| The Davis City Advance, Davis City, Iowa Thursday, December 9, l897 'WHAT THEY KNEW' -------- The Devil started out this morning to hunt up some items, and to every man he met he propounded the query "What do you know?" which refers to all information as to anyone in your neighborhood coming, going, born, dead, sick, married, got the itch or going to have. The following list of replies will convince the most skeptical that the Devil is entitled to a front seat in the dress circle of the angel choir in the sweet bye and bye, as a reward for his long-suffering patience in this world. Here they are: FREEMAN says he "don't know a thing." KLING says he "knows he is here." GERRY MITCHELL says he "knows nothing for certain." WILSON, the gentlemanly salesman for Pilger Grocer Co., of Burlington, was not quite so blank. He "knew it snowed last week." O.W. HALSTEAD just "knows it is Thursday." E.W. TEALE knew nothing, and was "not right sure of that." J.C. KESHLEAR has some new goods in and a rush of customers, and was too busy to know anything else. ROY BROWN knew that "about 40 of the Rebekahs of Davis City went over to Lamoni on the snow Tuesday evening and assisted the Lamoni lodge to institute 8 new members, and had a royal good time, and were never treated better, one and all, and all are anxious to go again." ISAAC JEFFRIES don't know "whether he knows anything or not." ART DORN "believed" it was going to snow, and then he remembered that STEPHEN RADNICH and several other young gentlemen went hunting. Copied by Nancee (McMurtrey) Seifert September 26, 2003 |
| Decatur County Journal Leon, Decatur County, Iowa December 09, 1897 R.T. DOWNEY of VAN WERT R.T. DOWNEY returned last Thursday from Paragould, Arkansas, where he and C. CORBETT went about six weeks ago in company with a car load of horses. In the course of his remarks regarding that portion of the state, which he visited, MR. DOWNEY said that he rather liked the place as a location to visit for a few weeks, but added that he would not wish to farm there, for the reason that the land is too rough. There were other objections MR. DOWNEY mentioned, immaterial however, as far as an item of news is concerned, But "Bob went through some exciting army experience in the south with the boys in blue, during '63 and '65, and for this reason his recent trip south revived some old time recollections of the manners and customs of the southern people in the remote rural districts. The old women down there are still enjoying their customary allowances of snuff, and can smoke as much "long green" tobacco as their predecessors could during the war. The spirit of chivalry appears not to be as great down there as it is in southern Iowa, for "Bob" relates how a farmer riding a mule drove up to a country store and purchased some "long green" and snuff. Following closely in the rear of this rural rustic was his wife on foot, carrying an infant. About the only good quality "Bob" could discern, was when the traveller left the store and advancing to his wife, gave her her allowance of the tobacco, but he was somewhat surprised to observe that the husband placed the tobacco to her mouth in the manner one might feed a mule, and that she bit off her chew without using her hands. It will be some time before that system of etiquette will be in vogue in southern Iowa, as the good sisters would rightfully rebel at such an outrage on dignity and breach of good manners. But then men everywhere occasionally become forgetful, and sometimes, but not often, we see women compelled to chop wood to keep up fires, while their husband might be found in some store explaining the cause of poverty and how our social existence can be improved. In conclusion about Arkansas, corn is worth about 27 cents to 28 cents a bushel; new Paragould whiskey, manufactured at private stills, about $2 a gallon. As to the quality, of course Robert could not say. In all, he enjoyed his trip and has enough jokes and information for the boys that will last the remainder of his days, which "your humble servant" -- literary critics please excuse the phrase -- hope will be many. Copied by Nancee (McMurtrey) Seifert May 15, 2001 |
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Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa The Iowa Children's Home Society have just completed their new nursery home at Des Moines, which will be formally dedicated on Jan. 20th. The ladies of Chapter W., of the P.E.O. Society of this city have agreed to furnish one of the rooms complete at a cost of about $75 in memory of their departed sister, MISS KATE GATES. It is a very worthy enterprise and is a high tribute to the esteem in which MISS GATES was held by the Society. Copied by Nancee (McMurtrey) Siefert |
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