davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29
May Day Has Origin In Ancient Festivals
Celebrating Natures Renewed Fertility

United Kingdom, it is Roman pag-
anism which has left its firmest
traces upon the May Day celebra-
tions in the Anglo-Saxon regions.
There the occasion is rather feast
of flowers than of sacrifices, REM
iniscence of Flora rather than of
Baal
MAY games started in England
during the Middle Ages. Trees and
flowers were gathered in the woods
and houses decorated with them. On
the next day, the first of May, a
court was held, dancers were chosen
and the celebration was climaxed
with the crowning of the May Queen.
A birch Maypole was set up and
everyone who wished danced around
the May pole. These activities in
vited the censure of the Puritans
who stopped May day celebrations in
this country.
The practices, however, persisted
and has been tradition in the
community of Bluffton where the
college holds annual May Day fes-
tivities in which court is held,
dancers wind the maypole, with the
crowning of the May queen as the
days climax.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29

Many countries observe the first
day of May, which comes this year
on Saturday, with special celebra-
tions and festivities on May Day.
In this country there are various
types of May-Day celebrations but
they do not always occur on the first
day of the month.
The May Day celebrations are di-
rect descendants of the ancient Ro-
man Floralia and of the Druidic
feasts in honor of the god Bel-the
Apollo or Orus of other mythologies,
the Baal of the Scriptures.
Their remoter ancestry is found
in the ancient festivals of India and
Egypt which celebdated the renewed
fertility of nature.
The Druids celebrated the feast
of Bel on the 1st of May by lighting
immense fires in his honor upon the
various cairns. Now, even to this
day similar customs survive among
the Irish and the Scotch Highland
ers. Still more significant is that
fact that the festival is known among
them as Beltine, that is the day of
Bells fire.
If Druidism survives most OBJ
viously in the Celtic portions of the
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29

DIR. Lloyd L. Ramseyer, President,
spoke in the Fairfield Mennonite
church, Pa, Easter Sunday morning.
He will remain in eastern Pennsyl-
vania throughout this week, contact
ing prospective students, and attend
ing the Eastern District Mennonite
conference from April 80 to May 2.
Bluffton college will present the
Chicago Little Philharmonic orches-
ira, Friday evening, at $3.50 p. M,
Eastern War Time, in the local high
school auditorium. DR.. Erich Soran-
tin, former conductor of the Ten
nessee Philharmonic orchestra, will
direct the concert. This will be the
fourth and last in the college concert
series this year.
A conference to discuss "Christ-
ianity's Contribution to Lasting
Peace" sponsored by the American
Friends Service committee, will be
held next Monday. DR.. A. ]. Music,
author, lecturer, and minister, will
be the main speaker. The program
will consist of three sub-topics. Dur
ing the opening session at p. m. in
the college chapel, DR.. Music vii
speak on "Chief Obstacles to Peace
to be followed by a forum discussion.
At 6 p. m, a potluck dinner will be
held at Ropp hall, to which everyone
is invited who will make the custom
ary contribution to the meal, COW
cred dish. During this session,
"Peace Programs of the Churches"
will be discussed. A public meeting
will be held at s p. m. in the First
Mennonite church. The address and
forum topic for this meeting will be
Foundations of Peace.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29
BIuHfon In First World Wor


were burned by party of about fort
students Thursday noon. During the
noon hour the students collected al
of the available books notebooks ami
papers used by the classes studying
the subject and burned them on the
bank of Big Riley creek near the
College avenue bridge. Glasses il
German will probably be discontinued
next year.
-
Efficiency, discipline and immacu-
late cleanliness are the by-words of
Camp Greenleaf, Fort OgIethorpe, Ga.
it was stated in letter received this
week from Liut. ]. S. Steiner in train
ing at the huge medical and dental
officers training establishment.
Ray Hauenstein, who was in train
ing at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ca, has been
moved to Camp Hancock at Augusta,
Ga, where he has been assigned to
duty in hospital unit. w. C. AM
stutz who leaves for Camp Sherman,
Friday, where he will go into train
ing, was given farewll surprise
party at his home on Mound street
by the local employees of the Ohio
Oil Co.. Henry Reichenbach, one of
the Bluffton boys in training at Ft.
Oglethorpe, Ca, was injured in an ex-
plosion recently and is now in the
hospital at that place.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29
Relax Restrictions On
Asbestos SHINGLES

Faced with a critical shortage of
long-fbre asbestos needed for war
uses, the War Production Board has
taken steps to solve the problem by
amending Construction Conservation
Order L-41 governing building re-
pairs, according to an announcement
received here today by Forrest
Steinman, manager of the Steinman
Bros. Lumber Co.
The new amendment exempts as
bestos shingles from the $500 limit
which govern all such home repairs
and permits the use of asbestos
shingles for re-roofing and residing
without restriction if the building is
in need of a new roof or needs re-
painting or repairs.
"The amendment was made neces-
+, sary", Mr.. Steinman said, "by the
fact that many tons of short asbestos
fibre must be mined in order to pro-
duce one ton of long fibre. In the
past this short fibre has found an
outlet in the manufacture of asbestos
shingle, but because of the restric-
tions of Order L-41, the utilization of
short fibre was greatly reduced and
thereby threatened a critical short
age of long fibre.
"This move on the part of the
War Production Board is designed
to provide an adequate supply of
long fibre required for the manu-
facture of essential war materials
such as marine cable, insulations,
packings, exiles and fire-proofng ma
erials for ships, Mr.. Steinman said.
AT the same time it will permit
many home owners in this area to
make needed repairs to their homes
by re-roofng or residing with as
bestos shingles"
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29
ROckpOrt

Mr. and Mrs. Loren Van Meter and
family of Newark were week end
guests in the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Edgar Begg.
Mr. and Mrs. Delmar Smith and
two children of Cleveland spent the
Easter vacation with Mr.. and Mrs. J..
o. Cupp and daughter Edythe.
Ralph and Kenneth Marshall, who
left Camp Perry moro than week ago
are now located at Camp Roberts,
Calf.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lawrence Begg and
sons Jimmie and Dean were Sunday
guests of Mr.. and Mrs. F. r. Kerst
in Wapakoneta.
Miss Rebecca Marshall who is
teaching in Wapakoneta, spent the
Easter vacation with her parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Harold Marshall.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Richardson
and family of Rudolph were Sunday
visitors in the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Walter Cupp.
Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence Begg were
entertained at dinner Sunday in the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. w. E. Marshall.
Mr.. and Mrs. Eugene Van Meter of
Jefferson, Mr.. and Mrs. Loren Van
Meter and family of Newark, Mr.. and
Mrs. Lloyd Van Meter of Pandora and
Mr.. and Mrs. Donald Van Meter of
Beaverdam were among those who at
tended services at the Presbyterian
church, Sunday morning.
Miss Nancy Mayberry of Bluffton
College, Miss Mary Jane Mayberry of
Lima and Pfc. James d. Westenbarg-
er of the Marine Corps, San Diego
Calf, were Easter Day guests of Mr.
and Mrs. Guy Mayberry and Frank
lin and Joan Mayberry.
M. and Mrs. Orlo Marshall accom-
panied Mr.. and Mrs. A #. Worthing-
ton of Bluffton to Cleveland where
they spent the week end with Mr.. and
Mrs. Lysle Cahill and Mr.. and Mrs
Ralph Locher.
Herbert Marshall, Jr., who is in the
Air Corps at Clemson, S. c. and Miss
Cecile Moril of Toledo were married
Sunday, April 18th in a quiet cere-
mony at five o'clock in Greenville, S
c.
Miss Elizabeth Campbell and a girl
friend, returned to Cleveland, Monday
after spending several days in the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. D. C. Campbell
Miss Madeline Bixel of Ritman was
a week end guest of her sister, Mrs
F. c. Marshall and other relatives ir
this vicinity.
DR.. Clifford Krohn of Morrow who
is known to many of our readers, was
buried in Pandora, Friday afternoon
following funeral services in Morrow
Mr.. and Mrs. Herbert Marshall and
son Don took dinner Sunday evening
with Mrs. William Augsburger in
Bluffton.
Na{uc Wapf Ode hrfrr rocrrlfc
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29
Easter Observed
In Churches Here

Bluffton observed its second war
time Easter on Sunday with many of
the worshippers burdened by the
thoughts of their young men fight
ing valiantly for their country.
There was little surface evidence
of the saddened hearts as colorful
costumes were much in evidence, the
American woman's method of cham
pioning their dislike for war.
Easter was ushered in with a un-
ion sunrise service sponsored by the
Young Peoples Federation in an
outdoor meeting at the Bluffton col
lege campus. Rev. Gerald Bright,
pastor of the Church of Christ, was
the speaker. He was assisted by
Rev. Ernest Bigelow of the Presby-
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29
Button College Notes

DR.. Music, speaker and leader of
the conference, is nationally known
minister, lecturer, and writer on
problems of the war and postwar
periods. A Presbyterian minister, he
was director of the Brookwood Labor
college, and later, minister of the
Presbyterian Labor temple, New
York City. He has written exten-
sively on peace and related prob
lens.
Students at BIuffton college took
over the reins of college administra-
tion, Wednesday, during the annual
student administration day sponsored
by the "Witmarsum" college news
paper. Herbert Oyer, senior from
Bluffton, will occupy the presidents
chair, with Royal Thomas, senior
from Albion, New York, playing the
role of college dean. All other ad-
ministrative offices and teaching
posts will also be filled by students
that day.
Under the sponsorship of the
Bluffton college Department of
Music, more than three hundred stu
dents from twenty-five high schools
in Northwestern Ohio will partici-
pate in the annual music festival
held in Bluffton nigh school, Satur-
day, May /, at p. m. Eastern War
Time, this year. Main events of the
evening will be numbers by a girls
and boys glee club, and by mixed
chorus, composed of singers from
the twenty-five schools. w. Oscar
Jones, supervisor of music in the
public schools, will direct
these groups.
Rehearsals will be held at the high
school Saturday afternoon, with the
concert being presented that evening.
The program will be supplemented
by a string trio from the college,
and by selected solo numbers also
from the college.
Professor Russell A. Lantz, head
of the Bluffton college Department
of Music, is in charge of the festival.
He is being assisted by Miss Harriet
Brate, music supervisor in the Bluff
ton schools.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29

terian church and Rev. Jesse N.
Smucker of the First Mennonite
church.
Special Easter services were held
in the various churches with large
attendances reported. The audiences
in many of the churches were dotted
with the uniforms of service-men
who had returned to their homes for
Easter furloughs or leaves.
Rain which fell in the afternoon
materially dampened prospects for
Bluffton's Easter parade.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29

u. S. armed forces in the South
Pacific received in 1912 from Aus
tralia and New Zealand more beef
than was shipped from the u. S. to
all lend-lease areas.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29

The natural suger in dried fruits
keep them from molding easily.
Store them in tight bag or jar in
a cool = place. Watch in warm
weather for worms or weevils.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29
BIuffton High School Notes

Otto Klassen.
American History-David Dean,
Alice Joan Buckland.
World History Mary Lou
Schmidt, Lois Burkholder.
Senior Social Studies-Earl Dean
Luginbuhl, Dorothy Anderson.
English IX-Mary Louise Dean,
Lucretia Johnston.
English XI-Florence Ann Blome,
Glenna Swick.
English XII-Ruth Slusser, Alice
Santschi.
Latin Robert Ramseyer, Mar
garet Groman.
Latin II-Esther Berky, Juanita
Bame.
French H-Robert Amstutz, Flor
ence Blome.
Bookkeeping-Aline Hilty, Adah
Lehman.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29
April 25, 1918


Two Liberty Loan honor flags will
be unfurled on the square Friday af-
ternoon. One flag for Bluffton and
one for Richland North were present.
ed by Gov. Cox to the county workers
at a rally in Memorial hall in Lima.
Monday night. A large representa-
ton from Bluffton and Richland town.
ship was in the audience.
A parade made up of the bond buy
ers of Bluffton and Richland North
will form at the square and march
through the business district and re-
turn to the square where an address
will be delivered by H. o. Bentley of
Lima.
Fifty bushels of wheat have been Civ
en- by Samuel Gratz to aid in feeding
the hungry Europeans. The donation
was made by Mr.. Gratz to local
party of Liberty Loan silicitors who
asked him to buy bond.
Owing to shipping conditions, no
parcels may be sent to American SOL
diers in Europe except those contain
ing such articles as are being sent at
the written request of the soldier, ap-
proved by his superior officer.
The German text books used by the
German classes in the high school
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29
Pleasant View

Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Green of
Bowling Green and Kenneth Green of
Columbus spent Sunday with their
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Milford Green
and family.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lester Habegger and
little daughter of Vanlue spent Sun
day with his father, Noah Habegger
and son Howard.
Mrs. Rex Ridge of Detroit is spend
ing several days with her daughter
Mrs. Donald Harris.
Mrs. William Habegger and Mrs.
Kenneth Keller and little daughter
called on Mrs. Myron Motter of Bluff
ton, Saturday afternoon.
Charles Disbrow of Lyons, Ohio,
spent Sunday with his daughter Mr..
and Mrs. Leland Frantz and family.
Mrs. Foreman of near Findlay was
a guest in the home of her brother,
Mr.. and Mrs. Don Edie and little dau-
ghter, Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dwight Frantz and
daughter were Easter Sunday guests
of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam
Badertscher of Richland Center.
Mr. and Mrs. Marion Forney of
Forest and Mr.. and Mrs. Ray Harris
spent Sunday with Mr.. and Mrs. DON
aid Harris.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29

Ohio bluegrass pastures will pro-
vide more forage during the pasture
year if they are not grazed until the
grass is four or five inches tall
Then, the grass should be harvested
by livestock as fast as it grows. Tall
dry grass is not as good feed as il
is when green and succulent.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-04-29

DIR. A. j. Music, Presbyterian
minister from New York city, who
will address conference sessions on
"Christianity's Contribution to a
Lasting Peace" at Bluffton college
on Monday afternoon at and s
o'clock and at the First Mennonite
church Monday evening at o'clock.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-07
Up to the Commission

IN ALL the sordd picture of petty graft and misman-
agement in the state controlled liquor business here,
first disclosed by The Detroit Times week and half
ago, fact stands out clear and rrefutable
Primary responsibility for the rests with the
state liquor control commission necessarily with the
personnel of the present commission but with the commsA
sion body and with the continuing policy pursued by
it for the last three or four years.
Certainly underpaid warehouse clerks, and
porters who apparently not paid at all, engaged in
small graft
Certainly some selfish saloon keepers who thought
they smart but who not because they're jeop
ardzng the entire structure under which they do business
boarded liquor to the deriment of retail consumers.
Certainly greedy druggists who should be
kicked out of the drug store business by their decent
associates tried to the retail market also to the
detriment of the individual consumer.
DUT these conditions never would have been possible
- such scale in Detroit had the policy Of state liquor
control remained relatively close to its original
purpose.
That purpose, plainly laid down 10 years ago in the
law creating state control of liquor in Michigan was to
permit the individual resident Of Nchgannot the saloon
keeper the druggist the restaurant but the
INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT-to buy liquor for his own
reasonable times in reasonable quantities under
reasonable supervision.
Liquor commissioners must remember that. The law
framed for the individual and saloon keepers and
druggists and restaurant owners were more or less
incidental.
matter of fact, and this is important point it
a the intent of the creating law to invite lot
of people into the retail liquor business
The intent of the law to allow restaurant peopeA
then in business and druggists to handle liquor purely foV
the convenience of their patrons.
There any idea of handing the liquor bust
lock- stock and barrel to saloon keepers and
special distributors appears to have been done gradu
ally over the years
The current disclosures be healthy and remedial
if the liquor commission takes firm steps Immediately to
correct the many and fragrant abuses recently revealed
If the matter is corrected Michigan will be headed
back to prohibition sure shooting. And won't
deserve any better fate.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-07
ZiesIer's Duty Is Clear

= OV. KELLY saved Michigans highway system from
N disinegraon by his courageous veto of the legisla
tive act which would have surrendered to the counties all
control maintenance work
Charles NJ Zieger, newy-elected highway commits
soner should not forget the governors loyal protection
of the public interest.
In the months ahead when he will be squeezed by
terrific political pressure, the commissioner should
hold firm TO the definite laid down with crystal
clarity by the chief executive.
The veto easy performance Of duty. Many
Of Gov Keys closest friends and of politicians
who worked hard to elect him, his threshold
insisting that the bill be signed
. UT the governor showed in this that he held the
- welfare of Michigan above the requirements of prac-
teal politics
His political allies may not thank him. The people do~
AS highway commissioner, Ziegler will have power
to nuify the veto by giving the counties the money and
the right to maintain trunk line roads.
Perhaps equipped to do this work and con-
tinue the states present high standard They few
ZIEGLER has had thorough experience as an engineer
L and long training in the highway department.
He is qualified to continue the fine record Of his
predecessors if he like Gov. Kelly, will hold public duty
above political duty.
Commissioner -elect Zegler will enter public office
with the best wishes and congratulations of all Michigan
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-07
Lewis Pulls His Old Stunt
But Can't Wreck WLB Now
BY PAUL MALLON

WASHINGTON, April John
IL. Lewis pulled his man
Thomas Kennedy out OF the War
Labor Board in a maneuver SIM
liar TO one he tried before.
He ruined an earlier ] a b o r
board by such a withdrawal of
support. but the situation is diff
ferent now.
On the earlier occasion, Lewis
represented Go and his with
drawal of support was more than
a government labor board could
withstand. Now his man will
probably be replaced by a Go
member.
Any way, Mr.. Kennedy has
not been functioning actively as
a member of the board for some
months. Most of his work has
been done by a Go alternate.
SO the maneuVer merely placed
Lewis in a somewhat better posi-
ton to defy the present board
when ii reaches a decision
against him. toward which it has
been ardently building.
MANY board decisions, and all
1'l of the outside talk of its
members and other government
officials, have been clearly
directed lately toward resisting
the Lewis attempt 10 brea k
down the administrations anti
inflationary barriers, including
the little steel formula. The
administration has been obvi-
ously disinclined to give Lewis
anything.
But Lewis is getting help from
respected and even antagonistic
sources. The farm bloc in Con-
gresS has been simultaneously
campaigning in the same direc-
ton as Lewis from the opposite
side of the street.
Through the Bankhead and
Pace bills. and otherwise, it has
been seeking to break down the
price restriction portions of the
anti-inflation barrier, while
Lewis attacked the wage posi-
tons.
To whatever degree it sue
ceeds, ii will help Lewis in his
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-07

not challenge the health of the
people, but the fuel restriction
did. A man may live health
fully on a diet and even inn
prove physically. But no physi-
clan has yet arisen to contend
that 60 degree temperature, and
even less in offices and homes,
during winter cold improves the
health of the average man and
woman.
SO while most reports are run
ming 10 the contrary and pre-
dieting harder fuel winter
ahead toll men freely say Sol,
am stringing along with Ickes,
for once, in the expectation that
ways will be found
THE Ruml plan seems destined
never to be considered
squarely on its merits. 1t is
always getting into political
COinpllCatlOnS.
The unexpected defeat OF the
proposal in the House was I'M
expected only up until two or
three days before the vote.
Then il was apparent that a
number of Democrats began TO
fear the political results Of Re-
publican leadership in this mat
ter.
on the Senate side, also, such
an administration monochrome
list as Democratic Senator Nc
Kellar of Tennessee turned
against the plan, although he
has been fighting the admins
tratiOn on other matters.
Furthermore. other Democrats
profeSsed 10 fear the political
efforts Of tax forgiveness"
missioner that II isl among
labor and worker groups.
Together these factors were
sufficient to cause the defeat Of
the measure. And if it had not
been defeated in the House, the
stand taken by Mcclellan sug-
gested it would face an "unex-
pected" situation in the Senate.
Distributed by King Features synd. Inc.
Reproduction in Whole or in Part
Strictly Prohibited.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-07

fight against the Little Steel
formula because the sole claim
OF Lewis is based on a contcn-
ton that prices are already too
high.
Thus, Mr.. Roosevelt and his
mild anti-inGationary formulas
are beSet from two sides by
forces believing that they are
working against each other, al
though actually they are fur
niShing water TO each other 5
grinding wheels.
IN THE middle, lost and UNI
L represented. is the average
citizen on a salary who is not a
member of a union and not
farmer. Campaigns such as
those raging here now may
force some wages higher, but
not his, although they will force
higher prices he must pay for
his livelihood.
The 81 he earned before the
war already has been cut TO 76
cents in purchasing power by
rising prices. Anything that
sends prices up or even threat
ems 10, whether it be Lewis, the
farm bloc. or the government
itself in the OPA, increases this
hardship
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-07
Letters
To the Editor

TO THE EDITOR:
A UTO honking pests face
"A $50 fine in New Jersey. Why
isn't something done about De-
troit? It's the honkingest town
in Michigan.
Chief offenders probably are
taXicab chauffeurs, women call
ing other women from nearby
buildings. men who drive with
the horn, not their head and
engine.
II. l.. DICKEY,
Hotel Park Avenue.