Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 265, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1912 — Page 2

AUNT MARTHA REBELS

Sort of Wife* "Sot” Man Should Have. By CLARENCE J. STER'NES. Parmer Jacob Darwin was getting ready to go back to the field alter a hearty dinner when the bill-poster’s wagon for a circus drove up and the man in charge beckoned him down to the gate and said: “I want to paste six of my posters on your barn.” “Circus, eh?” queried the farmer as he looked the outfit over. “Yes, and the biggest aid best on the road. I’ll give you six tickets ’’ Jacob Darwin was sixty years old and a stern old man. He was upright and honest, and he flattered himself that he was just. He owed no man a dollar, and he was kind to his horses and cows. For years he had lived up to certain principles, and no one had known him to depart from them He was what country people call a “sot" man, and even the pastor of his church in the village sometimes thought he was a little too rigid. Jacob Darwin had the sort of a wife that men of his kind always have — meek and humble and uncomplainingShe stood in awe of him. She has no opinions to conflict with his. She did not ask why he did this or that. He permitted her to live on, as it were, and she was duly grateful. “I wouldn’t have circus pictures on my barn under no consideration,” was the reply to the offer that had been made. “Your neighbor down the road don’t Me it that way.” “It’s for my neighbor to see or not to see for himself.” “Suppose we make it three dollars In cash?” “No, sir.” “I didn’t think there was one of the Did stock left, but it’s your barn and as we can’t trade I’ll drive on.” Aunt Martha had stood in the front floor and heard it all. When her husband turned away to his work she went back to hers. When she had Bleared the table she did a thing that surprised herself and made her neighbor wonder if she was going crazy. She put on her sun bonnet and walked down the road past the next house and then stood in the highway for 30 minutes and gazed at the circus pictures pasted on the barn. When the walked slowly home she had some new in her mind, and her thin lips were firmly compressed.

So firmly was the neighbor’s wife convinced that there was something wrong with Aunt Martha that she Bneaked over to the field where Uncle Jacob was working and told him what the had seen. “It can’t be!” he gasped. < “But It is so.” “Jest stood and looked at the circus pictures, eh?” "Yes, and never minded me!" "Looked for half an hour, eh?” “Just 29 minutes. I was watching the clock. Don’t you think she’s going crazy? Some women are took that way, I’ve heard.” “Um! Mebbe she is.” Uncle Jacob quit work a little earlier than usual that afternoon, but he offered no excuses and was asked no questions. While not seeming to do so, he watched Aunt Martha. He had been puzzled and troubled over what he had heard. Her actions were the same* aa usual, but there was a Iqok on her face he could not remember to have seen before. It was a grim half-smile. He said nothing touching the subject until after the table had been cleared and the chores done up. Aunt Martha had seated herself to do some patching when he quietly said: i “That circus man wanted to put some pictures on the barn.” "Yes?” she replied, without looking up. “I wouldn’t let him.” “No?” “I think those things are a sin and a shame.” “Yes?" f “If you think as I do why did you walk down to Horton’s barn this afternoon and stand there gazing.* at the pictures for half an hour?” “Because I wanted to see them!” was the prompt reply. “You knew I wouldn’t have them on my bam?” “Yes, and I wished you had!” “Martha, do you know what you are saying!" ‘“I do, Jacob. I am going to that circus!” _ “W-h-a-t!” She raised her face and * looked him square in the eyes and repeated her words. He winced as if he had received a blow from her hand, and it was a long minute before she added: “Yes, Jacob, I am going!” "But it’s a Circus.” "I know it, but I am going!" Here was the'first and only revolt for nearly forty years, and the husband’s amazement kept him dumb for awhile. If she had rebelled against something about the house—her want of clothing—too much work—the wearisome round —he would have still been surprised, for that is the way of most husband’s, but not so greatly. His first impulse was to command—to declare that she should not stir a step, but the second thought stopped him. If there was not something mentally wrong would she talk to him the way she did? Would there have been any revolt? Re wisely dropped the >matter then and there, bat he did not close his eyes in sleep until he had formulated a plan. At breakfast next morning Jacob remarked that be must drive to the

village after some nails, and he would take along any butter and eggs that the wife had ready. There waa a cheerfulness about her that he could not understand. It was as if Bhe had heard some good news, or that her mind had been relieved of some trouble. “Her brain must be a lettle toched —must be,” he said to himself as he drove along. “Like enough she has overworked, but she hain’t made no complaint” Most husbands would have consulted a physician, but Jacob Darwin drove to his pastor's for a different kind of advice. The good man let him tell his story and then thought awhile before replying: “I will drive back home with you and talk with her and then form an opinion.” ■ : • —; Aunt Martha was not surprised to see her pastor. She suspected what he had come for, and she made things easier by introducing the subject. “I guess Jacob thinks I am crazy because I want to go to the circus,” she said. “I am somewhat surprised myself, sister,” was the reply. “You needn't be, parson. married Jacob, most forty years ago, I was an orphan girl. I had never even been to a picnic. He was the only beau I ever had. I never danced nor-went to a spelling school. I have never been ten miles from the farm. We have never had a book in the house to read except the Bible. I have heard folks talk about elephants. lions and tigers but I wouldn’t know one from a bull calf.” This didn’t sound like crazy talk to the parson, but yet he was puzzled. “I have never seen a telephone, auto, piano, street car or railroad,” continued the woman. “I can read and write just a little. I don’t know half that the children around me do. I hear ’em talking about oceans, mountains, Europe and all that, but I get ■ no idea of what thqy mean.” The parson was hitching around, and the husband was looking out of the window. “I’ve made soft soap, cut carpetrags. milked the cows, fed the hogs, churned the butter, Btrained the milk, cooked the meals, worked in the garden, quilted quilts, dried apples, made preserves, shelled corn, gathered herbs, patched clothes, knit socks, run the smoke house, cared for the poultry—” “Stop!" commanded the parson. “Mebbe, if it wasn’t so wicked —” said the husband as he came forward. “Wicked, man!” almost shouted the parson—"wicked for her! You bring her to town on circus day and the three of us will go together and divide the wickedness up till the recording angel can’t find any to set down against any of us!” “And ain’t I glad that I hain’t dead!” whispered Aunt Martha as they sat at the riiigside on circus day, and she had her hand in. that of Uncle Jacob’s. (Copyright, 1912, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)

MADE A NAME IN WARFARE

Regiments of Zouaves Known as Fierce Fighters Under Any Flag They Served. One of the most interesting class of soldiers of modern times has been the French corps called the Zouaves. Thiß body of daring and picturesquely attired fighters reached the heights of its repuation during the Crimean war. The Zouave corps atr that time was supposed to consist of Frenchmen. It was, however, quite international, since many daring young foreigners had joined it, and it was known to include in its ranks men from Oxford, Gottingen, and other universities. It is probable that a majority of its members were in it more for love of fighting than for any love of country. It Is not strange, therefore, that its fame as a fighting body should have spread throughout the world. When our Civil war broke out several corps of Zouaves, wearing the glittering oriental uniforms of the French corps or a modification of them, were formed on both sides. On the Union side the best known was that corps commanded by Elmer Ellsworth, a young officer from New York and the first killed on ,the Union Bide. In the Confederacy the most famous corps of Zouaves was called the “Louisiana Tigers.” While in American military life the Zouave uniform has practically disappeared, in France the Zouave name and uniform still survive.—Harper’s Weekly.

Perfectly Clear.

Many maintain that one should al ways have in mind a clear idea of that which he wishes to attain; consequently, the inexperienced, seeking experience, will be grateful—perhaps!— for a definition quoted by Mary Taylor Blauvelt in her book of essays, "In Cambridge Backs." When Goethe .was a very young man he asked his friend Behrisch what experience was, and got this information “Experience Is properly what an experienced man experiences in expert iencing his experiences.”

Eyes Seldom of Equal Power.

That one eye has usually better vision than the other is the inference from experiments conducted by Dr. Shepherd Dawson of London. Yet &ne eye is never better than both used together. Trained observers whose vision was normal found that the power of discriminating with both is keener than when the better eye is used alone —that they were more certain in their judgments, which form more rapidly than the uni-ocular judgments. The poorer eye aids in this process

PIRATE PITCHER IS WELL THOUGHT OF

Joe Tinker, captain of the Chicago Cubs, is quoted as saying of Marty O’Toole, the high-priced pitcher of :he Pittsburg Pirates: “O’Toole Is the best pitcher I have seen in years. He will certainly make good. I believe that free swingers, like Schulte7 Mitchell and others of that class, will have unlimited trouble in making base hits off his delivery. The only man who looks to me to have a chance to hit him safely is the one

Gossip Among Sports

Evidently Cornell is not much better prepared for shocks than last year. Harry McCormick batted around .350 as a pinch hitter for the Giants this year. Pitcher Hendrix of the Pirates is one of the best batting pitchers in the major leagues. Demaree, a recruit, led the Giants in winning the game which clinched the championship. Klawitter, former Giant pitcher drafted by Detroit, wants to quit pitching and be a shortstop. Aside from being an automobile racer, what would be your favorite method of departing this life? Ted Meredith, the Olympic champion runner, may play football with the Pennsylvania squad this year. “Hurry-Up” Yost is kicking over the lack of experienced men on the Michigan football squad this year. The playing of Halfback Philbin of Yale resembles the work of his older brother, Steve Philbin, the old Eli wonder. Times were hard for the minor leaguers drafted this fall. A large number of them were turned back in sbolt order. Too many Beau Brummels and not enough rough and readys on the squad is said to be the trouble with the Yale football team. At first glance the baseball fan looks more rabid than the football rooter, but closer examination reveals this is a mistake. Fans are strange beings. They would rather Bit in a wood stand to see a good team than in chairs of gold to see losers. Hugh Jennings must be peeved because he didn’t land Doc Johnston when he had a chance to get the first baseman for $2,500.

Playground Athletics Popular.

Public school children throughout this country and Canada are enthusiastic over playground athletics. In Toronto last July 1,126 children took part in sports there. Five tests for strength, speed and skill, comprising the Bhot put, chinning the bar, running broad, standing broad and high jumps are taken every evening. The boy excelling in any of the events at his weight will be rfven a certificate. A big festival will be held at Toronto, September 21.

Travers Wins Many Golf Titles.

Jerome Dunston Travers, of Upper Montclair, N. J., is for the third time amateur golf champion of the United Stated. He has also four times been New Tork champion. New Jersey title hblder four times, «std Long Island and New Tork interscholastic champion once each. ,

Marty O’Toole, Pittsburg’s Star Twirler.

who chokes his bat and chops at the ball. Marty’s shoots have such a sharp break that the man who starts a fre§ swing is likely to find his bat going inches under or over the ball as it crosses the plate. O’Toole throws his spitball with the same motion he uses for his straight pitch, and there is no way of telling what he is handing you. He makes the bluff of spitting on the ball every time, and this also fools the batter.”

FAMOUS ATHLETE TO RETIRE

Ralph Craig, Wonderful Runner, Who Captured Sprints at Stockholm, Quits the Game. t Athletics is to lose one of its brightest stars. Ralp Craig, the fleet-footed American boy who carried the stars and stripes to victory in the Olympic games at Stockholm, Sweden, will not be seen on the cinder path any more. Craig’s folks are opposed to the young man following an athletic career and did not want him to contest at Stockholm. But patriotic pride impelled the great runner to go along with the other Americans and it was well for this country that he did. He won glory enough at the Olympic games to last a lifetime. Craig ran two grand races—the 100 and 200 meter events—

Ralph Craig.

and easily beat out the fastest sprintters in the world. Craig is a member of the Detroit Y. M. C. A, where his wonderful ability as a runner first Attracted the attention of the athletic world. I

Baseball Ambassador.

Harry Davis, ex-manager of the Naps, is planning to become American baseball ambassador at large td the world. He is now in correspondence with baseball men commissioned to sign baseball coaches for foreign countries. Davis plans to teach the game in Japan, the new republic of China, England, France, to the German army, in Hawaii, and Australia.

Bescher Is Tricky.

In a recent game, when it was raining, Bob Bescher wanted to get ont of the wet, so he pestered the umpire until he was chased out of the game. The ump didn’t catch on the trick until it was too late, and then he couldn't call Bescher bade.

FORTUNE IN FREIGHT

IMMENSE SUMS FREQUENTLY IN CHARGE OF TRAIN MEN. •a ■ With Unsurpated Loyalty, One of Almost Fabulous Value Has Been Carried From the Mines to the Smelter. When the railroad was first completed into Virgiaia City, Nev., there

as some men would bet a dollar on the turn of a card. It was easier in those dayß 1b market the loot than it is now. There was no such system for protecting the shipper as prevails today. Battles with road agents were not infrequent. Many an engineer, scenting danger, has risked his life by deliberately throwing her wide open and taking the chances of being killed by singing bullets to save his train of preciouß ore from the hands of highwaymen. A number of years ago a couple of poverty stricken prospectors opened, near Hillsboro, N. M., a lead that looked for a time as if it was large enough to pay the national debt. They skimmed the cream in a few days and then sat up nights with it, until they could take it to the railroad. They were without funds, and though they dared not tell anybody of their good fortune, the news spread In a mysterious manner, probably because of their secretiveness. When they loaded their ore into a Santa Fe car, after having freighted it for miles from the mine, a crowd had gathered to see them. The car door was locked, and sealed. They had placed a value of $250,000 on the ore. In less thpn five minutes it seemed as if everybody knew about it. At that time such men as Black Bart were abroad in the land. Men like him had an unpleasant way of stopping trains, and enforcing their demands with rifles of uncommon bore. "When the conductor handed his orders to him, he remarked to the engineer: "We’ve got $250,000 in gold in that box car we just picked up.” “We’ve got WHAT in it?” . “You heard what I said.” “That’s more money than there is in the world, j Suppose," he added sententiously, “some guy who Jpoks through holes cut in a waves a shotgun at us aftlr we get out of the yard limits?” “That’s up to you, Jerry,” gravely answered the conductor. It was serious business —carrying ore so valuable that a handful of it was worth more than a S2OO bill. Then his jaws set, and he muttered: “They have never put one over on me yet —they’ll have a run for their money if they try it now.” During the entire trip, whenever the various engineers who pulled tjie car of precious freight observed anything unusual (or sighted men ahead, they crowded on steam and shot by them. They had a quarter of a million dollars in treasure, and intended to protect it with their lives, if necessary. When the train crew heard of it, they were plainly nervous. Word was flashed. down the line. The news reached the papers, and there were telegraphed daily stories df the train’s progress. It was the advance of an Aladdin with his lamp. Whenever the train neared a crowd assembled to meet it. The car was billed to a smelter in Denver and made a trip of nearly 800 miles without mishap. When all charges had been paid it netted the owners more than $400,000.

Check on Locomotive Engineers.

An apparatus which registers all caseß of engine drivers running past danger signals and sounds an alarm at the next station has been installed on a portion of one of the German state railroads. Regulations have also been framed which order any statlonmaster on hearing such alarm to await the arrival of the train and immediately to interrogate the engine driver.

Many Go Through Tunnel.

More than 410,000 passengers were carried on the electric railroad through the Simplon tunnel between Switzerland and Italy last year.

An Electric Automobile Furnishing Current to Light a Special Train, SideTracked at the Savannah Automobile Races.

Automobile Used to Light Train.

One of the special trains used as a hotel during the automobile races recently held in Savannah, Ga., developed troubles in its electric generating mechanism, thus interfering with its lighting system. The difficulty was

were, dome" sensational shipments x>t ore* to San Francisco. At that time the bandit was strictly in evidence. They would risk their lives with as much unconcern

“SAFETY CAMPAIGN” IS ON

Railroads Form Organization to Secure Co-operation of Employes to Do Away With Aocidenta. At the onenlng of the "safety campaign” ht Indianapolis Mr. Egan, the principal speaker, emphasized the far-reaching character of the investigations which have been made by the safety committee, as follows: “Domestic trouble is responsible for a multitude of accidents among railway men. An unkind word Is spoken In the morning. The husband goes to work with his domestic troubles on his mind. Thinking about his quarrels with his wife, he is apt to walk Into places Into which he should not walk or do things would no do if his mind were clear. The result Is many accidents, many injuries, all preventable.” Among the stereoptlcon views shown by Mr. Egan were pictures of “how a man should part from his family in the morning,” and "how he should not,” the latter being the picture of a vinegar-faced wife evidently berating her husband. Safety committees are to be established on many lines, and a prize Is to be awarded in each department on each division every year to the employe who makes the best suggestion toward increased safety of operation. The prize will consist of a month’s vacation with pay. The recipient of the prize will also receive an honor button, to be retained by him as long as he remains on the honor roll. The members of t(ie general safety committee are the general manager, the superintendent of transportation, the superintendent of motive power, the maintenance of way engineer, the claims attorney and whatever other officer or employe the general manager may appoint. The membership ®f the division committees includes not only officers, but in each case an engineman, a fireman, h conductor, a trainman, a switchman, an agent and a section foreman. Safety committees are being organized on Pacific lines. The main safety committee will be composed of division superintendents, and on each division there will be a safety committee comprising the superintendent, members of his staff from various departments, a conductor, engineer, brakeman, fireman, yardman, trackman, signalman, bridge and building man and shopman, and each of these employes will be the chairman of another district safety committee. —Railway Age Gazette.

Carried Over a Billion.

In the last year the railways of Great Britain, according to the government report just issued, carried 1,326,317,000 non-commuting passengers, an increase of 19,588,000 over 1910. The total, receipts from freight and passenger traffic was $570,354,000, of which $307,976,000 was for freight The total gross receipts increased $15,933,000 over 1910. The tube railways of London carried In the last year 175,000,000 passengers, an increase of 2,000,000 oyer 1910. The- total paid-up capital of the British railways has grown by $26,800,000. The dividends now average 3.62 per cent, on ordinary and 3.56 per cent, on preferential shares.

Peat Used Under Furnaces.

According to a new Swedish system of making use of peat, the material is powdered finely and blown into the furnace by a fan blast, and the dust is consumed while in suspension. The advantage of this method is that the degree of heat may be easily and quickly adjusted by regulating the amount of peat powder delivered into the interior of the furnace. This system is said to represent a greater efficiency than heretofore experienced in the utilization of the peat for fuel, (three parts of peat representing the 1 same amount of energy as twq of coal. In this shape it is also economical, as there is no fuel burned except where the power is needed.

Fast German Train.

Germany’s fastest train runs between Berlin and Hamburg and maintains an average speed Of 55.177 miles an hour.

Europe“s First Railroad.

The first railway in Europe ran its first train on May 6, 1833. It went from Brussels to Meohlen.

Ireland’s Longest Line.

Ireland’s largest railroad system has a mileage of 1,121.

World’s Railroad Mileage.

The railroad mileage of the world is 625,000.

remedied by renting an electric auto* mobile and connecting its batteries with the lighting circuit of the train by cable. All lights were furnished by this method during the time the train was side-tracked at the race course. —'Popular Mechanics.