Hogwallow News and The End of World War I

Denton, Texas, 1918
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This is a short column of folksy musing called "Hogwallow News" from the Denton Record-Chronicle, by Dunk Botts:

HOGWALLOW NEWS

Dunk Botts

It is about time to put up the stove at the post office and the Postmaster has discovered that one joint of the pipe and two of the stove legs are missing. He says when you have to make a requisition on the government for these things you can never tell when you will get them: that winter may be over before the stove can be put up.

Those who have known Atlas Peck all those years say he looks just the same, whiskers and all, as he did when he came to Hogwallow forty odd years ago, except that he seems just a little shorter from wearing off at the bottom.

Luke Mathewsla is another one of our old and highly esteemed citizens who has been a disappointment to the undertakers for many years. He expects to spend another delightful winter around the stove at the post office.

There is some talk of the Old Miser leaving Hogwallow. It is thought his leaving is on account of his becoming too well known here.

--Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, Texas, November 11, 1918, Morning Extra, page 2.

Comment: November 11, 1918 was Armistice Day, with World War I over. This paper of Denton, Texas went with a Monday morning EXTRA, declaring across four columns, "WAR IS OVER, Armistice Signed at Midnight," and so on. Everyone's heard about the 11th month, 11th day, 11th hour. The lede of the story marks the time: "WASHINGTON, Nov. 11. -- 2:50 o'clock a.m. -- The world war will end this morning at 6 o'clock Washington time or 11 o'clock Paris time." So there it is.

Then there was an afternoon paper, which was obviously their regular time for publication. Of course the end of the world war again leads the headlines. Page 2 features photos of Denton County boys who made victory possible. Page 3 is a great full page ad saying, "THANK GOD WAR IS OVER AND THE SLAUGHTERING OF OUR BOYS WILL CEASE FOR EVERMORE." It goes on in that spirit. It calls for contributions to organizations that will help the returning veterans, the ad sponsored by a list of local businesses.

Now, let's look at Dunk Botts' HOGWALLOW NEWS column for the day, to get the last word:

Tobe Moseley says he imagines Germany and her allies feel like a fellow does when he has made a bad horse trade.

--Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, Texas, November 11, 1918, afternoon issue, page 4.

The other news continues on the next page with a story on the Kaiser: "Kaiser Sacrificed Throne In Dream for World Dominion; Blame for War Placed Irrevocably Upon Ambitions of William," (page 5), interesting looking.

P.S. One other Dunk Botts note, on a more pleasant topic, fishing:

Fletcher Henstop says the fishing season is about to come to a close and that he has had the poorest luck and the mosquitoes have been the worst in his career.