Januaries past, 100 years ago.

From The LaGrange Graphic, 1916.

(Readers will notice that the Memoried Glances columns from 1916 will be taken from The LaGrange Graphic instead of The LaGrange Reporter. Under its masthead, the newspaper publisher printed these words: “Untrammeled by Prejudice and Unawed by Fear We Contend for the Right Because it is Right.”

Front Page News

Georgia Motor Vehicle Law in Effect Jan. 1 — Troup County Sheriff W.B. Shirey has called to our attention laws and instructions on the enforcement of same governing the operation of motor vehicles.

It is a misdemeanor for any person under the age of 16 to operate a motor vehicle of any kind on the public street or highway, whether owner of the car or driving it.

All persons operating motor power machines on public streets or highways, whether two, three or four wheel vehicles are required not to operate them at a speed greater than 30 miles per hour. Approaching any bridge, railroad crossing, sharp curve, the operator must have his machine under immediate control and not operate said vehicle at a speed greater than 10 miles per hour.

Any person operating an automobile between the hours of one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise, without two white lights on the front of same and one red light on the rear is guilty of a misdemeanor.

A number plate issued by the Secretary of State must be attached to the rear of each vehicle, not in a swinging position, but so that the number can be plainly seen.

Sheriff Shirey said that his office will prosecute any and all persons violating this act.

Library Shower at LaGrange College — A unique entertainment has been planned by the Library Committee of LaGrange College.

Every student and guest at the college is expected to bring a book as a New Year’s present to the college library beginning Jan. 10 from 7:30 until 10 p.m. Each person is also requested to come costumed to represent some well-known character in fiction or the title of the book he or she is giving the library.

It is safe to predict that the “shower” will be one of the most delightful social evenings ever enjoyed at the Methodist college.

LaGrange Given Splendid Treat — The people of LaGrange and vicinity have been given a rare treat this week in the visit of the Georgia Exhibit cars, here for two days.

You will not see all of the manufactured products of the state in these exhibit cars, but you will see the many and varied agricultural and mineral products in which she abounds, which will convince you at once that cotton is no longer king, but there are many other products which must have right-of-way from now on.

The reptilian museum is also represented in the exhibit cars and those in charge have gotten together a collection of aquatic monstrosities that attract and hold the gaze of the spectator while he studies the various characteristics of the reptiles. Devil fish, porcupine fish, octopus, tortoise, turtle and a mammoth elephant shark measuring 36 feet long, weighing over 10,000 pounds and 460 years old are a part of this collection on display.

We believe that these exhibits, as they go from town to town, will offer farmers and residents of the state a diversity of farm products and a determination to get out from under the yoke of cotton bondage.

The Boll Weevil is Here Galore — Let him that thinketh the boll weevil is not in Troup County and the area change his “think” at once. It is here, and unless something is done by the farmers to avert the calamity which seems imminent, the result will be much more serious than might be anticipated.

Our advice is to reduce your acreage in cotton, diversify your crops and grow plenty of peanuts. There is a fortune today in peanuts.

East Vernon News — The topic of conversation just now in this section, is the establishment of a consolidated and graded school that shall serve three or four of our school districts. These schools have been tried in many communities, and have uniformly proven to be successful and acceptable. Good churches, good schools and community cooperation insure the welfare and prosperity of the country.

Editorial

Some Free Advice — We hear a great deal of talk about the boll weevil, and the results of their depredations to be expected this year. Some are treating the subject as a joke, while some take the matter more seriously.

Brother farmer, the boll weevil is no joke, and if you go ahead and ignore the matter, you will, next fall, wake up a sadder and a wiser man. It is true that cotton is a necessity, and we would not advise anyone to cut out planting cotton entirely.

We would suggest that the bankers, the farmers and the merchants get together and discuss the subject of a diversity of farm products, as some farmers cannot act without the cooperation of the supply merchant and banker.