There is an epidemic of diphtheria in the Rocksdale and
Richardsonville settlements. A small child of Norval Grim died of this terrible
disease last week, and there are several more cases reported. Among them are
four children of Ed Starcher and one of W.E. Anderson, the latter of whom is
said to be dangerously sick.
We understand that there is a trade on between Battell Ferrell
of Brooksville and Joe Smith
of Cabot’s Factory, whereby Ferrell will exchange his splendid farm on the
Little Kanawha for Smith’s farm in Pennsylvania. We would regret to lose Ferrell
as a citizen of Calhoun, but our best wishes go with him.
The approach of Halloween reminds us that there are practical
jokers who delight, when-ever they can, to scare the wits out of other people.
This may be all right with some individuals, but there are persons, especially
among the young, whose health can be badly damaged by practical jokers and their
thoughtless pranks.
Parents, who think they know their children pretty well, realize
that the urge to destruction ranks right alongside hunger as a youthful
motivation, and they, therefore, aren’t too much surprised at anything that may
happen around the end of October.
The witches, ghosts, goblins and other malevolent spirits can
often turn into destructive elements, unless they are wisely counseled and
closely guided.
What can adults do to prevent the useless destruction and
unhappy consequences which sometimes follow a night of merry-making? Well, there
are the old time honored tricks of giving parties, arranging parades and moving
everything moveable from the outside into the garage or even the living room.
Protection may also be bought by providing large quantities of “treats” to take
the place of “tricks.”
With a little bit of forethought on the part of adults, there
can be heaps of fun for young and old, and less remorse on the morning after for
un-thinking pranks committed the night before.