The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-04-20


and raise currants.
For further information ask almost
any farmer residing In the triangle be-
tween Emerickville, Sandy Valley and
the banks of Mill Creek, but ask not In
the spirit of levity lest you meet with
an exceedingly warm reception. For
the people of Washington and Pine
creek townships cannot see the humor
of the situation and lawyers, ihdigna-
tion meetings, trespass warnings and
threats have become so indiscriminate-
ly mixed up In the affair that 1t has
become serious enough.
1t is a tale that would rival the Wild
est fancies OF Dumas-this of the staid
farmers OF the Beechwoods allowing a
tall black bearded stranger to
visit several hundred homes, paint a
vivid word picture of the profits of cur
rant culture, of the unlimited market
for the product at canning factories, OF
the adaptibility of the region Tor the
business, and against their will and
better Judgment be convinced that an
acre of currant bushes would yield a
richer revenue than a farm OF eighty
acres. And there is something OF
magic In the tales now told of how, un-
der the seductive arguments aud over
mastering flattery of this stranger the
farmers ordered hundred, two hun.
| dred even three hundred and seventy
| dollars worth of currant stocks
enough to cover their whole farms fire.
quently-and gave their notes for the
amount. When the order and notes
had been signed the hypnotic spell was
broken, common sense asserted itsell
and some OF the victims straightway
pleaded to cancel their contracts and
have their notes returned even follow
ing the nursery agent to the roadway
it is said, and Offering ten or fifteen dol
lars to be released from the contract
signed but a few minutes before. Blu
the agent was inexorable and rode OF
to cast his spell another place and real
another harvest.
1t cannot be said that the agen
practiced fraud, but simply that hi
worked the shrewdest game played il
this section for years and by shee
audacity and nerve and an astonishing
line of argument, fattery, ant
skillful playing upon the hope o
easy money, swept the unsuspectinI
farmers into the region OF imagination
where dollars grew on currant bushe
and sold them almost any quantity hi
playful fancy happened to dictate.
When the agent had gone and tn
farmers got together to talk it over
their wrath arose at the way the gam
was played. They organized to fight
A fund was raised, Reynoldsville at
torney retained to counsel them, an,
a representative, w. H. Shuckers, sen
to New York state to investigate tn
nursery supposed to be responsible TO
the agent. When his report came i
the farmers were more enraged tha
ever and most OF them resolved to re
fuse to receive the goods when deliv
cred.
The past week has been an exciting
one in the BeechwOods and Glen1al
districts. Passing through the trayel
er may see here and there at gates @
farms notices warning against trespass
ing and other signs Of open hostilit
somewhat alarming in that usually hos
pitable section. Usually alongside tn
gate-but always outside-rests a BIZ
oblong box from the nursery containing
few hundred dollars worth Of curran
stocks that the farmers ordered unde
what they claim was a magnetic spel