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1 , The Lancaster News VOL. 12, NO. 18, SEMI-WEEKLY. LANCASTER, S. C., TUESDAY. DEC. 12, 11110. 41 A ONE-CENT POSTAGE I FOB LOCAL LETTERS BILL CARRIES $327,000,000 New Postoffice Measure Proposes Lower Rate on Local FirstClass Deliveries. Washington, Dec. 9.?One cent postage for local first class mail de- ; liveries, and a zone system of rates for second class matter, which isj exnected to ~ . vw r~>' v ?? v ? v 111V. 1 C<lOt* Lilt; I charges for magazines and other pe-j riodicals having a nation-wide circulation, aro provided for in the annual postoftice appropriation bill as virtually completed today in committee. The measure, carrying appropriations totalling about $327,000,OO0, probably will be reported to the House next week. Under the one cent postage provision the rate on letters and other , mail matter of the llrst class, when deposited in any postofflce, or branch | postolflce, or letter box, or postofflce in the delivery district, for delivery within the limits of the postollice, city or rural delivery district, would be cut in half. The zone proposal for handling newspapers and magazines, which now pay a flat rate of one cent a pound, is regarded as one of the most radical changes in postage rates in years. It divides the country Into eight zones, with rates chargeable ranging from one cent for 300 miles to six cents for 1,81(0 miles or .more. The bulk of daily newspapers, the committee believes, will not be af-J fected, because they do not circulate beyond a three-hundred mile radius. The provision follows: That all newspapers, mauazinys, ?and other publications regularly admitted to the mails as a matter of he second ctn?u W'tion mnllnil ?->? publisher, shall hereafter be subject to .the following rates of postage, th? zone system now applying to parcel post matter to be adapted also t< second clnss matter: "Local, first, second and third zone (under three hundred miles)., one cent per pound. "Fourth zone (three hundred to six hundred miles), two cents per pound "Fifth zone (six hundred to one thousand miles), three cents pet pound. "Sixth zone ( 1,000 to 1,400 miles), four cents a pound. "Seventh zone (1.400 to 1.800 miles), five cents a pound. "Eighth zone (over 1.800 miles), six cents a pound. "Provided, the free-in-county circulation provided by law^ shall con* tinue as at present. The Postmaster (leneral shali have authority to require publishers to separate their 4mail into zones when offered for mailing." Among other provisions, the bill increases rates for mail order catalogues from two to eight cents a pound, making them third class matter, instead of parcel post; raises the limitations on promotions of clerks and pnrrlpo in fl rut elocu ond uno/xn/1 class postofTlces; broadens the postmaster general's authority to dea. with lotteries, drugs and poisons and Increases the rural mail delivery appropriation by $4,000,000 over the $4 9,000,000 recommended by Assistant Postmaster General Hlakslee. Chairman Woon, of the postoflic* committee, said tonight that the bi'l still was subjeet to change before being reported, and that the question of hearings on the proposed pnen matic tube service appropriation was in abeyance. s w?P KlfiM WILD GISKHR. Of interest to the friends of lion Claud N. Sapp, assistant attorne; general, is the following from The ^ State of Sunday last: Claud N, Sapp nnd Pred Kortright returned yesterday from a huntin' expedition to Montgomery, in Itich- | land county, bringing two fine wild geese as the spoils of the chase. The ] hunters earned the hag for the geesot 1 were not killed until they had spent the night.at Montgomery and watch-j ed most of the day for the approach Af the game. The two gcose were; 1 *' shot In the afternoon by Mr. Sapp but fell into Broad river. Mr. Kort- | right was not to be robbed of the spoils of victory after having spent a whole day in pursuit, so he waded and swam into the river and brought i both birds t<5 the shore. Wm% I JifSlQ OLDEST CHRISTMAS CUSTOM Dfrnntlnn Hnii>?? ri...?>u.. ? ..v . viiuiviic* ?rii? i Streets With Evergreen Popular Since Dawn of History. PERHAPS the very oldest of all Christmas customs is that oi decorating our houses, churches and streets with evergreens. At the very dawn of history began the worship of the trees, or forest worship, and the groves were man's first temples. All our instincts, our passion about nature, are forest memories, for forest worship was universal. In later times to each god some tree was dedicated: Apollo had the laurel, Jupiter the oak, and Greece for ages had Its sucred groves. The forest worshipers could not worship without giving, because to worship is to give, and these boughs and garlands were the oldest gifts of man. Before he hod learned to shape offerings of his own rude skill he could bring to the sacred trees and hang up on them the first flowers and greenery of spring and the perfect fruits of autumn. These gifts, remember, were never, as with us. decorations; they were sacrifices. The Romans, with a fine eye for beauty, used to garland their temples and homos and gathering plnces and even the big Coliseum with boughs of green and ropes of flowers. This particular custom was received by the Christians with a special sort of approval, recalling, as It did. the fart that our Lord entered Jerusalem amid the strewn branches of the multitude. We must not forget the welcome and lovely mistletoe and holly. Indeed, Christmas without them would not, with us. seem quite complete. Mistletoe was for ages regarded as sacred by the old British pagans?the Druids?and was surrounded with great mystery and sentiment, little un uersioou uy us. It was supposed to posses* healing | powers and that it could ward off evil j spirits. The reverence paid to this! little parasite seems to have been restricted lo it. only, when It was found I growing on the sacred oak trees in the I Druids' proves. Once every year the Druid high priest cut it with a golden sickle, blessed it and distributed the sprays among the people, praying aloud that each one who received it might receive divine blessings, of which it was the symbol. Having received the sprays, the people hung them above the doors to propitiate the gods during the year. The only remaining significance attached today to the mistletoe is the idea that If a maiden is not kissed under it on Christmas day she will go unwed throughout the year. This idea goes so far back into the past that one cannot trace it. It is because the mistletoe 1* rare and not ca?y to get that we found and brought forward the holly, which, though lovely, is used only as a substitute for the mistletoe.?New York World. SKItVN'F. MOKK THAN (.IVINH. The deepest spirit of the Christmas outpouring that Hows over the Christian world is the Impulse for liumnn service that runs through the whole year. it Is easy to Rive recklessly out of one's abundance, or even to share carefully one's pittance. The distribution of Christmas dinners through hundreds of self-denying families means a day's hnppiness for the giver and receiver. Hut it is greater happiness to both to follow through the year with | nid to self-dependence, encouragement 1 to hope, and support In striving for better living. This Is the giving of self, and they j who know how to give of themselves wisely are the highest givers. The best feature of Christmas Is its material expression of a whole year of' human service that runs like a thread through human lives. Only these holiday glimpses reveal to the careless how many are dedicated to a share In this unobtrusive Bervice to the humbly striving and to the uncomplaining needy; how many families are under constant stimulus to the best sort of self-help; how many children are being quietly led to a higher level of living and striving for themselves between Christmas and Chrlstuma. PECTNG | -'. -! rH ?H jfc Ht 5H ^ SK & ?K Ht rK rH Ht rfc rH rH rK fit rK -it rh -it * OUR CHRISTMAS WISH. * * * ! * * As tin* year draws to its close, we hope it has * . . ^ boon a good one for you and that the incoming * * twelve months will prove the brightest star in your l * firmament of business life. May Christmas joys ^ * abound in your personal circles and may the Now * Year materialize the evident promises of groat ( * prosperity. The Lancaster News. * r!- * * * vr -m * * * * v.- ya ya * * m *. as * ya ya. * + * ItOWKLL-BAKKINH. IIKATII SPRINGS NEWS. Thursday afternoon, December !*.i ,, . ? . , ... . ? . , , , . 1 Death Springs, Dec. 1 i. Electm at 3 o clock a simple but beaut if I wedding was that of Miss Ella Row. ,iBhtB- wi,h P?wer ,rom "" SPr,n* ell of Tabernacle and Mr. Springs banking and Mercantile <'ompan\ Raskins of Rich Hill. have been installed in the Mason < They were married at the bride's hall helful to the community. home by Rev. T. A. Dabney. Then- p,'s of ,he property. This is quite a were only a few near relatives prep- addition to the convenience of fh ent, no cards being issued. The par- hall and helpgul to the community. lor was tastefully decorated with George Bell of Hopewell. \ a beautiful chrysanthemums and lace ha- been here for several days or. : ferns. visit to his parents. Mr. and Mrs. J. The bride was handsomely dresseu I Bell. in a blue serge coat suit with acres Mr. Jasper Ellis, a member of tin sor'os to match. First S. ('. Regiment. Xntiona' They left immediately after th Guard, recently mustered out of sir-! ceremony for the groom's home at vice, visited his brother. 0. D. and \ Rich Hill amid showers of rice and \V. <'. Ellis, last week. old Shoes. The bride is the charmln* l); j w 11. Dyches is in attend |nnd only daughter of Mr and Mrs ftru.e upon fhe Baptist Sta.e Convcn- ! W. P. Rowell. The groom is a son , on ;tf .Wwberry this we-k. of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Raskins and a ,, . At the regular communication < 1 progressive farmer of Kieh Hill. ,, , , v. .. ' . II rron Lodge, No. 1. A. A: F. M . Their nianv friends wish them a ,, _. k ndav night, the following ofneor*happy and prosperous life. . v> ? niHiiiiMMi xcir in?i pn?u?' ' I^|rp111) \ \' |? \ |?tv j Masonic yi . I 1) W illi<1 ins, \\ Tabernacle, Dec. 9.?Little M'sn M- JeflHe Mobley. St.. \V\. J W. II. Neorna Carnes celebrated her 11th:I,voheK* Jr W J* A ,Mark Sr D birthday Saturday. December 9th. by 11 w Mobley. ^ ?>-. A. I Mackey. givfng her little friends a partv. A "* A- Williams, rreas , H. I\ number of lively sanies were enjoy- Mobley and W. S. Mowers, stewards, ed, after which they were ushered W Vaushn, T. Into the dining room where a deli- ^r- E- Hammond, with his clous sweet course was served by the family, moved into his commodious hostess* older sisters. Misses EfH( residence on Main street. Monday, and Annie Cameo. Her little, friends' Mr. D. D. Williams is attending left her many Dttle remembrance- the annual meeting of the Grand and wishes her many more such oc- Lodge of South Carolina, A. & F. M . casions. at Charleston ta.? week. c/>5 1&) ' -?.-^ 1)/ / Ur?**- >" - " - Jfcl van aviiii ? ^ IIHUIHY HAT UN EARLY SHOPPING By JOHN STOCK BRIDGE. <-s. < 's OU cun say for me," 1* _i stated Timothy | | Hay, when seen J I this morning by a m-T reporter, "that this \ " y?ur * Chrlst|-V mas- shopping-early stunt is all off with l'J=a nie now and forever, one and indivisible, world without end, amen. "I started to do my Christmas shopping early," continued Timothy, giving his tllvver a disciplinary kick as it growled at a passing terrier, "but it was right on the start that 1 overtook, discovered and otherwise apprehended the Scnegaml inn in the woodpile. "Christinas shopping, you are at liberty to quote me as saying in your valuable me Hunt, is hunk if you add au 'early' to it. "It was about Thanksgiving time, if I recollect rightly, that we were lirst admonished to do our Christmas shopping early. It struck me as the proper thing to do. I decided I'd do it. "Naturally, the thought lirst caneto me what to give myself for Christmas. I always hand myself some slight token of my esteem at the happy yuletide. It compensates for what other folks hand me. A little gift doesn't ibmm. "I Decided on a Haircut for My Christmas Gift to Myself." have to cost very much to make a hit with me if I give it to myself with the proper spirit. "It's the giving, rather than the receiving, of this gift that brings me the more pleasure, anyway. "Well, gasoline has been going up pretty steadily lately?you notice 1 do not talk in dialect in spite of my rural name and predilections; if I talkthi in dialect I would say gas was goin' up party stiddy?and, due to the increased cost of living expenses, I decided that it behooved me to economize. "So I decided on a haircut for my Christmas gift to myself, and I decided to get it early on account of the poor, tired shopgirls who are wishing the cfiirn woiilft / !/??*? * ??* in a few more dances with the flashing young rihhon clerks three aisles over. "Whereupon I got a haircut, a good, short one. "The rest of the story is soon told. I got it cut again last night, and 1 had to wait for six custom* rs ahead of nie who were telling the barbers to shave 'em extra close so it would last over to Monday. "That much for early Christinas shopping. I bought tin juidt for the. folks after they'd locked the street doors Jast night and have just been making the rounds of the drug stores to pick up the odds end ends I've forgotten. No more Christmas shopping! in niihe. (Jiddap. Dobbin." And with a peremptory cluck to his' steed. Timothy llay motored away in high dudgeon.- Denver Times. A Sweet Revenge. "I sent my present fo Nellie Slyboots when she was at her club, and ' 1 knew all the girls and fellows would gather around to see her open It/' l "Why, I thought you didn't like Nel- i lie." , "I can't hear her. The present was ( u nice long hair switch." yj-.wu ii X U/l GERMAN TAKE 70.000 MEN ANO UNTOLD BOOTY TEUTONS USE SPEEDY TANK German I isht Cruiser Evaded British Blockade?Scouting on High Seas. The importance of the success of the Teutonic armies on the battle elds in the vicinity of Bucarest is emphasized by the announcement that, since December 1, the Rumanians have lost in prisoners morethan 70,000 men, 184 cannon and 120 machine guns, and the losses in dead and wounded are declared to he in proportion to the number of prisoners. The booty taken by the Teutonic armies is reported as "incalculable." The ultimate fate of the Rumanian armies still is in doubt, but they continue to retreat before the Teutonic Allies, whose pursuit, it is .announced. "is progressing as planned." Strong Russian Attacks. The Russians have again laundietj strong attacks on the upper Moldatvian and Transvlvanian frontiers,Aiat" the majority of them are reported to have failed, with heavy losses. SOme ground, however, was gained north of Borna-Watia and Russian troops dislodged hostile forces from two heights in the Butna valley region, taking some prisoners and machine Willis. Th?' battle south of Javovnitv;\. in the wooded Carpathians, .has ceased and the Russians have retjred to their entrenchments. In colisequeiice of the retreat eastward of the Rumanian troops. Russian troops on their left flank also have been dom? pelled to retire. ; t >n tin- Macedonian Front. * The Kntente forces again hav<8 delivered attacks in the bend of'the Corna river, on the Macedonian front. There has been vilent artillerv ing ?n the Pontine trout and inlthe vicinity of 11:11 :?01. at Verdun" The reply of the German chancellor, Dr Von llethmann-Hollwef# to the latest representations of ?the United States government regarding, the Helgian labor deportations ig expected to be delivered today ott tomorrow, and i* is stated that itjwill' be couched in the friendliest terms" and go as far as possibly toward meeting the American wishes.. Certain concessions, it is understood,, may be made because of the promise of the Dutch consul at Antwerp, after the surrender of that city, that l.elgians would not be deported. German Cruiser Ikiosc. A fierman warship, described as alight cruiser, is operating in the Atlantic. according to the statement of a British sea captain, who declares that his vessel was held up by the Germans and examined. Agitation in London shippim. circles for the-convoying of merchantmen has resulted. One thousand persons are reported to have been killed by an exploa ..... ... ii HU--.I.UI a iii 111U ii 11 ion laclory. German "Tanks." The German military authorities have evolved what is declared to bean improvement upon the British "tanks" used on the Somtne front,, and have given them a test in the Rumanian campaign, with marked suce< ss. In contrast with the slow pace ot the cars used by the British, the German "tanks" run* at a speed ot twenty-five miles an hour. A new British war council, ot which thf premier, David Lloyd-- t Georcre. is a member, is declared by the London livening News to havei . been in session all day Saturday. Arranpements'have boon made forthe exchange of German and Itritish civilian prisoner more than fortyfive years old. See* N'Wil of fit idgc. It does seem that, the officials of York and Lancaster counties would get together and bulfd a bridge across Sugar Greek at the old Dohy's bridge site, which could* not cost either county mum thaTTTt few hundred dollars, racff^lhan see the government discont irfqfa dail^' mail service to scores of Outlast citizen* of the two counties. It looks likesomebody ts "laying on his Job" Ilk this matter.?Fort Mill Times. i if