125 years ago

october 23, 1885

Some miscreants entered the Bixler school house, southeast of Marion, a couple of weeks ago, demolished a lot of furniture, stole some books, and illustrated their characters on the blackboard in some obscene language and pictures.

The Scientific departments of the Marion schools have organized two literary societies, namely, the Excelsior and Potentier. Edwin Allen is President and Miss Emma Shanklin Secretary of the Excelsior, while Eugene Barnes and Lulu Stone fill similar positions in the Potentier. These societies have been formed for the benefit of the students, and spectators are not admitted except on nights when a contest between the societies occurs, when all are invited.

Contractors will note in another column the proposition for bids for stone arch bridges at Deal’s crossing—a much needed structure.

The wife of Rev. Wismer, of Canada, this county, died of dropsy, last Saturday afternoon, aged about sixty-three years. Her sufferings were intense, but she bore the excruciating pain with Christian patience and fortitude, and died in the triumphs of the Christian’s blessed faith as her excellent son, D.E., informed us. “Blessed are the dead which died in the Lord. ** They rest from their labors and their works do follow them.”

Hillsboro has been much excited the past week with what Health Officer Dr. Hannaford pronounces a genuine case of small-pox, a child being the victim. The case is under close surveillance and the child is recovering.

His honor, Ed. Baxter, was so unfortunate as to lose a valuable family horse last week. Internal bleeding was the cause of the animal’s taking off.

Mrs. Toomy is now busy displaying her new millinery goods, and ladies who want something nice in that line, CHEAP, should call early.

Someone left an umbrella in the Presbyterian church several months ago, which the owner can get by calling for it.

Mr. Scully, of England, and his agent Mr. Koehnle, of Lincoln, Ill., have been in town this week.

Mrs. L.F. Keller and Mrs. E.W. Hoch returned to their homes in this city Tuesday morning after a week’s visit among relatives in the village of Emporia.

Mrs. Tilson is receiving the thanks of the ladies for the full line of Butterick Patterns which she has added to her most attractive millinery display and will keep a special larger assortment for children.

The Business Manager of this great metropolitan journal expects to start with his family about the first of December for the land of persimmons, paw-paws, and ’possums—“old Kentuck”—the visit with “wife’s folks” some three months in the famous village of Perryville. He goes for fun and rest, particularly rest, and really, we don’t know where a busy Kansan could find a better place to rest than a Kentucky town now-a-days.