Description: Pgs 1-2. Flags of various nations, Krupp's Steel Works, Warm stables, misc news items, annual report of county health officer for Lamar County for 188

Date: February 25 1887

Newspaper published in: Vernon, Lamar County, AL

Source: Microfilm - Alabama Dept of Archives and History

Page/Column: Pages 1 and 2

Microfilm Ref Call #371
Microfilm Order #M1992.4966
from
The Alabama Department of Archives and History

THE VERNON COURIER


ALEX A. WALL, Editor and Publisher
VERNON, LAMAR CO, ALA.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1887 VOL. I. NO. 39
Subscription $1.00 Per Year


BALAD OF THE BEGGAR - Poem - [Wide Wake]

----- SENTIMENT -
----- About The Standards of all Nations - ---- Hebrews, Chinese and Japanese --- Their Venerated Banners - Modern Emblems --- The Red Cross Flag of Humanity
(first column is cut off……….)…..the three annual and the three monthly festivals. First, the great New Year, which lasts a month; second, the feast of spring, on the third day of third month (or that of the flowers and young maidens), and third and last the feast of neighbors in the "won't-go-home-till-morning" style.
Great Britain, or England, that proud nation which boasts that upon its dominion the sun never sets, has more banners or standards than any other kingdom or republic. The first in the list is what is called the royal standard, or square flag, blazoned with the arms of the United Kingdom. The second is the flag of the Lord High Admiral, a crimson banner with an anchor agent, gorged in the arm with a coronet, and a cable through the ring, fretted in a true-lover's knot, with ends pendent. Third, the flag of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, a Union Jack, having in the center of the crosses a blue shield, emblazoned with a golden harp. Fourth, the Union, or Union Jack in which are blended the crosses of St. George, St. Andrew, and St. Patrick, emblematic of the United Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Fifth and last, is the flag of the cross of St. George, white with a red cross, the sign of the old crusaders. Each one of these flags represents not only the different British possessions and various branches of the government, but also the chivalrous, religious and patriotic sentiments.
The French flag is, comparatively, a modern idea. Under the feudal system every lord had his own personal coat of arms or standard. In the year 1794 the present standard was adopted. It is composed of three equal bands placed vertically, the hoist (or the part nearest the staff) being blue, the center white and the fly (or the end) red. This tricolor is supposed to be a union of the blue banner of St. Martin, the red banner of St. Denis and the "cornette blanche" there being evidence that these colors have been regarded as the national emblem for centuries.
The flag most recently added to the family of European nations is the black, red, and gold banner of the North German Empire. When Emperor Barbarossa was crowned in the year 1152, the road to the palace was covered with carpet, into which were woven the colors black, red and gold. After the coronation the carpet was given to the people and cut into strips, which were carried by them about the city as flags During the heated discussion in the National Assembly at Frankfort in 1848, as to which combination of colors should have precedence, Frellgrath said: "Powder is black, blood is red and golden flickers the flame, and that is the old imperial standard." I like the motto of Frederic Wilhelm: "From night - through blood - to light."
I might draw attention to the flags and the associated sentiment, of many other nations, both ancient and modern, but will pass on to our own grand and beautiful star-spangled banner, which represents a nobler, purer and more patriotic sentiment. Its strips of read and white proclaim the original union of thirteen states which were associated to maintain the Declaration of Independence. Its stars - white in field of blue - proclaimed a National Constitution, which receives a new star with every added state. The two together signify, Union past and present. The language even of the colors was officially recognized by our fathers - white is for purity, red for valor and the blue for justice.
Hon. George F. Hoar, in 1878, said: "I have seen the glories of art and architecture, and mountain and river. I have seen the sunset on Jungfrau, and the full moon rise on Monty Blanc, but the fairest vision on which these eyes ever looked was the flag of my country in a foreign land - beautiful as a flower to those who love it, and terrible as a meteor to those who hate it. It is the symbol of the power and glory and the honor of 50,000,000 of Americans."
At the close of the first day of that terrible battle of Shiloh (or Pittsburg Landing), after having been driven by superior numbers from seven different lines of defense, losing in killed and wounded one-third of the whole command, without food or rest, saddened by the loss of many comrades and friends, we waited anxiously for the for the evening's last attack before sundown, knowing that if we did not successfully resist it we would be forced to surrender or be driven into the river, when suddenly there appeared approaching us, on the opposite side of the river, a body of mounted men. In the distance and in the dim light we could not distinguish them from friend or foe, but when on the rising ground at a bend in the road, the smoke from the battle-field cleared a little, and we saw the grand old Stars and Stripes, then we knew they were friends, and that the long expected and much needed reinforcements were at hand. Our hearts were filled with renewed hope and courage, and when general Buel's first brigade crossed the river and marched up the creek, its band playing the grand old air "The Star Spangled banner" many a battle-scarred and powder-begrimed soldier's eyes were filled with tears, and the shout of exultation and defiance as the woods ring. The enemy heard it above the din and roar of the battle, and knew it was a harbinger of their next day's defeat. Even the wounded seemed to revive and become inspired with new hope and courage.
I once saw a young soldier who belonged to a battery of artillery engaged in patching the holes in his guidon (a marker's flag) with cloth from the lining of an important part of his uniform. (If he was familiar with the history of France in 1792 he might have thought of the insurgent's standard, which was a pair of black breeches, upon which was the inscription: "Tremble, tyrants, for we, the people, still wear the breeches.") When I asked him why he made such a sacrifice and spent so much time to repair that old flag, his answer was that as we were so far from the base of supplies, he could not get a new one, and he must have one, for when the battery went into action, with the thirty six horses and the six guns, he always stuck the pike to which the guidon was attached firmly into the ground, to mark the line of battle, where the battery was to form and go into action, and even if the man who rode the leading horse was killed or disabled, and the din of the battle was so great that the bugle call could not be heard, the horses were so well drilled that they would wheel around the flag, make or execute the maneuver known as "by left into line," and when the muzzles of the six guns were on a line with the flag, and then, as soon as the guns were unlimbered, he would again, place it about two hundred paces to the rear, and the horses would gallop to the rear, with the caissons, and halt again on a line with it. Perhaps there is not much sentiment in the mending of that old flag by the battery boy, but is there not a beautiful sentiment in the thought of those noble horses, doing their share of the fighting, side by side with us, learning to know the flag and rallying upon it?
In conclusion, I will draw attention to the most glorious of all flags, the banner of the Red Cross. An international public conference was called at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1863. At this time a treaty was drawn up and signed by representatives of twenty-five different governments, which provided for the neutrality of all sanitary supplies, ambulances, surgeons, nurses, attendants, sick or wounded men, and their safe conduct when they bear the banner of the Red Cross. Largely through the influence and perseverance of Miss Clara Barton, our government was induced, eventually, to instruct its proper representative to sign the treaty. As a compliment to Switzerland, the association adopted as its banner the color of the Swiss flag, reversed, the red cross on a white ground. This flag is held sacred by all civilized nations of the world. In the fiercest battle no shot is ever aimed at this symbol. It protects alike castle or cottage, friend or foe. It insures safe conduct to all transports to an enemy's country. Under this banner social distinctions are abolished. The proudest rulers of the kingdoms of the earth bow with respect and submission to this banner, the universal representative of man's humanity to man and the harbinger of the time when "all nations shall beat the swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and learn war no more."

A VISIT TO KRUPP'S WORKS - [N. Y. Sun]
An interesting account is given by Mr. Richards, superintendent of the motive power of the Boston & Providence Railroad, of a visit made by him to the famous Krupp Steel Works at Essen. He saw a ten-ton crucible steel casting being poured, and an enormous seventy-ton steel casting being very gradually cooled, the outside being warmed with coke fires until the inside has partly solidified, when the block is hammered into shape to form the main piece of an immense gun. The enormous array of furnaces in which the crucibles are heated and the perfect manner in which such a large number of men - in some cases as many as eight hundred - all lift their eighty-pound crucibles out of the furnaces and pour them into the mould in rapid succession is described as a wonderful sight. The scrupulous care bestowed upon the minutest detail was a noticeable feature about their manipulation of steel. If, after extended trials, a certain practice or proportion of ingredients has been found to give the best results, that practice is absolutely and exactly adhered to, nothing in the whole range of the vast operations of establishment being left to mere possibilities. - [N. Y. Sun]

There are a good many weddings at Castle Garden. A policeman is generally best man. There is a wedding ring there that has been worn 354 times - [N. Y. Mail]

TRAINING FERRETS - Harmless Little Animals Which Are Thrown in a Rage When Smelling Blood - {article about how to train a ferret)

CONFUSION OF THOUGHT
Odd mistakes are sometimes made and perpetrated in public documents, when the attention is directed to the main idea, and not to the phraseology. Among the regulations at the West Boston Bridge Corporation, drawn up by two lawyers, is a section which was written, accepted, and now stands thus:
"And the said proprietors shall meet annually on the first Tuesday of June, providing the same does not fall on Sunday."
Persons living at a distance must not suppose that Tuesdays fall on Sundays any oftener in Boston that they do elsewhere. - [Youth's Companion]

A VALUABLE SUGGESTION - joke

Albert Champion, of Livingston County, Ky stole John Mitchell's best eam and eloped with Mrs. Mitchell

PITH AND POINT - jokes

CARL DUNDER - anecdote written in dialect

MUGGINS' ADVENTURES - Most Extraordinary Tales Which Contained One Indisputable Bit Of Truth - [anecdote]

WARM STABLES - Plain Facts for the Consideration of Owners of Milk Cows
Are your stales for your cows warm and well ventilated, so as to be both comfortable and sweet? If not, set to work at once to make them so, for in this you will find true economy - both a saving of food and an increased product, if you are making butter or cheese, or simply peddling milk. But do not seek to secure warmth by the close confinement of your cows. There must be a free circulation of air in order to secure the good health of the cows and a sweet-flavored product. If with good ventilation, letting the air in at the head of the cows and out at the rear, you can not keep p the required temperature, then resort to artificial heating. It will pay. Once the arrangements are made for heating, the expense will be comparatively small as a high temperature will not be required. The range of temperature for health and comfort is about fifteen degrees Fahr. Below this, cows standing in the stall will begin to shiver and feel uncomfortable; above, discomfort follows and they will begin to pant. It is much cheaper to burn fuel in a heater than food in the cow to keep the animal heat. - [Rural New Yorker]

PAGE 2

THE COURIER
ALEX A. WALL, Editor and Proprietor
Vernon, Alabama
Friday, February 25, 1887

One week from today the Forty-Ninth Congress expires by Constitutional limitation.

The slayer of John Wilkes Booth, Boston Corbett has been declared insane and sent to the insane asylum of Kansas.

A negro woman was bitten by a spider in Jefferson County on the hand from the effect of which she died on the 15th inst.

The rate of taxation in Georgia is three mills, in Virginia four, Arkansas four, two and a half in Mississippi and six and a half in Alabama.

On the 18th inst at Fredericton, Mo, an earthquake shock occurred which was severe enough to overturn furniture and displace plastering on walls.

Charleston, SC has a white population of 27,605, and out of this number week before last only three died. It certainly must be a salubrious city.

The House on the 17th passed the bill giving Solicitors salaries instead of fees. If the fees of any Solicitor go above $3,000 the excess goes into the Treasury, and if they fall under that sum they only receive the amount collected.

On the 14th inst at Haynesville, Lowndes County, Probate Judge A. E. CAFFEY knocked down an attorney, W. R. HOUGHTON, who had made an argument in the Probate Court which the Judge did not like. He was stunned considerably but not seriously hurt.

In New Jersey on the 17th the Democrats won a double victory by seating beyond further contest, Walker and Turley the Democratic representatives from Mercer and Camden counties, whose seats had been contested since the opening of the present session of the Assembly.

Daniel Manning, Secretary of the U. S. Treasury tendered his resignation to the President on the 15th. The President expressed his regret to Mr. Manning in a nice letter and fixed the 1st day of April for his resignation to take effect. The President will nominate his successor before congress adjourns.

Up to last Friday in Columbus, Miss, a subscription stock amounting to $45,000 to build a cotton factory was subscribed. The full amount needed is $75,000. This is a step in the right direction for Columbus, and we hope she may succeed in erecting the factory, which will add much to her interest generally.

A paper published in Memphis, the Seimitar, willfully abused Judge Dubose's confidence by publishing his charge in the Godwin-Dalton trial which its reporter elicited from the Judge the night before he was to deliver it, under promise that the charge should not be published until after its delivery. This was very wrong and the Semitar should be ashamed of itself for thus violating the trust.

If the Blair bill becomes a law there will not be any increase of taxation and it will not interfere with a reduction of the tariff. The $70,000,000 is to be paid out in eight years and there is a constantly increasing surplus and no necessity for adding a dollar of taxes to those already paid. - [Mont. Advertiser]

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER OF LAMAR COUNTY FOR THE YEAR 1886
To the Medical Society of Lamar County
Gentlemen:
I herewith hand you Annual Report of Vital and Mortuary statistics for the year 1886. I am gratified to be able to note some improvement in my present report over that of the proceeding year. Many having reported their work during the year 1886, who failed to report anything in 1885. While I am pleased to note this improvement, I regret to say that Lamar County falls far short of that degree of excellence which she ought to attain in the collection of these valuable statistics. With a little more energy and "push" upon the part of the physicians of the county, we can, and will accomplished very much during the present year in bringing Lamar up to the requisite standard. A number of Assistant Health officers have reported promptly every month during the past year, yet their reports have not been as full in every instance as they might have been. It is not only necessary that all Certificates of Birth and Deaths should be sent in, and that form No. 31, should be properly filled out and accompany the same, but it is very desirable that every report should be accompanied by a letter giving the character of diseases which have prevailed during the month, and other items of interest. It is very essential that the County Health Officer should know, of a certainty, whether or not full and complete returns have been made, and if the Beat be not in good working order, the causes should be given, that steps may be taken to correct them by the County and State Health Officers. These items cannot be given not the blank forms, hence the necessity of writing a letter. It is my opinion that the Health Officers just referred to, are desirous of performing their work in a commendable manner, and will do so when educated up to all that is required of them. While it affords me much pleasure to say this in reference to a few. I regret to say that no interest whatever in the work. What they do, is done under protest and is very incomplete and unsatisfactory. When reported as delinquent, and reproved by the Sate Health Officer, they will send in a meager report, sometimes accompanied by a letter expressing their displeasure at being reproved and intimating that they thought the whole affair was being operated solely for the pleasure and edification of the County Health Officers. I am disposed to be charitable to this class of physicians, and say I believe that they have not investigated the matter and do not appreciate the benefit to be derived from this successful operation. These men complain that they distribute blanks to all the midwives who practice tint heir beat and instruct them to report, but the midwives disregard their instructions, and hence they become discouraged, and cease their efforts, altogether, to collect the statistics of the beat. This should not discourage them. They should simply discharge their duty in the premises, which is to send promptly to the County Health Officer what return they have, and report every one not heard from as delinquent. I find from experience that midwives are very punctual to report when they learn that it is imperative. The best way to teach them this is to report them as delinquent when not heard from.
The chief difficulty to be encountered in Lamar is that there are several Beats in which no physician resides. Most of the obstetric practice in these Beats is done by midwives, who live remote from post offices, and can not be reached by mail when reported as delinquent. It will necessarily require more work and diligence than part of the Health Officers of these beats to collect full returns, than many of them, at present, are disposed to expend. With an active co-operation on the part of the Medical profession of the county, I see no reason why these obstacles should not be overcome.
There is one class of people that I fear is too much neglected in the collection of Vital statistics, and that is the colored race. I am forced to this conclusion by the very meager returns from this class. A very large percentage of this practice is done by colored midwives who, as a rule, are very prompt to make returns, when sufficient interest is taken in them to teach them that it is their duty.
The following is a brief synopsis of the business of this office for the year 1886.
Total number of Births 317
White 201
Black 47
Mulattos 9
Total Birth rate per 1000 26.1
Whites 26.1
Colored 26.7
Total number of Deaths 101
Whites 77
Blacks 21
Mulattos 3
Total Death Rate per 1000 8.3
White 7.7
Colored 11.63
All of which is respectfully submitted.
R. J. REDDEN, M. D.
County Health Officer

The Pittsburgh Post wisely remarks in regard to a uniform series of text books for public schools, which is being agitated in the Pennsylvania Legislature: "Of there should be uniformity in school books within certain limits - say in a ward, township or school district - but what is the need of uniformity covering a whole state. Better let the public determine what suits them or their children. It will be a case of the survival of the best." We think so.

Cotton! Cotton! Cotton! S. E. WEIR & Co. Kennedy, Alabama Pay highest prices for cotton, country produce, &c, and sell all goods at rock bottom prices
Fancy prints 4 ½ @ 7 Ladies Hats 25c to $3.00
Brown Domestic 7/8 5c Men's hats, 25c to $3.50
Brown Domestic 4-4, 6c Kip Boots, $1.75 to $3.50
Cotton Checks, 6 ½ @ 7 ½ Kip Brogans, $1.00 to $3.15
8 oz Osnaburg, 10c Best Brogans, $1.25
Dress goods, all styles and prices
Men's and boys clothing, latest styles and lowest prices. Muzzle and breech loading guns, $2.50 to $35. Stoves with full line of fixtures, $10.00 to $20.00. We keep constantly on hand a full stock of bridles, saddles, harness, &c. Also good and fresh line of groceries, such as salt, flour, meat, lard, sugar, coffee, and all shelf goods, that we will sell as low as any market. Bring us our cotton and produce and we will pay you the highest cash price for same and sell you any and all goods kept in a first-class store, as cheap as money will buy them in any market. You will find it to your interest to give us a call before purchasing elsewhere. Mr. GARLAND SMITH will be found always on hand to serve his friends and the public. S. E. WEIR & CO.

W. G. RICHARDS & Son - Dealers in general merchandise and country produce. Fernbank, Alabama. Not in favor of two weeks court, but selling goods low for cash. Headquarters for dry goods, notions, general merchandise, hats, caps, boots, shoes & clothing. Choice family groceries, including the best coffees, crockery, queensware, earthen and wooden ware, and a thousand and one "Nick Nack's" which can not be enumerated always in stock. A car load of flour just received, which will be sold at a small margin above cost. We mean business, and I will sell any and all of our goods at rock-bottom prices. Columbus prices paid for cotton, hides, chickens, eggs, and all country produce. Please ask for what you want, we like to show our goods.

Clothing and hats. When you want a first-class article in the clothing line or a first class shirt or hat, call upon the clothing and hat store where you can select from a very large, nice stock of all kinds of goods for men's wear. We deal especially in men's goods, fitting a man from head to foot. We carry suits from $6.00 to $30.00. We have attached to our store a Tailoring Department, with a large stock of piece goods and trimmings to make suits to order. Call and see us when in the city. BUTLER & TOPP, No. 55 Main, Columbus, Miss.

Fall and Winter Goods. F. OGDEN & Son. Cansler, Alabama. Dry goods, boots, and shoes. Dress goods, prints, notions, etc. Also keep constantly on hand, flour, meat, sugar, and coffee all of which will be sold as cheap as the cheapest. A fine line of snuff and tobacco and in fact everything usually kept in a first-class dry goods store. Give us a call and be convinced that we mean what we say. We wish to call especial attention to our wool carder which is now in first-class repair. We have with us Mr. W. T. TROTTER, an experienced hand in carding, and who will take pleasure in giving prompt attention to all wool brought to our carder. F. OGDEN & Son. Cansler, Ala.

Established 1867. Cash Store. A. A. SUMMERS, Special announcement for Fall and Winter. The best selected stock of general merchandise ever brought to Vernon. Now on exhibition fine clothing and dress goods at giving away prices, hosiery and furnishing goods at astonishingly low prices. A fine line of notions in abundance at a great discount. No lady can afford to buy elsewhere before seeing my goods and prices. Bargains in shoes, boots, and hats, never heard of before in Vernon. A full line of medicines, hardware, and goods of general utility. Call and see the attraction for yourself.

COLUMBUS MARBLE WORKS. Monuments and Headstones of every description furnished to order with the best of stock. I invite orders for anything in my line from all parts of the country. Don't be deceived before calling at my yard, for seeing is satisfaction. Everything warranted.
LIST OF PRICES OF PLAIN HEADSTONES
LENGTH WIDTH THICKNESS
3 ft. 0 in. x 1 ft 0 in x 2 in $12
3 ft 6 in. x 1 ft 2 in x 2 in $15
4 ft. 0 in. x 1 ft. 4 in x 2 in $20
5 ft 0 in. x 1 ft 6 in x 2 in $25
All work done on short notice. Material and work warranted the best. Correspondence solicited. W. H. NEWLON, Columbus, Miss.

OTTLEY & NEWBY Dealers in Crockery, Glassware, Lamps, Guns, Pistols, Powder, Shot, Steel, Iron, nails, Castings, Sash , doors, blinds, and a full line of stoves and tinware. Special attention paid to the repairing of tin work. No. 51 Market Street, Columbus, Miss.

W. B. SPANN of Lamar County with NATHAN & OPPENHEIMER Whole sale & Retail Dealers in Staple & Fancy Groceries, Tobacco, cigars, plantation supplies, etc. Wholesale dealers in liquors, wines, etc. Columbus, Miss. Note: I respectfully solicit my friends from all parts of the country to call in and see me when in the city. Will sell you goods at a very small margin above cost. I am ever thankful to my customers for the past favors. - W. B. SPANN

L. S. METCALF, with T. O. BURRIS, Columbus, Miss. Groceries, Dry goods & shoes, hats & caps & clothing. Note: I respectfully ask my friends of Lamar and Marion to give me a call when in the city. Will sell you goods at a very small margin above cost. L. S. METCALF.

J. A. JORDAN of Lamar County in now connected with TROST & SOLOMON Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Wines, Liquors, Cigars, & Tobacco. Columbus, Miss. Call and see him before purchasing elsewhere.

WALKER & DONOGHUE, Dealers in Staple and Fancy groceries and plantation supplies Columbus Miss. Keep constantly on had a full supply of all goods usually kept in a first-class grocery house. Give us a call when you are in the city. Mr. GEO. TAYLOR is connected with the above firm and will be pleased to see his friends and will sell them goods at rock bottom prices.

KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL
Located in the live and growing town of Kennedy on the Georgia Pacific Rail Road. The moral and religious influences surrounding this school are unsurpassed in any part of the state. Boarders can find pleasant homes in refined families at very reasonable rates. The first session will commence on Monday Nov. 1st, 1886 and continue for a term of ten scholastic months.
TUITION
PRIMARY: Embracing Orthography, Reading, Writing, Primary Geography, and Primary Arithmetic, per month, $1.50
INTERMEDIATE: Embracing English Grammar, Intermediate Geography, Physiology, History of U. S., Practical Arithmetical and Elementary Algebra, per month $2.00.
ADVANCED GRADE: Embracing Higher Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Rhetoric, Elocution, and Latin, per month, $2.50.
An incidental fee of 25 cents, per session. Special attention will be given to those who expect to engage in teaching and preparing boys and girls to enter college. Tuition due at expiation of each quarter. For further particulars address J. C. JOHNSON, Principal, Kennedy, Ala.

Ad for Dr. J. H. McLean's Volcanic Oil Liniment