The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-16
They Secure Gavel
and Make Merry
in Two Halls.
EXPERT OPINION ON DIPHTHERIA
Local Physician Believes
That State Board is
Too Wary.

North Brooktield, June 15.-The Qua
boag Pomona Grange had a royal time
this evening il celebration of having
won the gael offered for the best de-
gree work Of the oranges of the Brook
fields, Spencer and Warren. Both Cas-
tie hall and Grange hall We're hand
somely decorated with a profusion of
flowers and ported plants of all descrip-
tions.
At Castle hall the exhibition of the
working of the third degree was given
before over 100 enthusiastic grangers,
who, despite the inclemency of the
weather, poured III from the surround
ing towns. The degree workers were
Master Herbert E. Cummings, Over
seer Harry Pollard of New Braintree,
Secretary Mrs. Frances A. Cummings,
Steward Walter B. Melen of Brook
field; assistant, Mr. Pentacost of
Spencer; Chaplain w E. Patrick of
Warren, Treasurer Philander Holmes OF
West Brookf1eld, Lecturer Miss Kitty
Sage of New Rraintree, Gate Keeper
Bert Conway of Spencer, Pomona Mrs.
w. E. Patrick of Warren, Flora MS.
Ceres Miss Nora Eaton of Brookfield,
L. A. s., Miss Bertha Smith of Spencer:
pianist, Mrs. Florence Jones Cummings
of Sp5ncer and Miss Lillian Stuart of
North Brookfeld.
After the exhibition work the party
adjourned to Grange hall to partake
of an excellent repast returning later
to Castle hall for a literary program
and a social meeting. The local grange
Ior iac
the gavel which was awarded them by
State Master w. c. Jewett of Worces-
ter who was judge. The committee in
charge which worked out the program
consisted of Alfred c. Stoddard, chair
man; c. D. Richardson, Charles Park
man, Z. A. HARDWOOD and Joseph Z.
Kimball.
DR.. Wilbur F. Wnter has some sound
and solid ideas on the epidemic of
diphtheria which is still extant here
and as he expressed them to The Spy
reporter this afternoon, they seemed to
hit the nail directly on the head. In
the opinion of DR.. Witter, who is con-
sidered one of the best physicians in
North Brookfeld, there has not been
near as much diphtheria as the state
board of health reported on the cul-
lures sent them from here.
DR.. Writer says the laboratory of the
state board is, in his opinion, so full of
infection that pure cultures sent there
would soon contain diphtheretic germs.
AS proof of his opinion, he hazarded
the assertion that if cultures were ia
ken from 20 children at the high school
building, the state board would return
positive results in at least 10 cases, orr
in other words, that the state officials
would consider at least 10 of the chill
dren to have diphtheria, provided,
Dr. Witter said. that symptoms be-
given in the case of each child as the
physicians do when they send the cul-
lures to Boston.
DIR. Writer'S candid opinion was that
the whole business was greatly a mat
ter of guess work with the state board.
which on the knowledge that there was
diphtheria here, invariably called theI
cultures positive. DIR. Witter enjoys
large practice as a physician, and
his opinion is a weighty one in this
town.
The citizens who last night attended
the special town meeting, together with
those who did not, are today wondering
just where the town stands on the
question of buying a hearse, or whetherE
progress was made backward or for-I
ward last night. AS stated in The
Spy this morning, it was voted to buy
H. Splaine Il Co.'S hearse, if it could
be purchased at a reasonable prise. MOI
money was raised or appropriated toI
pay for the hearse and apparently the
decision as to what a reasonable price,
for the vehicle is, was left to the select
men, who make up the committee ap-I
pointed to investigate on this mat
ter.
Edmund Richards is mourning the |
loss of two of his front teeth, which
were knocked out yesterday while he
was trying to have some fun with Con-
stable Wilbur c. Bridges. Richards
was amusing himself yesterday byI
shooting small missiles at Mr.. Bridges,
who sat in his store, the method of
annoyance being the same as the boyl
with the pea shooter employs.
Mr. Bridges withstood the onslaught.
sitting quietly through the storm of
shot that was being poured on him
and Richards, thinking his aim was
not right, kept raising the pea shooter
to get better range, until in his en-
| thusiasm, the end of the weapon went
suddenly against the window frame
and he found himself splitting cut the
fragments of two teeth
Mrs Miles Gaffney and daughters
Margaret and Nellie of Mt Pleasant
street are in Albany, n. Y, visiting
Sister Mary Celestine who was known
| to the world as Miss Kate Gaffney.
The members OF the senior class of
| the high school do not wish their
| friends to present any of them with
bouquets on the night of graduation
| as has been customary in previous
| years.
Miss Doyle of Worcester, the pro-
! fessional nurse who attended Timothy
! Howard, Esq, in his serious illness
/ over year ago, visited here this Gf-
! ternoon.
Misses Mary and Nora Coughlin Wis
| tied in Worcester today.
! Misses Margaret and Nellie Mccall
! thy of Bradshaw street are visiting
| their sister, Mrs. Patrick Mor'arN of
! Ware.
! Catcher Martin Bergen of the Bcs-
| ton Base Ball club was a passenger
on one of the Worcester and Suburban
cars tonight, being unable to reach his
! home here by the steam cars.