WAY BACK WHEN

(The Spirit is pleased to share with our readers vignettes of life in the 19th century as originally reported in past issues of the newspapers. These reproduced stories include their original headlines.)

Sept. 20, 1894 A Level-Headed Stranger

While in Punxsutawney last Thursday we talked with a gentleman from a distance who was admiring the town, and before he concluded said he was of the opinion that Punxsutawney was a much better town than DuBois. We just thought how Smith’s heart would have throbbed could he have heard this remark by a disinterested party. But before the gentleman concluded he said, taking all the towns in this section that I have visited, give me Clearfield above them all. We do not like to let Beer Goodlander down too hard after this generous acknowledgement of the superior merits of Punxsutawney, but it is due to truth and Punxsutawney to add that we have learned since that the stranger in question has a girl in Clearfield, and it was of her he was thinking when he made the last remark.

Sept. 26, 1894 Advised to Leave Town

A man named James Hartless and his wife were arrested last Sunday by officer Palmer, and placed in the lock-up. They live on the South Side near the brewery, and on Sunday they had half a barrel of beer, which they are said to have feloniously took and carried away from the Central Hotel. Quite a crowd had gathered there to help dispose of the beer, and they were having a few moments of rough house, when the officer was sent for. They were fighting and using foul language, and making themselves generally obnoxious to everybody within hearing. They were kept in the lock-up until yesterday, when they were released on condition that they would leave town. Warrants have been sworn out for them, and if they do not take their departure forwith, they will be arrested and taken to Brookville.