davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22

Byron +. Brown, secretary Of the
local board of commerce. City At
torney Fred l.. Warner and Wilbur
c. Whitney were in Lansing attend
ing the hearing being given before
the public utilities commission be-
tween the telephone companies and
the cities and towns in which they
operate. During the time the local
men were there it was brought out
that the telephone companies were
evidently trying to pull something
over their subscribers, as shown by
the statements of the companies and
the statements of expert accountants
who had been engaged by the state
to see what the phone companies
were doing. Talk about your profits
the disclosures showed that the
telephone business was among the
big money makers at present rates
and just what they will do with the
increase, if granted them, remains
to be seen, but it is quite probable
that few more millionaires will be
developed among the high salaried
men of the companies.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
TO PROSECUTE
TRUCKsTERs FOR
DAMAGING ROADS
COUNTY HAS PURCHASED ME-
TER WHICH WILL BE USED
IN TESTING LOADS

We are in receipt of a communi-
cation from County Road Engineer
Williams to the effect that the coun-
ty commissioners have purchased a
"Loadometer", machine which is
used for testing out loaded trucks
and other motor vehicles to deter
mine whether or not they are too
heavily loaded, in an effort to keep
the heavily loaded machines from
destroying and damaging the roads
during the spring months of the year
when the roads are soft through the
frost leaving the earth.
Mr.. Williams calls attention to the
fact that the gross weight of a We
hicle and its load is limited to Is tons
at any time and the men who use
the roads for trucking and 9TH
er hauling are asked to limit their
loads to one-half of the factory rat
ing for the vehicle during the time
when the roads throughout the coun-
try are in the condition which they
have been in during the past week
or two. Mr.. Williams also states
that the matter of loads and the use
of the highways is entirely within
he jurisdiction Of the board of coun-
ty road commissioners and that they
intend to enforce the law governing
motor traffic tonnage
The statute which applies in this
case is Act 145 of the Public Acts OF
1887 and is as follows:
Section 5.
1t shall be unlawful to move any
traction engine or similar heavy
machinery over the public highway
by its own power or otherwise, dur.
ing the months of March, April and
May, or at any other time, or by rea-
son of the thawing of frost, or rain
or any other cause, the roads are in
soft condition rendering them unfit
for the passage over them of such
heavy machinery without damage tc
the highways, or if the engines are
equipped with lugs which seriously
damage the highways, except by
written permission from the com
missioners having jurisdiction over
said highway or highways. Any per
son, firm or corporation violating the
provisions Of this act shall be deem
ed guilty of a misdemeanor and liza
bic to fine of not less than TWEEN
ty-fve dollars. nor in any event less
than double the amount of damages
which may have been caused to such
( highway or highways, as shall b,
estimated bv. the highway official.
/ having jurisdiction over the high
ways which may be thus damaged.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
FIRES CLAIM
SEVERAL MORE
FARM BUILDINGS
COUPLE RETURNS TO FIND ID
HOME IN ASHES. OTHERS
NARROWLY ESCAPE

Two more fires which have every
earmark of being of incendiary or
igin occurred Wednesday night in
Orleans township about two miles to
the north of where the fine large
barn on the Brinton f. Hall farm
burned ten days ago. While no clue
is had as to the identity Of the per-
son or persons who set the buildings
on fire, still the people of the com
munity are positive that the torch
was applied by some one.
The first fire occurred late We'd
nesday night and destroyed the old
Raby homestead, now occupied by
Artie Raby and family. Mr.. and
Mrs. Raby and the children were
away from home at the time and
when they returned the old home was
reduced to ashes. Efforts on the part
of neighbors were successful in saw
ing the barn on the Raby place. The
fire was discovered by George Haga-
dorm and before a general alarm
could be spread and enough neigh
bors get to the scene, the flames hac
made such headway that nothing from
inside the house could be saved. A
man was seen prowling around the
Raby barn the night before and il
is thought that he may have beer
responsible for the fire.
The house and barn on the Johr
Ziegler farm a short distance cas-
of the Raby farm was discovered t'
be on fire later on that night ant
was discovered by Mr.. and Mrs
Zieg,er themselves. people well alont
m years who occupied the house
They had barely time enough to ge
themselves out and when they go
outside saw that their barn was al
ready fairly we'll destroyed by tn
flames, indicating that the barn wa
Undoubtedly fired first. A few ar
ticles of furniture and some clothing
were saved at the Ziegler fire.
Both Ziegler and Raby carried
/ limited amount of insurance whicl
will in neither case be enough t
cover the loss sustained.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22

Monday morning at nine o'clock a
short prayer service by the men of
the Holy Name Society of st. Jo-
seph's parish, of which society Mr..
Bracken was the first president, was
held at the house and the society, in
body, then escorted the remains to
the church where a requiem high
mass was solemnized by Rev. John A.
Klich, assisted by Rev. Frs. H. d.
Mccarthy and Gabriels, of Ionia, and
Rev. John M. Zindler, of st. Joseph
Mich, formerly pastor of the local
parish. Even though storm of
considerable violence ragged at the
time of the funeral, the church was
packed to more than capacity.
The funeral sermon was delivered
by Rev. FIR Zindler and was mas
terpiece both in eloquence and in the
respect which its speaker gave to
the departed man. FIR. Zindler stat
ed that many local people had known
Mr.. Bracken longer but that none
present knew the real character and
friendship of. the man better than
he. He spoke of the fact that when
the local church was erected, Mr..
Bracken had been prominent in the
work Of building and paying for the
structure and that he had always
maintained his standing as one Of
the best men in the parish, until his
death. He told of the charitable
and other virtuous qualities possess
ed bv Mr.. Bracken and stated that
the all-American patriotism and ci-
/ tizenship of the man were on par
with the deep religious fervor ex-
| h. g sc
| life. To attempt to do justice to the
! splendid sermon, would be futile, but
those who were present and heard II
declare that it was a masterpiece.
Mr.. Bracken was born in Arklow,
County Wicklow, Ireland, on April
10, 1859 and when a young man
came to this country, going to Chi
cago. He then returned to Ireland
and in the year 1885, he came back
to America, going to Springfield
Mass, where he took up hotel work
In 1887 he was married and in 1885
he came to this city to take the po.
sition as clerk in the then newly op.
ened Hotel Bedding. He continued
as clerk and later on for few year:
as manager of the local hotel, re-
signing the position in 1920 and go
ing to Tuscon. Arizona, IN the hope!
of finding a climate better suited t
the health Of Mrs. Bracken.
During the many years which Mr.
Bracken was connected with the To-
cal hotel he became acquainted will
thousands of travelling men and 9th
er people and when many of thes,
people learned of his death, the,
Immediately planned on attending
the funeral. the result being that
large number Of former acquaint
ances and friends called to pay thei
last respects either before or at th
time of the funeral. Members of
the Knights of Columbus and Hol!
Name societies from Ionia and sev
eral other places came over through
the storm to attend the funeral
Burial was in the family lot in st
Joseph cemetery.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
.Aun,uREOS !, BRAVE
STORM TO ATTEND
bRACKEN FUNERAL
PEOPLE FROM MANY PLACES
PAY LAST RESPECTS TO
VETERAN HCS'EL MAN

People from many places in the
state came here to attend the funer-
al of homas B, bcken, sr., veteran To-
cal hotel man, who died at Tuscon,
Arizona last week, following sever
al months sickness caused by anemia
While all were saddened by the thot
of what brought them here, the
event was gladdened by the meeting
of a number of old friends who met
while in the city to attend the funer-
al of their true, old friend, Mr..
Bracken.
The body arrived on the train up
from Grand Rapids, Friday evening
and was at once taken to the home
Of Mrs. w. P. Hetherington, East
Washington street, where it remain
ed until Monday morning at nine
o'clock, the time set for the funeral.
During the time the remains were
at the Hetherington home, many old
friends and neighbors called to pay
their last act of honor and respect
to the old friend whose kindness will
never be forgotten.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
'ORATORICAL AND
DEBATING LEAGUE
HELD MEETING
HIGH SCHOOL LITERARY SOCIE-
TY GAVE SPLENDID FRIDAY
AFTERNOON PROGRAM

The Belding High school oratori-
cal debating league held its SEMI
monthly meeting, Friday afternoon.
The meeting was called to order by
president Whitten; the secretarys
report was read and other business
was attended to.
A short program followed.
A play, written by Mr.. Demming
and directed by Miss Beulah Web
ster and Phillip Brown. Cast of
characters: The lost child, Miss Es-
ther Rowley; The Gypsy Queen, Miss
Lilah Stanton; The Gypsy Horse
Trader, "Black Pedro, Phillip Brown
The Young Attorney, Ned Lambert
son; Gypsy Dancers. Miss Louise
Wilson, Miss Dorothy Brown, Miss
Marian Cusser and Ben Carpenter;
Visitors, Miss Mildred Bookey, Vance
Loyer and Edgar Stout.
While the stage was being set Mr..
Demming, chemistry teacher who
spent most of his early days in the
west, gave fine talk on gypsies and
The tricks Of horsetrading.
Synopsis of play: The story is of
a small child, who, having got lost,
wandered among the gypsies. She
was asked to stay and live with them
To this she consented and grew up
to be handsome young lady. One
evening, ten years later, young at
torney comes to the camp and watch
es the young gypsy dancers dance.
Black Pedro enters and tries to
persuade the "lost child" to dance
with him. She refuses and he tries
to compel her. The young attorney
interiors and reminds Black Pedro
that this is a free country and people
did as they wished At this, Black
Pedro is enraged and fight takes
place in which Black Pedro gets the
worst
The third act takes place the fol
lowing morning. The "lost child" and
the Gypsy Queen sat upon bench
and Mr.. Worth. the attorney enters
The "lost child" says she does not
believe she has always been gypsy
and shows Mr.. Worth book which
she has always had. In the book wa:
a picture of herself as a child. This
gives proof that she is the daughter
/ of q great millionaire who had dice
recently and that she has fallen heir
ess to her fathers riches. She soor
falls deeply in love with Mr.. Worth
and he takes her away to the city.
When the play was completed the
actors received a hearty applause
which was responded to by a sons
rendered by the characters,
/ The al J. Wheater Syndicat'
Film Corporation" will show thii
play extensively in New York al
next week.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
l. L. E C. Meeting


The regular meeting of the l.. l..
T.. G.. was held at the home of Mrs.
Byron F. Brown, Thursday after
nooon, March 16. At the close of
the business meeting, an interesting
program, which was in charge of
the first division, was carEed out
The spirit of st. Patrick's day pre-
vailed throughput the program,
which was as follows: A quartet
composed of Mr.. and Mrs. Albert
Salzman and Mr.. and Mrs. Clayton
Knapp who sang, "Mother Machree'
and when Irish Eyes Are Smilin'
An Irish monologue, cleverly pre-
sented- by Mrs. Ella French; vocal
solo by Mrs. Clayton Knapp, who
sang "a Little Bit of Heaven" and
responded TO an encore; Miss Doro.
thv Brown gave a piano sole "Irish
Airs, with variations and Miss
Pauline Rummler delighted the com.
pany with her charming little dance
'gThe Irish Tilt; The concluding
number of the program was a revue
of popular magazine advertisements
carried out in costume by the mem.
bers Of the 1st division and proved
to be a very unique and interesting
affair. At the close of the program
light refreshments were served. The
next meeting will be held Thursday
March 80 at the home of Mrs. z. c
Lloyd. A large attendance is de-
sired at this meeting as there i:
special business to be brought be
fore the club
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
TALK NEW SCHOOL AT
PARENT-TEACHERS MEET

The Parent Teacher club held it's
monthly meeting, Tuesday evening
A song was given by the pupils of
the Ellis school. A. M. Hall then
gave a few principles on improving
and adding to the present High
school. The plans were to add SIX
rooms on the north end of the build
ing, four of which are to be used
as grade rooms and the other two
as High school recitation rooms. He
stated that the architects had also
planned for eight rooms on the south
of the building, extending the hall
ways clear through. The south end
will include the boys and girls toi-
let's, good sized gymnasium with a
stage for plays, banouets, etc. also
several recitation rooms.
So as to reduce the insurance rate
a great deal the boilers will be tax
en- from the High schoo. and COM
plete enlarged heating system in.
stalled in the old school building
situated in back Of the High school
building.
The city must have new and
larger High school very soon and to
build a new one would cost almost
twice as much as the improvement
of the present one.
Mr.. Hall also showed several blue.
prints of the improvements which
proved very satisfactory to all pres
enr.
After the school improvement plar
was given, Miss Pratt, field instruc
tor at the M. A. c., gave talk or
nutrition and the relation to health
She gave a number of real gooc
pointers to the grown ups and chill
dren on what to eat to be in the best
of health.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Obituary

Sadie Curtis Nicholas died March
End, 1922.
1t is so sweet to know when we
are tired,
And when the hand of pain lies on
our hearts,
And when we look in vain for hu-
man comfort
The Heart Divine still understands
these cares of yours and mine.
Not only understands, but day by
day lives with US
While we tread the earthly way;
Bears with Us al our WEAKNESS,
and feels the shadows
OF the faintest cloud that steals
across our sunshine;
Ever learns again the depth and
bitterness of human pain.
There is no sorrow which He will
not share;
No cross, no burden for our hearts
to bear
Without His help; no care Of ours
too small to cast on Jesus.
Let US tell Him all, lay at His
feet the story of our woe,
And in His sympathy find sweet
repose.
PINK curtis NlcholaS.
Into this world of ours, God sends
a few such people as Sadie Curtis
Nicholas. She was one of the edo
ers" in the world. Her life was a
willing, unselfish sacrifice for 9TH
ers. No hand was ever streached out
to her in vain, and no life ever
touched hers but that it was made
better and the world is a better
place because of her life in it.
Sadie Curtis was born in Ingersol
Ontario. She was the daughter OF
the late Jonas and Eliza Curtis, anc
one of a family of eight children
four of whom have preceded her il
death. In 1891 she was united il
marriage to Robert T.. Nicholas, OF
Chicago. She 1eaves her husband
one son, Carlton Curtis, two foster
daughters, children of her deceased
sisters,t whom shd had been 9
mother since their childhood. Ola
Dewey Uhlhorn, and Mabel Osborne
two sisters, Mrs. Burt Norton, Of
Smyrna, and Mrs. Ernest Bunker Of
this city, a brother, B. G. Curtis
several nieces and nephews, anC
hosts of friends, to mourn their loss
The bereaved family wishes Il
thank those friends and neighbor:
who rendered so generously their
help and sympathy, and to acknow
ledge the flowers.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Takes Up Radiophone Work

Harold Simons, son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Simons of this city, spent
Sunday with his parents. he being
on his way home at Frankfort. after
being in Bar Harbor, Maine, for the
last 6 months of his enlistment He
has served the U. S. faithfully for
5 years. He has two good positions
offered him in Radiophone work but
is undecided just which he will take
He thinks there is nthing like it.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Coming EUents

March 27-Masonic Fair at Ma
sonic hall Everybody welcome
April 5-Board of Commerce sup
per with Edmund E. Gunther, of
Ann Arbor, speaker, on "How To
Make Belding More Beautiful" Date
postponed from March 20 to April 5.
April 6-Herbert Leon Cope, hu-
morist.
April 14-High school carnival al
High school auditorium.
Oct. 17-18-Home talent play at
Opera House, by Ladies Social Cir
Gle of Congregational church.
Bring in your other dates for the
future.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Attention Grangers

The following is the program for
March %: Roll call, song by grange,
topic-what crops can the farmers
afford to peddle? and what ones are
best sold through the regular retail
channels lied by Charles Johnson
followed by discussion, reading by
Mrs. Ella Lambertson-top
extensively can the farmer advertise
profitably, general discussion by all,
song, penny march.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Spring Is Here

Spring was ushered in and amid
none the best Of weather, Tuesday,
March 81, although Judge Lapham
could not prove it unless he looked
at the calendar. This was learned the
other day in the city hall when a
number of men who had got into an
argument over the actual starting
date of spring decided to leave the
matter O Judge Lapham for decision
When the spokesman had finished
telling our eminent jurist what they
were there for, he thought for min
ute and then admitted that seeing
that he had never farmed it great
deal during his life, he was unable
to tel just when spring did com
mence.
Overland car in running condition
$500 at Unger's Garage.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Meets Catalogue Prices

Harry j. Connell. local Rexall
druggist, has an advertisement in
this issue in which he talks about
wall paper prices and says that he
is able to meet any price quoted by
any catalogue house. With this
challenge and with the fact that by
dealing with Mr.. Connell, wall paper
buyers who are in the habit of send
ing out of the city, are keeping their
business at home and helping build
up the home town will undoubtedly
be very glad to do so. Look for his
advertisement.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Attended Banno- Grange

A large attendance of Pomona
Grangers met Thursday with Ban
ner Grange. A splendid dinner was
served to 120 grangers. A very
interesting program was given. Ev-
erybody enjoyed Marc Cutters sing
ing. Those from Belding who at
tended were: Susan Krupp, Marietta
hummer, County Overseer Mark III.
Brown and County Secretary, Mary
f. III. Coville.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Celebrated Anniversary

About 40 of their friends and
neighbors gathered at the home of
Mr.. and Mrs. w. S. Hammontree
last Thursday evening and helped
them celebrate their 29th wedding
anniversary. Games and music on
the piano and violin were enjoyed
by all and at late hour refresh
ments were served. Before leaving
for home the guests presented Mr..
and Mrs. Hammontree with a sher-
bet set and wished them many hap
py returns of the day.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Brought Here For Burial

The remains of George Eckert,
aged 66 years, who died at Portland
Oregon, few days ago, were brot
to this city and taken to the Brown
Hall undertaking rooms, Tuesday
night. This morning the body was
taken to the home Of Mrs. f. V. Da-
Wis, Morton avenue and the funeral
is being held there this afternoon at
two o'clock, Rev. Curch- officiating
and burial is in Green's cemetery.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Fire Department Called Out

Fire started in the cleaning room
of Salzmans dry cleaning plant on
Friday, last, but was soon under con-
troll. thanks to the steam line fire
fighting apparatus in the plant. The
fire department was called and the
flames were put out with the chem
ical before very much damage was
done. Plant and contents were COW
cred by insurance. Only little dam
age was done to the machinery.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Notice

The Spiritualist society will hold
their annual business meeting on
Thursday, March 30th at the home
of Mrs. A. F.. Weter. Come prepar-
ed to pay your dues and to elect del
egates to the state convention. Mrs.
Shaw is expected to be with us.
Mrs. A. +. Weter, Sec.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Notice w. n. A.

We have changed our place of
meeting and our next meeting will
be held on Thursday evening, March
30 at the G. A. r. hall. A good at
tendance is desired.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Baked Goods Sale

The Women's Benefit Association
will hold a baked goods sale at Mrs.
Luscombe's millinery store. 118 S.
Bridge street, all day, Saturday,
March 25.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22

The ladies Of the Church of Christ
will hold a home made baked goods
sale at Wicks-Fales furniture store
next Saturday.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
Farmers Attention

There will be a meeting Of the
Farmers Live Stock Shipping Asso-
citation at the city hail. Tuesday
night, March %, at 8 o'clock.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22
In Memoriam

In memory Of my dear wife who
died two years ago today, March 26.
aAra w. jerks.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1922-03-22

A dance will be given in the Odd
Fellow hall, Saturday evening, Mar.
25, to which all Odd Fellows and
Rebekahs are invited. Come and
bring a couple with you. Committee.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-08
GIVE SWEDISH LADS
OPPORTUNITY TO TRY
SERVICE ABOARD ship
tBy Associated Press,

STOCKHOLM, Sept. 8.-A new help
to Swedish lads considering their life
occupation, and probably unique
thing in the world, is the system re-
Gently inaugurated whereby young
men are allowed TO try out service in
the Swedish Royal Navy voluntarily
and without being under oath, in order
to find out whether they are called
to the life of a naval officer or not.
College men 16 or II years of age
who think they may want to enter the
navy after graduation go aboard bat
tleshipS and smaller naval craft as
cadets under instruction. They mess
with the crew and work under the
same conditions as seamen, except that
they pay for their meals and may pick
up their bags and go ashore for good
whenever they please. They not only
get practical knowledge of the du-
ties of ordinary seamen, but they may
also post the watch, serve as coxwains
of the ships boats, and in general test
out their abilities to command.
The battleship Queen Victoria, the
stationship Svea, and number of
smaller vessels are providing this IN
usual opportunity for young men, who
may in the end discover that they are
better fitted to become statesmen than
naval officers. Thus this vocational
innovation is beneficial to the navy
as well as to the youth, who is given
a chance to avoid making mistake.