H. Jarrett. were requested to meet at the company’s office, Tuesday, De- cember 23d, to audit accounts and receive sug- gestions in writing for improvements from members and report their recommendations to the January meeting of members, January sth, 1903. The report shows that the losses by fire the past year were over $44,000 and in excess of the income the past year. The company, however, has increased itsincome account and has a part of its last year’s resources, notwith- standing the extraordinary losses, one-fourth of which it is believed was of incendiary origin. —Harford Democrat. "Will Furnish Better Car Service.—Mem- bers of the Improvement Association of East- ern Avenue Extended called on President John M. Hood and General Manager William A. House, of the United Railways and Electric Company, several days ago relative to better service in that section. There were 38repre- sentatives present, including Hon. J. F. C. Talbott, Messrs. Walter R. Townsand, M. W. Offutt, James Young. James Gilmore, Robert H. Hall, Lawrence, Riddle, Goehler, County Commissioner Slade and others. The object of the delegation's visit was to get a 5-cent fare, a better schedule and through cars to Back river. As a result of the conference the company will establish a 5-cent fare afterl p. m. on Sundays from Baltimore and Holliday streets and every third car will run through to Back river without change. Comfortable Sum for the State. —Mr. George R. Gaither has turned over to the State of Maryland a check for $225,017.92, paid by the Northern Central Railway Company on account of unpaid taxes. The check was re- ceived by Mr. Gaither from Mr. Charles H. Carter, of counsel for the road, and he at once carried it to Governor Smith who, with Comp- troller Hering and Treasurer Vandiver, sigDed a receipt in full. For nearly six years the Northern Central Company has fought the payment of the annuity of 2 per cent, on its gross receipts. They carried their contention through the State courts to the Supreme Court of the United States, which finally put an end to the lawsuit. Hereafter the company will pay annually to the State the tax of 2 per cent. WINTER NUPTIAL EVENTS. Miller—Nicoli,.—Miss Rachel B. Xicoll, daughter of Rev. William J. Nicoli, was mar- ried at her home, Glencoe, N. C. R. R., at 6 o’clock Monday evening, to Mr. Robert M. Miller, of Hereford, the father of the bride of- ficiating. The bridesmaids were Miss Florence Grape, of Baltimore, and Miss Florence Miller, sister of the groom. The groom’s at- tendants were Mr. Harry Grape and Mr. Frank Dasch, of Baltimore. The bride wa3 becomingly attired in a tailor made suit of royal blue. After the ceremony a supper was served and later the bride and groom left for their future homein Hereford. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Nicoli, of Baltimore ; Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Nicoli, of Lauraville; Mr. and Mrs. John T. Cross of Towson ; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ruhl, Dr. and Mrs. C. C. McDowell, Mr. and Mrs. John Keller, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Worden, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Vance, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mil- ler, Mr. and Mrs. George Miller, Mr. and Mrs: William Miller, Miss Hattie Cross, Miss Edith Cross, the Misses Vance, Miss Jessie Vance, Miss Mollie Vance and Miss Katherine Miller, all of Baltimore; Miss Kate E. Miller, Miss Isabelle Nicoli, Miss Belle Foster, Miss Irene Keller and Miss Mollie Keller, Messrs. William D. Nicoli and Benjamin Nicoli, of West Vir- ginia ; Henry Nicoli, Austen Nicoli and many others. Kidwell—Hunter.— The marriage of-Miss Daisye Belle Hunter, second daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth D. Bacon Hunter, of White Hall, N. C. R. R., to Mr. Charles Franklin Kidwell, of Baltimore, took place Thursday afternoon at 4 o’clock in Vernon Methodist Episcopal Church, West Harford Circuit, the pastor. Rev. W. W. Davis, performing the ceremony. Messrs. S. Scott Bosley, E. C. Norris, Blaine G. Norman and Earl Taylor, of Baltimore, were the ushers. Miss Eva Hunter, sister of the bride, was maid of honor. Mr. James P. Gough, of Baltimore, was best man. The bride wore gray crepe de chine, trimmed with tafleta silk and white duchesse lace, and a pic- ture hat. She was given away by her brother, Mr. William Hunter, of Baltimore. Miss Luella Hunter, cousin of the bride, played the wedding marches. There was a large gather- ing of relatives and friends from Baltimore city and county. After the ceremony the bri- dal party took luncheon at the home of the bride’s mother, and subsequently Mr. and Mrs. Kidwell left on a tour South. They will live in Baltimore. Lohr—Painter.— Miss Grover S. Painter, daughter of Mr. David F. Painter, of Phoenix, was married Wednesday evening to Mr. Rob- ert N. Lohr, son of Mr. John L. Mohr, of the same place. The ceremony was conducted at the parsonage of the Otterbein United Rreth- eren Church, Hampden, by Rev. Charles M. Fultz. The bride was attired in a blue cloth dress trimmed in white with hat and gloves to match. The youngcouple will liveat Phoenix, where the groom is a foreman in the cotton duck mills. Daugherty—Yeakel.— Miss Margaret A. Yeakel, of Sherwood, and Mr. Clarence E. Daugherty, of Baltimore, were married Wed- nesday afternoon in the chapel of St. Francis’ Church, Towson, by the pastor, Rev. Matthew O’Keefe. After the ceremony the couple started on a wedding tour South. The groom is a telegrapher in the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company. THE DEATH RECORD. Cronhardt.—Mr. Henry Cronhardt, whose failing health was mentioned in The Union on the 6th inst., died at his home at Cronhardt postoffice, Chestnut Ridge, on Friday of last week, in the 88th year of his age. He emi- grated to this country from Germany sixty-five years ago and first settled in Baltimore, where he carried on shoemaking for a time. After- wards with his family he moved to Baltimore county, where by industry and close attention to business he provided himself with a com- fortable home for his declining years. Mr. Cronhardt was in all respects an excellent citi- zen, having the esteem and confidence of all who knew him. His wife died some years ago. He is survived by two sons—Messrs. John Cronhardt, of Baltimore, and Henry C. Cronhardt, of Baltimore county—and four daughters—Mrs. John Long, Mrs. Louisa Richter, Mrs. W. R. Hipsley and Miss Lena Cronhardt, the latter postmistress at Cron- hardt, which was named in honor of her father. Mr. Cronhardt was one of The Union’s oldest subscribers and the last time he was in Towson—a few months ago—he called at the office to pay his respects to us. The funeral took place at St. James’ Lutheran Church, Chestnut Ridge, at 1 p. m. on Sunday last and was largely attended by friends and neighbors. Townsend. —Mrs. Drucilla Townsend, wid- ow of Edward A. Townsend, died Monday afternoon at her home in Baltimore. Shehad been an invalid for seven years. She was the daughter of Joseph H. Shutch, who won con- siderable fame during the Revolution and as a colonel in the War of 1812. Mrs. Townsend was born on Carroll’s Island, which property has been in the possession of the family for more than a century. She was a member of the Methodist Church for more than 50 years. She is survived by five children—Mrs. W. J. Geisendaffer, Mrs. M. O’Dea and Messrs. W. E. Townsend, James P. Townsend and Harry G. Townsend. Mahorney.—Mrs. Mary A. Mahorney died on Monday last at the home of her son, Mr. Joseph Phipps, farm manager at Hampton, near Towson, aged 83 years. She was a native of England and witnessed the ceremonies at- tending the coronation of Queen Victoria. The funeral took place on Wednesday after- noon and the interment was in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Towson. Gorman.—Mr. Theodore German, a truck farmer near Lauraville, Harford road, died of heart disease on Tuesday morning last, aged 51 years. A widow and two daughters—Mrs. George Heffner and Miss Nellie German—sur- vive him. Deceased was a brother of Rev. Solomon German, pastor of Long Green Cir- cuit. Boteler. —Mr. Albert Eugene Boteler died suddenly Wednesday of apoplexy at his home, West Arlington. He was 51 years old, and leaves a widow and 6 children. He was em- ployed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad until about six months ago, when he retired. He had been in failing health for some time. Bull. —Mrs. Bull wife of Mr. Thomas Bull, who lives near Corbett, 7th district, died on Friday of last week, aged 62 years. She had been sick some time and her death was not unexpected. She is survived by her husband and live children. Maryland and Pennsylvania R. R. Im- provements. —The Belair Times of last week said the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Company is rapidly pushing to completion the substantial improvements to that road, which have been in progress for the past six months, and upon which an outlay of about $190,000 is being made. The improvements consist of straightening the road-bed between Fallston and Baldwin stations and replacing wooden bridges and trestles with steel bridges and viaducts. The span across Overshot branch is about completed and will be ready to use in a few days. Trains were run over a portion of the new road-bed on Thursday for the first time. The changes eliminate many dangerous curves and give greater security to the traveling public. The changes will tend to popularize the road with many who have been patronizing other roads when the dis- tance to reach them and the M. & P. was about equal. Patrons of the road have long wished for changes which are now being completed, and it is not too much to say that they hearti- ly appreciated them. The M. <fc P. is doing a large and profitable business in both the freight and passengerdepartments. General Manager Norris has also made warm friends of the ladies by adding to his equipment four hand- some new passenger coaches which rival in elegance and finish those of more pretentious roads. Belair is hoping that among the new improvements will be included a modern pas- senger station for Belair, its principal station. Masonic Elections.—At a stated communi- cation of Mt. Moriah Masonic Lodge, held in the Temple at Towson, on Tuesday night, the following were elected officers for the ensuing term : Worshipful Master —E. Winthrop Bos- ley : Senior Warden—Warren S. Seipp; Junior Warden—E. Stanton Bosley ; Secretary— Thomas C. Bruff; Treasurer —William M. Isaac; Tiler—William S. Dunphy. On Thursday night Charity Masonic Lodge of Parkton, N. C. R. R., elected the following officers for the ensuing term : Worshipful Master—Charles M. Stack; Senior Warden— John M. Little; Junior Warden—George L. Gilbert; Secretary—Frank A. Parrish: Treas- urer-Henry Wilhelm; Senior Steward—Thos. V. Richardson ; Tiler—John T. Thompson ; Junior Steward—John T. Mays; Chaplain- Rev. Richard G. Koontz. Perhaps a Circulating Library.—The Neighborhood Improvement Club of Govans- town is endeavoring to start a circulating li- brary for the benefit of the residents of that vicinity. It is purposed to buy all the latest and best books and have them circulated from hand to hand. A fee of $1 a year will be charged. If the movement is successful an effort will be made to establish a permanent li- brary there. The committee in charge of the organization of the library is composed of Mrs. W. W. Shaw, chairman ; Miss Clara B. Benninghaus, secretary; Miss Marie Scott, treasurer; Miss Nanie Stevenson, librarian. Any of the committee will receive subscrip- tions and give any information. # The “Coal Hog” In Evidence.—The "coal hog” has made his appearance in Catonsville. A few days ago one of the local coal dealers received a message by telephone from the pres- ident of one of the largest mercantile houses in Baltimore, whose country home is not a great distance east of Catonsville. He told the dealer that he must have several tons of coal at his country place at once, for use in the greenhouses there, as he was entirely out. The good-natured dealer compromised by send- ing down one ton. To the astonishment of the driver of the coal wagon all the coal bins in the greenhouses were filled and he had to dump the load of coal in three different bins to keep them from overflowing.— Hallo. Ilerahl. Fereonal Mention.— —Miss Helen Stewart Ridgely, of Hampton, has returned from a visit to Montclair, N. J. —State Senator John Hubner, of Catons- ville, was in Towson on Tuesday and called on the County Commissionors. —Mrs. Slartha Gilbert, of Glencoe. N. C. R. R , is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Stockton, who resides in Buffalo, N. Y. —Miss Bessie Brady, who spent several months with friends in Raleigh, N. C., has returned to her home in Towson. —Mr. Jesse L. Madden, of Reisterstown, has been summoned to serve as a grand juror at the present term of the U. S. District Court. —Mr. William Bosley, of Finksburg, has been very sick for some days with pneumonia. Dr. H. M. Slade, of Reisterstown, is attending him. —Mr. and Mrs. J. J. George have closed their country place, “Ellendale,” Long Green Valley, and removed to Baltimore for the winter. —Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson D. Norris and the Misses Norris, of "Brookland,” near Reisters- town, have taken a house on Mt. Royal ave- nue, Baltimore, for the winter. —Col. William A. Hanway and family have closed their house in Aigburth Park, ad- joining Towson, and taken apartments at Hotel Sherwood, Baltimore, for the winter. —Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Cowley, of Seattle, Washington, have been visiting the former's cousin, Mr. William S. Cowley, at his home on the old Harford road. Mr. Cowley is en- gaged in gold mining. —Mr. W. Bernard Duke, of Sherwood, Bal- timore county, is named as one of the incor- porators of the Maryland Development Com- pany that has just been organized in Baltimore with a capital stock of SIO,OOO. —Mr. H. L. Gerstmyer, who will spend his Christmas vacation at his home in Towson, will preach in the M. E. Church on Sunday, December 28th, at 11 a. m. He is a student at Gettysburg Theological Seminary. —Mr. Thomas J. Hunt, of Hampstead, Md., son of the late Wiley Hunt, of Towson, has been appointed aide-de-camp to General Stew- art, of Pennsylvania, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. —Rev. W. H. H. Powers, rector of Trinity Church, Towson, went to Cambridge, Md., this week to conduct the funeral services of Mrs. Eva Winchester Baugher, who died at her home in Govanstown, on the 15th instant. —Dr. W. Millard Stirling, of Shane, 7th dis- trict, was among the visitors to Towson on Wednesday. He is a son of the late John Stirling, who was a prominent farmer in that section of the county, and his wife is the only sister of Judge N. Charles Burke. —Mr. William L. Beyer, of Phoenix, Balti- more county, w T as re-elected president of the East Baltimore District Epworth League, the annual convention of which was held in Bal- timore a few days ago. Mr. Lewis M. Bacon was chosen one of the vice-presidents. —Rev. Philip C. Edwards, who is being treated at the Maryland General Hospital in Baltimore, shows very little if any improve- ment and his family and friends are much con- cerned about him. He was formerly senior pastor of Parkton Circuit, M. E. Church. —At the annual meeting of the Maryland State Grange in Baltimore on Tuesday Mr. Alexander McCormick, president of the Balti- more County Agricultural Society, made an interesting address on “Fruit and Vegetable Growing.” Mr. Richard Vincent, Jr., of the firm of R. Vincent, Jr., & Son, also spoke on the same subject. —Messrs. George H. Merryman, Alexander McCormick, Richard Vincent, Jr., W. Jeff. Shanklin and Mrs. Annie E. Vincent were among those from Baltimore county who at- tended the annual meeting of the Maryland State Grange held in Baltimore this week. Mr. Vincent was re-elected a member of the executive committee. —Mr. Walter W. Crosby, county roads en- gineer, who went to Maine about two weeks ago to wait upon a friend who was married, re- turned to his home in Towson on Monday. He was in Bangor on Monday, December Bth, when the mercury registered from 23 to 28 de- grees below zero and the wind blew at the rate of sixty miles an hour. —Mr. George R. Mowell, who has been suc- cessfully engaged in business at Glencoe, N. C. R. R., for the past thirty-one years, is now of- fering his store property for rent. In case he secures a suitable tenant he may engage in some other business in Baltimore that is less exacting. The stand is an excellent one and possesses many advantages. Mr. Basil B. Bowen, of the 4th district, was in Towson on Tuesday. He spent several days last week in Carroll county and said the snow there was so deep and the drifts piled so high that in many places the roads were en- tirely blocked to travel. The sleet was also heavier than with us and much damage was done to telegraph and telephone lines. —Wednesday was one of the busy days of Rev. Charles E. Fultz, pastor of Otterbein Memorial United Brethren Church, Hamp- den. Within an hour he married twocouples, one from Baltimore city and one from Balti- more county. Rev. Mr. Fultz is a son of Mr. George M. Fultz a well known paper manu- facturer of the upper end of this county. —Mr. Philip A. S. Franklin, formerly of Baltimore county, has been elected president of the Atlantic Transport Company, succeed- ing Mr. Bernard N. Baker, resigned. The headquarters of the company is in New York city, where Mr. Franklin resides. He is a son of Col. Walter S. Franklin and his wife is a daughter of the late Hon. John Merryman, of Havfields, Baltimore county. —Lieut. Oscar K. Tolley, of the Fourteenth Infantry, U. S. A., now stationed at Fort Por- ter, Buffalo, N. Y., will go with his command to the Philippines about the middle of next February. Lieut. Tolley, whose home is at Taylor, Harford county, has many friends in Baltimore county. He was lately appointed to the army, having secured his present posi- tion through a highly creditable competitive examination. —Rev. John P. Dean, who is a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, celebrated his 80th birthday at his home in Reisterstown on the 9th inst.,'upon which occasion he gave a dinner to a few of his friends. Mr. Dean enjoys excellent health and is in full posses- sion of all his faculties. He is a most estima- ble gentleman and passes his life quietly in his comfortable home in Reisterstown, where he has spent so many years of his life. Medical Association Meeting.—The reg- ular monthly meeting of the Baltimore Coun- ty Medical Association was held Thursday af- ternoon at Tracey’s Hotel,Towson. Dr. Joseph E. Gichner, of the University of Maryland, read a paper on "Recent Work on Rheuma- tism,” showing the close association and rela- tion between rheumatism and tonsilitis. Cases of ecclampsia were reported by Drs. Naylor, Smart, Gichner, Massenburg, H.S. Jarrett and William J. Todd. The new members proposed were Dr. H. D. Lewis and Dr. R. Perry Car- man. Those present, in addition to President H. Louis Naylor, were Drs. F. R. Rich, L. Gibbons Smart, H. A. Naylor, A. A. Matthews, Joseph E. Gichner, Marshall Price, William J. Todd, A. C. McCurdy, R. C. Massenburg and Harry S. Jarrett. Woman Attacked on the Road.—At a late hour on Saturday night last while Mrs. Heinz, wife of Mr. Hugh Heinz, a truck far- mer who lives near the Parkville tollgate, on the Harford road, was returning from Balti- more, where she had been to attend market, she was stopped on the road by a man who evidently intended to rob her. She screamed loudly for help when the highwayman fired two shots at her and then ran away. Both shots took effect, one in the jaw of Mrs. Heinz and the other in the left side of her body, but the wounds were only slight and Mrs. Heinz was able to proceed to her home, near which the affair occurred. The Best Way to Celebrate Christmas. —An exchange says the best way in the world to celebrate Christmas is to make some heart glad by the giving of a present. It need not be a great present—just something that attests the sincerity and affection of the giver. The choosing of the gift is perhaps the best part of the annual event, and the chances are very good that it brings to the sender as much good as it does to the recipient. It ties both together throughout another year. Fortunate is he who can afford to go outside of his own home on Christmas morning to find tho poor, the friendless, and the unhappy. His is the best Christmas this world offers. Jury of Condemnation. —The jury sum- moned by Sheriff Oeligrath to condemn cer- tain lands in the 13th district for the use of the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad, sat this week at Junker’s Hotel, West Fayette st., Baltimore. Those composing the jury were S. R. Cooper, D. A. Kalb, William Dietz, C. E. Fitzsimmons, George Wicker, William J. Spicer, William Sotdorus, George Clausmeyer, John Shaffer, Charles T. Bowen and Wiliiam Sindall. On Thursday the iury rendered a verdict for the Coan estate, to which the property belongs, for $2,400. Messrs. R. R. Boarman and John F. Williams represented the estate. Circuit Court. —Alexander T. Leftwicb, surviving partner, etc., vs. the Royal Insurance Company; verdict for the defendant. John Rinehart and others vs. the Arthur B. Kitsch Brick Company; argued and held sub curia. Canton Avenue Building Association vs. Henry Frederick ; argued and held sub curia. John Doering vs. Kasper Kramer, verdict for plaintiff for S2O damages. Same vs. Lewis Berg, verdict for defendant. Same vs. Albert Liebmann, verdict for plaintiff for S3O dam- ages. Herman M. Koehler and Matilda Koeh- ler vs. the Baltimore and Jerusalem Turnpike Company; on trial. Sulc Against a Turnpike.—The Circuit Court here was engaged several days this week in the trial of the suit of Herman M. Koehler against the Baltimore and Jerusalem Turnpike Company for $2,500 damages. The plaintiff claims that a portion of theturnpikeis located on land owned by him. The case had not been concluded at noon on Friday. Mr. Os- borne I. Yellott represents the plaintiff, and Messrs. M. W. Offutt, D. G. Mclntosh and T. Scott Offutt are counsel for the company. Want a Postofflce Established. —An ef- fort is being made by a number of citizens to have a postoffice established at Rockland, on the Falls road, about three-quarters of a mile south of Brooklandville. A few days ago a delegation composed of Messrs. Robert H. Wright, William Bryan, Charles T. Bowen and others went to Washington to confer with Representative Blakeney about the matter. It is likely the office will be established. THE MONROE DOCTRINE. What It Really Is And What It Stands For. Hew York Herald. It must be remembered, in the first place, that the declaration on which Monroe in 1823 consulted his Cabinetand his two predecessors, Jefferson and Madison, related to the meddling of the Powers of Europe in the affairs of Amer- ican States. That the kind of meddling then declared against was such as tended to control the polit- ical affairs of American powers, or was de- signed to extend to the New World the politi- cal system and institutions of the Old. That the declaration did not mark out any course of conduct to be pursued, but merely asserted that interposition of the kind mention- ed would be considered as dangerous to our peace and safety, and a manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States. That this doctrine has never been indorsed by any resolution or act of Congress, but still remains the declaration of a President and his Cabinet. Nevertheless, it was and is an eminently proper and patriotic doctrine, and as such has been indorsed by the people of the United States, and needs no other sanction. The peo- ple, not Congress, rule this country. It is not of the smallest consequence, therefore, wheth- er Congress ever has or ever does indorse the doctrine, which very fittingly bears the name of the first President to announce it. The Monroe doctrine is a simple and plain statement that the people of the United States oppose the creation of European dominion on American soil; that they oppose the transfer of the political sovereignty of American soil to European Powers and that any attempt to do those things will be regarded as “danger- ous to our peace and safety.”- What the rem- edy should be for such interposition by Eu- ropean Powers the doctrine does not pretend to state. But this much is certain, that when the people of the United States consider any- thing “dangerous to their peace and safety” they will do as other nations do, and if neces- sary defend their peace and safety with force of arms. The doctrine does not contemplate forcible intervention by the United States in any legiti- mate contest, but it will not permit any such contest to result in the increase of European power or influence on this continent, nor in the overthrow of an existing government, nor in the establishment of a protectorate over them, nor in the exercise of any direct control over their policy or institutions. Further than this the doctrine does not go. It does not commit us to take part in wars between a South American Republic and a European when the object of the latter is not the found- ing of a monarchy under a European prince in place of an overthrown republic. In the pres- ent instance, therefore, the doctrine does not apply so long as England does not hold the ports of Venezuela longer than is necessary to secure the payment of the sum she is deter- mined to extort. Should she attempt to hold Venezuela forever, the Monroe doctrine would apply and our duty and policy would be resistance. Vertical Handwriting. New York Sun. The superintendent of Baltimore’s public schools, Mr. J. H. Van Sickle, presents the most forceful argument we have yet heard in behalf of the vertical, or, as he calls it, the “natural,” handwriting. He has arrayed on his side Thomas A. Edison, reputed to be the swiftest penman in America; former As- sistant Secretary of the Treasury F. A. Van- derlip, the managers of telegraph companies in many of our principal cities, who are fa- miliar with the handwriting of expert tele- graphers—men able to write legibly from 25 to 50 -words per minute; prominent printers, manufacturers and dealers in various parts of this country, and even college professors and physicians. Mr. Edison acquired the vertical sty le when learning telegraphy. By its use he is said to have averaged 52 words per minute and to have turned out copy "as legible as print” even at this remarkable speed. Superinten- dent Van Sickle offers the following statistics : The average speed of 600 publiesebool children in 15 cities who have studied the vertical style for from two to five years is 130 letters per minute, whereas the average of nearly 200 letters per slant writers, all adults, is only 103 per minute. Vertical handwriting is commonly spoken of as a fad which has sprung up within the last 10 or 12 years. In reality, however, this style of writing is shown to antedate by more than a century the sloping method. Dr. Edward Brooks of Philadelphia, who has writ- ten a history of the two systems of penmanship in question, says that the slant system were unknown in any language until the Sixteenth Century. Prior to that time all chirography was vertical. It was, practically, the only hand written by the ancient Romans. When, during the Middle Ages, the cultivation of a tine style of penmanship was tttits heighr in~ Italy, slant writing was never practised. That style seems first to have been popularized by Queen Elizabeth, who fell in love with the new type of a Venetian printer, afterward known as italic, and fashioned her handwrit- ing after it. The Future of Agriculture. Portland Oregonian. To the lover of nature, the admirer of grow- ing things, the man or woman who finds the old story of the seasons, as told in the recur- ing periods of rest and resurrection, of seed time and harvest, material for a new drama with development in the leading role, the science of agriculture is at once the most won- derful and the most engaging of all pursuits. There are no graduates from the school of nature. One season leaves another to fulfill its promises, and these, if well based, are as cer- tain of fulfillment as the sun is to shine and the rain to fall. The increasing magnitude of the agricultural industry in this country is sufficient proof of the increasing interest that is taken in farming as a progressive science. With a fixed capital 0f520,000,000,000 invested in agriculture; with, in aggregate, 415.000,000 acres of cultivated land; with 40,000,000 peo- ple resident upon farms and 10,000,000 engaged in agricultural pursuits, we may well place agri- culture at the top of the list of the industrial columns as the greatest, as is the oldest of human vocations. The value of the products of American agriculture in the last census year was so large that the figures in which it is set forth are confusing in the vast sums that they designate and the enormous bulks in agri- cultural products that they indicate. We are fain, therefore, to regard them as standing for an industry the appliances of which, includ- ing human effort and intelligence, are enor- mous and the results of which, whether pre- sented in bulk or in value, are fairly incom- prehensible to the ordinary mind. Accepting without dissent the statement of Secretary Wilson that the expenditures of the govern- ment for agriculture are justified by results, we will find it easy to indorse his concluding view that “the future will still further show the value of science applied to the farm.” The Oldest American Inn. West Brookfield, Mass., claims the distinc- tion of having the oldest hotel in the United States. It is a typical colonial tavern, which for nearly a century and a half has never Closed its doors to the stranger. It was built in 1760 by Capt. David Hitchcock, who was its boniface for 51 years, and during his time he entertained many distinguished guests. Gen. George Washington stopped there October 22d, 1789, on his way to P ston, and entered in his diary, “We were fed on the best the town affords.” A short time afterward Martha Washington spent the night there. In 1799 President John Adams drove into town with his coach and four, and Landlord Hitchcock gave him the "best room in the house.” Je- rome Bonaparte, who was appointed King of Westphalia in 1807, spent the night there with his American bride, Miss Elizabeth Patterson, in 1804, and tradition shows the place where his coach ran into a fence and demolished it. General Lafayette on his visit to America in 1824 stopped there, and many other notable personages have partaken of its hospitality. For 104 years the hotel had only three differ- ent landlords, an average proprietorship of nearly 35 years apiece. The Wayside Inn, made immortal by Longfellow, antedates the West Brookfield house, but it never had a con- tinuous career as a hotel. Farmers’ Egg- Trust. Farmers of McLean county, 111., are organiz- ing an egg trust and are engaged in sorting eggs in plants constructed especially for the purpose, to be held for next winter’s demand. One firm has erected a building especially for the storage of eggs and expects to pack 1,000,000. As soon as the eggsare received they are placed in zinc frames holding ten dozen. When fifty of the frames are filled they are moved into a dark room and candled. The eggs are then tested for breaks and those broken are sold to bakers. Having passed both these tests the trays with their contents are placed on an ele- vator and lowered into the basement. Many tanks of cement, with walls a foot and a half thick, like huge beer vats, are located below. Each is 7 feet long and the same width, capable of holding 10,000 dozen. The tanks contain a colorless liquid, the ingredients of which are kept secret, which is said to preserve the eggs for months. The eggs are piled in the tanks but the liquid between them prevents them from breaking by their own weight. The Boss Fish Story. Letter from York. Harry P. Howard, of this city, landed the largest bass ever caught in the Codorus creek or the Susquenanna river. Mr. Howard caught the fish near the Y. M. C. A. Athletic Grounds. He kept it alive by placing it in a vessel filled with water and later transferred it to the bathtub at his home. The fish meas- ures two and a half feet and weighs six pounds strong. In two days it has devoured a two- pound carp and one dozen small fish.

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Page 1: The Baltimore County union (Towsontown, Md.) 1902-12-20 [p ]€¦ · Baltimore county, has secured a Government pension attherateof88 permonth. — Mr. William A.Lee, ofTowson, bought

WLnion.TOWSON. M<l.

Saturday, December 20, 1902.

LONGNECKER BROS., Editors and Proprietors.

SI.SO perannum —inadvance. Postage pre-paid. No subscription takenfor

less than six months.

MARYLAND TELEPHONE—TOWSON, Q, 121.

LOCAL ITEMS.KALES ADVERTISED IN “THE UNION.”

Saturday, December 20, by A. P. McComas. onthe farm of Mr. J. Glenn McComas, nearGreenwood, horses, cows, wagons, etc.

Monday, December 22, by Harry E. Mann, attor-ney, etc., on the premises, leasehold proper-ty corner of Third street and Fait avenue,Highlandtown.

Monday, December 22, by Leigh Bonsai, assignee,etc., on the premises, three houses on Govaneavenue, near Harwood avenue, Govanstown.

Monday, December 22, by Mrs. Maria Slatterly,on the North Point road near the Philadel-phia road, stock, farm and garden tools,Household effects, etc.

Monday. December 22. by Julius Itudigerof A.,on the York turnpike, near the8-Mile House,horses, cows, wagons, farm implements, in-cubators. ice-cream machines, etc.

Tuesday, December 28, by Robert M. Taylor,on the Regester farm, on Regester avenue,south of Towson, postponed sale of horses,mares, cattle, hogs, implements, etc.

Tuesday, December 23, by M.T. Stirlingand Dr.W. M. Stirling, administrators, at Shane, Tthdistrict, potsponed sale of the personal ef-fects of John Stirling, deceased.

Monday, January 5, 1903. by Robert H. Smith,attorney, on the premises, real estate in thevillage of Mt. Washington.

Monday, January 5, 1803, by John S. Biddison,trustee, on the premises, adjoining Brehm’sBrewery, near the Belair road, horses, cows,wagons, etc. _ _ _

Tuesday, January 6. 1903, by Robert H. Bussey,attorney, at the Court House door, house andlot in the Bthdistrict, near Quaker meeting-house.

—► Fresh pork sold off the road in Towsonon Thursday at i cts. per pound.

—► Hard coal sold in Baltimore this week atsll and sl2 a ton and soft from $8 to $lO.

—► John J. Mullaney has been appointedconstable for the 12th district, vice NicholasIlevell, resigned.

—► John A. Tiepe, of Baltimore county, hasbeen granted his discharge in bankruptcy inthe U. S. District Court.

—►Call at The Union office and get a prettycalendar for 1903. The New Year will soon behere and then you’ll need it.

—► The grass keeps green unusually longthis year and it looks as though a “greenChristmas” is to be a reality.

—*The Union extends the compliments ofthe season to all its friends and patrons. Amerry Christmas to one and all.

—Frescoers from Philadeipbiaarenow en-gaged in decorating the interior of the tinenew Catholic Church in Towson.

—►Elder F. A. Chick, of Hopewell, N. J.,will preach at Black Rock Baptist Church,Sunday, December 21st, at 11 a. m.

—Elizabeth E. Gibson, widow, of Sbawan,Baltimore county, has secured a Governmentpension at the rate of 88 per month.

—►Mr. William A. Lee, of Towson, boughta four-horse wagon load of potatoes on Wed-nesday for which be paid 60 cents per bushel.

—►ln digging a grave in Prospect Hill Cem-etery, Towson, on Tuesday, it was found thatthere was not a particle of frost in the ground.

►The early Christmas services will beheld in Towson M. E. Church and St. FrancisCatholic Church, next Thursday morning atthe usual hours.

—►Next Monday, according to the almanac,is the first day of winter, but we’ve had a goodenough taste of it already—and don’t care if itnever comes back.

—►Several dogs were killed at Govanstotvnthis week as a precaution against hydrophobia.They were thought to have been bitten by arabid dog last Sunday.

—*lt is thought the list of appointments for1903 will be announced by the County Com-missioners next Tuesday. They will take ef-fect from January Ist.—A license was issued in Washington on

Wednesday for the marriage of William T.Rollings, of Bengies, Baltimore county, andMiss Carrie J. Biddison.

—►The Northern Central Railway Companyhas declared a semi-annual dividend of 4 percent., payable on January 15th to stockholdersof record December 31st.

—Golden Rule Council, No. 6, Jr. O. U. A.M., of Woodberry, paid a fraternal visit toJohn Eager Howard Council, No. 55, of Tow-son, on Wednesday evening.

—►The members of the Junior EpworthLeague will be given a Christmas treat nextThursday afternoon, 25th inst., in the lectureroom of Towson M. E. Church.

—►The contract for erecting the new resi-dence at PikesviTle for Mr. Randolph Barton,Jr., has been awarded to Messrs. Gladfelter andChambers. It will cost about SII,OOO.

—►The public schools closed on Friday,19th inst., and will remain closed until Mon-day, January sth. This long Christmas holi-day is due to the scarcity of fuel for heating.

—►The corner-stone of the new LutheranChurch in West Arlington was laid last Sun-day afternoon, with appropriate ceremonies.Rev. S. J. Miller will be pastor of the church.

—Mr. William B. Cockey, of GarrisonFarm, near Pikesville, took advantage of thefirst freeze and filled his house with a finequality of 3-inch ice from the pond on thefarm.

—*A fine new barn to replace the one de-stroyed by lightning last summer, has beenerected on the farm of Mr. John P. Chilcoat,at Verona, 7th district. The cost was about$1,500.

—►Some Baltimore county farmers arehauling a rather inferior article of firewood toBaltimore and selling it at $6 and $8 per cord.Here good wood, already sawed, can be boughtat $6per cord.

—Mr. John A. Wright, of the Towson in-surance firm of Offutt, Wright & Emmart,slipped and fell on the ice while in Baltimore afew evenings ago and broke a piece off one ofbis front teeth.

—►The December meeting of the SeniorGunpowder Agricultural Club was held lastSaturday at Filston Farm, Glencoe. A fullreport of the proceedings will be published inThe Union next week.

—►The good as well as the wicked stood inslippery places last Sundayand it was noticedthat the former got just as many bumps onthe ground as the latter. There is someconso-lotion in this, no doubt.

—►Exhibits of apples were made at theannual meeting of the Maryland HorticulturalSociety held in Baltimore this week by Messrs.S. S. Merritt, Richard Vincent, Jr., and GeorgePrechtel, of Baltimore county.

—As Christmas occurs on Thursday ofnext week the local correspondents of TheUnion will oblige us by sending in their favorsas early in the week as possible. Otherwisethey may not receive attention.

-L*lt has been a long time since we haveexperienced such a rain as that of last Mon-day night and Tuesday. An immense quanti-ty of water fell and some streams were greatlyswollen by the steady downpour.

—►Mr. Elisha M.'Mays, who owns what isknown as the Hipsley farm, near the old Har-ford road, raised last harvest 300 bushels ofwheat on 12 acres of ground. Considering theseason this was a remarkable result.

—* Mr. Thomas W. Offutt, manager of theMt. Washington Electric Light Company, willhave the avenues of Towson lighted Christmasmorning for the benefit of those who will at-tend the early services at our churches.

—old Jupiter Pluvius must have had itlaid up for the Christmas shoppers. What hedid to them this week was quite enough todampen their ardor and make them feel liketoo much of a good thing is a decided super-fluity.

—>A remarkable coating of ice coveredeverything last Saturday, Sunday and Monday,but did no serions damage. Travel of allkinds was difficult and even dangerous andthere was no more going about tban was ne-cessary.

—► Mrs. Pilson, wife of Mr. Frank W. Pil-son, who lives on Willow avenue, near theYork road, fell on the ice in Baltimore earlythis week and broke an arm. Mrs. Pilson is asister of Messrs. James H. and Tobias C. Lin-zey, of Towson.

—A handsome residence is in course oferection at the corner of Roland avenue andKenwood road. Roland Park, for Mr. E. M.Sanford. It will contain sixteen rooms andthe estimated cost is SII,OOO. Mr. A. F. Westis the contractor.

—Tbe sale of the personal effects of thelate John Stirling, of Shane, 7th district, an-nounced to take place last Tuesday, was post-poned on account of the rain until Tuesdaynext, December 23d. See advertisement inThe Union today.

Next Monday will be the shortest day ofthe year. The sun will rise at 7.24 and set at4.46. There is an old saying that “when thedays begin to lengthen the cold begins tostrengthen,” but we earnestly hope it will notbe verified this year.

—A party from Towson went to RockyPoint this week, but had no shooting worthspeaking of. One morning the river appearedto be literally alive with ducks, but the windwas northwest and they were so far out thatthere was no shooting.

►The Wilson & Kenney Company, ofTowson, received another supply of coal thisweek and the stringency has thus been con-siderably relieved. A member of the firmsaid that Cumberland coal cost them $7 perton delivered in Towson.

—►While driving in a break-cart on theFranklin road last Saturday, Mr.Frank Holton,nephew of Hon. H. B. Holton, was thrownout,caused by the colt taking fright and runningaway, and had his collarbone broken besidessustaining other injuries.

►Grange Hall in Towson, that had beenadvertised in The Union several weeks, wasoffered at public sale, on the premises, on Mon-day last and withdrawn on a bid of $2,450.Mr. W. Jeff. Shanklin is president of theboard of managers of the property.

—*The sale of Mr. Robert M. Taylor, an-nounced to take place on the Regester farm,Regester avenue, south of Towson, on Tues-day last, was postponed on account of theweather until Tuesday, December 23d. Seeadvertisement in The Union today.

—*A beautiful lake 100 feet wide and 300feet long is being constructed on Emory Grovecampground. It will be used for boating insummer and for ice cutting in winter. Thewater for the lake will be supplied from thefine Minnehaha spring on the grounds.

—►The little pink slips of paper are com-ing back to The Union office fairly well, butnot so rapidly as they should. Those who re-ceived them should remember that they werenot sent out in fun. We are in “dead” earnestin this matter and want to be so understood.

—►Heavy sleet like that of the past weekmakes much extra work for the telegraph andtelephone line men, although the lines didnotsuffer as much as they did during the storm ofla9t February when the trees were so seriouslydamaged by the accumulations of ice on theirbranches.

—Mr. Peter K. Fowble, of Butler, sth dis-trict. a few days ago killed 22 hogs that weigh-ed, dressed, 4,382 lbs., and sold 2,200 lbs. at 8icts. per pound. He still has 10 to kill. Mr.Fowble took advantage of the first freeze andfilled his ice-house with ice four inches inthickness.

—►Remember that the open season forpheasants, partridges and rabbits ends in Bal-timore county next Wednesday. Prohibitedgame found in possession after that date willlay you liable to fine. The deputy game war-dens should keep their eyesopen for violatorsof the law.

—►The weather of the past two weeks hasbeen very trying on the county roads and com-plaints will again be numerous. O, for thetime when hard roads will be a reality and notsimply a vision. The realization of this eu-topian period seems as far off in Baltimorecounty as ever.

—►The suburban burglar is again at workand that meansthat the lot of thesuburbanite,like that of the policeman in Pinnafore, is nota happy one. But this is the season whensneak thieves reap their harvest and it wouldbe well for all to take extra precautions againsttheir incursions.

—>Mr. Robert M. Taylor, of “Mt. Pros-pect,” near Towson. has sold his thoroughbredchestnut stallion The Tory to Mr. John RushStreett, of “Farmington,” Harford county, bywhom he will be used in the stud. The horseis 7 years old and was sired by imported Jaco-bite, dam Victoria.

—►Mr.George R. Willis, attorney for ElmerH. Stansbury, has filed a bill in equity againstAnnie E. Stansbury and others for a petitionof the real estate of the late Charles W. Stans-bury, consisting of two tracts of land em-bracing together 305 acres, situated in the 15thdistrict of Baltimore county.

—►Two up-country farmers drove throughTowson a few days ago on their way to Balti-more with their wagons loaded with Christmastrees and green wood cut into uneven lengths.They must have thought that any old thingwill go as fuel these days. Perhaps they ex-pected to sell the stuff by the yard.

—►The National Bank of Cockeysville issending out to its customers and friends anattractive calendar for 1903. It has a very sug-gestive picture beneath which is the excellentmotto : “A penny saved is a penny earned.”The Cockeysville institution has a savingsbank feature that is proving a great success.

—The month of December thus far hassurely been trying itself and has furnishedsamples of almost every kind of weather thatcould be imagined, but exceedingly little ofthe sort that met general approval. But somephilosophical person says we’d better havethe winter now than later, and perhaps he’sright.

—► “Maltie,” the pet Maltese cat of littleMiss Lydia Reed, granddaughter of Mr. Joseph8. Bowen, of Towson, arrived home on Sundayafter having attended the pet stock show inconnection with the poultry show held inWashington, D. C., last week, having capturedthe blue ribbon for being the best of his breedon exhibition.

—►Charity Lodge, No. 134, A. F. & A. M.,of Parkton, N. C. R. R., will attend publicworship in the Methodist Episcopal Church atMonkton, on Sunday, December 28th, at 3 p.m., when a special sermon will be preachedby Rev. J. T. Marsh. Members of other lodgesare cordially invited. Rev. Richard G. Koontzis chairman of the committee in charge.

—>A few days ago the Ladies’ Aid Societyof Hiss’ M. E. Church paid a visit to the par-sonage and surprised their esteemed pastor.Rev. F. R. Isaac, with a bountiful supply ofalmost everything for the table, as well asprovender for his horse. It is almost unne-cessary to add that their kindness was highlyappreciated by the pastor and his family.

—►"Pathfinder,” the fine jumper that Mrs.C. Stewart Lee exhibited successfully at thelate Richmond horse show, and that hadbeen sent to her mother’sfarm at Sunnybrookto winter, had a leg broken from the kick ofanother horse a few days ago and had to bekilled. The horse cost S6OO and was highlyprized by Mrs. Lee, he being an exceptionallyfine animal.

—► Mr.G. W. Battee, of Lauraville, whorep-resents the William J. Corse nursery, reportsan unusually brisk season in his line. Uponbeing asked how he accounted for it he saidthat last year being locust year, many whoneeded nursery stock held off for fear of in-jury to the young trees by the locusts. Tothis fact he partially attributes the large salesof the present year.

—>At the meeting of the Vansville Farm-ers’ Club last Saturday Col. William S. Powellexhibited a specimen of Savoy kale, grownon his farm at Annapolis Junction, that sur-passed anything of the kind the members hadever seen. It measured 50 inches in diameterand weighed 7i lbs. Col. Powell also exhibitedsome ears of yellow corn grown by him thatwere exceptionally fine.

—On Tuesday morning last the dead bodyof an unknown white man, apparently about35 years of age, was found in a vacant bouseon the Philadelphia road near the Gunpowderbridge. A jury summoned by Justice Schutzdeclared that the man had died of starvationand exposure. Rev. J. W. Larmour, rector ofSt. John’s Church, Kingsville, had the re-mains decently interred.

—►The Union made an awkward blunderin publishing last week the figures furnishedby our Hyde correspondent as the result ofMr. B. W. Ady’s hog killing. Correctly giventhe figures are: 200 lbs. lard, 150 lbs sausageand 1,116 lbs. meat, dressed. That four fathogs should yield but 20 lbs. of lard—as pre-viously published—must have struck the aver-age reader as simply ridiculous.

—►The police authorities of Baltimore cityhave issued an order against the repetition ofthe disorder that has heretofore been permit-ted on the streets on Christmas eve. Theracket created by the ringing and jangling ofcowbells, tbe blowing of borns, etc., was some-thing terrible and at times almost amounted toa riot. It is highly creditable to the policethat they have taken this stand.

—Next Thursday is Christmas, the mostimportant holiday of the year, and to many itwill not prove the most pleasant. Living ex-penses are higher this winter than usual andthe high price of fuel weigh heavily uponmany. The men who are responsible for thisstate of affairs will have a serious account toanswer for hereafter. Perhaps there will beplenty of fuel on hand where they will go.

During the recent sleety weather teamsexperienced a great deal of trouble getting overthe new bridgeat the Sherwood crossing of theNorthern Central road. No one appears ableto explain why this structure was raised sohigh in the centre, although it is said to havebeen built that way so that the engineers ofsouthbound trains could see the tower, whichis located a short distance below the bridge.

—►The hunt clubs have done very little inthe field this month, the weather having beenunfit for outdoor sports. The Overland Clubwill have a meet at the club house. Towson,on Christmas day at 10 a. m. The GreenSpring Valley Club will have a shooting matchiu the morning, to be followed by the annual"farmers’ dinner” at 2.30 p. m. To this latterthe club invites all over whose lands it hunts.

—►Santa Claus has his “Busy Day” signout now and his hands will be full for a fewdays yet. The little folks are getting a gooddeal worked up over his prospective visit andtheexcitement will increase as the day ofall theyear, to them, approaches. Santashouldmakespecial provision for the less fortunate childrenthis year else it may prove anything but a"Merry Christmas” tothem. And many couldassist him in his good work who seem neverto think it necessary to do so.

time for adopting that new resolu-tion is drawing near rapidly and we ought tobe thinking about it seriously. There are athousand and one things that are open to re-formation and while it would be, perhaps, fu-tile to attempt all of them, yet there are some—just a little few—that might be tried withprofit to ourselves. This is something thatcan be done at all seasons, but the beginningof a New Year seems to be an especially suita-ble time to undertake one or more of thesenew resolves. Don’t forget to do it.

—A well known Methodist clergyman ofBaltimore county writes to us as follows:"While the coming of your excellent paper tothe parsonage for the past year makes no de-mand for pay, yet I deem it highly deservingof a word of praise. Its clean, attractive andinteresting reading matter is worthy of appre-ciation, andtogether with the urtfaneand gen-erous consideration of its editors Iherewith ex-tend my most sincere thanks, wishing you notonly the good cheer of the glad season, butlong and continued prosperity in all virtuesthat make noble manhood.”

Aged Colored Men Dead.—WilliamMack, a former slave of the late RichardJohns, of Dover. 4th district, died at his homenear Shawan, Wednesday last, aged 91 years.He drove the farm market wagon for Mr.Johns and was implicitly trusted by him.Mack is survived by three sons, two of whomlive in Towson, and three daughters.

John Beard, who was a friend of Mack andwho had attended his funeral, was found deadin his bed at his home near Shawan.on Satur-day morning. He was over 80 yearsof age andis believed to have died of heart disease. Forsome years Beard carried the mail betweenCockeysville and Shawan.

Another Barn Fire.—The barn on theproperty of the National Fishing Shore, nearTurner’s Station, 12th district, was burnedearly on Monday morning last, causing a lossestimated at SSOO. How the fire originated isa mystery but is supposed to have been causedby tramps sleeping in the building. Mr.Christian Seifert lives on the farm.

Jacksonville and Sunnybrook, 10thDistrict.—Mis. Jesse Price and her daughter.Miss Francis Price, of Baldwin, will leave onFriday after Christmas for Pittsburg to spendthe winter with Mrs. Price’s daughter, Mrs.Maggie Jessop. They will be much missed bytheir many friends. Miss Price is superinten-dent of the Junior C. E. of Chestnut Grove

j Church and an active worker in the church.It is hoped they may have a safe and pleasantjourney.

Mr. William Price, son of Mr. John R.Price, of Jacksonville, is attending a businesscollege in Baltimore, where he will take thefull course.

The missionary society of Chestnut GroveChurch met last Tuesday afternoon at thehome of Mrs. Knight, near Sweet Air. Themembers were very pleasantly entertained byMiss Kate Knight.

The Sundayschool of St. John’s LutheranChurch, near Sweet Air, will hold its annualChristmas entertainment on Friday evening,December 26th. A very entertaining pro-gram has been prepared and there will be atree loaded witb good things for the children.All will be welcome.

The weekly prayer meetings held at thehomes of tbe members of Chestnut GroveChurch are well attended. The last was heldWednesday evening at the home of Mrs. JessePrice. A sunrise prayer meeting will be heldat the church on Christmas day.

Mrs. Perry Carroll, of Jacksonville, is veryill at this time.

Mother earth presented a beautiful picturelast Sabbath morning—such an one as no ar-tist could rival. It is rarely that ice remainsso long on the trees as this did, but fortunatelyno serious damage resulted.

Coasting has lately been much enjoyed bythe young folks, the icy hills affording goodplaces for this exhilarating winter sport.

The Sunday school of the First German Re-formed Church at Jacksonville will hold itsusual Christmas festival onThursday evening,December 25th, commencing at 7.30 o’clock.All welcome.

A certain young Harford countian whotakes long drives below tbe Harford line, wasin a serious dilemma last Sunday because hefailed to see his best girl that day. The roadswere fearfully icy and he knew* he could notdnve unless he took his horse to the shop tobe roughed. After debating the thing a longtime in his own mind he at last determinedthat the horse must be roughed. Then hewent to the shop but, horror of horrors, theblacksmith had closed up and gone away !And so the young man had to stay at homewhile some other fellow occupied the time ofthe best girl. But he may still be able to re-gain his lost ground.

Mr. Cook led the Y. P. C. E. at ChestnutGrove Church last Sunday evening and pleas-antly entertained his hearers. M.

Monkton, N. C. R. R.—Some of theweather prophets who sometime ago predicteda mild winter because of certain unmistakable“signs,” are now advised to take a back seatand retire from the prophet business. Wehave had excellent samples of tough winterweather for more than two weeks, with snowand ice and tbe mercury below the freezingpoint for days at a tima. The heavy sleet oflast week did some damage to our telephonelines, being the second time this year that thewires have been down. The heavy coating ofice that covered everything so completely for-cibly reminded us of the remarkable sleetstorm of last February.

Farmer’s operations have been practically ata standstill and the complaint of almost im-passable roads comes from every quarter. Ournew road law, about which there was so muchtalk, has not yet afforded us any relief in thisrespect.

Now is the blacksmith’s harvest and he has“been making hay while the sun shines,” orto be more correct, while it does not shine, forsunshine has been ata premium for some time.Over 400 shoes have been nailed on at Monk-ton shops since the snow fell.

Mr. Nicholas Miller, the N. C. Railroad agentat Monkton Station, gets two week’s vacationeach year and usually takes his time off duringtbe gunning and trouting seasons. He missedboth this year and his smiles are not now sobewitching as they commonly are. His vaca-tion was to begin the morning the late blizzardvisited Monkton and as it has been doing verylittle but “bliz” ever since he has been disap-pointedall around. Thus the cotton-tails havemanaged to escape his unerring aim.

Miss Olive L. Smith, principal of the publicschool here, who had been living at Corbett,has removed to Monkton and taken up herabode with Mrs. Sudler.

Mrs. Robert Merryman has removed fromMonkton to Corbett and is occupying the housevacated by Miss Smith. Mrs. Merryman’sfineresidence at this place having been burnedsome time ago necessitated her removal.

Mrs. Elizabeth Bull, wife of Mr. Thomas M.Bull, who lives near Corbett, died on the 13thinstant after a long illness from a complica-tion of diseases, aged 62 years. The funeraltook place on Monday and tbe remains weretaken to Middletown Baptist Church for inter-ment. S.

Bklo, 6th District. —Many of the countyroads in this district were pretty well blockedby the snow and sleet of last week. Thefree delivery carriers, in many instances, hadto cut their way through. If our road super-visors would only take enough interest intheir business at a time like this they couldremedy the entire difficultyand thus prove tothe taxpayers that they are w’ortby of the po-sitions to which they have been appointed.We had hope for a more scientific method ofworking the county roads, after the Solons atAnnapolis had provided by legislative enact-ment for a professional road-maker; but alas,I fear we are doomed to disappointment. Ithas been said there is no surer thing than taxes(unless it be death,) and all the citizens arewilling to contribute their amount to the roadfund. Now, have they not the right to expecta judicious expenditure of their money? Re-member taxpayers that we have our redress atthe polls—a place to remedy evils in all lawsthat are made.

The wife of Mr. Thomas N. Bull, who livednear Corbett Station, 7th district, was buriedat this place last Monday. She had been sickforsome monthsand was about 62 yearsof age.

Mr. George W. Baker still continues quitefeeble, suffering from asthma and dropsy.

Mrs. Wilhelm, wife of Capt. Henry Wilhelm,met with what might have been a very seriousaccident on Friday night, 12th inst., but fortu-nately for her no bones were broken. As sbewas walking across the floor, arranging herwork in the dining-room, her foot struck someobject which caused her to stumble and fallagainst the cupboard, which she struck withgreat force. As Mrs. Wilhelm is quite a stoutlady it was thought at first that sbe was badlyhurt, but her many friends will be glad tolearn that she is rapidly recovering.

As Christmas is approaching very rapidlywe wish, Messrs. Editors, that it may be anenjoyable one to you and your numerousreaders. S.

Perry Hall, 11th District. —Christmas isnear at hand and many of our people havebeen busy for some time preparing greens fordecorations, which they sell in tbe Baltimoremarkets. Some are making a handsomeprofit in disposing of these wreaths, festoon-ing, etc., of their own handiwork.

Butchering has been one of the leading in-dustries in this section the past week. Mr.John C. Halbert killed five hogs the averageweight of which was 250 pounds.

Much firewood has been hauled from thissection of thecounty to Baltimore this winterand the work still goes on as the demandseems brisk. Good prices are obtained andthe work is therefore profitable.

A largely attended wedding took place onThursday, 18th instant, at St. Michael’s Luth-eran Church, Perry Hall, when Mr. HenryLassahn, of Fullerton, was married to MissChristine Rey, daughter of Mr. George R.Rey, of this place. The ceremony wras per-formed by Rev. A. Ballhorn, pastor of thechurch. The groom, who is a well knownyoung business man, has many friends.

On Sunday next, December2lst. Rev. AlfredBallhorn will be regularly installed as pastorof St. M ichael’s Lutheran Church at this place.The ceremony will commence at 2 r. m. andwill be conducted by Rev. Richard Jungfer,pastor of St. John’s Church, Parkville. Atthe same time four of the recently electedchurch council will be installed by the pastor.After these ceremonies several new memberswill be admitted to tbe church.

The holiday trade in the country stores isgood and this shows that there must be plentyof cash to spare among the people.

The Sunday school at St. Michael’s Churchis preparing for its regular Christmas festivalto take place on Friday, 26th inst. The pas-tor is working energetically for the success ofthe affair. X.

Upper Falls, 11th District. —The cold anddisagreeable weather of the past week placedan embargo on almost everything and therewas little doing in any line. It was fearedthat the heavy ice on tbe trees would do muchdamage, especially to the young ones, but Ihave heard of no serious harm from thiscause.

Mr. Frank Ridgelv, who bad been livingnear Bradshaw for the past three years, soldout his personal effects at public sale a fewdays ago and has removed to Baltimore. Heis in the employ of the B. & O. Railroad Com-pany.

The oyster supper held at St. Stephen’sChurch, on Friday and Saturday evenings oflast week, was only fairly well attended,owing to the unfavorable weather.

Bad colds are prevalent and there are somecases of measles in this community, but themalady appears to be in a mild form and noth-ing serious is apprehended.

Mr. E. F. Rapbel, one of our most worthycitizens and kind neighbors, who had beenmuch indisposed for some days, is better atthis time. His family and friends are muchrelieved at the change for the better.

Mr. William Dunty, of Perry Hall, has re-moved his stone crusher to Kingsville and ispreparing to crush stone for the county roads.May the good work go on.

Mr. William S. Crossmore, merchant andcanner at Upper Falls, owns a fine horse thatis very sick at this time.

Mr. Frank Hammond, of Baltimore, ac-companied by his daughter, spent last Sundaywith his brother, Mr. Joshua Hammond, ofthis place. Jcdge.

It is queer that the shortage ofcars for haul-ing coal always happens at the moment whenfuel becomes an imperative necessity.

White Hall, N. C. R. R.—The Sundayschool of the Presbyterian Church at this placewill hold its usual Christmasentertainment onWednesday, December 31st—New Year’s eve.Judging from rehearsals which are being heldalmost daily the cantata promises to be a mark-ed success. Santa Claus will be very much in

1 evidence to gladden the hearts of the little| folks. Jack Frost and other members of San-

ta’s household will also be present. Ail areI asked to attend. Admission 10 cents,i Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Foster, of this place,

J pleasantly entertained a number of theirj friends on Wednesday evening at their home,“The Terraces.”

Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Black, of White Hall,i gave an informal tea to a number of theiri friends on Thursday evening of last week.

Miss Maud Elliott, who has been extremely! ill for several weeks with typhoid fever.is now| improving slowly. " Y. Q- X.

Getting in Training for the Offices.—Thej Baltimore Herald of last Sunday had the fol-

■ lowing: “While it is perhaps a little early,; nevertheless Republican politics in Baltimore

j county has commenced to simmer. Althoughthe election will not be held until next fall,

i yet the grooming of the candidates is alreadyj under way. Particular attention is being

| paid to the office of State’s Attorney and| several aspirants are getting ready to shy their| nominating tiles into tbe ring. Among the! candidates mentioned for this office is Mr.William H. Lawrence, a rising young lawyerof Highlandtown, better known to his friendsand constituents in that community as ‘Billy’Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence is also known asthe ‘mayor of Highlandtown’ from thefact heis a big factor in the social, commercial andpolitical life of that enterprising village onthe hill. All classes, conditions and nation-alities of Highlandtown seek the advice of‘Billy’ in matters of moment pertaining tothe village. A wedding, christening or even awake cannot be properly conducted withoutthe presence of ‘Billy’ Lawrence.

“There is another Richmond in the field forthe State’s Attorneyship in the person of JohnS. Ensor, who, it is said, will be led out at theproper time. There will also be a vacantjudgeship in the Third Circuit at that time,when the term of Judge James D.Watters willhave expired. Mr. Ensor, it is understood, isan aspirant for this officealso, and if he shouldsucceed in becoming the Republican candidatefor the judgeship, Mr. Lawrence would have acomparatively easy time in landing the nomi-nation for State’s Attorney. The ‘framing up’process is going on and the political pot,whichis now simmering, will begin to boil after theholidays. Should Mr. Lawrence be successfulin receiving the nomination it is safe to saythat he will make an aggressive campaign,and the Democratic other fellow will have allthat he is looking for.”

The writerof the above is not very well in-formed as to the judgeship. He should knowthat the successor to Judge Watters must comefrom Harfordcounty.

Meeting of the School Board.—TheSchool Board held a meeting at Towson onMonday with the president, Mr. Thomas B.Todd, in the chair and Prof. A. S. Cook, sec-retary.

Mr. Rice brought up the question of thetime for closing and reopening the schools forthe Christmas holiday. Coal being scarce, hemoved that they close Friday, December 19th,and reopen January sth, 1903. The motionwas adopted.

On motion of Mr. Shoemaker SecretaryCook was requested to ask the State Board ofEducation to act on the question, Has the Bal-timore County School Board the right to payout a small amount of moneyfrom the coun-ty’s school tax to transport pupils in order toconsolidate two small schools as an experi-mental illustration to the people of the coun-ty? If it has not the right, will the StateBoard empower the Baltimore County SchoolBoard to make such an expenditure?

The matter of grading the Roland ParkSchool ground was referred to CommissionerArthur, with power to act.

It was ordered that the Manual TrainingSchool be allowed to expend S3OO for the yearfor supplies.

Teachers’ contracts were confirmed withJackson L. Duncan, School 6, district 2 ; JessieG. Dilworth, School 7, district 7; Samuel R.Fox, School 2, district 7.

It was ordered that the teachers’ salaries forthe first half of the winter term andbills passedbe paid.

In the Orphans’ Court.—The will of Jos.Trainor, late of Washington, D. C.,which wasadmitted to probate on Tuesday, gives the sumof SSOO to the trustees of Reisterstown Metho-dist Episcopal Church, which is to be investedand the income to be applied toward the pas-tor’s salarj-. All the rest and residue of hisestate is given to Richard Bernard and AlfredI). Bernard in trust for his brother, and theyare appointed executors and letters testamen-tary were granted to them.

The will of Mrs. Mary Hoen, which was ad-mitted to probate, gives the sum of $l5O toRev. William E. Bartlett, of St. Ann’s Church,of which sum SSO is to be expended for masses.All the rest andresidue of her estate is givento her children and grandchildren, and JohnHoen and Harry E. Parkhurst are named asexecutors, and letters testamentary were grant-ed to them. Mrs. Hoen was the widow ofHenry Hoen.

The will of Henry Cronhardt was admittedto probate on Tuesday. His entire estate isbequeathed to his children and grandchildren.

The will of Mrs. Eva W. Baughman, pro-bated the same day, leaves her estate to herthree children.

The will of Charles Akehurst, late of Mt.Washington, was admitted to probateon Wed-nesday. He bequeaths bis property to hiswidow and names her as executor, withoutbond.

Letters testamentary on theestateof CharlesB. Taylor, late of Lutherville, were granted tohis widow, Mrs. Anna M. Taylor.

Vigorous War on Diseased Trees.—Atthe last meeting of the Board of Trustees ofthe Maryland Agricultural College State Ento-mologist Quaintance and State PathologistNorton were authorized to select assistants intbe work of inspection, treatment and re-moval of diseased trees or plants in the Stateas in their judgment are necessary tocarry outthe law. The names of such persons, andtheir proposed pay, are to be submitted to thepresident of the college for his approval. Suchemployees shall be designated as inspectors,and endowed with all authority given themunder law relating to this subject.’ The ento-mologist and pathologist were charged withthe enforcement of the law, and rigid ruleswere laid down for enforcing the law in dif-ferent cases. Any abuse of the certificategiven nurserymen will be cause for its with-drawal.

Messrs. Charles A. Councilman and E. Git-tings Merryman, of Baltimore county, mem-bers of the Board, attended this meeting.

Fine Residence Burned—Heavy Loss.—A little after 8 o’clock on Sunday evening lasttbe beautiful residence of Mr. James E. In-gram, Sr., situated on the east side of ParkHeights avenue, near Pikesville, was discov-ered to be on fire and in a short time it wasreduced to smoulderingruins. Mr. and Mrs.Ingram had gone to church and some of theyounger members of the family, who hadbeen left in charge of the house, detected asmell of smoke. Upon investigation it wasfound that the dining-room was in a blaze, thefire having been communicated from n openfireplace. The flames spread so rapidly thatonly a few articles on the lower floor could besaved. Several county engines responded tothe alarm but arrived too late to be ofany ser-vice. Tbe estimated loss is $35,000, witb $20,-500 insurance on the house and contents. Itis said that Mr. Ingram will rebuild on thesame site, which is a most attractive one.

Grand Jury Report.—The report of tbegrand jury for the December term of the Cir-cuit Court, which adjourned finally on tbe 12thinst., says they have been in session 10 days,examined 123 witnesses, investigated 43 cases,found 19 true bills and dismissed 28 cases.They visited the jail and found 43 prisonersconfined therein, eight of whom were orderedreleased. Thirteen were awaiting trial, 2 areinsane and 20 are serving sentences. Theyrecommended that the succeeding grand jurysummon all the magistrates of the county toproduce their dockets to show their receipts offines and costs.

The committee that examined the CourtHouse reported that they found it iu bad con-dition and made certain recommendations inregard to it.

The jail is reported to be very unsafe andthe committee recommended the building ofanew one, with all modern improvements.

Railroad Company Executes a Mort-gage.—A letter from Westminster says: “Amortgage for $25,000 from the Rockdale Rail-road Company to the York Trust Company ofYork, Pa., to secure the payment of bondsto that amount, has been placed on record inthe office of the clerk of the Circuit Court forCarroll county. The bonds are of the de-nomination of SI,OOO each, payable in gold,with interest at 5 per cent., redeemable in 1922,or at any time after 1907, at the option of themaker. The Rockdale Railroad Company,which was incorporated July 31, 1902, underthe laws of this State, will build a railroadfrom Hoffmanville, Baltimore county, to con-nect with the Western Maryland Railroad, andthe mortgage applies to thisroad.”

Ladles Working in a Good Cause.—Thesecond meeting of the Ladies’ Aid Society ofHamilton, Harford road, which was organizedfor the purpose ofassisting the Hamilton Vol-unteer firemen with their entertainments andreceptions, was held last Thursday night inLauraville Hall. Addresses were made byseveral of the members of the society. Anelection for officers was held, resulting as fol-lows : Mrs. A. M. Darling, psesident; Mrs.John M.Ramming,vice-president; Mrs. Fred-erick Linck, treasurer; Mrs. ThomasGriffith,secretary.

Retail Dealers Elect Officers.—The Re-tail Liquor Dealers’ Association of Baltimorecounty held a meeting at Towson on Thursdayand elected the following officers for the en-suing year : President,Harry Bosley ; first vice-president, Thomas Kenney; second vice-presi-dent, John Mulligan; "recording-secretary,Henry M. Pollock ; financial secretary, JamesC. Brown ; treasurer, Paul Hoffman ; sergeant-at-arms, Thomas Healey.

THE “FARMERS’” TRAIN.Arrival of Green Spring Valley Agricul-

turists—Daily Junket of Tillers oftheSoil to Their Business In Baltimore.

Baltimore News.„

important event in thedaily routine life at12JiVertT?ta** on is the arrival of the “Farmers’ ”

J2?ln- It sets in, when on time, at 8.50Ja. m.inose whodo not bestir themselves sufficientlyto make this train show up usually on the onethat pulls into the depot at 9.55 a. m., „

ls ,? ® ne body of agriculturists that alighttrom the 8.50 or 9.55. They are just in from“r ®e h Spring Valley, declared by its residentsto be thegarden spot of Maryland,” and whattney don’t know about raising wheat and corn,tat cattle and blooded horses, pigs, potatoes,squash and other rural products is not worthknowing.,

Now, forinstance, there is “Farmer” J. WilliamMiddendorf. Who will dare say that he is notwise when itcomes to a question of the propertime to plant turnips or to begin seeding torbarley? Incidentally, Mr. Sliddendorf is a Bal-timore banker, and is accredited with insideknowledge of how tobuy and sell railroads, andhis ability to handle great financial problems isunquestioned. If any one criticised him as abanker he would probably not give the matter asecond thought, but to reflect upon him as atiller of the soil would be to add insult to in-jury,and, like every other good resident of theValley, he would be justified in feeling hurt.

Gen. Felix Agnus also knows a thing or tworelative to agricultural pursuits. The Generalhas had various experiences in his career towhich he can look back with gratification. Heis proud of his war record and the wounds he re-ceived in honorable combat, to which he some-times makes reference in public speeches. Afriendly wag around town has often said that if"you shook the General you could hear thebul-lets rattle,” and no one enjoyed the joke morethan the object of it himself. The General isproud of his business enterpriseand of his plant,at the southwest corner of Baltimore and Southstreets. He is proud of having been born aFrenchman and of having been converted into aloyal American. But ho is even prouder of oneother thing—that he is a "farmer.” Nacirema(the name of his newspaperspelled backward) isone of the finest estates in the picturesque Val-ley, and the General derives a great deal ofpleasure from it. He has broad acres of grainand large herds of stock; but probably mostpride is taken in his Berkshires. No one will denythat they are the nicest-looking pigs in thevhole country-side.

AU of the Stewarts are imbued with the coun-try-Afehabit,and, being enthusiasts, they usual-ly are early risers, and come to town on the 8.50train. M. Redmond C. Stewart, who is on hishoneymoon trip,will spend the early winter inthe Valley at the residence of his brother, Mr.John Stewsrt, Jr., and later will take possessionof his new iouse now in the course or erection.Mr. CharlesMorton Stewart, Jr., Mr. Gustav L.Stewart, Mr JohnStewart, Jr.,and Mr. W. Plun-kett. Stewari, who married a daughter of Presi-dent Cassatt of the Pennsylvania Railroad, areamong the laily patrons of the “Farmers’”train.

Most of thefamilies whomerely have summerhomes in the Valley have returned to town forthe winter, aid the passengers landing at Cal-vert Station these sometimes bright, generallygloomy, Decenber days are the men who stickit out from the beginning to theend of the year.

There is notking in which sentiment plays astronger part tjan in rural life. The man whowas born and reared in the country usually hasa stern realization of what it actually is, and innine cases out o! ten is more than willingto quitit for town whet severe weather arrives, but itis the fellow thatadopts the country and is notbred in it that is thegenuine enthusiast. Ruralsurroundingshave a fascination for him that isas the glamour of thestage to the amateur whodreams not of the thorns to be encountered be-hind the footlights. It should not bo difficult tosurmiso that the writer is a dyed-in-the-woolcountryman.

As the commuters alight from thetrainat Cal-vert Station, a single glance is sufficient to con-vince the observer that they are pictures ofhealth and excellent advertisements for the sec-tion from which they come. They all look haleand hearty. Their step is elastic, their eyes arebright and the color in their cheeks denotes alife of regularity. They live up to the tradi-tions, and when the weather is cold they comeprovided with storm coats, woolen gloves, andsometimes with boots. While there is no writtenlaw in regard to what actually makes a “coun-tryman,” the man who has the nerve in this ageto wear heavy high boots with his breechessticking in them should certainly be permittedto pass muster.

Inaddition to the “farmers” mentioned, amongthose who usually come to town daily fromGreen Spring Valley, taking the train at variouspoints from Green Spring Junction to Melvale,are : Mr. Joseph C. Whitney, of the Merchantsand Miners’ Transportation Company; Mr. T.Dudley Riggs, Mr. Horace White, Mr. John Mc-Henry. treasurer of the Mercantile Trust andDeposit Company ; Mr. J.Vernon Campbell. Mr.W. Stewart Diffenderffcr, Mr. William VossElder, Mr. Arthur H. Hall, Mr. William GilmorHoffman, Jr., Mr. Ryland C. Moore, Mr. AlfredPoor, Jr., Mr. Harry Mordecai, Mr. George P.Mordecai, Mr. C. Lyon Rogers. Jr., Mr. Colum-bus O’Donnell Lee, Mr. Samuel M. Shoemaker,Mr. Jacob A. Omanand Mr. George Ward.

Some of these gentlemen do not go in for"farming” to the same extent as others, butthey are all interested more or less in countrylife, and their knowledge of agriculture in itsvarious phases seems to make the trip to town apleasant diversion.

Everyone knows everyone else, and it mightbe said that the passengers of the 8.50 and the9.55 are drawn together inan atmosphere cloud-ed with the smoke from Havanas and frompipes, but, nevertheless, very agreeable becauseit Is congenial.

Even Christmas Trees Higher in Price.—Like most everything else this year, whethernecessities or luxuries, Christmas trees will behigher than for years past, says the BaltimoreHerald. Dealers attribute this to the cut-ting away of the trees near the city. Eachyear hundreds of them are cut down to supplythe demands of the young folks, and as noneare planted again the dealers are compelled tobring them from greater distances.

This applies only to the cheaper grades, fornurserymen raise spruce pines especially forthe holiday trade, but they get a price accord-ingly. As' yet comparatively few trees of anysort have arrived here, but by Christmas it isexpected that there will be plenty of all sorts.Most of the buying is done in the last two orthree days before Christmas, and much of iton Christmas eve.

Cedars are largely used and these commandgood prices, bringing from 50 cents to $1.25.Common pines can be bought as low as a quar-ter,and the spruce pines cost from $2.50 to$5.00.

A dealer in the Cross street market got hiscedar trees from Prince George’s county andhauled them fifty miles to market. Trees ofthe common sort are brought to the city overLight street bridge and taken to the Pointmarket, while those for the larger grocerystores and the Lexington market come in byrail.

Some of the wholesalers think that thepopularity of the Christmas bush is on thewane, and that not near so many trees areused now as was formerly the case.

Condemns Chemical Fire Engines.—Mr. James E. Ingram, Sr., whose line resi-dence on Park Heights avenue, 3d district,wasdestroyed by fire last Sunday night, this weeksent a letter to the County Commissioners inwhich he condemns the county tiro departmentand declares that it is practically useless. Inpart he says : “The engines did not arriveuntil after the the fire had made such progressthat the firemen themselves thought it uselessto attempt to check it. After the building wasconsumed by the flames the firemen turnedthe contents of one of the engines on ihe frontof my stable, the paint of which was not evenblistered by the heat of the fire. This wasabout all they did.”

Mr. Ingram says it appears to him that ifthe money expended on the support of thisdepartment of the county government waswiselv used to encourage volunteer compa-nies it would be of greater utility to the tax-payers. He dislikes, he says, to make com-parisons with the volunteer company ofPikes-ville, but that companyrendered such efficientservice that he cannot refrain from so doing.The work of the regular department, meas-ured by that of the volunteer company, suf-fered by contrast.

Mr. Yellott said he concurred in what Mr.Ingram said in regard to the county fire de-partment, and hefavors encouraging volunteercompanies.

Harford Fire Insurance Company’s Af-fairs.—The December meeting of the HarfordFire Insurance Company was beldat the officein Belair Monday last, with IV. H. Harlan inthe chair and A. P. Silver, secretary. The re-port of the directors, stating the receipts lessthan the expenses the past year, and a similarreport from Agent Webster was received, readand referred to a committee for examinationand report. The committee appointed by thechair, consisting of A. P. Silver, 8. A. Wil-liams and Wm. H. Jarrett. were requested tomeet at the company’s office, Tuesday, De-cember 23d, to audit accounts and receive sug-gestions in writing for improvements frommembers and report their recommendations tothe January meeting of members, January sth,1903. The report shows that the losses by firethe past year were over $44,000 and in excessof the income the past year. The company,however, has increased itsincome account andhas a part of its last year’s resources, notwith-standing the extraordinary losses, one-fourthof which it is believed was of incendiary origin.—Harford Democrat.

"Will Furnish Better Car Service.—Mem-bers of the Improvement Association of East-ern Avenue Extended called on PresidentJohn M. Hood and General Manager WilliamA. House, of the United Railways and ElectricCompany, several days ago relative to betterservice in that section. There were 38repre-sentatives present, including Hon. J. F. C.Talbott, Messrs. WalterR. Townsand, M. W.Offutt, James Young. James Gilmore, RobertH. Hall, Lawrence, Riddle, Goehler, CountyCommissioner Slade and others. The objectof the delegation's visit was to get a 5-centfare, a better schedule and through cars toBack river. As a result of the conference thecompany will establish a 5-cent fare afterl p.m. on Sundays from Baltimore and Hollidaystreets and every third car will run through toBack river without change.

Comfortable Sum for the State.—Mr.George R. Gaither has turned over to theState of Maryland a check for $225,017.92, paidby the Northern Central Railway Company onaccount of unpaid taxes. The check was re-ceived by Mr. Gaither from Mr. Charles H.Carter, of counsel for the road, and he at oncecarried it to Governor Smith who, with Comp-troller Hering and Treasurer Vandiver, sigDeda receipt in full. For nearly six years theNorthern Central Company has fought thepayment of the annuity of 2 per cent, on itsgross receipts. They carried their contentionthrough the State courts to the Supreme Courtof the United States, which finally put an endto the lawsuit. Hereafter the company willpay annually to the State the tax of 2 percent.

WINTER NUPTIAL EVENTS.Miller—Nicoli,.—Miss Rachel B. Xicoll,

daughter of Rev. William J. Nicoli, was mar-ried at her home, Glencoe, N. C. R. R., at 6o’clock Monday evening, to Mr. Robert M.Miller, of Hereford, the father of the bride of-ficiating. The bridesmaids were Miss FlorenceGrape, of Baltimore, and Miss FlorenceMiller, sister of the groom. The groom’s at-tendants were Mr. Harry Grape and Mr.Frank Dasch, of Baltimore. The bride wa3becomingly attired in a tailor made suit ofroyal blue. After the ceremony a supper wasserved and later the bride and groom left fortheir future homein Hereford. Those presentwere Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Nicoli, of Baltimore ;Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Nicoli, of Lauraville; Mr.and Mrs. John T. Cross of Towson ; Mr. andMrs. Peter Ruhl, Dr. and Mrs. C. C. McDowell,Mr. and Mrs. John Keller, Mr. and Mrs. Chas.Worden, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Vance, Mr. andMrs. Charles Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mil-ler, Mr. and Mrs. George Miller, Mr. and Mrs:William Miller, Miss Hattie Cross, Miss EdithCross, the Misses Vance, Miss Jessie Vance,Miss MollieVance and Miss Katherine Miller,all of Baltimore; Miss Kate E. Miller, MissIsabelle Nicoli, Miss Belle Foster, Miss IreneKeller and Miss Mollie Keller, Messrs. WilliamD. Nicoli and Benjamin Nicoli, of West Vir-ginia; Henry Nicoli, Austen Nicoli and manyothers.

Kidwell—Hunter.— The marriage of-MissDaisye Belle Hunter, second daughter of Mrs.Elizabeth D. Bacon Hunter, of White Hall,N. C. R. R., to Mr. Charles Franklin Kidwell,of Baltimore, took place Thursday afternoonat 4 o’clock in Vernon Methodist EpiscopalChurch, West Harford Circuit, the pastor.Rev. W. W. Davis, performing the ceremony.Messrs. S. Scott Bosley, E. C. Norris, BlaineG. Norman and Earl Taylor, of Baltimore,were the ushers. Miss Eva Hunter, sister ofthe bride, was maid of honor. Mr. James P.Gough, of Baltimore, was best man. Thebride wore gray crepe de chine, trimmed withtafleta silk and white duchesse lace, anda pic-ture hat. She was given away by her brother,Mr. William Hunter, of Baltimore. MissLuella Hunter, cousin of the bride, played thewedding marches. There was a large gather-ing of relatives and friends from Baltimorecity and county. After the ceremony the bri-dal party took luncheon at the home of thebride’s mother, and subsequently Mr. andMrs. Kidwell left on a tour South. They willlive in Baltimore.

Lohr—Painter.— Miss Grover S. Painter,daughter of Mr. David F. Painter, of Phoenix,was married Wednesday evening to Mr. Rob-ert N. Lohr, son of Mr. John L. Mohr, of thesame place. The ceremony was conducted atthe parsonage of the Otterbein United Rreth-eren Church, Hampden, by Rev. Charles M.Fultz. The bride was attired in a blue clothdress trimmed in white with hat and gloves tomatch. The youngcouple will liveat Phoenix,where the groom is a foreman in the cottonduck mills.

Daugherty—Yeakel.— Miss Margaret A.Yeakel, of Sherwood, and Mr. Clarence E.Daugherty, of Baltimore, were married Wed-nesday afternoon in the chapel of St. Francis’Church, Towson, by the pastor, Rev. MatthewO’Keefe. After the ceremony the couplestarted on a wedding tour South. The groomis a telegrapher in the employ of the Pennsyl-vania Railroad Company.

THE DEATH RECORD.Cronhardt.—Mr. Henry Cronhardt, whose

failing health was mentioned in The Unionon the 6th inst., died at his home at Cronhardtpostoffice, Chestnut Ridge, on Friday of lastweek, in the 88th year of his age. He emi-grated to this country from Germanysixty-fiveyears ago and first settled in Baltimore, wherehe carried on shoemaking for a time. After-wards with his family he moved to Baltimorecounty, where by industry and close attentionto business he provided himself with a com-fortable home for his declining years. Mr.Cronhardt was in all respects an excellent citi-zen, having the esteem and confidence of allwho knew him. His wife died some yearsago. He is survived by two sons—Messrs.John Cronhardt, of Baltimore, and Henry C.Cronhardt, of Baltimore county—and fourdaughters—Mrs. John Long, Mrs. LouisaRichter, Mrs. W. R. Hipsley and Miss LenaCronhardt, the latter postmistress at Cron-hardt, which was named in honor of herfather. Mr. Cronhardt was one of TheUnion’s oldest subscribers and the last timehe was in Towson—a few months ago—hecalled at the office to pay his respects to us.The funeral took place at St. James’ LutheranChurch, Chestnut Ridge, at 1 p. m. on Sundaylast and was largely attended by friends andneighbors.

Townsend. —Mrs. Drucilla Townsend, wid-ow of Edward A. Townsend, died Mondayafternoon at her home in Baltimore. Shehadbeen an invalid for seven years. She was thedaughter of Joseph H. Shutch, who won con-siderable fame during the Revolution and as acolonel in the War of 1812. Mrs. Townsendwas born on Carroll’s Island, which propertyhas been in the possession of the family formore than a century. She was a member ofthe Methodist Church for more than 50 years.She is survived by five children—Mrs. W. J.Geisendaffer, Mrs. M. O’Dea and Messrs. W.E. Townsend, James P. Townsend and HarryG. Townsend.

Mahorney.—Mrs. Mary A. Mahorney diedon Monday last at the home of her son, Mr.Joseph Phipps, farm manager at Hampton,near Towson, aged 83 years. She was a nativeof England and witnessed the ceremonies at-tending the coronation of Queen Victoria.The funeral took place on Wednesday after-noon and the interment was in Prospect HillCemetery, Towson.

Gorman.—Mr. Theodore German, a truckfarmer near Lauraville, Harford road, died ofheart disease on Tuesday morning last, aged 51years. A widow and two daughters—Mrs.George Heffner and Miss Nellie German—sur-vive him. Deceased was a brother of Rev.Solomon German, pastor of Long Green Cir-cuit.

Boteler. —Mr. Albert Eugene Boteler diedsuddenly Wednesday ofapoplexy at his home,West Arlington. He was 51 years old, andleaves a widow and 6 children. He was em-ployed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroaduntil about six months ago, when he retired.He had been in failing health for some time.

Bull. —Mrs. Bull wife of Mr. Thomas Bull,who lives near Corbett, 7th district, died onFriday of last week, aged 62 years. She hadbeen sick some time and her death was notunexpected. She is survived by her husbandand live children.

Maryland and Pennsylvania R. R. Im-provements. —The Belair Times of last weeksaid the Maryland and Pennsylvania RailroadCompany is rapidly pushing to completionthe substantial improvements to that road,which have been in progress for the past sixmonths, and upon which an outlay of about$190,000 is being made. The improvementsconsist of straightening the road-bed betweenFallston and Baldwin stations and replacingwooden bridges and trestles with steel bridgesand viaducts. The span across Overshotbranch is about completed and will be readyto use in a few days. Trains were run over aportion of the new road-bed on Thursday forthe first time. The changes eliminate manydangerous curves and give greater security tothe traveling public. The changes will tendto popularize the road with many who havebeen patronizing other roads when the dis-tance to reach them and the M. & P. was aboutequal. Patrons of the road have long wishedfor changes which are now being completed,and it is not too much to say that they hearti-ly appreciated them. The M. <fc P. is doing alarge and profitable business in both the freightand passengerdepartments. General ManagerNorris has also made warm friends of theladies by adding to his equipment four hand-some new passenger coaches which rival inelegance and finish those of more pretentiousroads. Belair is hoping that among the newimprovements will be included a modern pas-senger station for Belair, its principal station.

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Masonic Elections.—At a stated communi-cation of Mt. Moriah Masonic Lodge, held inthe Temple at Towson, on Tuesday night, thefollowing were elected officers for the ensuingterm : Worshipful Master—E. Winthrop Bos-ley : Senior Warden—Warren S.Seipp; JuniorWarden—E. Stanton Bosley ; Secretary—Thomas C. Bruff; Treasurer—William M.Isaac; Tiler—William S. Dunphy.

On Thursday night Charity Masonic Lodgeof Parkton, N. C. R. R., elected the followingofficers for the ensuing term : WorshipfulMaster—Charles M. Stack; Senior Warden—John M. Little; Junior Warden—George L.Gilbert; Secretary—Frank A. Parrish: Treas-urer-Henry Wilhelm; SeniorSteward—Thos.V. Richardson ; Tiler—John T. Thompson ;Junior Steward—John T. Mays; Chaplain-Rev. Richard G. Koontz.

Perhaps a Circulating Library.—TheNeighborhood Improvement Club of Govans-town is endeavoring to start a circulating li-brary for the benefit of the residents of thatvicinity. It is purposed to buy all the latestand best books and have them circulated fromhand to hand. A fee of $1 a year will becharged. If the movement is successful aneffort will be made to establish a permanent li-brary there. The committee in charge of theorganization of the library is composed ofMrs. W. W. Shaw, chairman ; Miss Clara B.Benninghaus, secretary; Miss Marie Scott,treasurer; Miss Nanie Stevenson, librarian.Any of the committee will receive subscrip-tions and give any information.

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The “Coal Hog” In Evidence.—The "coalhog” has made his appearance in Catonsville.A few days ago one of the local coal dealersreceived a message by telephone from the pres-ident of one of the largest mercantile housesin Baltimore, whose country home is not agreat distance east of Catonsville. He toldthe dealer that he must have several tons ofcoal at his country place at once, for use in thegreenhouses there, as he was entirely out.The good-natured dealer compromised by send-ing down one ton. To the astonishment ofthe driver of the coal wagon all the coal binsin the greenhouses were filled and he had todump the load of coal in three different bins tokeep them from overflowing.— Hallo. Ilerahl.

Fereonal Mention.——Miss Helen Stewart Ridgely, of Hampton,

has returned from a visit to Montclair, N. J.—State Senator John Hubner, of Catons-

ville, was in Towson on Tuesday and called onthe County Commissionors.

—Mrs. Slartha Gilbert, of Glencoe. N. C. R.R , is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Stockton,who resides in Buffalo, N. Y.

—Miss Bessie Brady, who spent severalmonths with friends in Raleigh, N. C., hasreturned to her home in Towson.

—Mr. Jesse L. Madden, of Reisterstown, hasbeen summoned to serve as a grand juror atthe present term of the U. S. District Court.

—Mr. William Bosley, of Finksburg, hasbeen very sick for some days with pneumonia.Dr. H. M. Slade, of Reisterstown, is attendinghim.

—Mr. and Mrs. J. J. George have closedtheir country place, “Ellendale,” Long GreenValley, and removed to Baltimore for thewinter.

—Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson D. Norris and theMisses Norris, of "Brookland,” near Reisters-

town, have taken a house on Mt. Royal ave-nue, Baltimore, for the winter.

—Col. William A. Hanway and familyhave closed their house in Aigburth Park, ad-joining Towson, and taken apartments atHotel Sherwood, Baltimore, for the winter.

—Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Cowley, of Seattle,Washington, have been visiting the former'scousin, Mr. William S. Cowley, at his homeon the old Harford road. Mr. Cowley is en-gaged in gold mining.

—Mr. W. Bernard Duke, of Sherwood, Bal-timore county, is named as one of the incor-porators of the Maryland Development Com-pany that has just been organized in Baltimorewith a capital stock of SIO,OOO.

—Mr. H. L. Gerstmyer, who will spend hisChristmas vacation at his home in Towson,will preach in the M. E. Church on Sunday,December 28th, at 11 a. m. He is a student atGettysburg Theological Seminary.

—Mr. Thomas J. Hunt, of Hampstead, Md.,son of the late Wiley Hunt, of Towson, hasbeen appointed aide-de-camp to General Stew-art, of Pennsylvania, commander-in-chief ofthe Grand Army of the Republic.

—Rev. W. H. H. Powers, rector of TrinityChurch, Towson, went to Cambridge, Md.,this week to conduct the funeral services ofMrs. Eva Winchester Baugher, who died ather home in Govanstown, on the 15th instant.

—Dr. W. Millard Stirling, of Shane, 7th dis-trict, was among the visitors to Towson onWednesday. He is a son of the late JohnStirling, who was a prominent farmer in thatsection of the county, and his wife is the onlysister of Judge N. Charles Burke.

—Mr. William L. Beyer, of Phoenix, Balti-more county, wTas re-elected president of theEast Baltimore District Epworth League, theannual convention of which was held in Bal-timore a few days ago. Mr. Lewis M. Baconwas chosen one of the vice-presidents.

—Rev. Philip C. Edwards, who is beingtreated at the Maryland General Hospital inBaltimore, shows very little if any improve-mentand his family and friendsare much con-cerned about him. He was formerly seniorpastor of Parkton Circuit, M. E. Church.

—At the annual meeting of the MarylandState Grange in Baltimore on Tuesday Mr.Alexander McCormick, president of the Balti-more County Agricultural Society, made aninteresting address on “Fruit and VegetableGrowing.” Mr. Richard Vincent, Jr., ofthefirm of R. Vincent, Jr., & Son, also spoke onthe same subject.

—Messrs. George H. Merryman, AlexanderMcCormick, Richard Vincent, Jr., W. Jeff.Shanklin and Mrs. Annie E. Vincent wereamong those from Baltimore county who at-tended the annual meeting of the MarylandState Grange held in Baltimore this week.Mr. Vincent was re-elected a member of theexecutive committee.

—Mr. Walter W. Crosby, county roads en-gineer, who went to Maine about two weeksago to wait upon a friend who was married, re-turned to his home in Towson on Monday.He was in Bangor on Monday, December Bth,when the mercury registered from 23 to 28 de-grees below zero and the wind blew at the rateof sixty miles an hour.

—Mr. George R. Mowell, who has been suc-cessfully engaged in business at Glencoe, N. C.R. R., for the past thirty-one years, is now of-fering his store property for rent. In case hesecures a suitable tenant he may engage insome other business in Baltimore that is lessexacting. The stand is an excellent one andpossesses many advantages.

Mr. Basil B. Bowen, of the 4th district,was in Towson on Tuesday. He spent severaldays last week in Carroll county and said thesnow there was so deep and the drifts piled sohigh that in many places the roads were en-tirely blocked to travel. The sleet was alsoheavier than with us and much damage wasdone to telegraph and telephone lines.

—Wednesday was one of the busy days ofRev. Charles E. Fultz, pastor of OtterbeinMemorial United Brethren Church, Hamp-den. Within an hour he married twocouples,one from Baltimore city and one from Balti-more county. Rev. Mr. Fultz is a son of Mr.George M. Fultz a well known paper manu-facturer of the upper end of this county.

—Mr. Philip A. S. Franklin, formerly ofBaltimore county, has been elected presidentof the Atlantic Transport Company, succeed-ing Mr. Bernard N. Baker, resigned. Theheadquarters of the company is in New Yorkcity, where Mr. Franklin resides. He is a sonof Col. Walter S. Franklin and his wife is adaughter of the late Hon. John Merryman, ofHavfields, Baltimore county.

—Lieut. OscarK. Tolley, of the FourteenthInfantry, U. S. A., now stationed at Fort Por-ter, Buffalo, N. Y., will go with hiscommandto the Philippines about the middle of nextFebruary. Lieut. Tolley, whose home is atTaylor, Harford county, has many friends inBaltimore county. He was lately appointedto the army, having secured his present posi-tion through a highly creditable competitiveexamination.

—Rev. John P. Dean, who is a local preacherof the Methodist Episcopal Church, celebratedhis 80th birthdayat his home in Reisterstownon the 9th inst.,'upon which occasion he gavea dinner to a few of his friends. Mr. Deanenjoys excellent health and is in full posses-sion of all his faculties. He is a most estima-ble gentleman and passes his life quietly in hiscomfortable home in Reisterstown, where hehas spent so many years of his life.

Medical Association Meeting.—The reg-ular monthly meeting of the Baltimore Coun-ty Medical Association was held Thursday af-ternoon at Tracey’s Hotel,Towson. Dr. JosephE. Gichner, of the University of Maryland,read a paper on "Recent Work on Rheuma-tism,” showing the close association and rela-tion between rheumatism and tonsilitis. Casesof ecclampsia were reported by Drs. Naylor,Smart, Gichner, Massenburg, H.S. Jarrett andWilliam J. Todd. The new members proposedwere Dr. H. D. Lewis and Dr. R. Perry Car-man. Those present, in addition to PresidentH. Louis Naylor, were Drs. F. R. Rich, L.Gibbons Smart, H. A. Naylor, A. A. Matthews,Joseph E. Gichner, Marshall Price, William J.Todd, A. C. McCurdy, R. C. Massenburg andHarry S. Jarrett.

Woman Attacked on the Road.—At alate hour on Saturday night last while Mrs.Heinz, wife of Mr. Hugh Heinz, a truck far-mer who lives near the Parkville tollgate, onthe Harford road, was returning from Balti-more, where she had been to attend market,she was stopped on the road by a man whoevidently intended to rob her. She screamedloudly for help when the highwayman firedtwo shots at her and then ran away. Bothshots took effect, one in the jaw of Mrs. Heinzand the other in the left side of her body, butthe wounds were only slight and Mrs. Heinzwas able to proceed to her home, near whichthe affair occurred.

The Best Way to Celebrate Christmas.—An exchange says the best way in the worldto celebrate Christmas is to make some heartglad by the giving of a present. It need notbe a great present—just something that atteststhe sincerity and affection of the giver. Thechoosing of the gift is perhaps the best part ofthe annual event, and the chances are verygood that it brings to the sender as much goodas it does to the recipient. It ties both togetherthroughout another year. Fortunate is hewho can afford to go outside of his own homeon Christmas morning to find tho poor, thefriendless, and the unhappy. His is the bestChristmas this world offers.

Jury of Condemnation.—The jury sum-moned by Sheriff Oeligrath to condemn cer-tain lands in the 13th district for the use ofthe Washington, Baltimore and AnnapolisRailroad, sat this week at Junker’s Hotel, WestFayette st., Baltimore. Those composing thejury were S. R. Cooper, D.A. Kalb, WilliamDietz, C. E. Fitzsimmons, George Wicker,William J. Spicer, William Sotdorus, GeorgeClausmeyer, John Shaffer, Charles T. Bowenand Wiliiam Sindall. On Thursday the iuryrendered a verdict for the Coan estate, to whichthe property belongs, for $2,400. Messrs. R. R.Boarman and John F. Williams representedthe estate.

Circuit Court.—Alexander T. Leftwicb,surviving partner, etc., vs. the Royal InsuranceCompany; verdict for the defendant. JohnRinehart and others vs. the Arthur B. KitschBrick Company; argued and held sub curia.Canton Avenue Building Association vs.Henry Frederick ; argued and held sub curia.John Doering vs. Kasper Kramer, verdict forplaintiff for S2O damages. Same vs. LewisBerg, verdict for defendant. Same vs. AlbertLiebmann, verdict for plaintiff for S3O dam-ages. Herman M. Koehler and Matilda Koeh-ler vs. the Baltimore and Jerusalem TurnpikeCompany; on trial.

Sulc Against a Turnpike.—The CircuitCourt here was engaged several days this weekin the trial of the suit of Herman M. Koehleragainst the Baltimore and Jerusalem TurnpikeCompany for $2,500 damages. The plaintiffclaims that a portion of theturnpikeis locatedon land owned by him. The case had notbeen concluded at noon on Friday. Mr. Os-borne I. Yellott represents the plaintiff, andMessrs. M. W. Offutt, D. G. Mclntosh and T.Scott Offutt are counsel for the company.

Want a Postofflce Established. —An ef-fort is being made by a number of citizens tohave a postoffice established at Rockland, onthe Falls road, about three-quarters of a milesouth of Brooklandville. A few days ago adelegation composed of Messrs. Robert H.Wright, William Bryan, Charles T. Bowenand others went to Washington to confer withRepresentative Blakeney about the matter.It is likely the office will be established.

THE MONROE DOCTRINE.What It Really Is And What ItStands For.

Hew York Herald.It must be remembered, in the first place,

that the declaration on which Monroe in 1823consulted his Cabinetand his two predecessors,Jefferson and Madison, related to the meddlingof the Powers of Europe in the affairs of Amer-ican States.

That the kind of meddling then declaredagainst was such as tended to control the polit-ical affairs of American powers, or was de-signed to extend to the New World the politi-cal system and institutions of the Old.

That the declaration did not mark out anycourse of conduct to be pursued, but merelyasserted that interposition of the kind mention-ed would be considered as dangerous to ourpeace and safety, and a manifestation of anunfriendly disposition toward the UnitedStates.

That this doctrine has never been indorsedby any resolution or act of Congress, but stillremains the declaration of a President and hisCabinet.

Nevertheless, it was and is an eminentlyproper and patriotic doctrine, and as such hasbeen indorsed by the people of the UnitedStates, and needs no other sanction. The peo-ple, not Congress, rule this country. It is notof the smallest consequence, therefore, wheth-er Congress ever has or ever does indorse thedoctrine, which very fittingly bears the nameof the first President to announce it.

The Monroe doctrine is a simple and plainstatement that the people of the United Statesoppose the creation of European dominion onAmerican soil; that they oppose the transferof the political sovereignty of American soilto European Powers and thatany attempt todo those things will be regarded as “danger-ous to our peace and safety.”- What the rem-edy should be for such interposition by Eu-ropean Powers the doctrine does not pretendto state. But this much is certain, that whenthe people of the United States consider any-thing “dangerous to their peace and safety”they will do as other nations do, and if neces-sary defend their peace and safety with forceofarms.

The doctrine does not contemplate forcibleintervention by the United States in any legiti-mate contest, but it will not permit any suchcontest to result in the increase of Europeanpower or influence on this continent, nor inthe overthrow ofan existing government, norin the establishment of a protectorate overthem, nor in the exercise of any direct controlover their policy or institutions. Furtherthan this the doctrine does not go. It doesnot commit us to take part in wars between aSouth American Republic and a Europeanwhen the object of the latter is not the found-ing of a monarchy under a European prince inplace of an overthrown republic. In the pres-ent instance, therefore, the doctrine does notapply so long as England does not hold theports of Venezuela longer than is necessary tosecure the payment of the sum she is deter-mined to extort. Should she attempt to holdVenezuela forever, the Monroedoctrine wouldapply and our duty and policy would beresistance.

Vertical Handwriting.

New York Sun.The superintendent of Baltimore’s public

schools, Mr. J. H. Van Sickle, presents themost forceful argument we have yet heard inbehalf of the vertical, or, as he calls it, the“natural,” handwriting. He has arrayed onhis side Thomas A. Edison, reputed to bethe swiftest penman in America; former As-sistant Secretary of the Treasury F. A. Van-derlip, the managers of telegraph companiesin many of our principal cities, who are fa-miliar with the handwriting of expert tele-graphers—men able to write legibly from 25 to50 -words per minute; prominent printers,manufacturers and dealers in various parts ofthis country, and even college professors andphysicians.

Mr. Edison acquired the vertical sty le whenlearning telegraphy. By its use he is said tohave averaged 52 words per minute and tohave turned out copy "as legible as print”even at this remarkable speed. Superinten-dent Van Sickle offers the following statistics :

The average speed of600 publiesebool childrenin 15 cities who have studied the vertical stylefor from two to five years is 130 letters perminute, whereas the average of nearly 200letters per slant writers, all adults, is only 103per minute.

Vertical handwriting is commonly spokenof as a fad which has sprung up within thelast 10 or 12 years. In reality, however, thisstyle of writing is shown to antedate by morethan a century the sloping method. Dr.Edward Brooks of Philadelphia, who has writ-ten a history of the two systems of penmanshipin question, says that the slant system wereunknown in any language until the SixteenthCentury. Prior to that time all chirographywas vertical. It was, practically, the onlyhand written by the ancient Romans. When,during the Middle Ages, the cultivation of atine style of penmanship was tttits heighr in~Italy, slant writing was never practised. Thatstyle seems first to have been popularized byQueen Elizabeth, who fell in love with thenew type of a Venetian printer, afterwardknown as italic, and fashioned her handwrit-ing after it.

The Future of Agriculture.Portland Oregonian.

To the lover of nature, the admirer of grow-ing things, the man or woman who finds theold story of the seasons, as told in the recur-ing periods of rest and resurrection, of seedtime and harvest, material for a new dramawith development in the leading role, thescience of agriculture is at once the most won-derful and the most engaging of all pursuits.There are no graduates from the school ofnature. One season leaves another to fulfill itspromises, and these, if well based, are as cer-tain of fulfillment as the sun is to shine andthe rain to fall. The increasing magnitudeof the agricultural industry in this country issufficient proof of the increasing interest thatis taken in farming as a progressive science.With a fixed capital 0f520,000,000,000 investedin agriculture; with, in aggregate, 415.000,000acres of cultivated land; with 40,000,000 peo-ple resident upon farms and 10,000,000 engagedinagricultural pursuits, we may well place agri-culture at the top of the list of the industrialcolumns as the greatest, as is the oldest ofhuman vocations. The value of the productsof American agriculture in the last censusyear was so large that the figures in which itis set forth are confusing in the vast sums thatthey designate and the enormous bulks in agri-cultural products that they indicate. We arefain, therefore, to regard them as standing foran industry the appliances of which, includ-ing human effort and intelligence, are enor-mousand the results of which, whether pre-sented in bulk or in value, are fairly incom-prehensible to the ordinary mind. Acceptingwithout dissent the statement of SecretaryWilson that the expenditures of the govern-ment for agriculture are justified by results,we will find it easy to indorse his concludingview that “the future will still further showthe value of science applied to the farm.”

The Oldest American Inn.West Brookfield, Mass., claims the distinc-

tion of having the oldest hotel in the UnitedStates. It is a typical colonial tavern, whichfor nearly a century and a half has neverClosed its doors to the stranger. It wasbuiltin 1760 by Capt. David Hitchcock, who wasits boniface for 51 years, and during his timehe entertained many distinguished guests.Gen. George Washington stopped there October22d, 1789,on his way to P ston, and enteredin his diary, “We were fed on the best thetown affords.” Ashort time afterward MarthaWashington spent the night there. In 1799President John Adams drove into town withhis coach and four, and Landlord Hitchcockgave him the "best room in the house.” Je-rome Bonaparte, who was appointed King ofWestphalia in 1807, spent the night there withhis American bride, Miss Elizabeth Patterson,in 1804, and tradition shows the place wherehis coach ran into a fence and demolished it.General Lafayette on his visit to America in1824 stopped there, and many other notablepersonages have partaken of its hospitality.For 104 years the hotel had only three differ-ent landlords, an average proprietorship ofnearly 35 years apiece. The Wayside Inn,made immortal by Longfellow, antedates theWest Brookfield house, but it never had a con-tinuous career as a hotel.

Farmers’ Egg- Trust.Farmers of McLeancounty, 111., are organiz-

ing an egg trust and are engaged in sortingeggs in plants constructed especially for thepurpose, to be held for next winter’s demand.One firm has erected a building especially forthe storage of eggsand expects to pack 1,000,000.As soon as the eggsarereceived they are placedin zinc frames holding ten dozen. When fiftyof the frames are filled they are moved into adark room and candled. The eggs are thentested for breaks and those broken are sold tobakers. Having passed both these tests thetrays with their contents are placed on an ele-vator and lowered into the basement. Manytanks of cement, with walls a foot and a halfthick, like huge beer vats, are located below.Each is 7feet long and the same width, capableof holding 10,000 dozen. The tanks contain acolorless liquid, the ingredients of which arekept secret, which is said to preserve the eggsfor months. The eggs are piled in the tanksbut the liquid between them prevents themfrom breaking by their own weight.

The Boss Fish Story.Letter from York.

Harry P. Howard, of this city, landed thelargest bass ever caught in the Codorus creekor the Susquenanna river. Mr. Howardcaught the fish near the Y. M. C. A. AthleticGrounds. He kept it alive by placing it in avessel filled with water and later transferred itto the bathtub at his home. The fish meas-ures two and a half feet and weighs six poundsstrong. In two days it has devoured a two-pound carp and one dozen small fish.