Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1914 — Page 2

LOVE AND RAT-TRAPS

By CLAUDINE SISSON.

There wasn’t a citizen of the village who was not ready to admit that Heftty Gregg was a smart young fellow. . ' /'You keep your eye on Henry. He Is bound to be a rich man some day,” they would say. The young man was engaged to Eunice Rathbone, and had been for a year. People -were wondering why they didn’t .get married but no ore guessed the true reason. It was because Henry was too* smart. At the age of twenty-one he had been left SI,OOO in cash. He was then teaching the village school. He had once bought a hog for $3 and sold it for $5; he had bought a horse for $25 and sold it for S3O: he had bought sls worth of geese feathers from the farmers about arrtl shipped them to the city and made a profit of $7. Therefore, he felt that 1e had a fight to class himself as a financier, and to resign his school that he might devote all his time and energies to speculation. The ex-schoolmaster had “devoted,” and six months had gone by when on one of his courting nights he found Eunice looking very sober and evidently troubled in her mind. When he had begged,, her to tell him what was the matter she answered: “It’s a matter I don’t want to speak about, but I feel that I must. It is about our getting married.” »> “Yes’” “I am asked almost every day when the event is to take place.” “Well?” “I cannot answer, and folks have come to regard it as strange.” “But it is the understanding that when I am $3,000 ahead of the game we are to wed.” “And that leads -to another matter, Henry. You cannot doubt that I love you, but I am going to talk plainly to you. As a school teacher you were a success: as a financier you have been a failure.” “What right have you to say that?” he asked as he flushed. ■ “You began your financial career with a thousand dollars. How much of it have you left?"

“You mean how much have I made, don’t you?” mean to_£ay that you haven’t got two hundred dollars left!” “See here, Eunice —!” “Don’t bluster, Henry. There is a general opinion that you are a success, but I know better. As your pledged wife I have a right to know certain things. As I said before, you are a failure as a financier, ah<T the first step is to admit'it.” Henry sat with very red face and sulked. “You are a moral, upright young man. You have a very good education. You are spoken of as smart. You started out with little worldly experience, however, and too much confidence in yourself. You argued that because you had made money on a hog and one or two other things you were a financier.” “I’ll not take that talk from any woman!” said Henry to himself, “You did not consult any of the business men Jiere,” continued the girl, “nor did you ask my advice. You just went ahead with a feeling that you knew it all. You bought wheat on a margin for a raise when there was no logical reason to look for a raise. You invested In silver mine stocks that had been published as a fraud. You put money into other things without serious investigation, and the result is—the result.” “And you don’t want to marry a failure, of course?” said the lover. "You are not a failure. You have failed in only one thing. Ninety men out of a hundred do that. You may yet be a success as a financier if you will be content to accept and follow the advice of a conservative person. “As for instance?" * “I am that person!” “Oh, you are a financier, are you?” “Mighty funny that I should have heard nothing about it. I thought you might have fifty dollars laid by, but never had a. hint that you were speculating;” “There’s a matter I never told you about, Henry, and I haven’t been disloyal in keeping it a secret. About the time we became acquainted an aunt and left me $2,000. I wanted .to a’dd to it, of course. I have a cousin over at Enfield. He had jpst started a dairy, and wanted me to put in as a partner and enlarge the business. I went over there and spent a week posting myself. I investigated the business from every point, and then I invested my money.” “And how much did you lose?” “I can sell out today for $3,700.” “But your cousin has been the business head.”

“On the contrary, he has done*the work while I have done the planning, or most of it. I wasn’t going to say a word to you till the day we were married, but it seems that the time has already come. I want you to show yourself and others that you can make money Instead of losing it” ; "And I am to go into the dairy business?” "Not at all. lam going to sell out and furnish you the capital to carry through a scheme. We shall be partners and divide the profits fairly. If we lose I shall pear the loss.” There are plenty of people who can recall the rat epidemic that swept over the middle west a number of years ago. It covered five states, and

it knocked rats for fair. It was fatal in cities, town and among the farmers. It was a sort of cholera that took a rate off,within ten hours after he was attacked, and sne single night ..in the city of Chicago sixty thousand of the long-tailed went to their doom unwept. Farmers who had been bothered for years suddenly found their barns and corn cribs freeof the pest, and there was great .rejoicing. The rat-trap manufacturers and the makers of “death on rats,” fourtf thCffiselves without customers, and the traps that hadebeen in use were laid aside to rust and.be of no farther use. ‘Five manufacturers in a single state made all the traps sold in five states. Six months after the epidemic ‘started the five manufacturers had either gone into bankruptcy or had shut down to wait -for, a new crop of rats. It was predicted by various naturalists and . doctors that the epidemic would run for five years, and all this and much more was in the papers and had been read by Miss Eunice Rathbone. As she read she saw a financial opening ahead of her. The. first thing- to be done was to get a long lease of those trap factories. The second was to buy all the stock on hand and add to it; - .: — The third was to be ready to rush the market as soon as the epidemic was a thing of the past. These things she told her lover in their talk that evening, and there wasn’t a point that he did not scoff at. They quarreled and made up again three or four times over, and at last it was settled that he should become her agent instead of her partner. A week later he was making his lease of the first of the five factories and within a month he had them all. The owners felt that providence had sent them a fool arid they hastened to close with him on his own terms. No one seemed to doubt that the epidemic would last the full five years, as predicted by the wise men —no one but the young lady who was taking a risk that no men would take. “Why should it last that long?” she asked of her lover. “No epidemic among humanity lasts beyond a season, and at the rate the rats are dying off the .disease will soon have nothing to feed on.” ‘ “But if .they are all gone of what use will your traps be?” was asked. “Some will escape the epidemic, as human beings do, and in a year or less there will be as many rats as ever. Keep a few hands at work in each factory. Keep stock boxed up and ready for shipment.” That epidemic appeared in a night and disappeared as suddenly. It lasted less than seven months, though it was estimated that several million rats fell by the wayside. For a month what rodenta were _ left oyer were very modest about showing themselves in public, and then from every point of the compass a fresh crop came pouring in. They came singly and in droves. They came by the highways and by train. They came by land and lake and sea. There were old rats and young rats. There were rats from New York city, and rats from Frisco They came down from Duluth, and they came up from New Orleans. They filled the of the cities and the barns of the farmers, and ijjiey were more voracious than the other lot

And a cry went up from five states for rat traps—wire traps—wooden traps—any old sort of trap to catch a rat. And the five factories worked day and night and sent out traps by the thousand, and there came a day when the owners made liberal offers to have the leases canceled, and Miss Eunice could say to her lover: “We have made SIB,OOO clear profit from rats, and I think w-e are entitled to call ourselves financiers.” As the young man did not answer she queried: “Are you not satisfied?" “I was wondering about something. Do you "think a good financier makes a good husband?” “The best (sort, I believe!” And they were wed a month later (Copyright, - 19137 by tfie'McClure New? paper Syndicate.)

Deer Fight for Two Hours.

After fighting for two hours, twi male deer belonging to the Essex county park commission locked horns on the hillside paddock at the South Mountain reservation, and had to be shot to end' their sufferings. It is just a year ago since a dozen mained bucks and does were found on the reservation. Alonzo Church, secretary to the park commission, summoned Doctor Hornaday, of the Bronx Zoological garden, to solve the mystery. Jle found that it was the season when the larger bucks become vicious, and a number of them were shot. Recently two other bucks which had shown murderous dispositions were also shot to insure the safety of those that remained —South Orange (N. J.) Dispatcn to New York Sun.

We're Coming to It.

Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont, fresh from her long European summer, criticised at the suffrage lunchrooms in New York American life. “The customs people are lacking In politeness,” she said, “and the servant question is very difficult here. “I heard a story yesterday -that hardly exaggerate the difficulty servant question. “ ‘Why did you leave your last place?’ a lady asked an applicant foi the post of parlor maid. , “ ‘Shure, mum/ the applicant replied, JI left because they insisted on me usin’ the old-fashioned biplane with never* chance at the smart new French monoplane that’s all the ft now.”*

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

FAMOUS PAINTER AND FENCER HERE

The Baron and Baroness de Meyer have arrived in America from England and the baron is giving in Chicago an exhibition of portraits of American women. He also has done much to stimulate the interest in gardens in this couptry by showing a collection of autochrome slides which he displays on the screen. The Baroness de Meyer is a god-child of the late King Edward of England, is one of the best-known women fencers of Great Britain, has fenced liere with many women prominent in society and posed for one of the most successful paintings of Sargent;

MEXICO'S FALL FROM AFFLUENCE TO POVERTY; FROM ORDER TO ANARCHY

Some of The:3 Who Have Figured in the Startling History Made by the Southern Republic During the Past Three Years— Land of the Montezumas Stood at Apex of Its Glory P on September 16, 1910.

New York.—From affluence to poverty, from peace and order to anarchy and massacre. From one of the great nations of the world to. one. of the semi-barbarous countries —that has been the history of Mexico in the last three years. Mexico stood at the apex of her glory on September 16, 1910, the centenary of her independence from Spain. Porflrio Diaz’ government was the only Latin-American power, save Brazil, to maintain an embassy as distinguished from a legation at Washington. With a population of 13,000,000 and an area equal to the United States east of the Mississippi (leaving out the New England states and New York), she stood fifth among the gold and first among the silver producing nations of the world: and her im-

Emiliano Zapata.

mensely rich agricultural resources | were being scientifically developed. But Mexico’s peace and prosperity had fundamental weaknesses. It was 'dependent on the hand of a monarch, and its funds for development had come from other nations. The United States had invested nearly $1,000,000.000 in Mexico; France, $143,000,000, and other foreign countries $118,000,000. Her own citizens had invested only $800,000,000. Furthermore, a group of self-seekers had gathered about Porfirio Diaz, the Iron Man, in his old age. They belonged to the “cientificos," and scientifically they extracted their percentages from every project set on' foot. The foreign capitalists, naturally, had to transfer this burden of graft to ttie returns they extracted from their in Mexico, and the money finally came out of the pockets of the Common people. . Then there was the land situation. A few hundred proprietors owned practically every acre of the country. While the cost of living increased, as it has in country of the civilised the great land barons evad-

ed their share of the taxes altogether. This last oppression was especially felt in the northern tier of states, where Americans and other foreigners were particularly numerous, and where the Mexicans could look across the border to the north and see a happier land. There developed a yearning for democratic government in the far north of Mexico, which resulted in the candidacy of Francisco I. Madero, son of an immensely wealthy and influential family, fdr the presidency in 1910. He drew up a scheme of reform, known as the “Plan of San Luis Potosi.” He was beaten in the election —was thrown into jail and probably would have been “shot escaping,” according to the pleasant little Mexican custom, had not his family been so influential. As it was, he was allowed to go to the United States, and there straightway organized a revolution. His father aud his many brothers supported him. The Waters-Pierce Oil company supplied the sinews of war.

Fearing that American residents in Mexico might be murdered and American investments destroyed in the conflict, President Taft mobilized an entire division at San Antonio in the spring of 1911. A brigade of three regiments was stationed at Galveston, a brigade of infantry in southern California, a squadron of battleships and cruisers at Galveston, and a smaller fleet at San Diego. Mr. Taft notified Diaz that no hostile move was intended; that the soldiers were simply on the spot to .maintain order. In April there was a fight opposite Douglas, Arlz., between federals and rebels, and stray bullets wounded five persons in the American border town. President Taft dispatched a sharp .note to Diaz. Partly due to this, Diaz slipped to Vera Cruz and embarked for Europe. Senor Francisco de la Barra, who had been ambassador at Washington, became provisional president until Senor Madero was elected, on October 15, and took office. The kind of suffrage possible in Mexico under the best conditions was shown in the fact that the successful candidate received only 23,000 votes. The defeated candidate, Bernardo Reyes immediately started a revolt, but was shortly put down. Then Madero made what many consider his fatal mistake. He refused to follow the cruel methods traditional in Mexico when .rebels are caught. He sent Reyes to prison for 16 years instead of following the "law of flight,” which would have resulted in a shooting under pretence of justification. He caused no political executions. As a result, disorders were continuous throughout his administration. Everywhere bands of robbers, masquerading as “patriots,” looted, burned. Mew up trains, massacred and carried off women captives. The barbarous Emillano Zapata continued to fight in the south under some theory or other) In the north Pascual Orosco, Macero’s ally, .beaded an insurrection and even took Juarez.

Moreover, Madero, the philosopher, the dreamer, the poet, had not been able to create an organization of upright men around him. His relatives led in the plunder of the state and the "holding up” of foreign investors. There was great pressure for intervention by the United States, but president Taft was adamant. The northern revolutionists made little progress after the United States had placed an embargo on arms and ammunition; but the old “cientificos” raised a new standard.of revolt under the leader of Felix Diaz, a colonel of the army arid nephew of Porfirio Diaz. Madero inmrisoned Diaz. But he refused to follbw the adage, "When in Rome do as the Romans do.”- He let Diaz live. He sent him to Vera Cruz a prisoner. Consequently Diaz was soon freed a farcical raid, his guards firing a single volley into the .air. The garrison declared for him. But Madero sent General Blanquet against him, and Diaz was soon a prisoner again. Again he was allowed to live, although . the laws of Mexico allow a “traitor’! to be put to death. ’ Madero had put down two revolts of the cientificos. Now came the third and final one. On February 9, 1913, about half the army mutinied, and both Reyes and Diaz were liberated. Reyes was killed in an attack upon the national palace. Then came the battle in the streets of Mexico. There was an artillery fight between the arsenal and the national palace, in which thousands of civilians, including many women and children, fell. Madero’s principal reliance was • hard-bitten old soldier, Gen. Victoriano Huerta. This man had earned a reputation as a fighter and little else. Suddenly he turned traitor to Madero. The political bee had got into his bonnet. Diaz thought he had gone over to the cientifico leader, and so it seemed for a time. Diaz and Huerta imprisoned Madero, his relatives and members es the administration. Then Diaz suddenly—everything happens suddenly in Mexico —discovered the leader was not himself, but Huerta! He acquiesced with some grace. Huerta was proclaimed provisional president under an agreement that Colonel

Gen. Venustiano Carranza.

Diaz would run for president in the coming elections. This was on February 18. Five days later came the disgraceful episode in modern history—the murder of Francisco Madero. With Senora Madero imploring in tears for his life, the kindly-disposed president and his vice-president, Suarez, were shot) “trying to escape” as they were being transported across Mexico Gity in the early morning from the palace to penitentiary. Huerta was accused or murder in many quarters. Several months later, to anticipate a bit, Dominquez, the had charge of the squad which nad killed Madero and Suarez, was himself slain. “Dead men tell no tales.” More crude methods were taken to get rid of some Maderlstas. The president’s brother, who had been minister of financg, was slain in cold blood In his cell, his nose and ears were cut off, and his body was subjected to other indignities. This was what led President Wilson to say in his speech at Swathmore, Pa., “Government stained by blood cannot endure.” ' The question of recognition of Huerta, now undoubtedly in control of the most important port of Mexico, as the de facto ruler, came up. President Taft, who was about to end his administration, naturally did not seek to establish a policy for Mr. Wilson, having no desire to embarrass him: Just ope week aftfer his inauguration. President Wilson Issued a stateqhent which made it clear the United States would not recognize government by assassination. On this he has stdod ever since. \ Huerta had scarcely seated himself on the throne than rebellion broke out again, with Gen. Venustlano Carranza, who had been a close friend of Madero, in the lead. Carranza has made great progress, and in fact now controls more of Mexico than did Madero when Porflrio Dias abdicated. The situation since has been grow ing more and more serious, until man? now (believe that intervention by the United States is the only means of re storing rder in Mexico. Nelson O’Shaughnessy, charge d’af faires of the American embassy at Mexico City, has been the diplomatic representative of the Wilson administration, following the retirement oi Ambassador Wilson, whose actions It Mexico did not please the president.

U M ill ■ HENPY MALAND Splendid iftHGi I 11 ‘ J, Ml l| k He came, in wth a cheerful smile, and with a hand extended; “How do you" do, old man?” he said; “gee, '■«* but you’re looking splendid! You’re growing younger every year; I wonder how you do It?” He then espied an empty chair and took 'a fancy to it. “The world has used you well, I hear,” 1 ' i he said with glad conviction; “I ajways claimed you’d get ahead; you've made good my prediction; It only proves that talent wins when! properly directed; You’ve been successful, but rib more than might have been expected.' / “I hear men talking everywhere about the things you’re doing; I wish I’d, had the sense to take the course you’ve been pursuing; You always had the gift the proper time for action; The victories you’ve won must be a source of satisfaction." It seemed as if at last the world was granting justice to me, And while he spoke I felt a thrill of gladnes coursing through me; But presently he spoke again and changed my pride to sorrow: He purpose merely was to get “ten dollars till tomorrow.”

The First Thing.

“You are always talking about the foolishness of the rich and telling us what they ought to/do with their money. Let us suppose that you were , in some way to become the possessor of a million dollars»jlmorrow. What, d in that case, would* the first thing * you would do?” » “I would rent-dn office where I 1 J could have an anteroom with a man on guard to shield me from pie who i ji-ed to waste my time I£H| ing me recitals of their troubles and by asking me fooW|||| questions.

OMITTED THAT.

tßke time to tell you about all Of! tiem. But tljpre was one thing we< didn’t do.” . I “Huh! There was,‘was there? What: wbs it?” ~~ FWe didn’t sing ’Hail, Hail, the Clang’s All Hbre.’ ”

Shameless Men.

Dainty maid fell of woe: Clinging- skirt; breezes blow. I . Men’s remarks maid invites; Might a* well be In tights. \ Dainty tnaid, cheeks aflame, ■> V Thinks ’hat men have no shame. ( If she pleased, maiden might Wear a skirt nnt so tight. | Couldn’t think of it, though; \ Let ’em stare—let .’er blow. f Naughty men, thus to smile: I Maiden must be, in style.

O Temporal O Mores!

"I want you and your wife to come and have dinner with us next Thursday evening,” said Mrs. Wammsieigh. “We are going to have some friends from Cincinnati in.” “Thank you. It will be a pleasure to meet your friends, I’m sure. What time will you expect us?” "Oh. about half past six. And please don’t dress. None of us are 7 going to."

Up and Down and Far and Wide.

“Yes, I believe in seeing America first.” .. “How much of it have you seen?" “A lot. I’ve travele’B from Upper Sandusky, 0., to Lowville, N. Y., and from Longmeadow, Mass., to Brodhead, Wis.”

One by One.

“One by’one our children leave uV* she sadly said, when their fourth daughter had started on her wedding journey. ~ “Yes,” he replied, t little more sadly, “and one by one they bring oar sons-in-law back to sa”

“Well, M||||| Stephen Gm ” 's erlot, yoMi -htf at your ■ffragette rally?” “Oh, we did a I lot of things,” his. wife replied; “bo that I can’t 1