Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, Aug. 9, 1923 -- ATTRACTING MUCH ATTENTION -- Dealer Chas, F. Franz on Sunday morning placed on display the new 1924 Dodge Bros. Motor Car. The car, while retaining the ear marks of its popular predecessors, is a marked departure from previous models and is creating much favorable comment.

The body lines have been changed so as to give the car a more rakish appearance and the rear springs are of the underslung type, which will improve the riding qualities. Great numbers of people have visited the garage to see the new car and all are enthusiastic about It.

WILL CLOSE FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO HONOR HARDING -- Mayor Paul D. Weiss, anent the death of President Harding, has issued the following self-explanatory proclamation:

PROCLAMATION

"By the Mayor of the City of

Staunton, Illinois:

"The Divine Creator, in His infinite wisdom, has called our President, Warren G. Harding, from us, causing our nation an inestimable loss.

"It is, therefore, appropriate that our citizens set aside a day of mourning, during the hours of the funeral, when all business houses should be closed from 12:00 o'clock noon until 6 p.m.

"Now, therefore, I, Paul D. Weiss, Mayor of the City of Staunton, Illinois, do declare that all parties lay aside their daily vocations and all business houses in the City of Staunton, Illinois, close at 12:00 o'clock noon on Friday, August 10th, A. D. 1923, on which day the body of our lamented President shall be laid to rest, and that our citizens shall set aside this day for mourning and prayer.

"In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Staunton, Illinois, to be affixed.

"Dated at the City of Staunton, Illinois, this 7th day of August, A.D. 1923."

Memorial Services at M. E. Church -- Rev. M. A. Souers, pastor of the First Methodist church of our city, on Sunday morning conducted a touching memorial service in honor of our deceased President.

The audience united in singing "The Star Spangled Banner," and in reading a Psalm proper for the occasion. The special music was rendered by a Quartette, "Abide with me," "The Land that is Fairer than Day," and President Harding's favorite hymn, "Lead Kindly Light."

The pastor, Rev. M. A. Souers, read his text from the 146th Psalm.

"Put not your trust in princes, nor in man in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God."

The pastor said in part as follows: "All that is mortal of him who a few days ago was the living head of the most powerful nation on the globe, now lies cold and still in death. The sounds and the emblems of mourning are encircling the earth.

"The President of the United States died in public life, with the world looking on from hour to hour, counting his pulse beats and his breathings, for in that brief tragedy of his sickness he bore himself manfully, and was so loved by all, that strong men stand with uncovered heads and with tear stained eyes, as his funeral train carries him back toward his beloved Ohio home."

BIG LABOR DAY CELEBRATION -- Local Unions No. 720 and 2656, located at Williamson and Livingston respectively, are preparing for a big joint Labor Day Celebration to be held at Williamson on Monday, Sept. 3. Large bills have been issued from which it will be noted that the festivities start with a big parade, following which there will be a program of addresses. The principal speaker will be Robert M. Buck, editor of "The New Majority." In the afternoon a program of athletic events and a base ball game will be the attraction, while in the evening a dance will take place at the W.A.C. Hall. Music for the occasion will be furnished by the Livingston Miner's Band. The committee in charge extends a cordial invitation to all to attend, assuring a jolly good time.

ROB SMITH GARAGE AT NEW DOUGLAS -- The garage owned and operated by A. E. Smith at New Douglas on Sunday night was robbed of tires and accessories to the value of from $400 to $500. The thieves effected an entrance by prying open a rear window.

ANOTHER LETTER FROM H.H. HOPPER -- Chas. P. Franz of our city during the past week received a letter from H. H. Hopper, written at Seattle, Wash., from which we print as follows:

"Received your letter, addressed to me at Missoula, here yesterday as I always leave a forwarding address when I leave a place. I will be here I think till about August 10 before starting for California. I've made better road time than I thought I would when I left so you see I am ahead of schedule. But say, boy, I am some mountain driver now. Can go where any of them go and they don't come too steep for the Dodge. Seattle is a city built on a cluster of hills about 200 or 300 feet high and most all the valleys are lakes, so it is up and down and across bridges all the time.

I take the family out every day on trips of from 40 to 100 miles, but am resting up and writing letters to-day. To-morrow we are going to Olympia via Tacoma, about a 140-mile trip, and next Friday will motor up to Vancouver, B.C., about a 180-mile trip. Will join the 10c Club and drink beer and eat pretzels. How would that suit you?

The Dodge traveling bed, as we call it, has gone 4057 miles and have had no trouble whatever, except two punctures. Had the carbon cleaned out at 3000 miles and will have it cleaned again before I leave California. By that time I will probably have from 6000 to 6500 miles up. I can climb most of these hills here in high and the car is the best puller I've ever had. The roads here are all good, being either of cement, gravel or tarvia. In fact, the roads on the whole trip have been better than I expected. Have paid all the way from 22.8c to 40c per gallon for gasoline and here at Seattle Red Crown sells it for 20c. Am told that it is cheaper in California. My expense on the car, including gas, oil, bridge tolls, ferry charges, storage, etc., has been $79.50, or just a bit more than 2c per mile.

I have gained about 4 or 5 lbs. in weight and sister says my appetite is 100 per cent. The weather here is fine. The nights are cool and I sleep under two blankets every night.

Will close for this time.

H. H. Hopper