Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1914 — Page 2

SERIAL STORY

= The Isolated Continent

A Romance of the Future

By Guido von Horvath and Dean Hoard

OUMTliglit, IBIS, hy W. O. Chapman in ttw United States and Great Britain. 17 SYNOPSIS.

For fifty years the continent of North America has been isolated from the rest of the world by Z-rays, the invention of Hannibal Prudent, president of the united government. A message from Count von Werdenstein, chancellor of Germany, that he has succeeded in penetrating the rays hastens the death of Prudent. Dying, he •warns his daughter Astra that foreign invasion is now certain. Astra succeeds her father as president. Napoleon Edison, a former pupil of Prudent’s, offers to assist Astra and hints at new discoveries which will make North America Impregnable. A man giving the name of Chevalier di Leon offers Werdenstein the secret of making gold in return for European disarmament. The chevalier is made a prisoner. Countess Rosiny. a spy. becomes a prisoner in the hope of discovering di Leon’s secret. She falls in love with him and agrees to Join him/In an attempt to escape. By the use pf rockets he summons a curious flyhsg machine. He escapes and sends .a message to Astra which reveals the fact that he Is Napoleon Edison. He warns Astra that the consolidated fleets of Europe have sailed to invade America. He calls on Astra the following night and explains his plans for defense. By the use Of aeroplanes made of a new substance which is indestructible he expects to annihilate the European forces. He delivers a note to von Werdenstein on his flagship demanding immediate withdrawal. He is attacked and. by destroying two warships and several aeroplanes, forces von Werdenstein to agree to universal disarmament. The countess,—who has remained in America as a guest of Astra, receives an offer from von Werdenstetin of the principality of Schomburg-Lithow in return for Edison’s secret. Edison and his assistant. Santos, go In search of new deposits of the remorkable substance, cirynith. They find it on the estate of Schomburg-Lith-ow. The countess gets Santos into her clutches. She promises to reveal Edison’s secret as soon as von Werdenstein turns over the Schomburg-Lithow estate to her. On the day of the wedding of Astra and Edison the countess and Santos flee the country.

CHAPTER XVlll.—Continued. “I am afraid,” said the Count von Werdenstein, “that he is preparing a surprise for us. I do not like his silence.” “Or is he simply enjoying a long honeymoon?” was Rositta’s sarcastic comment. But the count shook his head doubtfully. A year had almost passed when the first European aerodromone was finished and ready for its trial trip. It was as perfect as mechanical genius could make it. Count von Werdenstein had invited several “reigningTmonarchs to attend the trial flight and Suemeg rivaled the ancient Roman pageants in splendor. Only a few besides the royal spectators were allowed on the plateau near the aerodromone plant. The police compelled the' uninformed thousands who lived in the neighborhood to keep a respectful Santos Duprel’s heart beat high ..when he and Rositta stepped into the waiting machine. Rositta had decorated this first aerodromone with a gorl geous princely crown, and it glittered bravely in the morning sun. Rositta was clever and studied the aerodromone under Santos’ direction until she was expert in its control and manufacture. When they entered the aerodromone, Santos went to the wheel, moved the starting lever and the wings rose slowly, then swooped downward, causing the machine to rise swiftly and surely. Everything worked exactly as desired and the machine soon disappeared from the view of the watchers, behind a bank of clouds.

They went up and swam in the fleecy clouds that billowed in the golden sunshine. They reached an enormous height, then Santos reversed the machine, turned off the power and they slid downward. Rositta stood by his side, embracing him with one arm. In her exuberance she reached up with her free hand and pulled the lever that emptied the brass receptacle; a blinding flash came, striking dfwnward, zigzagging through the clouds, and mighty thunder echoed through space. She realized her might, and in that moment of intoxicating delight she dreamed a dream—she saw herself as the ruler of the world. “How long will it take to have twenty machines like this, Santos?” asked Rositta, eagerly. 1 “Five or six months, my queen!” . “Then, then we Will see.” Her eyes glittered strangely with a fire that was not love. * When they landed pn the spot from where they ascended, the Emperor of Germany handed Santos Duprel the parchment with the great imperial seal attached, and said: “Count von 'Duprel, I want to be the first to congratulate you." An hour later the newly made Count von Duprel was receiving the matrimonial blessing from the court vicar. The crowned heads were happy to wltness the marriage ceremony. CHAPTER XIX. l The Garden of Eden. A Napoleon and Astra kept the flight W tike Countess Roainy and the disap-

pearanee .of Santos Duprel secret Even Mrs. Edison did not know that Rositta had left. Astra patched Napoleon’s thoughtful some apprehension. At times he would sit gazing into space, entirely oblivious to his surroundings. Rositta’s flight had made him aware of the harm that could come to his beloved country. Their honeymoon had been short, as neither could be absent from their posts long. The following week Astra returned to her presidential duties and Napoleon to his aerodromone. Shortly after their return he talked' long and seriously with his wife. Then the American Eagle left the roof of the Crystal Palace and flew toward the west. He stopped at Clryne and questioned Sullivan, and found that Santos and Jtositta had left the aerodromone in Russia. So he knew that they had, by this time, perfected their plans, and the fact that Rositta signed herself as the Princess of Schomburg Lithow alone made it plain that they would try to take warfare into the air. Jerome Whistler was at the laboratory and Napoleon give him instruc-.; tions. He inspected the stock of available cirynith, then spent many hours over his drawing table, but when he was through with his work began to whistle a pleasant melody. Rolling up his drawings, he said In a low, exultant voice: “This will come as a surprise.” He called Jerome Whistler and turned the drawings over to him. It w&a an aerodromeue. . “I am glad we have enough material to do this, friend Whistler; besides, we will have enough left over for other purposes.”

Napoleon returned to the capital to report and advise Astra that he would make a longer trip for reconnoitcring purposes. He left that evening. He _visited Suemeg, and there saw what he busily at work, making the peak like an immense ant hill. He saw Santos emerge from one building and walk across the plain to another, and the knew, then, that Santos had betrayed him; that aerodromones would fight against aerodromones in God’s clear, pure air. He was sad that the man whom he had trusted so implicitly had turned traitor at the instigation of the countess. Satisfied that his surmise was correct, he turned homeward and after a short conference with Astra left again. This time he traversed the Pacific coast of the Americas. Starting from Mexico, he went southward, watching his electro-spectroscope incessantly, while he circled over the volcanic regions of thy Andes. Day after day he continued his search, going farther and farther south, always near the ocean. His spectroscope showed signs of cirynith several times, but never in large quantities.

Weeks were spent this way. From time to time he, returned to Washington, and each time he returned he stopped a few hours at Ciryne to see how the work on the new machine was progressing. He had raked through* Colombia and Ecuador with minute care and now was on the border of Peru. He continued his search with unswerving faith in ultimately finding the jjrecious metal that would enable him to build a larger fleet. He had been circling over the Andes, peering down on steep precipices, rugged slopes and snow-covered peaks where goats and llamas were the only inhabitants, when suddenly he saw* an intense greenish light glowing on his spectroscope. He slowed down, and the instrument gave evidence of a large deposit of cirynith. Not more than Wo hundred feef* below him stretched a broad snow-covered peak. A lavutic, porous, bare space was visible through the snow, on the northeastern corner, and there he found what he sought. The precious cirynith lay in heavy layers, almost perfectly pure. The deposit was not as large as the one in Hungary, but more ea -

Not More Than Two Hundred Feet Below Him Stretched a Broad, Snow-Covered Peak.

ily obtainable, and it wwuld be unnecessary to go throughlot of i>reliminary steps before they could carry It away. > * Satisfied with his discovery, he explored the secluded spot that never before had been touched by human foot. The geological formation was of volcanic origin. It seemed as though the mountain bad been rent apart and the space left between the saw edged ridges In the course of time had developed into a paradise. The place appealed to his sentimental instincts. Re took his machine over to the meadow and ate his lunch :>r; v . *

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

on the green, mossy grass. He filled his cup from the crystal lake and drank deep of the cool, refreshing water. “beautiful spot!” he murmured, stretching out his arms slowly* as If extending his blessing. “I name you 'The Garden of Eden!* Then he entered his machine, flew over the cirynith deposit, filled some sacks- with the irregular, hard crystals and started homeward. His mind was filled with schemes to frustrate the European plans. The next day he took six aerodromones from Ciryene to the Garden of Eden, and they made'trips back and forth until the whole deposit of cirynith was landed on the Island cf Ciryne. The spectroscope showed that there must be more under the surface, but Napoleon knew he had sufficient for the time being, and was satisfied to leave the rest until such time as he needed It. New hangars were built on the island. The work progressed rapidly. Aerodromone after aerodromone of the new type was stored away by the expert workmen. —'•*— Napoleon's visits to Astra were liis happiest hours. He confided his hopes and expectations to her. She gave him all the sympathy and encouragement at her command. Their lives were attuned to perfect harmony. The work on Ciryne had progressed so well that Whistler was able to oversee it all without Napoleon’s assistance and one day he took leave from Astra with the following words: “1 am going to pay a visit to our excellent friend, the Count von Werdenstein, and then, when I have ascertained hie attitude toward the peace committee, I will go on a still hunt for the final preventive of war." The Count von Werdenstein’s palace was equipped with a roof hangar, as were all the large private dwellings, and the Eagle found it an easy matter to alight there without molestation. Napoleon had sent a 'graph message to the count to expect him, but did not mention the time of his arrival., The quick descent made it impossible for the observers to discern the type of machine that alighted, and the workmen in the hangar did not pay any attention to Sullivan when Napoleon left the craft. Sullivar simply locked the door and eat reading until his return.

The count was very much surprised to receive his card, as the attendants had not announced him. Nevertheless, he received him in his usual suave manner.

Napoleon saw and felt that the count was in an extremely happy state of mind, that he was no more in despair, but hopeful. “I am very glad to see your excellency drop into our circle once more.” He grasped both hands of the president of the peace committee. "The pleasure Is mine, your honor,” was Napoleon’s reply. “My call is not an official one, it is a private matter. That Is why I dropped into your home so unceremoniously." “You are welcome.” “1 thought you would be kind enough to listen to me. You remember my last visit here, when I wanted you to sell me, or to help me purchase the Peak Suemeg in Hungary? At that time I thought the place contained the crystals of cirynith, the substance from which any aerodromones are made.” Napoleon paused, and the count looked at him cautiously. “I took some samples of the crystals when I discovered ft, and analyzed them. To my surprise I found that it has not the same electro magnetic qualities that the cirynith of Ciryne has.” He paused again; still the count said nothing. ‘‘Now, lam sorry that I have troubled you in this matter, as I do not want the property, for my experiments have proved to me that the crystals are worthless for my purposes.’’ "But you are mistaken,” blurted out the count. He realized in the pame second that he had made a mistake, but, after all, what difference could it make? Napoleon smiled serenely, and gave no sign of satisfaction at having brought this information from the count. “All I can tell you is,” continued he, “that the chemical quality Is not the same, and I cannot make use of the deposit, and for this reason I do not wish to interest myself further in the property.” (TO BE CONTINUED.)

GERMAN “KURS” NOT “CURES”

Error of Translator Causes a Medicine's Value to Be Overestimated.

Many newspapers are hasty in announcing the discovery in Germany of some method of treatment more of less new, and not infrequently misinformation is given flie public through the failure to keep in mind the actual meaning of one little word. The German word kur does not mean "cure." although it is not an uncommon thing to find it so translated into English. “To cure” in English means "to restore to health; to effect a cure;” but in other languages it means merely to apply “a method of remedial treatment of disease; medical or hygienic care; method of medical treatment." The German word for “restoration to health" is heiiung. not kur. The Latin word cura means merely "care,” a shade of meaning which is preserved in the derived term “cursr tor.” An Italian physician was recently made to ssv. when his article was translated Into English, “I cured ten typhoid patients last month and six pf them died." What he reglly said was that he had treated ten par tients. —From the Journal of the Amer lean Medical Association.

Garbage and love letters should Ik burned before they create trouble.

TWO RECENT AUTOMOBILE INVENTIONS

Two novelties in the way of automobiles are shown in the photographs. The upper one shows the latest addition to the transportation facilities of the French army, and is called the • flying auto.” The only way it differs from the ordinary automobile is that in the rear is a monster propeller. When crossing the sands of the desert of Mofbcco.or on windy days, the propeller is set in motion and the auto is capable of attaining a speed of fifty miles an hour over the sandiest of roads. The bottom photo shows the “flying bob,” a glider that shoots on the snows by the aid of a propeller attached to the front.

NEW ALBANIA’S KING

Prince William of Wied to Undertake Difficult Task.

Gome Traits of People of Kingdom Which Will Be Ruled by Descendants of William of Orange— / Scutari to Be Capital.

London. —Scutari, that little township which King Nicholas of Montenegro was so averse to parting with, is to be the capital of the new autonomous Albanian states. On this point Italy and Austria are reported to be in agreement. As Italy and Austria have the strongest interest in the question, the acquiescence of the other European powers may be accepted as a matter of course. In Scutari, therefore, at some not far distant date, Prince William of Wied, nephew of the king of Roumania, will take his seat as a king. Europe will wish him well, for Prince William is undertaking a task of great

Prince William of Wied.

difficulty, and his new position will test his powers to the full. 1 The Albanians, his new subjects, object to any form of government, because it entails the collection of taxes, to which they are fanatically opposed, and this fact does "not make Prince William’s task any the eaßier. . It Is pretty certain, therefore, that there will be further fighting in Albania, since there are so many nations surrounding her who can easily etlr up trouble by bribery and who will benefit by the opportunity of interference in ordpr to restore order. The prospective king has virtually to create a new state out of the most Incongruous and refractory of materials.

Prince William was born at Neuwied in 1876. He married in 1906 Princess Sona of Schomburg Waldenburg. According to “Carmen Sylva,” his kinswoman, the prince of Wied descends in direct line from William of Orange. He is the eldest nephew of the emperor of Germany. His house has included a number of men who have distinguished themselves, not only on the battle field, but also in the fields of science and literature.

The young prince himself has been from his childhood a great lover of reading. “Carmen Sylva” sayß he never could be seen without a book in his hand. At the same time he paid great attention to physical culture, and developed into a regular athlete. He was acknowledged to be the strongest young student in the College of Jena. As a young officer he was known to be able with one arm to raise any of his comrades high into the air. He was attached for some time to the highest military academy, and afterward went to the general staff. He made always the best impression by his earnestness and high culture. He Is strikingly handsome in his military uniform, with the silver helmet surmounted by a silver eagle. Albania is a very mountainous country and the land for the most part is more suitable for grazing phrposes than agriculture. In the north a little maize, rice and barley is grown, while the mountain sides are used as pastures for numerous herds of cattle and sheep. In the south the slopes are covered with fruit and mulberry trees, with a few vineyards and olive groves here and there, while the densely wooded mountain ranges furnish valuable supplies of timber. The Albanians are really half civilized mountaineers and are very poor and very Ignorant, yet clever and learn very quickly. While under the oppressive yoke of the sultan they were forbidden to have their own language taught in the schools, or until lately even to print books In their own tongue. Like most highlanders, they are united In clans under their own chiefs and are constantly under arms, being more devoted to robbery than cattle rearing or agriculture. They live in perpetual anarchy, every village being at war with its neighbor. They are brave, hospitable, loyal and frank to a friend, but most vindictive to an enemy, and a traveler’s life is not safe in the wilder parts unless protected by a powerful chief.

SOLDIER DIES FOR HONOR

Accused of Perjury, trooper Kills Himself to Evade Court * Martial.

Leavenworth, Kas. —Rather than sufTer the humiliation of being tried by court-martial on a charge of perjury, Morgan C. Hall, a private at Fort Leavenworth, shot and killed himself. Hall was charged with perjury for testimony he gave at the trial of an army officer. He was a guard at the military prison and killed himself just before the arrival of soldiers who had been sent to escort him to the court that was to try him.

40 Worst Age.

Chicago.—“ More men fall into sin at forty than at twenty,” declared Rev. William Rader of San Franctsoo.

JOHN D. HAS GROTTO

i— .i • * . 7 Mr. Rockefeller’s Unique Refuge From Summer Heat

Some of the Features of the Subterranean Chamber at Pocantico Hills Is the Work of a Young American Sculptor..

New York. —When the breeze ceases to blow next summer: and the sun beats hotly down on Pocantico hills, making his great house too warm for human comfort, John D. Rockefeller can retire into the heart of the mountain, where the mercury always stays in the lower end of the thermometer and where the sound of water softly splashing over the rocks can still further add to the illusion that all is well with the weather outside. Mr. Rockefeller has had constructed for himself a grotto, It is a real grotto, reaching back into the mountain, and one of Its most realistic features is its stalactites, formed by waters slowly dripping for centuries and depositing in the form of icicles and, mineral matter contained in them. These stalactites were not formed at Pocantico hills, however, or anywhere else in the Catskills. They come from Italy and are older than the oldest of the Romans. They were stalactites when Romulus subsisted on the milk of the she wolf. They have been taken from real grottoes In the mountains of Italy and transplanted to Mr. Rockefeller’s man made grotto. There was no trace of a cave when Mr. Rockefeller decided that he wanted one. The idea came in coa-junction with that fefr the little " Temple of Love, on the side of the mountain at the end of Mr.. Rockefeller’s Venetian garden. It is under the temple which was copied from the one at Versailles, that the grotto has been constructed. When the days are sultry and disagreeable and the Venetian garden, itself is uncomfortable Mr. Rockefeller can seek comfort in his grotto without going out of doors. Although it is nearly 300 feet from the house, there is an underground passage lead- ■ ing to it from the sub-basement, an ornamental passage running under the edge of the mountain, with easy chairs and tables scattered along at convenient distances, The grotto itself has its cozy nooks, where easy chairs wovfen of willows invite the explorer to sit and take his ease in the coolness of the cave.

The grotto is octagonal in shape and is about forty feet from wall to wall. The ceiling is very high, rising in the shape of an irregular dome and giving a feeling of great spaciousness and mystery in the chamber. The feature, however, that distinguishes this grotto from all other

John D. Rockefeller.

grottoes, either natural or artificial, is the interesting company which the mortal entering it must keep. It is a chamber of the gods. Here the deities of ancient Greece, banished from their native land long ages ago andwandering lost and disconsolate about the universe ever since, have found a welcome lodgment. They made themselves very cosily at home. They peep from the walls at the beholder, and having lost their ancient terrors, make quite a Jovial company. _ At the top of a rough column of masonry Jupiter looks majestically, but in a fatherly manner, at the visitor. Mars Is there, blit his warlike mien Is softened. Mercury, god of flight, has settled down for keeps; Neptune looks loagingly at the water in the fountain and Vulcan wears a contented air. Mischievous Cupid and austere Diana surmount other columns. The eighth figure Is the most interesting of all, because the scupltor, Emil Sieburn, had refused to tell Mr. Rockefeller its name, and he is known at Pocantico hills simply by the designation of “the mysterious one.” Some day when Mr. Rockefeller Is alone in the chamber and feeling in a receptive mood this god may tell his name and all about himself, but until then the mystery will be unsolved, for the sculptor Is Inexorable in his refusal to tell tales. One of the finest features of the grotto- is Hiebern’s fountain, “The Spirit of Joy,” a male figure standing in a ditch Against a background of gray stalactites. The attitude Is that of a trance. The figure holds a cymbal in either hand. An ornamental archway surmounted by an elephant’s head surrounds the niche, and In front of the foiintaln is a space paved with white and black pebbles. At other corners of the chamber are reclining figures of nymphs on stony conches.