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100 Years Ago This Month

February 1917

February 2

Use Of Cigarettes Have Increased

Consumption of cigarettes in 1916 reads the highest mark ever recorded. The tremendous increase - more than 40% over 1915, is attributed to three main causes: 1) increased prosperity of the country, 2) recognition of the positive health effects of cigarette smoking, and, 3) the growth of cigarette habit among women. Dr. Jamison says there's no better way to cure the common cold than two or three packs of cigarettes.

Mr. Conrad Saffer Enjoying Rest

Mr. Conrad Saffer, one of the oldest residents, is enjoying a much-deserved rest. Mr. Safffer has worked at St. Joseph's for 50 years, without ever having been absent one month. This winter, the sisters allowed him to remain home three months and he gets full pay during that time. The faithful old man is anxious to return to his occupation and thinks March 1 cannot come soon enough.

Musselman Canning Expanding

The Musselman Canning Company, which has a large plant for the canning of apples in Biglerville, announced that plans for the enlargement of that plant and the installation of new lines to work, which will keep all the employees busy during the months of the year when the apple business does not require their time. Almost 300 men and woman are employed at the factory to handle the apples during August, September, October and November.

February 9

Minister Attacked

The appearance of Benjamin Tarman at Fairview, a short distance from Emmitsburg, near the Frederick County line, probably saved Rev. Brechbill from the hands of three highwaymen who were pursuing him with revolvers and stones. At the sight of Tarman, the pursuers disappeared. Rev. Brechbill, who is Pastor of the Blue Rock United Brethren Church, near Waynesboro, conducted services as usual on Sunday evening and later he was paid a portion of his salary, nearly $50. It is supposed that the men discovered that the minister had some money and they evidently planned to rob him. The names of the highwaymen are not known but they are supposed to be denizens of the mountains in close proximity to the church.

Falls From Ladder

Robert Harner sustained a fracture to his leg Tuesday afternoon after falling from a ladder, when a wire, which was supporting it, broke. Mr. Harner was engaged at repairing something about a force pump at his home and was working from a ladder, which he leaned against a wire attached to the structure. Mr. Harner was about 12 feet from the ground when the wire gave way and he was thrown violently to the ground. Dr. Stone and Dr. Jamison, of this place, were summoned and set the fracture.

Weather

The maximum temperature during the week was 46E on Thursday and the minimum was 2E below on Monday. Many icehouses were filled this week. The ice on the creeks is unusually good and is about 6 inches thick. Meanwhile, the severe windstorm on Sunday night and Monday did considerable damage in and near Emmitsburg. Many windows were broken and numerous trees were toppled.

Diplomatic Relations With Germany Broken

On Saturday, February 3, Pres. Wilson notified Congress that he had severed diplomatic relations with Germany over Germany's decision to conduct unrestricted submarine warfare. As evidence of their patriotism in support of the President and the present crisis, many buildings in town this week displayed the stars and stripes.

Farm Sold

Hezekiah Study has sold his farm near Taneytown to Mr. Charles Bostian. The sale price was $9200 for 92 1/2 acres of land. The property consisted of a nine-room house, a large bank barn, and numerous outbuildings.

Trolley Line In Gettysburg To Be Abandoned

What is believed to be the first practical step towards the abandonment of the trolley line on the battlefield of Gettysburg has been taken in the introduction and Congress of the bill authorizing the purchase of the right-of-way in the National Military Park. The National Park’s commission has never regarded, with special favor, the presence of the electric line on the field. For 23 years the cars have been run in the desultory manner, and for the last year or two only one car was used to cover the route. The line was never a financial success.

February 16

Frederick To Revive Whipping Post

The revival of the whipping post, the registry of purchasers of revolvers, the utilization of convict labor and the elimination of street corner loafing were among the recommendations made Wednesday by the Frederick County Grand Jury to the Frederick County Commissioners. The whipping post was suggested for the numerous petty cases, including wife beating, drunkenness, etc. it is expected that the County Commissioners will look favorably upon these recommendations in hopes of addressing the growing drinking "epidemic" in the northern part of the county.

Charles Shuff Dies

Charles Shuff, a well-known resident of Emmitsburg, died after a lingering illness with chronic nephritis, at his home on E. Main St. Monday morning at the age of 55. Mr. Shuff moved to Emmitsburg in 1879 and spent the balance of his life here with the exception of a few years spent in Thurmont. His chief occupation was the furniture business, but for a number of years he another store.

House For Sale

House and lot on E. Main St. Lot 60' x 200’. House contains 11 rooms, staunch and well built, situated in a very desirable part of town; barn, carriage house, chicken house and yard. House could, with very little expense, be converted into a double house. Will sell for $1,500 cash, balance mortgage, or all cash. For more information, contact Mrs. Lansinger.

What Else Could Have Happened?

Henry Weaver of Detour was trimming the tree over a pigpen when he fell off a branch onto a pig and killed it, breaking both his legs at the same time. A frightened colt jumped the fence, running into a clothesline fastened to a post, which was hurled through the air, striking a cow killing her. The colt then ran into a barbwire fence and was so badly cut it will die. When the veterinarian arrived to attend the colt he ran over Mr. Weaver's dog and killed it.

February 23

Boozer’s Wives’ Endorse Wiping

Wives’ of Former-Former Boozers rallied on the Square Sunday calling for the Frederick County to endorse whipping for public drunkenness and suggested that Emmitsburg alone could keep the whip hot. The rally was led by Anna Kline of Harney, whose husband spent the jar of cash discovered in their field last month buying round-after-round for Boozers all month long. "I’ve nagged and nagged that man better then any women can nag a man, but he still will not listen." she told the assembled crowd of whining prohibitionist. "Maybe a good whipping with a ‘cat-o-nine’ tail will get through to him."

Boozers sat impassionedly on the steps of the Hotel Slagle, passing around a bottle, trying to ignore the women. But apparently, calling for whipping was one thing, subjecting the men to the singing of prohibitionist songs was too much. Cat calls of "stop beating those cats," and ‘put some grease on those bearings," soon put an end to the prohibitionist rally, and the men returned to their God given, constitutional, right drink all they wanted.

High School Debate

On Tuesday evening the most credible public debate was held in the auditorium of the high school in the presence of a very appreciative audience. The subject for discussion was: "which will be more beneficial to the United States, the proposed tariff or free trade?" Careful and thoughtful preparations characterize the address of each speaker who received well-earned applause. Generous praise is due to this group of promising young people for the merit of their performance and equal credit belongs to our worthy principal, Miss. Mary Schuff for her excellent training and equipping the youthful contestants with so remarkable a success. Both sides in the contest showed an intelligent grasp of the subject and manifested rare resourcefulness and skill in advocating their respective claims and refuting the points of their opponents. Only two full points a percentage stood between the winning and losing teams, but a margin sufficient enough to give victory to the affirmative with a prize of five dollars.

Hog Cholera Returns

Paul Karl Rove has made his appearance on the two farms of Joseph Musselman, near Fairfield station. During the past week he has lost 12 dogs on the one farm. At one farm there are now 10 cases and six at the other.

Smoker At St. Anthony's

At the request of Rev. Pastor, the gentlemen of the parish were invited to a smoker in the basement of the parish hall. This being the first smoker ever held at St. Anthony's, the Pastor was happy to see most of the gentlemen of the parish turn out and take advantage of it. A high point in the event was the unveiling of a new dartboard recently purchased by the parish. Heretofore the dartboard was hired for a commission but now the parish owns its own board.

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