St. Clair County Democrat
Osceola, Missouri
21 December 1913

Shady Nook:
Saturday, November 29, Mrs. R.L. Nance opened the doors of her home to the ladies of the L.C. and T. Club, where she entertained them with their husbands at their second annual dinner.
At eleven o'clock the ladies arrived with well-filled baskets and by noon the table was spread with a most appetizing dinner consisting of:
Oyster Soup
Sandwiches Fried Chicken Pickles
Creamed Potatoes Baked Beans
Jelly Preserves Peaches
Cake Coffee
They all spent a pleasant day in social conversation and music.

Sires Reaches Colorado
Haswell, Colo., December 8
Mr. C.H. Lucas - Dear Friend:
We reached our new home Thursday afternoon. It rained most all the way through Kansas but at Haswell there was quite a little snow on the ground. It rained all day Thursday, then began to snow and snowed until Saturday. Yesterday was a very pretty day. The thermometer registered 19 degrees above zero Sunday morning. The country is practically level. We can see several mountain peaks west of us. Will wrige you more about the country later, as I haven't seen very much of it yet.
Resp. J.A. Sires

Coon Creek Items:
Well the time is almost here; if you have not done your Christmas shopping you had better button up your coat and get in the scramble.

Mr. and Mrs. James Brunson and daughter and Mrs. John Brunson dined with Mrs. Will Smith Sunday.

Neighbors gave Mr. and Mrs. James Brunson a surprise party Saturday, all having a fine time.

James Simson and family has returned to their Linn County home.

Mrs. R.T. Bartholomew called on Mrs. Wm. Gardner Saturday.

Wm. Gardner has his new barn completed, and it looks fine.

Mrs. E.J. Rodabaugh and children took dinner with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Brunson, last Friday.

Motley Pickups:
Clarence Bray and Harve Smith are the proud owners of new buggies. We expect a demand for improved roads.

George Cole is preparing to move into the Burkhart house north of Frank Rosbrough's.

Charlie Vittetos is moving from the Les Reed farm south of Story.

Motley School is doing exceptionally well, although about a dozen of the larger pupils have been attending protracted meeting.

Taberville Items:
Mr. and Mrs. Rob Jones visited their son Isaac who lives with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Combs.

We learn that Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Jones are the proud parents of a big bouncing boy. Robert is grandpa now.

Rev Zener and Martin are holding a series of meetings at Pleasant Grove. Interest is good but no conversions reported yet.

The Taberville consolidated district No. 2 carried for consolidation, 93 and 40 against.

The pie supper at Rich Valley benefited the library $9.25. Katie Nunn teacher. The one at Vogt $15. Miss Stella Fouts teacher.

The charivari crowd after giving Ed Bishop and wife a round and not getting to hollow all they wanted to before they were brought to a halt, proceeded to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Higgins and as they had never been charivaried, gave them a round tho the latter had been married better than six years.

The Blue Mound School is preparing to have a Christmas tree in the afternoon for the benefit of the little folks who do not often get to attend such when held at night. Virgil Higgins, Teacher.

Bear Creek:
Levy Garrison has been here for a week to look after his new store building now being erected on his land at Corbin.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wisner expect to leave next week on a trip to Kansas and Oklahoma.

Geo. Reeder, U.S. post office inspector, was here last week.

The Bear Creek M.E. Church will have a Christmas tree on next Wednesday night, weather permitting.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Harper and children spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Hooper.

Master Edwin Gover has been the guest of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leman Gover, for a few days.

Last Sunday night at League Mrs. DeLee was leader and the program consisted of appropriate hymns and topic reading and discussion of topics and a selection read by Lawrence DeLee. For the week before Irvin Stutton was leader and he had a very successful meeting. Balley Wisner will be leader for next meeting.

Our young folks and some of the elder people had a very pleasant time at J.C. Hooper's last Friday night. The occasion was a peach and cake supper. Everyone had a good time and plenty of the refreshments.

Mrs. Florence Garrison has been suffering with necralgira for over a week, but is better.

The Corbin postmaster and merchant went to Kansas City on business last week.

Coon Creek Items:
Mr. Ed Briary and family spent last Friday evening with Mr. and Mrs. Pete Burkheart, had violin and guitar music.

Mrs. Wm. Brunson and Mrs. John Brunson were in Vista Thursday.

Don't complain because it's raining. Think of the hot dry summer we had.

Geo. Rainey was in Vista Wednesday.

Miss Minnie Rainey is on the sick list. We hope it is nothing serious.

Mrs. D.W. Rainey was helping Mrs. B.F. Bartholomew Thursday last with some comfort tacking.

Rainey items were interesting last week. Please continue them as we like to have the news.

Wm. Gardner was in Vista Saturday. He enjoyed a nice shower on the road home.

Mrs. Ed Brissy spent last Sunday night in Osceola with her sons, who are attending high school there.

Mr. John Wilson and wife spent last Sunday with his brother Tom Wilson near Vista.

D.W. Rainey and family spent Friday evening with Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson.

King's Prairie:
We had a fine rain last Friday.

Charley McTyr left this country Sunday for California where he will reside for awhile.

Mr.Kirkpatrick was at the church Sunday. He is class leader at this place for the first Sunday in each month.

The Sunday school is still gaining and also prayer meeting on Sunday night.

Thanksgiving was quite a pleasant day to all. Grandma Wyatt and children that were close enough to be present took dinner with her. A nice fat turkey was carved that day. Oliver Wyatt and family and J.M. Bishop and family were present, all claiming that they all had a good time.

Uncle Riley Bishop is improving his farm. He is working every day.

John Estes and family spent Sunday with his brother, Jim Estes, near Quincy.

Fred McTyr left Saturday for Iowa to his job where he has been for the last three years.

The pie supper at King's Prairie last Thursday night was just fine. A large crowd was there and a table set with 36 mince pies spread out. Each one brought their pies nice and quite. Bob Orr was there to lead singing services, prayer by Brother Hinkle, a good talk by Brother Simms and also one by Brother McMillen and a program after which sold the pies. The amount of money taken in was $36.20.

Miss Lula Allen has returned home from a visit in Johnson County.

We are all having lots of late cabbage since the rains and lots of young mustard for greens.

Phillip Crabtree was on the Prairie Thursday night for the pie supper.

From Appleton City Journal:
The Journal learns that J.H. Denning lost one of his fine Stallions last week. The animal was a (?) one and his death means the loss of considerable money on his own account as well as the loss t the community of a good breeding animal.

Fred Mixer sold his residence property last summer to John Walker, and after moving around quite a little, decided the best thing to do was to make Appleton City his home and get property of his own again. He purchased the Ramsey property a few ago.

Roy Allinson, who has conducted a general merchandise store at Johnson City for the past year or so sold his business last week to Scott M. Stout, from whom he purchased the business. Mr. Stout has been at Aurora, Mo., for some time and after looking around a while decided that St. Clair County was good enough for him and came back and purchased the Allinson stock. His many friends will welcome him back again.

Jake Baldwin went over to Lowry City Saturday.

Effects to force the national administration into advocating government ownership of the telegraph and telephone lines are not meeting with entire success. The president and the postmaster-general are not inclined to push the scheme and are probably opposed to it. There is no reason whatever for the government to take over the telegraph lines and long distance telephone lines as proposed, unless the Socialist idea is to be adopted and it becomes the settled policy of the government to take over the business of the country.
Telegraphing and long distance telephoning are more for the "'classes"' than for the masses. The great majority of the people receive few telegrams and hardly ever use the long distance telephones. Thousands of people live through life without receiving a telegram. Quick communication is used mostly by newspapers, speculators and businessmen. The average citizen has little occasion to use these methods. The mails are fast enough in most cases. Possibly a lower rate could be obtained by government ownership. If there was a deficit it could be made up by taxation in some manner.
This being true some of the newspapers which pay heavy telegraph bills ay soon surprise us by telling of the tremendous public demand for government ownership of the telegraph lines. Possibly the telegraph lines might be induced to figure closely with the government on a sale. Science is making rapid progress with the wireless method and before long it is probable that the copper telegraph lines will be as valuable as the stage coach line was when the railroad came to town.

The State's Population.
The total population of school children in the state between the ages of 6 and 20 years has decreased 3118 for the fiscal year closing June 30, 1913. That statement appears in the enumerating figures sent to the State Superintendent of the Public Schools, William P. Evans, by county clerks. The total school population is 959,623. Of the decrease 2178 are whites and 940 negroes.
The amount expended for schools during the year was $16,621,965, as compared with $14,639,396 the previous year. There are 919,166 white school children and 37,259 negro children. The teachers of the state received in salaries for the year $9,766,224.
These figures indicate that Missouri must still be leading population in the rural sections. Nearly all the states in the middle west have been doing so for many years. Missouri, however, made a gain in its total population by the census of 1910, due to the growth of the cities. The gain was only 6 per cent, however, and unless the tendency to decrease is checked it is possible that Missouri by the next census will show a smaller population than it had in 1910. By the census of 1910 Iowa was the only state that actually decreased in population. The same influences that caused the decrease in Iowa are working on northern Missouri, the high prices of land and the desire to sell out and move to the west and southwest.
St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Springfield and Joplin must make big gains to prevent a decrease in the state's population unless the loss to rural population is in some manner checked.

Horses and Mules Wanted
100 head
Will buy anything at fair order. Will be in Osceola till Friday and Lowry City, Saturday.
Pretz & Cissna

Notice to the Public.
Ice time is over and I have reduced the price of fresh meat.
Beef Steak, per pound 17 ½ cents
Best Beef Roast, per pound 15 cents
Good Beef Roast, per pound 12 ½ cents
Fresh Pork Prices -
Pork Chops, per pound 17 ½ cents
Pork Roast, per pound 16 2/3 cents
Side Pork, per pound 15 cents
Pork Sausage, per pound 15 cents
Good home-made Lard, per pound 16 2/3 cents
Cash paid for fat stock.
Next door to Democrat office.
Yours for business,
H.C. Conrad, The Butcher

For Sale.
Pure Federeta Seed in quantities to suit.
Pure Barred Plymouth Rock Roosters ready for service.
Four Pure Bred Short Horn Bulls.
Three pure bred Poland China Boars.
J.E. Thompson.
Spring Lake Ranch opposite Monegaw Springs.

Embroidery Club.
A merry and busy crowd of women assembled in the home of Mrs. Chas. H. Green on Tuesday afternoon when she entertained the Embroidery Club and other friends. The spirit of Xmas was in the air, hinting of Yuletide hospitalities soon to come, were confirmed by the Christmas green mingled with branches of holly and vases of poinsettias, Christmas bells were festooned over the doorways and windows and the dining table held a miniature Christmas tree while a large Christmas bell was suspended from the electric dome. The hostess served
Chicken Salad Nut Bread
White Bread Sandwiches
Olives Coffee
Fruit Gelatin with Whipped Cream
Nut Cake with Marshmallow Frosting
The members of the club present were Mesdames J.R. Lucas, Nuckles, Bell, McFall, Kitchen, Wilson, Husted, Terrwilliger and Sullivan, Misses Mary Rogers, Nannie Lucas. Invited guests were Mesdames F.P. Daniel, Hostetter, Miller, Hall, Schmidt, Edwin Cox, C.R. Hunt, Petty, J.H. Lucas, G.B. Linney, D.T. Simmons, Stambaugh, Will Matthews, Misses Nannie Linney, Alice Linney, Bessie Farmer, Le Wilma Hunt.
Sophia L. Terwilliger, Sec'y.

Look Here People.
Where can you spend a measly little dime and get as much good from it as at the Picture Show? We have improved the show under every condition and with your continued attendance, expect to make it better still. Our machine is now run by "'Electric Motor"' which gives a very steady motion. Having also changed our service we will show you higher priced pictures than was ever seen in Osceola before.

Gerster:
Gerster is glad to know it is still on the map.

The protracted meeting, which has been in progress for over five weeks has been well attended and much interest has been manifested. The missionary is very enthusiastic and has preached a number of good sermons. There has been several conversions.

The music teacher, Miss Gladys Horton, from Weaubleau, was here Saturday.

Mrs. Wm. Thompson has a new piano and is taking music lessons from the Weaubleau teacher.

The merchants of Gerster are all doing a good business in spite of all unfavorable circumstances.

Over two thousand turkeys were picked and shipped from here last week. The turkey picking kept a number of boys from school last week.

School is doing nicely thus far. Four months will end Friday, with Miss Fannie Martin of Weaubleau as teacher.

The voters of Dallas township will vote next Tuesday, December 23, on the question of the consolidated school district.

Tom Penalegion from Emporia, Kansas, visited his uncle, F.S. Johndrow, Saturday.

Gilbert Allen had his sale Tuesday, and took possession of the Gerster Hotel. Mr. Daniel will move his family this week. He wills tay in town and run the livery barn until spring. Gerster will miss Mr. Daniel and his family but all wish them success on the farm.

Santa Claus has already been to Gerster and everyone has begun to feel the Xmas spirit.

Mrs. Daniel has been on the sick list for several days now.

The gospel singer, John Neighbors, hs proved quite a help to the meeting. He is a good singer and seems to understand music.

Roy Haynes, the missionary's son, visited his father Sunday night and Monday morning.

Lowry City:
William Scott, one of the vocational farmers and leading stockmen of Polk Township, was transacting business in Lowry City last Friday.

Frank Husted, the well known efficient Station Agent of the Frisco, at Osceola, was in Lowry City on Saturday.

S. Lowenstein of St. Louis, of the firm of Lowenstein Bros., of Oat City, as buying horses and mules in Lowry City last Friday.

Butchering hogs was the chief order of the day with some of the Lowry City people last week, at the result of the favorable conditions with which they were favored a few days last week.

Henry Rippetoe, formerly of Butler Township, this county who at present resides in Clinton, was looking after business last Tuesday.

Charlie and Fred Foote of near Vista, were in Lowry City last Tuesday.

William Stevens of Clinton, one of the well known real estate and insurance men of that town was looking after business in Lowry City last Tuesday.

Louis Browning reports a recent real estate deal in which a party from Iowa has bought a small farm near Lowry City upon which he expects to locate in the near future.