Typed as spelled and written
Lena Stone Criswell

THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Twelfth Year - Number  (Missing)
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, January 23, 1902
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OVER THE COUNTY,
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Items of Interest Gathered by the Democrat
Correspondents.
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OTTO ITEMS,

       Dry weather and hard ground in general complaint of the farmers of this community.

       The frame of the new church at Otto is nearly all up.  T'will not be long until there will be preaching in the church instead of the school house.

       J. Z. Adams and family are visiting relatives in Smith county this week.

       Stock water is getting very scarce in places and no prospects for rain soon.

       Old la grippe has a fair hold on this community now.  Cases threatened with pneumonia.

       Miss Fannie Pringle of Marlin is teaching music in Otto.

       The train killed another cow for Mrs. Waters last week.  If the company would put in stock guards instead of substitutes they would not hve so much bad luck, stock walks over their guards almost the same as if they wasn't there.  Barefooted children walk over them.

       T. J. Smith has the first painted sign of our town on the front of his store.

       Bailey & Nailan are putting up another blacksmith shop in town   Competition is the life of trade if they don't form a trust, bust, and get cussed as the newspaper men do.

       A large fire was seen at Big Hill Friday night.  The flames leaped high and so doubt some house was going to ashes beneath them.

       Announcements are coming in fast, especially for sheriff.  I am a little interested in this race.  I have a special friend in it, and in it to stay, I hope, and is well qualified to fill the office.  Strictly up to his job and got the grit, get up and shove to do the work.

       There is another in whom I feel an interest, who has announced for county attorney who is one of the famous in his profession.  He has been practicing law in this county for seven years and has never asked the people for any office but he has always worked for the election of the democratic nominee.

       Yes sir:  I told you that smallpox would bob up in a new place some day before long.  Dan Maines has it, and has another case in his house.  Look out for the next place.

       Of course it is none of my business but there is no harm in expressing my opinion, as many others have done in regard to Schley and Sampson question.  Judging from the reports of papers, Schley certainly was the commander at the well fought battle of Santiago, while Sampson was off some where else, prospecting probably and Schley is the commander that should have the honors gained by him at this well commanded battle that will long be remembered by.

                                                                                  Badger.

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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas