The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-16
III, we NAV believe what ou

/ III we may believe what our
over-the-mountain exchanges say,
Honesdale will have to put her best
foot forward. figuratively speaking,
If she expects to win out in the COM
ing triangular literary contest against
! Carbondale and Dunmore. One
would imagine from the confident
way in which our neighbors speak
of the anticipated approaching vic
tory of their orators and essayists,
that they regard the battle as al
ready decided, with our representa-
tives ANONYMOUSLY vanquished. We
are making no vainglorious boasts
over this way, but are willing to
bide our time, and take what Justly
comes to us. We commend Carbon
dale, having been left out in the
cold, in former decisions, for max
ing a supreme effort to win now,
and we cannot blame Dunmore for
her determination to retain her
prestige, so creditably won last
year; but both towns are advised
not to take the Honesdale High
School too lightly. If our champ
ions are beaten in either of the con-
tests, the immense audience ex-
pected to be present in the Scranton
Lyceum will be treated to flow of
oratory and symposium of essays
of most exceptional merit. A Dun
more correspondent says that the
local contestants of that place are
practising daily 80 as to be in
splendid condition to win honor
and glory for the Dunmore High
school, wnen they meet in the lit
erary battle at the Lyceum theatre
on the evening of April 80. So
great is the interest in this affair,
that the entire balcony has been
reserved for Carbondale and Homes
dale, leaving only the lower floor
tickets to be disposed of in Dun
more. The final conference of the
principals will take place in the
High school next Saturday when all
plans pertaining to the contest will
be perfected. At this conference,
too, the essays will be sent to the
judges"
Edmund A. Bigler, a son of former
Governor William Bigler, of this State,
and nephew of Ex-Governor John Big
Ter, of California, died at his home in
Clearfeld, Pa, on Monday last, aged 66
years. AS related in the recent "Story
of the Old Cannon" the visits of VIM.
F. Johnston and William Bigler, to
Honesdale, on succeeding days in the
gubernatorial canvass of 1851, brought
out the most imposing public demonstra-
tions in the political history of the town.
E. A.. Bigler was the Democratic nomi-
nee for State Treasurer in 1889, and was
internal revenue collector for the western
distris Pennsylvania during both of
PresiS at Cleveland's terms.
Further evidence Of a depression in
the freight traffic of this region is evinc-
ed in statement issued by the Erie to
the effect that six engineers running on
the Jefferson division between Susque-
hanna and Carbondale, have been set
back firing. For the past month traffic
on the branch has decreased and about
week ago a numberof brakemen were
laid off. Ever sincethe Erie discontinued
to ship their coal for western points over
the Jefferson division the company has
not been doing much freight business on
that division. All coal for western points
is shipped from the mines over the Wy
oming division to Lackawaxen and is
then taken to Port Jervis over the Della
ware division and shipped to the west.
Nearly all of the engineers, with the ex-
ception of one who lives in Port Jervis,
who are to be set back, reside in Car
bondale.
The second Sunday in May which
has become notable as Mothers day
will be considerably observed all over
the United States on that day. This
custom, beautiful one, is the out
growth of efforts by Philadelphia
woman, Mrs. Anna Jarvis, who just a
year ago undertook to arouse interest
in the observance. The effort was
crowned with success from the very
start and has attracted attention all over
the country. In another column will be
found more detailed account of origin
and object of this new claimant for
yearly recognition. If home is nothing
without mother, surely those saints of
the household deserve the kindliest re-
membrance.
Adam Metzgar, Jr., another former
Honesdaler, is. a considerable loser
through the Callicoon financial smash
up. He had 81 900 on deposit with
which to finish the nearly completed
house which he is erecting.
During the past ten months,
the station agents of the. Delaware
& Hudson railroad have been talk
ing of founding society, having
for its object the cultivation of a
spirit of good will toward the rail-
road companies, and on Saturday
night last a meeting was held at