Catlin News Items

G. Wilse Tilton Scrapbook, page 7, newspaper clipping by Hannah Mariah from Danville Daily News, Danville, Illinois, dated 12 May 1887, page 2, column 2.

Catlin Clack.

An organization of our village council was effected last Monday night by the selection of Wm. Gurling as chairman or mayor. Quite a number of our honored citizens have been his predecessors in this responsible position, yet without disparagement to any of them we can say that the chair has never been better nor more completely filled than it was after he had been inducted into it. For several years this correspondence has contained our mayor's inaugural address, and Uncle Billy (that is what we call him on the street) would no doubt be disappointed were the present opportunity to report [...]

The usual committees -- committees on finance, on streets, fire, water, pig pens and dog fennel -- had been appointed; silence for a moment reigned. The mayor, whose cheeks were roseate with the flush of modesty and whose eyes beamed with intelligent and manly purpose, laid his pipe on the pen rack, arose and said -- as it were:

Gentlemen of the council and representatives of the yeomanry, their wives and children, of the industrial village of Catlin, whose frontage is laved by the classic waters of Butler's Branch -- lend me your ears. (not an ear moved.) The winter of discontent and soiled underclothing is past and we are entering upon another year at a salary of one dollar per night. (At this allusion John Tash, one of the new members, cheered lustily, turned a hand-spring and alighted with one foot on the stove and the other in Arthur Jones' breeches pocket) Yes, gentlemen, the eyes of the surrounding country are upon us and the tongue of the village is against us. We must spend some money to please the overburdened. But how shall we spend it? (Here each one began to figure the expense of tiling his own lot and surrounding it with sidewalks, and much confusion prevailed.) The mayor continued:

Our streets are well improved, we have a town hall, and as there is a supply of gas above ground there is no need of a gas well. (As this last remark was made with a twinkle of the eye, John Church thought he was becoming personal, and said that if the mayor referred to him he would be periodically puked if he would stand it. Explanations followed.) Neither do we need water works; our water is abundant and pure, and if properly advertised would become medicinal, and like the itch, chicken pox or blues, it is free to all and may be drank on the premises. Swartz had a rabbit that after drinking it a few years turned to a mule. (This was too much for George Wolf, who moved an adjournment. No second.)

We need no saloons nor cyclones, nor will we allow any one to paint the town red. (This brought Lon Nolan to his feet, who claimed that he had several contracts in the village, some of which were to be finished in the color named.)

Ten o'clock, said A. Church, village clerk, in his quiet, suggestive manner, as he charged up the usual fees. Ten o'clock, said the mayor, whereupon the gavel fell, lights were lowered, cigar stumps and pipes were relighted and the session closed, peace and harmony prevailing.

Last Friday night, at 8:30 o'clock, the moon with its borrowed light gave us a beautiful rainbow which completely spanped the west. Such a sight is unusual.

Mrs. McCann is spending a week at Mansfield, Ill.

A new organization called the Glosbrener Sunday school opened yesterday near the France coal mines with forty in attendance.

Married, at the residence of Jason Picket, by Rev. Clark Phetteplace, on Thursday, May 5th, at 8 o'clock p. m., Mr. John F. Mitchell and Miss Cora E. Picket. About fifty guests were present, to whom a bountiful supper was served. We can safely say the evening was a very enjoyable one, as the minister and his good wife did not go home until 12:30 in the morning.

Our visitors are Mr. Hart, of Montpelier, Ind.; Mr. S. H. Kistler, of Penn, and Mrs. Shepherd of Danville.

Bert Brazleton spent last Sunday in Fairmount.

Hannah Mariah.

May 10, 1887.