Reprinted in the Putnam County Herald, 21 October 1937, Page 2.

This is the seventeenth installment of this series of republished items from the old "Cookeville Chronicle," which began publication in Cookeville October 6, 1877. with Carnes and Cope editors and publishers.

Issue of June 21, 1878

The municipal authorities have had considerable and much needed work done on the streets Cookeville in the last few days.

The school at Washington Academy opens the fall session on the Monday in August.

Dr. J. B. S. Martin closed out drug and dry goods business for the purpose of following his profession. He will be found ready for performances of all duties to his profession at all times, and solicits the patronage of the public. His card will appear next week.

Maj. J. C. Freeze and lady, who have been visiting friends and relatives in Kentucky have returned.

Among young ladies visiting Cookeville recently, an entire stranger made her appearance at Dr. J. F. Dyer's this week. The doctor entitled to be "papa."

Mrs. J. Arnold has our thanks for sample of cake, which we are informed was very sumptuously feasted upon by the participants in the "Samaritan Supper" on the night of the 4th inst.

J. J. Mills and lady have been absent for several days visitig friends and relatives in Sparta.

Mr. J. H. Brown and lady with Miss Tina Reagan, made a flying visit to Sparta, during the fore part of the week.

Through an oversight, the notice of the death Mrs. Jonathan Buck was left out last week. She yielded to the grim monster on Monday of Ilast week.

Last Monday evening, a stack of wheat, containing 100 dozen binds, belonging to Rev. W. Y Kuykendall, was struck by lightning and burned up.

The Board of Trustees of Washington Academy and the Public School Commissioners of this school district, have consolidated the two schools, and both are to be placed under the supervision of Prof. Theo Brantly, of Wilson county.

We are informed that the candidates had a lively time (at the speaking) at Bartlett's Store, in the lower end of this county on last Saturday.

The chairman of our County Court and handed us a statement Of the finances or Putnam county last week. The statement shows that our county is $1,500.00 less in debt than it was thls time last year. It also shows the county's present indebtedness to be $4, 125.44.

We are authorized to announce T. L. Denny as a candidate for the office of County Court Clerk, at the ensuing August election.

Murphy Movement

On last Saturday night, according to previous arrangements, Rev. J. W McNeal delivered Temperance lecture to the people Of Cookeville, preparatory to the organization of a temperance club to be styled the "National Christian Union."

The lecture delivered in the Methodist Church, to a very respectable audience, which paid the strictest attention while the speaker, went on to show the many evils and distresses that have been brought upon the country by the use of intoxicating llquors, as a beverage, and after he had shown but a few of the many evils entailed on the human family by the use of strong drink, he proposed cure by which the county might be saved from the eveils and that was by taking the pledge "with malice toward none and charity to all." In conclusion e proposed to all who were friends to suffering humanity, and who favored the destruction of the greatest eveil that had ever invaded any country, and which was reducing the ranks of te people of the nited State and filling drunkard's graves to the number sixty thousand annually, to come forward and sigh the pledge and show to their neighbors and friends that they had enlisted in war for civilization and reform. There was an uprising of twenty-six of the proper thinking people of Cookeville who came forward and voluntarily signed the pledge.

While those good friends of temperance were enlisting in this glorious cause, it reminded me of what the poet said, when, he was picturing out the evils of strong drink.

"Ah! Brandy brandy, bare of life.
Spring of tumult, source of strife,
Could I but half they curses tell,
The wise would wish the safe in Hell."

Those who enrolled their names then organized the socity with proper officers and a committee was appointed to drft a constitution and by law to be read at the next regular meeting on Friday night, the 12th inst. which everybody is invited to attend.

Rev. Jesse E. Hickman preached to large audiences on last Sunday morning and night.

We received orders for several thousand tickets, but haven't yet as many as we can fill, candidates should send in their orders without delay.

At a meeting or the Lodge of I. O. W. M., on the 6th inst., the following were elected for the ensuing term: Dr. J. P. Martin. president: C J. Davis. vice-president: B. R. Womack, F. and R., Secretary; J. A. Welch, treasurer; Rev. T. J. Clouse, chaplain; J. B. Shores, conductor; J. R. Bullington, I.G., L, R. Essex, O. G., R. F. Pippin, C J. Davis and W. H. Hudgens, trustees.

Houston S. Boyd, a few weeks ago, accepted an invitation to deliver an address at a musical and educational entertainment given in connection with the evening exercises Of Prof. Washburn's school at Gainesboro by Lula Goodpasture, the accomplished music teacher. Mr. Boyd states that among the numerous pieces read by young ladies on that occasion was a composition by Miss Nannie J. Craig, of Gainesboro, which made such favorable impression on him that he copied it. Mr. Boyd states that young lady possesses a most brilliant intellect and that he would glad if every young man had copy of Miss Craig's composition, as given below, and would frequently read it and reflect upon it. He was so favorably impressed by it that he has delivered a copy of it to the Chronicle, in order that the young men who read this paper may have the benefit of it. The composition is as follows.

"Habit"

"I am requested by my teacher to write a composition with the privilege of selecting the subject upon which write, and, in performance of this duty, I have concluded to write upon the subject of "Habit." Young people should be very much interested in this subject, for the reason that it they form bad habits while young it is very rare that they ever change them.

"Young men who form the habit of sitting on street corners, or lounging and loafing around town, generally also form the worst habits. They very often acquire the habit of drinking intoxicating liquors, and also the resulting habits of getting beastly drunk, swearing profanely, violating the laws of God and the requirements of good society, and become a curse to the whole world, But, upon the contrary, if they would only acquire the habit of industry and always have something to engage their minds and bodies that would be profitable and determine to be better, wiser and richer at the close of each day, how changed, happier and more useful would be their condition of life.

"Never waster your precious time on foolish and unprofitable things, nor engage in trivial, sill or idle talk.

"Be sober, moral, studious, industrious and vigilant, at all times, and under all circumstances, then you will be prepared and worthy to take the place of the great and good men, who are administering and safe guarding our governmental affairs at the present time, but who must transmit this sacred trust imparted to future generations; and, more than this, you will be prepared to protect, defend, honor and vindicate my sex, whose habits are usually correct and against whom I have naught to write.

Nannie J. Craig"