The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-06-28
STAFFORD
Scribbler's Newsy Budget An Incident
at the Picnic Other Notes
Stafford. Va. June 24th.

Stafford, Va, June oath.
This community was shocked this a.
m. to learn of the death of +. 5. Har-
per, of Alexandria. No one could real
lze that the genial Frank Harper had
crossed over the river and no more to
be seen of men on this side. He was
was an honest, kindly, genial gentle
man. May his rest be peaceful. Old
mother earth never received a better
one.
Though he that ever kind and true
Kept stoutly step by step with you,
Your whole long gusty life time
through.
BE gone a while before
Be now a moment gone before,
Yet doubt not; anon the seasons shall
restore
Your friend to you.
Messrs. II. NJ. Tolson, commissioner
Of revenue, and Geo. v Moncure. land
assessor, were here this week on busi-
ness.
The tournament, picnic and enter
tainment given at the hall Of the I. o.
s. Of A. passed off with fair attendance
and good order. although about ten
O'Clock the gathering was disturbed by
loud outcry, from an individual seat
ed in buggy near the hall. A large
crowd gathered around him. when il
was ascertained he had gone TO sleep
with his feet on grip, in which were
two bottles. quarts. Some persons,
thinking his departure to the Land Of
Nod the accepted time. proceeded to
abduct the quarts aforesaid by pulling
them under the seat of the buggy. but
alas for human expectations, the move
ment under his feet awakened our
friend, hence the outcry. The persons
who had seized the grip ran, but be-
coming entangled in a wire fence were
forced to drop the prize. and It's said
the noise they made going across the
field was similar to a cattle stampede
in the wild and woolly west.
Mrs. K. s. Moore and Miss Hattie
Phillips, her guest, left for Washing
ton today on visit to friends.
Messrs. Frank l.. Slaymaker and Jas.
X. Cation, Jr., of Alexandria, paid the
Clerks office a visit today on legal
business.
One of our citizens of the county APP
piled at the Clerk 3 Office this week for
shave. Being informed it was not a
barbershop, he was loaned safety
razor, which was applied vigorously.
After he had scraped himself well
there was but little left of his face but
his nose and his mustache. which Is OF
the counter brush persuasion.
Miss Ruth Brown, of Riverton, Nd,
who has been the guest of Mr.. and Mrs.
T. j. Waller at Wayside, left for her
home yesterday.
Mr.. A. p. Dempsey, Of the Burg,
spent portion of the day here this
week.
Mr.. X. B. Combs, of Jackets Mills,
paid the Clerks office visit this week.
Circuit court convenes on the llth of
July. Not being a quarterly term no
civil cases will be tried There is a
prospect Of one criminal case being
tried, that of the Commonwealth V.
Annie Hill
The thermometer reached 100 in the
shade at this place last Thursday. Not
quite as hot as tbs in Fort Yuma, N.
Mex, but Speaker Reed is reported to
have said that ''if he owned the above
place and the lower regions, he would
rent out Fort Yuma and take up his
abode in that place.
I The last four or five days have wit
messed unusual activity on the part of
our farming population;with harvest on
their hands and the corn crop calling
them from its environment of grass, II
was hard to tell which to take first.
Happily the continuous good weather
has helped them wonderfully.
Mrs. Fanny l.. and Miss Florence F..
Clark spent Wednesday here visiting
friends.
Mr.. Ben Purvis, of the Fredericks-
burg bar, paid flying visit here this
week on legal business.
There are twenty-five families in and
around the Court House each Of whom
have several members with whooping
cough. Scribbler.