Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1910 — For The Children [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

For The Children

Blackie’* Trick. Gladys sat holding Gray-Paws, one of her kitties, in her lap. But presently her thoughts were recalled by a soft rubbing against her arm. Bhe looked round, and there was Black ie, Gray-Paws’ brother, evidently trying his best to attract her attention. He rubbed against her, and put his nose under her arm. , ‘ But anyhow Gladys seemed to think that her lap was full enough just then, although she was often known to hold Sve kittens at once, asJßlackle was well aware. At last Blackie seemed to conclude that there was no room for him at present, and he was perhaps jealousof Gray-Paws. It really seemed as if he must have thought the matter over carefully and made deliberate plans, for this is what he did. Blackie suddenly sprang down beside the dish used for food and began to eat, or prebend to, with the greatest relish, occasionally looking at GrayPa wa,"RB if afraid he would come and take a part of the feast. This, of course, was too much for Gray-Paws to resist, and in a moment he had jumped from Glady’s lap and run to the side of the dish. Quick as a thought Blackie turned away, ran up the steps and jumped into Gladys’ lap, where he curled down in a ball and began to purr. Them was not one thing in the dish! "You naughty, funny little cat!” exclaimed Gladys, and she could not help cuddling the little rogue nor laughing at his trick, while Gray-Paws walked slowly away.—Youth’s Companion. Acting Out Rhyme*. For this game half the players go outside the door, whilst those who stay in the room choose a word of one syllable, which should not be too difficult. For instance, suppose the word chosen be “Flat,” those who are out of the room are informed that a word has been thought of that rhymes with “Cat,” and they then have to act, without speaking, all the words they can think of that rhyme with “Cat.” Suppose their first Idea be “Bat,” they come into the room and play an imaginary game of baseball. This not being correct, they would get hissed for their pains, and they must then hurry outside again. They might next try “Rat,” most of tbefn going into the room on their hands and feet, whilst the others might pretend to be frightened. At last the boys go In and fall flat on their faces, while the girl’s pretend to use flatirons upon their backs. The loud clapping that follows tells them that they are right at last. They then change places with the audience, who In turn become the actors. Getting Dressed. Here’s a foot and here’s a shoe. See that they agTee. If both are right or both are left They’ll fit quite easily;

But if the little foot is left, You’ll tug with all your might And never get to breakfast, if The little shoe is right. Jones’ Hat or Jones’s Hat. It is not strange that boys and girls are sometimes bothered over the right way to use the sign of the possessive after a noun ending in s. Good usage is about equally divided in the matter, so that either Jones’ hat or Jones’s hat may be considered correct. Literally speaking, however, Jones’s hat is to be preferred, for the possessive form is nothing but a contraction of "his,” the original form having been “Jones, his hat,” and most grammarians say that we should give recognition in the sound to the contracted pronoun. Goold Brown’s grammar says, “To avoid a concurrence of hissing sounds, the s is sometimes omitted, and the apostrophe alone retained to mark the possessive singular, as ‘Moses’ minister," but the elision should be sparingly indulged. It is In general less agreeable than the regular form;” and it illustrates the point by quoting “Hicks’s” as preferable to “Hicks’.” , . With Your Ryes Shat. zlf you have never tried, you will be surprised how difficult It is to judge distance or the whereabouts of anything with your eyes shut. Place a’ piece of paper on the floor before you and, shutting your try to tread on it. Then try to pick it up. Next, stick a pin in the wall about four feet up and try to pick it out without "groping” for It. Stand about six feet away from a table and, shutting your eyes, try to walk up to it without knocking against it ■ — ; —— : ■—- 4 No Presidential Notice. It seems queer, when you think about it, that there is no provision in the Constitution of the Unted States for notifying the successful Presidential candidate of his election. The two Houses of Congress meet on

a day axed, and open and certify tha returns, but there the matter ends, and th» President-elect has to depend on 'hear say” for the result. Many persons wonder why some provision has not been made for giving him for* mal notice of his election.