100 Years Ago This Month

December 1924

December 5

Shop Early Mail Early

Last year, through the generous cooperation of the press, the movies and other advertising mediums, Christmas mailers were induced to dispatch their Yule Tide presents earlier in the month then ever before in the history of the institution of gift, exchanging in the holiday season.

As a result, the spectacle of the last-minute rush of former years, with the attendant heartbreaking labor on the part of wearied and nerve worn store clerks and post office employees, was avoided.

This year, Postmaster General New and First Assistant Postmaster General John Bartlett have determined to make an even better record and to banish from all time the suffering undergone in past years by those engaging in the sale or transportation of gifts. They hope to make "shop early" and "mail early" a habit with the American people.

Mailing early does not mean December 1 or before, but if everyone could get their holiday tokens in the mail between December 10 and December 20, the post office could not ask for more.

Particular attention this year will be paid to greeting cards. Despite the success last year, it was noted that the last minute mail consisted largely of cards. Possibly many of them were returned greetings to friends, heard from on a previous mail, but overlooked on the original Christmas list. Like parcels and letters containing money, orders, cards cannot be marked "do not open until Christmas." Therefore, it is possible that the mailers hold them until the last to ensure delivery on Christmas Eve. This class of mailers this year, however, may find their cards undelivered until after Christmas Day.

Believing that the energies of postal employees should not be sapped to the last degree for any avoidable reason, and, intent upon securing for them the same Christmas privileges enjoyed by others, the Postmaster General has asked for the cooperation of the public. The last minute, or zero hour has been moved up, so that all postal employees may eat their Christmas dinners at home. Rural carriers will deliver no mail at all on Christmas Day, and clerks and carriers in the city offices will stop work promptly at noon.

Christmas Advertising

About the next three weeks this paper will be crowded with Christmas advertising. We hope to handle the business without issuing supplements, which are unsatisfactory, both to patrons and ourselves. We make no apology for this crowded condition of our pages – read the advertisements and make them pay you.

New Auto License Tags

The Maryland auto license tags for 1925 are now being sent out to those who have made application for.

Tags this year will start with the number 100,000 as all numbers between 30,000 and that mark have been reserved for Baltimore City. In confining certain numbers to certain sections, the State’s Motor Vehicle Commissioner said that it is the hope of his department that theft of cars will be minimized. It is also the intention of the Motor Vehicle Commissioner to facilitate locating the owners of machines in case of accidents.

The Motor Vehicle Commissioner also said that it is the intention of his office to stage a campaign against motorist who cover the license plate with isinglass, a practice that renders it difficult for officers to distinguish the numbers and often results in mistakes and identification.

The new tags this year are especially distinctive, having white numbers against the green background. The price per horsepower this year is $.32. In calculating the amount payable to the commissioner’s office, the applicant should multiply the number of horsepower by price per horsepower and add $.10 for postage. The application sent out by the Motor Vehicle Commission office should be filled out properly and sent in immediately.

Drove Tractor Over New Paving

John Longnecker, of Keymar, was arrested Tuesday afternoon by state police on charges of failing to title his tractor and trailer; to provide license plates for the same; and for driving his tractor over the newly laid state road without providing protective cleats.

The police said, Longnecker’s tractor and equipment, consisting of a wood sawing attachment, did not come under the classification of farming implements as designated by the law. He also claimed that Longnecker was engaged in other branches of work, and did not employ his tractor and equipment in farm work. Tractors and trailers, under the classification of farming implements are not required to carry tags or titles.

The officer further stated that he followed Longnecker’s tracks onto the newly paved State Road and will be charged with the unnecessary destruction of state property.

Plans For Three New Schools

Plans and specifications for three new school buildings in the county were submitted and discussed at a meeting of the County’s Board Of Education Wednesday. The new school buildings are being considered for Sabillasville, Lewistown and Creagerstown. According to present plans, a three-room structure will be erected at Sabillasville, and two room buildings at Lewistown and Creagerstown. It is the object of the Board to have work on the erection of the buildings started as soon as possible. It is expected that bids will be asked for in the near future. Rural schools are being consolidated as much as possible, pupils, thereby, obtaining more advantage than would otherwise get, it was pointed out.

Big Blasts Echoes Through Woodsboro

Residence of Woodsboro were startled on Tuesday afternoon by an explosion of which reverberated over the rolling hills in that community. An investigation revealed that a huge blast was set off in the lime stone quarry of S. W. Barrick’s, near Woodsboro.

The blast, which was set off by blasting experts, consisted of approximately one and a half tons of dynamite. The amount of limestone dislodge by the blast left a void in the quarry 134 feet in length, 60 feet wide, and 20 feet deep. An examination revealed the dislodge stone to be of high-grade quality, said Leonard Barrick, and the capacity received as a result of the blast will be sufficient for a supply of six months.

Mr. Barrick expressed satisfaction over the results of the blast, which is among the largest ever set off in this section. He was well pleased with a manner in which the experts supervise the work.

December 12

Warnings Of Grip Epidemic

The Frederick County Health Office, stated Friday, that the epidemic of the Grip, throughout the county for the past week or two, has not assumed threatening proportions, but every effort should be made to check the progress of the ailment.

Grip, although very unpleasant to the patient, is not considered serious. In many cases it resemble symptoms of a heavy cold, and is usually reported as such by the patient. Severe headaches, nausea, and a bilious condition are the symptoms.

While a number of new cases have been reported, little fear is held by the health officer, as no serious turn, has been noted in the epidemic. The health officer repeated that every precaution should be taken by the public to prevent the spread of the Grip. Close contact in public places, sneezing and spitting are termed as conductive to the spread of the epidemic.

The health officer recommended plenty of fresh air, cold water, and rest in bed, as the best and simplest treatment for the Grip. Several days in bed usually breaks the hold of the disease upon the patient, and relief usually follows the treatment recommended.

Trivial Court Cases Burden To Taxpayers

Trivial family troubles again loomed up in Police Court, when charges of assault and battery against Mrs. Hattie Kenny, and her son, Walter, of Woodsboro were dismissed by Judge Guy Motter. The charges were preferred by Mrs. Daisy Eyler also of Woodsboro. After hearing the testimony the magistrate concluded that the evidence was not sufficient to substantiate the charge, and the case was dismissed.

Mrs. Eyler alleged that the two defendants attacked her at the home of a neighbor in Woodsboro, following some minor altercations over differences between the children of the two women. Mrs. Eyler alleged that Walker was "eyeing’ her daughter", while Mrs. Kenny retorted that her son was "too stupid to know what to do with Mrs. Eyler’s daughter, which everyone knew was sleeping around with every boy in town." Some doubt as to whom struck the resultant first physical blow, and the manner in which the alleged assault was made, caused the judge to drop the case.

Motter stated that these types of cases are becoming very serious from the taxpayer standpoint. He added that the case should have been settled amicably between the two parties involved, and should never have found its way into court. The principles were warned to conduct themselves in a more peaceful manner in the future.

December 19

Roadway Signs Prohibited

Several states have passed laws prohibiting signs on roads, with the idea that the automobile, carrying tourist and sightseeing travelers, is not an asset to the individual business houses along the road, but to the state, and that travelers should not be compelled to have their beautiful views and visits profaned by painted billboards.

Speaking of this idea in Illinois, Governor Small said, "Illinois has seen the logic a preserving the right way in this respect with the result that we have hundreds of miles of drives, framed by grass, trim to a lawn like nicety, and unmarred by unsightly billboards, which are often seen in neighboring Commonwealths."

Connecticut has followed Illinois’s Clean Highway Policy, and has passed a law prohibiting signs on their right of always. Minnesota has also followed suit and a law in that state provides for the elimination of advertising signs already standing as well as prohibiting the construction of new ones.

We can only hope that Maryland will soon follow those enlightened states.

Violators Of Dry Law Fined $100 And Sent To Jail

Robert Eyler, 28, of Woodsboro, was sent to the Frederick County jail for a period of two months on Friday on a charge of selling intoxicating liquor. He was convicted in a trial for having sold a pint of whiskey to a resident of Woodsboro.

Witnesses testify that Eyler was reported to be carrying on an illicit liquor business in and around Woodsboro. He was acquitted on a similar charge at the last term of the court, having been indieted on two counts of selling liquor by the September Grand Jury. He delayed trial, following his acquittal on one during the earlier term of court, and was not placed on trial until Thursday.

Having already served 71 days in the county jail awaiting the trial, this was taken into consideration by the judge and passing sentence. The two-month sentence will begin dating from Thursday morning.

Lindsey Stickle and William Cecil of Walkersville were fine $100 each and sentence to the County jail for period of three months for selling liquor. Sickle was granted a special leave for one week to enable him to arrange his business affairs. He was released until December 19, under a $1,000 bond, and will be compelled to begin his sentence at that time. Sickle was also required to arrange for the payment of Cecil’s fine. The latter began his jail sentence on Friday.

Three separate charges were lodged against Cecil, and one against Stickle, all which arose out of a brawl, occurring at the poolroom on Green Street, in which Cecil was a clerk.

The brawl took place on August 2, and before it ended, Harry Kemp, sustained a badly broken leg and minor injuries. The liquor charges where brought against Cecil by Kemp who testified that he bought four half-pints of whiskey from Cecil, but when he got home, he discovered that Cecil had sold him ‘horse piss.’ When Kemp returned to the poolroom and demanded his money back, Stickle and Cecil attacked him. The brawl quickly escalated until everyone in the hall was fighting one another. Apparently, said one lawman, the ‘horse piss’ in question must have had a ‘good kick’ to it.

Windstorm Causes Damage Across County

A heavy windstorm, Saturday night and early Sunday morning caused extensive damage across the county. A barn on the farm of Upton Gilsbert, about 2 miles south of Creagerstown was completely demolished. The structure showed signs of toppling over soon after the storm set in, and the cattle and horses, usually quartered in it were stable for the night in a shed some distance away.

The wind completely crushed the barn. The lumber from which it was built, was torn and twisted apart, resulting in a complete loss to Mr. Gilsbert. A new barn will be built on the site of the old one demolished.

In the same section of the county, a number of barn doors were torn off, and carried some distance. Stocks were blown over and the fodder separated and carried a long distance. In many places, the wind lined stocks of fodder against fences, and carried a grate amount of it into the road. Throughout the county, trees were uprooted and other damage done.

The gale was very heavy Saturday night. Several times the electric lights flickered, caused by branches and trees blowing against the wires. Union Bridge was in darkness for several hours caused by the blowing over of a number of poles and wires. Woodsboro also was without power and light for sometime. It was the worst windstorm experienced for sometime.

White Christmas Predicted

Those unfortunate mortals of Frederick, who are unable to bask in the sunshine of the sunny south, may as will make up their minds to endure more winter weather, and from all indications a winter that will be more severe than any in recent years.

While the weather for Christmas day is yet a little uncertain, except that another drop in temperatures is then due, all sorts of disagreeable elements are promised for Christmas Eve, the day before the greatest holiday of the year begins.

Christmas Eve is expected to be the coldest of the present winter with the mercury slipping to the 12E mark and snow falling across the County. The snow will possibly change to sleet or rain on Christmas but will be followed by colder weather again, Thursday.

The present month is the coldest December on record, perhaps since 1917. January 6, 1924 was the coldest day this year when the mercury registered a low mark of 6E above zero. The present winter will see this mark beaten, said the local observer, giving as one reason the fact that winter this year said in about a month earlier than a year ago.

December 26

Christmas In The Air

Radio listeners have been rather over-fed, since last Sunday, with Christmas carols, "Santa Claus" talks, solos and choruses producing old standbys, and Christmas programs. Generally, all demonstrating that Christmas is much the same everywhere, and there is no substitute for the simple story of the birth of the Christ child, what it has meant, and still means, for the world.

From dozens of broadcasting stations, far east to far west, and south, have come strains of "Silent Night", "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing", "Adeste Fedelis", and like hymns, together with nursery stories, and jingles, and for once, it is literally true that "Christmas is in the air".

All the churches have presented the same story, some more elaborately than others, but the one predominating over all messages have been "Peace On Earth, Good Will Towards Men", and "Glory To God In The Highest" – that brings happiness to the children and the real Christmas spirit to the older folks.

Fatal Accident At Bridgeport

A fatal accident occurred at the dangerous curve on the State road at New Midway, on Wednesday night, about 7:30, at the exact spot that has seen multiple former wrecks – the telephone Paul at the curve near the blacksmith shop. A car, driven by William Eckert, of Littlestown, with three companions, was driving towards Taneytown, and at the curve crashed into a new pole that had just been erected in place of one broken off by an auto two weeks ago. The car may have skidded on the icy road, or may have been going too rapidly to make the turn safely. The car was badly wrecked, and turned over.

All four men in the car were knocked unconscious by the crash. John Shadell, who was in the back seat, recovered consciousness first. He was bleeding from the nose, but had no apparent injuries. Shadell aroused Frank King, who was sitting next to him, and who was bleeding from the ears, but was otherwise unhurt.

Charles Boose, who was in the front seat, was unable to move because of his broken leg. Shadell and King found Eckert pinned beneath the wreckage of his machine. He was still breathing, although unconscious. They carried him to a farmhouse across the road, and a doctor in Taneytown was notified. Upon the arrival of the physician, the removal of Eckert and Boose to the hospital was advised.

William Marker, who lives near the scene of the accident, offered his machine to take the intro to the hospital. Eckert was placed in the rear seat, with his head pillowed in Cell‘s arms. When 2 miles west of Taneytown on the Emmitsburg Road, Marker’s car slid off the road and the axel on his car snapped.

The Taneytown Garage Company was notified of the accident to Marker’s machine and sent a service car to tow in the disabled vehicle. When the car arrived at Taneytown, Dr. Benner was notified, and upon viewing Eckert, pronounced him dead.

Meanwhile, another machine was hurrying Boose to the Warner hospital. He suffered considerable pain from his broken leg, but is reported to resting easier.

If Editors Never Lied

A short time ago, a Kentucky editor became tired of being called a liar, so he decided to print one edition containing nothing but the truth. We don’t know what became of him the following week, or where he went when he headed out of Kentucky, but here are some of the news items:

"John Beenin, laziest merchant in town, was in Beeville on Monday."

"Tom Coyle, our grocer, has lost most of his trade on account of his store being musty and dirty."

"David Conkey died at his home Tuesday. The doctor gave it as heart failure, but whiskey killed him."

"Married, Sylvia Rhodes, and James Jones. The bride is an ordinary looking girl with a walk like a duck, and absolutely no knowledge of housework. The groom is an up-to-date loafer, has been living off his poor old father and mother all his life and isn’t worth the powder and lead it would take to blow his head off."

Stolen Auto Found In Pittsburgh

The Ford roadster belonging to George Eyler of Walkersville, which was stolen from him on Thanksgiving Day has recovered in Pittsburgh, according to a telegram received from the superintendent of police in Pittsburgh.

The automobile was parked in front of Mr. Eyler’s home in Walkersville. When he went for his machine, it was missing, and all efforts made failed to disclose a trace of the stolen machine.

The Pittsburgh police took possession of a Ford roadster, bearing Maryland plates that was standing for usually long time on the streets of that city, and subsequent investigation review that the machine was the one belong to Mr. Eyler. Mr. Eyler, it is understood, will go to Pittsburgh for the machine on Saturday. No trace of the thieves has been found.

Road Bandits Active

William Kelly, while on his way home from Keymar several nights ago, was held up on the Woodsboro-Taneytown Pike. Mr. Kelly noticed a machine across the Pike and came to a stop and asked one of the party who came to one side of his car with their trouble was. This stranger replied that while trying to turn around their car stopped, and they could not get it started. In the meantime, a mask man on the other side of Mr. Kelly’s car held up a revolver and demanded his valuables. Mr. Kelly remark that he did not have anything worthwhile, but he was finally compelled to surrender his possessions, and the bandits took all his valuables and money, except for a few cents that were in his vest pocket, and drove on.