Putnam patriot., 1930-03-06


 THAT-we have already received a report of the arrival of the first bluebirds Soon will come report of the first robins; the first dandelion blossoms, the first buds and the first haircut of the eccentric individual whose locks are never shorn during the cold months Then someone will tell us that the deacon has discarded his winter undics and we will be con- vinced that Spring Is really in our midst
 THAT--reports as above come to all newspaper offices and are printed as news for in them people md en- eouraQement to be patient a few weeks longer for mildcr weather. Some may read these harbingers and scoff Just the same they make mental note of the facts and shed some of the winters groueh at the thought that they may soon let the heater fire burn itself out.
 THAT-there is one human har- binger of the Spring season that is ever q thorn in the side of the patient editor. This human Is the ambitious Spring poet. There is a never end ing new crop of this species annually They persist in sending in far-fetch- ed rhymes lacking rhythm and ineiud- ing all sizes of poetic feet. This news paper has made it an unhreakable rule to deny space to these deluded authors of verse"
 THAT--a gentleman just came inc to our sanetum and reminded us that today. Friday. is the calendar day for March. We were certainly glad to hear it as Friday. the fourth in the month and the last day of February, If you recall. left little Go be desired weatherwise.
 THAT-when we registered skep ticism We were informed that like wise did a local merchant, twenty eight years ago. when n travelling salesman. with whom he was dining, told him that that particular Friday was also calendar day.
 THAT-when the merchant regis tered unbelief the salesman, an elder ly gentleman. became peeved. From that Friday back in 1902, until the present time. the merchant has noted each calendar day of the month and has watched its reliability as a prog nostication He has found it con sistently accurate. he says.
 THAT--it is now the season Of the year when the baek-roads dwellers are herd to the aesthetic point Of view of the state highway department in spending large sums of money in it's landscape endenvor Co beautify the trunk line highways As the farmer in the rural section tries to drive through the muddy roads from his home Co the state highway his mind is far from things aesthetic. What he would like is to see the back roads improved so that he can get to and from his home on a reasonably passabls road. Anyone who has taken a ride along the main highways re- gently and cast an eye into the mud rutted arteries that act as feeders from the more remote sections Co the trunk lines can not help but sympath- ize with the man who has to pass over, or rather through, them to reach his domicile.
 THAT-the fireman's ball, Monday night. was the thirtieth affair of it's kind. l. recalled to mind the old days when the hand-drawu and then the horse-drawn trucks were in use. In those days the Firemen's Ball was much the same but there was notic- able difference. The square dance was the most popular There was an occasional waltz and schottische and some times polka but "one more couple this way" was what enticed the largest number out onto the dance floor
 THAT-the old time prompter was an institution in himself. His was an art. Outstanding among these artists was the late Gurdon Cady. If you are one who looked forward to the annual social affair Of the fire men, thirty odd years ago. you will remember this large. smiling, gray haired ruddy faced man. who knew every couple on the floor. or SD t HFEiiAEAs II AA saw a AAANtAAA RtNH ffHA.' bit mixed up in the intrieaey of the figures he was calling oif'' you may recall how he would stop the dance and speak a word of advice as to how the figure should be manipulated. Then the dance number would pro eeed.
 THAT--even the evening gowns prepared weeks ahead of the night of the event. were an important attri- bute of the affair. The long trains sweeping the floor. held up with a loop affixed to the skirt 80 that some clumsy dancer would not tread on the extra yards of silk or satin trailing behind the high collars. Fans were carried: the sleeves were long and full. To those who have come for ward since those good old days all would doubtless look ridiculous. We wonder how Mir. Cady would view the whirl of the dance as it is delineated 10 wailing trombones and saxaphones today. What would be his reaction If he saw the womeen In their abbrevi- ated skirts. rolled socks, sleeveless frocks and gowns cut low in front
 E. antsiI end