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This newspaper page contains 17 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Jan 31, 1940
Page
4
A devotional fragment cites Psalm 36 praising God’s loving kindness and abundance. It reflects on trust under divine protection and satisfaction from the fullness of God's house. The excerpt emphasizes spiritual nourishment and joy through God’s rivers of pleasure.
The piece surveys federal funds for farm to market roads, noting state matching costs and a $6 million Coralville dam allocation. It highlights concerns over land impact near Iowa City and Lake McBride, plus delayed state decisions and the War Department funding questions. It also reports on gasoline tax data, refunds to farmers, and highway safety statistics.
The piece traces how Civil War songs such as Dixie and Battle Hymn of the Republic were written or adapted by composers from Ohio and Boston, notes Northern and Southern outputs, and observes how neutral songs emerged to profit from the conflict. It closes with a teaser on a future topic about children’s pay evolving into opera.
Stringtown residents report widespread flu with many households hosting Sunday visits. Mr and Mrs Sehantz and families joined relatives including Mrs. Widmer and Bertha Thaber in a string of dinners. District Seec. P. Wenger notes illness in the community.
Funeral services for Joseph Widmer were held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Rieher church under Rev. D. B. Welty. A German hymn quartet sang at the home and at the church, with two numbers performed. Widmer, active in church and community since 1916 marriage to Elizabeth Graber, is survived by his wife and three children Harlin Marvin and Kathryn. Pallbearers included Lester Alliman Bim ory Leliehty Ethan Brooke and Noah Widmer. The family extends heartfelt sympathy.
In Norway the annual Oslo fur sale features a wide display of pelts with silver fox as a highlight and key price setter for the market.
Lieutenant John Coulter quarters at Camp Robinson Arkansas argues with fellow officers over whose hometown paper is best Each writes home for copies and submits the Evening Journal as his paper The anecdote ends with a note on the highway patrol plate check and new 1940 plates now on the car
A social dinner reveals class tensions as rich and working people discuss life and work. Jamu Blankton leaves the table after someone tells a risque story, prompting amused commentary from onlookers and a playful exchange about local color and park access.
Poem fragment reflecting on life’s brief journey and the ease of quarrel, with repeated calls for unity. It laments hatred and greed while noting sun and sorrow leave their mark on many who lived and died. The verse closes with a plea for friends to unite before death.
A dialogue records a misassignment of hair color from dark to blond for an unnamed subject. The Modern Young Lady asks whether it should be corrected, while the Immeration Official suggests possible action. The exchange centers on ensuring the proper hair color designation.
The fire chief tells the village council that firefighters arrived quickly and extinguished the blaze ten minutes after arrival. He notes only the foundation remained when they reached the scene.
A fragmentary list shows business names with dates in January ranges from 1921 to 1987. Entries include Jan. 1925 Witting Leather Shop, Jan. 1921 Tred May established Jno May & Son, Jan. 1987 Sorden Music Studio, Jan. 1937 National Tea Co Food Store, Jan. 1932 Waverhington Fruit Market noted as est Florida Orange Store.
The Journal invites readers to submit 50 word paragraphs on Our First Year. Each paragraph must cite one incident from a listed firm anniversary and be mailed by January 31, 1940. Entries may be multiple but no paragraph may cover more than one business. Cash awards awarded to top three entries.
Merrimac residents report calls to Mrs. Stirtz’s mother at Henry County hospital. The funeral for Bernard Diers was held in Fairfield. Families including the Zibbs, Diers, Pere, Phrea and Norton households shared visits and weekend activities. Emon Smith visits Mt. Pleasant and Mt. Pleasant college students spend time with relatives.
Film and stage star Dietrich returns to the screen in a spectacle filled program opening at the State Theatre on Thursday. The bill features Miss Dietrich with James Stewart in a frontier romance, plus supporting acts including Mischa Auer and Sally Eilers in a dynamic lineup of entertainment and drama.
Frank Heresowsky, once in a critical state, is slowly recovering at Mercy Hospital Iowa City after a prior accident. In the same report, Mrs. Ed Downs underwent an operation at Low City hospital, and relatives including Mrs. Joe Hatcher and her son G. Joe were reported as ill. Margret Strabala visits Cedar Rapids. accompanying notes mention others with varying conditions.
The article notes Switzerland has the world’s lowest birthrate and warns that births fell by about 20 000 from 1900 to 1936 with potential mothers dropping from 266 to 131 per 1000 women. If births do not rebound, the 1945 death rate may exceed births.
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