The Pioneer Press

The Pioneer Press. "HERE SHALL THE PRESS, THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS MAINTAIN, UNAWED BY INFLUENCE AND UNBRIBED BY GAIN" The "HERE SHALL THE ESTABLISHED 1882 SOMETHING ABOUT THE EUROPEAN WAR Mrs. Xavier Teillard Writes About Condition in the Foreign Countries. Since the European war began many people in this section have been much concerned about their friends who are abroad, and frequent inquiries have been made. Mrs. Xavier Teilhard, of No. 3 Villa d'Alesia, who was a daughter of the late Col Ward H. Lamon, of Bunker Hill, and spend considerable time at GerrardDown, has written the following letter to Miss Bessie Lamon: "Dear Bessie: "I don't remember whether I told you about those first days of August when war was first accepted as a fact the sudden stopping of everything. I feel that I have had a foretaste of what the end of the world will be like, but perhaps you are the very one of the six to whom I wrote of the way all stood together as one man and calmly met every obstacle to this happiness and comfort without a murmur and with a heroism that I can never forget. The word patrotism is some times limited. I have noticed to man National pride, but national pride is very different from real love of one's country. I could never have conceived such perfect resignation to privations, and abject want in many cases—for love of country—you know in France there are not so many millionaires as in America—wealth is much more evenly distributed, and there is a class that is among the lower, which occupies itself keeping little stores. There are a multitude of these little shops all over Paris and to see so many closed now that every man from the age of 19 to 48 is under the flag, this means suffering everywhere. These silent evidences of grief and suffering gives one the feeling akin to that when he sees crepe on the door. It is the silence and heroism of it all that wrings ones heart, and so many different kinds of grief! One morning when we left the church of our parish where we go to service every morning we noticed very elaborate preparations were being made for a mineral, learning that it was to be at 12 o'clock noon we went back to see it. The high walls of this immense church were heavily hung with black velvet. A most elaborate catalogue arranged at the foot of the altar. Never have I seen so many candles lighted at one time as were around this catapalque. Most beautiful flowers banked in such a way that it looked like a veritable mountain of flowers. There being an opening near the bottom of the catapalque in which the coffin was put like a drawer, so there was much more room to cover the dead with flowers than there is in ordinary funerals. The sad music began which was most beautifully rendered. All this grand ceremony for the rich was very impressive but still more impressive was the fact that during the space of only three quarters of hourwhich was only a part of the time devoted to the grand ceremony that was going on at the main altar there were five other funerals in the same church. It was an experience with death that we will not soon forget! Had four of them died of grief, had they died of hunger, only those knew who walked immediately behind the coffins. "One of the five coffins contained the remains of a poor soldier who had died in one of the hospitals here in Paris from wounds recently received on the field of battle. When we saw this funeral enter the church we left the funeral of the rich and went to the side chapel where the service was held for the soldier as though he had been one of our own family. We were so genuinely moved by this simple funeral for a hero (listening at the same time to the music being rendered for one more favored in this world's goods) that one could have easily believed from the tears we shed that under the tri-colored flag which covered that coffin was one of our dearest friends. "There is so much everywhere to excite ones very deepest emotions that I expect to look at least ten years older when I return to America. "You speak of the destruction caused by bombs in your letter of September 27. We got back to Paris in time to have the experience of being here while German "Tauben" were e Pi HALL THE PRESS, THE PEOPLE MARTINSBURG, HARRY THAW LOSES IN SUPREME COURT Highest Tribunal Rules Against the Noted Fugitive and He Goes Back to New York. WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.—Iarry K) Thaw must go back to New York state and face trial on the charge of conspiracy as the result of the decision of the United States Supreme court today. The court reversed the decision of the United States court in New Hampshire, which granted Thaw a writ of habeas corpus. Nearly all points raised by Thaw's counsel, former Attorney General Knox and former Governor stone, were overruled in the opinion which was handed down by Justice Holmes. "Thaw is a fugitive from justice, and more or less a danger. We were out the day the bomb was thrown on Notre Dame and made a very narrow escape from being there, for in starting out for vespers which is held in Paris at 2:30 in the afternoon we hesitated to go to Notre Dame or the Macleene and happened to choose the latter as we had recently seen a most beautiful ceremony. Notre Dame and had not yet been to the Macleene this trip. While the damage was not great to Notre Dame the same "Taubs" dropped seven other bombs, one of which killed four persons and wounded twenty-two. The following day more bombs were dropped in Paris with much damage the "Taube" on this day passed over the street upon which Xavier was waiting but immediately he did not happen to be near a beautiful monument of art which German culture" wanted to destroy, so he returned to the unattain. There are so many French aeroplanes now on the watch that danger from bombs has been reduced to the minimum on October 23 it was particularly exciting to be out. It was discovered so that a "Taube" had "crossed the sea and was sailing towards Paris. The alarm was given from the top of the Eiffel Tower and a flotilla of French airships was sent out to meet it. It took but a short time for the German "Taube" to decide "discretion is the better part of valor" so it returned to own country, or at least to that part, of France in the extreme east and north occupied by the Germans. We did not see the chase but saw the return of several airships or we were out that whole afternoon. We were not certain when we were looking at them that they were all French for one was flying so high that its wings seemed to me shaped like those of the Germans. You know our only way of knowing the French from the German airships is by the shape of the wings of the monoplane and by the location of the propeller of the biplanes. One French biplane looked particularly beautiful as it sailed in the afternoon sun, for the war airships are covered with metal so when the sun strikes them at a certain angle they look like pure gold and of course now there is much more excitement in seeing them fly through the air for we know when we see them that "There is something doing," about to be done or that has been done. I look at an airship with much the same feeling as I think of my guardian angel—that is of course if her wings are straight—a German "Taube" has curved wings (so has the devil I am inclined to think.) Some of my friends are very uneasy about us on account of bombs thrown from German airships and are urging us to come home. I fear much more to embark on a home-bound steamer because of the floating mines than I do to walk under a German airship. Not because I am not sufficiently high minded to prefer to be blown up rather than down, because the risks on the ocean on this side of the world seem greater than those in the city of Paris, Paris that city coveted by the Germans whose rage, in being prevented from reaching it is spending itself on in decent women and children, on destroying beautiful monuments of art. ay are not this minute 70 mileways. Notwithstanding they boasted that they could take Paris in three weeks it is now three months and a half and they are still finding some difficulty to approach." AGENTS OF TURKS COLLECT MONEY Turkish government agents have invaded this country and are extracting money from all foreigners in sympathy with the Turks, according to a prominent local Syrian, who made one statement last evening that two of the Turkish agents were in this city last week, but did not stay here long as there are no people of Mohammedan belief in this section. It is also thought that the agents are here for another purpose, that of securing the names of those who have not become American citizens and are still subjects of the Turkish government, who have not obeyed the call issued by Turkey at the time war was declared by that country. Mohammedans have a hard time getting along, according to the Syrian, as they are a despised people by the foreigners of Christian belief and it was stated that foreign societies here will not allow them to stay for any length of time. This action has been taken recently since there were several cases found where Mohammedans had come to this country and changed their names for the purpose of marrying Christian girls. After they were married they proclaimed their true faith, thus causing the newly married girls to leave them, as it is almost a crime for a Christian and Mohammedan to be man and wife, according to the belief of the two religions. Take Christian Names. The Syrian stated that no one of Mohammedan belief is allowed to enter this country for the purpose of settling here, but that many of them take Christian names and denounce their religion until their purpose here is served. He translated an item from a Syrian paper, published in New York, which he said stated that the Mohammedan society of Detroit, Mich., under the direction of the Turkish consul at New York, is sending many spies into Canada and the paper gives a full account of the attempt to assassinate Capt. Hughes, an English officer, and says that the assassins were agents of the Mohammedan secret society of Detroit. is charged with a real crime, and it is for the jury of the state of New York, after a consideration of the laws of that state, to determine whether or not he was insane at the time of his act, and whether he is guilty of any crime against the laws of New York." Justice Holmes said. "Thaw is not on trial here," the justice continued. Whether the slayer of Stanford White should be returned to Mattewan depends upon the New York authorities. His attorneys declare if he is tried on the conspiracy charge or should attempts be made to have him as an alleged lunatic placed in the asylum, habeas corpus proceeding will be brought. Stone Surprised. PITTSBURG, Dec. 21.—"This is the end," said former Governor Stone, counsel for Harry Thaw, when told of the supreme court's decision here today. "I am very much surprised," he declared, "for Harry Thaw is sane—sane as any other normal man." Mrs. William Thaw, mother of the noted fugitive, is said to be way. AMERICAN RED CROSS 1914 Put this stamp on all your pack- ages. It looks a little as if quiet were being maintained in Mexico City by executing the fellows that are inclined to make a noise.-Indianapolis News. 6009 ESHARE STATE Bureau of Crop Estimates Issues Report Comparing Crops of This Year With 1913. The federal bureau of crop estimates has issued a circular letter containing a report of the crops raised in West Virginia and the United States this year and gives comparative figures of 1913. In West Virginia this year 732,000 acres were devoted to the production of corn, and 22,692,000 bushels were produced. The price December 1 was 30 cents per bushel. In the United States 74% year the production was 1672,894,000 bushels, and the price December 1 was 63.7 cents per bushel. In 1913, 742,000 acres were devoted to the product in West Virginia, 1692,000 bushels were raised, and the price was 80 cents per bushel. In the United States, 2,446,986,000 bushels were raised and the price was 69.1. West Virginia produced 3,540,000 bushels of wheat this year on an average of 236,000 and the price December 1 was $1.08. In 1912, 235,000 bushels were devoted to the product, 105,000 bushels were raised and the price was $1.00. In the United States at 1914, 891,617,000 bushels were produced and the price was 98.6 cents, while in 1913, 763,280 bushels were raised and the price was 79.9 cents. Decrease in Potatoes. In 1914, a total of 2,592,000 bushels of potatoes were raised on 48,000 acres in West Virginia. The price was 81 cents per bushel December 1. In 1913 the production was 3,984,000 on the same acreage and the price was 90 cents per bushel. In 1914 in the United States the production was 65,921,000 bushels and the price was 48.9 cents, while in 1913, 331,525,000 acres were produced and the price was 68.7 cents. day was produced on 696,000 acres in West Virginia this year and the total production was 640,000 tons, sellinb at $17.20 per ton December 1, in 1913, 925,000 bushels were raised on 740,000 acres. The price was $14.90 per ton. In the United States 70,671,000 tons were produced and hop rice was $11.12 December 1, while in 1913, 64,116,000 tons were raised and hop rice was $12.43. Tobacco was raised on 108,000 acres in West Virginia this year, the total crops being estimated at 8,856,60 pounds. The price was 11 cents per pound December 1. In 1913 the total production was 10,200,000, raised on 15,000 acres. The price was 12 cents per pound. The total production in the United States this year was 1,034,670,000 and the price December 1 was 9.8 cents. In 1913 the production was 953,734,000 and the selling price was 12.8 cents per pound. THE COMMITTEE NAMED BY MAYOR Those Who Will Aid in Helping the Needy of the City—Are Now at Work. The following committee has been named by Mavor Turner to help the needy of the city: First Ward—Mrs. S. R. Snodgrass, Bowdville, Mrs. Joseph Haas, Winches ter avenue, Mrs. O. B. Frye, South Raleigh street, Mrs. L. B. Whitacre, Berkeley Place, Mr. F. S. Emmert, North Queen street. Second Ward—Mrs. W. T. Henshaw, East King street, Mrs G. P. Grimsley, East King street, Mrs. G. P. Morrison, West King street, Miss Lizzie Voegele, West King street, Mr. Max Robinson, East King street. Third Ward—Mrs. H. S. Shade, West Martin street, Miss Alice Shoemaker, North Raleigh street, Mrs. Joseph Leveth, East Martin street, Mrs. H. P. Thorn, North Raleigh street, Mr. E. R. Sigler, West Martin street, Fourth Ward—Miss Sallie Wellinger, East Burke street, Miss Ethel Coleman, High street, Mrs Charles Caskey, Swartz street, Mrs. Harry Trenary, Center street, Mr. J. Wm. Kastle, East Burke street. Fifth Ward—Mrs. J. H Whetzel, North Queen street, Miss Margaret Hess, North Queen street, Mrs. Roy Edwards, Moler avenue, Mrs. L. M. VanHoyn, North Queen street, Mr. H. H. Hess, North Queen street MINISTERS ARE NOT TO USE STAMPS MINISTERS ARE NOT TO USE STAMPS Marriage Certificates are Found Not to be Taxable Document. Unless the commissioner of internal revenue rules to the contrary, revenue stamps need not be attached to marriage certificates issued in West Virginia by ministers to the wedded couples. The war tax law requires stamps to be affixed to all certificates required by state law to be issued and on this premise was based the ruling that marriage certificates in West Virginia would have to be stamped. This decision was due, however, to a misconception of the West Virginia Law. Dr. Arbuthnot, pastor of the First Methodist church, Parkersburg, interested himself in the matter, and called Collector Hay's attention to the fact that the West Virginia law does not require a minister to issue a certificate to the contracting parties. The only legal obligation imposed on the clergyman is that he make a return to the clerk of the county court issuing the license, certifying that the ceremony has been duly performed. The issue of the certificate to the married couple is optional with the clergyman, and while it is generally done, is a mere custom and not a legal requirement, and the certificate is more a souvenir of the occasion than a legal document. The legal proof of marriage is in the records of the county court. Collector Hays, therefore, will no longer require stamps on such papers, unless he is again ordered to do so by the commissioner of internal revenue, to whop he has again referred the matter FOREIGN HORSE BUYERS HELD UP In Their Work of Securing Animals for the British and French Cavalry. Many of the horse buyers from England and France who started out less than two weeks ago from Washington, D. C., to cover every state in this country in quest of horses for cavalry purposes in the great conflict now raging in Europe, have met with a decided set-back in their work on account of the many states under quarantine and those states are being abandoned, until the quarantine is lifted. White horses could be purchased, inspected and shipped under seal, the amount of territory covered and the fact that a shipment would have to be made from each county in the quarantine states would be entirely too much trouble and the expense would be enormous. However, there has been few cases reported where horses have been affected by the disease, but it is a known fact that they are not exempt, and this alone is enough for the state officials who are becoming alarmed at the spread of the disease in sections thought to be safe. Although it has been announced that the disease is under control in many states, new outbreaks in various sections of those staces is evidence that such is not the case and the authorities are taking no chances on shipments of horses unless shipped under the same law as has been placed on shipments of cattle. While opposed to the literacy test in the pending immigration bill, President Wilson does not know whether that one point would make him decide against the measure. A short residence in Washington inures a man to illiteracy and indecision.—New York Evening Telegram. The Pioneer Press Devoted to the Moral, Religious and Financial Development of Humanity. RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION: 1 year ..... $1.50 6 months ..... 75c. 8 months ..... 40c. Pay for all advertisements is due in advance unless advertising is run by yearly contract, in which case the ad- vertiser pays every three months. Advertising 1 inch one time 75c. Standing ..... 50c Reduced Rates to Clubs. Send for Sample Copies. Entered in Post Office at Martinsburg, W. Va. as Second Class Matter. J. K. Cifford, Editor and Proprietor. Drawer 869, and Bell 'Phone 60K, Martinsburg, W. Va. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1914 In accordance with our annual custom, we won't issue the Pioneer Press on Saturday, January the second, nineteen hundred and fifteen. The Pioneer Press hopes that all of its subscribers had a Merry Christmas and will likewise have a Happy New Year. The unanimous decision of the United States Supreme Court that Harry Kendall Thaw, slayer of Stanford White, be returned to New York, is a bitter disappointment to him, because had he been liberated, he is likely to have eaten his Christmas dinner in Pittsburg. Governor elect Charles S. Whitman of New York, has consented to make the presentation speech and award Dr. Joel E. Spingarn's medal to the Negro who is lucky enough to receive same for the most meritorious thing done during the year about ending. We would very much like to know what has become of the Federal probe into the high prices of foodstuffs? Everything continues to soar, and the people who are responsible for said condition, look like they don't care a rap for Government investigations. The revival time is on, and will be on till the blue birds chirp again. They are humbugs. Call them "sinner warming meetings", stop burning fuel to keep them warm, and spend your time with the youth who can be seen all through warm weather playing cards and shooting crap within sight of your churches. Nineteen hundred and fourteen years ago a bate was born and cradled in a manger of Bethlehem. Never was a sweeter babe born. Lived a perfect life for 33 years, was crucified, buried and on the 3rd day, rose from the grave, ascended into heaven, leaving salvation to mankind and promised to come among us again. Let us all love, honor and serve Him—the son of the living God. If it is a violation of law for newspapers published in West Virginia to carry liquor advertisements, it seems to us that it is also a violation of law for newspapers published outside of the State to carry liquor advertisements and circulate herein. Now as to the constitutionality of this particular part of the prohibition amendment we will leave that for the courts to decide, but it takes no wise-acre to arrive at the conclusion reached in the preceding sentence. The Alabama Bankers Association recently invited two or three colored bankers of that State to confer with and partake in their deliberations relative to matters financial. Such action shows a liberal spirit on the part of these Southern money kings, and is also an evidence that the high-toned Southerner is coming to realize that the Negro is more than merely 'a hewer of wood and drawer of water.' We are glad of such cooperation between white and black, and we hope there will be more of it in every section of this country in future. Attending a base ball game one day, a man three-fourths drunk, and staggering yelled out to his home team: "boys if you lose this game, it will start me to drinking again." Summed up, there was about as much sound sense and logic in what he said, as there is in new year pledges made by old time sinners making pledges on Christmas or New Year's day. A person who drinks and commits all kinds of sin fifty one weeks in a year, is generally a pledging liar on either or both of the days above mentioned. Live right as you can during the year. and no lying pledges need to be made in holiday times. PRESIDENT AND THE NEGR. It is not often that President Wilson can be accused of lack of sincerity but what shall be said of his remark relative to the Negroes of the South that "there isn't any question, it seems to me, into which more canor needs to be put or more thorough human feeling," and what "I know myself, is a Southern man, how truly the heart of the South desires the good of the Negro and the advancement of his race on all sound and sensible lines; it is a matter of common understanding"? These words were spoken to the University Commission on South rn Race Questions, made up of representatives of eleven Southern colleges. They might have been uttered fifty years ago by a Confederate Brigadier. They do not vary much from the sentiments expressed in the years before the war by the most extreme advocate of slavery Negroes are citizens of the United States, entitled to all the rights which Mr. Wilson as Presideht is sworn to protect. To what other section of our population, large or small, would he refer in such terms of condescension? If it is imaginable that any of the elements of our people could be subject to the limitation placed upon the blacks, is it conceivable that the President would speak thus of the possible advancement on "sound and sensible lines"? Mr. Wilson chanced to be born in Virginia, but he is not President because he is a Southern man and The World ought not to be forced to acquaint him of the fact. New York World. AT OUR DOORS. 'Out of a job, out of a job!' Hark to the fearful retrain. Coming from lips so hungry and cold, Hear it, again and again. 'Out of a job, out of a job!' Echoe the saddest of cries. Weeping, the mother and children, at home. Fling it again to the skies. 'Out of a job, out of a job!' Hear it in daylight and gloom. Even though Belgians suffer for bread, Charity beginneth at home —H. S. Haskins, in New York Sun. TIME O' GOOD CHEER. The time o' good cheer Has arrived again; Frost gleams white on the pane Memories throng our brain; Alternate joy and pain Are ours at close of year. We think of other places; Our feet retrace old ways Of departed yesterdays, When youth's morn voiced praise And our harps tried tense lays, In days we loved old faces. Never a Yule-tide comes, With bells across the snow And halls decked with mistletoe And holly lending glow, Where soft lights glimmer low And glad feet come and go, But hearts yearn for old homes. The 22 officers and 355 men of the German converted cruiser Cormorant, interned at Guam, will add much to the social pleasures of the Americans on that lonely island.—Florida Times-Union. CHARTERS ISSUED FOR LAST MONTH CHARTERS ISSUED FOR LAST MONTH Secretary Reed's Report Shows That SixtyOne Charters Were Issued In November. A total of sixty-one charters were issued by Secretary of State Stuart F. Reed to resident and non-resident corporations during the month of November. In addition to this nine corporations in creased their authorized capital; three were granted permission to decrease, and seven foreign corporations were granted permission to do business in West Virginia, while ten corporations were dissolved on their own motion. The receipts of the office for the month were $4,906.05, of which $1,192.50 were for fees and $2,884 from charters. Not only has the United States exported and imported more from Latin-America than any other nation, as John Barrett shows, but there is also the extensive sale of American goods in South America via London under British labels.-Detroit Journal. SHEPHERD TELLS OF SERVIAN TRIP How They Were Notified of the Moving and What They Encountered. By WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD FELDPOSTAMT NO. 39, near the Hungarian frontier, Nov. 7.—(by courier to Vienna)—Here's the way that we get our marching orders in the Kriegspressequartier, the war press headquarters in Austria Hungary. Only yesterday morning some of us returned from Przemysl to this quaint little ancient town in Galicia, expecting days of dullness until we were again taken to the front. At the noonday the officer in charge of the scores of carriages which are at our disposal rapped on his wine glass for attention and said: "Who wishes to go to—?" naming the big Galician town six miles distant where there are coiffe houses, stores and other blessing of civilization. His question is a daily one; he asks it only to know how many carriages he must have really after dinner and at the hour. We rise our hands, he counts heads and two hours later we find ourselves after a ride through the hills, walking the streets of a lively town, where some of the chief officers of the army have their headquarters including the particular officer who has charge of the newspapers correspondents. We go to the coffee house to talk to Max. He used to be a waiter in a newspaper row restaurant in New York and he's always willing to talk interestingly of those golden days before he took a notion to come back home to Galicia with his "pile," only to lose it here. In 1915, though, he's going back; he knows where he can make $10 a day anytime in New York or Chicago or "Frisco by his waiters" tricks. He confesses some of his New York tricks to you, now that the old days and the old place are far away and so you talk, waiting for Sunday to end. It does so with a bang, at exactly six o'clock. The are lights have been going for an hour, but suddenly the streets are turned into little Broadways by store lights which flood the pavements as the Jewish merchants raise their shutters at six. You fare forth in the streets crowded with officers, soldiers, civilians, girls and youths a courting, and in the rush you meet another newspaper man. "We go to Servia in the morning at 3 o'clock," he says. "I've just heard it." "You do not believe such good news. You rush to army headquarters and to the officers of the colonel who has charge the fates and destinies of newspaper men in charge. His officers are rowded with other officers receiving orders. There is not a chance to speak to him. Anyhow, if the story is true, you'll hear it, officially, in time. Officers are rushing in and out. One of them has a bale of paper bills as high as a silk hat. Something's doing, anyhow so you get out. Back over the hills you go between seven and eight in the cold evening and enter the long, narrow room where supper is at eight. An officer is reading orders, with a group of newspaper men standing about him. He calls out a list of names; those mentioned cross to the other side of the room. "At three o'clock tomorrow morning be at the depot," he says to them. We are going to Servia to see the the Austrian lines there. All those names I have not called will go on a train that leaves at 3 o'clock in the morning, day after tomorrow. We are to go in two lots." Supper is gulped. There's a lot of packing and a little sleeping to be done within the next seven hours for those who go tomorrow morning. And so, all through the night, there is a scurrying of soldier servants through the streets of the little old village. They rush from one little house here to another little house there where correspondents have rooms, collecting baggage. The village folk look on in their night gowns and night caps and slippers, holding candles for heavily shod soldiers who clatter around their little homes; they're not used to such carryings-on. At three on the dot, the train pulls out for its 500 mile journey across Hungary to Servia, where the air is still warm and where our winter clothes will be in the way until January. Breakfast was a dull thing in the once lively "casino" this morning; only a few of us were left and toorow morning at 3 o'clock after another stirring up of the village we too, shall start out. And, this old town will become its sleepy old self again, with only the memory of those strange days when newspaper men from the farthest corners of the earth gathered here to watch the Austrians fight the Russians. It appears from the Berlin newspapers that all the bathing beeches on the east coast of England are "fortified" just like Coney Island, presumably—New York World. ARGUMENTS FOR ONE CENT POSTAG Congress at This Session Will R Asked to Pass the Measure. One cent letter postage will be the theme of a determined campaign to be waged this winter wherein business men of the United States will seek to crystalize into law the rapidly increasing sentiment for a lower postage rate. Congress is to be asked at its next session to consider the rewards the inauguration of a cent letter rate. The campaign will be conducted by the National Cent Letter Postage Association which has its headquarters in Cleveland. This association has best steadily growing in strength for several years and now maintains a membership scattered throughout the United States, with representatives in nearly every village, town and city in all the states of the union. It is believed by officers of the association that with the general business revival now under way, the det and for one cent letter postage will become so insistent that congress cann of do otherwise than inaugurate this reform. An astonishing condition exists at Washington in connection with the operation of the postoffice department according to George T. McIntosh, secretary-treasurer of the National One Cent Letter Postage Association. Mr McIntosh has been active head of this organization since its inception several years ago and, together with Charles W. Burrows, the association's president, has been making a close study of postal conditions as they exist in this country. "Business men of the United States are not aware that first class mail matter is paying the government over 170 million dollars per year, of which more than $70,000,000 is clear profit," declares Mr. McIntosh. "With this immense income and profit, the government at the same time is sustaining a loss on second class mail more than $70,000,000 a year. Statisticians of the postoffice department have stated that it costs over $50 per pound to distribute second class mail while the charge made by the department is only one cent per pound. While first class mail reads the postoffice department a clear profit of over $70,000,000 per year, second class mail at the same time entails a loss of about the same sum with a result that an immense surplus is automatically wiped out each year." "This $70,000,000 is the toll the American business man is paying under the present conditions and is the thing which we are seeking to reform There is no reason why business institutions of this country should be paying nearly twice the cost of carriage of their mail while other interests, chiefly the big periodical publishers of the eastern cities are swamping the entire country with huge volumes of mail matter for which they are paying only one-eighth the cost of handling. "Efficiency in operation is a thing which is practically an impossibility on the part of postoffice officials at the present time, because of this condition which exists and has existed for many years. It has long been felt by those in charge of the department at Washington that a reform of this character is absolutely necessary, and they have given assurance on many occasions that just as soon as as congress sees fit to act on this subject, American business men will be granted a one cent letter rate." "No fair minded person can feel other than that the periodical publishers of this country are being granted a huge subsidy every year as long as the present condition of affairs exists." "First class, letter mail, it has been computed pays a revenue to the government of a little over 80 cents per pound or over $1,600 per ton, practically twice the cost of handling it. Second class mail on the other hand, pays one cent a pound, or $20 a ton, which is about one-eighth the cost of handling. Is this good business? Both our association and representative postoffice officials at Washington do not believe it is. Nothing can be done, however, until congress takes action, and it is for this reason that we are demanding that the matter b considered a the present session of congress. "Only through co-operation on the part of the business interests of this country, who are paying a tax to the government every time they use a two cent stamp can we hope to succeed." Bills for one cent letter postage have been introduced by Senators Burton and Penrose and Representatives Ansberry, Bartlett, Griest, McKeller, Park and Rouse, and will be pushed during the present term of congress. With a Nebraska man premier in the president's cabinet, and another Nebraska man listed in all the several All America's football elevens, our cup of glory is surely full to the brim.—Omaha Bee. LAST YEAR WAS DANGEROUS ONE Maturely Dry Season Made Danger From Fires Great In Every Forest. The season of 1814, according to the officials of the forest service, carried greater danger from due to the national forests than any year since the establishment of the national forests. To meet this emergency and to prevent great loss of public property, the department of agriculture has issued the most appropriated for fire protection and incur a deficiency of $349, 142. The conditions of drouth and other factors of forest fire hazard were said to be worse than in 1910, when the disastrous Idaho fire occured. Weather bureau reports show that in most of the Rocky Mountain and northeast region last winter's snow were much below the normal, but as a result there was an early spring and an early drying out of the breeds. In western Montana and whom those there were forget fires in considerable numbers by the end of May and they continued until October. In California, where there is normally a very long season of drought the fire season started in some portions five weeks earlier than usual, and in the southern part of the state the fire danger was still great at the end of November. A long dry season, contained periods of high temperature, recurring hard and steady winds and in certain places, unusually hot, dry nights, rendered the forests exceedingly inflammable and the problem of fire prevention unusually difficult. The total number of fires during the season of 1914 which threatened the national forests and which had to be handled by the protective organization of the forest service were 3,112, or about 1,000 more than occurred in 1910. This number represents the fires reported up to December 1. At that time reports indicated that there was still a dangerous condition in southern California and in certain portions of the national forests of the east. The service says that the total for the year will be increased by fires in these regions during December. The most serious conditions are reported from western Montana and northern Idaho and on the Pacific slope. The weather conditions in the central and southern Rocky mountain regions were more nearly normal. As a consequence only 15 per cent of the total number of all national forest fires occurred in those regions and they were handled without difficulty and with very small loss of property. Of the entire 6.112 fires which threatened the national forests, 81 per cent were extinguished by the protective organization before they had covered 10 acres. The percentage of fires that burned over more than 10 acres was smaller than in any previous year. While detailed reports have not yet been received appraising the exact loss to the government through the forest fires, a preliminary estimate shows that the loss of merchantable timber will probably not exceed $400,000. In 1910 the corresponding estimate of loss was nearly $15,000,000, but later estimates materially reduced the amount. Through the work of the protective force the fires this year were largely confined to old burns and to loss heavily timbered areas. The loss to the government through the destruction of the trees will be up in these openings is larger than the actual loss to green timber. In Montana and Idaho alone, it is said that the value of all the bodies of the country is $10,000,000. It was in this section that the largest amount of money had to be spent to prevent a recurrence of the great disaster of 1910. In Oregon and Washington the 1,000 fires which were handled by the department threatened upwards of $24,000,000 worth of timber. And these figures, according to the department experts, do not include the value of non-merchantable timber and young growth on about 5,000,000 acres of land and several million dollars worth of ranch and other private property which lay in the path of the threatening conflagrations. Figures are not yet gathered of the precise amount of damage threatened by fires in California and other national forest states, though they are expected to add large amounts to the total value of the property threatened and saved. J. R. CLIFFORD Attorney At Law MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA Practices in all the Counts of West Virginia peals and the United States Courts. NEWSPAPER MEN MAKE COLD TRIP ON THE HUNGARIAN FRONTIER, Nov. 6. (By mail to New York.)—Our little newspaper party, numbed with the cold, climbed out of the car today and were led by a sentinel through a great double door into the muddy passage way of a building. A side door opened and we entered a huge, long room, warm and well lighted with oil lamps. Three long tables ran the length of the room. There were the remnants of a giant dinner on them, which soldiers were clearing away. A piano was banging. A huge man with a jolly face was singing. Men sat about the tables in small groups drinking beer and listening. It was my introduction to the Austro-Hungarian press headquarters. In this little town sixty newspapermen are lodged. It requires a small army of officers and soldiers to care for them. The town is set aside entirely for the press and every soldier to be seen, every horse, every on the scores of supply wagons, every automobile, every officer—all have as their duty or purpose the convenience of the correspondents who are mostly Austrians and Hungarians. In addition to the comforts which the writing men have, there are two autobuses at their disposal which make regular trips between this little town and headquarters. And, on the road, you often see a train of four or five small wagons carrying beer which will be consumed, in large part, by the newspapermen. The correspondents pay for their beer but their food is furnished them free. In this great room where I ate my hot, belated supper the correspondents do a great deal of their writing and here the censors, who are appointed to deal in various languages, talk over the copy of the journalists, read out news at mealtime and give instructions as to postal and telegraph arrangements. An auto was waiting for me and I was whisked to a whitewashed house on the outskirts of the town where a room had been reserved for me. The family was Polish. All about the walks of the little room were pictures of the Christ and the Virgis Mary. It was the parlor, and three clocks were ticking away merrily. I have been in scores of such houses in America. I remember that one time in a Massachusetts town, during a strike, I had slept for four nights in just such a Polish home waiting for the deputy sheriff to come and put the family out into the street but the sheriff had not come and I had missed my story. There had been two clocks in my room in that house in America, Poles seem to run clocks. I locked two of the clocks in my valise to muffle them and went to bed. It looked to me just as I was dropping off into slumber as if I had been pocketed by the Austro-Hungarian war department. Here I was is a small town, a hundred miles from the front and no way to get there except by army trains and the Polish woman rapped at my door to tell me it was seven o'clock in the morning. At breakfast time in the big room I found that my status was absolutely military. I received instructions that I was to go to the headquarters town at 9 o'clock. I took the long ride over the hills in a coach in a wistery sunshine. I met Colonel von Hoen, who has entire charge of all the field forces of correspondents, and he had a pass ready for me. In German it is known as a "legitimation." It bears my photograph and my autograph and a careful description of my personal appearance. "Tomorrow." Col Hoen told me, "you are to be started for the frost, but first you will be received by General Count con Hertzendorf, the chief of staff." This was far more than an American or any other correspondent could have expected in the way of Austrian courtesy. The Archduke Frederich is the commander in chief of the entire Austro-Hungarian army and General von Hertzendorf is next in command as chief of staff. The next day Col von Hoen escorted several correspondents including myself to the field headquarters and we were shown into a room which was entered shortly by a grey-haired quiet appearing gentleman of slender stature who greet- ed us with as much ease as if the occasion were a reception instead of an incident in the world's supreme war. He spoke to a German correspondent in German, to an Italian in Italian, to a Swiss in French and I do not know how many other tongues he commands. There was not even crepe on his arms for the son who was recently killed in battle. Another of his sons had just been wounded. He asked me about my country and its feelings toward Austria and I told him that what the United States wasted was the truth. "We want you to have the truth," he replied. Then he told us—there were six of us—that we musct be very careful of our health when we went to the front and carefully regard all the regulations and precautions that the doctors would impose on us. Then he went back to his maps and his du ties of directing millions of men on hfs million mile chess board and we went back over the hills to peck up. GIGANTIC LINERS ARE NOT RUNNING Because of the European War and the Loss is Almost Incalc. culable. NEW YORK, Dec. 22.—At least fifty gigantic ocean liners representing a total value of a billion dollars are lying idle in American ports today as a result of the European war. The loss sustained each day by the various steamship companies through the idleness of their costly vessels is almost incalculable. The Atlantic coast ports of the United States in nearly every instance contain one or more ships either interned or laid up through lack of trans-Atlantic travel. Boston and New York are harboring the greatest number. When the war first broke out, many big German liners were forced to put back into American ports to avoid raiding by British cruisers. Others were ordered to disband crews and lay up in our ports until the end of hostilities. The two great German lines, the North German Lloyd and the Hamburg American own forty-three vessels now enforcedly idle in American ports. The White Star line was forced through lack of business to discontinue the sailings of the Cedric the Celtic and the Cymric. The White Star Dominion line discontinued the sailings of the Laurentic, Canada and Teutonic. The big piers in Brooklyn present some disconsolate scenes of suspended activity. At one pier are the three big ocean greyhounds, their sides dirty from lack of paint and with winches and brass work rusted from disuse. They are the Kaiser Wilhelm H. the Grosser Kurfurst and the Friederich Der Grosse. A small crew of men are kept on board to guard the big liners and a wiso smoke coating from one of the stacks on each vessel tells that fires are being kept to prevent freezing. At another Brooklyn dock stand the mighty Vaterland of the Hamburg American line. At the time of launching, the Vaterland was heralded by the last word in ocean liners. His cost was estimated at over $6,000,000. Her tonnage is greater than that any liner afflict. Today she is than useless to the Hamburg American line because every day of idleness is piling up huge costs on idle investments. In one of the long warehouses at the Bush Terminal docks in Brooklyn nearly one hundred sailors, members of the German vessels interned there are being housed. The Hamburg American line and the North German Lloyd has fitted up the warehouse with bunks and small stoves and all day the men sit idle waiting for a chance to either work around the docks or smuggle themselves out of the country. They all want to fight for the Fatherland but the laws of neutrality prohibit them leaving the United States unless they are American citizens. To get around this law, a thriving trade has sprung up among naturalized foreigners who sell their naturalization papers for amounts up to $100. With these papers, the Germans pass the port authorities and reach the Fatherland as American citizens. The fleet of the North German line, the proudest trans-Atlantic fleet in history has been decimated by the war. Tied up at docks in the port of New York are six of the line's biggest vessels. They are the Kaiser Wilhelm II, the George Washington, the Grasser Kurfürst, Friedierich Der Grosse Parberosse, and Princess Irene. Many of the North German Lloyd and Hamburg America n vessels have also been taken over by the German government and converted into scouts and cruisers. At Boston lies the Kronprinzessin Cecilia, whose palatalequipment is known to thousands of Americans. Alongside her is the Wittekind, the Willehad and the Koin, vessels of lesser size. The idleness of the big liners has increased the business of the smaller neutral lines tremendously. The freight departments of the Uranium lise, the Russian Norwegian and the French line are working night and day handling their increased business. England having control of the seahar big trans-Atlantic lises are still doning business but travel and trade have d'minished to such an extent that ell are suffering. The Cunary line is operating all of their vessels either in commercial business or for the government of Great Britain. The White Star line is also operating all of its steachers. No matter what happens to him these days John Bull consoles himself with the philosophical reflection that it helps us writing if it doesn't do anything else—Chicago Herald CIVIL WAR AGAIN IN MINE REGION Deputy Sheriff Mantz is Killed and Several Wounded by Matt Jarrrell and Companions. CHARLESTON, W. Va., Dec. 22. Sheriff Holl and a posse are scouring the hills in the Cabin Creek mining district for Mutt Jarrrell who is known as the "terror of the coal fields," and two companions who fled with him after "shooting up" a place at Oakley, wounding one man, two women and later fatally wounding Deputy Sheriff Silas F. Nantz, when he went to Eskdale to arrest them. Nantz is a former strike leader, and was a "military prisoner" during Governor Glasscock's martial law administration, and was a valuable witness before the congressional committee that investigated the strike situation. He died early today of his wounds. Jarrell was recently pardoned for violating the Johnson Pistol toting law. He shot Henry Ratliff in the course of an argument, and then he and his companions began firing at random. A bullet struck Josephine Wines, and Belle Adams, who were in the place. All are seriously wounded. Following the shooting Jarrell and his friends rode an engine pilot to Eskdale, where they shot Nantz. ONLY TWO EXCURSES DURING NEW YEAR And Both Will be Invisible to the United States----Rust February 14. In the year 1915 there will be two eclipses, both of the sun. 1. An annular eclipse of the sun, February 14. Visible to Australia, Madagascar, East Indies, Philippine islands, Micronesia, Polynesia, and adjoining oceans. The path of annulus starting at a point in the Indian ocean south of Madagascar, extending across the northwestern part of Australia and New Guinea, and terminating in the middle of the North Pacific ocean. 2. An annular eclipse of the sun, August 10-11. Visible to the eastern portions of China and Siberia, Philippine Islands, Japan, Micronesia, Polynesia, Sandwich islands, and the Pacific oceans. ANNUAL REPORT OF LABOR BUREAU Cives List of Factories, Mines, Utilities, Oil and Gas Wells; Data on Labor Employed. The twelfth biennial report of the state bureau of labor compiled by Commissioner of Labor Jack Nightingale has been completed. The report is a thorough one and far more interesting than any that has been issued from that office in recent years. It contains a complete directory of every manufacturing company, mine, public utility and foundry in the state of West Virdginia an also of the out-of-town mines and factories with branches or chief works in this state. It also contains a complete directory of the bureau of labor, industrial, together with the certified enrollment of each body. The list of labor unions of the state is shown, giving the exact membership of every union within the confines of the state. A table on the oil and gas wells of the state shows that in 1912 there were 1,654 wells completed, in 1913, there were 2,02 wells completed and that during six months in 1914 ending June 30, there were already 1,032 wells completed, showing this to be the best year enjoyed by the oil men up to that time. The labor laws of the state are printed in Fall in the report. Some interesting figures on the foreign labor employed by the state are also quoted. Following is a table taken from the report showing just how many men of each nationality are employed by the various corporations in West Virginia: Assyrian, 229; Austrian, 2,077; Belgian, 509; English, 28,613; Finnish, 360; French, 275; German, 1,009; Greek, 1,611; Hungarian, 3,053; Italian, 1,188; Polish, 3,444; Roumanian, 464; Russian, 3,362; Spanish, 782. Total, 55,297. Senator LaFollette has French blood in his veins, and so has his new Democratic colleague, Mr. Hustings. The Wisconsin German-Americans are a very numerous element in the electorate, but there is no trouble on that account—Springfield Republican. Miss Ella James, who has been con- firmed to her home for sometime as a result of sickness, is somewhat better, a fact pleasing to her many friends. Miss Lavender Baltimore left Wed- nesday eight for Sewickley, Pa., where she will, visit relatives, and remain away until after the Holidays. Dr. George W. Baylis, the well known Charles Street physician, went to his home in Fauquier County on Christmas even and will spend the Holidays with home tells. WAR! HALF WHILE WOULD CRIME GO ONSTAGGER ARE SWORDS RATHL GLISTENING JUST BECAME KNOSER WA R! What Is It All About? I ripe stalk mad over a very foolish and trivial words battling, cannon rumbling, mailed armour Russia wanted to show her love for the little mer. Servia? WAR! What Is It All About? with the world gone stark mad over a very foolish and trivial conspiracy. Are swords rattling, carnon runibling, mailed armour glistening just because Knaps wanted to show her love for the little breather? Servia? Fear inside the curtain of Europe's politics and see the prism and another game of chess that is being played. See upon what a slim, yet desperate, excuse the sacred lives of millions may be sacrificed. Read the history of the past one hundred years, as written by one of the greatest authorities the world has ever known, and learn the naked, shameful truth. Just to get you started as a Review of Reviews subscriber, we make you this extra- ordinary offer. We will give to you Duruy's FREE! Duruy's History of the World Four splendid cloth volumes, full of portraits, sketches, maps, diagrams today is the climax of a hundred years of preparation. In this timely, authoritative, complete, AND THE LY CONDENSED classic world history—of which over 2,000 copies have been sold in France alone—just what has place in the inner councils of Europe during the past one and years. Read in these entrancing pages how Russia years craftily been trying to escape from her darkness— a year-round open port, with its economic freedom. how Germany and Austria, fearful of the monster's strength, have been trying to checkmate her and how he pinned all in this last, supreme stake. FREE! Duruy's History of the World Four splendid cloth volumes, full of portraits, sketches, maps, diagrams Today is the climax of a hundred years of preparation. Read in this timely, authoritative, complete, AND THE ONLY CONDENSED classic world history—of which over 2,000,000 copies have been sold in France alone—just what has taken place in the inner councils of Europe during the past one hundred years. Read in these entrancing pages how Russia has for years craftily been trying to escape from her darkness—to get a year-round open port, with its economic freedom. Read how Germany and Austria, fearful of the monster's latent strength, have been trying to checkmate her and how they have pinned all in this last, supreme stake. Read how Germen identify strength, have they have pinned all The L THIS master of the per- form and the grandent that v Mobile Ages, the penetr through the Renalisation up Grooviness completes in bello be the secrets of today. And you get the Review of Reviews thems will give you a same inter- place with such rapidity. It is a triumph. Your ability to comprehere rationally draw on a true super- "person why" is evident. L. you out of choice—and the Review of R Get the REVIEW of R for a Year The Lesson of the Past THIS master of the pen shows you the glory that was Greece, and the grandeur that was Rome. He guides you through the Middle Ages, the pictureque old days of feudalism and the crusades; through the Renaissance up to contemporaneous history, which Prof. Gorinseau completes in brilliant manner. In the story of the past in the secrets of today. And you will understand them better when you review for Reviews for a year, for the Review of Reviews will be a same interpretation of the events that are taking place with us now. It is enough to read the daily news and report. Youtreatability can be combined and to discuss them rationally depends on a the interpretation, understanding and the wisdom which of events. In your mind you must be able to the World in 4 volumes and the Review of Reviews will do it for you. LOCAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS The editor is spending the Christmas season with relatives in the West Virginia mountains. Mr. Gordon Bennet continues quite sick at his home on Samuel Street, but hopes are entertained for his recovery. --- ```markdown ``` Miss Celena Roberts, popular assistant teacher in Summer School, is spending the Holidays with her parents at their spacious country home in My'dleway, Jefferson County. The city Schools closed Wednesday, and it appears count for anything the teacher is armed as well pleased to get the nearly two weeks vacation as did the children. Mr. Marcellus Woods, formerly of this city, but now a resident of Cumberland, has been enjoying the week home with friends and relatives, and returns home today well satisfied with his visit. Thompson and Thompson's Xmas stock excels all others in Martinsburg, and the varieties are lower and their --- The following is a sample of text from a document that appears to be a legal or official document. It is not intended to be a complete transcription of the entire document but rather a snippet that reflects the content. --- **Legal Document** [Signature] [Date] [Title] [Abstract] [Body] [References] [Signature] [Date] [Title] [Abstract] [Body] [References] pains and anxiety to please, all, also excel any other clothiers in Martinsburg. Try them, buy from them, and if their guarantee of the goods they sell fails to measure up to it, you'll get your money back. IN MEMORIAM In fond remembrance of Mr. James H Levy, who departed this life two years ago, Tuesday, December 29th., 1912 A. F. C. AMERICAN RED CROSS 19 14 Merry Christmas Happy New Year The Red Cross Xmas sale so far has proven very satisfactory, but we wish to call your attention to your part in this war against tuberculosis. Every one has his or her part to play and by so doing may help prevent the death of a great number of people, that without help from some quarter are sure to suffer and die in the next year. Did you know that there are 400,000 deaths every year in this country from tuberculosis and that by the death of these people the U. S. loses millions of dollars in money? If you will stop and think that there is one death every three minutes of the twenty-four hours from tuberculosis you will see the importance of your part in the work. Take the above to heart and help the great work by buying a few more Red Cross Seals than you think you can afford. SPLENDID PAPER BY ROAD ENGINEER Hon. A. Dennis Williams Tells National Congress of "Grades and Excavations." The following paper was presented to the National Good Roads Congress that is in session at Atlanta, Georgia, by A. D. Williams, chief engineer of the state roads commission of West Virginia. "Grades and Excavations" was the subject of this paper which proved very interesting and was exceedingly instructive in the matter of construction of roads. His paper summed up, is as follows: 1. What will be the present and also the future demands of the territory adjacent to the road in question? 2. What are the possible developments in the territory, from an industrial, agricultural, educational, and social standpoint? 3. Will the road in the future become part of a general system of roads reaching to other communities? 4. What traffic will pass over the road, making due allowance for development, and considering the present and future tonnage? 5. The general direction in which the greatest amount of tonnage will be transported, the class of tonnage and the time necessary to move it in order to make it the most remarkable. 6. The direction in which the ascending grade will be in comparison with the possible traffic demands. 7. The maximum load that a horse can pull based upon the length of grade and the time required to make the trip. 8. Consideration should always be given to climatic conditions and to the season that the roads will be required to take care of the heaviest traffic. 9. The class of material of which the road is to be built, and the cost of construction on the longer distance, compared with the steeper grade and shorter distance have a certain important bearing on the subject, because the most important subject in connect with the cost of roads on grades is that of maintenance, which increases very rapidly with the increase of grade. 10. The condition of the right-of-way and the possible chances for disposition of water and drainage are factors of much importance when considering the maximum grade. 11. Important items enter into the descending grade that should be given as much, if not more, consideration than the ascending grade. 12. A grade should not be steeper than a team can safely descend with a load that it can handle for ten hours under normal conditions. 14. The amount of time necessary to descend a grade should be considered, making due allowance for the minimum speed that can safely be used on that grade. 15. The highway engineer of today must remmeber that as time passes, the motor traffic requirements of the highway will be more and more exacting. 16. Grades crossing a summit should range into another by some form of vertical curve. MUNICIPAL HOME RULE. Some years ago a commission made a painstaking study of the subject of municipal government in West Virginia and prepared an elaborate municipal code which, it was hoped, might provide a standard and uniform system of administration for all urban communities of the State. The code elaborated by the Kingsley commission was a very creditable piece of work, but it never could get through the legislature, because the people of our several cities have never yet reached a point where they are all of one mind as to the form of municipal government best adapted to their needs. They are today, perhaps, wider apart than ever in their views on that question, and it would be utterly useless to ask the approaching legislature to enact a municipal code prescribing a uniform plan of government for all urban communities. There is one way, however, in which the legislature can free itself from the incubus of charter legislation, and that is by enacting a home rule law on broad lines permitting the people of the various cities to make their own charters. This has been done by Colorado, and the Colorado plan provides as follows: That the people of each city in this State * * * are hereby vested with and they shall always have the power to make, amend, add to or replace the charter of said city, which shall be its organic law and extend to all of its local and municipal matters. The Colorado law provides for the machinery and procedure whereby the people of any city may work out their own salvation in the matter of charter without making any appeal to the legislature. On petition of a certain percentage of the voters a special election of charter commissioners must be called. The commission of twenty-one citizens elected presents a form of charter and it is submitted to a referendum vote. When the new charter has been approved by popular vote, certified to and filed with the secretary of state, it becomes the organic law of the city adopting it, and there are conferred upon the city government all powers necessary, requisite or proper for the government and administration of its local and municipal matters, including the power to legislate upon, provide, regulate and control the creation of offices, agencies and employments, the definition, regulation and alteration of the powers, duties, qualifications and terms and tenure of all municipal officers, agents, and employes, etc. In short, the Colorado plan applies the principle of local self government to the affairs of all the cities of the State. It is municipal home rule, and a home rule law for West Virginia will be found preferable to the adoption of any elaborate municipal code.—Morgantown Post-Chronicle. TRUANT OFFICER OF PRESENT DAY W. S. Deffenbaugh, of United States Bureau of Education, Gives Views. The old idea of the truant officer as a "kid cop" is passing away, according to W. S. Deffenbaugh, of the United States bureau of education, who has recently been in conference with attendance officials from all parts of the United States. The new truant officer, according to Mr. Deffenbaugh, is a man of entirely different type, quite frequently, in fact, a woman, in several cities a large percentage of truant officers are college graduates; in other cities they are men and women with experience as social workers; but whether college graduates or not, they are required to know and understand the home conditions of school children Attendance officers of the new style are interested in removing fundamental causes of truancy rather than in merely catching the offenders. The chief cause of the failure to obey attendance laws, according to the national league of compulsory education officials is inadequate family life. Resolutions adopted at the recent meeting of this organization, therefore, called for "adequate and uniform marriage and divorce laws pertaining to the issuance of marriage licenses that will prevent child marriages and prohibit the marriage of persons physically, morally, and mentally unfit to wed." They urge that the juvenile courts be given definite authority to place parents, as well as children on probation for truancy and delinquency; they ask better state supervision of dependent children; civil service for all truant officers; and the maintenance of parental schools, special rooms for truants, and incorrigibles, and health inspection of schools as material factors in child welfare. The attendance officer of the new type is to be a far better trained man or woman and is to receive better pay. Superintendents of some of the largest school systems in the United States joined in advocating a minimum salary of $100 per month, with services for 12 months in the year, in order that the officers may be in constant touch with the home conditions of the boys and girls. The United States bureau of education has agreed to co-operate with the league of compulsory school attendance officials in the collection of statistics bearing on attendance problems. As part of the movement for better attendance, it has been urged that a permanent census bureau be established and maintained in every city in the United States. A CHRISTMAS SERMON (Robert Louis Stevenson.) To be honest; to be kind; to earn a little and to spend a little less; to make upon the whole a family happier for his presence; to renounce when that shall be necessary and not to be embittered; to keep a few friends, but these without capitation—above all, on the same grim condition, to keep friends with himself—here is a task for all that a man has of fortitude and delicacy. He has an ambitious soul who would ask more; he has a hopeful spirit who should look in such an enterprise to be successful. There is indeed one element in human destiny that not blindness itself can controvert. Whatever else we are intended to do, we are not intended to succeed; failure is the fate allotted. It is so in every art and study; it is so above all in the continent art of living well. Here is a pleasant thought for the year's end or for the end of life. Only self deception will be satisfied, and there need be no despair for the despair. HOWARD UNIVERSITY. STEPHEN M. NEWMAN, A. M., D.D. PRESIDENT. COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. SCHOOL OF MANUAL ARTS AND APPLIED SCIENCES. Courses in Engineering Domestic Science Domestic Arts Manual Arts CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC ACADEMY Three Preparatory Courses (Classical, Scientific, Normal) COMMERCIAL COLLEGE Stenography Typewriting Economics Bookkeeping, Ete Professional Schools LIBRARY SCHOOL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY. THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. College of Medicine College of Dentistry College of Pharmacy SCHOOL OF LAW. All Courses begin Sept. 30th, 1914. For Catalogue, address Howard University, Washington, D. C. SALESMEN Wanted to sell Our West Virginia Grown NURSERY STOCK Fine canvassing outfit FREE. Cash Commissions Paid Weekly. Write for terms Mason City, W. Va. Are You a Woman? Take Cardui The Woman's Tenic FOR SALE AT ALL DRUGGISTS The constant run on Thompson and Thompson keeps them so busy, they "have no time to even talk of hard times." It's the house of good clothes, and vorily, they are hustlers. BUY IT TO DAY PICTURES 250 PAGES ARTICLES POPULAR MECHANICS MAGAZINE For Father and Son AND ALL THE FAMILY Two and a half million readers find it of absolutely interesting. Everything in it is written so You Can Understand it. We will 400,000 copies every month without giving premiums and have no solicitors. Any new dealer will show you a copy, or write the publisher for free sample — a postal will do. 150 A YEAR 15c A COPY Popular Mechanics Magazine Wilmington Ave., CHICAGO For shoes go to Charles E. Thurston North Queen Street. His stock is ex- cellent t. and the courtesies of his clerks can't be excelled. Try him and be corinced. STOMACH TROUBLE FOR taking other medicines. I decided to take his advice, although I did not have any confidence in it. I have now been taking Black-Draught for three months, and it has cured me—haven't had those awful sick headaches since I began using it. I am so thankful for what Black-Draught has done for me." Thedford's Black-Draught has been found a very valuable medicine for derangements of the stomach and liver. It is composed of pure, vegetable herbs, contains no dangerous ingredients, and acts gently, yet surely. It can be freely used by young and old, and should be kept in every family chest. RIDER AGENT IN EACH TOWN and district to ride "Ranger" made furious by us, making money fast. By our NO MONEY REQUIRED until you We ship to anyone anywhere in advance, prepay freight, and allow which time you may ride the bicycle. If you are then not perfectly sat cycle ship it back to us atour exp FACTORY PRICES. We furnish actual factory cost. You own the direct of us and have the manu- bicycle. DO NOT LOY a bicy- any price until you receive our factory prices and remarkable spi- YOU WILL BE ASTONISHED the most proud loan price we bicycles for less money than any other above factory cost. DICYCLE DEAL company place a loan our prices. SECURE MARINE DICYCLE. but usually have a number on hand taken in trade by o out, presently at prices ranging from $3 to $0 or $15 single wheels, imports and equipment of all kinds. $10.00 Hedgehorn Puncture Self-healing Tires A SALE TO INTRO The regular retail price of these tires is $1.90 per pair, but to intro- duce we will sell you a sample pair for $4.90 (cash with order). NO MORE TROUBLE FROM PUNCTURES Nails, Tackle or Circus will not let the air out. A hundred thousand pairs sold last year. DESCRIPTION: Made in all sizes. It is lively and easy riding, very durable and lined inside with a special quality of rubber, which never he comes porous and soft. AGENTS WANTED If district to ride and exhibit a sample Latest Model painted by us, our rider Agents everywhere are Written for full particulars and special offer at once. BECOME until you receive and prove your bicycle, which will allow a TENDAY'S FREE THIRD ride the bicycle and put it to any test you wish not perfectly satisfied or do not want to keep the bitches at our expense and you will not incut one cent. BICES possible to make at one small profit above at. You save $10 to $25 middlemen's profits by buy- dge the manufacturer's signature behind your TOY a bicycle or a pair of tires from engine at a recycle our catalogues and learn our unhoard of our prices. ASTONISHED where you receive our beautiful cata- tories we can make you this year. We sell the highest grade cycle on any other history. We are satisfied with $25 profit on our prices. We manufacture your own public our prices. Ordered the day received. PUNCTURE-PROOF $ 4.00 A SAMPLE PAIR TO INTRODUCE, ONLY EACH TOWN and district to ride and earn it a sample Latest Model 'Ranger' bicycle furnished by us. Your rider Amenity everywhere are made by MOBY QUEEN. Buy for full particulars and special offer at once. MOBY QUEEN is proud to supply your bicycle. We ship to anyone anywhere in the U.S. and provide advance, prepay freight, and allow TENDAYS' FREE TRIAL during which time you may ride the bicycle and put it to any test you wish. If you are then not perfectly satisfied or do not wish to keep the bicycle ship it back to us at our expense and you will not be out one cent. FACTORY PRICES We furnish the highest grade bicycles it is possible to buy at our actual factory cost. You save $10 to $30 middleclass's provide direct of us and have the manufacturer's signature behind your bicycle. DO NOT LOYA a bicycle or a pair of tires from anyone at any price until you receive our catalogues and learn our unbearded factory prices and remarkable special offers. YOU WILL BE ASTONISHED when you receive our beautiful extra-the wonderfully low price we can make you buy on bicycles for less money than any other factory. We are satisfied with this result above factory cost. BICYCLE DEALERS, you can sell our bicycles your own SECOND HAND BICYCLES. We do not regularly handle second hand bicycles, but usually have a number on hand taken in trade by our Chicago retail stores. These we clean and maintain on hand in trade. Our SECOND HAND BICYCLES bargain lots marked free. We also repair bicycles, single wheels, imported collars and equipment of all kinds at the regular retail prices. ```markdown ``` punches without albumin air to escape. They weigh no more than an ordinary tire, the puncture resistance qualifies being given by several layers of thin, specially prepared fabric on the tread. The regular price of these tires is $10.00 per pair, but for advertising purposes we are making a special price for the rider of only $4.80 per pair. All orders shipped same day letter is received. We will ship C, O, D, on approval. You do and them strictly as represented ment (thereby making the price $4.50 per pair) if will enclose this advertisement. You must do tax inced at OUR expense if for any reason they pre- mise and money sent to us in as sale at a bank. If your order is not paid, we will not accept it. We know that you will be so well pleased that when you want send us a trial order at once, honor this request by the offer. We know that you will not send us a trial order at once, honor this request by the offer. We know that you will not send us a trial order at once, honor this request by the offer. Sunday Catalogue which describes and quotes oils makes and these oils are supplied by the present introductory DO NOT THINK OF BUYING a baggle or a pair until you know the new and wonderful offers we are making. NOW: EMPANY, OHIO 820, HLL something else than you examine and bind them then We will allow you to be the direct recipient of the you send FULL CASH WITH ORDER and on close this sending as an order as the tires may be returned at OUR ex- satisfactory on request. We are perfectly reliable and money sent a pair of these tires, you will find that they will ride easier, run faster than any tire but better used in certain conditions. You will receive bicycle you will give us your order. We want you to send us a real order IF YOU NEED TIRES don't let any kind at any price price quoted above; or write for our big tires and knots (Catalonia kinds of tires and bicycle equipment and smatries at about half the price DO NOT WAIT but write us a postal today. DO NOT It costs only a postal to learn everything. Write it now. J. L. MEAD CYCLE COMPANY HOTEL POWHATAN WASHINGTON D.C. HOTEL OF AMERICAN IDEALS In a city where good hotels abound, the Powhatan heads the list. It is first in the hearts of its countrymen. We will allow a cash discount of 5 per cent (thereby making the price $4.50 per pair) if you send FULL CASH WITH ORDER and enclose this advertisement. You run no risk in sending us an order as the tires may be returned at OUR expense if for any reason they are not satisfactory on examination. We are perfectly reliable and money sent to make us safe and in a bank. If you order a pair of these tires you will and that they will ride easier, run faster, wear better than ours and will be less expensive. A bicycle you will give us your order. We want you to send us a real order at once, hence this is the offer. IF YOU NEED TIRES don't buy any kind at any price until you send us a pair of bicycles on price quoted above; or write for our bicycle equipment and supplies at about half the price. DO NOT WAIT but write us a postal date. DO NOT THINK OF BUYING a bicycle or a pair of tires from anyone until you know the new and wonderful offers we are making. It costs only a postal fee to learn everything. Write it back. J.L. MEAD CYCLE COMPANY, CHICAGO, IL. Write for booklet with map. CLIFFORD M. LEWIS, Manager. Majority of Friends Thought Mr. Hughes Would Die, But One Helped Him to Recovery. Pomeroyton, Ky.—In interesting advices from this place, Mr. A. J. Hughes writes as follows: "I was down with stomach trouble for five (5) years, and would have sick headache so bad, at times, that I thought surely I would die. I tried different treatments, but they did not seem to do me any good. I got so bad, I could not eat or sleep, and all my friends, except one, thought I would die. He advised me to try Thedford's Black-Draught, and quit The Powhatan is refined, exclusive, and resilient. Its excellent location on Pennsylvania Avenue, 18th and II Streets makes it a desirable headquarters for bridal couples, tourist parties, conventions, Schools and colleges. The Powhatan attracts the people of culture and education. Its proximity to State, War and Navy Departments, also to many points of historical interest, makes this hotel especially attractive to a discriminating public. The Powhatan offers rooms with detached bath at $1.50, $2.00 and up. Rooms with private bath, $2.50, $3.00 and up. Get a package today. Only a quarter. Notice the thick rubber band "A" and jumbo straws "B" and "O" also run thru "H" the fire will contain this fire will contain this make-SCIFY BLACKWOOD and EASY BUILDING. STRAIGHTEN YOUR HAIR PRESTO "PRSTO" addresses Dandrelph, Flags, and other Situations of the SCALE "PRSTO" makes the HAIR GROW: "PRSTO" is Diamondless Clean and Loving. "PRSTO" is the Greatest Discovery to Marked in this State. Throw away your old clothing and putting both hairs and the complicated combs together, and stop learning your hair color, and get a package of "PRSTO" THE KING OF ALL HAIR EXPIRATORS "PRSTO" will expire on your hair the next week, apply to and wash out your hair. The hair should be maintained for months. That is not nothing to his world but "PRSTO". Apply "PRSTO" two of these daily dressings with water. A MACHINE POSTS WITH PURE DRIES OF OR RESPECT OF PETTY CENTRES (GO CENTER) SATISFACTION GUARANTEED WHERE FOR INFORMATION THE LA FAYETTE MFG.CO EDENTON,N.C. AGENTS HERE IS THE MONEY MAKER! MENTION PAPER YOU SAW AD. IN