davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-23
YOU MUST HAVE
YOUR CONVICTIONS

The fervor of all this talk gets you, and it
isn't just the New Deal theorists who talk
this way. Now and then you'll meet a 1882
New Dealer who will mournfully declare there
aren't any New Dealers left in Washington.
What has succeeded them is not specified but
anyway, rank reactionaries discuss issues with
just as much rabid rapture as rosy radicals
and if you come to Washington without ex-
pressable convictions on the value of mos
quito boats, whether the army should buy
three-or four-pound chickens and the Depart
ment of Agriculture's latest experiments on
the love life of the boil weevil, you will be
put down as a social dud and a romantic
flop.
Within the general vocabulary of this Wash
ington language there are of course numerous
dialects and patois, Understandable only within
the social fabric of the various departments.
The army and navy set keeps to itself, natural
ly, but the first families of the Department
of Commerce and the first families OF the
Department of Justice look down their beaks
at each other and have their own ideas as
to whose blood is bluest.
When groups from two different strata are
thrown together by some designing hostess,
one faction will outtalk the other or they'll
have to get on some subject they both pick
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04

periods, a large part of the vitamin
value is retained.
Right way to can tomatoes is to
pack them in glass jars or plain tin
cans-then to process them in a
boiling water bath. Make the boiling
water bath out of wash boiler or a
bucket with tight fitting lid. Or use
the steam pressure Gamer as a water
bath by leaving the petcock open-not
clamping the lid on tightly. See that
there's a rack on the bottom so the
water can circulate under the jars or
cans. And see that the bath is deep
enough so that water can come UP
over the tops of the containers one to
two inches. Count processing time
after the water comes to a full rolling
boil around the cans or jars.
Pre-cooking cuts down lot of pro-
cessing time Tomatoes pre-heated
just to the boiling point then packed
hot in pint or quart glass jars or
number or 8 tin cans need just
five minute processing in localities
where altitude is 1000 feet or less
above sea level Packed raw, the pro
cessing time is As minutes, for glass
jars; 35 minutes for tin cans.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04
Canning Campaign
Launched by Women

The Women's Division, Maryland
Council of Defense has launched a
campaign of canning fruits and
vegetables.
Mrs. John L. Whitehurst, Chairman
of the Women's Division, said: "When
we hear that As per cent of the
selectees were turned down due to
malnutrition it is time for the women
of the country to do something about
Therefore, the Women's Division
has taken for its slogan Defense Be
gins in the Kitchen"
There is a definite shortage in
cheese and tomatoes in this country.
In addition, England needs cheese
due to the scarcity and high cost of
meat.
"Women should can tomatoes so
that the Gamers could send more to-
matoes to England"
Mrs. Bartlett Johnston, Chairman,
Conservation Committee of the
Women's Division of the State Coun-
Gil of Defense, says: "The women of
Maryland should start classes and
competitions in canning, drying and
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04

and tender lima beans, are available
now in many gardens. Home econo-
mists advise pre-cooking all these
beans before packing them into cans
or jars and processing.
To pre-cook snap beans, wash, cut
into uniform pieces, add boiling water
to cover, and simmer beans uncovered
until you can bend them without
breaking them. To pre-cook lima
beans, wash, shell and bring them to
boil in water to cover. In both cases,
use the water in which the beans are
pre-cooked to cover the beans after
they are packed into the cans OF the
jars.
All these beans are processed at 240
degrees Fahrenheit in a steam pres
sure canner-whether they are canned
in pint or quart glass jars-or in
number 2 or 3 tin cans. All may be
put in plain tin cans. And with the
exception of snap beans, they may also
be put in C-enamel tin cans, if you
happen to have those on hand.
Time and temperature vary with the
size of the jar-the altitude-and the
type of bean. Black-eyed peas or cow
peas are more closely related to the
bean family than to the peas: They
may be canned in the same manner as
fresh lima beans.
CORN may be put up in two ways
whole-grain or cream-style. The diff
ference is in the way the corn is cut off
the cob.
For cream-style corn, cut the kerr
nels by running a sharp knife lightly
over the ear to cut off the tops of the
kernels. Then scrape out the pulp
with the back of the knife. For whole
grain corn, cut the kernels deeply
enough to take off most of the kernel
without Objectionable hulls and do
not scrape the cob.
But whichever way you put up corn,
preheat 1t before packing into cans
or jars. Add one teaspoon of salt to
each quart and half again as much
boiling water as corn by weight Heat
corn to boiling and fill into containers
at once.
Cream-style corn is thick and pasty
and therefore needs longer process
ing at higher temperature than the
whole-grain corn. For that reason, the
whole-grain corn usually keeps the
flavor of fresh corn than does cream
style. Cream-style corn should be
canned only in pint glass jars or num-
Der 2 tin cans. C-enamel tin cans are
best for both types of canned corn.
TOMATOES-You can't have too
many canned tomatoes. Raw tomatoes
are one of the richest sources for vita
min ca vitamin we need every day.
Canned tomatoes put up the right
way lose practically none of this valu-
able vitamin, and for usual storage
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04

garet Casteel, Oakland; Wilbert |.
Lenhart, Mrs. Myrtle Lenhart, Will
bur Lenhart, Jr., Pauline Lenhart,
Arlene Wilson, Margin Wilson, LenoX,
W. Va; David Sisler, Lloyd Sisler,
Baltimore; Anna Sisler, Blanche Sis
Ter, Stella Friend, Frostburg; Betty
Lenhart, Lake Lynn; Mr.. and Mrs.
Ray Lenhart, Saegertown, Pa; Mrs.
Scott Cramer and children, TT. How
ard; Rose Stiles Bond, Lois Jane Sis
Ter, Robert Sisler, Morgantown; Mr..
and Mrs. James Renshaw and Mrs.
Grace Nordeck, Wilmington, Del;
Mrs. Charles w. Freeland, Albright;
Mr.. and Mrs. B. c. Sisler, Morgan
town; Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas g. WEIGH,
Ralph WEIGH, Albright; Mrs. Missouri
Davis, Morgantown; Mr.. and Mrs.
James Ramona, Marlin Ramona, Ak
ron, o.; Alletta Reckart, Hazelton;
Rena Friend, Junior Friend, Velva
Sislcr and Jean Friend, Friendsville;
Mr.. and Mrs Lacy Kinney, Clarks-
burg; Miss Jean Roomsburg, Alva
Smith, Everett Smith, Mr.. and Mrs.
Chester Sisler, Terra Alta; Sarah,
Doris and Nina Young, Trenton, New
Jersey.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04
Homemakers' Column
Edited by Miss Mildred Barton, Home
Demonstration Agent for Garrett
County, Oakland.
SAVE THE GARDEN SURPLUS


Putting up a taste of summer to
flavor next winters meals - that's
what many a thrifty homemaker is
doing these days. BY means of tin
cans or glass jars she's busy keeping
surplus garden stuff from going to
waste.
The Importance of a planned
canning program cannot be empha-
sized too strongly. Survey after sur
vey has shown that home canning as
part of wise e-production pro-
gram can make the difference be-
tween diets that are poor and diets
that are good from the standpoint of
nutrition. Home-produced, home can
ned food helps provide better diets
with fewer food dollars.
Always busy canning time-mid-
August should be buster than ever this
year in view of the nationwide cam
paign to save food for emergency
needs. In nearly every locality, it is
pointed out, supplies of vegetables go
to waste each year because they are
not gathered and distributed for i'm
mediate use-or not stored or pre-
served.
Whether canning is done on large
scale or a small scale, a steam pres
sure Gamer is must" piece of
equipment for processing non-acid
vegetables, say canning experts in the
U. S. Department of Agriculture
Practically all vegetables but toma-
toes come in the non-acide class.
The steam pressure Gamer is neces-
sary because only by the use of pres
sure is it possible to get the high tenn
peratures needed to kill organisms
in non-acid vegetables that, if not de-
stroyed, are likely to cause spoilage.
In canning these vegetables, process
ing temperatures of 240 to $50 de-
grees Fahrenheit are required.
Since the quality of canned veget-
ables can be no higher than the raw
vegetables that go into the cans
select good, fresh vegetables in prime
condition. Try to get the same degree
of maturity throughout the food to be
canned, but avoid overripe food. A
good rule to follow is 'two hours from
garden to can" If that is impossible,
the vegetables may be stored for a
short time in small lots in a COOL we'll
ventilated place until you're ready to
put them up.
Following are a few highlights on
the "big three" of this seasons nutri-
tious vegetables:
BEANS-Snap beans and young
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04
SHORT RUN

Mr.. M. L. Sharpless attended the
funeral of the late James Pressau, at
Elkins, WA, last Tuesday.
Mrs. Thomas Wilson, Sr., and
daughter, Anna Jane, who spent the
past two weeks visiting relatives near
Weston, W. Va, returned to their
home here Sunday.
Mrs. Carrie Junkins, of Keyser,
w. Va, was visiting friends here
last week.
Mr.. and Mrs. Arnold HENDERSON
spent the weekend visiting their
parents at Hazelton, w. Va.
Mr.. and Mrs. T. V. Baucom, of
Oakland, recently returned from Dur
ham, N. c., and visited with Mrs.
Baucom's parents here, over the
weekend.
Miss Esta Wilson entertained the
Mt. Top Club at her home here
Wednesday evening. About forty
guests were present.
Mr.. and Mrs. C. W. Harvey, Hend-
ricks, w. Va, were calling on friends
here Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Scott Harvey spent
the weekend visiting their daughter,
Mrs. Dorothy Marshall, at Washing
ton, D. C.
Mrs. VIM. Moore, Mrs. Joe Arnold
and Mrs. Blanche Garner, of Kitz-
miller were visiting Miss Esta Will
son last week.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04
SisIer Family Reunion

A reunion of the Sisler family, de-
scendants of George and Clara Wolfe
Sisler, was held Sunday, August 81,
on the old Sisler homestead where Mr..
and Mrs. Sisler settled seventy-six
years ago when the country was a
wilderness. They cleared the land and
built a home on it and reared a fam
lily of sixteen children, all deceased
except Joe F. Sisler, the present owner
of the farm. His great-grandfather
migrated to the United States from
Germany and settled in Eastern Penn
sylvania, later moving to Blooming
Rose, in this county. Their rightful
name was spelled "Schisler," but they
Anglicized it to Sisler, which was
more convenient. The great-great-
grandfather served as a soldier in the
Revolutionary War under General
George Washington.
A basket dinner was enjoyed by the
assembled members of the family and
their friends, after which they were
entertained with vocal duets by Will
bur and Betty Lenhart, Pauline Len
hart and Arlene Wilson, Sarah and
Doris Young, and with old-time songs
by older members of the family. The
reunion next year will be held at Dor
ity Schoolhouse.. Those attending the
gathering this year were
Mr.. and Mrs. Joe F. Sisler, Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Sisler and son, Terra Alta;
Mrs. C. Goulieb, Mrs. B. B. Helmick,
Morgantown; Mrs. Oscar Arnold, of
Parkersburg; Opal O'Bryon Allen, Mr..
and Mrs. Elmer Smith, Miss Lenoe
Smith, MaSontown; Bruce Smith, Miss
Lucy Cramer, Oliver Eckert, Mrs. Eva
Eckert and Justine Eckert, Morgan
town; Mrs. Ida Sypolt, Mr.. and Mrs.
John Sypolt, Albright; Mr.. and Mrs,
Charles Wilt and family, Valhalla,
N. Y; Mr.. and Mrs. Everett Kelly,
George E. Wolfe, Mrs. Ophie F. Ben
nett, Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel Casteel,
Mrs. Stanley Guthrie, Charles Cas-
teel and family, Harry Kelly, Mrs.
| Eta Kelly, Eileen Kelly, Charles Kel-
|! ly, MILFORD Sisler, Lloyd Metheny,
Lesta Metheny, Harold Mckinney, Mrs.
Cora Thomas, James Thomas, Mr.. and
Mrs. Darwin Sisler, daughters Ro-
wena, Marilyn and Helen; Mr.. and
Mrs. Junior Cramer, Anna Lee Win
dell, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Dewitt,
Mrs. Ross Metheny, Mrs. Nellie Cra-
mer, Arthur Ross Metheny, Mrs. Eliz-
abeth Shaffer, Darwin Metheny, Mr..
and Mrs. Frank Windell, Mr.. and Mrs
Ray Kelly, Mrs. Martha Wilhelm,
Warren Kelly, Freda Wilt, Charlie
Wilt, Ruth Wilt, Otis Wilt, Billy Wilt,
Helen Wilt, Charles Dewitt, Mrs.
Charles Dewitt, Everett Kelly, Law
renee Kinney, Martha Ann Kinney,
Mrs. Martha Kinney, Griffin Kinney,
Mrs. Martha Smith, Adair Windell,
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Amman, Patty 10
and Eugene Amman, Mrs Anna Sisler,
Mr.. and Mrs. Clint Sisler, Mr.. and
Mrs. Virgil Sisler and son, Mr.. and
Mrs. Prentice Teets and children, Eva
Jean Thomas, all of Terra Alta; Mr..
! and Mrs. T. f. Bishoff and Mrs Mar
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04
Dog Trainers Need
Hunting Permit Now
Must Also Display Tag on Gar
intentionally is $25 to 500

Persons training dogs in Allegany
or Garrett counties during the pc
Rod September 10 to March l must
have in their possession a hunting
license and a tag displayed on their
outer garment, Joseph A. Minke,
regional game warden, has warned.
This law, Minke said, was passed
at the recent session of the Maryland
legislature. Heretofore, no hunting
license was required to train dogs.
Violation of the new law carries a
penalty of $25 to 500.
Minke reported that law violators
paid approximately $50 in fines in
Garrett county during the past week.
John Emerson, of Charleroi, Pa,
forfeited collateral of $25 and costs
for having ten understood perch in
his possession. Mrs. Bridget Kifer, of
Vindex, was fined $40 and costs for
fishing without license and Charles
E. Durham, of Cuyhoga Falls, Ohio,
was fined $40 and costs for fishing
with a borrowed license. The trio
were arrested at Deep Greek lake and
fines were imposed by Magistrate c.
S. Zeller, at Grantsville.
Magistrate H. A. Loraditch, of
Oakland, fined Dewey Bittinger and
Ercil Parks, both of Crellin, So and
costs each for having woodchuck in
their possession and no hunting
licenses.
The five persons were arrested by
Francis Ruge, of Frostburg, district
warden, and Theodore Thoerig, of
Mt. Savage, deputy warden.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04
FAMILY REUNIONS
Kitzmiller Family

The annual reunion of the Kitzmiller
clan will be held at the Pleasant Val
ley Grange Hall on Sunday, Septem-
Der "a.
All members of the family are re-
quested to attend and bring a basket
lunch. Henry Kitzmiller is secretary
of the organization.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04
Card of Amortization

On behalf of the Board of Di-
rectors and members in general of
the Mt. Lake Park Holiness Camp
Meeting Association, take this OPP
portunity to thank the fire depart
ments of Oakland and Kitzmiller for
their splendid work in eXtinguishing
the fire which partially destroyed the
Camp Meeting property at Mt. Lake
Park
|. E. STEYER, Secretary.
By Order of the Board of Directors.
Adv. it,
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-09-04

preserving. Get into the front line
trenches if you are real Americans.
Our Gamers were asked to can so per
cent more tomatoes this year. Every
can of tomatoes you can in your own
home will mean an extra can may be
to England"
Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-21
Germany Threatens
Radical Solution
In mediterranean

BERLIN, Feb. q (UP)-Germany
will attempt "a radical military
solution of Mediterranean problems
and undertake the deadly strang-
ulation' of the British Isles, the
authoritative magazine Dienst Aus
Deutschland said today
1t was said in Berlin the posi-.
bilitieS OF invasion Of England were
considered 80 numerous that II
may be difficult for the English
to see through feintS."
Dienst Aus Deutschland said
crews of German submarines now
are busy with preparations for a
great task, which Hitler has an
nounced." The task, discussed in an
article entitled "Berlin's Strategic
plan, apparently is the defeat of
Britain.
Discussing preparations for the
invasion of the British Isles the
publication said that Germany first
would determine whether the Brit
ish had placed troops at the wrong
point since the smallest British
harbor and the smallest English
village, as bridgeheads of the Ger
man invasion, are more significant
to the wars decision than Ilbya
or even Ethiopia in English hands.
Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-21

have spanned the Pacific is un-
known, although the Australian
Commonwealth nearly a year ago
ordered $12,OO0000 worth of flying
boats and an additional 26 four
motored long-range bombers from
Consolidated Aircraft Co.
American pilots, so far as is
known have flown the Consolidated
planes as far as Honolulu where
Australian crews take over.
Only two Consolidated bombers
definitely are known to have reach
ed Honolulu since Capt. P. G.. Tay-
lor, famed associate of the late Sir
Charles Kingsford- Smith, ferried
the first plane across the Pacific
late in January.
Capt. Taylor's last known landing
was made at Noumea. New Gale
donia, about Feb. 2-within easy
flying distance of Singapore. Cen
sorship of the Free French govern
ment hid his ultimate destination.
The Consolidated flying boats
have range of 1000 miles-equal
to that of Pan Americans Clipper
ships-and easily could reach the
Far East by way of Hawaii, Canton
Isand and New Caledonia where
Pan American has bases capable Of
serving the planes.
Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-21

LONDON. Feb. q (UP)-Hun-
dreds were homeless today and
many families mourned dead after
the second straight night blitzkrieg
raid on Swansea, chief port of
South Wales, by German planes.
Rescue parties were still search :
ing wreckage of homes early this
afternoon for persons who might
be trapped and still alive.
The raid started at 8 o'clock last
night and continued until midnight.
Swansea had suffered in the first
raid the night before, but it was
feared that casualties in the sec
ond one were higher.
A United Press correspondent on
the spot reported that most of the
damage was done to homes. Some
streets were blocked off as danger
Gus.
Few buildings burned in the first
raid but last night fire damage
was considerable. Many men were
wounded when bomb hit an auxi-
liary fire station. A high explosive
Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-21
R|'ioting R Protests
Danube Crossinu

BELGRADE, Jugoslavia, Feb 81.
tUP)-Usually well informed sources
reported today that rioting broke
out at Rustchuk, on the Bulgarian
side of the Danube, yesterday in
protest against the building by Ger
man troops of a pontoon bridge
across the river. Communists, in
formants said, were believed to have
led the rioting.
There were reports in diplomatic
circles, entirely without any con-
firmation, that Victor Plotnikov,
Russian minister to Jugoslavia who
was recently summoned to Moscow
with other Russian diplomats in
the Balkans for a conference, had
been "liquidated."
Local shipping quarters reported
that the Germans had closed the
Danube to all shipping for SO miles
above Giurgiu, across from Rast-
chuk, effective yesterday, for an in
definite time.
Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-21
Masonic Official
Speaker at Event

William Rhodes Hervey, past
grand master of the MasonS in
California will be guest speaker at
the 30th annual Masonic get-to-
gether in Imperial Valley to be
held, as always, on Washington's
birthday, Feb %.
CaleXico chapter lodge No. 412
F.. and AM, is host lodge and has
announced that registration will
start Saturday at pm. in the
high school auditorium in that
city.
After the afternoons entertain
nent Masons will assemble in the
school gymnasium for the banquet
scheduled to begin at pm.
Many former valley residents are
returning for this celebration among
them being John Stewart Ross of
Los Angeles, past grand master
and member of Ell Centro lodge No.
1856. 384.
Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-21
Northend Scouts
Receive Awards at
Court of Honor

BRAWLEY, Feb. 21.-More than
80 advancement awards were pre-
sented to boy scouts mere Thursday
night at court of honor ceremony
for the northend district, accord
ing to Hugh Wilcox and Bill Ken
ny, scout executives.
Boys who received awards in
clude:
Troop 15-Charles Payne, Mike
Slmons, Bill Culver, Oma Maupin
Paul Dewitt, Leon Gee, Herman
Pittman, Jack Burchfield.
Troop 27-Willie Graham, Martin
Davis, II. Graham, Sidney Johnson
Troop 21-Richard Shelton, Char
les Hall.
Troop 22-L. Dahm, Bill Mark
ling, Earl Adams, Jack Consaul
Malcolm Ryan, Bob Austin, Bill
Vinzant, Walter PeaSe, Jim Mark
ling.
Troop 31-Elden Nichols, George
Storrs, Bob Walker, Bill Dufrene
Frank Miser, James Monroe, Al
Czech, Homer Thomas, Bob Lyall
Ry Johnson, Frank Hamilton, Gil
Mendez, Roy Gilbert. ...
Service stars and civic service
awards we're also distributed at the
court were also received at the
court of honor.
Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-21
German Troops
Sent into Spain

TO aid in hurricane reconstruction
work was made by German ambas-
sador. Eberhard Won stohfer.
Serrano Suner, it was said. CRATE
fully accepted the offer because OF
the urgency of the situation.
The size of the motorized cor
umn' was not given. However, q
field kitchen equipped 10 provide
10000 rations daily would presum-
ably be that normally attached to
full division.
Destructive fires that followed
Saturdays hurricane ragged uncon-
trolled for two days and devastated
the center of Santander. Only build
ings in the outskirts were left stand
ing and it was estimated 10000 per-
sons were homeless.
1t had been reported earlier that
the German ambassador had made
large sums of money available to
Spanish authorities for relief work
in the damaged areas.
Guluo Viola de Campalto, Italian
ambassador to Spain, visited the
foreign office and contributed s10,-
600 for relief work IN the name of
Benlto MusSolini, who he said al
ways has been a friend of Spain in
all her difficult times"
Spain herself already had acted to
relieve suffering and the govern
ment believed it had the situation
in the hurricane-hit areas under
control.
Most of the town of Santander's
homeless already have been evacu-
ated to villages inc the province of
Santander. Santander's public serv-
ices have been reestablished. The
director of the Mercantile bank at
Madrid contributed 100000 for
Santander relief and large busi-
ness firm sent its entire stock OF
clothing to Santander.
Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-21
Belgrade Reports
BuIoarians Uneasy

BELGRADE, Feb al CUP1-The
Bulgarian populace was reported to-
day to be exhibiting growing signs
Of discomfort" over German mill
tary activity along the Danube.
One center Of "dlscontent". ac-
cording to advices reaching here
from Bulgaria. was Rustchuk. inn
portant Danube river port where
serman engineering attachments
are reported t1 be engaged in prac-
ice pontoon bridge operations.
One report said that rioting broke
oEt in this town when Nazi engi-
Rsers crossed the Dlnube in the
course CT their experimental bridge
operations.
Other reports mentioned "consid-
erable discomfort" but there was no
direct information from Bulgaria on
this situation, possibly because OF
censorship.
Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-21

MOSCOW, Feb. 81. CUP)--Maxim
Litvinov, former foreign commissar
who was for years ace diplomat OF
the Soviet Union, and two others
have been expelled from the central
committee of the Communist party,
it was announced today, and two
have been denoted to the rank Of
alternate.
Paulina Zhemchuzhina, an alter
nate, was relieved of that position
In all cases, inability to dis
charge obligations" was given as
the reason.
N. NJ. Antselovich and S. A. Mer-
kalov were dismissed with Litvinov.
f. A. Shadenko and l. A. Benedik-
tov were denoted TO lower rank.
V. G. DekanoZov, new Russian
ambassador to Germany, and Otto
Kuusinen, president of the Karelo-
Finnish republic, were elected full
members of the committee and Ivan
Maisky, Russian ambassador at Lon
don, was named an alternate.
The expulsions were voted last
night at the concluding meeting
of the all-Soviet Union Communist
party conference.
Iitvinov's star, long in ascendance,
began to wane two years ago when