July 4

Fourth Of July Thoughts

Our national holidays are too much given over to mere outward manifestations of observance and too little to recognition of the underlying ideas which gave these festivals importance.

Independence Day should set the American people thinking of the real and permanent meaning of the Declaration of Independence, and the vital significance of the Fourth of July.

The story of the birth of American nationality is one of the most inspiring in all the annuals of mankind. No other nation has been born of such high purposes, broad visions and unselfish spirit of service to humanity.

The Declaration of Independence was signed by a company of greater men then ever before had been joined in the founding of a nation. Their act represented something far greater and nobler than your personal dissatisfaction with the existing order. They were men who would have better serve their personal advantage by desisting from this act. Moved by the purist patriotism, they launch defiance against the powerful military power, supposedly capable of crushing the feeble forces of the colonies, knowing that monarchy was sure to define their acts as treason, and probably punish their act with death.

Americans on Independence Day should dedicate themselves anew to the principles, the tradition, and the ideas of the Great Republic – the most wisely conceived, the most strongly developed nation of all times, where the wildest range of opportunities, the loftiest level of intelligence and the highest plane of life for the masses have been attained in all the history of the world.

It is a time for rereading the story of the nation, the struggles for independence - the most romantic and most thrilling chapter in the history of humanity - the story of the young Republic’s growth from feeble beginnings to its present high estate of power and influence.

Too many Americans do not comprehend their country. Patriotism has been ridiculed until they are ashamed to manifest it. The institutions of this country have been attacked until they fear to have faith in them.

To you know your country is to love it, to cherish it and to stand ready to defend it – to return the scoffing of the skeptics with scorn and rebuke, the misunderstandings of the superficial sapheads, who imagine they are manifesting superiority and moral breath by decrying the country and the citizens love for it and his purpose to defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

The truth about the man who profess to love all other countries as well as his own is that he loves no country at all. He is lacking in the instinct of loyalty to things worthwhile which differentiates the patriot from the traitor.

Have faith in America! Have love for America! For love of this Republic is love of humanity, which this Republic from its beginning has serve so well by example and action.

Thurmont To Have Big Fourth Celebration

One of the largest Fourth of July celebrations ever held in Thurmont will take place today.

An elaborate program, which includes a parade, a baseball game, &c. has been prepared by the Civic League of Thurmont, which is in charge of the demonstrations. The League is also being assisted by the Town authorities and other interested persons.

In the afternoon at 1 o’clock the parade will form on the grounds of the Thurmont high school. In the parade will be several floats and a number of decorated automobiles. The parade will be followed by a baseball game between Thurmont and Middletown.

At 7 o’clock there will be community singing in Memorial Park, and the exercises will be brought to a close with the display of fireworks and a lawn fete. It was declared by one of those in charge, that all that is needed to make it a success is good weather

Frederick County Tax Rate

The tax rate of Frederick County has been fixed at $1.35 per $100 of assessed value, a 17 cents increase from the prior year.

The increased rate, one of the Commissioners claim, is due to the large public school appropriation, increase in the cost of public road, maintenance, an increase of two cents for the sinking fund, and two other expenses that had to be met. Provisions had to be made for the improvement of two new roads, Liberty to Johnsville, and Woodsboro to Ladiesburg, not included in last year‘s budget.

It is understood that the school appropriation is approximately $325,000, or 65% of the entire County budget. The next largest budget appropriation is for roads.

The Commissioners endeavored as far as was in their power to keep down the rate, and the budget list was gone over a number of times and reductions made wherever this was possible. It has been apparent for sometime that the tax rate would be increased this year.

It making up the budget many items are fixed by law. It is understood that the school appropriation was cut and that the road items, although above the total of last year, were kept down to a minimum. One of the Commissioners stated at the new rate is the lowest that could have been fixed in view of appropriations, deemed absolutely necessary.

First Airmail Letter Received In Town

Donald Hesson received on Thursday morning, a letter by air-mail from his father Albert, of Elk, Nevada; the first trip east of a U.S. Mail airplane service. The letter was postmarked July 1 and arrived here in just two days. The letter carried a $.24 airplane stamp in addition to two cents regular postage.

Fairfield Holds Community Meeting And Parade

The Radcliffe junior workers got the people of Fairfield and outlining districts together for a real meeting. They had a Chautauqua parade at 6:30 and awarded prizes to the best-dressed children. Robert & Mary Bartley won first prize. They were dressed as a bride and groom. Kathryn Allison received second prize. She was costumed as a Civil War veteran. Miss Patterson, of the Radcliffe Chautauqua gave four readings. In one of her talks, she stress the fact that Fairfield would have with it the Plymouth Male Quartet, which will render standard and popular male quartet music for the first day program.

Farmer Barred Who Watered Milk

Watery milk from the farm of Harry Stonesifer, of Emmitsburg, will no longer be accepted by the Baltimore markets. Assistant State Health Commissioner Frederick Hempel, has issued an order which permanently bars the delivery of Stonesifer’s products. According to Mr. Hempel, samples taking at Stonesifer’s place showed that in every gallon of milk there was 1 quart of water.

July 11

Avoid Killing Chickens

One of our subscribers tells us he has lost about $10 worth of chickens over the last three months. They were rundown and killed by auto drivers who did not think, or do not care, how hard it is for a man to make a living these days. Several of this man’s neighbors have lost poultry the same way.

Anyone who travels by road does not have to be told about this nuisance. Poultry to do well should have free range. It is nearly impossible, and will be highly expensive, to fence, poultry from the roads. The civilized motorist seldom, or never, kills a chicken. The slayers are the reckless speeders, who whiz by and probably try to see if they can’t kill a chicken crossing their path. A state law requiring a driver to stop and pay for any poultry, he kills, or be subject to a fine, would fix these fellows, and quite literally the farmers could be trusted to see that the law was enforced.

When motorist can knock down and kill human beings, with a strong probability of the act being called "unavoidable", it seems hardly worthwhile to seriously mention, such a loss as that of chicken; and yet, we don’t know about that.

Perhaps, appealing for the greater protection of our property – livestock, and the like – may lead to the protection of human life. We may be more interested in the value of our own cattle and chickens, then we are just "other people and their children." The question is quite worthwhile considering as a possible course for bringing about greater safety on the public highways. Sometimes by experimenting with one thing, we find another just as valuable.

Radio Facts

Few people need to be told how rapidly radio is interpenetrating every part of our daily life. A writer has contributed to us a most comprehensive article.

"More than 2.5 million radio sets have been manufactured and sold in the last three years in this country, with 500 broadcasting stations in operation in our United States, and 16,000 amateur transmitters sending and receiving.

"According to engineers of the Radio Corporation, 300 manufacturers are turning out sets or parts of sets, 30 radio magazines have been started, 250 books have been written, 2 million listeners constitute the present radio audience, and they spend 175 million on their hobby last year, giving employment in one way or another to half a million people. There are 12 transatlantic stations, which communicate not only with France and Latin America, but with 2,700 radio equip ships."

Farmers Make Good Use Of Good Weather

Farmers have been making good use of a more or less unsettled week. A great deal of wheat has been cut and on the shock, but steady, hot dry weather has not yet appeared. Corn is doing well, considering the season, and most of the hay remains to be made. The indications are that neither yield nor quality will be up to the average. The wheat so far is very fair, both in quality and condition. The weather, during the next two weeks, will be of extreme importance to the year’s farming results.

The rains that were much too numerous in May and June are needed now for corn and potatoes, and vegetation in general, and the more so because the ground is baked and hard from the wet spring, and unworked cornfields.

The Freezer Canning Company in Keymar has been going full force the past week. They have been working day and night, and there has been as many as 28 loads of peas waiting to be unloaded, they employ about 35 people. The factory is one of the most up-to-date you will find any place.

Taneytown School Situation

A public meeting was held on Monday night, in the Presbyterian Church, for the purpose of considering the high school building question. Reverend Reedley stated that as the building has been condemned as unsafe by three building inspectors, Taneytown has no building in which to open school in about two months. He also made it clear that it is not necessary to have experts to point out the defects in the building, but that they are easily in evidence to unprotected eyes – "the building is unsafe for further use."

He said that repairing of the present building, that could be made only at heavy expense, would not be desirable, as a best, it would be a makeshift for only a short time, as the building is too small, and the present location is not adopted to enlargement. He spoke against the portable building option.

The final conclusion was that as large a delegation as possible, should go before the County Commissioners, Tuesday afternoon, and insist strongly on the creation of a new permanent building on a new location to be agreed-upon, with the understanding that the latter be locally finance, to an amount, not to exceed $1,500/year.

During the course of the discussion, it was brought out that the case was not an ordinary demand for a "new school building". The situation of the County Commissioners in hearing such cases was fully appreciated, in the face of strong demand for reduced taxes, and their efforts to satisfy all reasonable request on both sides was fully appreciated, but the Taneytown situation represents an emergency – a plainly developed necessity, and such demanded prompt action on the part of the Commissioners.

Run Down By Automobile

Mrs. Alpheus Firor, of Franklinville, between Thurmont and Emmitsburg, was struck by automobile driven by James Dick, Sunday around noon, knocking her down and badly lacerating her face and head and bruising her body.

Mrs. Firor, and her young daughter, attended the Lutheran Church service at Thurmont, Sunday morning, and were driven home in the automobile of David Zentz. The machine stopped on the opposite side of the road from her house.

As she attempted to cross the road, in the rear of the machine, a large touring car driven by Mr. Dick came along. She did not see the approaching car until she had gotten nearly halfway across the road, and she started back. The driver made an effort to avoid an accident, but his car struck the woman and knocked her down.

Mr. Dick, who is driving, was on his way to Creagerstown. The injured woman was taken to her house and Dr. Birely was summoned. After an examination, he brought her to the city hospital.

Mr. Dick was driving at a moderate speed. The accident, it was stated, was unavoidable. The car of Mr. Zentz prevented Mrs. Firor from seeing the approaching machine until it was too late for her to get out of the way. It is stated that Mrs. Firor was doing well and that no bones were broken.

July 18

The Dog Days Are Here

The 40-day period known as the Dog Days Of Summer, which is usually associated with hot and sticky weather began last Thursday and continues until August 23. It is the time of year when mosquitoes, ants, silver bugs, and gnats do their darndest; when bread molds in the bread box; when butter runs all over the plate a few minutes after it leaves the ice chest; when milk left by the mutual milkman before the homeowner fetches it off the front porch; when exercise is an agony, when women’s patience is at the lowest, and men’s temperature is at its warmest.

The canine-sounding name of the season does not refer to the animal, man’s long, suffering, friend and companion, though perhaps some have thought of the Dog Days as days when dogs go mad, or lie around with long, red tongues protruding and panting heavily in an effort to keep cool. Astronomers tell us rather that the name is associated with Sirius, the Dog Star, which rises with the sun about July 23, or in the middle of the period.

Astronomers also tell us that Sirius has nothing to do with the unusual heat and humidity of midsummer, but that unjust association is a relic of the time when astrology and astronomy were confused and celestial omens and influences were taken seriously. if one however, were to pick out the 40 days of the year which average, the hottest, one would find that temperatures do correspond pretty accurately with the Dog Days.

Wife Saves Husband

Charles Harbaugh, 65, of Fairfield, was rescued from a burning death by his aged wife, when she pulled him from atop the kitchen fire, after he had fallen backwards into the stove, following a heart attack.

Mr. Harbaugh, whose health is rapidly failing, but who insist upon performing numerous household duties, because of the condition of his aged wife, who is also suffering from the affirmatives of old age, was in the act of preparing a washing when the accident happened.

He was preparing a tub of water near the kitchen stove when he suffered a heart attack. He fell backwards onto the kitchen stove, struck his head against a kettle of water, emptying the kettle and its contents onto the floor, while his head fell into the open grate, where the fire blazed.

Attracted by the noise in the kitchen, Mrs. Harbaugh, hurried into the room and found her husband helpless, his head in the fire, while his clothes were at a point of bursting into flames. Despite her infirmity, and weakened condition & strength, driven by her desire to aid her stricken spouse, she jerked and tugged at the clothing on her husband, until she had extracted him from the stove.

Mr. Harbaugh suffered severe burns around the back of his head, but last reports are to the effect that he will recover, although his head will bear scars from the burns.

July 25

Unlucky Week For Some

Marvin Haugh, of Keymar, met with what might have been a fatal accident. In his herd of cattle he had a cross male cow, to which he had a heavy block attached to protect him and family, and on going to the barn, one morning found the bull had gotten the block off. Mr. Haugh thought he would go in and get the block and try to get the bull in the barn, and put the block on again, when the bull made for him, caught him, before he could get out of the way and the cow gourd him considerably.

His 13-year-old son came to his rescue by jabbing the animal in the jaw with a fork, which saved his father from death. He was taken to the house and fainted several times, but under doctors care he’s getting along well.

The same day, an electrical storm passed over the house, where Mrs. Haugh was sitting on the front of her husband‘s bed, the lightning struck the house, throwing her to the floor, unconscious. The lightning tore several windows out, and a lot of the weather boarding on the house off, but there was no fire.

Margaret, the little daughter of Oliver Metcalf, was seriously injured by a vicious cow a few days ago. She was playing at the barn when attacked, and only the prompt action of her grandfather, and one of the men who were nearby saved her life. She was taken to the Frederick City Hospital for examination, but as no bones were found broken, she was brought home. She is suffering intensely from bruises, but unless complication should arise, it is thought she will recover.

Emmitsburg Farm Bureau Cooperative Store Ready

The Emmitsburg Farm Bureau Cooperative store is practically assured and is expected that the location will be announced in a few days.

For sometime the Bureau has been working on plans to bring the store about and a committee has been working out the details and arranging the financial side with the results that everything is now in readiness to open up.

Paul Koons, who is in charge of a few stores in the County, will be manager of the Emmitsburg branch. Mr. Koons has had considerable experience in this line of business, and from what can be learned, Mr. Koons thinks that the Emmitsburg Bureau should prove a big success.

The committee has had very little difficulty in raising money to finance the project. Already $7,000 has been subscribed with plenty and reserve if it is needed. Is the object of the Bureau to have all the members take some little share in the store, so that all may have a personal interest and work for the advancement of this big undertaken.

Since it became known that a plan was afoot to open up such a store, there has been a great deal of discussion concerning the venture. A few citizens have been heard to object to such an organization, putting forth the claim that it is a monopoly, and would be hurtful to other business interest in the community. Others claim that the store comes just at the right time as the farmers are compelled to pay too much for supplies.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'