Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-30
EVENING CHAT

There is much of interest to every
one in bulletin just issued by the
State Board of Education on the sub
Ject of corn clubs and similar organ
izatlonS among the young folks and 1t
! Is doubtful II the average man has
much idea of the great benefits con-
ferred upon the lives of the younger
generation in the rural districts. For
years there have been objections from
the countryside because of the lack of
means OF enjoying the social relation
ships that belong to the urban COM
munlty. Even the advent of the rural
mail service, extension of trolley lines
and establishment of farmers tele-
phone lines have failed to overcome
many of the complaints. In the last
Few years the school authorities have
taken hold of things in a practical
manner and by booming the move
ment to make schoolhouses social CEN
ters by the holding of frequent meet
ings and by urging the movement for
concentration of school children have
worked up a feeling among people in
the country that they are really more
in touch than before. And right here
is where the school officials are get
ting in their work. so to speak,
among the younger generation. They
have encouraged the formation in this
section of the State of corn-g growing
Gibbs among the boys, cooking clubs
etiiiouS the SlTlS, ana ny means OF COLI
tests and exhibitions have stimulated
interest No less than twenty counties
have corn clubs which are directly un-
der the school superintendents and
one county has so many boys inter-
ested that it has half dozen clubs,
while in others the girls are chasing
the boys. In Mercer, for instance. it is
stated that a girl of eleven raised over
ninety-seven bushels of corn to an
acre. Dauphin and Cumberland have
some high steppers in the corn-raising
line and it is up to them to show what
they can do.
The meeting of the nti-suffrage
people in the city to-day has attracted
not only the attention of many of the
people who believe in suffrage and
those who do not, but is being watched
with jealous eye by those who are
members of the organizations pledged
to the advancement of the cause. AS
matter of fact. several of the active
spirits in the State organization, who
have lately been visiting various parts
of the State, are in Harrisburg to-day,
and the meetings are being watched
very closely. The good ladies are en-
gagged in campaign of great earnest
ness and can even give the Democratic
factions few points on zeal.
the offices on Capitol Hill now than
ever and many of them are splendid
branches of blossoms from fruit trees.
which are now in bloom Capitol Hill
is always more or less noted for the
way in which people adorn their desks
with flowers, but the preponderance
of fruit blossoms to-day attracted at
tention. This is explained by the fact
that many of the people who are daily
employed at the State House live in
the country or suburbs.
Some wags have been having fun
with acquaintances in the residential
sections of the city in these war scare
days. They have been sending word
to their friends, taking care that they
are not at home when the message is
given. that the National Guard officials
would be glad to have them join new
commands about to be formed in this
city Some of the men have come
around to explain that they could not
enlist and were informed that they
were not wanted. In one or two in
stances men arranged to proffer serv-
ices and made all preparations only to
be Informed that there was nothing
doing in the federal service except
possibly driving n mail wagon.
Formation of National Guard organ
lZatlonS is always active in time of war
scaros and the transfer of companies
of the Twelfth Infantry to the cavalry
service yesterday caused people here
to discuss the often mentioned third
company of infantry for this city. The
Eighth Regiment is short one com
pany and it is thought that one could
be established here or at Steelton
without loss of time. The proposition
to form a battery here has also been
mooted again.