Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1910 — Page 2

HIE DAILY REPUBLICAN Bv*ry Day Bxc**t «4n». ICAIfY & CLARK, fiMlrtmT RENSSELAER. - ' INDIANa!

OLDEST OFFICER IN THE ARMY.

D. H. Rnckrr «M «MB *■«* uK Still la Soaad at 97. Brlg.-Gen. Daniel H. Rucker, retired, to not only the oldest officer of the United Btales army now living, but also the oldest man that has ever been in the military service In this country.. .. He was 2 years old and able to toddle about when the White House was burned by British troops In the administration of President Madison. He was 7 years of age when Florida was bought from Spain and added lo the Union. He was 8 years old when Maine (which up to that time bad been part of Massachusetts, though not contiguous thereto) became a State. He whs S 3 years of age when lowa add Florida were admitted to the Union as States.

Harper’s Weekly says the lapse of time since his birth is vividly realized when it is considered that Gen. Rucker has lived in every presidential administration since the government began, save only three—those of Washington, Adams and Jefferson. He was born only thirteen years after the death of the first President, and among his friends and acquaintances have been a good many people who knew George Washington.

But anybody who saw the general to-day would never imagine that these things could be true. He is quite as spry and youthful in his ways as many a man of €6. In Washington, where be lives, he walks downtown -nearly every morning and is often seen on the street cars. Only the other day he was noticed standing on the running board of an open car, having got gp and stepped out to allow some ladles to pass. Gen. Rucker was 97 years of age on April 28 last But it does not seem to him that this fact gave any excuse for the remarkable zealousness of a certain life insurance company, which, a few weeks ago, sent a man to his house on Jefferson place to make a money set-

tlement for his death. Greatly irritated by this summary notice of his own demise, he walked downtown the next morning and dropped In at the office of the company. The company was very apologetic. Yet, it was obliged to admit the general bad the appearance of being alive. His presence In the office was evidence in favor of such a supposition. But In a technical sense he was dead. From a life insurance viewpoint he had passed over to the beyond. There had been nothing to do, therefore, but to pay up the policy—though the company was sorry if the general had been Inconvenienced in the matter. The general felt very greatly inconvenienced—in fact, he went away In a rage. The money which the company declared to be due he refused to accept He is still so angry about the matter that his friends do not dare to mention it to him even in joke.

USE RATTLESNAKE OINTMENT.

Stale 'by Chinese PbraleUmi and Sold as Core (or Rheumatism. Rattlesnake ointment is regarded by the Chinese physicians aB such a sure cure for rheumatism and similar complaints that a big demand for the reptiles exists in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Policeman Percy Smith, connected with the central station, learned of the demand, and while on his vacation in Mendocino County laid in a supply of rattlesnakes large enough to alleviate the sufferings of every al-mond-eyed resident of San Francisco. Policeman Smith has just returned from his vacation, which he spent in the wilds of Mendocino County. With him were Policeman Berg, Andrew Garin and his son, Philip Smith. On their return they brought back a dozen rattlesnakes that were eagerly purchased by Chinese doctors at |5 each.

In order to prepare the ointment the -wise men of Chinatown pour half a gallon of alcohol Into a two-gallon Jar In which a rattlesnake is imprisoned. The reptile, It is said, usually dies for want of air after a few hours’ confinement. However, It Is left In the bottom of the Jar, completely immersed in the alcohol, for at least six months. At the end of that period the alcohol Is carefully removed from the Jar, and after slight dilution witn anotber substance is placed on the market as a sure cure for rheumatism. At Chinese drug stores its price Is dear. However little difficulty is encountered In placing the rattler in the Jar, a great amount of dexterity la necessary to escape Its range, for the fatigue of the Journey has made it extremely vicious and It strikes at any object. In order to prevent It from striking a noose Is fastened over Its head by the Chinese pharmacist, who. after be Ing assured that the fangs are under his control takes the snake In his hands and places It In the receptacle. A top Is then placed on the Jar and the string severed. So great Is the demand for rattlesnakes In China town and so profitable Is the market th«» other policemen who contemplate a vacation are said to be studying the map In order to discover likely habitations of the rattler. —New York Sun.

A Man of Ports.

The subject of getting into a theater on one’s professional card came up between Mr. Bransby Williams, a tamons Impersonator of Dickens' char-

acters, and a veteran actor of tha old school, called Jim Pymer. Mr. Williams said, as he has recorded in his book entitled “An Actor’s Story,” that when he had left his cards behind, as frequently happened, and was asked his name, he simply said, “Bransby Williams, working at so-and-so.” "My boy,” said- the old actor, "I never waste words. I give them my card, and if they don’t want to let me in I bow myself out with as much dignity as my status will allow.” With this he held out one of hla cards. Mr. Williams took it and read: Jim Pymer. Comedian, Glee Singer, Comic Singer, Patter, Vocalist, Shakespearean Jester, Clown and Comic Singer, Author, Agent in Advance. Ring Master, Stage Master, Ballet Master, Chairman, Lecturer, Foreman of Bill Posters, Bill Inspector, Licensee and Manager, Licensed Victualler, Treasurer, Petty Cash Manipulator, and now at the Tivoli Theater of Varieties, Peter Street, Manchester. Will you kindly pass me to see the Entertainment? Yours respectfully, Jim Pymer.

At Last.

A somewhat tardy recognition of the claim to honor of a notable pioneer is reported in the Atlanta Journal. When the millionaire had completed his summer home, he began to think about decorating the grounds. “You need some statues,” volunteered his friends. “Yes,” agreed the millionaire, "but What kind of statues?” One friend suggested a bronze Saint Patrick, but despite the fact that the millionaire is Irish, and decidedly proud of it, he shook his head emphatically. “Stone reindeer,” hazarded another, “A cast-iron dog or two,” said k third friend. The millionaire rejected each suggestion, and began to think for himself. A few weeks later there was set up in hie garden an oblong block of stone, perfectly plain on all sides but one. On that side was a tablet with this inscription : “To the memory of Adam, the first man.” On top was a little sun-dial. "It’s a monument Adam,” the owner explained. “And why not?” he demanded, belligerently. “Isn’t it about time that somebody recognized his service to mankind?”

Slaves to the Servants.

"I am very tired,” said the fashionably dressed wonian. ‘‘l have been working dreadfully hard all day. Doing what? Why, seeing to my servants —working for them. Didn’t you know that the more servants you have the harder you must work? Certainly I have to do all the shopping for my servants. I have to buy their uniforms, the caps and aprons of the maids, the clothing of the housekeeper, and have to see to the marketing too—yes, and very often, in spite of the fact that I have a housekeeper. I must, or they will form a combine to rob me of everything I have. The housekeeper will get a rakeoff that will enable her to retire in a few years. Then perhaps it is I who must hunt a place as housekeeper for some one else. Oh, yes, if you want to keep your position as mistress of a household of servants you must keep hustling 4. You can't afford to let the grass grow under your feet to any great extent.”—New York Press.

He Got a Hundred.

Sammy’s mother talked to him long and earnestly about the poor marks he had been getting in his work at school. She painted in alluring colors the career of the little boy who studies his lessons and gains the' love and respect of his teachers. She went even farther. She promised him that if he got good marks she would give him a whole dime all for his own. Sammy seemed impressed. That afternoon he returned from school fairly dancing with joy. "Oh, mother,” he shouted, “I got a hundred! ” “Sammy!” cried his delighted mother. She hugged him and kissed him and petted him and —gave him the dime. • "And what did you get a hundred in?” she finally asked. “In two things," replied ’feammy without hesitation. "I got forty in readin’ and sixty in spellin’.”—Everybody’s Magazine.

Economy in Correspondence.

“About the most economical correspondents I’ve heard of,” remarked Assistant Postmaster Ray Floyd, “were two women who stopped at a window downstairs the other day ana wanted to know if it would be all right if they both were to write a friend on the same postal card and thus save a cent.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer.

At a Distance.

Small Elmer was playing with his mother’s opera glasses. Happening to look at her through the big end, he exclaimed: “Oh, mamma, you are so far away you look like a -distant relative!" —Chicago News. —I

The Tripping Tongue.

"Henry Peck, you’re a fool!” --TYou didn’t seem to think so when I was single.” . “No, you never showed what a big fool you were until yon married met.”

A man can plan three houses In half the time it takes a woman to plan a new hat. ' I The other half of the world doesn’t care bow one half lives. Some men seem to make a specialty of missing opportunities.

For The Children

“ Tew Kittle Kitty Cat*. —4jr| Ten little kitty' cats all dressed up fine. One tore her pinafore, then there were nlnev Nine little kitty cats eating from one plate. One got crowded out, then there were 7' i’■ eight; — : — -»• —.... Eight little kitty cats sat up till eleven. One fell fast asleep, then there were seven. Seven little kitty cats playing funny tricks. One rolled out of sight, then there were six. Six little kitty cats, learning to dive. One went down too deep, then there were five. Five little kitty cats playing on the , shore, A big wave caught one, then there 1 were four. FOur little kitty cats climbed up a tree, One fell down again, then there were three. Three little kitty cats met a kangaroo, One went home with him, then there were two. Two little kitty cats sitting in the sun, Ofie ran in the house, then there was one. .--i t— 1 One little kitty cat went to buy a bun. He never came back, and so there was none, —Chicago News. ■ •

The Kittle Tree. In the middle of the wood stood a great pine-tree, with a baby pine at its foot. The mother pine was so tall that she could look over the heads of all the other trees, but the little one was not larger than the ferns and yellow violets that grew round it. “Stand up straight, my dear,” said the old tree. “Yes, mamma,” said the baby pine, “you always say that.” “Of course,” said the mother pine. “How I should feel if you grew up with a crook in your stem!- I knew a little tree once that was not careful to stand straight, and so all its life it bent to one side. One night there Hie a great wind, and™ the' crooked tree went down with a dreadful crash, and it carried with it an owl’s nest that was built in its top, and broke all the eggs. Just think of that! Now if you will do as I say, you will grow up a tall,'straight pine, and the Jolly little sunbeams will call on you first in the morning and stay with you longest at night.” “I will try my best, mamma,” said the good little tree, and it drew itself up. Now it happened to be Arbor day, and the children were hunting for a tree to transplant. “Oh, look here!” called Violet. “Here is a dear little pine, and it is just as straight as an arrow!” “So it is!” said the other children. “This is just the one for us.” Then they dug up the tiny tree, and planted it beside the schoolhouse with due honors. —Youth’s Companion. _ Back from tbe Concert.

Mrs. Thomas de Catt —Were any gifts showered on you, after you struck the high C? Mr. Thomas de Catt —Nothing of value, my dear; only a bootjack, two bottles, an old shoe brush and three tomato cans.—Malcolm Douglas. Catchlns tbe Teacher. A young teacher who had a good opinion of his ability to catch the pupils tripping was conducting an oral examination. Calling on the “smart boy” of the class, he asked: “How many sides has a square?” “Four.” “And a hexagon?” “Six.” “And an octagon?” “Eight” “And a circle?” “Two, sir.” “What?” exclaimed the examiner, delighted at the boy’s apparent error. “Yes, sir, two —inside and outside.” A New Disease. Little Alice was in the parlor entertaining a caller, until mamma should be ready to come down.' Alice if as 3 years old. The caller was an old friend and she now appeared in glasses for the first time. Alice surveyed her critically, but kindly. “You look awful homely with Masses on,” she remarked wth winsome frankness, “but you has to wear them, doesn’t you? You are so up-sighted!”

UNIQUE BANKING SYSTEM.

Giro System of Hamburg DOOO Away With Gao of Check*. Very little Is known in this country of the Giro system of banking In Geriiiany. This system has been in use In the state of Hamburg since the establishment of the Hamburger Bank in 161*. An account is opened in the usual manner and when payments ars to be

made tha payer. Instead of preparing a check, merely instructs his banker to debit his account with the sum involved and to credit Richard Roe’s account with a like amount. If, however, payer and payee have their accounts in different banks, the payer then requests his banker to transfer the amount in question to the bank of the payee, with Instructions to credit Richard Roe’s account with the amount of "the Indebtedness. Convenient blank forms are provided for making these notifications, says the Bookkeeper. When the banker receives ap instruction of this character he in turn notifies Richard Roe of the payment to his credit and the name of the payer. In Hamburg the Reichsbank and five important -banks use the Giro system. Representatives of these banks meet several times dally at the Reichsbank, where transactions between their several customers are cleared. In Hamburg very little material money is used in effecting transactions, the habit being eo settle all obligations, even of the most Insignificant character, by Überwelßungszettel. When payments are to be made from one city to another this is done usually through the Reichsbank, which has five hundred branches, more or less, throughout the empire. All transactions are undertaken without cost to either payer or payee, and, on the contrary, deposits subject to this modified form of checking usually draw 1 per cent interest per annum.

The advantages of the Giro system fall partly under the head of security and partly of convenience. Danger from forgery is eliminated as the notification Bent to a banker by a payer could not by any possibility be utilized advantageously by criminally disposed persons. The Only Inconvenience observable arises from the fact that receipts for payments are not acknowledged on bills as rendered, unless such receipts are specially sought by messenger after the bank exchange has been made.

It is customary in small local transactions for a payer to note at the foot of bills the date of payment through the banker, and in case of possible dispute the bank is i always prepared to clear up misunderstandings. Concerns doing a large volume of business and obliged to make numerous payments dally are spared the annoyance of preparing hundreds of Individual checks, as they have merely to write out a list of names and amounts on a long sheet, which they send to their banker.

Miniature Rings.

Miniature rings are a new fashion of the season. It started in England and was brought to New York ‘by an English artist.

The rings take the place to-day ot the hair rings of our grandmothers’ time and in many cases the same setting is used, the bit of hair being replaced by a tiny Ivory likeness of some friend or relative. The New York Suu says in these days the fashion of weatIng an ivory miniature as a brooch is regarded as a little too much like blazoning your family affairs before an unsympathetic public, but so in conspicuous are the miniature rings that they escape the criticism. In a studio in a remodeled stable in East 40th street there is an interest lng collection of the miniature rlngt in various stages of completion. The work Is of a very tedious character, since It has all to be done under a powerful glass.

For the most part the miniatures are the size of your thumb, though foi dinner rings they may be as large a& a big marquise. As it is first necessary to have the mounting before furnishing the likeness the town is searched for antique settings originally used for hair. These are not easy te find.

Cat and Fox Meet.

In a recent number of a German sporting paper, a forester describes a scene which he witnessed in a clearing in the forest.

He came one afternoon upon a big black cat, occupied apparently in the pursuit of mice, and from the shelter of a tree he watched its movements through a field glass. After a few minutes an old fox made its appear ance. Slinking slowly forward toward the cat, it lay down within a few steps of it, ready to spring. The oat had observed its enemy, but beyond keeping a sharp lookout on its movements it made no sign. Shortly a young fox joined the old one, and almost immediately bounded at the cat, which sprang aside and struck its assailant so efficaciously across its face with its sharp claws that it retired ae quickly as It came. After an interval the old fox, advancing slowly and carefully, made its attack; the result was the same, the cat, spitting and hissing, Btruck out hard, and the fox retired discomfited. , A minute afterward it again sprang forward, but this time tbe cat got much the best of it and was left in peace.—London Globe.

Plain Gasoline.

Once upon a middays dreary. As I wandered weak and weary Down the lane, I was suddenly sent reeling By a subtle something stealing O’er my brain. And me though t the air grew denser. "Incense from an unseen censer,” Murmured 1, I was wrong. That odor evil Floated from a big red devil Going by. —Philadelphia Bulletin. We often wonder at the great number of people who are familiar wfth. the expression: “All Quiet on the Potomac.”

SUNSETS TO ORDER.

■«teoi*l«tlit Declare* We Afar Be Able to Control Weather. . , Are we quite helpless in the matter of bad weather? , The question arises out of a remarkable novel and interesting viewpoint adapted by a well known professor of meteorology and solar physics, with whom the Dally Mirror discussed the question, the Philadelphia Mirror says. Though as a scientific man, he declined to commit himself, he seemed to be decidedly of the opinion that we art not. "Perhaps we are rather too tolerant of bad weather and do not, as we might, take steps to alter things at all,” he began. "After all, we know that a lot of rain is caused by physical conditions which we can control, and we know that we deliberately blot out a considerable amount of sunshine which is doing its best to reach us. We know also that sunsets can be literally made to order. "To take the case of rain first. Generally speaking rain is merely the return to earth of water evaporated into clouds by the sun, which, as you are probably aware, sucks up altogether some 6,000-cubic .miles of-water per annum from the whole world’s surface. “This 6,000 cubic miles of rain we have to endure, whether we like it or not, but is derived from other causes, most prominent of which are the smoke and dust and similar impurities which we send up into the air. “These impurities give water vapor an Immediate opportunity to cluster, distill and descend again as rain. which the vapor would not have, in the ordinary way, until.lt had reached much higher altitudes and been carried by the winds to quite different localities. “Some day dwellers in rain-soaked manufacturing towns will realize thiST and then, perhaps, they will take steps to keep the air of their towns purer and get much less rain in consequence. “And less rain would mean more sunshine, for those same impurities, of course, shut out the sun. “As to the sunsets of which I spoke, I thought it was a matter of common knowledge that the more impurity there Is in the air the greater the of setting sunlight to exhibit the golden tints that are so much admired. "You would see a much finer subset, say, from a window of a Sheffield slum, than you could behold In the highlands of Scotland. The sunsets one hears so much of over the American prairies, for instance, are almost caused by forest fires. "From these brief ... Instances you will realize that man’s control over weather conditions Is even now far from being negligible and may be much increased In the near future.”

Our Millionaires.

In a satirical article entitled “The Natural History of American Millionaires,” a writer In the Berliner Tageblatt says: “They all came to New York, Chicago or Philadelphia with one shirt and with one cent in the pocket of the only other garment. All served as bootblacks, errand boys or even in more humble positions and in the second week had saved enough to buy a waistcoat. After one month they appeared before their respective employers clad in new clothes and told them with imposing keif confidence that the organization of their business was defective and required reorganization. A year later the boy has become a partner, in two years he has outstripped the former boss in wealth, and a year later he has grown smart enough to kill off the benefactor of other days. All American millionaires arise at 3 in the morning, eat and drink almost nothing, cease their work at midnight and allow only those to •live whom they think are good enough to invite. Every dollar king founds a university, an opera, a museum or a picture gallery. Life becomes a burden to them when there are no more competitors in their branch worthy of destruction. Then they lie down and die of ennui.”

Transportation.

If all our cars were motor cars Encumbering the land, And shooting by like shooting stars, We’d have nowhere to stand. If all our plains were aeroplanes the curving sky. The railroads might sidetrack their trains Or put on wings and fly. In many ways, in many things, God’s wißdom He reveals; To some men He hath given wings. And others —they have wheels. —Canadian Courier. y

They Grow Better.

“Oh, beautiful are little girls. And goodly to the sight” So John G. Saxe wrote years ago, And John G. Saxe was right Quite beautiful are little girls, And pleasing to the view; Their rosy cheeks and clustering curls I like to see—don’t you? Yes, beautiful are little girls, And yet the dullest prig Will willingly agree with me. They’re prettier when they’re big. —Somerville Journal.

Sheer Bravado.

Thrice welcome, deadly mincemeat pie, No other pie can beat you. Although not yet prepared to die. In spite of that I'll eat you! —Birmingham Age-Herald.

A great many people talk German a little; we never knew anyone who did not occasionally say nix. ;rrr^t —

RAM'S HORN BLASTS.

Wanda* Wote* Calling tha Wl«k*< to Repentance.

many'church workers who would rather pass the bag than fill it. A home Is a poor place when it is only a warehouse for wealth. No mah is really good unless he provokes to a love of goodness. The kindnesses we waste always come back to enrich us manifold. There Is something unhealthy about the religion that never makes you uncomfortable. The last person to be. beard . in prayer is the ope who prays in tha first person only. The “first step toward weeding your yard is to take a square look at your own. It’s no use talking about loving your children if you haven’t time to give them the bread of life. If all that a church does can be told In its annual report it is not doing much that is worth while. The reality of a new life does not depend on your realization of its beginning but on the fact of its growth. Many a modern giver finds it well to keep one hand blind to the other, lest it learn that while the right gains much from the needy the left gives but little. , <-•>

AN EVER-PRESENT DANGER.

Mrs. Campbell had listened to her neighbor’s plaint without any special evidence of sympathy. “He’s an unselfish man and kind as ever lived,” the neighbor ended, “but when we go off traveling he does mortify me, asking so many questions. Folks all know we come from a little country place, just by the things he asks.” “ ’Tisn’t so bad as having a man that won’t ask anything, nor let you!” said Mrs. Campbell, her round eyes staring half-resentfully at a crayon portrait of her husband as she spoke. “It’s only just by chance that we got the right car coming back from Boston.” “Dear me, how’d you lose track of it?” asked the neighbor, “We didn’t—but we might have for all William, that’s what I’m saying!” And Mrs. Campbell tapped the floor impatiently. x “We came along the track, without a mite of time to spare, and when we saw a car that said Saltville on it, among other names, I was for getting straight into it, as there was such a. crowd. But William, he hitched me right along by the elbow, and up onto to the platform of the car in front of that one, “ This’ll be better,’ he said, ‘nearer the Btatlon when we get there.’

“ ‘But the placard’s away up front,’ I told him, 'and you haven’t seen it. How do you know where this car goes? It may not go near Saltville.’ “But all the time he was bearing me right on ahead of him, and pressed me into a seat, without a word, me beseeching him to go out and ask if we were in a car that would take us home, but he wouldn't stir. He only kind of set his jaw and said he knew by his common sense’ that we were all right.” "Well, of course —” began the neighbor.

“Of course I wouldn’t be here talking to you if we hadn’t been,” interrupted Mrs. Campbell. “But what I do know is that some day William will be carried out to Dakota or some such, when he’s calculating on his common sense to get him to Saltville, and makes up his mind not to ask a single question. “You don’t know what I’ve borne from William, good as he is!”

Repairs Needed.

Thomas A. Edison said recently of aeronautics: "Within five years the North Pole will be reached in a forty-hour trip, and the globe will be encircled within a week. “But the typ« Of aeroplane must be changed,” continued Mr: Edison, "before such flights are undertaken, or otherwise aeronauts will be talking like the automobllist who, after buying a cheap car, visited the salesrooms and said: “ ‘You said when yon sold me my four horse power runabout that you'd supply all parts broken.’ “ ‘Yee, sir,’ said the salesman. “ Then,’ said the other, ‘let me hav« at once, please, a first and third rib, two front teeth, one left ankle bone and a nose bridge.’”.

Quiet.

Madge—Your father la going to take a rest after his vacation, isn’t he? Mabel—Certainly. Mother and I have Just about decided to buy him a seat in the Senate for the winter.— — 4 Punch.

After spending her husband's hard earned coin for a new bonnet a woman always wishes she had taken the other one. Anyway, It la better to borrow trouble than it la to make It

Many mistake their information about the truth for conformity to It. Yon will not find the cut of the klngX wedding garment in a fashion book. There are too