Turner's Public Spirit, January 26, 1924
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted soccer team was defeated by the Fall River club at Pawtucket, R.I., last Saturday, 2 goals to 1, in the eastern semifinal for national cup honors. It was a great game and over 300 of the Abbot supporters went down by special train, including the Abbot Worsted Co. band of 30 pieces, under the direction of James P. Larkin. The Abbots are expected to play the Pacific Mills team of Lawrence in an American cup game at Forge Village this Saturday, providing the grounds are in shape. The same teams are also expected to play in Lawrence on Sunday in an Industrial League game. These contests will rest in a great measure to [sic] weather conditions.
The citizens’ caucus to be held in the town hall Westford on next Monday evening promises to be largely attended. Several candidates are listed for the different town offices and the caucus will surely be a very lively affair.
The members of the junior class of the Westford academy are planning to hold a dancing party in the town hall, Westford, early in February.
Center. Miss Lucinda Prescott spent the weekend in Reading.
The Legion and Auxiliary will hold their next meeting on Tuesday evening, January 29.
The honor roll of the William E. Frost school for the last report was as follows: Grades 7 and 8, Angie Parfitt, Viola Day, Elizabeth Carver, Ruth Nelson, Linwood Nesmith, Alexander Gorbunoff, Betty Prescott, Elmer Bridgeford, Grace Lundburg [sic, Lundberg], Gladys Whitney, Alva Peterson, Mildred Healey, Alan Bell, James Knight; grades 5 and 6, Merle Foster, Dorothy Heywood, Blanche Rockwell, Herbert Ingalls, Evangeline Dureault, Harold O’Connell, William Carver, Inez Blaney, Wallace Downing, Carl Foster, Susan Whitney, Harold Wright, Josephine Rafalko; grades 3 and 4, Ruth Mateer, Erliene Downing, Dorothy Healy, Cyril Blaney, William Wright, Helen Sedleski, Albert Sedleski, Florence Gates.
Elmer Bridgeford entertained about thirty of his friends and classmates of the William E. Frost school at his home on last Saturday evening. Music, games and dancing on the piazza by moonlight, with Victrola music, were enjoyed by the young folks. During the evening refreshments were served and all present had an enjoyable time. Among those present was Jardine Davis, of Tyngsboro, who spent the weekend as the guest of Master Bridgeford.
Clyde Prescott was installed as noble grand of Oberlin Lodge of Odd Fellows in Lowell last week. Mr. Prescott is a past master of Westford Grange and Middlesex-North Pomona Grange, and at present is one of the executive committee of the latter organization.
David L. Greig was removed to the Lowell General hospital on Monday, suffering from a broken arm, sustained when he fell from an apple tree which he was trimming. The injured member was broken above the elbow. At last reports he was doing nicely.
A still alarm called the members of the fire department to a chimney fire at the home of William Mills on Monday evening.
The fire department was called out on Monday afternoon for a grass fire near the Banister home.
Rev. and Mrs. Edward Disbrow attended the citizenship conference and dinner at the Boston City club on Monday and the mass meeting in Symphony hall in the evening. Mrs. Charles Wright also attended the mass meeting in the evening.
If interested in purchasing a parlor stove see advertisements.
Forty-one members attended the meeting of Westford Grange held in the town hall on last week Thursday evening. The lecturer’s hour was in charge of Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor; the subject, “Topics of the day.” Several of the members read interesting articles from magazines and selected clippings. The following musical program was given: Solo, Miss Elva Judd; duet, saxophone, Fred Meyer and piano, Edith Blaney; trio, Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, Miss Elva Judd and Miss Lillian Sutherland. One of the pleasing numbers given by the trio was “Down in Miami.” Miss Edith A. Wright acted as accompanist for the trio. The next meeting will be held on February 7, and will be a valentine party in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lydiard and Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Meyer.
Charles Robey returned home from the Lowell general hospital on Wednesday.
The citizens’ caucus will be held at the town hall on Monday evening, January 28.
About Town. West Chelmsford Grange held one of its enjoyable socials and entertainments at Abbot’s hall, Brookside, on last week Wednesday evening. The weather was uninviting, but everything else was dashing, brilliant and tempting with invitation.
In 1922 American tourists spent $356,000,000 in foreign lands. The average was $1254 each; many spent $5000 each, but students and teachers averaged about $500 each.
In 1922 fires killed forty persons each day during the year, destroyed $1000 worth of property every few minutes, one dwelling every few minutes, one farm building every seven minutes, fifteen hotels each day, five schoolhouses every day, five churches each day, four warehouses each day, one hospital each day. The property loss totaled $521,000,000. We hear much about the destruction of war, but here [are] a few sample copies of the destruction of peace.
From a Florida paper sent me by Emery J. Whitney I read that the citrus fruits in Florida are estimated at 20,000,000 boxes; that 5,000,000 boxes have already been shipped; that there are more left than all of last year’s crop; that when the acreage of trees recently set out come into bearing Florida will raise 40,000,000 boxes of citron fruit; that nut-bearing trees are being imported from China and are a success.
Nels A. Nelson died at his home in Brookside last week Wednesday at the age of 51 years and 8 months. He leaves his wife, Esther Nelson [nee Lundberg]; two sons, Paul and Philip; two daughters, Ruth and Phyra; a sister, Mrs. Lindgren, in Milford, and two sisters in Sweden. For more than thirty years he had lived in West Chelmsford and Westford, being a finished stone cutter. His last employment was with his brother-in-law, Axel G. Lundburg [sic, Lundberg], where he was employed in cutting marble tables for cemeteries. He was a most genial and affable man, on friendly terms with all of his associates and friends. The funeral was from his home at the corner of Chamberlin and Lowell roads, Brookside, last Saturday afternoon, Rev. William B. Fowler, of Boston, conducting the service. Mrs. Stacks, of Lowell, sang several appropriate selections. The bearers were August Nelson, John Lundburg [sic], August Eliason and Eliel Keakand. Burial was in the family lot in West Chelmsford cemetery.
Ice in Milton, N.H., is ten inches thick. Cutting commenced on Monday and is being carried direct to Boston, between time of filling the houses in Milton and elsewhere.
Mrs. William R. Taylor [nee Elizabeth Richardson Cushing] received word last Saturday of the death of her uncle, Warren Josiah Richardson, of Pasadena, Cal. Although born in Cambridgeport [in Cambridge, Mass.] Mr. Richardson lived in Waltham for many years and married Dr. Emily Metcalf of that city. About thirty years ago he retired from business and went to Pasadena to live. Mrs. Richardson died in 1912 and several years ago Mr. Richardson married Mrs. Carrie Slater, of Pasadena. Besides his widow he leaves a brother, Edward M. Richardson, of Whitman, and a sister, Mrs. Ella Richardson Cushing [mother of Mrs. W. R. Taylor], of Miami, Fla., and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Richardson was a 32° Mason and his generous friendly nature made friends for him wherever he was known, and brought him success in all business relations. “To know him was to love him” may be truly said of Warren J. Richardson.
A petition twenty-three miles long and containing 2,086,764 names is being wound on a mammoth reel in Chicago for dispatch to the German government. It asks for the release of Lieut. Carliss H. Griffs [sic, Corliss H. Griffis is correct], now held in a German prison, charged with attempting to kidnap Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, draft evader. It seems as though I have heard of this Bergdoll before. Is he not the same fellow that the government has been chasing all over the universe as far as the limits of our transportation would carry us ever since world war history commenced, and does not his conduct come close to entitling him to have this twenty-three miles of petition strung around his neck and then have enough of this mileage petition that does not circle his neck left loose to hitch to–? Oh, no, I did not say what to hitch it to. I know what was in your mind to hitch it to and I will leave it to you to fill out the sentence.
The next meeting of Middlesex-North Pomona Grange will be held on Friday, February 1, in Odd Fellows’ hall, Bridge street, Lowell. This is the program: Morning session, “The most important event in January,” Etta G. Spalding; book review, Jennie Bancroft; Grange catechism, in charge of Ida Whitely. Dinner served by West Chelmsford Grange. Afternoon, Theodore N. Waddell, director of accounts, state house, Boston, speaker; subject, “Municipal finance.”
Wetmore, Savage & Company entertained nearly 400 employees at their annual supper and dance at the Copley-Plaza, Boston, last Saturday. It was enlivened by lively stunts offered to the gathering by the general committee. The entire official personnel of the company and families, and they, with their employees, expressed regret when the party was brought to a close at midnight. V. C. Bruce Wetmore, of the firm, will be remembered in town as the owner of the large farm at the intersection of Concord and Hildreth roads—the handsome set of buildings burned down a few years ago [May 25, 1916].
As a bearing on the old fossil idea of line storms, listen to government weather bureau science: “There are no equanochial [sic, equinoctial] storms, either in September or March, when the sun crosses the equator. This is the season when West India hurricanes abound and when they sweep up the Atlantic seaboard about September 20 old-fashioned people call it the line storm. It has about as much to do with the depth of snow or degree of cold.” I was fed up on line storms when I was a boy and haven’t yet got the taste out of my mouth.
Florida has a law compelling the study of bird protection in the public schools and kindness to dumb animals as it reacts on the life of the child. And to show how humanely they are heading in Florida the editor of the Kissimmee Valley Gazette asks these pertinent questions: “Is your schoolyard a bird sanctuary? Have you selected a school bird to be painted? Have you selected a school flower and preserved it from being destroyed?” How much that sounds like Massachusetts! We give the veriest stingiest of nothing or the little edge of nothing in regard to birds, flowers and forests, and then we tell them to take hold of their dad’s hand and shoot down and out of existence the little that they did learn to preserve. It’s a disgrace to anything worth tagging as civilization. The very fact that we have laws that pretend to prevent the destruction of bird life is evidence enough that we are a cruel or barbarous lot. Neither do I care where the axe falls.
On Hart pond in South Chelmsford, twenty-five acres of which is in Westford, the ice was only three inches thick last Saturday, but perhaps the Capt. Cook north pole hurricane of Monday and Tuesday will brighten the prospects of filling the Gage Ice Company’s houses located at this pond.
Mr. and Mrs. John Feeney, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. William E. Wright, Mr. and Mrs. William E. Taylor, Arthur and Arthur Walker [sic] were among those in attendance at the recent firemen’s ball in Groton.
David L. Greig fell Monday while engaged in pruning some of his young trees and sustained a broken arm. He was removed in the ambulance to the Lowell General hospital.
The lowest frost degree thus far this season was on Monday night, when the mercury quoted 5 below zero, which was fifteen degrees warmer than I predicted, but I prophesied under the pressure of a cold hurricane wind that tossed me around and about hither and yon, like the Shenandoah—now you see me and now you don’t.
Last Spasm. The expression “Chickens come home to roost” sometimes come home to roost much sooner than you expect, and in an unexpected way, “Kent vs. Taylor.” When I quoted from the Congregationalist Rev. Charles E. Jefferson’s New Year’s message and greetings I had one roost in view when I quoted, and Mr. Kent had another roost of roosters in view when he replied. I was well aware when I quoted Mr. Jefferson what his views were on the league of nations. Like all overwhelming company of overwhelming ministers it can be said that they mean well; but it can be truthfully said of them as was said of Horace Greeley during the reconstruction days following the civil war, “All mercy and no justice.” Dr. Jefferson being a New York man when he referred to “We have village notions when we are called to play our part on a stage as wide as this planet.” This would fit exactly quite well with the fierce battle of opposition that the farmers are putting up against the adoption of the new school bill in New York state. There is where you get the old hayseed village nations lined up nearly unanimously against the new school bill which promises a modern system as against ye old hayseed one-hoss shay affair of a school. And as a further indication of village notions and also ingratitude, the state and county pays three-fourths of the added expense resulting from this new school bill, and still the opposition keeps tethered to “village notions.” I am reminded of the words of Christ here, “Ye will not come unto me that ye may have life.”
“Many of our leaders are bound hand and foot to ideas that belong in the scrap heap.” I interpreted this other than any reference to the league of nations and I am not going to speak it right out loud in meeting what I construed him to mean; not that I am afraid or ashamed of my colors, but there would be more fiction [sic] than conversions engendered and involved of a paper of this kind. I will simply say for a bill of particulars in regard to the “scrap heap,” call up Bishop Lawrence, Dr. Elwood Worcester and Dr. George A. Gordon of the Old South church, Boston, who recently expressed a thought in the Congregationalist that if it had been expressed in the days of religious persecutions he would either have recanted or gone to the stake.
Mr. Kent quotes Dr. Jefferson’s fifty nations keyed up to sing the praises of peace, and shame on you, America, that you are not in. But Dr. Jefferson does not name anything that they have done and where the shame comes in because America does not join this organized do-nothing bunch who are jealously watching for a chance at each other’s throat and are arming for the chance. Some of us are from Missouri and want to be told. The only advantages that some of us can see in America’s joining it would help complete the chorus of “Hail, hail, the gang’s all here.”
“Bad political leadership,” says Mr. Kent. This all depends upon who is sitting on the jury to decide what constitutes “bad political leadership.” The leadership that kept us out of the league of nations was non-partisan, although Henry Cabot Lodge got all of the damning as ring-leader, but countered by a sustaining vote of the people. Now, before we can decide what constitutes bad political leaders we have got to decide whether it is wise to enter the league or not to enter. Those who think it is wise to enter the league will regard all political leaders who oppose entering the league as “bad political leaders,” and the reverse view naturally follows. Now, how can we tell whether it is wise or unwise to enter? Well, all we can do is draw some deductions from what has been accomplished by the fifty-two nations who have already entered. So far they have not lessened the prospect that the world war would not be the last one with their 500,000 more men under arms than prior to the world war with France allied with an alliance inside the league of nations with Turkey and other European nations, and England bottled up, not daring to cross the channel; if she tries it she will be pounced on by those allies within the allies. So we have two groups of allies, senior and junior. Besides, each nation is an ally in itself and does just as it durn [sic] pleases to arm as never before—all in the name of peace.
But how far is the peace from the peace of Dr. Fosdick or Rev. John Haynes Halms, the photograph of which looks very much like laying down and letting foreign juggernauts run over you and jam and squash the life out of you, all in the name of peace and glory-hallelujah?
“Why we had a bad political leadership of personal and party hatred that stooped to use both partisan and alien hatred to gain its ends he can easily find out.” As to my easily finding out I deny that there is anything to find out in “bad political leadership” as regards the methods used to keep us out of the league of nations and I am not so far gone as to go looking for a needle in a haymow when there is no needle or any haymow. It is up to you to do the hunting and tell us what you find.
“Why we backed a good religious leadership is written in the secret archives of the church which he will hardly find accessible.” Do not want to find out; there is nothing to find out. I deny that we lacked good religious leadership and it is up to the plaintiff to name his goods.
President Wilson was and is a Presbyterian, followed by Harding, a Baptist, followed by Coolidge, a New England Congregationalist, but from what chat I had with him at the state house in 1913 he is open to take the ancient advice, “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.” [1 Thessalonians 5:21] Then there looms up Henry Cabot Lodge, who belongs to the Episcopal church. I cannot find anything in these gentlemen, and as sample copies of the rest, than can be construed as lacking a good religious leadership. It all sums up and sifts down to this: Joining the league of nations is an untried experiment and the wiser statesmen in America do not know or cannot prove what results would follow any more than the humblest citizen of Harvard or Westford for there is a guess tagged to the experiment and the nearest we can come to proven facts as to whether it is best for the United States to join the league or stay out.
Thus endeth except for occasional short sobs and a little infighting this needlessly long-worded chat talk on my part in trying to run America. I have enjoyed being splashed in currents far beyond my depth, being drawn in by the undertow current that swept in unexpectedly from Harvard while I was learning to swim near the shore with those of my class and weight rather than drown in the undertow current. I displayed more plunk [paper torn, 2 words missing] in facing so much excess imperfection poundage. Perhaps I would have appeared about as well if I had drowned in the undertow instead of exhibiting my Scotch “stand to your colors.” Well, I have had good exercise splashing around and dodging hither and yon and loading and emptying my head to prevent a K.O. haymaker. I regret that such good, clear, healthful current as Mr. Kent is setting in towards Lynchburg, Va. Remember me, Mr. Kent, to the featherweight class down there. We both of us owe a vote of thanks to Mr. Turner [George H. B. Turner, Publisher of Turner’s Public Spirit, the newspaper that contains The Westford Wardsman] for monopolizing so much space in his paper and I owe an apology to friends for exhibiting my ignorance.
Fatal Accident. William E. Green, for many years a resident of this town, was instantly killed Monday morning while working alone in a shed at the H. E. Fletcher stone quarry on Oak hill, when he became entangled in a belt and shafting. Because there were no other workmen in the shed at the time the exact cause of the accident is unknown, as the victim was unconscious when found immediately after the accident, and died within a few minutes. Mr. Green had been an employee of the H. E. Fletcher Company for eight years, and although working with other men in the quarry stepped into the shed as the other men worked outside. Soon after he entered the shed those outside heard a peculiar noise and upon investigation found the dying man on the floor. He was given first aid and treatment but died within a few minutes. It could not be understood and is still a mystery how he became entangled in the shafting, for it is twelve feet from the floor and suspended from the roof [of] the shed.
The deceased leaves three daughters, Mrs. Arthur O’Brien and Violet and Virginia Green, and two sons, Kenneth and Edwin Green, all of this town.
Mr. Green was a temperate and industrious man, a good citizen, devoted to home and family, and was in the prime of usefulness, being fifty-three years of age. Many of us recall the tragic death of his wife a few years ago in Concord, when the auto in which Mr. and Mrs. Green were riding, with part of the family, skidded on a muddy road and plunged over a steep embankment, pinning them all underneath the car, all escaping with the exception of Mrs. Green, who was instantly killed.
The funeral of Mr. Green was held on Wednesday afternoon from the undertaking rooms of David L. Greig, Rev. Mr. Disbrow conducting the services. Mrs. Blaney sang several selections. The bearers were Walter A. Whidden, David Billson, Frank Willey, [and] Ralph Haberman, all co-workers. The H. E. Fletcher & Company stone quarry shut down for the afternoon, and the help attended the funeral in a body. There was also a large attendance of neighbors and friends. Interment was in Fairview cemetery.
Bricklayer-Farmer Wages. As tending where are tending [sic] let me quote from the Old Farmers’ Almanac, in case you are so poor raising wheat and other products that you cannot afford to buy one and so are unable to get bearings of where you are headed: “Before the war bricklayers received about $5 per day for [their] labor. To get the same amount of money the farmer had to grow and market about five bushels of wheat. Today some bricklayers get as high as $15 a day and the farmer has to grow and market about fifteen bushels of what to secure the same income. Relatively to the wheat farmer the bricklayer is three times as well off, and the wheat farmer only one third as well off as he was ten years ago. A similar comparison could be made between other farm crops and other kinds of laborers. To a marked degree the farmer has lost and the laboring man gained during the last decade.”
To offer in rebuttal and as an offset against the Old Farmers’ Almanac figures, it must be said, first, that you can prove anything you want by paper figuring, and all hands can make out a case for sympathetic delusion. Like visiting the war-torn countries of Europe each person comes back with a story to fit what he is prejudiced to find before he starts—with a few exceptions. Mr. Almanac does not take into account that the $15-per-day bricklayer is idle some of the time in summer, and about all of the time in winter. Mr. Almanac does not consider in his figuring that besides Mr. Laborer’s lay-off by nature part of the year he is quite idle when there is a business depression, and that during all of these lay-off days he must pay his rent monthly and his feed bill, and that the high cost of municipal governments makes high taxes and that makes high rents, and that Mr. Laborer foots the bill.
Now while all this is buzzing around Mr. Laborer’s car and path, Mr. Farmer, while he feels some of the effects of these emergency seasons, does not feel the full force of the blow. His rent, all but taxes, can set until these calamities are past. He has raised most of his own food, unless as too often happens, he is so over-worked with shiftlessness that he does not know what to do with the time left over after doing nothing.
In summing up the testimony I find for the defendant as against Mr. Almanac’s bricklayer laborer without bricks. As soon as I get leisure I am going to produce almanac figures to prove that all the farmers are headed towards the millionaire reservations and in this list will be quite a sprinkling of farmers who claimed to be headed towards the poor farm more than forty years ago and have not got out of their dooryard yet.
Church Notes. First church (Unitarian)—Sunday service at 4 p.m. Music: “Our Father,” Mason, chorus choir; “The voice of Jesus,” chorus; “With Thee there is forgiveness,” Cowen, Miss Eleanor Colburn, soprano. Preacher, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minister. Subject, “The bread of heaven and the chalice of salvation.” Church school at 2:30 p.m.
Choir rehearsal Saturday evening.
The mid-winter conference of the North Middlesex Federation of Y.P.R.U. chapters will be held at Groton on Saturday, February 9. Those who expect to attend are requested to give their names to the secretary of the Westford Y.P.R.U.
Men’s Club Formed. Men of the First Parish church and their friends met Sunday afternoon at five in the vestry and formed the Westford chapter of the Unitarian Laymen’s League. Arthur Bartlett of Marblehead, New England secretary of the Unitarian Laymen’s League, was present and spoke on the aims of the league. He also assisted in the work of organizing the chapter.
The following officers were chosen: Arthur G. Hildreth, pres.; Alfred W. Hartford, vice pres.; J. Herbert Fletcher, sec.-treas.; Sherman H. Fletcher, F. Everett Miller and Gordon B. Seavey, executive committee.
According to the constitution adopted by the chapter the meetings will be held on the second Sunday of the months October to May, both inclusive, at six p.m. The annual meeting will be held in April.
Following the meeting refreshments of sandwiches, coffee and cigars were served by Gordon B. Seavey and Leon F. Hildreth with the compliments of the Westford Y.P.R.U. Of the seventeen who attended the meeting all joined as charter members. It is expected that, with the appointment of the membership committee, the membership of the chapter will rapidly increase. According to the constitution any man of good moral character over sixteen years of age is eligible for membership. Any men of the community whether members of the First Parish or any other church or of no church affiliation, are welcome.
News Item. W. Otis Day of Westford hit upon a scheme in the building of his last laying house that seems very desirable. Like all other poultrymen he has been troubled more or less in the past with having the litter scratched to the back of the house. This is true to a certain extent even though windows are put under the dropping boards. In Mr. Day’s last house which is built on a slope he has the back of the house several inches higher than the front. This method has worked fairly well with him in keeping a fair distribution of litter over the entire floor. In the 20 foot house the slant is approximately 6 to 8 inches.
New Advertisements
Sleigh for Sale – Upholstered; used very little; a good one. John R. Greene, Graniteville, Mass. Telephone 8003-4.
Harvard
About Town. In reading “America of Yesterday,” as reflected by the journal of John D. Long, and edited by L. H. Mayo, we wondered if our brilliant “pupil” of Westford was one of the students at the academy when Sec. Long taught there? For Harvard readers it has a personal touch, for in his diary of February 11, 1858, he writes of “attending the lyceum (which he instituted) and listening to a lecture by Mr. Willard,” and on February 15 that he spoke against Mr. Willard and “got it.” This must have been our townsman, Rev. John B. Willard, as he was ordained in the Unitarian church in Westford in 1848 and gave lectures in many towns about, after returning to Harvard. Another entry to the journal tells of attending a Shaker meeting nine miles from Westford which would indicate that the Harvard colony was meant. His description is most vivid of their religious rites and to him strange mannerisms.
Littleton
Deaths. Mrs. Mary McNiff McEnnis passed away Saturday, January 19, at midnight at her Foster street home after a trying illness. She had received the best care that affection and devotion of her own family could dictate and the skill of doctors and nurses could provide. Throughout her illness Mrs. McEnnis received every possible attention from neighbors and many other friends that she much appreciated and gratefully acknowledged.
A solemn requiem high mass was celebrated Tuesday morning in St. Anne’s church, three priests and their assistants officiating in the beautiful service, with Mrs. Moore of Ayer soloist and Mrs. Lowthrop [sic] of Ayer organist.
Interment was made in the family lot at Ayer, the nephews, A. H. and Charles McDonald, Henry and William McDonald, Ralph and George McNiff, acting as bearers.
Mrs. McEnnis was born in Littleton and spent her early years here. The first twenty-five years of her married life she lived in Waltham, where she made many friends. Then with her family she moved back to Littleton, which has been her home ever since.
Mrs. McEnnis took an active interest in church and community life, identifying herself with church organizations, American Legion Auxiliary, where her activities were most untiring and highly valued, the King’s Daughters and the Woman’s club. Although she gave of time and energy to these organizations so freely, it was never at the expense of her family and the home where her devotion and industry was everywhere evident.
The deceased is survived by her husband [Charles McEnnis] and two children, Mrs. Esther M. Connelly and Edward McEnnis, World war veteran, besides two brothers, Michael and Thomas McNiff of Littleton, two sisters, Mrs. Hugh McDonald of Littleton and Mrs. Angus McDonald of Westford, besides other relatives who mourn an unspeakable loss.
Members of the Legion and Auxiliary sat in a body at the large funeral which was attended by many relatives, neighbors and other friends who came to pay a farewell tribute to a beloved wife, mother and neighbor.
Ayer
News Items. Capt. Charles H. Crocker spoke on his experiences as a mariner at a meeting of the Westford Y.P.R.U. at the vestry of the First Parish church, Westford, last week Friday.
Herbert H. Proctor, Leon M. Huntress, Walter S. Hayden, Lucius C. Fairchild and Rev. Frank B. Crandall attended a meeting of men of the First church, Westford, Sunday evening at which a chapter of the Unitarian Laymen’s League was formed.
Real Estate Transfers. The following real estate transfers have been recorded from this vicinity recently.
Westford—Eva L. Nesmith Kemp to Harry L. Nesmith [Eva’s brother], land on Concord road; Metropolitan Ice Co. to Metropolitan Ice Co.
District Court. On Saturday morning the entire session was taken up with the cases of Helena A. Monnemy and Yvonne LaPlante, both of Forge Village. Mrs. Monnemy charged Miss LaPlante with assault and battery on her and also with disturbing the peace and Miss LaPlante had brought similar complaints against Mrs. Monnemy. A number of witnesses were present for both sides and the testimony showed that there had been an altercation between the two women, the first round occurring on the street and the second and final round coming later at their boarding house. After hearing the case the court found both women guilty on both charges and ordered their cases placed on file. Attorney John D. Carney appeared for Mrs. Monnemy and Attorney John M. Maloney appeared for Miss LaPlante.
notes
A citron is a specific citrus fruit looking like a large lemon with a rough rind. Probably “citric” was meant.
In January 1924 donations to raise $5,000 were being solicited from the public to enable Lt. Griffis to obtain a hearing for a pardon. See the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill., Jan. 26, 1924, p. 12. Grover Cleveland Bergdoll (1893-1966) was an American felon and draft dodger who fled to Germany to avoid serving in World War I. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Cleveland_Bergdoll.
The USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) was the U.S. Navy’s first rigid airship and the first airship to use helium instead of hydrogen. It first flew in September 1923. It had recently been in the news when Samuel L. Taylor referenced it: “Shenandoah’s upper tail fin covering ripped during a gale on 16 January 1924, and the sudden roll tore her away from the Lakehurst mast, ripping out her mooring winches, deflating the first helium cell and puncturing the second.” Tragically, Mr. Taylor description of the Shenandoah being tossed around in a hurricane wind was prophetic. “While passing through an area of thunderstorms and turbulence over Ohio early in the morning of 3 September, [1925,] during its 57th flight, the airship was caught in a violent updraft that carried it beyond the pressure limits of its gas bags. It was torn apart in the turbulence and crashed in three main pieces near Caldwell, Ohio. Fourteen crew members, including Commander Zachary Lansdowne, were killed. … There were twenty-nine survivors.” See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Shenandoah_(ZR-1).
Missouri is called the “Show Me” state. “The most widely known legend attributes the phrase to Missouri’s U.S. Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver, who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1897 to 1903. While a member of the U.S. House Committee on Naval Affairs, Vandiver attended an 1899 naval banquet in Philadelphia. In a speech there, he declared, ‘I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me.’” See https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/history/slogan.asp. Mr. Taylor has corrupted this expression from being “shown” to being “told”.
We would say “you can prove anything with statistics.”