By request of Frank L. Long, all public meetings will be postponed until further notice, and we are asked to so state by those in authority for all churches and societies connected therewith, Mothers' Circle, the Grange, Woman's Relief Corps., Mechanics and the public schools. The library will not be closed as there is no large gathering of people in that place.

N. J. Norton is able to get out of doors again, but is far from complete recovery.

I. A. Glines has removed to Waltham for the winter and his house will be occupied by Mr. Gibbs, who has been living in Edgar W. Howe's house.

Mrs. W. H. Norris and daughter, of Wellesley, Mass., have come to Hampton to remain until the influenza epidemic is over.

Every member of the Tufts family that occupied Mrs. Clara Nutter's cottage at North Beach this summer, was ill when they left for Everett this week.

William T. Ross is in town for a few days.

The special meeting of the W. R. C. which was called for next Saturday has been indefinitely postponed.

Mrs. D. O. Leavitt says: Before this influenza struck us we thought the open cars in the late fall were pneumonia breeders; now we think the opposite.

Frank L. Bristol:

At his home at Hampton Beach, Sept. 28, of pneumonia, occurred the death of Mr. Frank L. Bristol in the forty-third year of his age.

The deceased was born in Lebanon Springs, New York, but had been a resident of Hampton for many years. He was the successful proprietor of Bristol's garage and has built up a very active business. His death came as a great shock to his relatives and many friends.

Prayer was offered at the home, after which the sad company met at the grave where final services were conducted by Rev. Frank Leslie Long, pastor of the local Adventist church.

Mr. Bristol leaves a widow, who was Miss Leora Philbrick, daughter of J. H. Philbrick of this town, four children, three of whom, with their mother, were unable to accompany the body to the grave on account of sickness; two brothers, two sisters, besides more distant relatives and a host of friends to mourn his loss.

He was laid to rest in the Hampton cemetery.

Baggage Master Arrested:

Baggage Master Lee, who has been in the employ of the Boston and Maine R. R. at this station for some months, was taken into custody by Chief of Police Tolman on Wednesday, acting under orders from Special Agent Small of the Boston and Maine. Lee was arraigned before Judge Lamprey, charged with the theft of freight from the railroad company and was held under bonds for the October term of the superior court, in default of which he was taken to the jail at Portsmouth. The arrest was brought about by E. E. Sprague, station agent, who, searching for a lost 100 pounds of sugar, became suspicious of his baggage master because of two trunks which belonged to Lee and had been kept in the baggage room ever since he came here and which Mr. Sprague thought, by their weight, might contain the sugar or some other missing merchandise, and he accordingly notified headquarters of his suspicions, and Special Agent Small was sent here. After procuring a search warrant the trunks were opened and Lee's house searched; although no trace of the sugar could be found, great quantities of other merchandise that had been shipped to local merchants was discovered, and the arrest of Lee followed. Among the articles discovered was a large quantity of tobacco belonging to Marelli Brothers, flour for Graves and Ramsdell, candy, and many other kinds of merchandise.

Influenza:

The epidemic of the so-called Spanish Influenza has taken a strong hold on Hampton and many have been stricken down within the past two weeks. It is estimated that between 150 and 200 cases of influenza or near influenza have occurred in this town, with three deaths at the Beach.

The fine weather early in the week acted as a deterrent of the rapid spread, but a return of damp or foggy weather might precipitate a very serious condition of affairs, crippled as we are by the serious illness with the dread disease of one of our physicians and the entire lack of nurses.

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Chairman Tobey of the Public Safety Committee called that body together Monday evening and it was unanimously voted to ask the Red Cross to take immediate action in procuring nurses to assist in cases of need, and such action has been taken, the particulars of which will be found in the Red Cross column.

The selectmen have also taken action and have appointed Frank L. Long Health Officer who will act in conjunction with and under the authority of the State Board of Health as well as that of the selectmen of Hampton.

Health Officer Long will be in close touch with the physicians and nurses and all new cases should be reported at once to him and if the usual means of care are inadequate Mr. Long will see to it that proper assistance is furnished.

In this connection Mr. Long wishes us to state that he has requested that there be no public gatherings during the present epidemic of Influenza; also that the public cooperate with physicians and Board of Health in preventing its spread.

Mr. Long has given us the following facts in regard to the present epidemic:

Spanish Influenza is a disease originating, probably, in Spain, due to some infective organisms as yet unknown. It is a disease similar to the type of influenza which occurred among us years ago. The symptoms are fever, general aching of joints and head, catarrh of eyes, nose and bronchial tubes. It usually lasts about three days and is without serious results. It is a disease somewhat more severe than the so-called "hard cold." Deaths when they occur are due to secondary infection such as pneumonia and nephritis.

In considering this disease the public (and particularly those who have to do with public health work) should remain calm. We should not confuse the usual colds or grippe (themselves infectious) that appear among us at this season of the year with this new infection.

This disease is spread in the same manner as probably all infectious diseases, namely by direct contact. We should, therefore, as individuals doubt that we have come in contact with a person who has true Spanish influenza, but rather that we have contracted our neighbor's cold or grippe.

The Health Officer or physician should advise those now sick with these prevailing conditions to immediately care fore themselves and by so doing protect the public whether that person believes he has Spanish influenza or not. The best protection against the secondary infections is for the patient to remain at home and seek medical advice, a procedure that will surely prevent the patient from infecting others. If one is obliged to go out then they should be advised to avoid public gatherings. They should try to prevent coughing and sneezing as much as possible, being careful when they must, to use a handkerchief.

It must be understood as a health proposition for an infectious disease of the nature of Spanish influenza where the bacteriological and other diagnostic features are far from characteristic there is little to be done except what we have outlined above. To take any action of a strict quarantine nature would bring great hardship on everybody, and would shut up many people who are not dangerous if they observe the few ordinary precautions herein laid down.

A little thoughtfulness at these times on the part of every one will do much to prevent the spread of this disease.