Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-12
LITTLE BITS OF NEWS
Short Tales Concerning People You
Know.
THE VICINITY OF OTTUMWA IN BRIEF
Births, Deaths, Marriages, Movements
OF Your Acquaintance as chronlcled
by courier's Staff of Correspondents
Who Know Whereof They Speak.
COUNCIL IN A BARN.

COUNCIL IN A BARN.
Trouble at Charlton Necessitates
Meeting in HomeIy Place.
Charlton, Dec. 1O.-"Where there's
will there's way has been aptly
demonstrated by the members
of the city council of
Charlton in their unusual action of
holding a council meeting in barn,
when they have council chamber pro-
vided for them. The meeting was
held last Thursday and the facts are
just beginning to be known by the vot-
ing public, which is making great Ell
fort to secure new aldermanic timber.
1t is generally understood that there
will be proposition presented to the
council involving an expenditure OF
! about $4,000 and the policy adopted in
the waterworks franchise question of
breaking a quorum has been INDUCED
in by the aldermen on this question.
They made three attempts to get a
quorum present and failed on every
occasion. Finally they adjourned I'M
til Thursday at O'Clock am. Alderman
Gartin was the only one who showed
up and he became tired Of waiting
and went home. About an hour after
the time set enough members showed
up to make quorum with Mr.. Gartin.
The marshal was sent for him and he
told them that if they wished to see
him they would have to come down
there. So anxious were they to allow
the monthly pay roll that they went
down to his barn and in short time
N ol al lie or mn n u
pay roll and adjourned without having
to go ON record on the $4,000 appro-
priation contract. Aldermen Copeland
and Newman, nor the the promoters of
the project which called for the appro-
priation, We're aware of the meeting
until it was past.
Smallpox at Lucas,
The neighboring town of Lucas has
three cases of smallpox in its borders.
The disease was brought there by Il
travelling theatre troupe and it is mem
bers of the company who are i'll
with the disease. An Uncle Josh
Spruceby company played there and
the manager and two of his company
were taken sick. An investigation
was made and the physicians pro-
nounced it smallpox. Lucas has pest
house and the members of the COM
pany who were afflicted were LETT in
il while the remainder of the troupe
went on. The company played to a
crowded house in Lucas and but for
Tie fortunate fact that the afflicted
members of the company were too i'll
to appear on the stage and thus did not
expose the big audience. many more
eases might have resulted from their
appearance.
Sunday School Convention.
The annual convention of the War
rem Township Sunday School associa-
ton was held in Otterbine church on
Sunday. Many from Charlton wero
in attendance and all report a most in
teresting and profitable session. Tho
program consisted of talks, music and
discussions. The forenoon session was
cnered by devotional exercises led By
Park Williams. The question of How
May We Induce More Systematic
Study of the Sunday, School Lesson
by S. t. Tanner, d. NJ. Fish and r. P.
Decker. brought out many valuable
and practical lessons. Miss Della
Wright gave scholarly paper on 'Ihe
Proper Graduation in the SUNDAY
School, which showed her to be q
thorough student of the needs of the
Sunday school. At 1890 o'cock those
present enjoyed an old fashioned bas
ket dinner. The afternoon session was
opened by devotional exercises led by
Mrs. j. L. Barron. by What Mean;
May We Overcome the EVIL Tender
cies of the Present Age?" was ably
discussed by W. w. Wilson. ]. M. Cow
an, r. p. Decker, j 7. Barron anc
Ieander Moore. The remainder o
the sess on was taken up with report.
of officers and committees and thu
transaction of general business. These
annual meetings are great help tt
Sunday school workers and this was
one Of the most profitable yet held.
A Painful Accident.
II. c. Watson met with very pain
2 full accident On Sunday. He was work
ing in the livery stable, when he went
upstairs after some hay and in walk
ing over the floor he stepped on (;
loose board and fell to the floor be
meath. He alighted on his head ant
shoulders and was stunned for a shor
time but finally recovered and wa
taken home, where he is now gettini
along as nicely as could be expected
There Were no bones broken, but h