Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1911 — Page 3

THE AMERICAN HOME WILLIAM A. RADFORD EDITOR

Mr. William Ay Radford will answer Questions and give advice FREE OF COST on all subjects pertaining to the subject of building for the readers of this paper. On account of his wide experience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he is, without doubt, the highest authority on all these subjects. Address all inquiries to William A. Radford, No. I#4 Fifth Ave., Chicago, 111., and only oar ■lose two-cent stamp for replsy

One of the principal objections to the use of concrete in building construction is the fact that the finished surface is rough and no attempt is made to give a finish to the surface, either in the molds or after their removal., This is probably due to an Idea that interfering with the surface would destroy the skin of the concrete and deteriorate its usefulness. Two methods are now being successfully employed, giving a finish to concrete either in molded blocks, or monolithic construction in place. The first of these methods is to apply fresh granite to the face of the mold, which gives it all the finish and durability of granite ashlar. This finishing material is ground and sifted into several sizes, several of which are employed in'making the facing mixture, on the same principal as mixing aggregates so as to fill the voids. The best proportion is one of cement to three of aggregate of different sixes. A small quantity of hydrated lime is added, which on account of its fineness acts as a waterproofing, likewise preventing the block from sticking to the mold. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed dry. The face of the mold is wiped clean and dry. A thin layer of almost dry spar mixed with a little cement mixed with a little hydrated lime is spread on the plate. On top of this a half-inch of ordinary mixture is spread, then a layer of rich backing and finally, the ordinary block mixture, which should be tamped hard. The above method is the one used when a face-down concrete block machine isused, while the reverse process is used with a face-up machine.

In this case the grit or feldspar is sifted dry on the wet cement. The spar may be pressed into the surface by running a roller over it. After It has set the surface is washed with a solution of one part of muriatic acid to eight of water to remove any stains. Then it is washed with clean water to remove traces of the acid. In monolithic construction the sides of the forms are plastered with about a half. Inch of the facing material before the filling is placed. The second method of finishing concrete surfaces Is to give them an ash-lar-like appearance by polishing the surface with carborundum bricks and water. This method is applicable to monolithic concrete, as the molds in which it 1b formed are built up of boards, which have a tendency to warp and are more or less rough. In this case the inside of the mold which

First Floor Plan.

forms the face of the wall is plastered with a rich material. The concrete which la to form the back of the wall is filled in and allowed to set twenty-four hours. The molds are removed and the concrete is rubbed down with carborundum bricks. This gives a beautiful polish. Here is displayed the design of a house that could be finished in thin manner at no very great expense. The concrete walls could be carried to the second floor and the balance of the structure could be of frame construction. The house Is twenty-nine feet

wide and twenty-six fefct six inches long, exclusive of the porch. The 1 porch of this house extends partly across the front and around the side, assuring shade at almost any time of the day. One enters the house into a large reception hall and directly ahead is the fine living room, which is well lighted. A large dining room is at the right and directly back is the kitchen. The kitchen is entered through an enclosed porch and directly available is a good-sized pantry. On the second floor are two, bedrooms under the gables. A. bathroom is also provided for, with a dormer window in front. This house, if finished in the manner described, will look well If built

Second Floor Plan.

on a corner lot, as it will present an exceptionally fine appearance. It may also be added that If concrete Is used In consfruction the house will be warmer In winter and much cooler In summer than it would be if built entirely of frame.

Country Life.

Not long ago a pair of rooks built their nest In one of a cluster of trees in a gentleman’s grounds. The owner was delighted at the prospect of hav-

ing a rookery practically at his hack door, but the farmer who owned the surrounding land didn’t look at the matter in the same light. The farmer was no great lover of rooks, and he gave his sons orders to "pot ’em” at the first opportunity. One morning the farmer received this note from his neighbor: "Sir, I wish your boys would let my rooks alone. I’m trying to make a rookery.” The farmer altered three words and returned the note: “Sir, I wish your rooks would let my crops alone. I’m trying to make a living.”—London Tit-Bits.

Even Better.

A farmer from Kerry went to ths adjoining county of Limerick, where the land is richer, to look for a farm. He saw one which he thought would suit him, but could not agree with the landlord as to the rent. “Get away,” cried the landlord, angrily, at last. “This land is not like your miserable Kerry land, where a mountain sheep can hardly get enough to eat. The grass grows here so fast and so high that If you left a heifer oat in the field there at night, you would scarcely find her In the morning.” “Bedad, yer honor, that’s nothing*," Teplted the man from Kerry. “There’s many a part of my county where if you left a heifer out at night the deuce a bit of her you’d ever see again.”

Man From Maine Won.

FOur Btrangers were talking amiably together In a country inn. One said: "I was born in Virginia, the mother of statesmen and fair women.*’ “My native state is Kentucky.” boasted another, “the land ,of superb pastures, fleet horses, sure marksmen and peerless beauties." A third extolled Ohio, a fourth praised Louisiana. At last s tall, gauatf man said: “Well, gentlemen, I come from the garden spot of America." “Where's that?” shouted the others in chorus. "Skowhegan, Maine. Can I sail yam a rasor strop V— Boston Herald.

WHEN THE STAFF OF TEXAS REVOLTED

THE ALAMO

|p|ORT SAM HOUSTON, in San ■ - Antonio, Tex., to which 20,000 troops weije hurriedly dlsJL patched, is located close to the historic spot where the battle of the Alamo was fought. There a small force of American pioneers of the southwest fought against overwhelming odds until death gave the Mexican army a temporary victory. The stronghold whither, they are bound bears the name of the general who brought independence to the Lone Star state. “Thermopylae had Its messenger of defeat. Alamo had none.” This inscription, ascribed to Lord Macauly, is engraved -on a monument in the grounds of the Texas capitol at Austin in commemoration of the garrison, all of which died fighting against overwhelming odds in the battle of the Alamo, which ended March 6, 1836. Americans in Texas rose in rebellion against the government of Mexico in 1836. Early in 1836 the rebellion grew into warfare. The Texans were under the leadership of the bluff Gen. Sam Houston as president of the new republic of Texas and as com-mander-in-chief of their little army of volunteers. It was a daring undertaking for a scant 2,000 men to attempt to wrest the state from Mexico with its 16,000 drilled troops. But the Texans, headed by Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, William Travis and John Haydon, feared no failure. The Mexican general, Santa Ana, set out from the Rio Grande northward to quickly conquer and punißh rebellious Texans. His army of 6,000 men, after a march of nearly 600 miles acrbss a desolate country, reached San Antonio, confident of capturing that town and moving on to the new capitol at Washington, Tex. Unprepared for Battle. The garrison at San Antonio was unprepared for Santa Ana’s coming. The first tidings of his approach were given by the sentinels posted on the roof of the Alamo, which was an abandoned Franciscan mission, built in 1723. It numbered about 185 men under command of Col. William Travis. When the news of Santa Ana’s approach reached Travis he determined to make good its defense until reenfotcements could, arrive. With him was Col. James Bowie, whose name was always associated with his famous knife, and Davy Crockett, the frontiersman and hunter of history and romance. They had a few pieces of artillery, little ammunition, 90 bushels of com and 80 beef cattle, which were hurried within the inclosure. Santa Ana demanded immediate surrender. Travis returned a defiant refusal, emphasized by a cannon shot. A blood red flag, signifying no quarter, immediately was raised above the Mexican camp and their batteries opened upon the garrison. Meanwhile Travis had dispatched messengers to Houston and Washington, Tex., 96 miles away, appealing for assistance. The Mexican batteries attempted a breach in the stone walls of the mission at dawn February 26. For hoars every day the Mexicans continued the siege. In a hot fire which was opened upon the garrison on the last morning in February some of the bombs fell close to the spot where Davy Crockett lay. He sprang up and made his way to the ramparts just as the Mexican gunner was reloading and before he could fire again shot him. A comrade caught up the match and ran to the touchhole. But already a fresh rifle had been handed the Tennesseean and he picked off the second gunner as he had the first. Three more Mexicans made the attempt and met a like fate and for a time the gun was silenced. Colonel Travis called the garrison about him March 3. He made a brief talk, telling his coinrades that longer hope for asslstan6e was useless. He said that the Alamo should be surrendered or it should be defended until the last man was dead. He drew a line with his sword on the adobe floor and said: "I propose to stay here until I am killed. All who will be with me will come to this side of the line; all who wish to surrender remain on that side.” Davy Crockett leaped across with a triumphant wave of his cap. Every man in the file Joined him. It was a grim decision; the garrison lessening in number every day, the food supply was almost exhausted and only a few rounds of ammunition was left for the survivors. Bowie, almost from the beginning of the siege, was ill with typhoid. In a little adjoining room he lay on a rude bed attended by a Mexican woman. Hearing the speech of Colonel Travis, he feebly called to his companions and begged them to pick

up his cot and carry him over the line. A few hours later he became delirious and never recovered consciousness. Dawn of the Morning of Death. The morning of the final attack was a warm, bright Sunday. Colonel Bowie died about three o’clock. Death had become so common that no one paid any attention to the dying pioneer. They were blackened with gunpowder; they looked wild from lack of sleep and food; they seldom spoke and all their words and acts were those of men tferribly In earnest. The sole idea of each was to sell his life as dearly as possible. Santa Ana determined to take the Alamo by assault. The bond struck up “Duguelo” (assassin) and amid a boom of cannon ladders were brought, the walls of the building were scaled by 2,000 cavalrymen, while battering rams beat in the doors. The Texans ran to the roof, where several cannon had been stationed. As fast as the Mexicans mounted they were stabbed and the ladders overturned. Meanwhile the Mexican riflemen on the ground shot down the Texans on the roof and the battle raged with the few Texana who stayed on guard behind the barricade. After an hour the Mexicans had overpowered the Texans and were swarming to the roof. The defenders retreated down the stairs, fighting every inch of the why. Then the doors below were beaten down with huge timbers and with a yell the frenzied soldiers poured in the opening. The little band of Texans was pitifully Insignificant against the horde of Mexicans. There were yells and gunshots and groans in one long, hideouß chorus. Not one of the Texans sank to death till he had all his strength. Coloned Crocket® stood in the comer of the main room and with a cutlaßs slashed all who attacked him. His shirt was soaked with blood and a bullet had piercea his cheek. Shot by a man in front of him, he lunged forward, selling his life as dearly as possible. Colonel Travis was shot through the head while defending the stairs. No one was spared, and every one of the Texans sank to the floor fighting. So ended the Alamo, Nearly all the information that historians have concerning the events inside the Alamo during the siege has come from Dona Andrea Castarion de Dillanueda, the nurse of Colonel Bowie and the sole survivor. The state of Texas pensioned her for 40 years. They Remember the Alamo. From that day the words, “Remember the Alamo!” were the slogan t>f the campaign throughout Texas. In less than two weeks more than 600 frontiersmen, maddened by the massacre, joined Sam Houston’s army. A month later Houston, with a force of 700 Texans, faced Santa Ana, with 2,000 soldiers, on the banks of the Ran Jacinto. The battle was only an hour long. The Texas force, with a mighty and exultant yell, “Remember the Alamo!" routed the enemy and captured Santa Ana, who barely escaped death. Texas independence then was established.

Laughing Eyes.

That Wilkesbarre woman who caused the arrest of a girl on the charge that the latter used “laughing eyes” to “beguile” plaintiff’s young son experienced no sympathy at the hands of the court. The judge saw no legal or moral ground for the arrest. He not only set the girl free at once, but complimented her on the possession of those "laughing eyes.” So far as may be judged by the published report of the case, the court was eminently sound and wise. If anybody should be arrested and placed in confinement in connection with such a matter it is the young man himself. The ygung woman to*whom Providence has accorded the gift of laughing eyes is a blessing to- the community. There is too much sorrow, too much occasion for tears, in our sad old world, If any young fellow is in danger of being “beguiled” unduly by that Wilkesbarre style of optics, he should be placed in safe, if not solitary, confinement

The Cause.

“What was the cause of the quarrel between the two tramps?" “One found some money, the other tried to make him fork it over, and when he refused, knifed him.”

A Real Curiosity.

‘Has your dolly got real hair, little girl?” s , - “Yes, but that’s nothing; 1 know a, little girl whose mamma has got rsa* hair.”

THE BOUDOIR

HITS IN NEW MODES

HIGH-WAIBTED SKIRT AND SHORT SLEEVE FEATURE*. &yfrfo.,-- _ .-I. : ; Y.‘ '7Easy Way to Make Over Last Year's - Skirt 8o It Will Be Becoming As Well As Fashionable.

There are two features in the new spring fashions that should be gratefully received. One is the highwaisted skirts; the other Is the short Bleeve. We wonder what we can do to last year's skirt so that It will be becoming as well as fashionable. This much we can do: we can match the material and extend the waist. by means'of a shaped belt stitched to the skirt, that will give at least a semblance of a high-walsted skirt and keep ns from the necessity of adding a separate belt with buckle. When making the new skirt for spring and summer, it Is well to know they will be cut from one to two Inches above the normal waistline and that they will be fastened at the side of the front A four-gored pattern will be used, which brings a wide panel down the middle of the front and back, which can be converted Into a box plait,-If one desires. The fastening is at the left of this wide front panel or gore, which shows that the habit back will be continued In favor. On white linen skirts as well as those of khaki and duck, the fastening Is with buttons and buttonholes, and on the cloth skirts it Is with glove clamps or hooks-and-eyes. The skirts are mounted on a wide inside girdle made of wide belting, with slight darts at the side to fit the curve of the figure. This girdle holds the entire garment In place; it keeps the seams in a straight line and prevents the skirt from sagging away from the blouse. The short sleeve Is to be very much the fashion, If the advance styles continue In favor. It will not be worn To the exclusion of the long sleeve, .for the latter Is shown on many of the best gowns, cut to a sharp point as far as the knuckle, and closely fitting the aria from shoulder to'- waist. All the peasant waists, the eton and bolero jackets and many of the expensive wash blouses have small straight seams that end at the elbow. The little coats that are coming in are exceedingly Jaunty and very becoming. Straight, unfitted models are plentiful and all sorts of little garments that fasten with one big button somewhere between the throat and the waistline. Qfie coat

NEAT DESIGN FOR CAMISOLE

Will Be Found Exceedingly Useful for Wearing Under Blouses — Is Easily Made. This simple camisole would be found exceedingly useful for wearing under blouses, as it is taken high up to the neck and has a square yoke of

broderie Anglalse, edged with heading; the sleeves are also of the broderie; the nainsook Is set plainly to yoke, and is tucked at waist, where it Its joined to basque. Materials required: IK yard broderie Anglalse 18 Inches wide, K |yard nainsook 36 inches wide. IK yard beading.

Smaller Bags Coming.

, Wrist bags, after growing steadily bigger until men jeered at the amount of baggage women carried about them, now come quite small again. ! Velvet and satin, which had been completely superseded by leather, have returned to favor for these little 'bags, or large purses, as you may choose to regard thorn. They are also covered with material to match the gown with which they are carried. Cord handles, cord trimmings, finished with knots or tassels, give the bogs their more modish name of cordetterss. /

seen was of short-hip length and was loose and draped slightly at the front, where it closed with a big buckcle. There was a large collar rounded at the back. The leading milliners say that the favorite colors for spring and summer bats are black and white, pearl gray, moleskin and vivid shades of red. These are all Worked out fa straw, tulle, velvet and satin. The, new straws are so pliable that they can be folded up without crushing. They are not only used for hats, but for trimming. Scarfs, rosettes and

the huge, irregular bow that has become so much the fashion are all twisted out of this pliable straw, which Is beautifully colored in the new dyes. The striped straw is the novelty. This is in line with the faslUon for stripes that pre are promised on every side. The stripes are not wide and they are put on a black, a white and a- straw-colored foundation.

Traveling Frocks.

A number of smart little frocks may be found in dark blue or black for trotting or traveling. Some of these have collars and gulmpes, but the bare throat idea promises to have even a greater popularity this summer than it had last year, and it behooves the woman who hasn’t already bleached and massaged her throat to go to work on it now.

BRAID FOR SUIT TRIMMING

Much Favored In Nearly All New Bulta—Buttons Also Much in Evidence. , In nearly all the new suits the favored trimming is braid, especially tbe wide braid, which sometimes forms the collar, cuffs and revers, and trims the skirt as well. Panels of braid coming down the front and back of the Jacket, and continued in the same way on the skirt, are distinctly the thing . Narrow braid la also very smart, especially when worked out in ornamental designs on the skirt and coat. A touch of color Is added by oriental embroidery on the collar, sleeves and revers. There is merely a hint of this, and it Is not allowed to become too prominent in the color scheme. Buttons are also very much in evidence, some of them of the same odor as either the suit or the trimming, or as both, and some of them silver or gilt These latter are very small, quite tiny, in fact. In general, however, the new suits, except the elaborate satin ones, are rather plain, comparatively little trimming of any sort, outside of braid, being seen.

Collars.

The wide fluted niching* of a *«ikh or so ago, which grew gradually more and more harrow until the past winter they wdre only a bit of cord, have now disappeared altogether and the new high collars have simply a fold of gold or silver, or perhaps. a bit of contrasting material to finish them. In the cream white oollars this touch of contrast is usually given by a bit of black close to the throat, but this is a trying style, and a more becoming effect can be gained by patting a fold of old rose chiffon or a double fold of tulle at the top of the collar, while the bit of gold braid or silver la also both pretty and becoming. High collars will continue In favor until after the spring * season, but summer will bring the collarless frock into vogue again.

Needlework Notes.

Never cut flannel when making up this warm, comfortable winter fabric. Instead. It should be torn—starting the tear, of course, With the scissors. This results in a stralghter edge and If the flannel appeara uneven It eaa easily be straightened by pulling slightly In the opposite direction.