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r 1 THE CITIZEN. rUBUSIIED EVERY WEDNESDAY AHD FRIDAY BT THE CITIZEN rUMJBHINQ COMPANY. Entered as second-class matter, at thepost olllcc, Honcsdale, Pa. SUBSCIUPTION: 11.50 a year, in advance K. B. IIAIinKKBEKOH. - - PRESIDENT W. W. WOOD. - - MANAGER AND SECY directors : o. ii, dorflinoer. m. b. allen, henry wilson. e. b. iiardenbergii. W. W. WOOD. "The Marks of n Gentleman." The discourse of Rev. Dr. Swift, Sun day evening, on this topic, has drawn attention to the conundrum. "What is a Gentleman7 " whicli has so long agitated those who nre given to con structing definitions out of abstractions; and some points in relation to it may be found of interest. In France and England, the word had for centuries a fixed meaning. It was applied to a well-defined class, and in its use the line between the "well-born" and the "base-born," terms denoting merely condition in life, and not per sonal qualities, was carefully drawn. In England, after the Norman conquest, the original French gentilhomme was in time Anglicised into "gentleman," but with no change in its meaning, or its application only to persons of superior birth. So long as French continued to be the language of the upper classes, a knowledge of this tongue was deemed a necessary qualification ; and hence arose a sarcastic saying "Jack would be a gentleman , but he can speak no French." The title had its place in law, ae in legal proceedings each party was desig nated with the addition of his estate or degree. An amusing instance of this, nnder the old rules of pleading, is thus reported in one of the law books : '1 he plaintitt declared with the addition of gentleman ; the defendant pleaded in abatement that the plaintiff was no gentleman ; to this the plaintiff demurred, and this was held ill ; for, said the court, rince it admits the truth of the allega tion, it amounts to a confession that the plaintiff is no gentleman. He should have replied that he is a gentleman. The degree ot gentleman, however, was not a high one. In the tables of precedence, given by Blackstone, sixty six degrees are enumerated. That of gentleman is the sixty-second, and it is preceded by tho.-e of esquire, doctor, and serjeant-at-law, and followed only by those of yeoman, tradesman, artificer, and laborer. Sir Thomas Smith, in his "Commonwealth of England," written in the 10th century, says that "Gentle men be those whom their blood and race doth make noble and known," though no connection with a titled fami ly seemed to be thought necessary. His opinion of the degree, however, does not appear to have been very high, for he further says : "Ordinarily the king doth only make knights and create barons, or higher de gree : as for gentlemen, they be made good cheap in this kingdom ; for whoso ever studietlithc laws oftlm realm, who studith in the universities, who pro fesseth the liberal sciences, and (to be short) who can live idly, and without manual labor, and will' bear the port, charge and countenance of a gentleman, he shall be called master, for that is the title which men give to esquires and other gentlemen, and shall be taken for a gentleman." Besides those of strictly this degree, all others of higher degree were also gentlemen ; it being held that the greater included the less. In brief, a gentleman was one belong ing 'to a well defined social class, and not one possessing certain personal qual ities and habits. So little place had character in the prevailing standard, that George IV, when Prince of Wales, though his morals and habits were de testable, was accounted "The First Gen tleman of Europe." The well known dictum of Lord Kenyon, Chief Justice of the King's Bench in the latter part of the 18th century, that "A gentleman, sir, is a man whoso father was a gentle man," only embodied a generally recog nized fact. Under the criminal law, a gentleman had certain privileges. In France, cap ital punishment could be inflicted on a gentleman only by beheading with the sword, while those of lower .degree were hanged. In England the headsman's ax was substituted for the sword, as the privilege of the nobility, though ex amples were rare except in cases of at tainder. In England, also, a gentle man could not be whipped at the cart's tail, a penalty frequently inflicted on the baser herd. Illustrations of the established view . on this subject are frequent in French and English-literature. In one of the elder Dumas's novels of i the Hegency, a gentleman is described ; as standing in a public place in Paris, j closely observing those who passed, nnd , thus, in substance, accosting .one of. them : "Pardon me, sir, but permit me ( to ask if you are a gentleman." "I am, sir," was the reply. The first speaker then explained that he was a stranger in the city, and having received a chal-! lenge was looking for a second. Dueling was a practice confined to gentlemen, and only a gentleman could act as a gentleman's second. Hence the inquiry implied nothing offensive, as such a question would in this country, at the present day, but was entirely proper and respectful. Capt. .Marryat, in one of his novels of British naval service, condemns the use of profane and abusive language by com missioned and warrant officers to their subordinates, who cannot reply in kind. On this point he refers specially to the use of ench language by a master to ft j midshipman j wherein the chief grievance j appears to be that while the master (a petty officer) was superior in rank to the midshipman, who was usually a boy in his teens, "the midshipman is a gentle man by birth, and the master, generally speaking, is not." The English colonists in this country brought with them the English view of the gentleman, though practically it. be came much relaxed. Several years ago, a descendant of Franklin applied for admission to the Society of Colonial Dames. One of the requisites for mem bership was that the applicant must be descended from a person who had lived in one of the States when it was a Brit ish colony, and who was cither a gentle man, or had rcQdered meritorious ser vices to the public. The Society held that Franklin was not a gentleman, but had performed services that rendered his descendants eligible. The denial that he was a gentleman was probably because his father followed the occupa tion described by the school-boy as that of a "tallow chandelier" andhe himself had been for many years a printer ; both being below the degree of gentleman. The Americans have retained the name of "gentleman'Vbuthavediscarded its original significance, without having as yet evolved a definite and uniform standard by which it is defined. Wfiile certain general characteristics are held indispensable, its meaning and applica tion on other points depend largely on the individual view of those who use it, and on the varied standards accepted in different sections. of the country. Some definitions are so finical as' to exclude intelligent, cultured, upright and honor able men who may be lacking in some minor elements. During the civil war, it was declared by a high fashionable authority in New York that Lincoln "could not be considered a gentleman;" Gen. Grant, during his Presidency, fell under the like condemnation ; and many others could be named, whom the coun try has honored, who would have no better standing. The fact is, the word "gentleman," used as implying all desirable qualities and habits, and excluding everything short of this,' is something in the nature of a trade name, and can have but a limited application in the present stage of human development and culture. It is really misleading and unsatisfactory, but thus far no satisfactory substitute has been suggested. The Two-Cent Fake for railroads is here to stay. Some railway officials are frank enough to acknowledge that in public statements. The supremo court of Virginia has upheld the order fixing two cents a mile in that state. It is in force in a number of states now without serious protest from the railroads, and the territory in which it is operative is more likely to expand than contract. Because of the foot and mouth dis ease the federal government has prohib ited the shipment of hay from certain states. The result is a hay famine in Pittsburg and some other centers where the supply has been coming from Mich igan and other places under the ban. The railroads are refusing to accept packages containing hay and straw, such as bananas .in barrels or glassware and crockery packed with such material. Hay in the Pittsburg market has gone up to $18 a ton. THE POPULAR VOTE. With the final popular vote before the country, it is disclosed there was no such apathy among voters as was asserted by the newspapers and political leaders for a couple of months before November 3d. There were cast in the election of 1908 a total of 14,852,239 votes, where the total of 1994 was 13,510,708. The vote of 1900 was about 13,900,000, the vote of 1890 about 14,024,000, the vote of 1892 about 12,000,000, the vote of 1888 about 11, 400,000, the vote of 1884 about 10,000,000. In one of the so-called dullest campaigns of the generation the voters were more fully recorded than ever before. Mr. Bryan polled 1,315,211 more votes than aid Mr. Parker in 1904, and Mr. Taft 14,190 more than Mr. Roosevelt in 1904. In other words, Mr. Bryan's in crease over the total Democratic vote of four years ago is nearly equal to the total increase in the whole nnmber of votes cast over that of 1904. Mr. Taft polls the record vote of any presidential candidate. His total of 7, V17,(S7G votes exceeds bv 14,000 Mr. Roosevelt's lead of 1904? Mr. Brvan, with 0,393,182 votes, is 1,244,494 behind ' Mr. Taft. i There were five small parties in the j field, and they polled 821,381 as against j about 8110,000 four years ago. The small I increase conies through the presence of the new Independence party, which cast 83,180 votes. The Prohibitionists fell from 258,53(1 to 241,252, the Populists from 117,183 to 33,871, the Socialist- Labor party from 31,249 to 15,421. In stead of the round million which they anticipated, the Socialists polled 447,051, . as against 402,238, a gain of about 45,000. The maximum sentence of two years ' in the penitentiary, $.'00 fine and the ' costs, whicli latter will mount into hun dreds of dollars, was on Friday last, lin ! posed upon John H. Sanderson, con tractor for furnishing the State Capitol ; former Auditor General William P. Snyder, former State Treasurer W. L. Mathues, and former Superintendent James M, Shumaker, by President Judge George Kunkel, of the Dauphin county courts, before whom they had been con victed of conspiracy to defraud the State. This was the close of the caso involving an alleged fraud of $19,000 in a bill for furniture. Immediately after sentence had been imposed the four convicted men were placed in charge of the Sheriff to await the result of an application for a supersedeas before the Superior Court in Philadelphia. Attorney William I. Schaeffer, in that city, was notified by telephone of the sentence imposed and at once proceeded to take the nec essary steps to institute an appeal to the Superior court. As the four men stood up for sentence, Sanderson was notice ably pale and nervous and Shumaker also showed signs of nervousness. Sny der and Mathues, however, were prac tically calm. As was anticipated, with in six hours after the application for a supersedeas was made, it was granted, and upon bondsmen qualifying in open court to possesssion of more than $100, 000 the defendants were released from custody in accordance with the order of the higher court. With this sentence hanging over them they must prosecute their appeal with effect or surrender themselves to the officers of justice. OBITUARY. Alexander C. Wjells died in Liberty, N. Y., on Sunday, Dec. 6, 1908, aged 77 years and 8 months. He was a mill wright and carpenter by trade, and erect ed many mills in this county and Pike. For many years he was a resident of Monticello. Mrs. Charles Seegner, of 179 Willow Avenue, a blind lady, died at her home on Saturday evening, Dec. 19th, after a long illness, aged 82 years. She is sur vived by three sons, Charles, of Hones dale ; Henry, of Chicago, and John, of Brooklyn ; and three daughters, Miss Anna, at home; Mrs. Rheinhart Schwem ly, of Honesdale, and Mrs. John Smith, of Brooklvn. Mrs. Sara E. Arundell, daughter of the late William Gale, and wife of J. Frederick Arundell, died at the Hotel Margaret, Brooklyn, N. Y., on Friday, December 11, 1908. Besides her hus band, Mrs. Arundell is survived by one sister, Mrs. William F. Osborn, and two brothers, George E. Gale, of Brooklyn, and Loring R. Gale of New York city. The funeral services were held at Grace Presbyterian church, Stuyvesant and Jefferson avenues, on Monday, Dec. 14th. John Kirby, son of Richard Kirby, of Cherry Ridge, for some time past a Del. & Hud. employee, running on a coal train between Carbondale and Oneonta, but well-known to many of our townspeople as a salesman in the Hartung meat market, 7th street, was killed at Oneonta on Saturday morning last, at one o'clock. He was run down by a train while switching, and lived only a few hours after the accident. The re mains were brought here on Sunday, and taken to Cherry Ridge for interment. Deceased was 33 years of age and leaves a wife. Thomas Donlin died suddenly at his home in Hawley, at two o'clock Tuesday morning, Dec. 15, 190S. The day before he worked as usual, and retired feeling well, but during the night he was stricken with apoplexy. Deceased was born at Kimjbles, Aug. 17, 1852, and settled in Hawley about two years ago, where he secured a position with the Atkinson Box and Lumber Co., in whose factory he has since been employed. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Gerrity, of Kimbles, two years ago, and is survived by his wife and stepmother, Mrs. Mary Donlin, and the following brothers and sisters: William Donlin, of Port Jervis; Frank, of Bellview, N. J.; Mrs. Mary Sheridan, of Brooklyn, N. Y.; Mrs. Ellen Verden, of Essex, N. J.,and Mrs. Eliza beth O'Neill, of Philadelphia. Mathew O'Brien, who had been suf fering from an affection of the lungs for a long time, was seized with an exhaust ing hemorrhage on Friday last, and died on Saturday morning at his residence on North Main street. He was 39 years and 10 months old, and leaves a wife and two daughters, Margaret and Lillian. Mr. O'Brien came to Honcsdale as coach man for John D. Weston, and discharged the duties of that position, both in ap pearance and manner, with traditional fidelity. In his lingering illness every kindness was shown him by his employer and family, and he had the warm sym pathy of all who knew him a sympathy which is now extended to his bereaved family. The funeral services were held at St. John' Roman Catholic church, on Monday morning last, where a high mass of requiem was sung, after which inter ment was made in St. John's cemetery, East Honcsdale. Mrs, - Mary .1. Pen warden, wife of Frederick Pen warden, of Carbondale, died of pneumonia at her home in that city, on Thursday last, December 17, liKKS. Mrs. Pcnwarden, whoso maiden name was Mary Mill, was born in Devon shire, England, forty-one years ago, but had long been n resident of this county. She was a woman of many excellent qualities and her kind and genial dis position won for her the High respect and esteem of a wide circle of Irityids who extend to the bereaved family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy. She was a member of tho LadicB Auxiliary of the Urotherhood of Railway Train- men, and was prominently identified with all its activities. Besides her hus band she is survived by two daughters, Florence and Hazel ; one son, Rexford ; three brothers, John and George, of Devonshire, England, and David, of Prompton, this county ; also one sister in England. The funeral sen-ices were held on Sunday last, the remains being brought to Keenc for interment. Jacob Persbacker, an old and promi nent resident of Callicoon Depot, SulK van Co., N. Y., died at his home at that place on Wednesday last, as the result of a paralytic stroke. He was aged about 78 years. Mr. Persbacker was employed on the Delaware Division of the Erie Railroad, until a few years ago, as sec tion mason foreman, and had charge of the building of bridge abutments and all heavy rock work on that division, and served in this capacity for a period of thirty-five years. Mr. Persbacker and John Voight, of Shohola, helped dig the trench in which were deposited tho re mains of the victims of a terrible rail road dieaster on the Eric, at King and Fuller's Cut, on Friday, July 15, 1864, which was caused by the carelessness of a drunken operator at Lackawaxen, four miles west of the disaster. The acoident was the colliding of a coal train with the passenger train which contained 833 Con federate prisoners, and 150 Union guards. There were 51 Confederates and 19 Union soldiers killed, and the wounded num bered 123, some of whom died later. The trench dug for the remains was sev enty feet long, eight feet wide and six feet deep. It was the common grave of both the blue and the gray. We are a few steDs farther up town, but the difference in the price of our goods and those of our competitors makes it worth your while. O. G. Weaver, Jeweler. VTOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION, Xl ESTATE OK JOHN T. BALL, late of Honcsdale. Pa. All persons indebted to said estate are notl ne d to make immediate payment to the un dersigned ; and those having claims acainst the said estate are notified to present them duly attested, for settlement. 37 JOSEPH A. HODIE. Exe cutor LYRIC THEATRE ! BENJ. H. DITTEICn, - - LESSEE AND MANAGER Christmas DEC. 25 FRIDAY B MATINEE AND NIGHT- The Dashlns Little Comedienne Sadie Calhoun And her Superb Companv. in the Success" ful Comedy Drama, "MY DIXIE GIRL" I I a fan A Delightful Story of Dixieland. e- During the notion of the play SPEC IALTIES will be introduced by Miss Calhoun nnd other members of the com-. puny. DDIPCO nAIN FLOOR. 35 and 50c "nlUtO BALCONY. 25 and 35 cents i- SEAT SALE at the box office, at 9 p. m., Thursday, uec. zttu. 5 1 Embroidery Scissors, plain and fancy handles, 25c to 85c Manicure Scissors, 75 to 85c Button-hole Scis., 65 to 75c Pocket Scissors, 25 to 65c Right and left hand Shears 25 to 90c. Pocket Knives, a large as sortment to select from, 10c to $4.00. Carving Sets, with genuine -stag handles, every set guaranteed, $1.50 to $8. Manicure Files, 10 and 20c. Bath Thermometers 50c. Thermometers, 25c to $2. Buggy Heaters, $1.25 to $2.25. Perfection Self-basting Roasters, both plain and enameled, 90c to $1.75. CHRISTMAS GIFTS O. M. Spettigue, Main Street, HONESDALE, PA. EscsptagCeal Gas. The danger from escaping coal gas which was mentioned in our last issue, has a nearby illustration in the case of Nelson C. Roberts and his wife, of Montrose. A few nights since the chimney of their residence "burned out" and salt was thrown on the fire to extinguish the blaze. It is supposed that during the night the gas accumu lated as a result, and Mr. and Mrs. Rob erts were both nearly suffocated while they slept. Mr. Roberts had been an invalid for the past nine years and de spite the efforts of physicians, did not regain consciousness. While Mrs. Rob erts' condition was serious, with some effort she was revived and has entirely recovered. An CHRISTMAS Attractive OFFERING ! Ladies' Suit and Coat Department Contrary to former usages, we are going to give buyers the benefit of reduced prices BEFORE Christmas instead of waiting until AFTER New Year. Holiday Gift of Furs Always a handsome and useful present. Handkerchiefs For Christmas Gifts. Ladies' Neckwear and Scarfs The greatest favorite with everybody. Christmas Umbrellas Exclusive creations, expressly made for Christmas gifts. Gloves We have them in great .assortment for Ladies and Gents, at attractive prices. They make handsome and useful gifts. Give the Housekeeper Household Linens. Satin Damask Dinner Cloth Nankins to match at low prices. Handsome Centre Pieces in many different styles. Linen Scarfs in all sizes, to fit any bureau or stand. Large assortment of Linen towels hem-6titched or fringed. Doylies large variety of prettv designs. Leather Goods For Christmas gifts. Dress-suit Cases, made of solid sole leather, at pop ular prices. Bags, complete variety of all new styles. Rugs Always a welcome and useful gift. Gents' Furnishings Shirts to lit all sizes. Neckwear in of men's' half hose in town. Sweaters me wooi sweaters maae uy tne American Knitting (Jo., Honesdale, in all sizes and grades, to fit men, women and children. Muslin Underwear Handsome Gowns, Fine Skirts, will always be appreciated as holiday gift. Christmas Gifts in Japanese Wear. Rcarskin Coats and Caps to match. Infants' Short Dresses. Infants' Sacques. Infants' Drawn Leggins. Infants' Carriage Robes. KATZ BRO'S. SUITABLE For both YOUNG and OLD Razors every Razor car ries a full guarantee, SI to $4. Safety Razors : The Gillette, 85. The Ever Ready, with 24 blades, $5. The Ward, Si. The Razac, $3.50. The Gem, Jr., Si. 00. Razor Strops, best qual ity, 2oc to $1.50. Shaving Brushes, 20c to 75c. Razor Hones, 15c to Si. Lamps to.suit every one, at all prices. Rides for tho boys, $1.50 to $14.25. Air Rifles, 75c and Si. Ice Skates, 05c to $2.25. Perfection Oil Heaters, $4.50 to $5. "My toOe Ctrl." A nlav ftitaf nm1ji r all Mbm i f ' theatre-goers k the beautiful comedy drama, Y,My Dixie Girl", which wUl bo1 the attraction at the Lyric on ChristiBM, Friday, Dec. 25th, matinee and night. Dixie, around whom the interest centers, is a dashing hovdenish eirl, who gains the sympathy of the audience from the start. She makes everybody about her father's plantation subservient to her will, through kindness, and is continually upsetting the dignity of her dear old daddy. The company representing "My Dixie Girl" comprises a number of well known players and singers who, during the performance, introduce endless musi cal specialties. DR.C. It. BUADY, Dentist Honesdale. Pa. OrriCE Hodrs-B a. m. to 6 p. m. Any eveninp by appointment. Citlrens'phone. 33. Residence. No. 86 X all styles. Hosiery the finest assortment make useful Christmas gifts. We carrvall Nickel Pated Ware of the finest quality. Chafing Dishes, $4.50 to $7. Chafing Dish Trays, $1.50. Chafing Dish Forks and Spoons, 90c. Serving Dishes with enamel insets, $2 to $5. Coffee Pots, silver lined, $1.25 to $1.85. Tea Pots, silver lined, $1.25 to $1.85. Crumb Trays, 35c to $1. Tea Kettles, 85c to $1.25. Soup Ladles, $1. Bread Trays, 90c. Universal Bread Makers: No. 2 $1.35 No. 4 $2.00 No. 8 $2.50