Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 215, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1912 — Page 3

Improvised

By JOANNA SINGLE

'(Copyright, 1812, by Associated Literary Because it was a moonlit summer evening and they were young, happy :and courageous, they bore the Infliction of Billy's music without throwing thinge at Idm. They liked Billy so much that even his Joyous rendition & "Juanita” in a sweet but hardly accurate tenor voioe to the twang of jhls guitar was received with patience, albeit neither man nor girl on the Wide, cushion-strewn veranda ceased 'talking or laughing or flirting. They jknew Billy would not expect that even from guests. Billy looked out on the little lake to a boat that drifted in the white [path made by the moon on the water. iand wondered what James Strafford was Baying to Stella. The wonder made him so wretched that he began ;an agonising improvisation. on the "Spanish Cavalier” with one of the guitar strings a bit flat. Then he notioed that Norma Main had come near |to him, the only silent one there, sitting on the top step, her fair head on her hands, her elbows on her knees. It struck him that Norma, poor child, needed comfort, too. By some Sixth sense he knew that Jimmy should In decency be saying to her whatever he was saying to Stella. He pondered miserably as to the reason Stella might have for suddenly evading him, Billy, and being ceaselessly [with the other man. She knew, too, that Norma and Strafford were lovers, l if not actually engaged. That made iher behavior worse. ; Then, to relieve his own pain, and add to that of those who had to listen, he sang “The Spanish Cava!lier,” and .then "In Old Madrid,” and then "Juanita” over again. Re knew only the three gongs, Which wsb fortunate, for had he known another he would have rendered that also. As ■lt was, he finally put down the longsuffering Instrument and tried to talk 'with Norma. ; The girl answered briefly in such a 'queer, half-choked little voice that he

Tried Not to See Norma as a Bride.

linstinctively shielded her from the observation of the others by starting a great chatter of his own, and ask; Ing her to walk with.him. Without a. word she sauntered beside him down to the beach. He took her hand and put it on his arm. He had known her from childhood, and despite his hurt ,about Stella, he would not see Norma unhappy if he could help it. He talked on, and until he actually heard a distinct little sob from the girl he Ignored, her evident unhappiness, as jhe thought she would wish. ; "Look here, Norma," he said, “I won’t have you miserable. Can I do ianything? Do you inlnd telling me [what is the trouble?" ■ “Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know. ■lt’s dear of you, Billy, but you know well how ]miserable I am. iAnd you know why. I could kill Stella Morro—l hate her as—” < \ “As I love her, Norma. She acts 'as if she were bewitched. She has jnot stopped flirting with Strafford ifrom the minute he came out here. (And I had mother ask him Just for (you. I meant well. And I thought she ;was beginning to care for me—she (acted as if she did. What do you [suppose alls her?" ' "I don’t like to tell you,” she said [slowly, and he turned to look si her [profile In the moonlight, and at the well-carried figure. “It’s simile cattishness. She’s getting even with (me. t Tou never knew that there’s always been a silly feeling between of from the kindergarten up—some childish jealousy. I was done with it (ages ago, but I took honors in high school when she didn’t, and ft’s too foolish to teO, but I’ll tell you. Last winter Mrs. Vinoent gave a dance for Paul Forsythe—you weren’t here. You know he’s a sort of notable,, Rigglish, and awfully good looking. He seemed to take a great fancy to me—got psora dances than I should have given him. Wen, he begged to sitone out, and wr dl<L The awful part is that we were having, euch a really Jolly time that we sat out two dances. The last happened to be Stella’s. 8h? was forione. Of •course, it was awful of him, but she never forgave me. Of course it was my fault! She told Ifaude she’d get even, if 1( took all her life, ■' * J* i

but I didn't suppose she’d try to break things up between Jimmy and me.” . ; 'V'. , "He doesn't deserve yon, Norma,” began Billy .angrily, ahd than remembered that he was. criticising Stella as well, he way silent awhile. “I can’t understand women’s Vanity, Norma, and I wouldn’t believe this of her from anyone bat you. You’re too good a little Mend and too truthful not to he believed. Let’s help each other out Does anyone bat me know how you feel about Strafford?” She shook her head. “Not a soul!” I’ve been so ashamed of flirting with Jerry Patera Just to hide my real feelings! 11l stop or go straight home—” •' • • • • “You’ll stay right here! Going would be a confession. Tell you, Npnnle, let’s stay right by each other. You flirtwith me—and I’ll flirt with you, and we Won’t mind what anyone thinks. It may bring those two people to time What do you* say?” The girl nodded, but her heart was sore that James Strafford would yield to the aggressive, sparkling, almost malicious fascinations of Stella the moment she tried them on him. Billy was a comfort, and she told him so. They went back to the others. The next few weeks saw a queer change In the affairs of the dozen yonng people, most of them out at Billy’s summer home for a couple of months. Billy and Norma were always together, inseparable. As Strafford saw Norma so oblivious of him, he began to think of her more and more, wondering if Stella was, after all, the one girl for him? One morning he asked Norma for a walk, but she told him sweetly enough that she was golfing with Billy that day. No, she wouldn't go out on the lake In the evening—Billy wanted her to learn a new song. Behind them stood Stella, a queer look on her piquant, brown little face. Sauntering off to the garden, she managed to run against Billy—she was sweet and appealing and meek. She hadn’t seen anything of him, he was so busy with his duties of host. She would be glad when he wasn’t so bußy. She dimpled and sparkled, her old self to him, but somehow he could not risef'to the old ready adoration of the girl. Loyal himself, he loved loyalty In another. It was not that he couldn’t forgive, but he saw a lack of quality In her. She, to satisfy mere vanity, had hurt him, hurt Norma—and perhaps Strafford. Billy was grave. Courteously enough, he led her back to the house and started with Norma for the links. On the veranda Strafford also was looking after them. Stella turned to him with a queer little laugh, i "Quite a case, don’t you think, Jimmy?” He frowned. Suddenly he didn’t like her to call him "Jimmy,” though .jbie had begged her to do so not very ’long before. Neither did he like the light tone about Norma. He made some excuse and sulked away by himself with his pipe. ... Out on the links Billy and Norma golfed and laughed. They had sought comfort and had found It. It was thp evening that followed that Stella made a discovery. Billy and Norma had walkcftl out on the moonlit beach and sat. together on the sand watching a stiff breeze send the wares lapping up at the shore line. Billy put hi# am over Noma’s shoulder with a loving little movement., A light laugh made them both start, but Instinctively Billy kept his arm where It was." They looked np and saw Stella and Strafford, the latter walking unwillingly as though he wished he were elsewhere. Stella laughed again. "What a chamlng little scene! I hope we do not Interrupt? Is it real—or just Improvised, Romeo?” She addressed Billy and was answered by him. v < "Norma and I are real people—we don’t Improvise on a theme like—love. It’s real. Isn’t it, Norma?” * She nodded. Suddenly she knew that she and Billy loved each other deeply and sweetly, and that these other people and their little Jealousies and weaknesses meajnt nothing to either of them. ' But there was still enough feminine malice in the girl fa make her ask sweetly of Stella: “And you? Am ito wish you—” * . Strafford broke in rather angrily: "Don’t be absurd! Stella doesn’t enjoy that any more than—l do, and yon know it! Wont you and Billy come back to the house with ua?” j. Having put himself on record, Strafford knew Stella would expect no more of him. What did she deserve?' He told himself that everything was her fault. Hang girls, anyhow! He made for the smoking room and his worst old pipe at the flrst’possible moment. He leaned back and blew rings, and tried not to see Norma as a bride. That was a little too much for Strafford at- that time.

Peculiar Albanian Duels.

Alban tans used to practice a •peculiar form of dueling. Sir Richard Burton, Whoonce commanded a corps of bashl-bazonks, writes that "the Albanian contingent, who generally .fight when they ere drunk, Jtiad a peculiar style of monomachy. The principals, attended by their seconds and by their friends, stood close * opposite, each holding a cocked pistol in his light hand and a glass of rakl, or spirits of wine, in the left The first to drain His draft had the right to fire, and generally blazed apay with fatal effect It would have been useless to discourage this practice, but I Instated on fair play."-

Not Alway.

“•Causes may be known by their •Beets*V"■ -"r &Q ■ "How about rich food producing A poor appetite?” ■ •*. • '• ?■ -m -

Home Course In Road Making

IV.—State Aid In Road Improvement

By LOGAN .WALLER PAGE,

Director Office of Public Roads, United States Department of Agriculture. c-y. * v.,, a .1-1 -i _i ■j. __ a vopyngm oy American itmi awoelation, USX

principle of state aid and I state supervision seems to of"v JL iter the best solution of the road problem. The first state to adopt state aid was New Jersey, a law having been passed by the legislature of that state In 1891. Since that time about two-thirds of the states of the Union have adopted some form of state aid or state supervision. In order to receive the aid of the state the counties or townships are required to pay a portion of the cost This amount' varies in the different Btates from 25 to 50 per cent, but In soiqp of the states the whole cost of

A STATS AID ROAD IN NEW JERSEY.

certain trunk line roads is paid by the state. The principle of state aid is that the state-contribute to road im-, provement out of a general fund to which all taxpayers contribute. The fund does not come from farmers alone, but from all the people, and especially from those that are more abundantly able to bear the burden of taxation. A great Injustice has been done the farmers of this country In expecting them alone to shoulder the entire expense and responsibility of building country roads. .The residents of cities have signified a greater willingness to contribute to this fund than those who live In the rural districts, -notwith.landing the fact that practically all the state aid lews prohibit the use of the money within the limits of cities and towns. State aid tends to equalise the burden of taxation. . Every one who uses a highway or receives any benefit from it should contribute to the cost of its improvement The farmer is not the only one who uses the country roads or receives benefit from them. They are also used by the country merchant, the lumber dealer, the Itinerant peddler, the Village doctor, the commercial salesman* by the wheelman and the automobilist, and to a greater or lesser extent by the entire people. The city dweller cannot live without his daily supplies from the farm, and he must pay daily and In cash the greater share of all extra cost attending their transpdrtptlpn. Some of the state highway departments are operated on a purely political basis, and It very frequently happens that the highway commissioners, as well as their subordinates, are removed from office for purely political reasons, no matter bow efficient or competent they may be. This is the most serious defect in our state aid system. Any law providing for state supervision and state aid should be so framed as to remove its administration as far as possible from the influence of partisan politics. A plan that seeips to be meeting with general approval is one which provides for a nonpald, nonpartisan and technically competent commission that consists, for instance, of a professor of dvtf engineering, from ope of the leading qniversitiea or colleges of the'state, the state geologist and one civilian member to* be appointed by the gOVsrhbr. A commission thus constituted has a majority of its members selected because of tbeir training and ability and without reference to tbeir political affiliations. The civilian member ap. pointed /by foe governor abound brin| to the commission the business abflit? essential, to the proper and eqoocftafc organization and prosecution of fts work.' At the same time, m long as the governor could appoint *on^y. the minority of the commission and the same being nonpald, there would be little lndnrement to make the position one of political preferment. ?■ The. actual work of'o state highway department should be under the direction of due .man possessing technical qualifications, experience and executive ability. This official should be appointed by the commission. He should be a civil engineer, skilled and experienced in road construction and maintenance, and bis salary should 4e fixed by the commission. His position should be permanent, and he should not be re moved except for incompetence or malfeasance Ip office.

The state highway eng?ieer should be empowered to appoint all of .hls 'asslstants after proper examination and with the advice and consent of the commission, to receive ill! bldfl and to award contracts, to supervise the work of construction and maintenance, and, In fact, he should be given full authority In all executive work of the department. The. state highway engineer should prepare a map of such of the main highways of the state as should most properly constitute s system of state or trunk line roadrtobeimproved either in port or wholly by the state. State road Improvement should he carried forward, with the ultimate Idea of developing a continuous system' of trunk lines running throughout the state and connecting, If possible, with jlmllar trunk line roads In adjacent states and with the necessary lateral roads in each conuty. The state highway engineer should be given authority to call on-county or township road officials for Information concerning (the roads under their supervision, and it should be made mandatory on such officials to furnish such information upon request This 1b very desirable, as It is necessary for the state highway department to keep posted as to conditions existing In different counties. In most of the state aid lqws the' Initiative In obtaining state aid rests with the county or township authorities. This is a wise provision, because, in the first place, the local authorities are in better position to know what roads it will be* to the greatest advantage of the county or township to Improve, and, In the second place, they are best able to determine the extent of the county’s ability to share in the expense of such an improvement. Another consideration of great importance in this connection is that if the initiative were to rest entirely with the state there would be a certainty of conflict of authority between the state and the counties, resulting in the ultimate failure of the state aid plan. The only case in which the roads can be bollt by the state without the full and hearty co-operation of the counties or townships is where the state pays the entire cost of building and maintaining the roads. Most of the laws'provide that state aid shall not be granted until the application, of the local authorities has been approved by the state engineer, which enables the engineer tb exercise a sort 6f supervisory power over the selection of the roads to be improved, to the end that, the various roads throughout the state shall conform to a general system. - . Alt surveys, plans, specifications and estimates for state roads and bridges should be made by the state highway engineer’s office, thus insuring ’uni; fortuity and a high degree of lence. All improvements to cost over, say, $2,000 should be let to contract, as it has been found that this means economy bpth in time and money and with proper supervision Will usually give better results than could be obtained otherwise. Some of the states provide that the Whole cost shall be paid In the first instance by the state, the counties or townships being required to reimburse the state for their share at a fixed time after the road is improved. Bridges and culverts should be considered as a part of the road and the state should aid in their construction within proper limitations in the same .manner as for the road Itself. When tee work is let to contract the contractor must of necessity advance money In the performance of his contract and is therefore entitled to receive partial payments thereon as the same progresses, hut not over 85 per cent of the contract price of the work should be paid in advance of its full completion and acceptance^: The state highway engineer should be required to keep all roads built by the aid of the state in proper repair, thp tote! cost of such repairs to be paid by the state, the counties and townships to reimburse the state in the same Planner as for the construction of the road. The reason for this Is that yoad maintenance is of as great or even greater

A STATE BOAD IN CONNROTICUT.

importance than road constructions and the best roads if neglected soon go to rate. It is utterly useless to establish a state highway system without at the same time providing an adequate source of revenue. Unless there is a Surplus In the treasury for this purpose a Special tax should be levied or a state bond issue should be authorised. On the theory, that automobiles are destructive to improved roads most of the state aid states provide,that the proceeds of automobile licenses over and above the expenses connected with issuing euch licenses be applied to the state highway fond and used for the purpose of constructing and maintaining the roads. .

IMPORTANCE OF COW TESTING

Careful Study of Records of Herd* In Test Indicate That Silage Is Very Essential. The Bnrean of Animal industry of the Department of Agriculture has two men specially engaged in giving assistance to state officials In organising and conducting cow-testing associations. During the last fiscal year 33 new associations were formed and seven were discontinued. There are now 81 such associations in this country, the greater number of which the dairy division has been instrumental in organizing. These 81 associations comprise about 40,000 cows. An official of the dairy division in talking of the work in this direction, showed Sr record of two herds In one of them* sociations as an Interesting example of wfiat is being accomplished in enabling farmers to keep records of cost, production, etc., and to detect and remedy; any shortcomings. In herd No. 1, 9,207 pounds of milk were produced at a cost of $51.04 for feed, while in herd No. 2, 5,482 pounds of milk wer produced at a cost for feed of $55.21. : The former made a profit of $76.22 per cow, while the other made a profit of only $8.65 per coV The more profitable herd was fed an abundance of silage, while to the other no silage was fed. This, of course. Is not the only reason for the difference; however, a careful study of the records of these herds indicated that silage is very essential. The owner of the unprofitable herd has been living next tq a man who bad a silo for a number of years, yet he did not real* ize its usefulness until he saw these .figures, after which he built a silo at once.

HOME-MADE MILKING STOOLS

Two Handy Devices Shown la Illustrations Will Prove of Satisfaction to the Milker. (FROM THE WISCONSIN AGRICULTURIST.) We Illustrate two types of milking stool, both of which will give satisfaction to the milker. ' . The stool shown in the upper picture Is the kind used by Mr. G. H. Smith of La Farge, Win, who sent In the drawing. It serves as a seat and

Smith’s Milk Stool.

a solid shelf for the pall. This stool has a leg qr support at the outer end of the milk pall shelf. The stool in the lower picture is the kind used by the editor of the Agriculturist for years. Wo bad several of these stools and found them most convenient and comfortable. Wo gave them a good scrubbing once a weak

Comfortable Milk Stool.

and when not In use they were hunt up in the stable. The space under the seat was used to hold a damp doth which was used on each cow’s nddez before milking.

DAIPY NOTES

The way to absolutely know what a cow is doing is to weigh and test The feed and feeding la the first important point in successful dairying, v The heifer calf la a cow in the making. Handle and feed her accordingly. Remember that the cold rain Is for the cow to stand than dry | cold weather. The last two years have emphasized strongly the importance rs sjjage. » Care should be taken that the cow does not have to wade through filth in the barnyard. To obtain a maximum supply of milk, small pastures, allowing frequent changes of feed, should be pro>,vlded. ■ .. . - .. - * r A cow testing association should consist of 25 or 26 herds, containing not Jean than 400 cows and better 500 or 600. * From being a winter feed for dairy - cows silage is coming to be an all-year-round feed for all kinds of stock. The best dairy cow is the one that will convert the forage raised on the farm Into the greatest amount of butter fat * That cows like a change of feed Is .hown by the way they will eat rotten hay, pull out old straw from the sheds, etc. When cows are running on pasture the manure is not lost, for grass lands need the fertilizer quite as much as some other fields. In selecting dairy cattle it. is always difficult to judge accurately with the ?ye. The real test must be the weigh scales and the Babcock teeter. When filth gets Into milk or cream ♦here are Innumerable germs introduced, which if left to develop, at proper temperature multiply very rap ftt*,

The HOLPUCHROOFING CO, Composition, Foil, ami Gravel Rooters. Orders may be left with B. D. McColly or at tbe aew school boildiag. l-L' _ ■ - ' I

EXCURSION CHICAGO VIA ilTrrfrntTiTtt^ SUNDAY, SEPT. 8 LOW SATES AND SPECIAL TRAIN AS FOLLOWS: Stations Time Tare Lv. Monon 8:20 SI.OO Lv. Lee. ..8:30 JO Lv. McCoysburg .........B;$S JO Lv. Pleasant Ridge 8:40 JO Lv. Rensselaer 8:48 .75 Lv. Surrey 8:57 .75 Lv. Parr • 8:02 .75 Lv. Fair Oaks 9:08 .75 Lv. Roselawn 9:20 .76 Lv. Thayer 9:25 .75 Lv. Shelby ....9:28 .75 Lv. Lowell 9:42 JO Arrive Chicago 11:30 Returning, special train will leave Chicago at 11:80 p. m. Sunday, Angnst 85, 1012.

pram m Dr. L M. WASHBURN. nmzexAw Am imwaov. Makes a specialty of diseases of the Eyes. Over Boa Brothers. ARTHUR H. HOPKINS. LAW, LOAMS Am BIU B*VA*BI Loans on farms and city property, personal security and chattel mortgage. Buy, sell and rent farms and city property. Farm and' city fire Office over Howies A Parker’s Beuaselaer, Indians 3. T. Irwin A a Zrwte IRWIN A IRWIN LAW, MAh BSTATB, mOBABOK • per cent farm loans . Office In Odd Fellows’ Block. E. P. HONAN ATZOBMXT AS LAW. Law, Loans, Abstracts, Insura nee and Real Estate. Will practice la mi the courts All business attended to with promptness and dispatch. EL L. BROWN Crown and Bridge Work and Teeth Without Plates a Specialty. All tbs latest methods in Dentistry. Qas administered for painless extraction. Office over Larsh’s Drug Store. JOHN A. DUNLAP (Successor to Frank Foltz.) Practice in all courts Estates settled. * J Farm Loans Collection department Notary in the office. ■easaelaer, Tsdlato Dr. E. C. ENGLISH “ FBTSXCXAW Am fOMBOB. Night and day calls given prompt attention. Residence phone, 119. Office phone, 177. Rensselaer, Indians Dr. F. A. TUBFLEB OBTBOPATKZC PXTBXOZAR. Rooms 1 and 2, Murray Building; Rensselaer, Indians Phones, Office—2 rings on 309, residence—3 rings on 800.. Successfully treats both acute and chronic diseases. Spinal curvatures a specialty. Dr, E, N. LOT Successor to Dr.dW. W. Hart sell. Office—Frame building on Cullen etresA east of court house. orriCß fson as. Residence College Avenue, Phone lffi F. H. HEMPHILL, K. D. ntmoAg Am raunwE Special attention to diseases 9t w—sad low grades of tout Office in Williams block. Opposite Coot House. Telephone, office and residence, lit OFFICIAL DIRECTORY. CXTT OrnOBBA Mayor .........,G. F. Meyers Marshal George Mustard Clerk Chaa. Morion Treasurer It D. Thompson Attorney Mose Leopold Civil Engineer W. F. Osborne Fire Chief J. J. Montgomery Fire Warden ....... *.3. J. Montgomery Coancllmsn. Ist Ward .....George Hopkhto 2nd Ward .Easts Grow Srd Ward .........Harry Kresler At Large ...... C. J. "Dean. A. G. Catt i ■■ ■ - —i ■ " ■■ JTTDICIAL. Circuit Judge.., * t .Charles W- Hanley Prosecuting Attorney... Fred Loogwell Terms of Court gMtonti Monday to February, AprlL fkiptWPer and November. Four week tewdK: ■ - JafHMi Let your warns be kaowa through our Classified Column. Phone 18.