Rain! rain! is the bane of camping out! Last Thursday the members of Allen Camp, at Palm, had an over abundance of it and hoped for clear weather during the rest of their stay but in this they were disappointed. Indoor life is rather monotonous as "Haas and Peffer" was about the only available occupation on Thursday. This proved too tame so a number went fishing. The evening was similarly spent until it was determined to take an all night fishing trip. Success crowned their efforts in this direction as 19 eels and 49 catfish were captured. Friday being spent in a way similar to Thursday. The rain played havoc with the cooks and one had to hold the umbrella while the other stirred the soup. In the evening number of visitors from Palm were royally entertained. Saturday was devoted to a ground hog hunt. The party captured three, one of which weighed 14 pounds and was served for Sunday dinner. A number of pictures of camp and vicinity were taken and in the evening a number of visitors were entertained. Sunday morning was quiet and rainy. After dinner a number of visitors from Palm and East Greenville came to camp and enjoyed the hospitality of the place. The camping party was organized in 1901 with seven members. The officers being, President, E. METZGER; Treasurer, M. KISTLER; Secretary, C. HARWICK. The same officers have been continued ever since and the club has been increased to ten, being at present composed of the following: Morris KISTLER, Alvin ROTH, George ROTH, Wm. HEIL, James ECKERT, Jonas KISTLER, Harvey TILLMAN, Jacob GLASSER, Ed. METZGER, Lyod CLEVER, Henry RABENOLD, Ben BEUSHMER, John WENDELL, Jacob WENDELL, Frank MILLER. The club had its first two outings at Palm, the third trip was taken to Lake Hopatcong, N.J., but as the lake has no fish and the mosquitoes are sufficiently large "to roll a man out of bed," it was determined to come back to Palm this year.
A gang of chicken thieves were disturbed last Saturday night in the neighborhood of Stauffer's store, about one mile from Bally. They visited the henhouses of Elwood LANDIS, Joel WELLER and Henry FREY. At one place after filling their bag with the choicest chickens, they lost no time in escaping on hearing some one pursuing them. One of them left his coat in their flight. It was found at the hennery of Mr. LANDIS. The coat may lead to some clue by which the guilty party may be apprehended. Late on Tuesday night, Henry BAUER heard some prowlers on the farm of John GEHRINGER, of near the Catholic church. Mr. BAUER at once seized a shot gun and fired several shots after the intruders, but he can not tell how big the party was. One of the would-be-thieves was on horseback.
Robert SIMMERS, of Harrisburg, pure food agent for the State Board of Health was in Wilkesbarre, and as a result warrants have been issued for more than one hundred milk dealers and dairymen for the sale of impure milk.
Reverend (picture) and Mrs. E.S. JOHNSON and their son, Rolland, sail today, Saturday, June 16, at 10.30 a.m., on the "Zeeland" of the Red Star Line from New York for Antwerp. This going takes place in response, first to the action of the General Conference of the Schwenkfelder Church, May 16, requesting him to proceed to Germany to assist Dr. HARTRANFT in his labors on the Corous Schwenkfeldianorum and second, to the action of the Faculty and Board of Trustees of the Hartford Theological Seminary, May 25, awarding him a special fellowship in church History of the Reformation period. The First Schwenkfeldian church, of Philadelphia, generously entered into the spirit of this call by granting him leave of absence for one year to take effect July 1, 1904. A severing of ties in other directions likewise had to take place to make it possible for Rev. JOHNSON to assume the imposed duty. A signal honor has thus come to a farmer's boy who after learning the trade of miller and graduating at Perkiomen Seminary in 1895, at Princeton University in 1899, and at the Hartford Theological Seminary in 1902, entered the christian ministry and by his activity in his various connections in a short time made himself almost indispensable to his church before this call came. He now goes forth to labor by the side of Dr. HARTRANFT, a Montgomery countian by birth, who by his labors for the Hartford Theological Seminary has won for himself an enviable name in the annals of the past 25 years of the Christian church and who, by his historical researches in erudite Germany, has built up a reputation in the fatherland that does honor to American scholarship. In performing his duties Rev. JOHNSON will at once proceed to Wolfenbuettel near Brunswick, Germany, meet his teacher and chief, surrounded by MSS on all sides, gird his loins and go to work. He will interview a leading printing firm of Leipzig and prepare estimates on the cost of issuing a series of 16 lexico octavo volumes. He will make himself fully familiar with the scheme of work of Dr. HARTRANFT. He will doubtlessly delve and dig in musty old volumes and handle faded and crumbling papers and books two, three and four centuries old. He will breathe the atmosphere of the reformation period and, in thought, mingle, jostle and elbow with those sturdy heroes of the church of God that made this period of God world-renowned. He will see to it that in some way the printing presses are set in motion on the contemplated series of books during the coming year. This whole enterprise was undertaken to give to the learned world, the writing of a man in whom, according to Dr. HARTRANFT, "we find the source of many characteristics of modern protestantism; the function of the laity in the church, the right of representation, the freedom of conscience, the separation of church and state, the ecclesiola in ecclesia and many another principle that is now potent in all branches of christendom had their strongest champion in him in the day when these were heretical principles and when their assertion was at the peril of life; there is scarcely a religious school, whether evangelical, pietistic or liberal that has not drawn some formative impulse from him, through a hitherto unobserved absorption." On Christ's resurrection morn a lamenting friend wept because her Jesus had been taken away and she could not find him. Modern commercialism, practical politics, high financing, sacerdotalism, and worldly pleasures have taken away Jesus and buried him, causing countless souls to weep and lament. These who toil and sacrifice for this cause believe and pray that their labors may help some sorrowing ones to see Jesus in his glory, the lamb of the world.
Otto EISENLOHR & Bros., held their picnic on Saturday, at Avondale. This was one of the grandest affairs ever held in this town. They formed the line at their factory and had a procession nearly one mile in length, headed by the Schuler's Band, of Finland, with nearly 80 teams. The horses and wagons were beautifully decorated with flags and buntings. After they had paraded through town they went to Avondale, where they spent the day with music and games. Their menu consisted of 150 lbs. ham, 75 lbs. bologna, 80 lbs. cheese, 15 lbs. butter, 100 loaves bread, 60 doz. eggs, 11 bunches bananas, 1 keg pickles, 250 quts. ice cream, 40 boxes soft drinks, 6 bls. beer, 2 bls. pretzels. This was highly appreciated by all present. The entire picnic was under the management of Wilson H. WISLER, superintendent of the EISENLOHR factory at his place. Representatives from the East Greenville and Richlandtown factories were present to enjoy the pleasures of the day.
While William and Augustus SCHULER, Jr., son of Augustus SCHULER, of Finland, were hauling hay on Wednesday, their horse started to run down hill with Augustus on the load. The boy was thrown from the wagon and fell so that one of the wheels passed over his leg. The limb was badly fractured. Dr. SCHOLL, of Green Lane, was called who reduced the fracture. The other boy escaped without any injury.
Willie, the five year old son of H.H. SHULER, of Steinsburg, was badly hurt last Saturday, while Andrew WEAVER was unloading hay in Mr. SHULER's yard. The little fellow was playing around the barn and without being noticed, he took hold of the rope, and his hand was pulled into the pulley. Dr. DICKENSHIED was summoned and found it necessary to amputate the two middle fingers of the left hand. He was assisted by his son, Dr. Eugene DICKENSHEID, of Allentown.
The last members of Camp Steckel arrived home on Monday evening at half past ten o'clock bringing along all of their outfit. All were in a happy mood and full of fond remembrances of camp life at Finland. A good deal of trouble was experienced in securing a cook, but at the last minute a man of Fatty FELIX proportions named "Favorite" was secured. He was nick-named "Mary." He had an able assistant named John HUNTER. Fishing and boating were the favorite pastimes and in the former, marvelous successer were recorded. Catfish measuring fifteen inches were very uncommon, and fish for breakfast was the chief article on the bill of fare. A target trap and a barrel of targets tell the story of the heavy cannonading heard by the citizens of Finland the greater part of the week. In the entertainment of visitors Camp Steckel broke all records. About fifty visitors were reported the first Sunday and all went home well satisfied with the treatment received. Owing to the weather conditions the last few days were minus many visitors. The white duck pants and caps constituting the camp uniforms changed their appearance considerably after being worn a few days, and if the gracious land-lady had not kindly washed and ironed them they would not have been fit to wear at the dance on July 6. A particular feature of the dance was the wide berth given to young men wearing white duck pants and caps. S.P. GRIESAMER, of East Greenville took a number of photos of the camp and its members. Too much praise cannot be given to the citizens of Finland for the treatment given all members and we would advise all parties who intend taking an outing to give Finland due consideration. The campers fell satisfied with their outing and will in the future not forego the pleasures to be derived from the camp life of a week or ten days.
Clarence APPLE, the four-year-old son of Milton APPLE, of near Riegelsville, met with a serious accident Tuesday that may prove fatal. The little fellow was out in the grain field with his father. He fell asleep in the grain. When the reaper was driven about the field, the father was horrified to hear a cry of pain. Looking down he saw the body of his little son among the knives of the machine. He quickly stopped the horses, and pulled the child from the terrible position. The little fellow was cut and hacked over his legs and arms in many places. Although at the hospital it is stated that no amputation will be necessary, it is said the child is in a crical condition.
His desire to possess a fine library caused Abram C. MOTT, of Lansdale, to be placed under $1000 bail on the charge of obtaining goods under false pretenses. Gebbie and Co., publishers of Philadelphia swore out a warrant for MOTT's arrest before Magistrate JERMON and in their affidavit alleged that by representing that he was the owner of his own house and also owned stock in a large business concern. MOTT persuaded them to deliver $5000 worth of books to his home. Investigation they claimed showed that MOTT had falsely represented his financial standing. MOTT was arrested in Lansdale.
Chas. MOTZ, proprietor of the Red Hill Hotel, will erect new bar fixtures in the hotel. He contracted with Tilghman DELONG, of Topton, to make and erect the fixtures. It will be put in place in a few weeks. They will be the finest in this section. Mr. MOTZ will also raze the rear portion of the hotel to the ground and have a three story addition put there with an addition of a 3rd story on the main portion of the hotel. He is now having an architect prepare the plans and specifications.
While John LATSHAW, of Hill Church, was returning home from cutting grain for Jacob BAUER, he saw a number of cows in a corn field and left his team stand untied in the road to drive the cows out of the corn. During his absence the horses ran away with the self-binder. When caught, the machine was a total wreck but the horses were uninjured.
Sylvanus STERN who about twenty-five years ago was hired with A.C. KRATZ and Jesse FREEMAN and is now a successful farmer in Kansas, came on Tuesday to the home of A.C. KRATZ and expects to spend some time in this neighborhood. His two sons are running his farm during his absence from home. Mr. STERN's wife is not living anymore.
Miss Anna SNYDER, lost her way on the mountain near Shamokin, on Tuesday afternoon while on an excursion with a party of young men and women. She did not return home by evening, and men and women began to search. On Wednesday she was found in the woods eight miles from home almost dead from exhaustion and fright.
A camping party composed of William WEIDER, Ralph SCHATZ, George KUHL, Chas. KUHNS, Edgar WEAVER and John WEILER Jr., of Allentown, went into camp at Perkiomenville, on Tuesday. The party intends to stay two weeks.
Frank CRESSMAN, of Delphi, captured a crane which measures 7 feet across the body to tips of wings and stands over 4 feet in heights. The bird can be seen caged at the Weldon House.
The quarantine on the family of James BUCKALEW, of Pennsburg, was removed and the house was fumigated yesterday. Their child has fully recovered from scarlet fever, the attack having been very mild.
Mail clerk Joseph BIDDLES, who carried the mail between the post-office of Jenkintown and the station, was killed by a passing train on Friday evening. As carrier, it was his duty to hang the mail bag on a hook in front of the station so as to enable the train which passes there at 6 p.m. to take the mail without a stop. BIDDLES delayed the hanging of the bag until the train was in sight when he hurriedly tried to perform his duty, but failed to get away before the iron arm which takes the bag reached out and hurled him on the track where he was cut up by the wheels.
The Burgess and Town Council of the borough of Norristown have been sued by Alexander K. CALHOUN, through his Attorneys, LARZELERE, GIBSON and FOX, for $10,000 damages for alleged injuries received last winter by a fall upon an icy pavement. The bill of complaint alleges want of proper care on the part of the borough authorities in permitting water to accumulate on the pavement during last January at the corner of Swede and Airy streets, resulting in a sheet of ice twelve feet in width. The complainant being unaware of the conditions passed along on a dark night, fell and sustained permanent injuries.
Harry WIEGNER, a Worcester farmer, was found unconscious lying upon the cutting bar of a mowing machine in a hay field. WIEGNER fell from the seat on the bar while cutting grass. His hands and face were badly cut and several teeth knocked out. He was some time later discovered and removed to the house by his brother, John WIEGNER, whose attention was attracted by the aimless travels of the machine horses.
William FLYNN, a beggar, who terrorized women when they refused alms, was captured by Chief of Police HAHN, of Tamauqua and forced to stand against the jail door post while flogged with a horse whip. The flogging was witnessed by a large crowd who cheered the action of the chief. FLYNN took the flogging stoically and heaped curses on the officer and the on-lookers.
The ten year old girl, Mary EVELAND, of Doylestown, whose parents were arrested for chaining her by the leg, has been committed to jail as an incorrigible. Ever since her release a short time ago she has been roaming through the town, stealing and causing people no-end of trouble and annoyance. The court will be asked to send her to a reform school.
Mrs. Frank HEFFENTRAGER, of near Skippack, met with an accident which nearly cost her life. She was tightening a fruit jar when the glass broke, and a piece therefrom severed the main artery in her left wrist. A delay in securing a physician to stay the flow of the blood nearly proved fatal, the woman having already been overcome when the doctor arrived.
Governor PENNYPACKER, on Monday, viewed a site at Spring City for the proposed location of a home for the feeble-minded and decided to accept it. The act under which the home is to be established provides for buildings to accommodate 500 inmates. The tract selected comprises 300 acres.
Hannah ANTHONY, of Eshbach, a spinster aged 80 years, died as the result of exhaustion following the dropping of her false teeth into her throat several weeks ago.
At a public sale on the farm of Wm. K. GOTWALS, of Worcester, a walnut tree 150 years old, measuring 16 feet in circumference and 5 1/2 feet in diameter, was sold for $125.
During all this active participation on the farm more than half a century
ago, there was also time for recreation. Getting out of bed at so early an hour,
of course brought forth a voracious appetite and for this very reason an
unusual meal was prepared, which to this day is known as the "Nine o'clock Repast."
Not a meal of luxury spread upon an extension table, but a simple meal under
the open air. During the entire haymaking and harvest season, every day that
the farmers and their men had work on the fields, the women of the household
served this meal, regularly, twice each day, at nine in the morning and at half
past three o'clock in the afternoon. Precisely at those hours the maidens of
the farm appeared in the fields and made their way to a large tree, in whose
shade the clean white table linen was spread, and upon this was laid that good
bread of "Ye Grandmother's Day," baked on the hearth of the old bake oven, one
loaf being as large as half a dozen loaves of our modern bakers, butter fresh
from the farm crock, which was kept in the cold spring-house nearby, tripe
that had been preserved during the butchering season of the past winter, and that
other well known Grandmother's product, so well known by the older
generations of the Pennsylvania Germans as "Duetscher Balla Kase," whose presence was
certainly always known, even if not seen, by the peculiar odor, but which was
relished by the farm hands, as one of the delicacies, that was considered by
them as appetizing as a canvas back duck by a conniosseur. All those products of
"ye olden days" consisted of substantial food, but good dried beef and
sausage, specially made during the winter months for this very meal, besides fresh
radishes and onions pulled from the farm garden, intermingled with pies and
cakes, hot coffee just pulled from the warm fire, with an abundance of honey fresh
from the bee-hive behind the old summer kitchen, such constituted the bill of
fare, and such a meal out in the open air was a relish indeed and the sight
of it, would have made any dyspeptic quake for joy, and would have fed the
tramp fraternity of upper Montgomery county for many a day. Those meals so
refreshed the workingmen, that they could do their to perfection. This custom has
practically gone into oblivion and the custom is only met with now and then,
where the repast is found still in practical use, but still a few farms in
Montgomery, Berks and Lehigh counties have farmers who spread such a meal out under
the chestnut trees, while the farmers of the bordering counties have abandoned
this extra luncheon hour. Luncheon hour over which was followed with more work
until high noon, when that old fashioned dinner bell mounted on a twenty foot
pole, or on the gable-end of the roof of that old fashioned country summer
kitchen, a scene so familiar in every farm-yard during the Revolutionary period,
tolled the dinner hour and brought the farm hands by its ringing sound from
the distant fields to the farm house to find a much more substantial meal
awaiting them, than the one they had enjoyed a few hours before. Here they found
all the delicacies Grandmother was able to make with her pastry. Her cooking was
not excelled. Ham and eggs, chicken, roast beef and veal were in abundance
and as every farmer in those days was his own butcher, the meat diet was
certainly worthy of mention. Fifty years ago a farmer would never have fostered the
idea of going to the rear end of a butcher wagon, and buy the same meat he sold
a fortnight previous to the same butcher. In those days the butcher was an
unknown product in the country. Farmers used to kill hogs at different intervals
during the year, those intended for market were slaughtered first and those
for home consumption later, or as soon as the weather got cold enough and just
before the school teacher came to board with the family. Calves and sheep were
occasionally killed and quarters loaned to neighbors, to be returned in kind.
We have been discussing appetite of many years ago, but what about the great
thirst those mowers and cradlers had? Well, those whiskey and apple-jack
experience, jolly incidents of bygone days, when the farmer bought a barrel or two
of the beverages at six or ten cents per quart, which he rolled in his cellar.
This was an annual custom and a boy was always employed to carry the
beverages after the mowers, when at work during haymaking and harvest time. A peculiar
shaped earthen jug was used in the early periods, and few are seen to-day,
nearly all are numbered with the past, and with such a jug filled and a tin-pail
filled with water, the boy trudged along, peeping now and then across his
shoulder at his superiors, and when getting a chance, he himself sometimes tried
to see how strong wonders this shining red substance would work with him, and
whenever he reached the end of a field, or some nice shade tree was
encountered, the squad of men took a few minutes rest and took the customary drink.
During those times a gallon or two disappeared every day on the larger farms of
the Perkiomen Valley, and it is useless to say, as many of the older people
still know, that the apple-jack and whiskey, although so cheap, was of a much
better quality, that what is now handed over the common country bar. If the men
now and then go a little too much under the "jacket," as they used to say in
those days, they would spent an hour under the old chestnut tree or on the barn
floor, and that was the last you heard of it. Its effects brought no
sea-sickness, like the cheap whiskey of to-day does, for the whiskey and apple-jack were
good home made Pennsylvania German liquor, distilled from their own rye and
apples. A few of those distillieries were in our midst in the earlier periods,
but the majority of the distilling was done in Lehigh county along the Blue
mountains, where to the present day in the vicinity of New Tripoli and Low Hill,
distillieries are in active operation during the distilling seasons. Across
the line in Berks county, in Albany township, we find another such distillery,
which is in active operation. In olden times the beverages were tax free and
the cost was inconsiderable, but to-day Uncle Sam wants royalty of $1.10 on
every gallon of apple-jack, or apple-brandy, as some call it, while the best
products sell at $2.75 per gallon. Apple-jack is getting to be a rare article, and
only one out of half a dozen bars, have the same for sale, consequently, the
few distillers find a ready market for their apple-jack. The older this old
time beverage gets, the more valuable it becomes. At a recent sale of cordials,
wines, etc., a lot of apple-jack sold at $70.00 per gallon and there was sharp
bidding at that. Speaking of beverages brings us back to the Old Community
Cider Press, of which not a single one is still standing in the communities
reached by this publication. However a few of you can still remember that long
upright wood screw, with a long wooden lever attached. The beds for the
apple-juice were made of straw, and the horse was attached to the lever and the rich
flowing cider, soon leaked out between the clean blades of rye straw. All this
has been changed again by modern ideas, and to-day we have the hydraulic
presses and the picturesque old community cider press of our good old days had to
take a step to the rear. This proves to us that great progress has been made
along agricultural lines in our very midst during the past thirty years, and
to-day there are indeed few farmers in this vicinity who are not up-to-date and
progressive. Many today do, and a few others, should conduct their affairs on
the farm in a methodical and businesslike way. The majority of our farmers keep
a close watch on the expense accounts, as well as on their income. The
majority are subscribers to one or more newspapers. They read and note the
improvements and new methods. Good book-keeping is as essential on the farm as in the
store. Observation and experience have taught them that the farmer must be
master of his vocation. The old notion that education drives men from the farm is
nonsence, but what does take them away from the rural pursuits of life is the
huming of machinery in our nearby towns and larger cities, where the boy or
girl of sixteen years of age and if they are at all clever, will after a few
weeks of initial work, be able to earn from $3.00 to $5.00 per week, weaving
ribbon and silk patterns, twisting tobacco into cigars, making shirts and hosiery,
and many other garments. We find that our factory inspectors have lots of
trouble with employers who employ the youth of our day before they become of
lawful age to labor at such work. How well would it be, if they could spent a year
or two with a good housewife on the farm, and learn the art of cookery, before
stepping into the busy world of toil. It would give to them an experience
which would never be regretted, and no dyspeptics would be found among them, when
old age would crawl upon them, and they would then look as hale and hearty as
our old farm veterans who are still with us. However many of our boys and
girls are urged to attend the public schools regularly. They are trained in youth
that agriculture will be benefited by their education and their success on
the farm will mainly depend on education. Our agricultural papers have
instructed the farms that common sense and work are the only sure roads to success.
Practice has taught them that hens will not lay, nor berry bushes bear for the
farmers who do not give them their very best attention. N.B. Since writing this
story, it came to the attention of the writer, that the "YEAKEL Reaper," to
which a short paragraph was devoted in part first of "Farming in Ye Olden
Times," was manufactured by the YEAKEL's, way back in the forties, but if the
YEAKELs' were really the inventors, is a matter of doubt. Mr. Isaac Y. KRAUSS, who
was for many years connected with a large machine shop, at Kraussdale, has
called the attention of the writer to the fact that this machine or rather reaper,
was patented by Obed HUSSEY, of Baltimore, Md., who happend to be one of the
pioneer inventors of harvesting machinery. Mr. KRAUSS still well remembers the
YEAKEL reaper, and saw the last one at their shop in 1880. He describes the
reaper as clumsy, particularly so if compared with our present reapers. The
frame was made of wood, three by six inches thick, the platform constructed of
inch boards, while the other parts were in proportion. Two heavy coil springs,
one at each side, were placed under the operators seat to relieve him of the
fearful jar to which he was subjected. The driver was either obliged to walk or
could ride on the near or saddle horse, as four horses were generally used.
- Felix KENELM.
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