Sunday, February 26, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY FEB 21,1919

February 21, 1919.

As the automobile became affordable and more available also came the demand for better roads. Better roads has always been a want even before the automobile as buggy's and wagons had a rough and hard time over the poor, unkept roads. Even today we complaint of the want for better roads. The following is an editorial on better roads published by the editors of the Headlight. This was rapidly becoming a major issue not only here but statewide.
What about good roads? What do you say Mr. Farmer, about better roads for your county? What do you think about this important matter now? What would you say if you had a hard highway, one that is passable any day in the year/
Such roads would be an index to the progressiveness of your community, of your county and section. Such roads would no doubt increase the value of all that land you and your neighbors own. Such roads would save you annually enough money to buy all the clothing your family would need.
The new year is here. Your roads and the roads of your neighbors and your neighboring counties are far beyond being anything like they should be and with no reference to anything regarding the present management whatever are still getting worse.
Those in charge are no doubt doing everything they can with the means and force at hand. No kick is coming on them. But did you know that good roads, the kind that stand the test of weather and travel, will do you no good, your property no good when the sod is laid over six feet of earth?
To get good roads money must be spent. That is the first item that enters into the question and about the only one in this day of modern road building machinery. The question then arises, how are we to get money to build highways?
What do you say, Mr. Property Owner? Let us hear from some one on this matter. The columns of this paper are thrown open to any citizen of the county for use in discussing good roads and how best to get hem this year or as soon as practicable.
All over Georgia, yes, even all over Johnson County, people are perfectly willing to go down in their pockets and pay for the good roads they need and want at this time. Talking with a lot of people recently on the matter we have ascertained this fact. They are not ignorant of the loss they are sustaining from bad roads all over the state and consequently feel just like they ought to remedy the conditions and have a system of durable highways.
It is certainly not any disgruntled element whatever behind this move for better roads. It is not for the sake of politics nor favor from any source. It is a move coming from the very best people of the state from the highest to the poorest, from all classes. From Rabun's distinguished Gap to the famous Marshes of Glynn people are aroused for better highways.
The Georgia Legislature at its coming season can assuredly do no better thing for their constituents and posterity than to enact legislation which will bring highways of permanency and durability, if it takes this to get them. Georgians are indebted to their splendid leader, Governor Hugh Dorsey, for his concern and interest in good roads and it is hoped the move will see something tangible done at the coming session.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY Feb. 14, 1919

February 14, 1919.

The following is two poems from 1919. The first was written by Private Arlie C. Price, Company B 407 Engineers, somewhere in France. The second poem was submitted to the paper signed Anonymus. The author makes a humorous side of the dreaded flu epidemic.


IN MEMORY OF MY DARLING SISTER

We have lost our darling sister,
She has bid us all adieu,
She has gone to live in Heaven,
And her person is lost to view.

Oh, sister, how we loved you,
Oh, how hard to give you up,
Tears from our eyes were falling,
But we had to drink the cup.

Deep sorrow shades our brow,
Since cold in death she is sleeping;
We have no baby sister now,
But there's no use of weeping.

Precious sister, she has left us,
Left us forever more,
But we hope to meet her,
On that bright and happy shore.

Lonely the house and sad the hour,
Since our sister has gone,
But we know she is resting safely
In our blessed Savior's arms.

So let us live while on this earth
That whenever we too are gone,
We shall meet our darling sister
Around Gods great white throne.



THE FLU

When your back is broke and your eyes are blurred,
And your skin bones knock and your tongue is furred,
And your tonsils squeak and your hair gets dry,
And your doggone sure you're going to die,
But you're skeered you won't and afraid you will---
Just drag to bed and have your chill,
And pray to the Lord to see you through,
For you've got the flu, boy,
You've got the flu.

When your toes curl up and your belt goes flat,
And you're twice as mean as a Thomas cat,
And life is one long and dismal curse,
And your food all tastes like a hard boiled hearse,
When your lattice aches and your heads' a-buzz,
And nothing is as it ever was,
Here are my sad regrets to you---
You've got the flu, boy,
You've got the flu.

What is it like, this Spanish flu?
Ask me brother, for, I've been through,
It is misery out of sheer despair,
It pulls your teeth and curls your hair
It thins your blood and brays your bones,
And fills your craw with moans and groans,
And sometimes may be, you get well,
Some call it flu, --- I call it Hell!

Sunday, February 12, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY Feb. 7, 1919

February 7, 1919.

It has come to light that the whole excitement and trouble in and around Wrightsville, Scott, Adrian, Lovett, Spann and the whole entire southern portion of Johnson County came about by the roaming over the county a large St. Bernard dog which went astray from a home near Adrian about 4 weeks ago.
Mr. T. M. Hicks was in the city Sunday telling about the big dog's wanderings. He had him with him up to a few months ago, shearing his long shaggy hair off, except leaving a very bushy tail and long mane around his neck, and he says the animal resembled a lion so much you could hardly distinguish them apart. The dog is larger than any ordinary large dog, is fierce and strong and is a fighter, whipping any and everything in the way of dogs he comes in contact with. He has been known to whip 2 or 3 at the time.
This large terror was left with a Dublin man ho let a man down near Adrian have him to keep for a while. The dog disappeared from the Adrian man's home and terrorized the countryside. Children were afraid to go to school, parents sat up at night watching for the supposed lin, organized posses hunted it, and uneasiness pervaded the community. If Mr. Hicks has the right dope on it, and it cannot be doubted, there is no further use to be uneasy or afraid.
The preliminary trial set for last Friday afternoon in the case of Red Wright and Bubber Braddy,in jal then charged with the murder of one Jim Wright, colored, just after Christmas, up near Mr. G. A. Tarbutton's place, resulted in the defense waiving the preliminary trial of Red Wright and committing him back to jail and the discharging of Bubber Braddy upon the motion of the prosecution. Red Wright now awaits trial at the next term of superior court on the charge.
Those just discharged from the service are Turner Clark, George W. Gordy, Jim Gatlin, and James M. Luck. Pastor J. C. Midyett says his family came from patriotic stock. He has just received a letter from his brother in Missouri who stated that eight of his nephews were in the army. One is a captain, four went overseas and one lost a leg and an arm 45 minutes before the cessation of hostilities.
Mr. Seaborn Harrison died at his home in Harrison. He was a brother to Mr. W. H. Harrison of Donovan. He was buried at Pleasant Plains. Mr. William L. Hutcheson of Meeks died of disease in France. He was a son of Mr. & Mrs. Henry A. Hutcheson.
There has been a cleaning up going on back of the Wrightsville Furniture Company which greatly helps the looks of that area of town. Farmer's haven't been able to do very much in their crops for this year, barely making a start in January. But little land has been broken and should there be a great deal of rain in this month planting will be delayed.
Mr. J. E. Linder is now able to sit up and improving nicely from his being run over. Mr. R. H. Smith has bought the home on Marcus Street formally occupied by Mr. & Mrs. T. F. Elton, from Mr. E. E. Sanders. Mr. Walter Ivey has bought a new Ford. Mr. & Mrs. Jordan Pollett announce the birth of ason.
A big auction sale of breeded cows and hogs at Idylwild Farm on Saturday February 15th. Will have 22 head of fine Jersey cattle, most of which are milk cows. Ten head have young calves and are good milkers. Also a number of breeded Duroc hogs. Sale is by Mrs. William Faircloth.

Friday, February 3, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY January 31, 1919

January 31, 1919.

Tom Haines, a constant defendant in court, runs amuck at home Saturday night. He got mad with his wife, Anna, and took the occasion to see how fast and good his shinning pocket machine would shoot at his wife. But it only took one shot to do the work. This shot hit her in the groin and downed her. Chief Glover arrested Tom and placed him in the calaboose from which he soon made his escape by breaking out. Chief Tapley soon apprehended him again and placed him behind the bars of the county jail, where he remained until Mayor's Court Monday morning.
Mayor W. M. Shurling heard the evidence against Tom and fined him in four cases, made the last being a 30 days sentence without an alternative of a fine. This was suspended upon good behavior, the Mayor telling Tom the next time he came up before him this would be the fist thing he would face. Anna is not seriously hurt, it is said. She was told by Tom not to go away from home, but refusing to listen, it is claimed, she started off and Tom used his pop gun on her.
Dr. Benjamin Sheftall, a graduate veterinary surgeon has decided to make Johnson County his home and make his occupation here. He has 25 years of experience as a stock doctor and 10 years in treating hog cholera. His office is in the Linder Horse & Mule Company. He will examin your stock for free.
Georgia is leading the entire South in funds raised for the United War work. Georgia has collected 47 percent of its funds. To solve the problem of unemployed discharged soldiers, the War Department has ordered that no man be discharged from the army against his desire until such time as he can obtain employment in civil life. Metford Broxton is listed as missing in action. His residence is R.F.D 5 in Wrightsville.
All arrangements have been completed between Laurens County and the State Highway Commission relative to building a new bridge over the Oconee River at Dublin. The county has me all requirements demanded in order to get a Federal appropriation, and the commissin has granted a sum of $75,000 to the project, to which is to be added a like sum by the county making a total of $150,000 to be expended on a combination steel and concrete drawbridge over the river to replace the old bridge that has been doing service for a quarter of a century but badly outdated. Garrett & Slack engineers have charge of the work.
The Georgia Vital Statistics law went into effect the first day of this month. The registrar is the Notary Public or Justice of the Peace of each militia district. Papers must be entered by the physician, midwife and undertaker must register births within 10 days. Death certificates are to be given the undertaker or those who sell coffins, and must be done to receive a permit before the body can be buried.
A fellow can get into bad with the law now about the motor number of an automobile. If it happens to be the wrong number on what is registered to be the right auto or vice versa the fellow so caught is liable to a felony sentence, the law says, from one to twenty years.
Most people have finished ginning cotton but there is yet a lot of it unsold in the yards and barns at the homes. Cotton has been rising and falling so recently until you can't tell where she is going to stop. Those holding it have been put to a lot of calls and the thing is getting to look rather shaky to a whole lot of folks. And the price being mostly down it seems to be the intention of a great many to ride it on awhile longer.
Mr. & Mrs. M. S. Duggan are the proud parents of a young son born to them Thursday, January 23rd.The fellow who sits on the amen seat at church and goes back to his business Monday morning "a cussin" ought to be extradited, so says the newspaper.