Iowa
Old Press
Malvern Leader
Malvern, Mills co., Iowa
Thursday, August 23, 1896
THE LEADER’S NOTE-BOOK
-Nine pigs weighing from 45 pounds to 70 pounds each sold on our
streets last week for $10.
-The neck-yoke factory has put in a revolving polishing drum, a
machine they found it necessary to have to properly finish their
work.
-Watermelon parties are quite the proper form in some
communities. Each guest is provided with a bottle of pain killer.
Thus fortified they can indulge in this luscious summer “fruit”
with impunity.
Squire Purcell was a Malvern visitor Friday and found a little
time to call at this office. Mr. Purcell says that in 1860 it was
drier in Mills County than it is now. There was this difference,
however, the soil that spring was filled with moisture, but
practically no rain fell from late spring until the latter part
of September. The corn was a failure, but a late fall followed
the rains and pasture was excellent for two or three months. The
ground became so dry that in a number of places where water
usually stood in boggy places the soil, which partook of the
nature of peat, took fire and burned for weeks. Wherever these
fires occurred the soil sank several inches and the following
year willows sprang up and grew vigorously, where there had never
been willows before.
Tuesday evening while John Burks and Harry Thomas were returning
home from the Sunday-school picnic at Tabor in the former’s
single horse rig, they met with an accident which might have
proven much more serious than it did. They took the Hillsdale
road coming home and when coming down a very steep hill near Al.
Dilehay’s place, about three and one-half miles west of
Malvern, the horse suddenly began kicking and running in a most
vigorous style. Harry thought he had better move, as the horse’s
heels were flying promisciously around his side of the buggy, and
got out without a second invitation, receiving several very
painful bruises, especially on one knee which was injured quite
badly. John tried to hold the animal but she soon kicked herself
free from the buggy, dragging John out then lit out for home.
John also was bruised quite badly but both were able to walk
home. They think they were fortunate in getting out of it as well
as they did. The buggy was pretty badly used up and the horse,
which they found in town later in the evening, was also skinned
up some.
The culmination of a romance is expected to occur at Hillsdale
to-day (Wednesday). Some time ago, Mrs. Ludshaw, who has been
living at Mrs. Garman’s for a month or two, answered the
advertisement of a man who was in search of a wife.
Correspondence followed and on last Sunday they met by
appointment at Hillsdale and decided after a satisfactory
interview that each was the one the other had been looking for,
and then and there decided to be married and appointed to-day as
the time and Hillsdale as the place when and where the happy
event should be solemnized.
CHURCH CHIMES
The meeting at the Gault House Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock
under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A. will be a mixed meeting,
women as well as men being invited.
The Christian Endeavor Society will give a social on Dr. Brothers’s
lawn tomorrow (Friday) e
vening. Ice cream and cake and peaches and cake will be served. A
general invitation is extended to the public.
The union Sunday-school picnic at Tabor Tuesday was a very
pleasant event. The number in attendance was variously estimated
at from 200 to 300. The greater part went via the T. & N.,
yet quite a number drove over. Children under fourteen years of
age were passed free, others paying a round trip far of 35 cents.
The beautiful park at Tabor affords a most delightful place for
such occasions and it was a day thoroughly enjoyed by everyone,
especially the children. Games and a grand picnic dinner were the
chief attractions.
“Gossip was the theme for the sermon at the union service
Sunday evening and while unable to be present we learn that Rev.
D. C. Morris touched up this evil in good style. Every community
has its gossips who roll every scandal and every evil report as a
sweet morsal under their tongues and are never quite happy unless
engaged in this sort of business. Some seem to imagine that this
habit is confined to the gentler sex but it is not, by any means.
There are men who can give any woman odds and then beat her at
this game. And there are people who think the local paper should
fill its columns with this same sort of stuff and thus besmirch
every home and family.
[transcribed by L.D., December 2014]