davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

The w. C. T. u. meeting held at
Mrs. Nora Palmer's Friday, Jan. o,
was we'll attended. The reports py
the officers showed a coed years
work accomplished. The following
officers were elected for the ensuing
year: President, Mrs. Lillian Holmes (;
recording secretary, Mrs. Emma
Woodbridge; corresponding secretary,
Miss 0na Musselman; treasurer, MRS.
Sarah Howe. Date will be given Tor
regular meeting later. =,
Mrs. Elon johnson of Greenville
was Saturday afternoon caller at
Mrs. C. ID. Easterbrooks and other
friends. .a
Mrs. Henry Young spent New
Years with her brother, Henry Fro
bert and family Of Portland.
A letter written by a French lady
was recently received by Mrs. BERTHE
Berch Of Orleans, whose husband IL
still in France.
Champlitte, "a Nov, 1918.
\ Dear Friends / received your
most ever welcome letter and very
nice views album and sure was glad
to hear from you. After war shall
send to you several membranes
and picture myself, travels difficult
in this time, many trains for soldiers,
no much for epoplc. l have going
in great town (Dijon) there are sew
eral American hospitals. II / had
been knowing where your husband is
living / should have seen him per-
haps. Ladies of high society visit
the wounded soldiers. l think he
has been sending to you silk hand
kerchief remembrance from France.
II no | should be glad to send to you
if that makes pleasure to you.
Good news! Armistice is ratified.
| believe war over. Long live for
u. S. A. and his brave soldiers. Land
for Nprogress and liberty. l have
been reading in Journal that us Eu-
ropeans were the autumn and you
people New continent were the spring.
| should like that you should come
in France for to know you and you
to see my land. In France many old
houses we like this remembrance of
the past time. Beautiful great town
Pice, Paris, Bordeaux there are.
should like to see America but l APP
prehend sea sickness and l travel no
much, it tire myself. / am happy
of to receive views the States this
morning. / have had state armory of
Michigan, thanks very much. It's
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

Mrs. Maria Peck, daughter Of Le-
'ander and Polly Peck was born near
Jonesville, Mich, Jan. %, 1850. and
departed this life December 28. 1918
at Grand Rapids, Michigan.
her mother dying when she was a
small child and her father having
married again she moved with the
family to Wisconsin where she re-
cerved her education and taught
school until 1867 when she was mar
ried to Lafayette Harris of Darling
ton, Wis. Shortly after this they
moved to Fayette, Iowa, where her
husband died Dec. 20, 1870. leaving
her and an infant son, Henry. who
now resides at Smyrna, Mich.
After the death Of her husband sbe
returned to Wisconsin and again
took up her vocation of teaching Ia
ter coming to Michigan where she
was married to George d. Fcrman
at Particle, Calhoun county. Nov
IL, 1874. To this union were horn
six children, three Of whom died in
infancy. Edward ID. of Rockford
Mich, James NJ, who died from acct
dent July 26, 1905 and Leander G.
of Toledo, o.
She was devoted wife and a ten
der mother and although frail in
body she was big in spirit with low
ing thought and care for all with
whom she came in contact.
For many years she was a resident
of Smyrna, coming to Belding nine
years ago where she has since resided
the greater part of the time.
She was member of the Methodist
Episcopal church and firm believer
in Christ as her Savior.
Besides her husband and sons she
leaves to mourn her loss her grand
children, an aged step-mother and a
half-sister residing in Kilbourn, Wis,
a half-brother, Dr. w. w. Peck of
Darlington, Wis, and also many rel
atives and friends.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08
NORTH EASTON

Congratulations to Mr.. and Mrs.
Fred Bluemly a daughter was born
TO them, Dec. 20.
Lester Huyck has been helping
Harry Whipple with his work.
May Ward, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. w. S. Ward was reported SER
iously i'll but is improving.
Grover Dorsey is out again after
an attack Of the flu.
Mr.. and Mrs. Isaac Bates were
New Years guests of Mr.. and Mrs.
Levi Krick.
Oliver Ransom and family are i'll
with cold.
r. Dunsmore is reported quite i'll.
Lester Huyck was Saturday even
ing guest at Isaac Bates.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. C. Purdy and
Martha and Mrs. Hazel Purdy CT
Greenville and Ira Purdy of Addie,
Idaho, were New Years guests at the
j. M. York home.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. M. York called on
Grandma Alderman and Mrs. White
Sunday afternoon.
Ethel Woodbridge spent Friday
night with Belding friends.
Mrs. +. p. Hannah Of Bedding
spent Friday with Mrs. o. Purdy.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sam Clements had q
very enjoyable trip to Grand Ledge,
Detroit and other places last week.
Glen VanGiesen and family of Lima,
Ohio, returned Friday after spending
the holidays with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. John Van Giesen.
Orleans Farmers club will meet at
Maccabee and Cleaner hall Thursday
Jan. 16. Tho same program will be
rendered that was to have been given
in December. Owing to the fact that
there has been so much sickness in the
neighborhood there has been no meet
ing for several weeks and it is hoped
that everyone will be present and
help make the meeting a success. The
annual election Of officers will take
place at that time. Dinner at noon
Everyone welcome Come.
Miss Mildred Snyder of Blanchard
was New Year guest of her aunt
Mrs. Jud Morgan and family.
Raymond Noddins spent Wednes-
day night with his friend, Carlton
Currie of Grand Ledge and Thursday
the young men left for Nj. A.. c., to
take up school work again.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Bennett were in
Greenville to see their daughter, Ha-
eel, who is very i'll.
Miss Leone Hale was able to return
to her work in the State bank at Ionia
Monday after entertaining the flu for
a few days.
Mr.. Sabin seems little better. His
daughter, Mrs. Stanton, of Belding, is
here with her parents.
Miss Sadie Hubert returned to Mt
Pleasant Monday to attend school af-
ter three weeks vacation because Of
the flu.
Mrs. Geo. Hill extends thanks to
the l.. o. L. M, Camp Fire Girls
Epworth League and many friends
and neighbors for the beautiful cards
flowers and fine fruit sent her during
her recent illness.
Ellie Guy spent Saturday and Sun.
day with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs
Douglass Guy, returning Sunday eve
ming to Camp Custer.
Robert Martin of Ronald fell Sun
day and was so seriously injured that
he was taken to Ionia city hospital
His daughter, Mrs. Levi Howe, was
called to help care for him.
Mr.. and Mrs. Abbey and Mr. and
Mrs. Burns were Sunday guests OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Levi Howe.
Chas. Graf returned homo New
Years night from Butterworth hos
pital.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08
SMYRNA

The new year brought a very de-
cided change in the weather.
John Tebbel said he didn't know
how thick the ice was on the pond but
thought it was not ripe enough to
harvest yet.
Geo. Hoppough would like to know
where the fellow is who prophesied an
open winter.
Ed. Insley generally has a good
fire in the stove at the store and plenty
of chairs near by.
As we trudged up and down the
snowy walks in Smyrna Saturday we
showered blessings on the head OF AL
fred Davis who, with his little snow
pillow made the walking good.
Geo. Tebbel made q business trip to
Bedding Saturday. On his return he
told NJ we were q day early and we
were just thinking it was = winter
early.
Smyrna hill is exceedingly slippery
these days and we imagine the kids
are all aware Of the fact.
Sunday of last week Mr.. and Mrs.
Elgin Condor, Mrs. Emma Lee, Chas.
Carlson, Mrs. Hiram Olds and Miss
Bernice Odds with some well filled
dinner baskets, motored over to the
place where Mr.. and Mrs. Louis Comp
ton are enjoying camp life and had
a jolly visit with them and their pic
mic dinner was delicious.
Clifford Insley and Mrs. Marvin
Nash were dinner guests OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Noble Peterson Thursday and
they were the supper guests Of ]. E.
Insley and wife.
Mrs. Ward Hoppough and daughter
I'D -
Moe Thursday.
Clare Norton of Bartonville called
on his uncle, VIM. Gardner, Friday.
Mr.. Gardner is still in very poor
health.
Mrs. Frank Caswell of Six Lakes
arrived Tuesday and is visiting her
sister and brother-in-law, Mr.. and
Mrs. Herbert Mehney and other rela-
tives.
Mrs. Mary Gray and Mrs. Bertha
Cess and little son, Wendall visited
Mrs. Eleanor Dicken Tuesday night.
Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Hanks called on
Sherman Hubert and family Sunday.
Mrs. Elizabeth Davis was a busy
woman last year. She pieced Ia
quilts and knit lace for II pairs of
pillow slips. Now if you don't be-
lieve she was busy we will just men
tion the fact that one quilt she pieced
was made up of 1.200 pieces.
Mrs. John Purdy and son, Guy, en-
jcyed New Years day in Grattan with
Mrs. Hettie Davis and family.
Clifford Insley was over near Palo
Friday and Saturday visiting the
family of Ray Edwards.
The Bedding high school class OF
1917 and class of 1918 had party al
Maccabee hall Monday evening last.
The Smyrna Social club gave a
New Years dancing party at Macca-
bee hall Tuesday night, 100 numbers
being sold and they had fine time
An oyster supper was served.
Miss Marian Byrne, former teacher
here. underwent an operation for ap-
pendicitis at st. Mary's hospital ir
Grand Rapids Tuesday afternoon OF
last week. She is doing WELL
Mr.. and Mrs. Earl Harrington OF
Cleveland o.. visited Ed. Insley and
family last Monday.
Mrs. Chas. Condor and little son
Carol, were guests of her mother
Mrs. Ella Beedy, Saturday night and
Sunday.
Mrs. Bertha Coss called on Mrs
Ada Hanks last Tuesday evening.
Miss Sadie Himebaugh visited 8
friend, Miss Higbee, in Lowell Satur.
day night and Sunday.
Mrs. Grace Beedy and daughter
Martha were Belding visitors Satur-
day.
Married. in Saginaw, Jan. 2. 1919
Mr.. Edwin Taylor and Miss Tina Cliff.
sister Of Mrs. Marvin Nash.
nd I'll -
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

best that your husband let him be
wounded because he would be perhaps
killed IN last combate what has been
very dreadful. l hope him see again
you soon in the States, also YOUR
brother. The mine brother is In
army Tor some days or some months
wish good Christmas for Won.
Your husband will be perhaps com
ing back TO you. like hear from
you. Your friend,
A. Simmonne Collin.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

us that we have been the Smyrna cor
respondent of the Belding News near
~ 20 years. (Yes, and we join in
with our Smyrna readers that you will
be on the same job 20 years more
Editor)
Olympia arbor of Cleaners will
hold their next meeting with Mr.. and
Mrs. Fred Reeves Thursday, Jan. 16
with a picnic dinner.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

Mr.. and Mrs. Roy Burger were in
Ionia New Years day.
Ben Hall spent Saturday afternoon
in Orleans.
The lake is frozen over and the fish
houses are appearing, Jack Hartman
catching the first pike of the season,
weighing about a 1-2 lbs.
!. Justin Smith has arrived home from
Camp Hancock.
j. E: Dodson spent Saturday in
Greenville.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jas. McNeiley and
sons, Bert and Glenn, spent New
Years and Sunday with Mr.. and Mrs.
j. E. Dodson.
Glen Morse came from Camp Gus
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

ter to spend New Years with his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Ed. Morse.
Mrs. j. L. Dodson and daughters
were in Bedding Saturday.
John Hamblln spent New Years
with his wife and children in Saranac.
Mr.. and Mrs. Miles Merriett are
spending several days with Mr.. and
Mrs. Earl Wright i'm Beldlng.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

Mr.. and Mrs. Archie Swears and
two children visited Sunday with her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. III. Werner.
Mrs. j. L. Morse visited Friday
night and Saturday with Mrs. A. r.
Locke of Ionia.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harlan Reeves of
Detroit, who have been visiting his
parents since New Years, returned
home Saturday. His brother, Ro-
bert went with them expecting to get
employment there.
Russell Sage of Pontiac spent the
past week visiting friends here.
Dorothy and Milan Reeves visited
their Grandpa and Grandma Hubbard
Thursday and Friday.
Mrs. Orris Phinney of Lansing
visited her parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Geo. Hall, the past week.
Mr.. and Mrs. l.. j. Kimberly enter
tanned for New Years Mr. and Mrs.
G. j. Cooley, Mr.. and Mrs. M. A..
Cooley of Bedding.
Mr.. and Mrs. Art Foss and little
son, Orville, visited New Years even
ing with Mr.. and Mrs. 3. J. Storey.
M. S. Boss went to Pontiac Sat-
urday to visit over Sunday with his
son, Ben and family. Hugh Boss
is very i'll with pneumonia after the
flu.
Shafter arbor will meet wednes-
day, Jan. Is. Installation of Off
GERS.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-01-08

Monday, Constance TaImadge in
"The Honeymoon" Select play.
Miss Talmadge 10 one Of the most
clever actresses on the screen today
and gaining in popularity. You will
always want to see her pictures.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-07

In a way by the drop in the exports
in the following months of May to
Sos million. But again the futiiity
of all prediction was emphasized when
the June records showed an export
dollars. That was 200 million higher
than II had been In any previous
month in the history of American
commerce. II during the coming
months the shipments should even
approximate this June rate it would
mean an American export trade of
between ten and eleven billion dol
lars a year.
The great expansion OF the export
business of the country is due in part
to the increast in prices. Prices of
most commodities for export are and
have been rising rather than falling,
so that the gains which are now TAX
ing place In export trade are not &C
tualiy as large as the figures in value
alone would seem to indicate. Making
every allowance for the effect OF this
higher price level. however. there has
been an abnormal increase in the
volume OF foodstuffs, raw materials
coal. machinery and reconstruction
materials going to European coun-
tries. and of manufactured products
to the rest OF the world, this latter
| tendency being more pronounced
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-07

Us 1As extraordinarily aght vote in
1a6nusend seems to have set the pace
- - VOTE in TIE rect OF The state in
1nsaay-s Democratic primary. 0ne
- sxt u four or Eve exercised ne
wk swee4ccs privilege which Al
Anxwseau sne DsHcora pcsssessss--
- saxnt 70 sAx WHOM re prefers TO
- - sc~ hars In TIRE a.. Important
- q making sEd administering
- h1A
A11saAy complaints aave been heard
ann~x scxse az sAe -@sx3 .s----,1sp laiats
n - Instances n CITE men ~se Old
- vues Are al not sase SGy active
uw IL the cA-rAsEr These
nDE1nx1 are rscs tss-3e4. even
- a%pS-~es mistakes lave L-een
- md these ave very .ew. For
- NJ a ec~ernnsns ~e have = the
- cAAx ~ vAn---saaE we Eans
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-07
Rabbits Feet and Other
Amulets Given Credit for
Saving Lives Of Soldiers

of nature; figure represents man
as the highest work of God. Taking,
therefore. figure as being unique
the figure 2 and shat Is, Gods work
in the hands OF man-equal S, and this
| 8 Is said to represent everything In
England we do not fully appreciate
the meaning OF the figure 81
The Maoris, New Zealand colored
troops who fought in France. fur.
nished the Investigator with quaint.
ties of material on the subject OF mas
cots. They didn't object at all to tell
Ing all they knew about their charms
and the information cleaned was very
interesting.
THE great mascot OF the Maoris Il
quaint, contorted. greensboro figure
which is known to be of enormou.
antiquity" writes Mr.. Lovett. "Thi:
greenstone---a kind of jadc--is ex.
tremely hardin fact. It is almost al
hard as corundum or the diamond.
THE ordinary seized jade tiki. OF
club, would take a native OF New Zea
| land several months or even years to
some OF the large clubs OF pure Jade
take the lives of three men, at constant
work to make. There are, however
q large number OF machine made tikis
in the market I was told that when
a Maori dies his tiki is always buried
with him.
But the commonest charms among
the soldiers of France and Belgium
are made Of aluminium and copper
fragments Of German shells. It was
considered that II you wore piece
OF the enemy's projectile it inocu-
lated you against future danger from
I - M t. 81 N1n~ Aa
Irish superstition. Every Irish cot
tage has its 'thunderbolt." which is
supposed to protect the home from
being struck by lightning. Instances
OF this doctrine exist practically
Throughout Europe.
The French soldier was very keen
on fragments OF shells, which he care
fully wrapped in cloth and secreted
about his person. Aluminium and
copper fragments were priced most
highly. They were fashioned into
crosses, anchors. stars. diamonds,
shields. finger rings and even into
model flying machines by clever SOL
der artisans They were carried az
amulets by Thousands Of fighting men.
italian troops wore CHAINS that have
been common in that country for
centuries. They were generally phai-
lie emblems such as may be seen by
the thou, ands in the streets of Rome
or Napls The italian soldier usually
wears some religious emblem.
The "doughboy'' amulets consisted
OF a mix ure Of all the ones worn by
the European soldiers and scores of
his own particular fancy. Rabbits
feet were numerous among the Amer
lean divisions. especially the colored
troops. and other curious, essentially
Hn AASsfA -
Yankee soldier. II seems. was Just a.
superstitious as the others when It
came to good.luck pieces.
Mr.. Lovett has number OF German
charms. most OF which were taken
from German prisoners. They are OF
character one might expect from
such people. he says. and consist
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-07

largely Of pigs, many OF which are
grossly indecent and vulgar. y
Moreover" he says, the pig is not
IA lucky charm. as we might regard 1t.
1t simply implies wealth, and that is
not much use in actual fighting. An
other German charm is a small model
of fungus. which is of a natural
blood-red color. This is really phal-
lie emblem A third kind Is the tee
totum. meaning chance
"On the other hand. in the German
navy. or what remains Of it, they have
rather a pretty charm. II consists of
small cheap medal. bearing the
figure OF Christ shilling the tempest
with the motto, safety in storms
Despite the wide prevalence OF the
charm and the care with which the
trinket was guarded the invariable
rule for the soldier was to deny all
knowledge whatever Of such supersti-
tons Just the same, it has been es-
timated that seven out of every ten
soldiers in the war carried some sort
OF good-luck piece, which they treas
ured above all else
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-07
BY FORBES W. FATRBARIN.

| London Aug. Aust how far did
the soldiers mascot go toward saving
| his life? Did the boy who came
through the thickest Of the fray un-
scathed owe his good fortune to the
good-luck piece he carried on his per.
son or Is the popular superstition
which held sway in all armies a mere
| fallncy7
These questions are discussed h,
Edward Lovett. honorable curator 81
the Folklore section Of the Imperia
museum. in series OF articles written
for London publication. He makes
no direct comment on the value Of
the mascot. but details some Of tn.
curious beliefs held by the fighters ana
the almost religious awe with whicf
they regard their luck-pieces.
| A piece OF coal. wrapped in a small
silken bag given to an Australian Off
Ger by his sweetheart before he left
home was one OF the curious finds
made by Mr.. Lovett during q lecture
tour he made among the British AMI
Dominion troops In France. Thh
! officer firmly believed he owed his life
to this bit OF coal. and told of several
miraculous escapes he had during the
war. Another officer in the same regi-
ment was so superstitious about hi.
mascot that he refused to even tell
what it was
Il won't show 1t to you and I Won't
even tell you what 1t is, because 1,
would spoil my luck" he told Mr.
I.ovett and the latter had to be con-
tent with that answer. Another Aus.
tralian carried Swastika, and a
fourth had small grotesque cross on
his person to guard him against enemy
shells and hayonets
Ono IF tho rx,~&r,.-
of superstition among troops were dis
covered by Mr.. Iovctt in the person
OF an Australian private he met in
London.
This man wore the figure on
the collar of his tunic.". explained
Mr.. IOvett. II asked him II he knew
the legend that had grown up around
that figure in the continental armies.
He was rather inclined to sheer at
luck In general. but he told me that
his company, which was the Fifth,
was very lucky and day after day
the men had many narrow escapes
from death or wounds. The company.
in fact. had lost only fifteen men out
OF $50, while the second company, had
lost much larger proportion. He also
told me that the figure Is was consid-
cred by them a lucky number and
that most OF the men In the Fifth
company. curiously enough, had l3' in
their regimental numbers, his own
number being 61,327.
'But think the most supcrstitious
case OF all was that OF the ofiicer
who would not tell me what his mas
cot was. Nothing could say would
induce him to alter his decision.
Referring to the figure 5, Il II
known on the Continent a. Pentad.
and the Belgjon soldiers consider the
Fifth regiment the luckdest one in
the division. The logic Of the Pentad
Is exceedingly curious and II explained
In the following manner:
Figure stands for God, absolute
iy alone: figure IL the mind OF God
in opssation. a. shown BY. the works
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-07

rose. the wtsest head on the Republi-
can side. saw the Importance OF doing
that. Senator Lodge, who seems to
inherit something Of the arrosant
egoism OF Charles Sumner. has led
the Republicans so far as a fiock
straying In all directions can be said
to Be- led. into . futile, blind, and
barren antagonism to Mr.. Wilson
The Republicans In the senate have
left undoue the things they should
have done. They approach the eco
nomic problem OF the increased price
OF the necessartes OF life in the same
condition Of exacerbated partisanship
In which they have considered the
league Of nations.
So long as the treaty 10 uuratifed
the public will be uneasy. nervous
anxious. That cause OF public I'M
easiness. nervousness. anxiety, can be
and should be removed Immediately.
The domestic reasons for public con-
Germ. the matters that come to every
mans business and bosom and pocket
book. the perIous schemes Of So
ctalism, Syndicalsm. and not too
deeply cloaked Rolshevtsm that are
now proposed are more than enough
In themselves gravely and deeply to
perturb the public. They are more
than momentous enough to require
from congress its serious. undivided
thought and effort. it's best energies,
a patriotism devoid as far as possible
OF partisanship. The treaty should be
ratified at once. to the end that to
these grave matters congress should
give. az Mr.. Wilson is giving. Its whole
time.