Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 181, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1913 — Page 3

HIS CLEVER SCHEME

John Moran Arose to Occasion, and Immediately Fell With Great Splash.

BY HERBSRT DROCER.

(Copyright, 1913, by the McClure Newi- " paper Syndicate.) Anything between the ridiculous and the sublime probably would have left John Moran with a very uncertain appreciation of the Fourth of July celebration. Neither the one nor the other, in his opinion, could have been very fruitful of results. But when the ridiculous followed close on the sublime, the two operated after a fashion peculiarly uncafculated and brought Susan Duvau to an instantaneous decision on a matter affecting John, wherein all the p's and q’s she had lingered over so long never became finally resolved in her mind to a syllogistic nicety. Of the two extremes, the sublime had been deliberately'planned; It was premeditated. The ridiculous wasn’t. • The former was the result of a clever scheme and weeks of hard work. The latter was the chance of a minute, unforeseen, unexpected, and, some might have said on the spot, unpropitiotfs. For several years John Moran had wooed Susan Duvau, but, so far, he seemed to himself no nearer the matrimonial goal than he had been at the beginning. All her people had been assisting him without apparent avail. He had pleaded with her; he had coaxed and cajoled and even assayed to coerce after a mild fashion, his threats reaching that superlative proportion where he promised to identify himgelf for life with the sublime order of bachelorhood. But, to all this, she merely cast down her eyes demurely and asked him to wait awhile. "John calculated that he had waited long enough. At first he had been patient, but now he was growing desperate. • A score and one-half years had come and gone around the life of Susan. As her thirty-first pirthday approached, John, who had schemed until his hair was beginning to fall out, decided on a bold stroke. He spent the afternoon with her that day, and, in the evening, they had dinner together downtown. _ That night he sat with her on the front porch, after the family had retired. Over them a dim light shining from the parlor window, cast a pale Iglow. John sat quietly, waiting for the silence he depended on for the furtherance of his plan. After awhile It came, and then, when the stillness had lockpd the night in its embrace, he began to hum, "Silver Threads Among the Gold.” When he had drew his chair closer to hers, reached ceased, tears stood in his eyes. He out for her hand again, and asked her to become his wife. But it was the same old prosaic answer.” "Wait awhile, John,” she insisted. --"Wait awhile. Do something grand. 6how me that you can rise to the occasion.” ! Rise to the occasion, he would. He resolved that firmly as he stood up forthwith and bade her good night. He resolved it all the way home. The next morning he still resolved it. But how?

A happy thought struck him. John had a penchant for happy thoughts. He would make a spech at a Fourth of July celebration, ft would be so grand and so eloquent, couched in such rich expressions and so laden with noble sentiment, that she could not help but feel the appeal. He would show her that he could “rise to the occasion!" John got out his old, school dictionary and brushed the dust from Its covers. Then he borrowed an Immense volume of masterpiece orations from a friend and read every speech lie could find that contained any patriotic reference or expression. For four weeks, he labored almost Incessantly, night and day, on his effusion and finally he had it completed. An obstacle that John had not reckoned on now loomed up. John was a member of the' program committee, and he doubted the propriety of having himself included among the list of speakers. But he remembered bls penchant, and called It Into play again, with good effect. The morning before the celebration he called around to see the chairman of the committee. “You see —ahem! —Mr. Grubbs," John began, “being one of the committee, I should regret to see any part of the program fall flat" “Just so,“ answered the chairman. "I feel the same way." “Well, as a matter of precaution, Mr. Grubbs, I think I shall prepare a few remarks myself today. Should any of the speakers be tardy, or fail to respond, you might call on me.” “Fine idea, John. I'H do it.” Then John took himself around to the residence of Squire Sloan. He knocked at the door and was admitted. “Ahem, squire,” began John, after an inquiry concerning his host’s health, "we are altering the program for tomorrow slightly." “Sor "Yes. You see, on account of your advanced years and the fact that yon have been ailing, we thought it might suit'you better to speak, say, at 11:30 than at 11 o'clock.” "I believe it would.” answered the old man. About 11 o'clock the next morning, Chairman Grubbs scanned the gathtaring in vain for a glimpse of Squire

Sloan. Than, ha rtood up and **- nounced: .i”. JV' "Though not appearing on the program, the Hon. John Moran has been requested to make a few remarks. It is not necessary that I introduce our esteemed fellow citizen.” As John approached the edge of the platform he looked down into the face of Susan and made a mental note of the surprise expressed in her countenance. He paused a moment, as if improvising a speech, while he chuckled inwardly at the satisfaction the occasion afforded. Now, he whispered to himself, he would show her the caliber of man he was; he would prove that he could “rise to the occasion.” And rise to the occasion he undoubtedly did. His was the-most eloquent,' the most logical and the most impressive speech delivered that day. As he concluded he was greeted by a loud and prolonged applause. He stepped down from the platform and made his way toward Susan. As he approached, he observed a twinkle in her eyes, but did not trouble himself with an explanation just then. H 3 was too happy. She arose and took hold of his arm. "Let us go off to some place where! we can sit alone,” she said. They made their way toward the outskirts of the crowd. When they had reached a point where they could speak without' being overheard, he turned to her questlcnlngly. “Well,” he said, “dM I—” "You certainly did, John,” she interrupted. "Who would have, thought it?” The sublime had been attained. “Who wrote it for you, John?” she asked. "Wrote it?” in hurt surprise. “Why, nobody.” They walked along in silence. “How long did it take you to prepare it, John?” He did not answer. “Yes, you certainly did rise to the occasion, John. Now, you want to be careful not to fall, lest—” Fate would have it that he fell that instant. Twitted and stung by her raillery, he had been walking perilously near the edgd of the high dirt bank that overhung the creek, without thought of danger. As she spoke, the ground beneath his feet gave way, and he Went tumbling through the dirt and sand into eight feet of water below., ' Susan shrieked, and the crowd, alarmed by her cry, began to rush to the spot. As the gathering in front of the speakers’ stand broke away in large groups, the chairman arose and asked the cause of the commotion. He was answered by a little urchin, who s|ood up in the seat of a farm wagon.

"Why, Jack Moran’s fell in the crick,” shouted the lad. John was dragged out at the ford, a short distance down the creek. v About his eyes, mouth, nose and ears, and over a part of his clothing, were black splotches of mud. Resuscitating methods were applied, and as he began to revive, the crowd drew back, leaving him stretched out on a buggy lap-robe and attended by Susan. When he opened his eyes, she was kneeling by his side and looking down into his face. “Did I rise—” he began. “There—there,” Soothingly. “Yes, you did. Now, He quiet." She gently stroked the hair back from his brow. He grasped her hand in his and she suffered him to hold it. One night, three months later, after the wedding toasts had been proposed and John had made his response, he made a mental observation to himself, as he took his seat. “I wonder,” he reflected, “whether it was my celebration speech, or the tumble I got?”

Comforting News.

A minister who preached for many years in a suburb of Cincinnati retired and went to Florida to live. After a year or so there he paid his first vjsit to New York in 20 years. He wandered about for two days, and then went to see an old Cincinnati friend. "I have been watching the people in this city,” said the dominie to his friends, “and I wonder and grieve at the money-madness I see everywhere. This rush and hurry and eagerness for money abashes me. It is astonishing! Why, down in Florida one can live in comfort for 32,000 a year, but here they think and talk and act in terms of millions! "It is all so vast and so complex!” he sighed. “Why, this afternoon 1 walked down by your tallest building. I stood on the curb and looked up and up and up, and tried to comprehend the Immensity of that structure. My mind reeled. I felt faint and dissy. I leaned against the building for support—and a passing newsboy chirped: “ ’Cheer up, old to fall on you!*”—Saturday Evening Post.

New Road Material.

A new road material designed to stand hard usage from automobiles is being tried by a Swiss engineer, W. Erlich, and is said to consist of a mixture of broken stone about the size of a hazel nut, but not limestone, with a binding material whose composition Is not divulged by the inventor. In the present process the stone is heated at first from 100 to 150 degrees Cent, and mixed at this temperature with the melted composition. When in use the mass is remelted tn order to put It on the road. A road roller heated to a rathet high point is passed over the surface, the roller weighing about six tons. Reports state that very good road surface can be obtained in this

■ THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

WHICH IS REAL “FIND” OF THE SEASON?

Ray Schalk, Clever Young White Sox Backstop.

An interesting question that has bobbed up in the American league recently relates to the problem of Singling out the catching "find” of the season. Chicago fans are practically unanimous that the palm should go to Ray Schalk of the White Sox and they have much company in other cities, they consider the problem an easy one. Some critics have appeared to dispute the right to the honor of the young backstop corralled by Comiskey, recently. “I watched Wallie Schang of the Philadelphia Athletics closely in the series with the Cleveland Naps and with all due respect to Schalk I think Connie Mack has bagged the biggest young catcher, all things considered, in the major leagues,” said a Cleveland scribe. “I have seen Schalk in Several series and I also have been in a position to watch the work of Schang in a bitter series in which Cleveland was battling Philadelphia with the clubs in first and second place. Schalk is just as good a receiver as Schang, but I think this young catcher of Mack has the edge on the Chicago backstop in speed, in throwing and batting—important considerations in a catcher.” While some fans and critics are Inclined to be prejudiced in favor of such stars as Schalk and Schang, it is interesting to know what scribes and fans of other cities think of these players when they are visiting hostile camps. The work of Schalk has stood out in marked contrast to that of any of

BONEHEADED PLAY BY COBB

“John Anderaonlng” Was Only Exceeded by Catcher Henry’s Forgetfulness and Poor Work. Ty Cobb's “John Andersoning” in the first inning- of a recent game caused more comment in Washington than any spectacular play Ty has made in recent years. It is the first time that Cobb can be justly accused of pulling a rank bit of “boneheadedness,” and Ty got out of the fix because of the surprise and momentary mental lapse of John Henry, Washington’s star catcher. Bush had reached third on an error and a sacrifice, and Cobb had walk-

Ty Cobb.

ed. Ty then stole second, and the theft was so easy that he raced on to third. Henry was so visibly surprised that he crept down the third base line, with the ball in his hand, as though Intent on reaching and tagging Cob. Cobb saw the situation, and after grinning at Henry for a moment he shot back toward second and passed Mcßride before the shortstop took Henry's throw.

the opposing catchers on other teams in the recent whirl of Comiskey’siathletes around the eastern circle. His great plays at times were so thrilling as to draw spontaneous applause from a crowd rooting for the visiting club’s downfall. Following is the opinion of an observer in Boston, after watching Schalk in the series between the world’s champions add the White Sox recently: “I have seen all the catchers in the American league this season and I think Schalk is head and shoulders above the whole lot. In getting down in front of the plate for bunted balls and whipping the sphere to first I have never seen his equal. His throwing is accurate, hia receiving a delight to see and his batting surprising. He seems as quick as a cat in tagging runners out at the home plate and also seems absolutely fearless.” These two opinions of Schalk, ex pressed by critics outside Chicago, show how highly this young catcher is rated even by those who give Schang the shade in a comparison of the work of those two young stars. Chicago fans have had little opportunity to judge of the relative merits of these young catchers. They are strong for Schalk and chances are few White Sox fans could be found who would give any -other catcher in the world the edge over the former Milwaukee phenom purchased by President Comiskey last tall for the record price of the season paid for a minor league player.

Amons the Baseball Players

Li Hung Schang is the young ,backstop of the Athletics. • • • The Cleveland players declare that the Polo grounds is the smoothest field they ever played on. • « • Mike Balenti, the former Carlisle Indian, now with the Browns, is becoming a star shortstop. • * • They say that Umpire Byron has a pose back of the box seats that would be hard for a professional model to hold. • • • Billy Muoray, the Flrates alert sccut, discovered Catcher Coleman when sent out on-a hurry-up order from Fred Clarke. • • • Ty Cobb and Joe Jackson are putting up another neck and neck duh for the American league batting Supremacy. • • • One of the greatest Joys of Mooss McCormick's life has been suddenly taken away from him. Ho can no long er bat for Josh Devore. Turning back the pages of history we find that some years ago a bleve land team was leading the league at this stage—and finished fifth! • • * Lee Magee, the young infielder of the Cards, pulled off a Ty Cobb stunt in a recent game Against the Phillies He scored all the way from first os a short single.

SOME NERVY PLAYERS

Bresnahan Praises Men Who Can Deliver When Needed. Substitute Catcher for Chicago Cubs Praises Frank Schulte, Outfielder, and Heine Zimmerman, Slugging Third Baseman. In baseball there are two kinds of nerve, according to Roger Bresnahan, substitute Cub catcher. One is possessed by the type of player who bullies men on the field, has a weak heart when he is asked to go to the plate in the ninth itinlng wi«.L a man on third and drive home the run that will win the game. The Other is the player who refrains from pugilistic tactics, but has a heart of steel, takes a viselike grip on the bat and grits his teeth when the responsibility of scoring a run is put up to him. ~ Bresnahan declares the first is the easiest to beat in a game and the second is the fellow who makes competition keen all the time. Bob Beschpr, left fielder of the Cincinnati team, struck Bresnahan last year in the jaw, after a game of ball, because the .fielder struck out in a pinch when a long fly or a single meant a victory. It was while discussing this episode that Bresnahan defined the two kinds of nerve In baseball. "There are two kinds of nerve in this game,” said Bresnahan, “and I profess to have only one. I’ll admit Bescher took a solid punch at me. I stood for it. There may be a lot of fellowsl playing ball today who can trim me off the field, but when it comes to matching brains and nerve during a game I think I can hold my own with any of them. "Bescher was up in the ninth inning in a pinch, when just a little single would have given the Reds the game. He was aware that it was up to him to rap out the hit that would turn the tide. But he was as nervous as a cat. I joshed him about it and he took it seriously. That was how the argument started. That was exactly what I was looking for. because it won the game for me. He struck out in the pinch and that was what made him angry. “Frank Schulte Is about the best example of the man with the nerve in a pinch I know of in the league today.

Roger Bresnahan.

You never see Frank argue or dispute with any one, nor you never heard of his having a battle on the street. But you have seen him go up to the plate with runners on the bases in the ninth inning, smash out a single or extra base hit off the best pitchers l/i the league and win the game. He is the type of man to have on a team. “Heine Zimmerman appears to be extremely boisterous and rough, but he is a corking good man in a pinch because he is stubborn. He is too arrogant to have it said ths: he lost his nerve, and it is just that bit of pride that makes him so great a player.”

Leading Hitters.

Four American leaguers are hitting about the .400 average, while only two National leaguers have so far been able to comb the ball for this extra high percentage. The fmjr leaders in the younger organization ane'Collius, .511; Speaker. .468; Schaller. .462, and Compton, .400 { Vlox, with .435, and Miller, .429, are blazing the way in the National.

Jennings’ Long Career.

Hughie Jennings, leader of the Detroit Tigers, started playing professional baseball 23 years ago. Hughie played his first professional game on June 16, 1890, as a member of the Allentown club of the Eastern Interstate league.

Wolfgang Doing Nicely.

Pitcher Mei Wolfgang, the youngster Callahan sent to Denver |hJs spring, is doing grand work for Jack Hendricks.

riSnr howland gmjrg & V W O J \v Iggl ; * Sjjjs ■ , He left the little old town, one day, To pursue success and to win renown;. The seasons passed In too dull a way To give him joy In the little old town; In the little old town the streets were wide And the buildings low and pleasures cheap. And he pitied those who were satisfied To stay where the people were half . asleep. He left the little old town to win The large rewards that to «p>rth belong. To add to the city’s unceasing din. To try his powers among the strong. And he proudly thought, as he turned to gaze At the little old town in Its peacefulness Of a distant glorious day of days When he would return, having claimed success. He thought of the villagers dozing there. Deaf to Ambition’s persuasive call. Content, because they were free from care. To claim rewards that were few and small. And he thought of a girl whose eyes wens wet When, wishing him well, she said goodby. But he hurried away, to soon forget Where the roar was loud and the walls were high. J 4 And often he thought in his lonely nook. When his muscles ached and his heart was sad, Of the little old town with its sleepy look. Where the streets were wide and tbo children glad. And often he thought of the peace out there. And often he wondered if, after all. The people were wasting the seasons where The days were long and rewards wees small. He had thought of a glorious day of da yr When he would return to the'* little old town And listen to those who would give him praise For his proud success and his wide renown, • And tomorrow he will be traveling back. No more to care and no more to sigh For the glory the little old town may lack— To lie and rest where his parents Ila.

PREPARED.

a beautiful sUrm clock and I have a splendid nickel-plated chafing dish."

Queer Girl.

"By George! Here's the funniest thing I ever heard of. A young mas who was inclined to be decent and a fellow who had a hard reputation fought over a young woman, after which she married the decent ooe.” "Why shouldn't she?" "Of course, that's just what she should have done, but the other fellow won the fight”

Prepared.

'They say Murchison, who, as yen will perhaps remember, secured as appointment to a consulship a year or two ago, has married a deaf and dumb lady." "Ineed? He must intend to remain In the diplomatic service.”

Cause and Effect.

"So you parted never to meet again?** •Yes.” “And what happened then?*' "He kissed me good-by.” "Ah! When*are you to be mar* z ried?”

A Novice at the Business.

T suppose you had S' perfectly lovely time at Wexford’s house party?" "No, it was a flxzle. Mrs. Wexford has so little tact. She was always arranging it so that the men would have to pair off with their own wives." -

Random Guess.

"Why Is it that most married Worn en are Inclined to frown upon the woman who has been divorced?” . ■ ‘*l think it is because they coo deinn her for being, too weak to ge on buffering and pretending to like it"

"So you are all ready to go to housekeeping?” “Oh, yes," replied Mrs. Younglove. "Charley’s friends at the office have made him a present of