Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1911 — Page 2

The Sheffield Tray

*1 don’t want a wooden tray," Pattenon said. *1 want to he sure when I set my tea cup down that rm not going to lean a mark. It’a all rery well for you careful housewives, who have time to polish your mahogany. But I have to leave such things to my man, so I’ll take a metal one, please. If you can find It for me.” "Careful house wires!” Mrs. Carrington reproached him. "Can any one be a careful housewife who lives In an apartment Ot two rooms?” “Well, you keep everything shining end perfect,” Patterson told her. '‘lt’s an index of the way you would manage a big house.” “But I don’t want to manage a big house,” Mrs. Carrington protested plaintively. “For go many years I lived In a barn of a place.” She shudPatterson spoke quickly. “But love wasn’t there. It wouldn’t have •sensed barn-like if your husband had keen congenial.” “Please—" Mrs. Carrington held up %AT hands in a little gesture of entreaty—“ Please. we won’t talk about it” Patterson kept rebelliously silent. He hated the attitude of her widowhood, which made her forget the faults of her husband and remember only his virtues. Everybody knew that Carrington had been a brute, that Mrs. Carrlngotn had suffered, and that death had brought her release.

“It is so -coxy here*” she said hurriedly, ! 'and I picked out just the things I loved best from my big house. The old mahogany was my mother's. The books were a part of my father’s library, and the pictures I selected myself.” Patterson noticed that there wasn't one article of her husband’s choosing. “Where did you get your tray?” he •eked abruptly. “This?” Mrs. Carrington moved the fragile teacups so that the oval of polished mahogany could be seen at its best It had a rim of metal and an inlaid star In the middle. "My husband gave it to me. We bought It at an auction in those first days—” Her voice faltered. ‘1 have kept It because It marked the high tide of romance. 1 remember the dim store with Its array of antiques, and the auctioneers droning voice. Arthur wanted me to have this tray. He really paid a fabulous sum for It, far In excess of its value.” “He had money,” Patterson said bitterly. “Tet here I am limiting you to a paltry |16.” He hesitated, then plunged In hotly: “But, after all, ■why ahould we have such a multiplicity of trays, when, If you could only Aee it my way, we might share our belongings for the rest of our Utss.” “Don’t,” she begged. “I am glad to have your friendship, and it pleases me that you should ask me to help you furnish your little apartment —but I cannot share it—l want to be free.” Patterson stood up. “I know,” he «tid. “Your husband made you feel that marriage was bondage, but it would be different with me.” 1 “Oh," she smiled up at him brightly, "let ue just be friends, and I’ll help you pick out your old mahogany and your brasses and your rugs, but you mustn't expect anything more of use.” When Patterson went back that night to his bachelor home he was depressed with the futility of his effdrta to make it comfortable. On his return from the Philippines he had been full of enthusiasm over his plans fer comfortable living. He had talked of the superiority of masculine housekeeping, and had congratulated himself upon the possession of a Japanese servant who could be more to him - than wife or housekeeper. Then he had found that Rita Carrington was free, and immediately the sense of the glory of his bachelor estate had departed. Ail his life he had loved Rita, but she had chosen Carrington. and the rejected suitor had gone away to find forgetfulness in a far country.

He had discovered that he could hold Rita’s friendship beat by means of practical things. She would not talk of romance, but she wouty talk of rugs and antiques and mahogany, hence he had commissioned her to buy him many things. It gave him the opportunity to talk to her over the telephone and to call on her frequently. They had many things in common, such as samovars, andirons, candlesticks and fire screens. It was at ten o’clock the next morning that Rita called him up about the Sheffield tray. “Where do you think I have found one?" she asked. "Not at an auction house this time, but in an English family. The Janitor told me about it; the woman won’t sell it without her husband's consent He will be at home tonight, apd I want to go there. Will you go with me?" , Patterson Jumped at the chance. "At seven o’clock sharp. Is that too early?” fc It really seemed that the husband ate sew® o’clock supper, and went to bed soon after. His wife thought they had better come before sleep overcame "He’s not anxious to sell it." Rita stated. "He may need a little coaxThey went on the trolley oar. Pat-

By TEMPLE BAILEY

(ConriAt. mt, b A— iiSSii literary hm.)

tenon would have had a taxicab, b«t Rita protested. “We want all of your spare money tor that Bhelfield tray," she told him. “and you’re not .rich.” “You aeedn’t nib it in,” Patterson remarked. She laughed. Tm not rich, either” she told him. “Arthur’s money went, you know; bad Investments and all that" “It Isn't any wonder, Rita, that after the luxury of your life you don’t want to come down to my level,” Pattenon said. w She flashed a reproachful glance at him. “You know It Isn’t that; I am afraid—afraid that our romance might end—as the other one did." Then Patterson’s anger flared. “Why should you judge me by him?" he demanded. “Aren’t at! men alike?” aha asked. They found the young Englishman at his vary hearty supper. Mrs. Carrington brought up the subject of the tray somewhat timidly. “We heard that you had one. and we an very anxious to see it” ’lt is an old family piece,” the young man said. ’l’d never sell it but my wife thinks it is best” The little rosy-cheeked woman came to her own defense. "We need the money," she said, “because we are buying a house, and it is to be our home, and rd rather have that than all the trays In the world.” Her husband brought his fist down heavily on the table. "That’s right” he said heartily, “the girl and I need a home, and we are going to have it” “You see,” the little wife explained eagerly, “we found a little white house in the suburbs, and I had some money saved up, and he had some money saved up, and we made a payment and in the spring we are going to move Into It and we’re going to have roses on the porch and a garden with our own vegetables, and maybe some day well keep a cow."

“You have never seen such a girl for flowers,” the young husband told them, "I believe she coaid make them grow in the desert" The supper was almost forgotten as the homely little couple told of their plans and aspirations Then, a little later, a transfer was made, a check went Into the young husband’s pocket and Patterson went away with the tray under his arm. As they walked through the dark streets, Rita said softly, “Think what life means to them.” “Think what it might mean to us,” Patterson answered, looking down at her. “Did you notice the way they spoke of home?” Rita asked. “Yes, it means something to them besides mahogany and old hrs Mes. Oh, Rita. Rita, aren’t we wasting our lives over things that don’t count?” For the first time she admitted, “Perhaps.” Patterson had a sudden inspiration. “Let us send that young couple your tray for a house-warm-ing present Then you can put aside old memories and we will begin over again. We will find a house In the suburbs, Rita, and put our mahogany and rugs and brasses In it, and my Sheffield tray shall have its place on your sideboard, not on mine, and you shall serve tea te me every afternoon from it —and it will be home.” • And Rita, enraptured by the picture he had painted of domestic Joys, breathed a little sigh and whispered, "Yes, It will be home."

The Real Difference.

"What Is the real difference between the classes and the masses?” asked a man at the club lunch; and several definitions were handed out “I saw in the paper this morning.” the observer said, “In a police court case, a wife described her husband as a good man because he always brought home his wages.” There, one thinks, is a real distinction. The good husband of a certain social standing brings home hls wages and receives from his wife a snurffe amount for pocket money. In that case the wife is the financial expert and looks carefully after her husband’s pockets. And against that there is the other system, where the wife has her pocket money and doesn’t know how her husband spends the rest. It is a real distinction and one would like to know how Mr. Rockefeller would have fared if he had always poured hls wages into his wife’s lap.—Loudon Chronicle.

Why They're Short.

“Marriage,” said George Ade. at a dinner in New Tork, “is a wonderful thing.” Mr. Ade laughed a cynical bachelor's laugh. “Marriage,” he went on “changes people so. I met a man the other day who had recently married, and he looked so different that I said: ” 'Why, my boy. I thought you wera tall. But you’re sbortsr than when I saw you last You are actually short now.’ •"Tee, I am abort.’ he returned. I’ve married and settled down, you know.’"

Alaskan Roads.

Alaoku now has 1.4 M miles of wag on roads and trails.

MAKING A BIG ARMY CAMP

S (Special Correspondence.) AN ANTONIO, Tex. —When you take into consideration that gray-haired men still remember that Fort Bam Houston was not a show place, but a useful institution to protect the pioneer settlers from depredations of roving Indians and organized cattle thieves, the warlike enthusiasm of San Antonians can readily be understood. The people were as much aroused by the mobilization of troops as they would be if the United States bad entered upon the greatest war of Its history. Texans are ready to fight the Japanese or the Mexicans or anything they can find to fight.

When the troop trains rolled into San Antonio hundreds of citizens welcomed the Boldiers and cheered. Texas wants to fight. It doesn’t make any difference who is to be fought, so long as some powder smoke follows all this war-like display. Beyond a doubt, if every terrible prediction of Richmond Pearson Hobson as to the intentions of the Japanese were to be realized tomorrow Texas would simply mob Fort Sam Houston to enlist and start for the front Certainly, it was an Interesting sight to see the trains come in, one after another, and the soldiers come forth and organize with the speed of automatons and march away. If they arrived at night, their tents had already been prepared for them by the comrades who arrived before. If they arrived in the daytime they marched to the place marked out for them and pitched their own tents. Everything proceeded as if this mobilization had been planned months ahead. One would never think it was set in motion by telegrams flashed over the country in a single night. v The telegram which eet Fort Sam Houston in motion was received at one o’clock In the morning. An hour after dawn officers were surveying the parade ground of 800 acres and marking it off for tents. Two hundred men began work shortly thereafter to lay water mains. They worked night and day until their task was completed. Bids for supplies for 10,000 men for four months were asked. The contracts are still being let. All this was carried through according to the letter of the law. One firm which came in five minutes late with a bid for several thousand of dollars’ worth of supplies was denied permission to submit its proposition. Every precaution known to physicians and engineers has been taken to keep the camps absolutely sanitary, and as an extra measure the soldiers are invited to take anti-typhoid serum and thousands of them are taking the Injections. j. Of late the camp has been a sea of mud. The mud, however, is bearable. The dust which preceded it was not. The amount of dust thousands of marching men and hundreds of vehicles pulled by from four to eight mules can raise is beyond the understanding, of those who have not tried to breathe in it. The dust was simply stifling. But It is settled now, much to the delight of the men.

An amusing feature of this mobilization is the fear it aroused in winter tourists. The mobilization is certainly not an unmixed blessing for San Antonio, because at least 2,000 tourists went home. They feared trouble of some vague nature and they did not want to be near It They scurried away from San Antonio like ducks after the hunter had fired hls first shot The ignorance of the average tourist is a matter of much amusement everywhere, but It Is particularly amusing in Texas because visitors do not understand Texas distances.

The ride by railway from San Antonio to Laredo, the nearest point on the border, consumes an entire night *W the tourists, even after a residence of several weeks In San Antonio, were still of- the lmpreesion that a stray bullet from acmes the line might strike one of the local hotels. Troops coming from St. Louis and bound for K 1 Paso are only one-fourth pf the way to their destination when they reach the Texas Hue. ; Visitors are coming from every town and city in the state to see the big camp. Many of them are discharged soldiers. One of the favorite occupations of-these veterans in this city is that of street car conductor or motorman. They are also scattered about as waiters, cooks, bartenders and icewagon drivers. Meeting on street corners, they discuss among themselves the possibilities of the troops going into Mfltha Many of these old

THE CITY OF TENTS

campaigners are worried lest by not reenlisting they have lost an opportunity to get under fire. If the parade grounds on which the troops are now encamped are not large enough the maneuver grounds at Leon Springs, about twenty miles from this city, will be used. This mobilization Jtias impressed upon the officers and the war department the urgent need for having larger accommodations for the troops at this point. Already arrangements have been made for the construction of addition* al barracks and further arrangements of a similar nature will be made soon. San Antonio looms up. as the strategic point of greatest importance for the mobilization of American troops in the event of trouble anywhere in Latin America, and it must for all time in the future be possible to masd the entire strength of the United States army here. That, at least, is the opinion of many army men. The troops from along the Canadian border astounded native San Antonians by their utter disregard for the fitful north breezes, which occasionally bring the temperature down to 50 or 60. Most of the time the temperature stays about 70, and for a few days before the recent rain it was between 80 and 90.

Troop trains which came through Texas were queerlooking arrangements. There were cattle cars for the horses, box cars for the artillery and equipage and Pullman cars for the men. The three kinds were grouped in many of the trains. One serious mistake of the Spanish-Amer-ican war was repeated. The caissons of the artillery companies were packed in one section of a train and the guns in another. Hence, when the first section arrived the contents might be. unloaded, but couldn’t be moved off until the second section came in. In some instances harness was packed in the cars of one section, while the horses were in another. But, on the whole, the movement has been successful. It is especially notable that all of the trains have been handled from various parts of the United States with great speed. They have received the right of way over everything else, and not an accident has occurred. A little city has been built up around Fort Sam Houston. Saloons, dance halls, billiard rooms hare sprung up over night. Property has advanced about 1000 per cent in value and what would have bought the land a few weeks ago will not now pay rent for a year on it

The police were prepared to prevent trouble in the city, as the soldiers were inclined to have a good time. There was a tendency toward animosity between them and Mexican residents. This was particularly regrettable because thousands of the “Mexicans” were born in this city, and have never been across the line, them do not speak Spanish. By no means an unimportant part of arranging for the troops was to increase the post office facilities. Clerks and Inspectors were rushed from every part of this department, the local office was spread out into temporary quarters, and the mail was handled without delay. Pontoon bridges and engineering impedimenta remained on the cars ready for quick movement. Hundreds of the cars brought here were not taken away. Many of the bias accepted by the quartermaster’s department called for the delivery of goods on board trains, and not at Fort Bam Houston. That meant that the supplies were ready for shipment to the soldiers who were. being rushed to border points. This army of 20,000 men has been divided. Ten thousand men remained in San Antonio and 10,000 went to the border and formed a wall from El Paso to Brownsville. Troops did not arrive as rapidly ha scheduled, in spite of the well-laid plans in the office of the war department in Washington. Military men say this movement again demonstrates the fallacy of scattering the troops in small poets throughout the country. The prospect for trouble, uncertain as it is, has caused enlistments to increase enormously, and scores- of newly-recruited troops have come with the veterans. It Is an Interesting group of men gathered in San Antonia There are soldiers who have seen service in the Philippines. Cuba, China and Alaska, and won distinction for bravery, and there are men here who fought Indians in Texas a quarter at a oentury

“PICKWICK” IN PIECES

MANUSCRIPT ‘ WASN'T PRESERVED IN ITS ENTIRETY: f "*' v'" ■' ■ Mtm Die People Welcomed the Parte of the Famous Novel—Dickens Gave Away Original of "Our Mutual Friend.” "During my search for the manuscript of ‘Pickwick,' " writes J. Holt Schooling in the Strand, "I heard from one source that the original was in America. "The Americans are zealous cotlectors of Charles Dickens’ letters and writings and one day when I was examining volume after volume of the original manuscripts their keeper told me that many Americans go to him every year and beg permission Just to touch one of the bound volumes of manuscript. “Later inquiry about the manuscript of ‘Pickwick’ brought the following information from Miss Hogarth: 'The manuscript of “Pickwick” was never preserved in its entirety at all. Stray fragments of It have turned up—and are dikbersed about the world, I believe. But it was not given by its. author to any one. I don’t think he attached much importance to his manuscripts in those early days.’ “So we must go without this manuscript. It is of course impossible for us of the present generation to realize what a godsend to the people of nearly a century ago were the light' green monthly parts of ‘Pickwick.’ It came out in heavy days, when people bad solid mahogany sideboards, weighing tons (mdre or less), and when the vogue of the black horse hair covered shiny sofa was supreme; they had armchairs, but no easy ones, and this remark applies to the literature of the period as well as to its furniture. “Thomas Carlyle wrote in a letter to a friend: ‘An archdeacon with his own venerable lips repeated to me the other night a strange profane story of a solemn clergyman who had been administering ghostly consolation to a sick person, having finished, satisfactorily as he thought, and got out of the room, he heard the sick person ejaculate: “Well, thank God! ‘Pickwick’ will be out in ten days any way!” This is dreadful.’ The binder prepared 400 copies of Part I. of ’Pickwick’ and of Part XV. his order was for more than 40,000.

“The manuscript of ‘Our Mutual Friend’ was given by Charles Dickens to Mr. Dallas (the husband of Miss Glyn, the well known actress). Mr. Dallas at the time ‘Our Mutual Friend’ was published was a writer in the London Times, and he wrote a very sympathetic and pleasant review of the book, which pleased Charles Dickens, who very seldom read reviews. When the manuscript was bound up he gave- it to Mr. Dallas. Shortly after Charles Dickens died Mr. Dallas sold the manuscript, and it was bought by George W. Childs of Philadelphia for a large sum. “Some of the American papers said that it had been sold by Charles Dickens to Mr. Dallas and afterward resold by him. When this false statement reached Charles Dickens’ executrix that lady asked Mr. Childs to contradict the statement in America, and this was at once done. ‘As for Charles Dickens to have sold any manuscript of his own,' wrote Miss Hogarth to me, ‘this was simply an impossibility.’ ”

Strain Too Great.

John Hays Hammond; mining engineer and president of the Republican League of Clubs, once paid five dollars for a shave, and he did it at a time when he was not worth much money. He was married In a small town in Maryland, and arrived there the morning before the ceremony after a dash across the continent. One of the things he carried with him into the town was a thick but unornamental growth of whiskers, and one thing he did not have was a razor. His search for a barber resulted in the discovery of the only one in town, an old negro who had been imbibing too freely for several days. As a result of Intemperance, the tonsorlal artist was shaking like an aspen leaf to a gale. "Look here!" said Hammond. “You are going to shave me. If you so much as make a nick in my face, I’ll cut you? throat! If you don’t cut me. I’ll give you five dollars.” The barber, after much effort, agony and tremor, finished the Bhave successfully. But the strain was too great for him. Just as h|s hand closed on the flve-dollar note, he fainted away.—The Sunday Magazine. >

Whitby Jet

Whitby on the North sea coast neai Leeds, Eng., hss been the home of the jet Industry of England. Jet Is still mined there and made up into ornaments for personal wear, but only to a limited'extent Fifty years ago it waa a flourishing industry, giving direct employment to 1,600 people in Whitby. Now not over 20 are engaged in Its production generally old people, and no others are taking it up. Tbs price of rough jet has fallen In that time from 26 cents an ounce to from 76 cents to 22.90 a pound. One old Whitby worker now plies Ms trade in Leeds and exposes bis wares for sale at the city market twice a week. He Is the only one so engaged in this city. Some Spanish Jet which la harder and more brittle than the Eng Hah variety, Is imported in England

MEGAPHONE ACTS AS CUPID.

AlfLTtmm I n U xn ■* ia-j ts«« - nWInIIW WIHw wmow Recognizes Voice of the Train Announcer. Fqr the first time In its history, the! megaphone has played the part of Cat-; pid, and as a result a wedding uniting! Frederick Mulhaus, train ahnodncer In the Jersey City terminal of the McAdoo tunnel and Mrs. Julia Bwal-, lenger, a German widow, will takei place in a few days. They knew each other when he was* a youth in Germany and visited her a* they while she rolled cigars, he dreamed of. a fortune to be made In faro ft America. He finally hid his sweetheart good-by, came here and obtained a position, but no fortune. He could not fill his part of the agreement made beneath the arbor, and she married a prosperous clgarmaker. Then he, too, married and lived in comfort for many years, but ten years ago his wife died. He finally obtained the position of train announcer in the Pennsylvania railroad station of the McAdoo tunnel. He it is who calls out which trains to take for Twentythird or Cortlandt streets, and to. carry his voice he uses a megaphone. The other day, while he was busy at his daily task, a middle-aged woman who had been standing at the end of the platform turned suddenly and looked at him. She waited thus until be called out his message once more and then went up to him. “I am Julia, Frederick,” she said "and I know you by your voice.” "There must be some mistake,” he answered, this time without the aid of the megaphone. “I would never have guessied it if you had not used that instrument,” she answered, “but you must be Fred Muhlhaus, for your voice is the same strong, deep, manly voice of my old friend. It is different; it is weaker when you talk naturally, but, then, you are older now.” ' ; > ’ “Julia 1" This is all Muhlhaus said. He then learned that her husband had come to America, made a fortune and a year ago had died. He told his story, and in a few days the two will trip iip the aisle of St. Patrick’s church.—New York American.

He Found Out.

Accustomed as New Yorkers are to paying big sums of money for the grati. fication of curiosity the more prudent passengers in a Broadway car disapproved of the reckless squandering of a quarter by one of their number, says the Sun of that city. For several blocks ahead the cars were Btalled. Nobody knew the cause of the blockade. That seemed to worry the impatient man more than the holdup, i “I can stand ’most anything,” h« said, “if I only know why I h%ve to stand It.” Presently a messenger boy presued his face against the outsidF of Ihe window and made faces at the crowd within. The impatient man lowered another window and collared the bey, “Son,” be said, “if you will runrun, mind you—up to the hedd of live blockade and see what is the matter. I wiH give you a quarter.” Like a shot the boy was off. Apparently he made the round trip at record speed, for he was back in a very short time; y“Coal wagon broke down on the tracks,” he said.

Where Johnson Wrote Rasseias.

Staple Inn, London, Bing., where an alarming crack has appeared in the brick work of the outer court, seems so called because originally a hostelry of the merchants of the wool staple, and has for arms a woolsack. It has been an inn of chancery since the reign of Henry V., and in the spacious days of Queen Bess had 146 students during term and 69 out of term, a larger number than any other house of chancery. The much-admired Holbein front, one of the oldest existing specimens of oar street architecture, dates from the time of James I. Dr. Johnson removed hither on the breakin# up of his establishment in Gough square, and wrote from here to tell Miss Porter that be was “going to publish a little story book." This was “Rasselas," which he wrote “in the evenings of one wick" to defray the expenses of his mother’s funeral. In the present garden behind the inn are two small service trees, said to have been planted about that period.

Guard Shakespeare's House.

The trustees of Shakespeare’s birthplace have held a special meeting at Stratford-on-Avon, at which it waa unanimously decided to purchase for 24,500 the house occupied by the secretary to the trust, since Its proximity to Shakespeare’s house would enable their chief effioer to exercise full and constant control over the most important property belonging to the trustees, and Its acquisition would permanently secure the birthplace against, any defacement by unsuitable buildings in its Immediate neighborhood. It was reported that the secretary's dwelling house had been placed in direct communication by telephone with the police and fire stations and with the burglar alarm at the birth plane.

An Opportunity Lost.

Billy—Say, what did de old Jay want ter know? Reddy—Wanted ter know where Wall street 'was. M, " Billy—Geel Why didn’t yer get him up de alley and skin him at craps?—Puck.