Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 302, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1912 — Gathered Smiles [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Gathered Smiles

THAT BALKAN MESB. “George dear, what's all this Balkan trouble"that takes up so much room in the papers?” "I don’t believe you could understand it, my love. You see, it’s largely political, and diplomatic, and —and abstruse.” “How is it political, George?" “That's hard to explain.” “And how is it diplomatic?" “That’s still more complicated." “And why abstruse?” “That’s the hardest of all.” "I thought so, dear. You know nothing about it. And now because you're a busy man. and haven’t time for foreign news, I’m going to explain the whole Balkan situation to you. You see, it was at best —good gracious, he’s asleep!"