away by 10:00 A. M. The firm issued rain-checks to all disappointed customers.

The editor complains about the large number of itinerants visiting the Schmitz home. He commented, "The next tramp that appears—if healthy and half my size--is going to get licked; and if we can't get the job done, we'll set the dog on him."

An oil sprinkler was purchased by the council and a resolution passed calling for oiling of the streets. There was dissension between the Town Fathers and Mayor McManus over this project. The mayor refused to approve the resolution.

As a compromise, the property owners were solicited for funds to finance the oiling. $712.50 was collected from 117 residents, and the improvement accomplished.

This council was probably considered to be big spenders; the treasurer's report shows a deficit of $230.50 in unpaid vouchers.

The graduates this year were: Rufus Cahill, Mabel Temple, Merle Oxley and Mildred Doane from Ossian high school. Irene Meyer and Raymond Sobolik finished at De Sales.

In the county declamatory competition held at the opera house, the local school retained possession of the silver cup by winning 1st place. Gerda Hanson was 1st in the dramatic class; Rufus Cahill 1st, and Roy Havirland 2nd, in ortorical; and Merle Oxley, 1st in humorous.

THE NAMING OF PORTER PARK

Editor Schimitz sparked a campaign to clean-up, furnish and maintain a park at the site of the public square established in the original plat of Ossian. He donated a park bench with the suggestion that all other former mayors should follow his lead. A coupon for suggesting a name for the park was printed in the Bee and all readers invited to participate in a contest. A five year subscription to the paper is offered as a prize for the winning name. M. J. Carter, M. J. Klein and Sam Nereson agreed to serve as a selection committee.

Mrs. Elizabeth Boyle submitted the name, "Ponder Park", and the judges declared her entry the winner. In reporting their decision, Mr. Carter wrote: "John Ossian Porter entered the land where the park is situated...Sept. 23, 1850. The first home, built of unhewed logs, and used as a hotel, was built by Porter. A portion of this building was used as a postoffice... The Walker stage line...made this hotel a regular stop. No man ever left (this inn) hungry whether, or not, he had the money to pay his bill. He was ever ready to draw his "shooter" to defend the poor, (in the early days) when ballot boxes were stuffed and county seats stolen, he saw that Military's vote was rightfully cast and correctly counted."

The formal opening of Porter Park took place on August 2, 1915. The Cornet Band gave a concert; attorney Carter, an address; and the Ossian orchestra furnished music for a dance, at the opera house, following the ceremonies. Nine park benches, a flag and flagpole, were donated by former mayors and businessmen. The Bee reported that the dedication was well attended with eighty one auto loads of people present.

Ossian's two saving banks now boast combined deposits of $949,000. This figure averages out to $1113 savings for each of the town's 850 frugal citizens.

A deaf-mute solicited the streets of the town for alms in his own behalf. He is reported to have aroused sympathy among some businessmen. In fact was doing quite well until he entered attorney Allen's office, and finding it unoccupied, helped himself to Ward's letter-head stationery. Using the lawyer's typewriter, he wrote an appealing plea for assistance. He pressed Allen's notary seal on this petition to give it a legitimate appearance.

Unfortunately for the panhandler, one of his first calls that afternoon was at the Allen residence with Ward, himself, answering the knock. Needless to relate, the attorney, upon reading the forged appeal, became quite irate. The illegitimate letter was confiscated and the author given a severe lecture, both verbal