Clifford - The ground has been bare the most of the time thus far this winter. We have had mud and hub; traveling is very tedious and disagreeable. There are a number of cases of the grip in and around Clifford.

Silver Lake - The change for the better in our mail route. Those wishing to visit Montrose need not be absent two nights from home, the mail now leaving the. Silver Lake post office at 7:30 a.m., and reaching Montrose about 11 o'clock, returning leaves Montrose at 3:20 p.m. The drivers now can put in all their time by daylight.

Montrose - A.W. Lyons is now heating his store with hot water. He has also put in a large cooler for the better preservation of fruits, vegetables, etc., during the warm weather. Mr. Lyons is a progressive young man, and if sees anything that will add to his rapidly increasing business, he has the thing accomplished forthwith.

East Rush - Will Fargo; who has been in Australia, New Zealand, California, and other places about 11 years, returned to his old home in this place last Friday.

Factoryville - "The Factoryville Spook­" The Scranton Tribune of Monday contains the following interesting article: "A genuine spook is said to be causing consternation in the vicinity of Factoryville. It appears that it makes its headquarters in the barn of Captain Gardner, about one mile and a half from Factoryville village, and various good citizens assert that it makes its presence known by many and peculiar manifestations. Twilight hour seems to be the favorite romping time of his or her spook-ship, and stones and other missiles of the earth are cast about by unseen hands in a most reckless manner. A few nights ago, brothers named Reynolds, residing at Factoryville, went to the barn to investigate the cause of the manifestations. They carried a lantern and as soon as they entered the barn the name turned blue. Wheels on wagons began to fly around after the fashion of a Fourth of July spin wheel in full operation and carriages moved about the building propelled by an unseen power. The investigation was discontinued for that night."

News Briefs: For several months eggs have been classed among the luxuries of life, the price ranging at about 30-cents per dozen. Within the past two weeks, however, the price has come down with a rush, and they are now selling at 16-cents per dozen. AND A letter from Michigan states that the weather is so warm there that pansies have blossomed all winter. AND Charters were granted the Universal Church of Our Father, located in Kingsley, Pa. AND the First Baptist Church of Hallstead borough. AND Those who believe that thirteen is an unlucky number should fight shy of the American twenty-five piece. It has thirteen stars, thirteen letters in the scroll held in the eagle's beak, thirteen marginal feathers on each wing, thirteen tail feathers, thirteen parallel lines in the shield, thirteen horizontal bars, thirteen arrow heads and thirteen letters, in the "quarter dollar." But most of us are glad to get them, thirteen or no thirteen. AND Government Land Still Left: Why do people starve in cities, asks a correspondent of the New York Sun, when within easy reach by rail in both Arkansas and Missouri are vet thousands of acres of Government land to be had for the settling on them: They are not the richest lands, the correspondent admits, yet they are rich enough to raise milk, butter, vegetables, fruits, chickens, pies and corn. Fuel grows upon the land. The climate of the hill lands of Arkansas, where these government lands are, is one of the most healthful in the world. The correspondent tells us also, that if settlers do not wish to take up the wild lands and subdue them, there is still left between Springfield, Mo. and St. Louis an abundance of deeded land, which can be bought at, from $2.50 to $7 per acre.