Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-09-08
EhRntng Ol1at

This is the birthday OF Uncle Ben"
Spongler, of the Fire Marshal's de-
partment. Uncle Ben," sometimes
known as Star Spangled" Spangler,
due to fondness for bringing the
American flag prominently into every
speech he makes--speechmakin par
ticularly of the political variety, hav-
ing been for very many years one OF
the chief diversions of the eloquent
uncle Ben" Well, as we started out
to say. this is Uncle Ben's" birthday,
and guess how young he Isl Eighty
four, yes, sir, and still as lively as q
cricket; not an October cricket dodg-
ing painfully from leaf to leaf after
the first October frost, but a briSk
young cricket rejoicing in the warmth
ana JOY OF July sun. That's Uncle
Ben" He's the Oldest MANN years
in the State service. and some time
ago when everybody from the Gov
ernor down was piling flowers on
uncle Henry" Houck's desk and tell
ing him how young he looked at 50
UNCLE Ben" Spangler went around to
tell Houck his place and to assure him
that he regarded so as a mere baga-
telle, and that after Houck got up to
real age why doubtless he'd have
some reason to be congratulated, but
well, until he reached the dignity of
blufling, or words to that general
effect. Then, Just to show that he
had the goods, Uncle Ben" challenged
Uncle Henry to a high-kicking
match, with a dinner as the stakes.
the winner to be the one who could
knock with his toe the hat off the
other fellows head. But Uncle
Henry" said that as Spangler was
about six feet tall and he was any
thing but that, the match wouldn't be
fasVs - II. D.
went away complaining that it wasn't
fair and that Uncle Henry" was
afraid.
Uncle Ben" got his nickname of
Star Spangled" in the Legislature one
time years ago when he was represent
ing Cumberland county in the House.
He closed the session with a speech
that has gone Gathering and banging
down the halls of legislative history as
an unmatched piece of patriotic ora
tory. After that Uncle Ben" to live
up to his reputation, always has car
ried around in his pocket a little silk
| American flag so as to be ready in case
| of speechmaking emergencies. Only
one time 1t failed him, and that was
all an awful mistake. Uncle Ben"
says he still bushes when he thinks
of il. He was making an address in
behalf of the reelection of the late
| CONGRESSMAN Marlin e. Olmsted at a
New Cumberland rally one night and
had waved his little flag at the proper
moment, to the great delight of the
audience and his own self-satisfaction.
| Carelessly he rolled it up and held it
! in one hand while he continued his
speech. He had cold that night and
| had been using his handkerchief
freely. Suddenly he felt fresh need
of it ana with his mind on his speech
he brought what he thought was his
handkerchief again into action, and
| horror of horrors-blew his nose into
| the American flag.
Uncle Ben" is one of the most pop
ular men on the Hill" Despite his
age he is always one of the arst on
the job in the morning and one of the
last to leave. He is a painstaking and
enthusiastic worker and is generally
REGARDED as permanent fixture at the
Capitol.
The result of the States planting"
of quail and other game birds is COM
mencing to show in the vicinity OF the
city. On an automobile trip few
days ago one party saw two coVeys OF
quail in this county and a couple OF
pheasants on a road in Cumberland
county not far from Oysters Point AS
for rabbits they have a habit now or
advertising their number by running.
about on the highways.
1t is probable that berore long some
steps will be taken for an inquiry into
the locust rust which is again preva-
lent on trees in this and adjoining
counties. Half a dozen years ago the
rust or blight was common along the
roads in Dauphin county, locust being
the favorite tree for planting beside
the highways. Now the rust is ap-
pearing again in the upper end of the
county. This disease, which is not as
destructive as the pine blister rust is
nevertheless one which bears watch
ing and which if unchecked may cause
much loss in years to come as it
vitiates the tree.