The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-09-04

representative residents OF the place
meet at the town hall to celebrate the
founding Of the village. Speeches,
congratulations, suggestions for civic
improvements comprised the features
of the program. Then q banquet
Dawes was always the chairman Of
the functions, and so felicitous was
his handling of the various toasts pro-
posed, that he had won the title of
The Cheer Master"
They could hear the distant echo Of
an engine whistle across the valley
as they sat in the town hall on the
present occasion. 1t reminded some
of the sore ones of their disappoint-
ment. Dawes, however, was in great
fettle that evening, and when the
banquet board was reached his
buoyant, optimistic air communicated
itself to others.
They never had anything stronger
than clear, sparkling water at these
celebration functions. They had moth
ing stronger, because In the first
| place no one seemed to want 1t, and
| furthermore the big artesian we'll
| in the state as to purity Of outrush,
so, as a matter of local loyalty, the
| toasts were drunk in aqua pura.
"Hopeville-her splendid past and
ner glorious future" was the toast
read.
"Humph!" grumbled Bross, 81 think
Dawes will have to take back seat
this time"
But Phillip Dawes arose, looking
brighter and prouder than he had
ever seemed. He took no back water
on the buoyant predictions of past
years. He looked quite dazzled as he
spoke of the golden stream of good
fortune now knocking at their doors.
And then they drank the toast. And
then most everybody made a grimace,
set down the unfinished libation, and
looked queer.
Something the matter with the wa
ter, friends?" smiled Dawes. That's
the merit Of 1t. 1t is Hopeville water,
though not from the home well. Cen
tlemen you have drank of the soon
to-becelebrated Lithia- Magnesium
water specially presented to you to
introduce the last requirement this
beautiful district needed to make II
famous"
Say, what are you driving at, any
how?" inquired Bross bluntly.
Just this" explained Dawes. ",
reasoned from the first that the new
railroad would open up popular out
ing resort somewhere along its line
The noisy railroad has spoiled Byron
Besides, they have no such magnifi
cent scenery as Hopeville nor lake
nor a trout stream, nor the mode
town. Again, tourists like to rid
from terminus in stage-thinl
they're diving into the primeval will
derness. Well, gentlemen, for tw'
months I have been negotiating will
wealthy promoters in the city. Th
deal is closed a big hotel is to b
built at the head of the lake, and pee
pie will come to Hopeville next sea
son, dead loads of them"
Voices arose in eager demands 70
more detailed information. Propert
and rents would go up! The tow
stores would quadruple their business
The rich golden harvest was comm
at last!
> "But what about this horrible tas
ing water?" queried Bross, with
wry face.
Pronounced by chemists the mos
healthful beverage in the world,
= boasted Dawes proudly, "a true mil
eral water. When the promoter
learned that. they offered ten thol
sand dollars cash for the spring
l. came from"
= And where is that?"
Down in a forgotten corner of ths
poor, neglected farm your boy live
on over in the ravine. Now, Neigl
Dor Bross, as all the town Is happ
over the grand general prospect
i ahead of us, suppose you go down
II the ravine farm and congratulat
your son, Bradley, and his wife o
II their share in the general good luck
And thus 1t was that the name {
the popular Cheer Master became
IL household word in Hopeville for a
g. time to pOna