The Times from Clay Center, Kansas • Page 1

THE PAPER OF CLAY COUNTY CLAY CENTER, KANSAS, DECEMBER 24. 1914. Number 52.. Thirty-Eighth Year. EIGHT PAGES.

MORE CONTRIBUTIONS. SURELY WILL BE REMEMBERED. OBSERVING CHRISTMAS. HAD GREAT TIME. DEATHS.

MARRIAGES. AROUND THE COUBT HOUSE. High School Students Observed Closing Day As Usual. The usual Christmas festivities took place at the High school Friday morning, under the management of the Senior class, keeping up a custom, which has been in vogue during the Christmas season at the High school, for several years past. The entertainment took place in the auditorium, which was attired in decorations suggestive of the holiday season, and, besides the High school students, many of the ex-students and the patrons of the school were there to join in the Christmas spirit, which greatly prevailed therein.

Besides the Christmas attire, the new curtain, which should have arrived in time to have been used during the re cent play given at the High school, was hung in place, upon which very prom inently showed a 1915 pennant. The program began at 10 clock and lasted until alter the noon hour. Rev. L. A.

Benson, of the Republican City church, conducted the scripture lesson; the school sang Gloria; Miss Ed-winna DeWitt rendered one of her always pleasing solos; Rev. H. G. Ma-this of the First Presbyterian church, save a short address; and a trio, com posed of Miss Opal Briner, Miss Ruth Caldwell and Ernest Bayles, rurnisnea a pleasing number of the program, all of which took place before the farce, entitled "Christmas at the Cross Roads," was given by members of the Senior class. The farce was one of the best num bers, those having a part being Irene Crabb, Frank Hurley, Ernest Bayles, Emma Weiss, Dewey Fullington, Jessie Rankin, Lyle Ernst, Ruth Caldwell, Meda McChesney, Lawrence Thomas, Lamfred Johnson, Myrtle Randall and Bertha Trechsel.

The scene was a country school house, with the church decorating committee busy preparing for the Christmas exercises with the unwelcome help of the Cross Roads community. The farce was well played and ended with the decorating of the tree, whereon were hung various gilts for students among the various classes of the High school. The gift hanging created a great deal of amusement, for the recipient's name was read aloud as each present, which was of a comical nature, was hung in its place on the Christmas branches. When the farce was ended the Jun iors had a share in the entertaining. They gave their class yell, distributed gifts and entertained in various ways.

Mr. Allbaugh received his customary gift; Janitor Witt the usual turkey for the Christmas dinner; Miss Paddock, the class advisor, a Christmas gift; and there were remembrances for oth ers. The program came to a close with the Senior class singing their class songs, of their own composition, to all the latest airs, there being something dedicated in music to all the faculty members, to the Freshmen, the Jun iors, the Sophomores, Janitor ltt and lastly, their own farewell, which was followed by the popular "Boola. ine program was one of the best ones ever given in the High school and was heart ily enjoyed by the large audience assembled to listen. The Remaining Schedule.

Aside from the three-day trip which has been made this week by the Clay county High school basket ball team, playing games at Concordia, ManKato and Norton, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, the home team has a number of games yet to be played before their season is ended. So far in the season the team has been doing some exceptionally good work, keeping up to the records made by the former teams of the High school. The remaining schedule is as follows: High school alumni, at Clay Center, Dec. 30; Topeka Y. M.

C. at Clay Center, Jan. Concordia High school, at Clay Center, Jan. tiiasco school, at Glasco, Jan. 15; Minneapolis school, at Minneapolis, Jan.

16; Minneapolis, at Clay Center, Jan. 22; at Chapman, Jan. 30; Glasco school, at Clay Center, Feb. Dickinson county High school, at Clay Center, Feb. 12; Abilene High school, at Abilene, Feb.

19: Salina High school, at Salina, Feb. 20; Manhattan High school, at Manhat-. tan. Feb. 26; Wamego High school, at Wamego, Feb.

27; Manhattan High school, at Clay Center, March 5. A Card From W. H. Funnell. Having purchased the interest of Mr.

Muck, in the Cash Grocery, I wish to i Clay Center Churches Will Remember Children With Treats. The various churches in Clay Center will observe the Christmas season this year in the usual way, that is most pleasing to the tiny people of their congregations, with a Christmas tree and a Christmas program of recitations, verses and musical numbers. The Times is in print before these observances are realized, but great preparations are under way and have been going on during the past few weeks, so a prediction as to their success can be made with good grace. To lend to the Christmas spirit, holiday decorations are prevailing in the various church buildings, where will be given their programs this evening, on Christmas eve. The young people of the First M.

E. church will render a pleasing program this evening, which program will be composed of numbers of a Christmas nature, of interest to the old as well as to the young. There will be appropriate music, both vocal and otherwise, recitations and other reading numbers, all ending in a Christmas tree feature, planned especially for the little folks of the church. Christmas observance will be held by the German M. E.

people on Christmas eve at the Ebenezer church, east of Clay Center, and on Friday evening at the German M. E. church in Clay Center. Rev. Ahrens is pastor of both churches, so two evenings are necessary in which to render the usual programs, such as are given each year by the German M.

E. congregations. Programs, of the usual order, will be given and there will be a Christmas tree that the children may be given the usual holiday treat. Christmas day services will be held at the Swedish M. E.

church at 6:30 a. m. on Christmas day, at which service will be taken the usual Christmas offering for the seminary at Evanston, 111. A splendid program has been prepared by the Sunday school and will be given in the evening, to which all are heartily welcome. A splendid program, aside from the beautiful cantata which was rendered by the chorus choir last Sunday evening, has been prepared by the Sunday school children of the First Baptist church to be given on Christmas eve.

Numbers by the young people, to observe the Yule-tide, will compose an entertaining program and to dispense the usual Christmas remembrances there will be a Christmas tree with loaded branches to delight the little folks. At the Congregational church the usual Christmas program and the usual tree takes place on Christmas eve. The program will be of the usual Christmas nature, in which the younger people have prominent part, and there will be a tree to delight the little folks and make it the same merry Christmas as of yore. At the Pleasant Hill M. E.

church, in the country, there will be a program, of Christmas music, recitations and Christmas time verses, and a Christmas tree, all of which takes place this evening. The committee in charge will commence their program at the hour of 7:30 and have arranged a splendid program, which is to commemorate the Christ's birthday. At the St. Paul's Episcopal church, in this city, a special service will be held on Christmas morning at 10:30 o'clock. The service will be an impressive one as well as a beautiful one and will be of interest to all the members of that congregation.

Elaborate plans have been made to make Christmas at the Presbyterian church a pleasant affair. The Cradle Roll and primary departmnet of the Presbyterian Sabbath school will be entertained at a Christmas party at the home of the primary superintendent, Mrs. X. Olsen, 425 Clark street, Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. There will be an informal program of songs and recitations by the children of Mrs.

Gar-ber's class and on the Christmas tree there will be a gift from the Sabbath school to each of the little ones. The Junior and Senior departments of the Sabbath school will have a progressive nrnErram. whirh will heein nt th manse at At tnis nour those who take part in the programs at the other homes are expected. The manse will be decorated to represent America, and a short program of tableaux and music will be given. Part 2 of the program will be presented at the James Hanna home, where the an old fashioned Christmas tree, and where the Santa Claus family will fur nish the program.

At the close Santa Claus, on behalf of the Sabbath school, will distribute the reat to the pupils. At each place the program will be re- peated every fifteen nnutes between 7:30 and 8:30 o'clock. Every member of the Sunday school and congregation is expected to attend, and the public is cordially invited to come and enjoy our unusual celebration with us. otfter cnurcnes in ana aoout ciay on Christmas eve, oi an elaborate na ture; and aside from all of this Christ as will probably be observed in the usual way with Christmas dinners and Christmas parties in the various homes in Clay county. The postoffice employ jes v.

ill observe the day in-the usual way; and most of the business houses. except the general stores, which will hplrf nnpn until the nnnn innr will be ci0Sed throughout Christmas day tnat an may nave an(j enjoy a merry People Are Still Giving Liberally to the Belgian Relief Fund. Since The Times printed the list of Belgian relief contributors a couple of weeks ago or more, a number of free will offerings have been added to the previous list and have been handed in to the committee in charge. A list of the late contributors, which includes a list from Morganville, is given below, the offerings being thus: Broughton, Clay Center Telephone city schools, Mrs. North's Sunday school class, Mrs.

G. P. Randall's Sunday school class. C. C.

Stillman, J. H. Yeaney, Miss Boal's Sunday school class, A. O. U.

$5.00 contributors, R. E. Shadle, P. Bro-den, D. C.

Frazier, George Gray, James Caldwell, Stella Down's Sunday school class, Ray Hanna, Peter Anderson, Warren Watts, Hans Hanson, Charles Hagenbuch, John Hagenbuch, A. Johnson, John Olson, Jay Conkright, Fred Conkright, J. DesJardins, M. D. Arner, Mrs.

P. F. Anderson, R. E. Miller, John W.

Patterson, Mrs. T. G. Borland; $3.00 contributors, O. Bergstrum, Industry schools, First M.

E. Sunday school, A. E. Page, W. B.

Brown and family, J. W. Chestnut, J. W. King, G.

B. Kapple-man, Pearl Cowell; S. P. Nelson, S. R.

Tippin, $2.50 contributors, Will Hetherington, S. S. Smith, John McMahon, Lawrence Sewell, E. E. Sta-mets, Glenn Adams; contributing $2.00, T.

W. Kincaid, O. V. Sewell, R. P.

Hanson. J. D. Schooley, Richard Roenigk, A. Wicklund, J.

B. Hemphill, Leon White, Wm. Lonergan; contributing $1.50, G. B. Thomas, Ben Farrow, Hen ry Michelson, Mrs.

Joseph Folsom, Au gust Kolling, Ben Telander, G. I. Bo- dine; contributing $1.25, Lyman Barnes, Albert McAnlis, W. A. Martin, E.

C. Smith, Ben Chaffee. A. N. Craw ford; contributing $1.00, W.

J. Todd, C. V. Hedlund, Olof Nyberg, Cash, H. Weidman, J.

R. Tippin, Walter Lunden, Cash, School district No. 38, Rose Ed- ington, Dr. Reynolds, Will Stephens, R. F.

Binkley, A. C. Hill, Carrie Eilers, C. C. Schooley, Rev.

J. A. Jacobson; Mrs. White's Sunday school class, 25 cents. The following gave wheat Mrs.

Wm. Silver, 25 H. H. Merten, 25 E. Wiberg, 10 H.

J. Merten, 10 E. Walquist, 10 Peter Hanson, 10 C. L. Miller, 10 Mrs.

J. S. Miller, 10 Theo. Rasmussen, 10 Geo. Perreault, 8 Mrs.

Rasmussen, 7 W. W. Merten, 5 C. Jacobson, 5 J. G.

Hughes, 5 L. Weiss, 5 Wm. Affolter, 5 Gus Strom, 5 C. G. Allen, 5 John Hedlund, 5 L.

Landin, 5 P. Girard, 5 John Peter-meyer, 2 A. Petermeyer, 2 Mrs. L. Lakeman, 2 bu.

Fred Affolter, 2 James Purves, 2 sacks of flour; Peter Berg, 1 sack of flour. The first of the week E. H. Swenson received a letter from Governor Stubbs acknowledging the receipt of the bill of lading for the car of flour which was sent out from Clay Center about a week ago to go to the American commission for relief to Belgium. The car contained 1,250 sacks of flour.

E. T. Landon gave $3.00 and Anna M. Thomas gave $2.00. That means that there was contributed to the fund raised in Clay Center, $1,675.75, nearly all of which has been para in.

A car of flour has been sent out and more will be sent soon. People desiring to contribute can do so yet, for more flour will be needed and sent later. While $1,675.57 was contributed to the fund raised in Clay Center, not all of it was given by Clay Center people, by considerable. Much of it came from the country surrounding. But all came from the county and Clay county gets the credit.

It was a great contribution and will be needed. A Pretty Good List. For the past month or more The Times has been printing over 3,000 papers each week. This is the best list The Times ever had. Last week we printed 3,025 papers and the list has been around that figure for over a month.

It is certainly a wonderfully fine list. With this number of readers of The Times each week, a great advertising medium is offered the advertisers of Clay county. To be able to place an advertisement in practically every home in Clay county is something that advertisers should appreciate. And they evidently do, from the amount of advertising that The Times has been carrying lately. The Times advertising rate is twelve and one-half cents an inch, flat, the same to everybedy.

This makes advertising in The Times the cheapest in Clay county. It is cheaper than cir cular letters, bills or any other form of advertising. It is an advertising medium that pays big returns on every dollar invested in it. And it is open to the merchants of Clay Center every week. Whosoever will may come.

W. H. Funnell and U. G. Muck, who have been running the Cash Grocery, have dissolved partnership, Funnell keeping the Cash Grocery and the Mucks retiring therefrom.

T. Beesley has been working in the grocery store this week, having started there the first of the week. The store will continue in the same location, being run as lormerly, with Funnell as the sole owner. U. G.

Muck has been working for J. L. Cultra this week, at the Clay County Produce company's place of business. O. L.

Slade, the local bill poster, has had posted on his big bill boards about town, large pictures of the birth of Christ with a scripture reading under neath and the admonition to children to have their Sunday school teachers to tell them the story of Christ's birth. The pictures are large, handsome ones and particularly call attention to why the Christian world observes December 25th. The posting of these pictures by bill posters is a national affair, carried on throughout this country. All The Clay Center Poor Folks Will Have a Merry Christmas. The Good Fellows of Clay Center will see that nobody in Clay Center goes through Christmas this year with out being made ahppy.

It is going to be a merry Christmas for alL Some time ago a meeting was held and com mittees appointed to take charge of every department of the Christmas giving this year. Since then the com mittees have been at work and it is now certain that all the poor, children and grown-ups alike, will have a merry time Christmas day. Two weeks ago the traveling men of the city contributed 1 150 worth of clothing for the poor boys of the city. The first of this week the committees which had charge of raising funds for the event were out and collected over $150 to be used in the purchase of good things for the day, and of course there will be a lot of clothing, toys, eatables, contributed to make the day a happy one for the children. All this matter for the day will be collected at the city building and distributed from there probably Thursday afternoon or Christmas morning.

It looks, from the amount of money contributed, the amount of clothing and other matter given, that it will be a big day. There will be chickens, candy, bread, nuts, flour, fruit, toys, clothing, potatoes, in each package for each family. Every child will be remembered with some little thing to make his heart glad, while every family will be given a basket of eatables for the day's dinner. The Good Fellows have been as active this year as in former years and for the last few years Clay Center has remembered its poor in a way of which the town can be proud. If you wish to see a great sight, be at the city clerk's office.

Thursday when the packages are being made up for each family and you will see things that will make you believe that humanity is better than you thought, for you will see things that will convince you that Clay Center people do not forget their poor. Appealed The Cases. Notice was received by Clay Center's attorneys, Dawes Miller, this week that the Williamson attorneys had appealed electric light cases which were before Judge Pollock and decided some months ago so decidedly in favor of the city. There are two cases involved which have been tried, it might be said, as one. One of them is a damage suit against Clay Center and certain individuals involving $200,000.00.

The other case is the ouster case, in which Clay Center was seeking to have the Williamson company ousted from the streets of Clay Center. Judge Pollock decided sweepingly in favor of Clay Center all along the line. It was thought at the time the case would end there, as Pollock's decisions were so strong for the city. But it was known, of course, all the time, that the Williamson concern had the right of appeal. That right they have now exercised and notice was received this week that the cases would come up in the United States Circuit court sixty days from the 19th of December, which means the latter part of February, at St.

Louis. The particular interest Clay Center will have in the appeal is that the Williamson poles, cables and wires will remain on the streets of the city for that much longer a time, a menace to the lives and property of citizens of the town. The chances are that the next bad storm we have, with a high wind, will blow these poles, cables and wires down. When it happens someone is very liable to get hurt and there will also probably be much property loss. To that extent Clay Center is interested in these suits.

There seems but little question but what the verdict of the courts will ultimately be for Clay Center. Wheat Went Up. For the past week wheat has been steadily climbing in price, until Tuesday afternoon it was selling for a dollar eight in Clay Center, with prospects of going better on Wednesday morning. Some weeks ago the price went up a dollar, which was the price many men were waiting for and at that figure a lot of wheat was sold. Since then the price has been going up right along, the price of $1.08 Tuesday after noon being the best price that the grain has reached in Clay Center on this crop.

At that price not much was being sold. The roads were such that wheat could not be hauled to town and in addition most of the farmers who cared to sell had sold at a dollar or less. Those who had not sold were willing to hold on awhile longer now and see just how high the grain would go, or what it would do. So there was not much being sold this week at this high price. It seems to be the view of most men that the price will go higher yet.

Got Ice. The latter part of last week workmen for Starkweather began cutting ice and by Saturday night had three layers of nice, clear, river ice, better than six inches thick in the two ice houses over on the river bank. That, of course, was just a starter, but it put the houses in shape so that the work could be rushed this week. Monday morning was spent in sweeping the snow off the river and then the work of rushing the ice into the houses was started in a hurry. It has been of good thickness and nice and clear.

It is seldom that Ice forms over the river better than it did this time. From the present indications, Clay Center will not have any ice famine next summer. For sale, west half of northeast quarter of section 22, township 7, range 4 east, YA mile north and 1 miles east of Green; 65 acres broke, rest prairie. Price, $4,000. Address A.

J. Hulin, Clay Center, Kan. Ransley: Thomas C. Ransley, onm of the very well known residents at this county, residing in the Fact neighborhood, passed away last Thursday morning, December 17th, after a long illness. Several months ago Mr.

Ransley underwent an operation at the Clay Center hospital, at which time his condition was thought to be a very dangerous one. He recovered to some extent and was removed from the hospital to the home of his father-in-law, J. A. Glace, in Clay Center, where ho remained until he was able to be taken to his own home, seventeen miles northeast of Clay Center, in the Green neighborhood. For a time Mr.

Ransley was so improved in health that a recovery was thought to be possible, but suddenly he began to grow weaker and passed away at 10 o'clock on Thursday of last week. At the time of his death he was forty-three years, three months and fifteen days of age. The deceased was born in Clay county August 2, 1871, and spent his entire life in this community. He was left an orphan at the age of eight years and then began to make his home with Mr. and Mrs.

Thomas Ransley, who later adopted him as their own son. He was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Glace April 22, 1896, who, with two daughters, Eulah and Jessie, who reside in the parental survive. At an early age Mr. Ransley was converted and united with the United Brethren church of Fact, later placing his membership in the Goshen Congregational church. He lived a consistent Christian life and was one of the very good citizens of this county, who will be greatly missed in a friendship way as well as in the home circle.

The funeral services were held Saturday morning at 11 o'clock, from the Goshen Congregational church, where many gathered to pay their last re spects to a departed friend. Interment was made in the Appleton cemetery. Skinner: The passing of Robert S. Skinner on Saturday morning, December 5th, was a real shock to the community. Genial "Bob," as he was known far and wide, was one of the pleasing personalities of the county and his wholesome presence will bo sadly missed by sorrowing relatives and hundreds of people who have been fortunate enough to number him among their friends.

Sturdy and cheerful, honest to a degree, a loving husband and father, he goes at last before the great tribunal with a record that can not be questioned. Deceased was born at Dry Run, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1857, and on June 24, 1875, was mar ried to Melinda Vaughn, who has been his constant companion through all the Intervening years. About 28 years ago Mr. and Mrs. Skinner moved to Ne braska and settled on a homestead ten miles north of where Broken How now stands.

Custer county has been their home since then and Mr. Skinner could point with pride to the fac that he was one of Custer's oldest pioneers. Although still retaining his farm, he moved to Broken Bow about sixteen years ago and went into business. Those left to revere the memory of the deceased are a wife and one daughter, five brothers and three sisters. Owing to the fact that a number of the relatives live at a great distance and unable to attend, there were only present the widow and daughter, Mrs.

Cameron Wahl, and Raid Skinner, a brother. Custer County Chief, Broken Bow, Neb. Mr. Skinner formerly lived in Blaine township, where he is remembered by some of the old settlers. Lamkin: On Sunday afternoon A.

E. Lamkin received a message from his sister at Denver, announcing the death of his father, George J. Lamkin, of pneumonia. He left that evening for Denver, via PJainville to be present at the last sad rites over a parent whom he greatly revered and loved. The funeral was held there and interment made in the Crown Hill cemetery.

The deceased formerly lived in Stockton, coming here with his people in December, 1885. He was born near Avilla, March 28, 1844, and died December 13, 1911. He was married in 1863. To this union were born four girls and three boys, of whom three daughters and two sons are living. His companion died in Stockton in 1887.

Much of the time since then has been spent in Clay county. He was a member of Manitou (Colo.) I. O. O. F.

lodge and the services were conducted by members of Union Lodge No. 1 of Denver. For a year or more he had made his home with his daughter and son in Denver. Arthur Lamkin returned on Thursday morning. His acquaintances in this vicinity remember him as a kindly, mild-mannered gentleman, who was always cheerful and optimistic.

He leaves remembrances only of good deeds and pleasant smiles. Rooks County Record. Mr. Lamkin will be well remembered by many Clay county residents, he having once lived here and in this community. Riasum: Word was received here Monday that Thomas Riasum, a former resident of this city, had died at his home in Chehalis, on Sunday, December 13th.

The funeral was held Tuesday and the body was buried in the cemetery at Chehalis. Mr. Riasum was born April 4, 1867, and at the time of his death was forty-seven years, eight months and nine days of age. He is survived by a wife, Anna, and six children, Mrs. Isla Winstock of Port-iand.

and Catherine, Harry, Roger and Loam, all of Cheballs. Mr. Riasum was a member of Morganville lodge No. 217, A. O.

U. and Continued on page Barker-Allen: A wedding of much surprise to Clay Center friends, since nothing had been previously announced about the approaching event, took place at Concordia last Wednesday morning, December 16th, when Mrs. S. N. Barker of Clay Center became the wife of Mr.

David Allen of Miltonvale. The ceremony took place at the Cloud county court house and was performed by Probate Judge Fry. Mrs. Barker returned only the early part of last week from Iola, where she had been making an extended visit with her son, who is located at that place. Shortly after her arrival home she went to visit her sister, Mrs.

John Crane, at Miltonvale, from which place she went to Concordia for the wedding, which took place as above mentioned. Mrs. Allen is well known in Clay Center and vicinity and numbers with the highly respected ladies of this place. Her home has been in Clay Center for a number of years and she has a wide circle of friends to wish her well in her new home, which is to be established at Miltonvale. Sandberg-Craft: A wedding of quite a bit of interest to Clay county people, since one of the contracting parties comes from one of the well known families of Green, took place in Clay Center last Wednesday evening, December 16th, when Miss Selma Sand-berg of Denver, and Mr.

William Craft of Green were united in marriage. The ceremony was performed at 5 o'clock that evening by Probate Judge W. P. Anthony, at his court house office. Mrs.

Craft is a stranger in Clay county, being a resident of Colorado. Mr. Craft, however, is well known in this community, being one of the highly respected young men of Green. He is a son of Mrs. Henry Craft of that place and follows the barber trade there, where he and Mrs.

Craft have taken up their abode. May they have the best of luck through all the years to come. Floan-Hamilton Clay Center friends received an announcement this week of the marriage of a Miss Floan to Mr. Charles Hamilton, who is known in Clay Center. The wedding took place Monday, Devember 21st, at Cedarvale, the home of both parties.

Mr. Hamilton, while in Clay Center, was employed as a printer in the Dispatch office and will be remembered by many Clay Center Miller-Seubert: Henry Seubert, of the Alta Vista vicinity, formerly of Wakefield, and Miss Minnie Miller of Milford, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W.

Miller, were married in this city yesterday. Both are members of well known families of this county, and will have the good ishes of hosts of friends in the city. Junction City Republic. A Representative Paper. Last week's issue of The Times was one of the most representative issues of the paper ever printed.

By that, we mean that last week's issue represented the business interests of Clay Center possibly better than any paper ever before issued by Tke Times or any other Clay Center newspaper. Practically every business house of Clay Center was represented in the pages of that paper. The Times last week did not carry the most advertising it ever carried. Not by a whole lot. In fact, the issue of December 10th carried much more advertising than the issue of the 17th.

But the issue of the 17th was so representative, that it was almost a directory of the business houses of Clay Center. The advertiments were not large, but nearly all of the houses were there. All five of the banks carried advertisements, most of the dry goods stores, clothing stores, drug stores, hardare, grocery, shoe, jewelry and, in fact, nearly all the stores of Clay Center had their advertisements in last week's issue of The Times. The paper represented the business life of the city probably better than any other paper ever issued by The Times. It was a great directory of the business life of the town.

And it is safe to say that the merchants profited by the advertisements, for Clay Center has been doing a world of business all this week. Thank You. For the very good Christmas trade which we have enjoyed this season, we wish to thank our customers. The past year has brought to this store varied experiences which all remember. The big fire and then the new location or.

Fifth street has made 1914 a thrilling year for us. But, through the steadfastness of friends, the store has weathered these events and we believe is better situated today to serve its customers than ever before. This result has been possible through the patron age of friends, and for this friendship we now desire to express our smcerest thanks. Lawrence Grocery- While this may not be the biggest Christmas the Clay Center postoffice has ever seen, the rush has been tremendous. It started a little earlier this year than last, for ever since last Saturday there has been a rush at the postoffice of people mailing parcels and every day has seen a big rush.

Today the rush of mailing parcels has let up somewhat, for people have mostly sent out the Christmas packages which they wished to send. But the postoffice is now right in the middle of receiving packages and for the next few days there will be a rush to get them delivered. It will be some days before the rusn is over. Thompson, assistant delivery man, is helping deliver parcels this week. Just received, a car load of famous Nisco spreaders.

W. W. Smith Sons. Saturday night the county treasurer put on the penalty on half the taxes where one-half had not been paid byj that time. Half the taxes for this year were due by Saturday night and when that half had not been paid, the penalty went on half.

Treasurer Funnell states that more people paid just half their taxes this year than Hej uoes noi Know way, out many people paid just half. George Snow et al. vs. Martha Peter son et is a case filed in the District court last week. It is a case to parti- live in Washington county.

The Union Pacific railroad paid all ineir laies, uiiuug iuc icuaie uii iuc second half. Treas. Funnell received a cnecK irom tne roaa ior ineir entire taxes, the check being for $12,596.47, a pretty good sized check. County Clerk VanSlyke and family left this week for Carney, where they will spend the Christmas vacation, coming home about January 2nd. It is the first time VanSlyke has been away from the county clerk's office for a whole day, since he took the office, about two years ago, a pretty good rec ord.

All during the campaign he was never away from the office for a whole day at a time. That is tending to bus iness pretty faithfully. He thought he had earned a little vacation, and it surely looks that way. While he is away Ex-County Clerk Nordstrom is working around the office. The District court will be in session next week, starting Monday, the 28th.

It is not known how long court will be in session. The November term of the court will then be finished and it will be the last time that Kimble will sit as Judge of the District court for Clay county. After this session of court it will be Judge Smith for Clay county. Sheriff Hinshaw now has larger quarters than formerly, having taken over the county assessor's office. He thus has two rooms now, but his old office will be used largely for a second jury at any time it is needed.

His old room and the new adjoin, the new room being just west of his old, on the second floor of the court house. Janitor Boyd had a good dose of snow, shoveling Monday morning. Miss Florence Funnell, the deputy county treasurer, who has been confined at home for the past week or more, is making a rapid recovery from her recent illness and will soon be able to be down town caring for her duties in the county treasurer's office. The Times was misinformed last week as to Miss FunnelFs condition, thereby making a mistake in reporting that she was to return to the hospital for another operation. A few months ago Miss Funnell underwent an operation, which has proven to be most satisfactory, her recent illness having nothing to do with the former operation, but to an attack of the grip.

The court house offices will be closed Friday for Christmas, it being a legal holiday and the county officials enjoying the day of rest. Quite a number of young people will be married Christmas as a present to each other, but it appears that no one is going to present their partner with a divorce case as a Christmas present. Whittiker Whittiker, attorneys of Ottawa, recently secured tax deeds to 19 pieces of property, many of which the owners did not know were back. The past week there has been quite a little searching around the court house by owners of property who supposed their land was free of taxes. but who recently learned that other parties held tax deeds against it.

There was quite a little excitement about some of it and where the county comes in, some back taxes are going to be paid, probably, netting the county quite a little money. It is ail rather a peculiar proposition. Sheriff Hinshaw had an automobile break-down in Wakefield on Tuesday night and had to come back to Clay Center Wednesday morning on the freight. Exeter Band Entertainments. The Exeter band will hold two entertainments during the holiday season.

The boys tried to get their band hall, which they have located in Ladysmith, ready for socials at this time, but cold weather has caused a suspension of operations on the building. The socials planned for the hall will be held in school houses. The first entertainment will be a pie social at the Twin Mound school house, next Saturday evening, December 26th. A varied program consisting of musical numbers by the band, solos and recitations will be given. Every lady is requested to bring a pie.

It is optional with the ladies concerning the putting of their names on the pies. This is a good cause and the organization must have money to meet its heavy expenses. The second entertainment will be a pie social at the Davis school house on New Year's evening. The crowd always goes to the Exeter band entertainments, so be there. Remember the dates Twin Mound, Saturday, Dec.

26; Davis school house, Friday, January 1, 1915. Thirty-inch saw blades, $5.70 and freight. Other sizes at correspondingly low prices. W. W.

Smith Son. Do your Christmas snopprng early Thursday morning. express hearty appreciation of the cor- guests will be entertained in a Japan-dial patronage extended to us in the ese tea garden. Part 3 will be given past and to request a continuance of it at the J. M.

Thompson home, where in the future. With an entirely new tropical decorations will be used, and and up-to-date stock I shall be in a po- the program will be scenes from the sition to give you excellent service and Presbyterian hospital at San Juan, supply all your grocery needs. Porto Rico. Part 4 will be at the W. The patronage extended during the G.

Robinson home, where there will be past year has been very gratifying and to all our customers, present and pros-the season. W. H. Funnell. Christmas at Swedesburg Lutheran.

The birthdav of Christ will be com memorated by the usual services at 5:30 a. m. Christmas morning. The children's program will be rendered Second Day Christmas, beginning at 7 p. m.

The Williamson mill has been grind- ing a car of flour for an Eastern Kan- tenter will observe tne cnnstmas sea-sas county this week, to go to the Bel- son with programs and Christmas trees gians, having secured the contract to arind the same. So that makes two cars of flour which go out of Clay Cen- ter for Belgium, one of which the peo- pie of the county contributed and one of which Williamson made for the oth- er county. rrom ine recem siaitiuems for, from the State banks, it appears that banks have recovered their vol- umn of deposits and are again about is mgn as iu years agu. isi spnug Christmas. deposits in banks considerably decreased.

Old papers at The Times..