100 Years Ago This Month

November 1921

November 3

Hard Winter Predicted

Among the denizens of forests and streams in every corner of countryside are found indications that the animals, birds and fishes are preparing for a long, bleak winter with stinging cold and heavy snow. There are especially strong indications that the winter will come so early, that by Christmas everyone will have become accustomed to wading through waist deep snow drifts.

We are still young enough to wish for the big snows and a good skating and not only wish for them but indulge them. We have our sled and our skates and we hope to use them at every opportunity. Yet there is a thought that dampens our enthusiasm from prolonged indulgence in these fantasies. We must keep the home fires burning. And God only knows, women folk won’t do anything to help collect or stack firewood, yet they will be the first ones to nag their hard working men to burn more wood instead of putting on a coat to keep warm.

Every Child In School Is The Plan

The Woodsboro School Improvement Association at its monthly meeting Monday evening started a move to encourage regular attendance at school of every child in the district. The move invoked much interest and the plan will be worked on and is expected to result in the success of the undertaking.

The association is looking forward to its most useful year. It has a large membership and is recognized as one of the active civic organizations of the town. Upon its own initiative the organization has from time to time improved conditions at the school. A typical example of its activities in this respect is the new concrete walkway from the Main Street to the school entrance. Improvements have also been made to the grounds that add to the appearance of the surroundings. Funds for the improvements have been provided by interesting musical and literary events, socials and sales held at the school.

In addition to the efforts to have every child in the district attends school, the association will hold its normal public functions. The entertainment will afford patrons of the school an excellent opportunity to review the progress made by their children. The principal and teachers of the school are the leading spirits of the association.

County Stills As Thick As Rabbits

John Whitehead, a member of the Prohibition Flying Squad, which operates direct from Washington, and with the aid of local dry agents and preachers, captured six large stills in the county. He said stills in the county are as thick as rabbits.

"I don’t know actually whether there are as many stills in the county as there are rabbits." said Mr. Whitehead, who freelances to the terror of moonshiners all over the state, "but I will say this, I can go out in the county with a gun and with the aid of one man I can get more stills in a day then I could shoot rabbits. In the first place I wouldn’t know where to go to get rabbits, while on the other hand I could go to any county in the state and get plenty of stills."

November 10

Armistice Day

As November 11 comes this month we are reminded of the hilarious spirits that prevailed on that day in 1918. The sudden relief which the armistice brought was manifest everywhere in a wild and unbounded jubilee.

The day this year will bring joyful memories too many, but the sorrow of the war will be equally present with us. The day appeals to us in both its characteristics. Joy will predominate in the lives of some, or sorrow will rule in others. The people of our town, regardless of the feelings, can use the flag as a fitting decoration for homes and places of business on November 11. The flag is our one decoration that is universal and expresses adequately the sentiments of all.

Postal Clerks Armed

Frederick County Postal employees are armed and prepared to meet bandits and hold up men and to protect the mail whenever necessary. All mail messengers and railroad postal clerks have been furnished with firearms for emergency use. Orders were issued by the Post Master General last April to the effect that Post Office employees throughout the country should be armed and drilled in the use of firearms so that they can protect the mail from robbers. The frequent robbery of mail has made these steps necessary.

All Frederick County mail carriers have a regulation pistol strapped to their waist ready for instant use. Employees at the parcel post and register windows have revolvers handy. Important mail brought from trains is guarded by a Postal employee who accompanies the driver on the mail trucks. The men are not only familiar with use of firearms but are good shots.

Woodsboro Distillery Taken

One of the most complete miniature stills, as well as the largest amount of distilled liquor and prepared mash seized in Maryland since prohibition was put into force, was captured last Thursday afternoon in a raid by Prohibition agents. The seven men who operated the still made their get away because members of the raiding party got stuck in a field of mud and were unable to go after them.

The raiders, however, learned the name of the chief distiller, who is said to be the mastermind of the outfit. They said the man’s wife practically made a confession to them when they inquired for him at his home, and that they would get a warrant for his arrest. The raid followed reports received that a still was making ‘Mountain Dew’ near Woodsboro. Prohibition agents sent to conduct the raid were heavily armed when they arrived at the site of the still.

November 17

Public Bottle Dump

Bootleggers must be doing a good business. In the park almost every morning numerous bottles, which have contained anything from Jamaican Ginger to bonded whiskey, are gathered up from the grass by the caretaker. Just where it comes from is another question. One of the bottles found, a quart, still contained about an inch of what smelled like corn liquor. The bottles, of which there is a varied collection, range anywhere from shoe polish receptacles to glassware of a startling size. Few of the bottles contain anything more than the smell, several being so dry that they might well have been squeezed.

What the authorities would like to know is where all these bottles are coming from and who is manufacturing the stuff that they once contained. The same question is also worrying not a few who would like to get some of it for themselves. They would also add to the query, "how much is a quart of the good stuff?"

Colored Girl Desiring Freedom Kills Herself.

Believed to have been despondent because she had not been given freedom as she desired it, is the motive advance for the suicide of Stella Smith, a colored girl about 15 years old, who took her own life sometime Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Discovery of the lifeless body of the girl was made by Mrs. Dorsey Jones, near Libertytown on whose place the girl was employed, helping with housework.

The Smith girl was an orphan and was placed on the Jones’ farm by the Children’s Aid Society. Frequently she expressed a desire to be free and do as she liked according to persons in the neighborhood.

Discovery of the girl’s act was made at seven o’clock in the morning. She usually a rose at seven to begin the day’s work. When she did not get up at the usual time, Mrs. Jones went to her room on the third floor and found her lifeless body stretched out on the bed, beside her was a package of white powder, the contents of which had been used to kill rats in the barn. There was also a bottle of carbonate acid solution on the bed. The girl had previously applied the solution for a rash on her hand. Immediately after the discovery of the body a physician was summoned who examined the body.

November 24

Fell Over Fence

With the front finger on his right hand shot away and several shots in his left eye, Raymond Lewis, 19-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lewis, of Walkersville, was taken to the Frederick City Hospital Monday following a hunting accident near his home. The accident occurred early in the afternoon while Lewis was hunting rabbits. He had been out for sometime, and as far as could be learned, was returning home, and while climbing over a fence with a loaded and cocked shotgun in his hand, his foot slipped and he fell to the ground, the gun being discharged when it hit the earth.

Several of the shot entered the hunter’s left eye and tore away the front finger on his right hand. The young man was hurried to the office of Dr. Smith, where the injuries were treated. Later it was decided to take him to the Frederick City Hospital. An operation was performed but it is feared that Lewis will lose the side of his left eye.

Tax on gasoline for automobiles proposed

A new law for the tax on gasoline for automobiles has been proposed for the coming session of the state legislature, and it is safe to predict that it will met with strong objection. The tax on gasoline per gallon, used to motor vehicles is in addition to the horsepower tax now imposed. It will be urged that this would be unfair, as a double tax, and that it will be difficult to enforce because of the many uses gasoline is purchased for.

Those favoring the law, however, say the roads must have more revenue, and the proper place to get it is from those who wear out the roads most, and that this can best be determined by the use of gasoline for cars. Such a tax is now in force in 15 states, and it said to work well, all gasoline engines not used in motor vehicles and highways would be exempt.