Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1914 — Page 2

Cape to Cairo by Motor Car

by MOTOR CAR

FROM time to time It has been announced that Capt. R. W. Kelsey, Mr. Scott-Brown, and two companions were undertaking to traverse Africa In a motor car from the Cape to Cairo. It Is now possible to put before our readers a first report from the expedition. The task as it proceeds will become a more and more difficult one. Even In this first section of the route some very rough country has been traversed as is evident from the picture given here. A correspondent of the Dally Telegraph who is one of the party has sent home an interesting message. . - The initial difficulties which are inseparable from all big undertakings have been met, and the lessons learned in the hard school of experience during the first few days of the tour proved Invaluable. **' The journey from Cape Town proved varied in the extreme and: full of interest, for, in addition tp enabling the party to see some of the most fertile fields of Cape Colony and also the desert of the Karroo, It has given them an opportunity of seeing how some of the biggest industries are conducted. The first place of note passed •was Paart, a curious straggling town of one street, extending for seven miles. It is surrounded by vineyards and produces some of -the best wine of South Africa. Its wagons are famous in the days before the railway it was no uncommon sight to see long trains of these wagons, tied one behind the other, ‘ being dragged by oxen miles into the interior, where they were sold, occasionally for cash, but more often bartered for cattle. Through a Fruit-Farming Area. Much of the land in the locality is devoted to fruit-farming, oranges and peaches doing particularly well. To-bacco-growing has also been tried with considerable success. A few miles further on Wellington was passed, where, in addition to the wine and brandy industry, there are jam and fruit-drying factories, m’ainly supplied with fruit from neighboring orchards. Another great wine and fruit-farming district is at Worcester. Then there is a change, and in place of fruit one sees sheep, cattle, and ostriches. But no matter what the industry, the party always -observed an air of prosperity and comfort From the fertile valleys outside Cape Town the car passed to the desolate wilderness of the Karroo. Owing to the formation of the surrounding mountains this vast area, which is said to exceed 100,000 square miles, gets but a scanty rainfall. It is a great inland plateau at a level of between 2,000 feet and 3,000 feet above the sea, and save after rain the vegetation is burnt up by the fierce rays of the sun. The earth is of a color varying from a warm red brown to fawn, and is very stony. In many places there is deep, loose sand. G>ass cannot live owing to the lack of moisture; but the Karroo bush, a little green shrub usually some 8 to 10 inches high, manages to flourish by sending its roots several feet into the ground. There is also a green bush which reaches a height of 2 feet or 3 feet. All these plants appear to grow individually or in small groups, but never In great clusters as we are accustomed to see gorge in the home country. The only tree that grows at all plentifully is a thorn with treacherous spikes, 3 inches, 4 inches, and even more inches long. For miles—as far as the eye can Bee —there is the same monotonous outlook, the only variation being the rugged kopjes which here and there break the even surface of the plain. But their stoneatrewn slopes, looking in the distance to be devoid of even a vestige of vegetation, only add to the melancholy inspect of the place. One of the illustrations gives a good idea of the difficulties before the car in this district ■*-' Life In the Karroo. - Looking at this silent soene of desolation one gains the impression that mo animal oould possibly live there. JBut as a matter of fact the Karroo %ush, even after it has been burnt by the sun into a bunch of dry twigs, provides food tor innumerable sheep, and Karroo mutton* and lamb are well known tor their quality. \ ■ " Later advice Informs us that the car kas proceeded via Johannesburg, suo; cessfully negotiating the northern Transvaal; thence it has crossed the

ROUGH ROAD IN KARROO DESERT

Limpopo river into southern Rhodesia, and passing Buluwayo reached Wankles, seventy miles south of the Zambesi, on November 10. Here a halt had to be made to repair the broken back axle and a ball race. The message says that the Jractnres were caused by strain. “Angus McAskill, our mechanic,” continues the message, “is suffering from malaria and jaundice and will probably be unable to proceed further A new axle and ball race are being obtained from Johannesburg. Captain Kelsey is taking steps to secure another mechanic. McAskill is progressing and all the rest of the party are •well.” -

HAD FORGOTTEN HIS WORK

Auguste Rodin, French Sculptor, Sued for Calling One of His Bronze Statues a Forgery.

Auguste Rodin is faced with a curious action for damages. Recently he heard that a bronze statue entitled “The Earth,” described as being by him, was being offered for sale in some art rooms here. As he was unable to remember such a work, he informed the police and a warrant was Issued for the seizure of the supposed forgery. The art dealer made inquiries of the man from whom he bought the statue, and it was traced back from one purchaser after another to Prof. Heilbuth of Hamburg, who stated that he bought the statue from M. Rodin himself in 1899, and that Rodin wrote on it with his own hand, “First model.” Reminded of this, M. Rodin withdrew the charge of forgery and confessed his mistake. The dealer now alleges that his credit has suffered, and he is about to sue M. Rodin for heavy damages.

Held Her Age Well.

Here is one that was told the other day by a congressman from New York state, when the conversation turned to scenes and incidents in the courtroom. Some time ago, the congressman said, a civil suit was tried in one of tbs New York courts in which a pretty young woman from Texas was one of the pHncipal witnesses. "And now, Miss Smith,” remarked the examining lawyer, after the witness had been duly sworn, “yon reside In the state of Texas, do yon?” “Yes, sir,” easily answered the fair ness, “in Galveston.” "How long, Miss Smith,” continued, the lawyer In the same formal tone, “have you lived in Galveston?” “How long, Miss Smith,” continued the lawyer in the same formal tone, “have you lived in Galveston?” “Ever since the flood, sir,” was the prompt response of Miss Smith. “Ever Bince the flood?” gallantly remarked the judge, Bitting up and beginning to take notice. “My dear young lady, you don’t look your age by 6,000 years.”

Nerve Centers Twisted.

An upside-down schoolboy has been discovered at Chester-le-Street, Durham, England. The boy’s name is Eddie Burn, and fie unconsciously reads and writes upside-down. “Eddie,” his schoolmistress states, “seemis incapable of writing his letters the proper way up. When handed a book to read he immediately turns it upside down. The boy is under the impression that he is performing his task in an orthodox manner. In persons of normal vision objects are reflected on the retina (the membranes at the back of the eye) In a position the reverse of that in which they are seen; but the brain translates the vision right side up. In the case of this boy some defect in the nerve centers probably prevents the brain from carrying out Its task.

Gold In Natural Pocket.

There Is no more Interesting character in California than that class of prospector known as the “pocket banter." In certain sections of the moantains the rich gold are contained in small scatter**! pockets near the surface. The poctfet miners often discover many rich deposits by tracing the particles of gold In the soil H> their sources. As soon as a pocket is gouged oat and colors of gold are no longer shown the place is abandoned. In- one pocket in Trinity county as much as $45,000’ was yielded la a tow feet

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, INI).

GATHERED SMILES

HIS BTOCK IN TRADE.

The nervous little man next to the car window sized up the fat man who shared the.seat with hlra and ventured the inquiry: “How’s business?” “Can’t complain,” said the other laconically. ’’What do you deal In?” “Mothers-in-law, billy goats, the weather, s\it skirts, tramps, stranded actors, candidates, politics and the like.” “Whattyye tryin’ to do?” snarled the nervous little man. “Tryin’ to kid me?” “Nope,” the fat man grinned. “The things I have named in a large measure comprise my stock In trade. You see, my dear sir, l am a professional writer of - jokes and anecdotes.” — Youngstown Telegram.

NATURALLY.

Patient Doctor, what happens ■when a person’s temperature goes down as far as it can go? Doctor (absently)—Then he has cold feet. >

Self-Forgetful.

A disappointed artist, indulging In a vein of abuse against Whistler, exclaimed: “He’s without exception the most superficial, self-sufficient,' Ignorant, shallow creature- that ever made pretensions to art.”

“Gently, my dear Bir,” interrupted Whistler, who had been listening unobserved. “You quite forget yourself.” —London Til-Bits.

Vindicated.

“I always knew Josh would grow up to be a great help to us,” Bald the fond mother. »

"I haven’t seen him do any regular work yet,” replied Farmer Corntossel. “Well, if you’ll take notice, he’s the only person around the place who knows how to teach the summer boarders to do the tango and the tur-key-trot.”

Lacking of Facilities.

“Oh, dear, lovers in the old days had trying times,” sighed Mrs. Fibber, who had just finished reading a romance of the middle ages. "I shouldn’t wonder,” said Mr. Fibber, from behind his evening paper. "There was no satisfactory equivalent for Reno in those days.”

Between Girle.

“Anything good at the theaters next week?” “Hadn’t noticed,” said the other girl. "Why?” “If there is, I’ll Btart a quarrel with Freddy now, and then he. can send me a couple of matinee tickets to square himself.”

A NATURAL RESULT.

“What’s Burns so hot about?” “The boss Just now fired him.”

Still Another Story.

A t wenty-a'.ory new hotel !</**> to New York’* glory; And when It come* to price of room* — Why, that** another »tory.

The Modern Wooer.

“George, you must go right away and ask papa tor my hand.” - “That’s ail right, little one. I asked him first.” “What! You didn’t wait to ask ms!" “Ntxy, Mabel. I’m a busy little man, girlie, and I waste no time on chances.”

Eve’s Clothes.

Whan Eve held forth' In Paradiae, She found much pleaaure in it. For when,she did her. Monday waah It only ( took a minute.

Over the Phone.

“Is this Mrs. Blithering Brown?** "Yes; Who’s talking?” “Mrs. Benjamin Green. Is Mary Jane Blooker-co^Bg:for^you-.k^vvy?^-^y-"She Is. for you, didn’t she?” “Yes, and you took her away from me.” “Oh, no, I didn’t." y “Yon say you didn’t?! Then who did?” “W T by, I was told it was the humane society. Good-by, dear.” A violent clash of receivers. Quick calls for the repair department.

His Excuse.

* “Loogy yuh, Brudder Bagus!” severely said good old Parson Bagster, on a recent Monday morning. “What was de ’casion for yo’ ’sturbin’ de whole . cong’egation last night by snawtln’ dat-uh-way and t en gittin’ up and trompin’ out’n de church wid all de ferocity of a blind hoss?" "Uh-well, to tell de troof, pahson,” answered the culprit, T’s amphibious.” “Wha-what’s dat yo’ specifies? Yo’ is what?” - "Amphibious, sah. I walks in muh sleep.”—Judge.

Modern Merrymaking.

buV whl&*M mer resort ?” asked curative properties.. , de J * pfeCUk'faT apparatus I Bet. -J¥<Tabout?” . "That belongs to scenic railways, steeplechases, aerial tramways, shuffleboards and other contrivances used by pleasure-seekers whose idea of a holiday Is to visit a summer park and defy the law of gavtty.”

No Sympathy.

"When I left home to seek my fortune,” said Mr. Cassius Chex, “I had only $20." “Where war your boyhood home?" asked the cynical person. “Punkville.” “Well, I don’t see that you have any kick. Twenty dollars is a lot of money for anybody to- clean up in Punkville.”

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS.

“What is your son who graduated from college last June doing now?” “Oh, he’s busy trying to get over the things he thought he had learned at college.”

No Change Possible.

When Myron brought home hla monthly school report, it made a very poor showing. “This is very unsatisfactory,” said his father, looking over the report, “I am not at all pleased with It.” “I knew you wouldn’t be,” answered Myron. “I told the teacher so, but she Baid she couldn’t change it.” —Harper’s.

No Room, for Cream.

“My dear,” said the young husband, “did you speak to the milkman about there being no cream on the milk?” “Yes. I told him about it this morning, and he explained It satisfactorily. I think it is quite a credit to him, too.” “What did he say?” “He said that he always filled the jug so full that there is no room on the top "for the cream.” —Farm and Home.

When Help Is Scarce.

“You're buyin’ some mighty fine food these d%ys,” commented the .storekeeper. “The last of the sufhmer boarders'must be something special.” “I’m not buyin’ this fur any summer boarders," answered Farmer Corntossel. “This is fur the hired man.”

No Luxuries.

“Any insanity in your family?” asked the life Insurance man. “No," replied Farmer Corntossel, “I couldn’t afford to hire any alienist If our boy Josh gets into any trouble, we’ll jes’ have to admit that he’s plain foolish.’*"

A Bridge Bore.

I do not like the gabby guy With flaws to pick. Who’* always prompt to tell- yon why You lost tha trick.

Hard to Suit.

“Maria,” sharply asked Mr. Dorkins, “is that worthless young whipperafiapper of a Dick Doogood still coming to see Bessie?” v “What do you mean by talking that way, John?” said Mrs. Dorkins. “He hasn’t been here in six week*-” . 2 "Hasn’t he? .Is the scoundrel trilling with her affections.”

Marks a Triumph in Millinery.

ONE of the pretty brimmed hats (of which there have been comparatively few this winter) is pictured here. It has proved so successful that it will very likely reappear in spring millinery made up in spring fabrics and trimmed with flowers. The shape is apparently rather simple, but it takes a fine knowledge of the frame-makers’ art to strike so good a balance between crown and brim, to fit the rolling brim so easily to the head and to achieve so much grace and becomlngness. It is a shape especially suited to the low style of coiffure. TherS are similar shapes with smaller crowns, or with soft crowns, to be worn with the new high coiffures. The body of the hat is covered with a soft, fine millinery crepe Or with crepe de chine. It is laid in tucks over the brim and in folds of the same width on the upper brim. Over this there is a draping of two thicknesses of fine mallne. The under brim is faced, with black velvet A hat made in this way, with the always becoming black velvet facing framing' the face and hair, .may be made up with any other color In combination. As it is a hat for dressy wear, some of the light and fascinating

RUSSIAN BLOUSE COMBINATION FOR THE WINTER GIRL

ONE 'of the Russian blouse combinations which are so pretty for the younger generation, and also (when made like tike original) so -well adapted to cold weather, is shown here made up with a figured crepe skirt and a broadcloth coat It Is in black with turned-back

cuffs and collar of velvet edged with skunk for. The vest is In a light paprika or "tango” shade of velvet, very smart In combine tianwith the black. It is really a waietcoat extending ten Inches below the waist line at the toot . v. Aeross the frdnt, at titoy waist line, Hs a short strap and buckle which makes en excellent decoration. The buckle is made of the colored velvet lever a buckram foundation.

shades, in gold and salmon or in coral, are very effective. Turquoise and other? blues are good, and the lighter strong: greens are wonderful. One may in* dulge in brilliant color, since it is veiled in black and the brimming Is is black also. This consists of a band of black velvet ribbon about an inch and a half wide, at the base of the crown, and a butterfly (or the distant relative of a butterfly) fashioned of maline and velvet on a wire foundation. A very simple bow of three loops and three end* is tied becomingly at the base of the ornament. To make such a hat requires a professional knowledge of millinery. It has all the elements of style and ic excellent in every regard. The brim if wider at the back than at the front droops a little before it begins to roll upward, and is not easy to cover with velvet. The overlay of maline soften* the outline and tones down a brilliant—color to the proper reserve. And the whole shapely hat is given charactei by the saucy and rather absurd butter fly ornament. Pretty as it is, it might pass almost unnoticed, except for th« ornament. This is its note of triumph ' —and all that it needed.

JULIA BOTTOMLEY.

The skirt-is close fitting with a little drapery at one side made by three plaits sewed in at the seam. The sleeves are set in, and Just an easy fitting straight pattern fulled in at the cuff. Worn with the suit is a chic and saucy hat. It is a turban In which the drapery has been shaped into wide flaring wings of velvet. They are sup ported by wires. There is a knot at the center and the wings are far one with the covering of the hat—a very clever arrangement of drapery. There is a scarf and muff of silh plush to be worn with this costume When the weather is cold a guimpe and standing collar of net suggest pro tection and should be worn at the neck. Real warmth is afforded by the scarf, which is fiat and long and can be wrapped about the throat and spread over the chest There is a fad for wearing a single long-stemmed rose on the muff. With this costume an artificial rose in a yellow or one of the tango shades is the right choice. None of the rose reds look well with the color in the waistcoat, but there are yellowish pink and deep yellow roses, and those of gold tissue which are Just the. thing.

JULIA BOTTOMLEY.

Waists of the Season.

Shadow lace and net blouses to be worn with diaphanous skirts have lowcut necks with frills and long sleeves similarly finished, oftentimes being finished with pink and blue ribbon across the front and under the lace. Tulle waists are dainty and diaphanous, their beauty being enhanced by dark fur trimmings, such as skunk or pole cat The fur gives a touch of wlntrlness. These waists are made of plain or figured tulle, many being made plain in front but with plaits in back. They are made with deep kir mono sleeves, tied In at the wrist by a black velvet band. Th» bolero style of waist is popular, with two or three distinctive clasps in front, ▲ Stuart collar edged with fur gives this type a touch of smartness.

Doorway Window.

Often a broader entranoe can be gained for a house planned for a narrow lot if one window Is sbt Into th» doorway ornamentation and makes possible two windows where only would otherwiee have been permitted. If a central treatment is given t.h» second rtory windows the effect is good..