davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31

Brown, o. G.. Tuttle and John 7,
Matthews as sureties.
Mr.. Convis anticipates doing a large
portion of the work incident to the
Office himself AS a result of which he
has made only the following appoint
ments:
Under Sheriff-O. l.. Convis.
Deputy Alfred Willert, Fulton.
Deputy-Jessie Tomlin, Sumner.
Deputy-Will Zimmerman, Breck.
enridge.
Deputy-Preston Davis, St. Louis.
In addition TO the above Mr.. Convis
has hired Albert Erwin of Perrinton, who
will assist at the jail as turnkey and do
such other work as Mr. Convis may
desire.
The only other change i'll the county
offices'will be in the Office OF the register
of deeds where John @. Watson retires
and is succeeded by George w. Long
of St. Louis.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31

Miss Anna Hamilton, who did SO
well in the Record voting contest,
polling the third largest number of
votes, but who-did not receive a prize
i'll her district because Miss Jessie Clark
stood above her in the number of votes,
was by no means forgotten. In fact her
good work was the means of bringing her
much happiness in the end, On We'd
nesday morning after the close of the
contest, Henry Mcnamara, brother of
Miss Sarah McNamara, the winner of
the piano, went quietly to work and
raised purse of S20.75 for Miss Hamil-
ton. The Record company was pleased
to add to this q check for $40 making
the total $50 75. This was presented to
to Miss Hamilton, who was taken COM
pletely by surprise and was greatly
pleased. She desires, through the
Record. to thank her many friends who
assisted her during the contest and
those who remembered her afterward.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31

Mrs. Ellen Sharrar, aged 81, wife of
ID. L. Sharrar of this city, died at her
home i'll this city last Wednesday after
a prolonged illness. Her death had
been expected for several weeks. The
funeral was held Sunday and was largely
attended Rev. J. NJ. Wolfe officiated
and burial was at Riverside cemetery.
Ellen Baker was born in Rutland,
VT, and was the daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Joseph II. Baker of that city.
When young girl her parents moved
to Michigan. In 1868, while living hear
Adrian, she was married to Daniel l..
Sharrar A few years later they moved
to Gratiot county, settling near Alma.
They have always resided in this vicinity
since, most of the time living on farm.
Over year ago they moved into this
city.
Four children were born to this union.
They are, George E., Melvin and Fanny
of this city and Mrs. Chas. Vandeventer
of Ithaca Mrs Sharrar is survived by
these, her husband, two brothers, Ed
ward and George Baker and Mrs. Aaron
Spangle, all of Bethany township.
At the funeral held Sunday, 9. j.
Perkins and Mrs. Newman Frerch, two
members of a church choir in which
Mrs. Sharrar sang over forty years ago,
were present and sang.
Mrs. Sharrar was good Christian
woman, highly respected by all. She
was a faithful mother and loyal, loving
helpmate to her husband during the
many years they lived together. OF
late years failing health compelled her
to give up much of the active life she so
greatly enjoyed. She was a member OF
Arcadia Grange which body has, since
her death, adopted the following resolu-
tions.
1t has pleased the All wise God to
take from our midst our beloved sister,
Ellen Sharrar. TO whom we have been
bound by strong ties.
WHEREAS, We feel that her death
makes vacant place in our order, that
time can never fill, therefore, wo the
members Of Arcadia Grange No. 900. do
offer the following resolutions.
RESOLVED, That in the death of Ellen
Sharrar, we lose one of the truesi
friends and truest sisters the order could
ever have, one who stood for the right,
hopeful in sorrow and patient in suffer.
ing.
RESOLVED, That we tender our heart.
felt sympathy to the family of our
deceased sister and ask them in this
their honr of grief TO feel that this noble
SOU will not be lost, but will live for.
eser in a higher grander sphere
Therefore be il further
RESOLVED, That q copy OF these reso.
lutions he sen, to the bereaved family
and also, be placed on file in the order
ANNA WOOD. Chairman
EDNA BRANgER.
FERN SMITH.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31
Riverddle Loyal To TIGERS.

DR. {. b. Gardner of Riverdale, is a
base ball fan aud best of all he is for the
Tigers first and last. On the evening
of December 22 the doctor gave a very
delightful spread at his home in honor
of the Detroit Tigers double penant win
ming. The evening was pleasantly
passed, each guest doing a stunt that
brought in some base ball reminiscence.
AT IL o'clock the party was ushered onto
the diamond where they partook of a
most sumptous repast of five courses,
after which the party united in singing
Take Me Out to the Ball Came" the
whole bunch making home run
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31
A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY.

The Record has secured something
out of the ordinary as premium for
the coming year. Owing to the re-
cent ruling of the postoffice depart
ment that subscriptions to country
weeklies must be paid in advance
and to stimulate such advance pay
ments-we make the following Of
fer: Every subscriber, old or new,
who pays for the Record one year
in advance and 20 cents additional
will receive as a premium pair
of patent Tension Steel Shears, guar
anteed for five years, the very lat
est and most useful household inven-
tion, and worth at least $1.25. We
say $l.25 because these shears can
not be bought for less than $1.25 at
any retail store in the state. The
Record has the exclusive right to
offer these shears in Gratiot county
and they cannot be secured through
any other source. Send in your or
der now and get pair of these
valuable shears.
A dollar invested in the Record
will bring you the latest news of your
sc,shborhood and county The Rec
ord is the coming paper of Gratiot
county. We have lots OF live, ac-
tive competition, but our motto is
THE Record is The Best" II you are
not on our list you ought to be. And
here is your opportunity.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31
DOndker-- r--BarDhIII Wedding.

Charles Barnhili of Arcadia and Alice
Donaker we're married at the brides
home at Lowell, December "a. Mr.
and Mrs. Barnhill, parents Of the groom,
his sitter, Hazel and Arthur McFall of
Arcadia attended the wedding. The
young couple left Immediately for a
short wedding trip. They will be at
the Barnhill home on January |. On
the evening of that same day Mr.. and
Mrs. BarnnilI will give reception to
the bride and groom.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31

A. H. Prime of Lansing, who was here
all last month conducting the Record
voting contest. and Miss Clementine
Kraum Of Canal Dover, Ohio, were
quietly married at Lansin z Wednesday
Mr.. and Mrs, Prime left Immediately for
the brides home at Canal Dover, Ohio,
from which place. after a weeks visit,
they 90 to Columbus, Ohio, where Mr..
Prime will put OH big voting contest.
Mr.. Primes many friends here including
the Record join in congratulating him
and wish, both he and his new bride,
not only one but many happy new
prosperous new years.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31

saturday, Bert Eckert held a guess
ing contest at his meat market, the
guesses being on the weight of a young
beef. A handsome gold umbrella was
offered as prize to the one making the
closest guess. The beef weighed 3564
pounds an d Mrs. c. c. Dickerson won
the umbrella. guessing 356 pounds.
Another party guessed 3ss.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31
The Next Lecture Number.

DIR. Thomas Green, who made such a
favorable impression as a lecturer on
the occasion of his visit here two years
ago, will be heard al the Alma opera
house next Tuesday evening. IN the
third number of the Alma Lecture
course. DIR. Green's subject will be
"Civic Bacteriology, which is said to
be the best of his entire list of lecture
subjects.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31

The fourth lecture in the course on
tuberculosis will he given on Friday
evening, Jan. 8. 1909, by DIR. J. N. Day.
The subject of this lecture will be "The
clinical history of tuberculosis The
discussion will be led by DIR. N. f..
McClinton. The place Of meeting will
be announced next week. These lee
lures are growing in interest, and 1t is
hoped that goodly number will find il
convenient to attend this one.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31
Handsomely Remembered.

Last Thursday evening, while Mr.. and
Mrs. W. L. Naldreth were enjoying the
quiet of their home. the front door was
opened and beautiful office chair
placed in the vestibule. To the chair
was attached a package containing a
CoDklin self filling fountain pen and a
card signed by % of the Alma Grain q
Lumber Co.'S employees, wishing Mr..
Naldreth the compliments of the season.
The gift was thoroughly appreciated
and shows the good feeling existing
between Mr.. Naldreth and his en-
ployees
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31
A DESERVING CASE.

Al Leonard, of Forest Hill, who
lost his elevator by fire recently, is
not being forgotten by his many old
friends. In times past he has al
ways been the first to hasten to the
aid Of others, and his friends are re-
this fact now. Mr.. Leonard.
by combination of circumstances
was without insurance and hence the
was a total loss.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31
NAMES HIS Helpers.
Frank |. COnviS Becomes Sheriff al
IL O'clock Tonight.
0. |. C0MV|s UMDER-sHER|FF
Appoints Four Deputies, Who With. the Under
Sheriff, File Their Bonds To-day.

Tonight at twelve O'Clock Sheriff
Kille's term of Office will expire and his
successor, Frank l.. Convis, will assume
the duties of the office. Mr.. Convis
took the oath of Office some time since
and filed his bond in the sum of Sl0, 900
with Glenn Naldreth. Ed. Ashley, c. NJ.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31

Miss Vida Helen MUM, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Louis Thomas Muhn of
Larchdale farm, and Alvin r. Hallwill.
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Haliwill of
Arcadia, were the principals in a very
pretty home wedding solemnized Decem-
Der 23, at S:30 o'clock at the home of
the brides parents. The ceremony was
performed by Rev. ]. M. Wolfe of Alma,
a simple ring service being used. The
bride was gowned in pale blue voil and
carried shower boquet of white carna-
tions. She was attended by Miss Cor
della Haliwell, a sister of the groom.
Clyde Jones, cousin of the bride was
best man. Miss Elsa Gilkins rendered
Mendelssohns wedding march as the
bridal party entered the parlor.
The ceremony was witnessed by a
company of about one hundred, after
which refreshments were served. The
home was tastefully decorated for the
occasion. Among the out-of-town guests
were Mrs. Bacon of st. Johns, and rela-
tives from Saginaw. Mr.. and Mrs.
Haliwell will be at-home to their friends
after January |
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31
WAS A PLEASANT AFFAIR.
Alma Lodge F. q A. NJ. Works N. N. Degree
and Holds Banquet.

Alma Lodge. F. q A. NJ, on Monday
evening, in observance of Saints Johns
Day, worked the NJ. NJ degree and held
a banquet at Masonic hall. About 80
were present, including a visiting dele
CATION from the ST. Louis lodge 1t was
one of the most pleasing events Of recent
months, and was thoroughly enjoyed by
all. The NJ. NJ. degree was conferred
on Chas. G. Rhodes and Stanley Dudley
Tinker. Following the degree work all
adjourned to the opera house where a
pleasing entertainment was given.
When return to the lodge rooms was
made, tables had been set and banquet
spread upon them. At the conclusion
of the banquet Worshipful Master |. S.
Fink, introduced the toastmaster of the
evening, ID. l.. johnson. The toasts and
those who responded were as follows:
The Saints John, Rev. J. NJ. Wolfe; A
Story, Mayor l.. b. Alger of ST. Louis
A Bee in Our Bonnet, DIR, J. n. Day;
In Cog, B. @. Hubbard, ST. Louis.
Travelling East, e. f. Brown; Are You
Master Mason, c. G.. Rhodes Rem
nants, M. Pollasky; Unused Snow
Shovels, Ezra Smith.
THE MENU.
Oyster Stew.
Pickles. Olives
Celery.
Sandwiches. Cold Boiled Ham.
Fruit Salad. Cabbage Salad.
Ice Cream.
Assorted Cake. Coffee
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31
The CITY TAX LEVY
Amounts To More Than $42,OOO.OO
For This Year.
THE SECOND WARD LEADS ALL
The Total Amount Of Taxes to be Paid In The
Four Wards Of This City.

The total tax spread for the year
1908 in the city of Alma amounts TO
$45. .3S2S3, and is divided as shown
below. The second ward pays $lS,3S6.
AZ of the total amount spread while tn
first ward is close second with
$12,07402.
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15

public to pay in hard cash several
times as much as the dealers will give
in trade has resulted in a very strenu-
Gus and measurably successful demand
for better prices from the traders.
However, there are some Indian basket
makers who are reputed to have be-
come wealthys from the plying of their
craft One Nevada squaw is said to
have made % baskets in three years,
that brought her all the way from
$500 to $1,000 each; but this is an ex-
ceptional instance. Nevertheless it is
claimed that the trade in Indian bask-
cts made in California, Arizona, Nevada
and New Mexico amounts to consider
ably more than $3.000,0oo annually
Next to the basket in point of time
came the evolution of pottery. That
this is true is not guesswork but
seems Ito be well established by the
Investigations of Frank Cushing among
the Havasupais. 1t is the custom of
these Indians to roast certain food ar
ticles by putting them in a basket
made for that purpose, together with
some red hot Goals. The roasting is
accomplished by twirling the basket
SO as to keep the contents in rapid
motion, thAt the food may not be
scorched by too long contact with the
glowing embers. To prevent the fbers
of the basket from scorching or catch
ing fire, 1t is customary to line 1t with
clay In the course OF time the clay
becomes hard, and may be removed,
forming a perfect mold of the basket
Here is an object lesson of the evolu
ton of the pot from the basket that
must have impressed itself upon the.
savage intelligence ages ago. Anyway.
vessels and fragments of pottery have
been excavated from prehistoric ruins
that showed Enthusiastically the print of
every fiber of the basket in which they.
were nodded. se
Potters Are Women
AS in the making of baskets, SO in
the making of pottery, women are the
chief artisans. They search; for clay
OF suitable quality, carry it to the wa
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15

ter pools, where they mix and mold It.
fashioning the vessels, placing them in
the heated ovens. tempering and dec
Grating them They gather the pig
ments or prepare the stains and lay
them on with Infinite care and patience
Practically all the tribes of the south
west make pottery. but most of the
workmanship is very crude, the ma
terials are carelessly selected, and flaws
are passed by as matter of course.
Perhaps it is but natural that this
carelessness should prevail in the pro-.
duction OF articles so perishable and SO
liable to accident, Nevertheless, there
are some real artists here also, al
though for the finest wares of this
nature it is necessary to so to Mexico,
where the pottery of Cuernevaca, Qua
dalajara, Oaxaca and Patzcuerno is,
justly celebrated
Most recent of the aboriginal indus
tries of Importance is blanket weav-
ing. Strictly speaking. this had its
beginning with the Introduction of the
sheep by the Spaniards, three and a
half centuries ago Nevertheless. the
arts of plating and weaving We're
practiced ages before that. the plumage
of birds, the fibers of the cottonwood
and many native grasses and fbrous
plants being utilized for the making
of articles of apparel and decoration.
Specimens of the feather cloth of the
Aztecs, secured by Cortez and his com
panions. are still preserved among the
royal treasures of Spain, and similar
fabrics have been exhurned from pre-
historic graves and from the cave and
cliff dwellings of New Mexico. ART
zona and southwestern Colorado. Fa-
miliar as they were, with the practice
of weaving, it is not strange that the
aborigines seized eagerlysupon the ma
terials provided by. the invaders by the
introduction of sheep and goats. 1t is
strange, however, that Z the nomadfc
Navajos developed it to. perfection
never remotelys approximated by the
sedentary, Moki and zuni tribes. from
whom they learned it, The Moki and
Zuni tribes are still classed as blanket
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15

Is laid in infancy and figures iargelyin
the fuperal rites that usher him into
the happy hunting grounds. Between
this Alpha and Omega of his career
there is scarcelya day in which 1T does
not contribute in some way to his
comfort and we'll being.
Designs Have Meaning
The designs used in basket making
are not accidental or artistic concep-
tions of the makers, but have a tradi-
tional Significance. The cobweb pat
tern SO common in the baskets of finer
grades signifies that it was intended
for ceremonial use, for carrying offer
ings to the spider" deity. The deer
hunt so frequently represented in the
baskctry of the Pimas marks a basket
consecrated to the god of the chase
Even apparent defects are present by
design. Many an intending purchaser
has objected to a basket of faultless
workmanship because a pattern that
runs entirely, around it fails to join at
one point, supposing that the opening
is due to mistake or miscalculation
of the weaver. In reality the opening
is left that the evil spirits may find
a place of exit, instead of being con-
fined to work injury to the possessor
of the basket. In like smanner colors
have a cabalistic significance, differing
somewhat among various tribes In
general it is assumed that red means
success, blue defeat. black death and
white peace. Yellow is symbolic of the
north, because the light of the morning
is yellow in the winter season, when
the sun appears to rise toward the
north. Blue stands for the west. be-
cause in that direction are the blue
waters of the ocean. Red is the sign of
the south, for that is the land of the
red sun of summer, White signifies the
81 far. h y
ing appears. Among nearly all the
tribes red is sacred color, symbolic
of blood, which is the life and strength
of men, and the source of their success
and achievements.
The Willingness of the travelling
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15

No doubt basketry must be consid-
cred one of the very Oldest of the
handicrafts, and when the blessed
mother of Moses fashioned the basket
boat out OF the bulrushes that grew
along the Nile wherein to place the in
fant who was to become the law giver
of nations 1t is quite possible that
there were dwelling in the cliffs of the
undiscovered American southwest
many basket makers competent to give
her instructions on how to make it
secure and watertight. When Friar
Marcos de NiZZa Travelled north from
Mexico in 1889 through the lands of
the Hopi, Zuni and Apache he found
those people possessed of baskets such
as the skilled workers of Europe could
not make. Civilization has added moth
ing TO the art of the basket maker.
1t was already perfect.
Nearly every tribe of North America
once practiced basket making to a
greater or less extent, but the basket
makers par excellence are the Havasu-
pals, Gualalas, YolSuts, Hopi, Zunis and
Yumas. With these It is a fine art.
The materials used vary, depending
upon the purpose for which the bask-
cts are made, the season of the year
and the resources of the neighborhood.
Most of the Indians Of California use
tule IA species of reed) and various
grasses. The Havasupais employ will
low shoots and fibrous plants. The
Hopi Indians use yucca and various
grasses, and the Pimas confine them
selves mainly to willows and a tall
slough grass that can be split into
fine filaments. Colors are obtained in
various ways that do credit to the in
genuity of the workers. Often the
bright plumage of birds is interviewer
with the fibers. The Sjuices of roots,
fowers, berries, fruits, barks and
leaves are extracted and blended as
occasion may demand, and the mex
haustible variety Of mineral pigments
IS fully explored and drawn upon.
In the economy of the aborigines the
basket is of supreme Importance Tt
forms the cradle in which the red man
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15
By Iohn l.. Cowan

- VEN IN trust ridden America there
l. is one neglected corner where the
individual still counts with no
belching smokestacks to indicate
their location, with no hum of wheels
or whirr of spindies to disclose their
Whereabouts, without travelling
salesman TO 'push-business," and with
not even so much as q rewspaper ad to
coax coy dollars from the pockets OF
the thrifty. the oldest established in
dustries In the United States pursue
the even tenor Of their way in the
twentieth century much as they have
done for uncounted generations before.
They represent the last stand of indi-
Nidualism in the world of industry
Everywhere else organization. consoli-
dalton and cooperation have reduced
the individual units of the Industrial
machine 70 fractional points, any one
OF which, by itself, is as negligible as
any molecule in the solar system.
But in these ancient industries that
survive In odd corners-mainly in the
semidesert southwest-the individual is
still 'the whole thing" He Cor, more
often she) is sole proprietor, business
manager, master mechanic, journeyman.
salesman, collector and errand runner.
Neither the brand OF the trust. the
label OF the trade union, nor the seal
OF the government inspector is placed
upon his wares. SReatshop methods
are never practiced. wage scales never
debated and restriction Of output or
other artificial restraints of trade
never imagined. Financial depression
and breaking banks have no terrors
the factory inspector never calls, and
fear OF competition never enters the
minds Of the primitive captains of in
dustry who make baskets, manufacture
pottery and weave blankets in the
crude and laborious but inimitable
manner practiccd by their copper col
orcd ancestors for uncounted centu-
ries.
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15

weavers but they now make but few.
preferring to obtain them by barter or
purchase from the Navajos. They do.
however. manufacture belts, ceremonial
robes and similar articles.
The Navajo blanket is in a class by
itself With beauty that is wholly
barbaric. and that owes nothing to the
artistic conceptions of civilization. it
combines durability that is next to
everlasting. II retains its colors so
long shred is left, and viii bod
water like a gum blanket. Yet il is
woven with a loom that would be pro-
nouHCed next TO worthlesS+Werc Oee
not familiar with the product; and ele
threads are laboriously spun with
distan that no one but a barbarian
would attempt 10 handle.
OF the remaining aboriginal tra les
much might be said concerning sar-
ming and the making of moccaS rs
Indian tanned leather has no equa "a
the world, combining softness. fs,si-
sbIlity and durability The reputa oa
of the Indians as makers of mocca -
has been sadly damaged by the <
limitations made by i'll paid and tse-s
skilled girls in the larger cities Of 40
west (particularIy -Denver). r.
crude and clumsy counterfcits =
jobbed sont to curio dealers all c.r
the country and are sold to guile $
tourists as genuine Indian work. -
ship. Not unnaturally the purckas r
concludes that the Indian craftsrrn
{ are as soulleSs as the trusts or as in
competent as the rawest apprentice.
There were goldzmiths and siIser-
smiths in America centuries before the
: conquest; but the aboriginal art or met
al working now survives only in
: form that entities it TO scant mention.
A Pueblo tribesman of Sandia. -Jemez or
Zia can take a piece of silver and with
no tools but a hammer and couple
of dies pound il out upon the hard
baked earthen floor OF his dobe into
a bracelet or saddle ornament that IS
very creditable. CONSIDERING his opESv-
tunities. but which from any other view
point is not notable.