Fort Mill times. (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, November 30, 1916, Image 1
The Fort Mill Times
Established in 1891. FORT MILL, S. C., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1916. $1.25 Per Year. *
BANKERS WARNED !
TO LOAN CAUTIOUSLY
MUST AVOID LOCKING UP FUNDS
SAYS FEDERAL RESERVE
BOARD.
AN IMPORTANT DECLARATION
Federal Reserve Board Sees Danger in
Too Liberal Purchase of Treasury
Bills of Foreign Governments Involving
Long-Term Obligations.
F3 . ~ _
Washington. ? American bankers
were warned by the Federal Reserve
Hoard to avoid locking up their funds
by purchasing treasury hills of foreign
governments involving long term obii- j
gat ions. While specifically disclaim- 1
ing "any intention of reflecting upethe
financial stability of any na?' ,s."
t he board advises all inve?? ^ to proceed
with '?" iormally announces
to member banks of the Federal
Reserve system that with the
liquid funds which should be avail- ;
able to American merchants, inanufac- |
turers and farmers in danger of being :
absorbed for other purposes.
'It does not regard it in the interest
of the country at tins time that
they invest in foreign treasury bills of
this character."
Officials would not discuss the quos- i
tlon for publication, hut some of them
informally interpreted the warning as
thp reserve board's answer to the recent
proposal of the J. P. Morgan &
Co., British fiscal agents in this country.
to have American bankers accept
British treasury hills of an indefinite
total issue, secured by gold reserves
for 9ft days, with the nrivilece of re
newal for five other 90-day periods,
held in Ottawa. Such loans would he
H. P. Davison of the Moigan firm
was in Washington recently and conferred
with President Wilson and
some of the fhembers of the reserve
board. It was said later that he sought
to have banks of the reserve system
. authorized to buy Hritish treasury
* bills as if they were bills of exchange
1 to cover financial transactions.
Danger from further importation of
large amounts of gcdd the board says
in its statement will arise only in
case the bold is permitted to become
the basis of undesirable loan expansions
and of inflammation. Kmphasls
is lain upon me necessity for caution
of putting money into investments
which are short term In name, but
which "etiher by contract or through ,
force of circumstances may in the aggregate
have to be renewed until nor- I
mal conditions return."
SAFE TRAVEL OF AUSTRIAN
DIPLOMAT TO U. S. REFUSED
British Foreign Office Notifies Ambassador
Page It Cannot Grant Protec- :
lion to Count Adam Tarnowski von
Tarnow En Route to America.
Ixmdon. The foreign office has sent
^ Ambassador Page a note <>eflnit ]y
refusing to grant a safe conduct to
Count Adam Tnrnowski von Tarnow. >
the new ' Austro-Hungarian ambassa- i
dor to the United States.
The reason for the refusal may bo j
paraphrased as follows:
ruven ii miernauonai law forbade
the refusal of such a conduct the actions
of Austrian and German embassies
and consulates abroad have been
so much in excess of regular diplomatic
functions that the British government
feels Justified in withholding
its consent for such diplomats to travel
to their posts."
FRESH OUTBREAK OF FOOT AND
MOUTH DISEASE IS FEARED, j
Kansas City. Mo.?Kansas City and
St. Joseph livestock markets operated
under quarantine restriet'ons due to
L the fear that thp foot and mouth disease
had broken out again in the
Middle West. Incoming shipments of
cattle were admitted only when in
Tended ror immediate slaughter.
The herd shipped hero from Wannetu.
Neb., whieh showed lesions of
the mouth is being; examined, and
two healthy animals placed with
them showed the same symptoms.
HUGHES AGAIN TO JOIN
FORMER LAW PARTNERS.
Lakewood. N. J.?Ohas. K. Hughes
announced here that on January 1 he
would resume the practice of law as
a member of the Now York City lew
firm of Rounds, Schrum&n k Dwight, :
96 Broadway. His son, Charles K. !
.Hughes. Jr.. also will enter the firm, |
it was stated. In 190G when Mr.
Hughes was nominated for Governor
of New York ho was a member of the
same Inw firm but its title at thnt (
.. ? time Hughes, Rounds St Sehurmnn.
HOUSEWIVES THREATEN
EGG-TURKEY BOYCOTT.
Norfolk. Va. ? Members of the
Housewives' League of Norfolk de- 1
elded to adopt u boycott against the
? use of egg i and turkey unless local
retailers reduced the price of the
former to 35 cents a dozen and of the
latter to 40 cents a pound. The boy
cott will gq into effect tho latter par
of this week. The league has prepared
a statement showing that eggs are
now selling for 39 cents a dozen and
turkeys from 45 to 50 cents a pound.
EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH
fay VV-'-.
?A
*M I ' ? ' ca ?
munarcn w no rtuiea uver Ausiria- |
Hungary 68 Years Is Dead.
VILLA BADLY DEFEATED
WITHDREW SURVIVING FORCES
FROM CHIHUAHUA CITY ATTER
UNSUCCESSFUL RAID.
General Trevlno Defends Protecting
Works.?Carranza Troops Actively
Pursued Retreating Bandits.?Made
Four Attacks.
El Paso. Texas?Francisco Villa
withdrew his surviving forces In defeat
from Chihuahua City at 6:16
o'clock after a battle of seven hours,
during which he made fruitless attempts
to carry General Trevino's protecting
works by assault, according to
reports from Juarez.
This report was received from Chihual
ua by Carranza officials in Juarez,
who added that Government troops
were actively pursuing the retreating
bandits. The telegraph operator at
Chihuahua City .said that the tiring
could still he heard clearly but was becoming
more distant.
A small party of bandits engaged
in a .skirmish with a Carranza outpost
near Chihuahua, according to
Juarez officials, who added that the
military authorities there were undecided
at that time as to whether it
was only a roving band or an advance
point of Villa's columns.
At 11 a. m. (mountain time) the
high crowned hats of the bandits were
seen to the south, along the Mexican
Central main line, according to these
messages. The battle was opened a
few minutes later with a salvo from
cannon on Santa Rosa hill, the key to
the State Capital.
At 3 o'clock the battle was still
raging, the apparent advantages being
with the Government forces.
Villa was reported by General Gon
zaies to have had at least 3.500 men. |
practically all of whom were armed
and mounted. Ho was also believed
to have "had machine Runs, but no
heavy artillery. For this reason the
20 or more heavy held guns of General
Trevino's command were able to
rake the advancing lines of Villa bandits,
the message from the State Capital
stated.
The field was covered with dead
and dying men. one message stated.
ZITA, AUSTRIA'S NEW
EMPRESS STIRS CURIOSITY.
Vienna, via London.?With the advent
of the new Empress Zita. curiosity
has been aroused regarding her
personality and accomplishments.
From hor early days she has been
studious and is an accomplished musician
and well versed in literature, history
and philosophy. She also is fond
of society and is a graceful dancer
Empress Zita was born in the Italian
province of Lucca May 9, 1892.
the daughter of Duke Robert and
Duchess Marie Antoinette of Parma.
She is of Bourbon descent, but rapidly
became Viennese noil 11 it
that the life in the Capital on the
Danube interested her exceedingly.
Her early training was in the hands
of the Marquise Delia Rosa. Later
she entered a convent at Zangbert.
Princess Zita made the acquaintance
of Archduke Charles Francis at
Franzenbad, Bohemia, in the spring of
1909. while the guest of the Archduchess
Marie Annunziata, her
cousin.
On the occasion of a court ball
early in 1911 Archduke Charles Francis
is reported to have declared his
love for the Princess. Another version
of this story is that the Archduke
having his attention drawn to
a particularly graceful dancer, said:
"Oh. 1 have liked her for a long4
time."
ALLIES' HOSPITAL SHIP
SUN KBY MINE; 24 DEAD.
___ f
New York.?The officers of the
White Star Line have been advised
by the "British Admiralty that the
Britannic was sunk by a mine. The
officials here utated that the follow
ing message had been received from
the head office in London: "Regret
exceedingly to inform you Britannic
sunk by mine Aegan Sea Loss of life
not exceeding 60." A later message
stated that the -aptain. all the officers
audi the engineers were safe.
VENIZELDS GREEKS f
TO WAR ON TEUTONS
TEN BATTERIES OF MOUNTAIN
GUNS TO BE DELIVERED TO
ALLIES BY DECEMBER 1.
TO SURRENDER OTHER ARMS
Greek Provisional Government Composed
of Followers of Former Pre
mier Vanizelos, Formally Declares
War on Germany and Bulgaria.
Salnniki. via London.?The Greek
Provisional Government, composed of
followers of former Premier Venibelos.
has foramlly declared war on Germany
and Bulgaria. ?
Athens, via London.?The first delivery
of arms demanded of the Greek '
Government by Admiral Du Fournet,
commander of the Entente squadron.
consists of ten batteris of mouutain .
guns. The demand declares ttyat | |
failure to comply with it before De- j
cember 1 will result in measures being
taken by the Admiral. !
Admiral Du Fournet's latest note
fixing a brief period in which Greek
arms are to be surrendered, greatly
excited the people of Athens. The
Premier informally explained that the
Admiral in reply to the Government's ,
refusal of his demand, brushed aside
the reasons for this refusal and simply
set December 1 as the date for the surrender
of the artillery required and
December 13 as the date for the surrender
of rides. The tone of the
nt?te, said the Premier, was not courteous.
hut it did not admit of dls- 1
cusslon.
According to the diplomatic rep- ,
reentatives of the Entente Powers the (
time allowed would enable the Greek
Government to reflect with mature de- j
liberation before making its decision. ,
VILLA GETS AWAY AGAIN <
BY MEANS OF AUTOMOBILE i
<
t
Is Shelled by Long Range Guns But
!
Escapes ? Bandits Driven From | (
Stronghold in Church.?No Figures i
on Recent Casualties. '
i
i
Chihuahua City, Mexico via Maria, i (
Texas. A small band of Villa bandits ]
took a foot hold In the church of San-1
ta dio de Guadalupe. They were driven ! .
out by gunfire from their stronghold
and cavalry dispersed them.
The night was spent in expectation ,
of a desperate attack which did not i
materialize. In the morning small i
groups of enemy cavalry were shelled t
by the artillery of Santa Rosa hill. '
Villa drove up in an automobile to j i
within about thre miles of the city
from the northwest. The automobile '
was shelled by long range guns but
escaped. The column of General May- 1 (
cotte, who has already left Santa ltosa ' '
with 3.500 cavalry, is expected to reach j
here Sunday and drive off the remain-j '
ing bandits. No figures showing the i 1
casualties on either side during the I '
three days' fighting is yet available. i 1
Villa is expected to withdraw soon
to the hills as his forces have been ! '
scattered by the Hhell and rifle fire
of the de facto forces and his efforts
to capture the city are growing less
and less forceful. ]
i1
nu i cu aurrKHiiisi UltSI HAD
BEEN ILL SINCE CAMPAIGN '
Los Angeles, C'al.?Mrs. Inez Milhol- i
land Boissevain. widely known suf- i
fragist and welfare worker, died in a 1
hospital here after an illness of .ten t
weeks. She was 30 years old. * 3
Mrs. Boissevain was stricken sud- '
denly while addressing an audience 1
in this city during the recent political
campaign and fainted on the platform 1
at the raeet-ing. She was removed to a
hospital and her husband and parents
rushed from New York to join her i
here. * |
Mrs. Boissevain's illness was diag- !
nosed as aplastic anemia and Iriood
transfusion was resorted to in attempts
to improve her condition.
BRITISH WARN SHIPS OF
PRESENCE OF SUBMARINES
New York. The British crufser
Lancaster, stationed 15 miles south'
east of Sandy Hook, sent out by wire- ,
less a general warning to all steamers
flyink the flags of the Entente Allies
to beware of German submarines
on this side of the Atlantic. The Lan- ,
caster directed the commanders and ,
vessels to keep a sharp lookout for j (
underwater lH>uis. They were told to (
sho"' no more lights than were heces- ,
sn ry. ,
WILSON'S PLURALtTY IN I
CALIFORNIA IS 3,773.
Saofffmento. Cal. ? President Wilson'*
pluralhy In California Is 3,773 j
votes according to semi-official figures '
announced by Secretary of Stato Jor- <
dan. The figures include tho vote of *
a hitherto questioned precinct In j
Orange county. The Presidents plu- (
rality represents the difference he- t
tween the vote of 466,280 for'Francla 1
J. Heney. highest Democratic elector t
and that of 462,6J6 for J F. Carlstorm. t
highest Republican. * ]i
e
, '?* ' ? ,
I
ARTHUR CAPPER. .
r ' " I
Arthur Copper, Republican, re-eleccted
Governor of Kansas.
HELD INVALID BY JUDGE
DECISION, SAYS COURT, NOT
BASED ON MATURE CONSIDERATION
OF MERIT.
Eight-Hour Law Held Unconstitutional
by Judge William C. Hook in
United States District Court at Kan- ?
sas City, Appeal Taken.
Kansas* City, Mo.?The Adamson
sight-hour kiw;.was held uncoiuitit uional
here by judge William C. Tlook
11 the United ;States District Court.
The court made it plain that the de ision
was not based on inatiim i nn
((deration of the merits of the ca$e
jut on expediency desired by all paries
at interest because of the recesjity
of a flnul decision by the Supreme
:\>urt of United States before January
next, when the law goes into
affect.
The legal moves in the process of
(ending the case direct to the highest
ourt of the land were somewhat involved
from .the lay points of view,
lut the lawyers concerned rushed the
natter through with a speed seldom
witnessed in courts of law. These
ivents transipred in court by agreement.
1?Counsel for the receivers asked
that their bill for an injunction be
granted and the Adamson law be dedared
null and void.
t! Mr. Hatternian for thf? Cnvern.
:nent asked the court to dismiss the
)ill and to declare the law constituioual.
3?Court overruled Mr. Hagerman
ind declared the law invalied.
4?Preparation of a transcript of
he evidence for presentation to the
Supreme Court was begun and it was
ixpected that the mails would deposit
ppies in Washington ut once.
5?Council for the receivers were
instructed to notify counsel for all
ailroads of the moves made here and
o irvite them to join in thu case "W'ore
the Supreme Court.
WILSON GETS TELEGRAM OF
BEST WISHES FROM HUGHES.
Lakewood, N. J. ('has. E. .Hughes.
Republican candidate for President in
he recent election, sent to President
Wilson a telegram congratulating him
ipon his re-election. In his telegram
Mr. Hughes said:
oecausp 01 mo closeness of the
t-ote I have awaited the offic ial count
u California an<l now that it has been
virtually completed, permit me to exend
to you my congratulations upon
four re-election. 1 desire altio to exjr.ess
my best wis^s for a successful
idminist ration."
3AND1TS STEAL $40,900
CASH IN CHATTANOOCA.
Chattanooga. Tenn. Currency totaling
$40,900 was estimated to have
jeen stolen from a Southern Express
Company transfer wagon in the
Western & Atlantic Railroad yards
lore by two white men who held up
he lone driver. Fred Corneilson. who
aid the bandits forced him to unlock
i box containing approximately $100,)00
in currency. The robbery took
ilace in the heart of the business
llstrict.
HIGH COST OF PAPER
SENDS NEWSPAPERS UP.
Johnstown, I'a. Announcement was
made by threo local daily newspapers
hat their price would he increased to
wo cents on December 1, owing to
he high cost of print paper. The '
newspapers are The Tribune. Leader I
nud Democrat.
LABOR FEDERATION AGINST
-TEACHING OF MILITARISM."
Baltimore. The American Federa- ;
.iftn of Labor went on raccrd as being j
jpposed to what it characterised as
'the teaching of militarism" In the
nublic schools. Long debates preced>d
the action which was contained in
i committee resolution finally adopted
jy the Federation's annual couvenion,
now in sestet ?i here. There is
in unusually lara* amount of business
before the meetTng.
A6REE TO WITHDRAW
AMERICAN TROOPS
- PROTOCOL
PROVIDING FOR CON
DITIONAL WITHDRAWAL OF
SOLDIERS FROM MEXICO.
?
JOINT COMMISSION SIGNS
Mexican Commissioner Leaves at
Once With Copy to Obtain Approval
of General Carranza to Terms.?
Other Problems to Be Discussed.
Atlantic City, N. J.?A protocol providing;
for the conditional withdrawal
of the American troops now in Chihuahua.
Mexico, and for the military
control of the border, but with the
supplemental stipulation that United
States troops shall be sent into Mexico
in pursuit of bandits at any time
the American Government deems it
necessary was signed here by the
members of the Mexican-American
Joint Commission.
One copy was tuken by Alberto J.
I'ani, of the Mexican commission, who
left here for New York, whence he
will start Monday for Queretaro, to
submit it to General Carranza for approval.
The other copy will be delivered
to the American Government
by Secretary of the Interior Lane,
chairman of the American commission,
who left for Washington.
If the protocol is *-atifled by the
two Governments, tne commission
will convene again on December 8 to
resume the discussion of other questions
affacting the two countries, especially
those related to the protection
of life and proprty of Americans
and other foreigners in Mexico.
ii ratification by either Government
is withheld the work of the conference
will be declared at an end.
Following is a paraphrase of the
agreement:
First?The American troops
now in Chtttuahua commanded *1iy
Gen. John J. Pershing, shall be
withdrawn within 40 days from
the signing of the protocol by the
respective Governments provided
that within that time the conditions
in that part of Mexico have
not become such as to endanger
the American border. In such
event the time shall be extended.
Second?The Mexican army
shall patrol the Mexican side of
the border and the American army
the American side but this shall
not preclude co-operation between
the two forces to preserve
peace upon the border.
Third?It shall be left to the
commanding officers of the armies
on the border of both Nations
to enter into such arrangements
for co-operation in operations
against bandits whenever
it is possible.
Tbe rigl.i of the American Govern
raent to send troops across the border
in pursuit of bandits was not incorporated
in the protocol, but was
made the subject of a supplemental
memorandum. The Mexicans had
contended earnestly against signing
any agreement in which they appeared
to sanction what they termed the
violation of thoir National territory.
It was the agreement of the Americans
finally to content themselves
with stating the attitude of the United
States in a separate memorandum
that induced the Mexicans to sign
the agreement.
NATIONS IN WAR WIRE BEST
WISHES TO PEACE LEAGUE.
Messages of Approval for Principle of
Organization Fron England, France
anr4 (1-~' - -
.... ..i.iom; r c.ia at banquet.
New York.?Messages of good will
from the Chancellories of three of
Europe's warring Powers were read
at a dinner given here by the League
to Enforce Peace. The purpose of
banquet was to consider a program
for a permanent league of nations at
the close of the great conflict.
Approvul of the principle proposed
was given by Aristide Briand. Premier
of France; Chancellor von Bethmann
Hollweg of Germany and Vis
count Grey, Great Britain's foreign
secretars'.
U. S. TO KEEP SILENT AS
TO U-BOAT INQUIRIES.
Washington.?Increasing frequency
of attacks by German submarines upon
American vessels or others hearing
American citizens with the consequent
necessity of repeated inquiry
of Berlin for f.vts, has led to the adoption
of ti policy of silence on the
part of the State Jlepartruent. Officials
have let It be St.own that such
a course was considered necessarv
becauuse miut of the cases investigated
developed no Uolation of law
BODY OF JACK LONDON
AUTHOR, IS CREA MATED.
Oakland, Cal.?The body of Jack
London, the author, who died unexpectedly,
was cremated and the t shea,
in accordance with his wish, will be
scattered over his Glen Kllen rtncu,
Mrs. Charmon London, the author's
wife, was unable through >53no** to j
attend the funeral services, but his
first wife, Mrs. Bessie Madlscn London,
and their two daughters, Joan
and Bess, were present, as was his
aged mother, Mrs. Flora London.
SEASON OF JOY
"When the frost is on the punkln
nd the fodder's in the shock."
ielpjr
At Least That Is the Opinion
Farmer Has of the Great
American Bird.
Housewives contemplating the
annual Thanksgiving dinner little
realize the months of preparation
which preceded the
i feast. Their cranberries are on the
market. Turkeys, dressed and ready
for the oven; huge yellow pumpkins,
with the earth still clinging " their
gaudy sides; orunges, apples, grapes
und nuts all await the cull of the epicure.
A trip to a market gives the laytuan
an Insight Into the real business of
Thanksgiving, and incidentally a quantity
??f rural folk lore which is illuminating.
Wandering around the wagons
which line the sidewalks of the
market space, a reporter the other day
came upon an old resident of Virginia
?a man with whiskers and a magniticent
quid of tohaceo and a small supply
of turkeys, the last named alive
and protesting vigorously against the
confinement of their crates.
After a little preliminary conversation
the old farmer dilated upon the
ways of the great American fete bird
and In his conversation knocked the
pedestal upon which the fowl is placed
squarely from under Its feet.
"Iiiggest fool bird in tin- world," he
; conllded to the reporter. "They ain't
! not hi n' in the world that I've ever
found that's us big an idjut as a turkey."
1 "In what way?" was asked.
"In every way," replied the farmer.
"I believe that the words 'not sense
enough to come in out of tho rain' was
written to describe a turkey. Did
you ever know, for instance, that a
turkey can drown itself during a raln'
storm?"
"What!" ejaculated the reporter.
"Fact," said the farmer. "Them
there birds hold no their heads dnrlmr
u rainstorm exactly as if they was
trying to swallow the whole creation.
Naturally, they can't drink the entire
output. And I tell 5*ou as a fact,
that I've found cases where they inauaged
to drown themselves."
Continuing on the peculiarities of
the bird, the old man said:
"They're helpless critters, too. Ain't
got as much gumption about them as
a chicken. And frail?let me tell you,
| young man, that a turkey is the great;
est natural-horn invalid in the world.
! They have to he watched every minute
or the lirst thing you know they'll up
and tile on you without a second's
| warning.
"I been raisin' turkeys for years
nnd years?had good luck with 'era,
! too. Hut I reckon I don't understand
more than half about them. Nobody
! does?particularly why the Creator,
when he made 'eta, didn't give 'em
i minds."
"Does that apply to wild turkeys as
; well as the tunic ones?" asked the re;
porter.
The old man spat thoughtfully and
profusely at a chip of wood in the
street, lie hit the mark.
"As to that," he said, "I can't exact:
ly say. "Mebbe there's something in
the ifI<-it that u tlirWev uh?n lio'vi iom,i
gets so used to ha via' folks -make a
fuss over him that he jest naturally
loses till his ambition. There's one
; tiling certain- If every wild turkey
, was as big a fool as some that I'vu
raised there"wouldn't be a live wild
i turkey in the United Stutes within a
year."?Washington Star.
Cranberry Industry.
Study of the cranberry Industry by
government specialists lias shown it to
i be confined practically to three state.,:
1 Massachusetts, New Jersey and Wis[
cousin. Of the total crop, Massachusetts
produces in an average year
abaut .'5C0,000, New Jeiscy 1C0.000, and
! Wisconsin 7.r?,000 barrels. The Industry
is graduully extending to Minnesota.
Michigan and Oregon, where
marshes nu>! climatic conditions are
favorable.
MpreparedI i
i By DOUGLAS MALLOCH J;
S We m?y be shy of cannon and we mny be '!
horl of (uni, j>
% We may not hove a* many men as many ?
\ other ones, 4
J We may require a fort or two, some infan- j
% try and horse. 7
J A little more aitillery to back them up, of J
I 7 course; y
v But in one matter we have not a reason to ?
I 4 be scared ? 4
J For, when it comes to pumpkin pies, we J
I % surely are prepared! Z
? 4
% We may be short of men ol war anrf of J
J submarines 4
J And low in minfi and other subterranean *
4 machines; i
J We ought to have an aeroplane, or, maybe j
j J two or three, J
V To nrst among the mountaintops or hydro* %
J plane the sea;
4 We haven't any instruments for shootinj; J
4 poisoned gas ? 4
J But we can beat the universe at making j
J apple sass! Z
t We have the pumpkins and we have the Z
4 pippins big and hue; 4
J And. if yon want preparedness, pie-par* J
% ednrss for mine! \
J If someone sails across the sea America 4
I Z ,'? fry* Z
a We'll shoot them full of apple sass and full ^
. 4 of pumpkin pie. 4
J I bet they'll throw their guns away, beneath J
% that magic charm, , Z
4 And settle in America and buy them each 4
a farm! J
^ee##e##ee##eee#eee###e##ee?#eee# ^
(Copyright. Ifl6. Western Newspaper Union, i
DAYDFREJQIGING
Thanksgiving Celebration Is a
Great Event on Cotton
Plantation.
ryMIANKSt'.lVlNG tlay on n cot
it < iii plantation moans an open
la-art and hand on the part of
the master and a full stomach, a
day of liuppiness, and, consequently,
gratitude on the part of the worker. It
moans, also, another, and, for that
little world, universal token, an offering
up of thanks for the numerous
little white pods which briug prolits
to the master and the winter's provisions
and clothes to the worker. Ilut
it a No means a day of play to all.
Hard as is the labor of the cotton
plantation hands, they do some extra
work willingly for Thanksgiving day
for several weeks beforehand. Tt is u
sure sign of the approach of Thanksgiving
day when one sights here and
| there through tin; woods the bobbing,
smoking pine torches that light the
way for a dozen black, shining, grinning
faces. It is the usual hunt for Mr.
Possum that keeps them from their
beds, and makes them scramble
through thickets, Jump ditches and
, wallow through marshes.
For several nights the woods for
miles around the plantation are the
scene of night activities. It is easy
enough to lind the trail of a 'possum,
and when once located llie dogs lead
a running, howling band in the hunt.
.Mr. Possum is, however, a slow mover,
and when he hears the yelps of those
hounds and the howls of the negroes
and sees the glare of the torches, ho
gets up the nearest tree and settles on
! a limb.
Somehow tho light fascinates him
I and lie usually settles on the lowest
limb. It Is Just what the hunters
want. Mr. Possum is noted for his
fondness for dead meat, consequently
a 'possum that is shot is not tiie most
savory of meats. Their object Is to
catch him alive and when the tree is
reached lie Is surrounded by a ring of
blazing torches and howling blacks until
in sheer fright he drops off, plays
dead and is bundled Into a sack, to bo
hustled off in the morning to the plantation
pen. Sometimes two or threo
are caught in a night and some of
them show tight. Once in the pen they
are fed for a couple of weeks with
food that takes away all trace of their
natural food and rounds out their
sides with good, sweet meat.
Several days before Thanksgiving
day some of the hands are taken from
the cotton fields and put to work
around the plantation buildings. This
is. with the exception of Christmas,
perhaps the most enjoyable task of
the year, for it means the preparation
for the feast which tho plantation is
to give its hands on the day when
thanks offerings are made.
Usually this is sprend in one of
the big buildings 011 the plnntutioii,
perhaps a barn or a cotton shed. Tho
hands are set to work at first to cleur
out the place and make it clean. Then
they [iut together a dozen or more long
Improvised tables and benches, and
lastly they decorate the building with
mi Kimis ui nags unu minting. ("i the
side near the center they also put up
the tiddler's stand, for later In the
day there comes the usual dance. Sev'
eral days before, also, some of tho
hands make barrels of ginger beer and
sweet eider and stow them away to
ripen for tho feast.
Enemy of the Cranberry.
j An enemy which would rob th*
, Thanksgiving table of cheap cranber*
i i.-> iii?* tiijniM-rry root worm, una
i the government 1ms been attempted
! to circumvent this destroyer, too. Fx*
! ports of the department of agriculture
have found that by stimulating ttie
i growth of the plants with fertilizers?
ju practice tlult has not been followed
in the past?the ravages of this or?
dlnuriij destructive creature cau b?
made almost negligible.
Worthy Supplication.
For all blessings which may help
to make the land we love more worthy
of its fortune, Its founders, its destiny,
Amen.