davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
Births

Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Bartholo-
NEW of Lansdale, Pa, are parents
of a daughter born last Wednesday
Mrs. Bartholomew was the former
Miss Wanda Eversole, daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Wesley Eversole OF
Cherry street.
Born to Rev. and Mrs. w. R
Augsburger of Van Orrin, ILL.,, SON
Grayson Terry, last Wednesday.
The following births at the Bluff
ton hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Russell Pierce, Beav.
erdam, girl, Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gerald Tripplehorn
boy, Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wade Shook, Detroit
Mich, a girl, Sunday. Mrs. SHOOK
was the former Miss Bonita Clark
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Clarl
of Grove street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
Badertscher-MerriU
Nuptidls Saturday

Against an attractive Christmas
altar banked by white candelabra,
took place the wedding of Miss Ed
dythe Badertscher, daughter of Mrs.
Edna Badertscher and Philip Mer-
rill, son of Mr.. and Mrs. f. A. Mer-
rill of Painesville at the brides home
on Grove street Saturday night at
r o'clock.
The wedding vows were received
by Rev. Paul E. Whitmer, former
pastor of the bride when she at
tended the Grace Mennonite church
of Pandora. The couple was unat-
tended and the single ring ceremony
was performed in the presence of the
immediate families.
The bride ras attired in . street
length light blue wool dress with ap-
plique rose and brown velvet flowers
She carried a shower bouquet OF
gardenias, Joanna Hill roses, mar
cissus and stenia.
She held a white New Testament
and wore a satinora necklace, gift
of the brides mother.
The living room of her home was
attractively decorated for the cere-
mony with white and Christmas col
ors artistically blended.
Although entirely unplanned
Christmas carols and appropriate re
ligious music were heard throughout
the ceremony from the loudspeakel
mounted on the roof of the nearby
P. w. Stauffer residence.
The couple will leave on the day
after Christmas for a short honey
moon through the southern states
after which e..~. will make theil
home in Burbank where Mr.. Merrill
is an instructor and coach in th'
high school at that place.
Mrs. Merrill graduated from Bluff
ton High school in the class of 193'
and has been employed at the Trip
lett Electrical Instrument Co., sine,
that time. Mr.. Merrill graduated
from Bluffton college in the class O.
1888 and later attended Ohio North
ern university and Ohio State uni
versity. He has been teaching a
Burbank for the past two years.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
Traditional Christmas Customs Are
Blend OF Religious And Pagan Rites
Ancient English and Roman
Influence are Seen in
Festivities
Puritans of New England
FrOwned on Merriment
With Holiday

Although Christmas is usually
thot Of as celebration Of deep re-
ligious significance, this best loved
holiday of Christianity is character
lied by curious blending of religious
and ancient pagan customs.
Holly and mistletoe, linked for
centuries with the observance of the
Yuletide, are survivals of the
ancient worship of the Druids in
England.
Christmas carols, the singing of
which are still popular in Bluffton,
can be linked with the hymns of
the Saturnalia, pagan Roman holi-
day. The Yuletide banquet itself is
reminiscent of the feasts accorded to
ancient gods and goddesses.
Pagan Customs
When the early Christian church
inaugurated the celebration of
Christ's birthday, many pagan GUS
toms were incorporated to assure
that the observance would become
popular with the laity.
In time these customs became ac-
cepted as part of Christianity's
most popular festival. The religious
aspect of the season retains all of
its significance in the modern OBJ
servance, with many of the pagan
customs adding to the attendant
gaiety of the season.
At first the church had a hard
task with the pagan features of the
Christmas celebration. Though ii
aimed only to retain the pagan
forms, it found it could not restrain
the pagan spirit. AS a consequence
many of the early Christmas cele-
brations turned out to be wild revels
in which obscenity, drunkenness
blasphemy and license ran rampant
Start in England
Merry old England, however, was
| tilC Dull III WHICH, SIiA IOoh lLs
firmest root. In ancient days
Christmas was not confined to g
single day. 1t had its preliminar,
novena which began December II
and it ended on January 6 or Twelfth
Night.
It was a democratic festival Will
all classes mixing in its merrymak
ing. Hospitality was universal will
!, the landowners opening their houses
to the tenants and the neighbors
The ale was broached, blackjacks
Cheshire cheese, toast, sugar an,
nutmeg going plentifully around.
. With the rise of Puritanisn
! Christmas took on a much NOR
/ sombre tone and the very existenc
of the institution was threatened
1 Even the harmless good cheer of tn
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
Christmas Cheer Conveyed By Letter
From BlufftOn Missionary To Parents
Miss Catherine Gratz, Former
Bluffton Woman, Located
In West Africa
Concern is Felt for Her Safety
Since American-AxiS
HostilitieS

One of the most priced Christmas
greetings received in Bluffton this
Yuletide season was letter from
Miss Catherine Gratz, former Bluff
ton woman now a missionary in
West Africa, to her parents Mr.. and
Mrs. Peter Gratz of South Jackson
street.
The letter sent by airmail and
postmarked on November 10 was re-
ceived here Saturday, evidently timed
to arrive here to convey Christmas
cheer. Miss Gratz, a missionary
under the board of the Christian
and Missionary Alliance, is located
in the village of Kankan in French
Guinea in West Africa.
UNDER CONTROL OF VICHY
Due to the fact that the area is
under the strict control of the Vichy
government, whose policy is one of
close collaboration with Nazi Ger
many, concern is felt for the safety
of all American nationals living and
working in the country. No word
has been received from Miss Gratz
since the war.
Since the outbreak of hostilities
ports of French Guinea are not be-
ing used and consequently the port
of Freetown in the bordering coun-
try of Sierra Leone is used for the
commercial and mailing requirements
of French Guinea.
Miss Gratz has charge of Bible in
struction and Christian training in
the mission station. On one occa-
sion in making trip into the back
woods of the country Miss Gratz was
carried for a considerable part OF
the journey by hammocks manned by
native carriers. The party stopped
over night in a Mohammedan village
and the former Bluffton resident was
witness to a Mohammedan celebra.
tion with its fantastic dances anc
weird celebrations.
INTENSE HEAT
The tropical climate is one of in.
tense heat and often is almost un
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
CIVILIAN DEFENSE.
GROUP NAMES IA
COMMITTEE HEADS
Group Prepares to Handle Stu
ations Arising During Pres
ent Emergency
Preliminary Plans for Action
Are Worked Out at First
Meeting Held Here

Buttons plans for civilian de-
Tense took shape this week, with the
organization Of IA committees to
work toward the prevention of dis
aster and to handle snf9 emergencies
which may arise.
Preliminary plans for the broad
program covering every phase of
civilian needs were worked out at
meetings during the last week be-
tween Mayor w. A. Howe and the
American Legion executive COM
mittee.
Mayor Howe serves as general
chairman of the Bluffton civilian de-
fense organization, and Clair Fett,
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
HEAVY VOLUME OF
XMAS MAIL SETS
new RECORD HERE
Holiday Business This Christ
mas Season Will Surpass
Last Years Mark
Flood of Holiday Mail Taxes
Facilities of Bluffton's Post
office Staff

With letter cancellations already
better than 5000 ahead of last years
figure, new all time record for out
going mail has been established at
the Bluffton post office this Christ
mas season, it was announced the
first of the week by postal officials.
About 10000 pieces were cancelled
Monday altho not all of this mail
was dispatched, it was stated. On
Thursday, Friday and Saturday of
last week, cancellations reached a
total of better than 1000 for each
day.
go SACKS MONDAY
Incoming mail also has been very
heavy this Yuletide season with the
climax coming on Monday when 90
sacks and pouches of mail literally
swamped the local post office. While
this is not an all record volume of
intake, it was sufficient to necessi-
tate extra help and overtime work of
the regular postal employees.
First class mail is received in
sealed pouches while second, third
and fourth class mail comes in sacks,
postal officials stated.
Mail in the business section was
carried by substitute carriers allow
ing the regular carriers, Wilbur
Potee and Ralph Reichenbach, to
work the residential sections.
BEHIND SCHEDULE
Saturday afternoon deliveries were
made this year to ease the pressure
for the Monday accumulation. Altho
the entire volume of mail has beeen
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
Christmas Finds Former BlufftOn Girl
Winning Her Fight Against Paralysis

Bluffton community friends who
three years ago rallied to the help
of Betty Lesson with a Christmas
donation to assist in her battle
against infantile paralysis, are
pleased to learn this holiday season
that continued improvement is re-
ported in her condition.
When she was enrolled in Bluff
ton college, Miss Leeson, stricken
with paralysis while student at
Beaverdam High school, was unable
to stand upright, and had to be car
ried from classroom to classroom.
She left here in 1888 for treat.
ment at a Chicago hospital, and the
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
Last Rites Held
For Hiram LOcher

Funeral services, largely attended,
were held Monday afternoon at the
First Mennonite church for Hiram
Locher, ~, vice president and di-
rector of the Citizens National bank
and for many years business man
and farmer of this place.
He was found dead in bed Satar-
day morning at o'clock at his home
just north of Bluffton on what is
known as the Locher dairy farm,
where he has been living alone since
his son, Oliver Locher left last fall
for Florida to spend the winter be-
cause of i'll health.
The body was found by Russell
Schaublin, tenant, residing across
the road from the Locher home. An
investigation which led to discovery
of the body was begun by Schaublin
when Mr.. Locher failed to arrive at
the barn to assist in the morning
milking as was his custom.
Allen County Coroner Harry Lewis
reported that death was due to a
heart ailment. The body when found
had been dead for several hours.
Mr.. Locher was born in Riley
township, Putnam county, the son of
Christian and Verena (Lugibihl)
Locher, residing northwest of Bluff
ton. AS a young man he taught in
district schools of the Settlement and
was prominent in organization of
former teachers and pupils of the
'Stager school who held their second
annual reunion last summer.
He was also interested in the mer-
camille business here for some time
as a member of the firm of Baum
gartner, Locher e. Co., Bluffton
clothiers.
His connection with the Citizens
National bank dates from the found
ing of the institution nearly twenty
two years ago since which time he
has been vice president and MEM
Der of the board of directors.
His wife, the former Augusta
Green of this place, preceded him
| in death.
In UNCONVENTIONAL affiliations Mr..
Locher was member of the First
Mennonite church, where he served
at various times as member of
boards and committees and was a
! former teacher in the Sunday school.
His pastor, Rev. H. T. Unruh off
ciated at the funeral service, Mon
day afternoon, following which in
terment was made in Maple Grove
cemetery. Due to i'll health his son.
Oliver Locher, spending the winter
at Clearwater, Florida, did not re.
turn for the funeral.
| Surviving in addition to the sor
are two daughters, Ruth Locher o1
Cleveland and Mrs. Dwain Murra,
! of Marietta; sister, Mrs. Mar,
Diller of Bluffton and three brothers
Samuel and Chris, northwest O.
Bluffton, and Milton Locher O
] Washington, d. G.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
Unusual Display in Heavens
Visible at Christmas Only
Once in 200 Years
Planet Will Reach its Greatest
Brilliance Sunday; Arouses
Much Interest

While men are fighting in every
corner of the globe, nature this
Christmas season is presenting hel
best Yuletide display in 200 years.
The planet Venus is now approach
ing the sun and will achieve its
greatest brilliance on December %
reminiscent of the heavenly display
on the first Christmas.
This event occurs so close to
Christmas only once in two centuries
according to astronomersat Perkins
observatory, maintained by Ohio
Wesleyan and Ohio State universities
near Delaware.
STAR SHOWN BRIGHTLY
Astronomical calculations indicate
that in the year of Christ's birth the
planet was particularly brilliant at
the time of the first Christmas.
As it appears in Palestine, the
star is more brilliant than the dis.
play to be glimpsed here, for Venus
when seen from the United States
never compares with it's brilliance
in the latitude in which Galilee lies.
In that country Venus is so bril-
liant that wake is cast on the
water, much the same as that made
by the moon.
The planet will be brilliant spot
of light in the heavens during the
entire holiday season and it's appear
ance has already brought forth much
interest among astronomically mind
er residents here.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25

Christmas donation from Bluffton
college friends that year helped
make it possible for her to continue
disqualification.
This Christmas season finds Miss
Lesson able to stand upright, and
walk with the aid of crutches, and
for the last year she has been de.
liyering many of her fathers ser.
mons for him in a Methodist church
at Bethany, near Middletown.
Rev. E. A. Lesson, the father
formerly of Beaverdam, has beer
confined to his home much of tn,
time because of serious heart all
ment for more than a year.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
WORD RECEIVED.
FROM FOUR WAR
ZONE RESIDENTS
Pvt. Don Crawfis and Miss
Evelyn Niswander Write
To Parents Here
RadiOgram From Java Received
From Mr.. and Mrs. Paul
Wenger

At least four of the score of for
mer Bluffton residents in the Ha-
waiian and Pacific danger zones
have been heard from in the past
week. Anxiety was felt here for
their safety following the recent
Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor.
Evelyn Niswander Safe
An airmail letter was received
from Miss Evelyn Niswander on
Monday by her parents Mr.. and
Mrs. Noah Neuenschwander of South
Lawn avenue. Following the attack
on Kahului harbor on the island of
Maui recently, concern was felt for
the safety of Miss Niswander who
is teaching at Paia less than 10
miles away from the naval action.
Mr.. and Mrs. Herbert Bowers
of Honolulu have been assisting
in the care of evacuees made
homeless by the bombing of
Pearl Harbor, according to a
letter received Monday by his
father John Bowers of Beaver
dam. Mr.. Bowers writes that
there were no casualties in the
immediate residential district
in which they lived.
Miss Niswander's school is located
in the country three miles from
Paia. At the time of the shelline
Miss Niswander did not hear the
guns and was unaware of what hae
| happened until so informed by the
radio.
On many occasions, Miss Mis-
wander stated that she visited tn,
harbor of Kahului to see th'
British and American vessels slip il
and out of the harbor.
An air mail letter received thi
week by Laurence Burkhalter, Bluff
ton college student, from his par
ents Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Wenge1
missionaries from India, gave as
surance that they were coming
home.
Radiogram From Wengers
The letter was from the Men
monte mission board which receive
radiogram from Mr.. and Mr.:
Wenger in Java who sent a thre
, word message, Coming Inforr
Relatives
Java is a Dutch-owned island i
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
SLIGHT PROSPECT
HELD FOR WHITE
XMAS THIS YEAR
Scant Snow Seen in Bluffton
For Christmas During Past
Six Years
Seventeen White, 13 Green
Christmases here in Last
Thirty Years

4
| Mild weather, welcomed with de-
light by Bluffton area residents Sc
for this winter, lost all its popular
ity early this week as it began to
to appear Christmas may come and go
without the traditional blanket of
snow that contributes so much to the
Yuletide atmosphere.
December's unseasonably warm
weather has brought fears that Bluff
ton will have its ninth green Christ
mas in the last Ia years unless condi-
tions change decidedly.
With the holiday drawing near the
question was being asked, "Will Bluff
ton have snow for Christmas by
children and grownups alike. The
odds favoring green Yuletide did not
seem to be too we'll relished.
IL White; 13 Green Christmases
In the last 80 years Bluffton has
had II white and 13 green Christmas
es, the records reveal. But in the last
14-years period, beginning with 1928
there has been snow for only four
holidays and on two of those oc-
casions it was quite scant.
The heaviest snow in the 20-yeal
period occurred in 1916 when heavy
blizzard blanketed the ground with Il
inches of snow. In 1885 the Blufftor
district was covered with eight inches
| of snow.
Last year Bluffton experienced the
| warmest Christmas Day in nearly o
decade with sunshine and balmy
weather bringing the mercury to &C
degrees just short of the all time rec
ord of 1892 when the thermometer
corded a mark of 62.
Here is the record of ground con.
ditions on Christmas for the last 81
years:
80 Year Record
1911, no snow; 1912, no snow; 1913
trace of snow; 1914, seven inches
| 1915, three inches; 1916, IL inches
1917, seven inches, 1918, trace o.
snow, 1919, one inch; 1920, no snow
1921, no snow; 1922, trace of snow
1923, no snow; 1924, five inches.
1925, one inch; 1926, three inches
1927, no snow; 1928, one inch; 1929
five inches; 1880, no snow; 1881, NJ
snow; 1882, no snow; 1888, no snow
1884, three inches; 1895, eight inches
1886, no snow; 1887, no snow, 1895
no snow; 1899, trace of snow; 194(
no snow.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
Finishes Course At
Parks Air College

James Basinger, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Noah Basinger of South Lawn
avenue, has completed the course of
instruction in aircraft maintenance
and design at Parks Air college in
East st. Louis, I'll.
Basinger took his general courses
in mathematics and science at Bluff
ton college and completed his last
two years of specialized work at the
Parks school.
Mr.. and Mrs. Basinger will leave
after the holidays at which time he
will take a position with one of the
aircraft factories in this area.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
Venus Brilliant This Christmas
Similar To Star OF Bethlehem
Christmas Programs

Ebenezer Mennonite-Wed, 7:30 p. m
First Mennonite-Thurs., 7:30 p. m
Emmanuel Reformed-Thurs., 8 p. m
Missionary-Wednesday, 8 p. m.
Presbyterian-We Wednesday, 7:30 p. m
Christmas programs were present
ed Sunday night at the following
churches: Methodist, st. Johns Re-
formed, Lutheran and Church OF
Christ.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
In New Location

Jerry Basinger has moved from
his farm northwest of Bluffton into
the Cherry street property which he
purchased from the VIM. Wallace
estate. The property was vacated
last week by Richard Bixel and fam
lily who moved to Findlay.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25
Sedans In Lead

The four-door sedan is the most
popular type Of American automo-
bile, accounting for 40 per cent OF
all sales. The two-door sedan In
second, the coupe third.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-12-25

Prune Salad
Stewed prunes, stuffed with
cheese, nuts or celery and arranged
on lettuce leaves, make a suitable
salad to serve with chops or roasts.
Evening star., 1941-01-12
w. B. Tuttles Hosts
To Visitors at
StauntOn Home

STAUNTON, Va, Jan. 11.-Col.
and Mrs. w. B. Tuttle, who recently
returned from a stay of several days
in Washington, had as their guests
here Judge Justin Harding of Frank
lin, Ohio, and his brother, Gen. For
rest Harding, U. S. A., who is en-
route to Fort Bragg, N. c., after be-
ing stationed in Hawaii
Miss Mary Moore Pancake has re-
turned from Washington, where she
was the guest for several days OF
Miss Nelson Blackford.
DR.. Mary E. Latimer is back at
Mary Baldwin College, where she is
head of the dramatic department,
after spending a few days in Wash
ington.
Miss Linda Todd. who spent some
Evening star., 1941-01-12

manuscripts, including the Sonnets
on Percy Bysse Shelley, the "Su-
preme Surrender together with
The Field of Waterloo one of
the earliest manuscripts extant. 1t
seems in 1862 Rossetti had contem-
plated bringing out volume OF
original poems, but in his grief and
sorrow which overwhelmed him in
losing his wife, he buried in her cof-
fin the manuscripts which would
have furnished the fourth volume.
In 1869 the manuscripts were dis
inferred and in 1870 his volume
named Poems was issued. 1t was
later that Mrs. Whittall secured
the buried manuscripts.
Among the Tennyson treasures
given by her to the library is a copy
of perhaps his most famous and
popular poem. THE Light Brigade" "
printed in beautiful minute pen and
ink lettering by himself. It seems
after the publication of this poem
in 1854, Mr.. Tennyson had a thou
sand copies printed for the soldiers
who took part IN the siege of Bala-
clava.
In the Whittall collection are
Houseman and Edwin Arlington
Robinson original manuscripts and
notes of great value
Evening star., 1941-01-12
Mrs. Nj. D. ElmOre
Leaves Gaithersburs
For Indiana Visit

GAITHERSBURG, Md, Jan. IL
Mrs. M. D. Elmore, for IA years
matron at the Home of the Aged,
left Monday for Lafayette, Ind,
where she will be the guest of her
son and daughter law, the Rev.
and Mrs Emore Elmore. Mrs. Maud
Kefauver of Frederick has arrived to
take Mrs. Elmore's place here.
Mrs. Ernest Beall entertained the
Friendly Bible Class of Epworth
Church at her home Monday eve
ming. The Philathea Class of Grace
Church met at the home of Mrs.
Irving Thomas Tuesday evening.
Mr.. and Mrs Leslie Mullineau OBJ
served their 23d wedding anniversary
Sunday with a dinner for 20 of their
friends and relatives.
Mr.. Milton Brewer is vacationing
in Biloxi, Miss. Mr.. and Mrs. Garry
Bell are spending their winter holi-
day in Miami, Fla.
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Bowie Allnutt
Evening star., 1941-01-12

time with her. sister, Mrs. L. c. Ware,
has gone back to Washington, where
she resides at the Gordon Hotel.
Miss Sue Craig spent several days
in Washington while attending the
national convention of teachers of
speech.
Mr.. and Mrs. Horace Parsley and
their daughter Jeane have returned
to their home, in Washington, after
spending fortnight with Mrs.
Parsley's uncle and aunt. Mr.. and
Mrs. Augustine Dull, at their home
here
Col. Wade H. Haislip, u S. A. and
Mrs. Haislip of Washington spent
several days in Staunton with Col
and Mrs. E. Walton Opie. While
here the HaisllpS, who are natives
of Staunton, were informally enter
tanned.
Mr.. and Mrs. David Worsham and
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Miller of Wash
ington spent several days with Mrs.
Worsham's parents, Mr.. and Mrs. H.
L. Andrews. at their home here.