January 2022

Marriage License-- Thos. Reed and Miss Beulah Lewis Pitman; Horace McNabb and Lillie Christian of Palatka. The Sheeks-Stephens cotton gin was destroyed by fire last Saturday. The fire broke out about 12 :15 and despite the energetic work of a bucket brigade the whole interior off the building was soon inflames. A man whose name was unable to learn, left his team in front of Harb Brothers store Tuesday without troubling himself to tie them, and when the noon train came along they departed, leaving fragments of the wagon all along the route. This thing of leaving teams standing loose in the streets is getting too common and if the council will pass an ordinance prohibiting it, it may save some one getting run over and killed by a runaway team. Mayor George Barnhill was arrested Wednesday night and put under $500 bond, the warrant charging that he had committed the offense of saying the marriage ceremony. for Chas. Long and Sadie Matthews without having legal authorities to do so. The parties are living together as man and wife. J.E. Matthews is the prosecuting witness and had Deputy Prosecutor Moore bring the action against the mayor. A negro hod carrier, Horace Josephs, who had been employed on the Court house and later in W.D. Polk’s new store building, got in a row at the Railroad Hotel Tuesday morning and received a severe knife wound in his back near the spinal column. Dr. La timer dressed the wound, which he said was about two inches deep, but not necessarily fatal. City Marshal Martin requested to take charge of the negro, who was very much frightened and protect him until he could leave town, and the marshal escorted him to the bushes South of town about noon Tuesday and told him to skip, which he did and this is the last seen of him as far as the Corning public knows. Since this occurrence the small number of negroes who were in Corning have all become frightened and left town. City Recorder E.L. Black has taken a list of the taxpayers within the limits of the incorporated town of Corning, for the purpose of having them charged with the five-mill tax levied by the council.

Every morning I wake up with the understanding that I will encounter problems throughout the day. Some I will predict or know are coming; others I know will blindside me. Accepting the fact that problems will arise is an asset because in viewing them as opportunities helps me. There’s a saying attributed to Alfred A. Montapert, “Expect problems and eat them for breakfast.” I really like this thought because it inspires me to be proactive in dealing with tribulations. My frustration is lessened because I know and accept snags and complications happen. It helps me to remain calm, access the situation and then act. Accepting the possibility of problems helps in a couple ways. It takes the sting out problems when they arise. Have you ever been around anyone who gets bent out of shape when issues arise? Whining, complaining and exhibiting frustration are time wasters and energy drainers. These three things do damage as they bring down morale, drain momentum for those trying to work, and it’s just plain ugly behavior.

Just think, two more months and the time will change back to DST and it will still be daylight at the end of the work day. (Some days this Winter have been so cloudy that is has been dark by four o’clock). I don’t care about how early I report to work in the morning or how dark it might be then...but I like for it to be daylight when I get home in the evening. I like to walk around the yard, picking up abandoned cans and scattered bits of paper and just general checking the place out. However, I’m not wanting these things done bad enough to get out there in the cold, with a flashlight. DST gives time for so many pleasurable things after work, like long daily walks, riding bicycles, a fishing trip, tidying up the yard, standing out in the yard talking with neighbors and passersby or, when the season arrives, just walking around outside with a salt shaker, eating a ripe tomato and letting the juice run anyway it chooses. People like me should be happy most of the time... after all, it takes such a little amount of money and effort to provide the things that bring me the most pleasure.