• About one hundred people gathered in the parlor of the Fourteenth Street church Friday evening to give a farewell reception to James A. Reid. A fine program was rendered after which the pastor was presented with a fine silk watch fob and an Epworth League pin. It was not until a late hour that the people turned their faces homeward, everyone saying they had had a fine time.
• The annual charity ball and social session of the Elks will be held on the evening of December 31. This is the big event of the season and is always looked forward to with the keenest pleasure.
• W. W. Fairchild, who is looking after B. J. Morgan's interests on South Manitou island, was in the city Saturday and told of a serious accident at the shingle mill Thursday by which at least one man narrowly escaped death. That morning a spring on the governor gave way and six men were in the danger zone, but hearing the machinery pounding, ran out of the mill to safety.
• Ray Andrus was brought into court last evening and pleaded guilty to the charge of forgery. Judge Mayne appointed F. W. Wilson to become the probation officer for the boy and gave instructions that he is not to enter saloons or drink intoxicating liquors; neither must he smoke cigarettes.
• With burning gasoline charring his right arm, George Mason, the druggist at Maple City, was in imminent danger of burning to death last evening. Mr. Mason had engaged in filling the lamp with gasoline when some of the fluid was spilled on his hand and as he raised the lamp in place, this ran up his coat sleeve. Not thinking of the danger, he lighted a match setting fire to some of the gasoline which still remained on his hand. But for the timely action of people in the store who smothered flames with their overcoats, it is very probable that his clothes would have become ignited. No serious complications are looked for.
• A Christmas play will be given by the children of the St. Michael's church at Waller's Hall on Christmas evening and are kept quite busy these days in rehearsing for their entertainment. A tree will be gotten up and Fr. Englemann hopes to make it an occasion that will long be remembered.
• Wilson & Hill of this city have been awarded the contract to build the Musselman Grocer Company branch at Cadillac. The contract price is $17,339. Work will begin at once and the building will be completed next May.
• The feminine business spirit of Suttons Bay, has also made itself manifest in the personages of Mrs. F. F. Smith who conducts a grocery and dry goods store. Miss Emma Otto, has also demonstrated that the millinery business can be made most successful here and has a millinery parlor that looks very fascinating and enchanting to the fair sex.
• The kindergartners of Oak Park School, Miss Ruth Spencer teacher, had a treat Tuesday. Not only were they allowed to wander at will through toyland but there were enough grownups present to explain to them the mysteries. Mr. McCormick of 870 East Eighth Street, was the host and the children were entertained at his store.
• Tony Mikula was fined $25 for the violation of the liquor law at Saturday's session of circuit court. He will pay in forty-eight hours or visit in Detroit for two months.
•A horse owned by J. L. Warner of Elk Rapids fell on East Front Street last night, breaking the right hind leg. The horse and its mate had brought a number of the Rebekah staff to this city for installation of a new order and when the group was returning home, slipped on ice as it crossed the walk by Nelson's Grocery store. A veterinary was summoned who advised shooting the animal.
•John Gustafson, tailor at George W. Miller's clothing store, found a half frozen pigeon on a fish box in the rear of the store last week. Feeling sorry for it, he took it to the store, warmed and fed and now the bird refuses to leave. The bird is very tame and doesn't seem to mind company in the slightest.
• Advice on deportment. In entering the hall in which entertainment is given, a gentleman should walk by the side of the lady. If the width of the aisle is not sufficient to allow this, he should precede her.
• Medical advice of a century ago. A soft, rather than a hard to toothbrush, is recommend, as the latter irritates and abrades the gums.
• Best buy of the week. Infants' Coats, 98 cents at Steinberg Bros.