100 Years Ago This Month

December 1921

December 2

Christmas Seals

The sale of Tuberculosis Christmas Seals, conducted each year by the Maryland Tuberculosis Association commenced on December 1. It is hope to collect the $85,000 necessary to carry on the tuberculosis work for another 12 months. This is the 14th year that the association has presented its bright seals to the public as a means to secure holiday packages and letters, and, at the same time, to help fight one of the most devastating scourges that afflict mankind. Statistics shows a decided decrease in the number of cases of tuberculosis in the state. In 1918 they were 2,934 deaths from consumption, while in 1920 there was a decrease of 786. If this percentage of decreases is maintained the disease will probably be entirely eliminated. At any rate, it is now on the run and is perhaps needs only a persistent and conscious effort to put it to rout as a health problem.

November Hot and Dry

November was the warmest November on record, according to the local weatherman. The general temperature which prevailed during the past month hasd been above that of the other Novembers since the local shark has been keeping tabs on the atmospheric conditions. The highest temperature registered was 77E on the 18th. Only once since the sharp has been keeping records has this been equaled, that being November 4, 1914. The warmest night was on the 19th, when the mercury in the official tube rose as high as 62E.

November’s lowest temperature was 26, and that was on the 16th. The precipitation this November was equal to last November, with the area receiving a total of 3.69 inches of rain. Rain fell on 19 days, while last November it rained on only 10 days. Heavy frost fell on the 6th, 8th, 11th, 16th and 22nd. Snow flurries visited the area on the 12th, 13th and 26th, and high winds swept through the county on the 3rd, 18th, 22nd and 24th. Ice formed on five mornings during the month. The thickness of ice varied from 1/3rd to 2/5ths of an inch.

Women’s Club Meet

The Women’s Club of Walkersville met at the home of Mrs. J Pallister, Wednesday afternoon. After required gossiping was completed, the following programs were rendered: The American creed, Mrs. Walter Kiefer; The True Meaning Of Citizenship To America Women, Helen Stafford; Who Are Citizens Of The United States, Mrs. McHenry; Why Should I Consider It My Patriotic Duty To Vote? Mrs. Anna Corey; When I Learned Of Interest To Women During My Campaign, Mrs. Felesea Staufferr. Can the women of Walkersville vote in the next town election? If not, what can be done to give them that privilege?

December 9

Men’s Club Formed

In response to last week’s Women’s Club meeting, the hard working men of Walkersville have decided to form Men’s Club to members to escape the senseless talk about women’s feeble minds being able to handle such complex topics as voting, driving Autocars, not to mention the non-stop sound of their chicken-chattering gossip on the party line. The site of the first meeting has not been determined as we go to press, but we are to understand the determining factor will be the ability of the property’s ‘john Barleycorn’s’ still to handle all the manly needs of those in attendance.

Bank Robbers Foiled at Taneytown

An attempt was made Monday night by crackmen to rob the Taneytown Savings Bank. First the iron bars of the rear window were attacked for entrance, a pipe cutter being used to clip the stout bars, but this was given up as too hard a job, the cutter being left on the ground. Entry into the building was eventually made throughout the window into the furnace cellar. The wall of the vault was then attacked and a large amount of plaster and brick removed by a pick and crow bar, until the double frame work of railroad rails was reached, when the job was given up.

For some reason the telephone wires were cut, possibly with the idea that they might be alarm wires. No attempt was made on the vault doors. Evidently, the vault is such that a great deal of time and use of powerful explosives would be required to crack it. No one heard the crackmen, or saw them, even thought both the building and the street were brilliantly lit all night. A yellow and red striped horse blanket with two holes in it, and black and a dark green lab robe, where left with the tools.

Mail For Santa To Be Delivered

Children if you don’t know the address of Santa Claus, then let Uncle Sam deliver your letters. The Postal Service has arranged to take care of messages intended for the white bearded chap who spends Christmas Eve traveling up and down chimneys. Postmasters have been directed letters addressed plainly and unmistakably to Santa Claus, without other terms or expressions identifying the person for whom such letters are intended, to responsible charitable institutions or reputable individuals in the town who may desire to use them exclusively for philanthropic purposes.

Hit By Train And Killed

Miss Sarah Appold, 68, of Detour, was struck by a Western Maryland passenger train shortly before 6 o’clock last Friday evening. She died 15 minutes after. Her body was dragged for some distance and badly mangled. Her skull was fractured, both arms broken, one leg broken, and one cut off.

Mrs. Appold made her home with her sister and brother-in-law, residing a short distance below the railroad station. The sister went to Baltimore and was returning on the evening train. Miss Appold had started to walk to the station to meet her upon return, and had cross the siding, stepping from behind a freight car. The engineer saw her first, and a little later she was on the fireman side of the track. It is supposed she thought she was on the siding and when she realized her mistake tried to get back to the station side of the track. Immediately after the train stopped members of the crew hurried to the spot and found her unconscious. She was laid upon a car door and carried to her home. But she died without regaining consciousness. Mrs. Appol was well known and held in high esteem by all in the community.

December 16

Some Hooch

Last Friday evening one of Uncle Sam‘s boys, while passing the home Mr. Trago, E. Main St., so large eagle perched on the chimney. Greatly excited, he rushed to the house and rang the bell. His summons was answered by Master Myron Trago.

"Got a gun" was suddenly shot at the little fellow by Uncle Sam‘s boy.

"No, but my father has", was the quick reply.

"Father home?" This query was answered by Mrs. Trego.

Later, in talking to Mr. T about the eagle he remark that he would not lend anybody his gun to shoot the revolving weathervane from his chimney, "but I would like to know where he got such a dandy grade of hooch!"

Deaths

Samuel Grover, 62, of Walkersville was struck by automobile driven by Marshall Green, and fatally injured. He attempted across the street in front of his home when two cars, going in opposite directions came along. In avoiding one machine he was struck and dragged some distance by the other. He was picked up unconscious and died without regaining consciousness.

Following an operation of appendicitis, Clarence Dorsey son of Mr. and Mrs. Owen Dorsey of Woodsboro, died without coming out from under the influence of the ether. He was 12 years old and had been ill health for sometime.

December 23

Wind Does Damage

A windstorm of unusual violence swept through the County Sunday. The wind, which came from the south, was strong from the time it set in and continued through most of the day. It blew down trees and branches were broken off everywhere and fell across the highways, temporarily blocking traffic on many thoroughfares.

Four telephone poles were blown over and in Thurmont electric wires were blown down everywhere and 1/3 of the town was without power from about 2 o’clock in the morning until daybreak. Officials of the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. said that 12 lines in the county have been reported out of commission. It is probable, however, that this is not the full extent of the damage to the service and outlying sections of the county.

When You Are Constipated

To ensure a healthy action of the bowels and correct disorders of the liver, take two of Chamberlains Tablets immediately after supper. They will not only ensure a gentle movement of the bowels, without unpleasant effects, but manage that stupid feeling that often accomplishes constipation brought about by being henpecked by your wife.

December 30

A Women’s Party

A woman’s political party would be a tremendous mistake and go along way towards proving the hindsight that a good many men already feel, that giving women the right to vote was a mistake. There would be no more reason for a women’s party then for an old man’s party, or a young man’s party. If women do not feel comfortable as part of the voting masses, they should have let it be known before asking for equal rights. The fact likely is, that those who are agitating for a separate party are doing so largely for the purpose of making jobs for themselves and for getting notoriety. Womenfolk will soon realize they were better off stick to what God intended of them: raising youngins, washing, cleaning, and cooking vittles for their menfolk – and leave important things like ‘thinking’ to the more developed minds of men.

Autos Collide

The Ford machines belong to Harry Nicholas and Frank Eiker, both of Woodsboro, met in a head-on collision on Saturday. Neither machine was badly damaged and no one was hurt since both men where "well loosened" at the time of the accident. Both men where brought before the Justice of the Peace, who dismissed the case as all the ‘evidence’ had been drunken by bystanders.