The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-09-17
MECHANICS VALLEY ITEMS.

DISASTERS, ETC. OF TIE YEAR.
For some time past we have been swell
tering under the torrid wave and Shar-
ing the general drouth. which is assum-
ing serious proportions. If Mother Ship
ton, instead of soaring tlmil folks about
the end of the world, had prophesied the
year 1881 to be prolific in horrors, she
would have come nearer the truth. The
great hearts Of the leading nations of the
earth have been stepped in SORROW by the
bloody hand of the assassin. Christian
men, philanthropists, and humanitarians
stand appalled, at the fearful increase of
crime OF every grade that runs rampant
in the land. The winter will be rcmem-
bered as one of unusual severity. Sue
cessive snow storms swooped down from
the Arctic regions, bringing suffering and
privation in their train. and burying whole
villages in their avalanches. overStepping
their natural boundaries and destroying
fruit in unfamiliar regions. Losses by
fire and flood are counted by millions:
marine disasters have been frequent and
fearful and the ocean strewn with wrecks.
BY explosions and other casualties thou
sands have been killed and manned: cpl
demic diseases have spread with fearful
fatality: apart from unavoidable causes,
numbers of wretched mortals extinguish
their own existence. The present sum
mer is remarkable for scorching heat and
droutn and the general failure of crops.
PROTRACTED MEETING CLOSED.
Rev. A. ID. Davis closed the protracted
meeting at Union last week, at least so
far as his personal labors are concerned.
The meeting was not as successful as in
former years. which he ascrbes to the
extreme heat that prevailed during the
meeting. the lack of interest on the part
of members. the hardness of sinners, and
the over-devotion the young folks paid to
each other. These combined causes all
have an adverse tendency to a spiritual
revival.
OPENING OF THE SCHOOLS.
and Warburton' opened on the list in
slant, the teachers having " lit > into
their work like ducks among June bugs.
The former school is taught by Miss Ella
Mackey, the latter by Miss Mary Murray.
EXPERIMENTING IN FISH CULTURE.
Mr.. }. T. Holt, having decided to ex-
pertinent in fish culture has taken adj
vantage of the dry weather to excavate a
basin or pond to serve the double pur-
pose of fish and ice pond: but the dry
weather is curtailinG his water supply.
not having Il sutficiency to moisten the
walls thereof. The possibility remains
of obtaining an abundant supply from
the creek near by. by the application of
artificial means.
OUR ENERGETIC MECHANICS.
Our mechanics are conducting quite an
extensive business in the manufacture,
repair, sale and exchange of various
kinds Of vehicles. Persons having old
worn out wagons can have them eX-
changed for better, or new ones made to
order
\ WHITE ELEPHANT IN THE 5. SCHOOL.
The officers and teachers of the Union
Sabbath school are divided concerning
the disbursement of the revenue derived
from the late festival One faction want
it applied to the church in liquidating
the claims of the sexton, &c. While the
other justly hold THAT it ought to go to
the school exclusive use in replenishing
the library, &c, As precedent is an inn
portant faotor in determining actions of
doubtful propricty, We should look well
! to our going. as a departure would open
the way .or other church claims and fl
nally secular enterprise would come in
for a share of our beneiicence and Sab
bath school financial interests be utterly
annihilated. a case in point. \ neigh
boring Sabbath school recently received
| a handsome donation from Il generous
Christian gentleman, but the pastor of
the church smothered the voice of ac-
ceptancc. DISTINGUISHED the school and
diverted the money to foreign missions,
or some other church enterprise. We
trust, however. our difficulty may be
amicably adjusted both to OURSELVES and
discriminating PUBLIC:
a,.I. +AnnEts
are busy cutting up corn. They report
the ears are the kind Hoosers talk about
which resemble big wet coons hanging
up by their tails. The Warrior thinks
mice would make better comparison.
The late rain fall has set the die piows
in motion.
STARTLED.
| AS we were vending our way to church
one evening during the recent meeting,
we We're startled by the report of a gun
! i'll a field near by. which caused US to
halt instanter, and hearing the patter of
! feet coming i'll our direction We slid over
the fence and in the shimmeging moon
| light distinctly recognized the persons of
/ A nty of 4 f,i, IL
Gen. p. w. G. and Charles Augustus
Julius Gibson-tiying rapidly in the di-
rection Of the Valley. the former with
his hat in hand and luscious melon
under one wing, and the latter doi.,g His
level best to keep in Sighs:
t.i.pAt 4AE aEAF or WAR
The latest reports from our outer pick
cts indicate al quiet on the plains. The
! Secretary of the Lazy Club can pursue
! his potato bug investigation unmoeSted