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; , , . . I • * . •» Ty-' , .. . ...4 -^ / • " ' * . . . IDEMIG PINIONS w. BY • t LEONARD A. BARRETT Comparatively fes^'persons .dare to Most of us are imitators of each other. In ilie matter of style, qpine one introduces a new fashion, and the crowd Imitates It. When a slang phrase , appeals to the fancy of the masses, they insist on repeating it on all occasions. Many j persops are guilty of y4*»l d i n g. at ttmjesHo the el am-, ?r-i of a popular" sonc^not because It f^Jriusie, but because everyone is singing it. The psychology of suggestion is a'very important element in our daily Experience. II has a greater influence, than we realise k» molding eiwni<^r iitivf changing environment. A wore* serious aspect of th& pfotK lem faces us when we permit our opin Ions to be formulated i>y the same process. A statement isma(tje in glar-" tag headline with the determlaed pur pose of molding our; opinion, and "we fall for it." It is like a contagious disease. We "take" it, only to realise later that we have become the victims of distorted thinking. It )s unfortu natfi tLat so many persons are satis> fled not only to "catch" but to express enthusiastically an .epidemic opinion. They "caught" their ideas, from som^ source best known to themselves, or for a few pennies bought their ideas from news stands. Rather than think for themselves they let some one else do their thinking for them, and thus they become victims of tin epidemic of popular opinion. This-Is a free country *»«» no centralized authority has & right t«v deprive one of his right of in-fependen; and original thinking. On the other hand, this high privilege of reason should not become" atrophied "through lack of use. / The freedom of speech--the right ,to express our opinions, if we have any, is one of the distinguishing characteristics of our American liberty. Why surrender it? Why sacrifice it? Why substitute for it an acquiescence with popular opinion, unless we are too lazy to think the problem through for ourselves? It is Intensely Interesting to study the psychology of a mob. It is easy |for the blind to lead the bliudi How ever, we need not be blind to the truth or error In any statement or problem. If we have sufficient courage and strength to think ^or ourselves and then to express our original opinions 1 • A Western Newspaper Union. _ THREE PALS * y p St. Paul, Jan. 1.* Vivid, in my memory of the Good Old Days, are three young fellows and I a.n »vishing them greetings and every good thing. Hello, Will Krause, "Peggy" Feitz and Frank "Doc" Spurling. We had sonic mighty fine times working for the Brandt Ice Co., on McCollu'ms Lake, didn't we ? Twelve and onehalf cents an hour and up to sixteen hours a day. ... , Remember "Old Dried Up" and his son, Freddie, and Ed Shanks, foreman? But, let's go back andl see how I came to work there. You see, on June 19, 1896, I graduated from the high school's prescribed course of study and had the document to' prove it. Jiist' $ youngster of 18, and so thin you could spit through me. I had ambitions fed visions' of higher education but no funds, so, I obtained a teacher's certificate; in McHenry county. Well, no district cared to-yttiSTrp^iTi S^"nd>eI|t,e -r -"yienced, so fall came and no school for me to teach. By chance, I heard of a school over in Lake county, called Roseville, that was shy a teacher, so I rented a bicycle of Ed Bishop and backtrailed the "Old Plank Road" to Waukegan, to take the examination". . County Superintendent of Schools Marvin looked me over and said, "Hbw'd you get over here, roll?" "No, bicycle," I seriously repled. I sure was dirty, dusty and muddy. 1 "How* old are you?" he asked . I told him and he sighed when I informed him that I had the school to teach. He gave me the questions and in a couple of hours he was correcting the papers and wrote out a second class certificate to teach in Luke county. . , Of course, I was mighty proud' and told him, when I thanked him, that "I would do my best.'* He was very serious, when he replied, "Most people's Best is jnighty poor" He said some other things about the school that I was to teach, but left me to learn why it was "UNCLE RUBE" • H • GABBY (JERTIE ri ; In the olden times about thirty-five years * ago one of the favorite pastimes of local talented people was to put on home-talent plays which were sometimes given as a benefit for some society or church! The above photograph was taken in the days of "Way Back When" and brings to mind the home-talent play, "Uncle Rube," which was produced by the above cast, who also put the play on at Richmond. Although you may not recognize the players at first glance you. will laugh when you identify them by their names beloW the picture and, no doubt, you will recall the enjoyment that these home-talent plays always gave. >• "Paws following a letter Indicates a hyphen ora dumbbell." ~ -- Maw to Give Map Backing .The cloth of a map should be atretched and tacked on a-board. The map should be dampened slightly, pa perhanger's paste applied to the back. Then carefully smooth the map on the Cloth and let dry for 12 hours. i Says:= I'eroxide of hydrogen will remove ^jjerfuine stain# fr»ua linen bureau pcarfSi ^ Beat molasses slowly If cold and hard to pour from jug or can. . Heating thins It. • - • • • • Juices in baked ham will be retained if ham is seared on both sides before putting on; the tover of double roaster. Parchment shades, if shellacked and tarnished, may be washed with white »oap and water. 'When, dry rub a little furniture polish into the shade. Do not attempt to remove meat from a gas oven should ttie fat on ineat catch Ore while broiling. Turn • out ,the gas and sprinkle flour o\t.r the • burning fat. • - p Associated Newspapers.--WN0 Seri-lij*. All of the above cast can be acc o u n t e d f o r w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f , Rosina Reynolds, whose present ad- I dress we do not know. Four are dead,' Mrs. C. D. Schoonmaker, W. A. Christy, Sherman Chapell and T. J Walsh. C. D. Schoonmaker is a resident of Rockforfd, Kate Howe Fay and Elsie Howe Fay live in Elgin, Orton Gilbert is in California, where we think Pearl Nellis is also, N J. Petfcsch is in Oak Park, Albert Holly, Genoa, Rose Justen Sutton, Chicago, and Mrs. T. J. Walsh and Linus Newman are the only two who remain residents of McHenry. Mr. Newman was the property man, ushered and took care of the stage scenery and curtain. The following is a reproduction the Plaindealer Old Timers Club of a page in some kind of a pam- by Frank Bennett. He states he phlet, which was written some time does not know the author. in the late eighties. It is sent to THE RIVERSIDE JL Why Do I Come To McHenry? !%/ When our little party stepped from the train to the Riverside 'bus, there stood on the platform, unseen by all save the writer, a happy little maid. She Was the shade of my childhood days, i watched her as, with face untouched by care or sorrow, she tripped lightly down the old familiar streets. Near the mill pond she paused, and with a cry o£~delight jokied a well-beloved figure whom old McHenryites will recall as "Dr. Jim." A fishing expedition was on foot, for Mr. Munson, with pftil and rod, stood near. I felt a thrill qf pleasure for the child. My companions called my attentioh to the pretty homes. They saw at the gates the present occupants; but to me many it* "vanished hand" waved kindly greetings, and out from the past cheerr ily spoke "voices that are still." The rest of the party saw the old mill as it is today. I noticed, in-, stead, the little maid intently listening to the explanations of Mr. Collier as -to "what makes the wheels go 'round." Here to passed Mrs. Mayes on one of her errands to the sick, "Dick" Bishop behind his fast trotter; and many others whose feet have touched the other shore It is pleasant to know the Great Reaper has left many old landmarks. McHenry would not be McHenry could we not see the serene face of Jacob Story, the jolly countenance of "Hank" Wightman. Mrs. Wightman, Mrs. McCullom, George Gage and Dr. Brown are still with us. John Ralston dispenses gracious hospitality at hia lovely home, and these are things to be glad for. I am roused from my pleasant revery by the announcement that the "Riverside" Is reached. Its comfortable rooms, its well filled and beautifully served table , its genial host and hostess are recollections of the immediate past. Here, as in few other spots, can rest be found. Here my little lads can "row and fish, all undisturbed by thought of danger. Here we older people can read and think and sleep and eat. From here we can travel to any one of a dozen beautiful places, and, after a happy day, return in time for the welcome sound of the supper gong. And so, because it is restful, because the hearts of its people arewarm and true, because its mem-, ories are golden, I like to come to McHenry. Mrg. A. C. Crannis. ^ school but me. of March, uS?, ^ndTa day of thaw* I went, at the noon hour, to lunch at a nearby farm house and when I returned the stove pipe lay all over the room and a thousand snowballs dripped from the ceiling. Remember that, Eddie Bacon and Jennie Seymour ? The term was not over, but that was the last day of Bchool and I had just turned nineteen years of age. Brother Herb was working in the ice house and got me a job and then began one of my most pleasant memories. When the weather became hot, we would get to the lake as early as 3 a. m. and hardly ever got home before 7 p. m. Proper and sufficient diet was a problem with - us boys until Mr. Brandt's daughters and girl friends came out from Chicago and studied us like they would any interesting wild s p e c i e s . • " • / ' . . . > , Let's see, there was Etta Brandt, plump and blue-eyed. Her sister, Meta, was slim and had a red nose, and then there was Rena Stermes, a very nice youngster. Say, Will, fon name that other pretty blue-eyed, plump girl, I forget. They had just graduated from high school and one day Etta came out and asked us how we would like some potato pancakes and coffee Ihichen. I think "Peggy," that those girls did us a lot of good, don't you ? "Old Dried Up" claimed that a "keg of beer was as good as a man" and we had plenty of "help." Herb could walk the wire clothesline like a professional. Then a lot of the ice wagon drivers would come out "for a rest," and we listened to their yarns and Mrs. Brandt would say, "Ach! Gott! Such Me$," Well, believe it or not, Frank, I gained fifteen pounds and when the water system in McHtenry went in that fall we all dug in the ditches at 62^ cents a rod and two to three rods was a big 10-hour job. That winter I froze my feet in that standpipe,- while swinging a 16-pound hammer with mittened hands Don't forget) to be out on the ice at McColluni's Lake at 7 am. tomorrow. Brandt is filling the ice house and a dollar and a quarter for ten hours work. So, my old pals, Herb and I will be seeing yolfln the morning. Say, "Peggy," if you cannot remember the name, of the other girl I'll tell you. It was Minnie Schiermer. Can't you remember the name of so pretty and plump a blue-eyed girl as she? What's-a-matter you? I hope you are not getting old. You boys should join the club and visit a little. Say, Will, tell us about the time you shook Herb off the wire clothes line and Herb got mad and said he could lick any three Dutchmen in the crowd. You swung on Herb's ear and I swung on you and then we all met up at a medicine show by the bridge over the creek that night, and shook hands and made up. Good old days, boys. How'd you like to have those young bodies again? We would sure better know how to conserve them, woudn't we? So long, "Peggy',' Frank and Will. Stretcher and I will be seeing you at the Centennial. Your old pal, --^ FRANK BENNETT. Mr. and Mrs. Fr*d Beckwith and Stella, L. E. and wife and myself, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Smith, Mrs. Sherburne and Annie, Mrs. Bishop and Eloise Waite and many others I could name. As fai* as I know those mentioned have been called home. I cannot account for Stella Beckwith and Mrs. Bishop, but I know I am still very much alive. I taught a Sunday School class of five German girls. I also taught the Lily Lake school for one winter and two summers. I boarded at John Thurlwell's home. Emma and Clyde Thurlwell and Clarence Wells attended winter school. There were Michael Worts, Lizzie and Mattie and Nickie Glosson, Arthur and Charley Ensign, and Mame Dolbeer. Then there was another family, but I cannot recall their names. There were two girls and a boy. The boy died of scarlet fever that winter and the youngest girl's name was: Emma. ; We had a good tiivie goin^ for bob sleigh rides. That was 47 or 48 years ago. . While we lived in the Owen cot' tage I used to go across lots to school. I had on a red shawl and one of the cows pastured there ran after me. I . dropped the shawl and ran. The cow stopped and sniffed at. the shawl. 1 ran hack and drove the cow away, picked tip said shawl arid went on to school. - V Another time on my way to school, I saw a 3-pound silver bass floundering in the creek. I picked it off the bottom and toolc it home. Yours, with best wishes for the club, I remain, CLARA BENNETT SORENSEN. ENJOYING A. H. Mosher. 'OLD TIMERS* CLUB' Genoa, 111., Jan. 10. Editor Plaindealer, r l McHenry, 111.* Dear Sir: " • Please renew my subscription to the Plaindealer for another year. I enjoy reading it and, of course, the Old Timer's Club is, especially interesting to me. If I was gifted with the ability to put my thoughts and memories into words as Frank Bennett does, I would write as often, perhaps, as he does, bflt we are not all possessed with that ability. Interesting "to see Alice Sutton's letter. Wondered where she was. Here's hoping the Hundredth Anniversary celebratioVi goes over big. Respectfully, F. A. HOLLY. REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN-- Benjamin Harrison ran for president in 1888, and Newton Owen, then a little tad (son of George), when asked, "What's the matter with Harrison?" would holler, "(She's all right." Pat Cleary, always serious, was a splendid man to meet and talk to? SIMON JOINS THE CLUB , McHenry, Jan. 14. I can well remember a funny farm implement exhibition I saw years ago when Ormus Bishop, a brother of Mrs. T. J. Walsh, operated a farm machinery business about where the present A. & P. Store stands. Mr. Bishop had a full and well-selected stock of the latest and best implements connected with belts, chains, ect., so that it was in full motion and exhibition, and Doc McLean furnished the necessary power by treading a horse tread power for the great amusement of the spectators. Ormus Bishop was the pioneer in equipping his delivery wagon with a full-sized brake wheel to take the load off the poor horses when going down Bandas, Berg Hill near Johnsburg," and also when in the Big Hollow Hill section. Richard Bishop was a manufacturer of A-No. 1 lumber wagons, was also a standard old-style Democrat-- very much Jeffersonian--not the new patent applied for kind which may get a patent this fall, and may not. Mr. Bishop was the life and ambition of the town and one of his employees was John McOmber, who made the wagon boxes, one a day, ar« Club and we Old Time in our Old happy to w The club enrollment "is not nearly large enough yet and we invite all former residents and old friends to send in their letters and thus be enrolled 4s a member. There are no dues nor entrance fees, just a letter1 is the only requirement nqeded for membership. Send in your letters, we are expecting them. Members of the Old Timers' Club to are: '• Frank Bennett, 20 S. Fairview Ave. St. Paul, Minn. Margaret McDonald, St. N. John Ave., Highland Park. , " ; Albert Holly, Genoa, 111. Mrs. Amy Owen Chapell, 1328 Denver Ave., Tulsa, Okla. * Mrs. Jack Walsh, McHenry. C. F. Block, 415 W. First St., Dundee. , , ' • ^ • . < Delia Beckwith,--McHenry^ii-^ " Geo. W. Owen, 503 Center St,, Elgin, 111. . C. S. Owten, 466 Ida Place; Gleneoe, IH. ,V Mrs,' Agnes Wentworth, McHenry. John F. Claxton, McHenry. Fred. T. Colby, 514 Peninsular Ave., Burlingame, California. - yY ^ Gilbert Howard, Sturgis, &, Co; 2759-V. -;>y Mrs. Linus Newman, McHenry. - Herbert Bennett, 1045 Fauquier St., St. Paul,, Minn. v Mrs. Mayme Owen Schnorr, Union Block, Spencer, la. Mrs. Clara Bennett Sorenson, Box 126, Route 3, Racine, Wis. Mi's. W. E. Colby, 633 Massena Ave., Waukegan, 111. Mrs. Maud Parsons Swenson, 3736 15th Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. Alice Sutton, 3874 46th Street, E. San Diegc, Calif. We are hoping that our club member, Mrs. Linus Newman, will invite, Mrs. F. E. Knowles of Enid, Okla., to wri,te a letter to the Old Timers' Club and become enrolled as a member. Yes, indeed, Miss Alice Sutton, we do consider you one of the Old Timers, and we are happy to welcome you into our club and hope that you will write again through the columns of the Plaindealer to your friends here. We hop£ that you won't spend all your money at that exposition which opened on Jan. 15 for we want you to return next summer and help us celebrate the centennial of McHenry at a giant homecoming event. It's the return of old residents that will be the crowning event needed to make the affair a success. We can answer your inquiry about one of your old school teachers, Mary Richardson. She is the wife of Attorney LaVerne Thompson and lives in Chicago. As to Miss Barber and Profs. Strayer and Augevine, we are asking some of our readers to help us out on particulars about them. Ai Howe built the Frett building in wore a plug hat, boiled shirt, black 1896 and Mr. Frett opened a meat i t^e' siiit, etc. When there were market and sold choice cuts of porterhouse and sirloin steaks at 18c per pound? a great many wagons made to ship, Hanl^ Wightman led the procession of these gayly painted caravans to the depot to be shipped all over the We hunted ducks with the Civil War! countrymuskets and Fred Colby, I'll say they! ®ld man Hankins had a harness could kick. Herb and I had a muzzle S^°P anc* Jack Flusky worked for him. loading horse pistol discharged it, three exploded at once. and when we SPRING QROVE Peter Rothermel was hunting and fishing guide for Chicago parties? Carrie Rothermel young lady ? was a splendid Dora Besley was a fine youngster ? Mrs. Anna Byrd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Nordquist, had two very fine little girls? Watch for the picture of Frank Bennett and the two kids, soon in the Plaindealer. Ralph Stebbins worked for J. B. Perry in a tin shop, I think. John Hogan ' a n d S h e l l C o l y e r o p e r a t e d t h e m i l l f o r ' Mr. Bishop, Henry McOmber was the bookkeeper, collector, etc. Ben Gilbert had a grocery store--not the wet grocery kind named by Bob Murphy, meaning thereby the "Old Kentucky" kind. The lumber yard was on the west side of Fox river where the Burt Howe farm buildings were. All lum- Frank Ehlert family move^l from the Ross house on Tuesday to the Ford Hanford farm, where he is now employed. The Fred Harm family have moved to the Carey house east of town. Miss Alyce Nodland returned to Chicago on Tuesday having enjoyed a two week's vacation at the George May home. Now that the excitement of the holiday season is over the meeting of clubs is again resumed. Mrs. William Engels was hostess to the members of her club last Thursday afternoon. The playing of euchre was the afternoon's pastime and several lovely prizes were awarded to the winners. A delicious lunch was served at the close of a pleasant afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brown entertained the members of their club on Tuesday evening. Six couples were present to enjoy ah evening of cards* and sever .1 prizes were merited by those ha^ ng high honors. Refreshments w< re served to complete the party. . Members of her club met at Mrs. Al Schmeltzer's home on Thursday evening. Two tables of five hundred were in play and prizes were won by Mrs. Schmeltzerr and Mrs. Math Nimsgern while consolation went to Mrs. Frank Sanders. A dainty lunch was served by the hostess. The cluh Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Miller and family were dinner guests in the Arthur Thelen home on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Freund and son visited at the home of his mother in McHenry on Sunday. Lydia Lenaen Lydia Lenzen, 71 years old, who has sent her entire life in'this vicinity died at the home of her sister, Mrs John Miller on morning, January 9, after of one year. Funeral services held at'St. Peter's church at ten o'clock, Monday, Jan. 13, with Rev. J. L. Dalelden, pastor, officiating. Burial was at St. John's Cemetery at: Johnsburg. AUTO Plies Bldg. VERNON J. KNOX ATTORNEY AT LAW Pries Bldg. OFFICE HOURS Tuesdays and Fridays Other Days by Appointment McHenry niinoia ALFORD H. POUSH ATTORNEY-AT-LAW IVJVi Bentop St. . Woodstock, UL Phone Woodstock litt. McHenry 278^!' ;. Telephone No. 300 • Stoffel & Reihansperger (murance agents for all classes property in the best companies. WEST McHENRY ILLINOIS S. H. Freund & Son CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS Phone 1S7-R McHenry Our experience U at Tour ftoCTice in building Your Wants A. P. Freund Excavating Contractor ber was hauled from the depot to that 'will meet next at Mrs. Ella Siegler' place by John Justen. (home. I remember the 6th of September] Mr. and Mrs. Howard Westlake, years ago when the Old Settler's Racine, Wis., were guests in the James Roast Ox meeting was held not far Foulke home on Thursday and Frifrom Bishop's wagon factory. It was 'day of this week. They attended the one of the very hottest days anyone funeral of Mr. Westlake's aun,t, Mrs. can remember. The racket over the I Jane Haldeman at Richmond' Thurspostoffice years ago still lives. Also day. the meetings at the old depot to hear j Guests of Mr. and Mrs. .James The iron-fence was built around the the election returns, as we had no Foulke on Sunday were Miss Frances The annu&l Old Settlers' meetings were wonderful? , :'r park and a real bandstand? In those days we had real music, not the canned radio variety. Graham meal (not flour) was made at the Bishop «Mill and was the best mush that you or anyone ever ate?> A 49-lbI bag cost around fifty cents* FRANK BENNETT* POTPOURRI LOYAL MEMBER WRITES AGAIN Racine ,Wis., Jan. 6. To the Old Timers' Club and Readers of the Plaindealer: ' I wish you a Happy New Year. One of my earliest remembrances of McHenry was the watch night meetings New Year's Eve at the. M. E. good old town church.- There was Father Bassett,- telephones nor Paul Reveres to bring Price and Harold Middleton of Bristol, the news to the good old hidebound, Wis. Republicans or Democrats. We could A group of friends spent a most only depend on Benny Buss, the sta-! enjoyable evening with Mr. and Mrs. tion agent, who at that time had the Jacob Miller on Sunday. Those to reputation of being a graduate of make up. this happy gathering were the school of Baron Muenchhausen and Mr. and Mrs. J. Ehlert, Mr. and Mrs. Ananias, to bring the news to us. He Vincent Feltes, Wilmot, Mr! and Mrs. told the political pax-ties in a way that ^ Fred Bowman and Mr. and Mrs. Jack satisfied them all. Sometimes he re- Morrison, Chicago. ported from the telegraph that thefe There was a good attendance at were great majorities for the Repub- l the pot-luck dinner held at Mrs. James licans (this in Democratic strong' Poulke's home on Friday. Among holds) and vice versa, and we were all, those from out of town who were satisfied and had a good time. j present were, Rev. and Mrs. Be-inett But this brand of sturdy truth tell- and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Frank ers is rapidly disappearing from our Goehring, Mr. and Mrs. Buchheit and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Todd, Richmond. SIMON STOFFEL. There will be another pot-luck dinrrncking, Hydraulic and Crane Service • Road Bnilding ^ 204-M McHenry, III Downs Motor Express The Pioneer Line Operates daily between McHenry and Chicago Phones: Wabash McHenry 7518 'V, w 256 KENT & COMPANY AU Kinds of •. I N S U R A N C E ; Placed with {he most reliable Companies Come in ami talk it over "bone McHenry 8 Charlie's Repair Shop Just East of Old Bridge Over Fox River (Rear Schaefer's Tavern) rs Repaired, oodles and Fenders Straightened Sign Painting Truck Lettering Acetylene Welding CHARLES RIETESEL Blushing "Certain nerves in the' human body, known as vasodilator, re spond to mental reactions caused by shame and similar sensations These nerves cause the arteries to become larger, more blood flows through them, and blushing results. Terror, on the other fcr.nd* stimulates the vaso-constrictor nerves, causing blood vessel contraction and paleness. *' © Weat«rn Newipaper Union. J,h SUCH IS LIFE kwovv? ome OF t YOUR x ~ l r \SHV I VASVieD/ HEAVY -fbR VOvlR Murie By Charles Sughr^e AO \VA<*£ EffORT