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Celebrating history: Tattler squealed on gigglers

Emily Mayer

This week, we take a look at the Oct. 9, 1914, issue of The Box Elder Valley Press for this 40th installment celebrating the 150th anniversary of Montana Territory and the 125th anniversary of statehood.

News of World War I and the women’s suffrage campaign were in this issue, as well as a column from “The Tattler.” These columns tend to shake a finger at what this person perceives as bad behavior and praises good behavior. I don’t know who “The Tattler” is, but here is his or her column in this week’s paper 100 years ago:

A GIGGLING GIRL IN CHURCH IS CONSCIOUSLY OBSERVED

By “The Tattler”

In most civilized communities, the giggling girl as passed, but we have one, I saw her-and of course heard her one Sunday evening. She was at church. These girls most always go to church. For some unknown reason, it seems they would rather giggle and attract attention in a church than any place else. This girl is not alone in her folly, for I have seen and heard others, and so have you-every reader.

Few of these girls work. And of course they already know so much that it isn’t necessary for them to go to school. It is because they know too much, I imagine, that business men do not employ them. I am not a business man, myself, but if I were I do not think I should want a girl — or a boy, either — who knew so much that more education did not interest them.

The girl whose actions occasioned this contribution is an adept with pencil and paper. In fact, I have never seen anyone who could write faster than she or get more on a scrap of paper as large as your thumb nail. She is a professional note writer, and if there is any credit in the art this girl is a genius.

Perhaps this girl, and even some parents, will say that if I nor anyone else looked at such things we would not see them. That may be true-and it may not. I do not think it is. Anyway, I got little of the preacher’s sermon that Sunday night, and I know the girl got none of it. I hope she reads this, for it would be a sermon to her if she would let herself realize the meaning she must know it has.

No one, I believe, realizes more fully than I that young people naturally think their parents are too strict on them, and those parents who do not have the confidence of their child or children and can make them understand their discipline is necessary, are indeed fortunate. Neither do I believe that all parents are responsible for the outcome of their children’s lives, but none can deny that more home training is needed in many homes in this town, as well as in every other town in the United States. With an absolute denial of any pessimistic characteristics, I know and you readers must realize that the old-time home circle has passed-if not in every home, then the exception is now unusual, where it once was the rule.

I wish the girls of such habits as this letter refers to would look upon it as it is meant. If any of them see it, the probably will only laugh at it, and both the editor’s space and my efforts will have been wasted. But we shall hope differently.

I can picture this person screaming at people to “Get off my lawn!”

In other news:

Petty Thieves at Work

Picked Lock and Extracted Sum of Money — Chickens Stolen

Some party at present unknown walked into the new house of Wm. Meyer about one mile west of town at noon time one day last week and picking the lock on a bureau drawer extracted a sum of money out of a pocketbook that we in it. Also not so very long ago some chickens were stolen from the premises of frank Sheberle in town and other petty thefts have taken place at different times recently.

Township is Surveyed

Houses and Plowing Found to Be on Their Neighbor’s Land

A U. S. surveyors crew this week completed surveying Township 31 north, range 14 east and some of the settlers were found to have their houses and plowing on land that belonged to their neighbors and now some of them will be busy for a while moving their domiciles on to their right quarters, but the plowing not being movable will have to remain.

And, of course, news from the social pages:

In and About Our Town

Born-On Wednesday evening, September 30, to Mr. and Mrs. Nick Pogreba, a daughter.

Mrs. A. L. Sweet and children arrived here this week from Carlos, Minn., and are visiting at the home of Mrs. Joseph Daniels.

Miss Jennie Cory entertained a few intimate friends in honor of her fifteenth birthday on last Saturday afternoon. She was the recipient of many valuable presents and a pleasant time was enjoyed by all.

 

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