Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 265, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1914 — Page 2

BENSON AND BENITO

By HENRY KIRK.

(Copyright.) Benson had been In Mexico nine months, and in that remarkably short time had realized his two great ideas, a fortune and the future Mrs. Benson. The former he had struck in the San Pablo mines, and the latter in the Senorita Dona Maria Loreta Escandon, the daughter of the mayor of Puebla. To be literal, Benson had only found his ideal in the Senorita Maria Loreta, for so far she had given, him little encouragement to think she would be anything, else. This was not especially discouraging to Benson, for, after all, if a man has his ideal, he has ■om&hing for which to work and of which to think —and Benson thought of Maria Loreta. He thought of her as often as he did pf the mine in the hills beyond Puebla. He thought of her yeilow- < bronze hair and her blue eyes, a remembrance from her Andalusian fathers. He thought of her white skin and her marvelously small hands and feeC

He knew that he could be proud of her in his home, as well as being happy with her, and that she had all the little graces and laces of Bocial and domestic economy well forward. Maria Loreta had gone frrschool in Paris and had traveled as far as the Taj Mahal. She had also passed two winters in Washington with her cousin, the wife of the Mexican minister. Her English was better than his own, and . she could talk of many things, from the Petersburg duma to certain little pink fishes in the China sea. Just what she thought of him he did not know. He imagined she placed him In A somewhere that was merely amiable. He had worked hard enough to make an impression—used all his ways of attack —picnics and dinners, theaters and stacks of flowers. Upon this particular day Benson sat beside her in the Plaza de Toros. He enjoyed the national pastime well enough, but came upon this occasion principally to see Maria Loreta, He left his mines in the hills, his peons and his ponies, to come into Puebla and sit beside the mayor’s daughter in the mayor’s own box at the great correo.

Things would not have been so bad If it had not been for the Senor Don Luis Tovar, who sat in the adjoining chair, next to the Dona Marcela, the aunt of Maria Loreta. “Senorita Loreta,” said Benson softly, “you are wearing my flowers.” “Ah, so I am,” smiled the girl. "Just think of all the flowers I have worn since I was a child! Do you know, I have done nothing else.” “They were made for you.” “Everything was made for us, Senor Benson —the sky and the earth, the sun and the little trees, and the big one, too — Ah, there is Benito!” Benson looked down into, the arena. A magnificent bull had been released from his pen and had bounded into* the open. Upon his shoulder was a flaming ribbon, the color of his owner. The animal paused a moment as if stunned by the sudden transition from darkness to the light, looked about him, and then made a rush for the nearest capeador with his crimson cloak. '- “That is ouri Benito!” cried Maria Loreta. “Is he not beautiful? When he was born I made him a wreath of roses. So, you see, Senor Benson, the flowers were made for the bulls, too.” Benson could make no reply to this. There seemed nothing that he could say.

The girl went on: “Not that I care so extremely for the bull fight, but this is our Benito. It is his third time in the ring; the banderilleros have never conquered him.” Benson leaned toward her. “It seems a privilege of your family, Senorita Loreta, to conquer.” “My father and my brothers?” “I mean you.” "I! What have I done?” “I have been trying to tell you—” “See how Benito eludes them! Was there ever such gayety in the plaza!” Benson looked out through the yellow air. The people upon the opposite side were baking in the sun, but they were as enthusiastic as those about him in the comfortable shade. It was indeed a great day. The band played; the flags hung gayly from their poles; everybody cheered. Benson leaned over again, 800 Lois was watching him and broke out into a laugh. This threw Benson off. It was like a banderllla in his own heart. There were more of them there than were in the shoulder of Benito. The only difference was Benito didn’t seem to mind. Don Luis talked incessantly. He laughed and he rolled his ,eyes and he clapped his hands. He made ejaculations and addressed Benito as if he were a god. Benson saw tha|ell this pleased the girl. Why was he not a toreador or something like that? Why could he not distinguish himself in the eyes of the one he loved? All he could do was to make money, but that was the last in her thought. He became desperate. “Senorita Loreta,” he said tensely, "I love you!” * “Senor Benson, my aunt will hear you.” “I do not care." “Don Luis." "What difference—l—” “And it is not the custom of my country to—” She raised her aboul-

derfc. “You must appear indifferent, as Don Luis is looking- Do you know, he is almost uncanny at times —the way he looks.” “You do not wish him to know?” “No—no—no—you silly man. Why should I?” “1 have loved you from the first time that I saw you." "And how long is that?” “Nine months. I saw you the day I came to Mexico.” “You are constant. Nine months! That is long to love.” . - Don Luis made an exclamation. The girl looked up quickly. “We are forgetting Benito. See how he makes them run! He will not be conquered. He will have another year of freedom. Stay where you are, Don Luis. Aunt Marcela wishes to say something, I am sure.” She turned and smiled at; Benson and waited. He said nothing, for hia words stuck somewhere. “It is very different in Mexico, Se*. nor Benson, when you wish to marry. So many things to do.” “f love you!” “I shall not listen if you speak so loudly. Every one can hear you—even Benito is looking up. He will be Jealous. How are your mines? Soon you will be very rich, then yoq will go back to your own country—where is it —Boston? What would I do in Boston? What would they say to me? I would freeze to death!” “Not Boston, but anywhere it would please you.”

“If it were California —or — But what am I saying? Only you did it so nicely. Do you know, you are just like a little boy—-so eager to do something good. Forgive me if I laugh, but it is so nice and innocent I wonder why we laugh at innocence in a man, when of all people in the world he needs it most? I don’t know what Benito is, but I think he must., be very cross and angry—he is even cross with me.” “He is jealous, like every man who loves you.” “Are you?" “Yes—even of the air you breathe. I am jealous of the ground beneath your feet. I am jealous of the lace upon your shoulder —I could almost tear it from you. Sometimes out there in the mine I could go mad thinking of you.” “That is very nice.”

“No, it is not—it is horrible. It is unfair to myself—it is unfair to you.” “Oh, no, It is a compliment. Do you not think so? You are looking at it from a purely personal way. Now suppose I thought of you in that sense — well?” She raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Well,.then you would understand it as I do. Ah, Mr. Benson —I think I shall drop the senor.” “Then there is no use?”

He looked at her with longing eyes, regardless of Don Luis, of Dona Marcela, of every one, even of Benito. “It would be cruel to say that, do you not think? And —ah, how do I know! I know nothing. I know only that I am very happy and that I wish to live always just as lam now. But see —Benito is conqueror!” \ A great up from the crowd. Don Luis rose upon his feet, waving his arms wildly. Benito was indeed conqueror. He was bearing the allotted number of banderillas and had routed the last •man-from the ring. He stood there in his glory, the colors of the family of Maria Loreta , streaming from his shoulder. The band blared a triumph. The people went mad. A little breeze came along and fluttered the flag. Benson stared before him. He rose suddenly, jumped over the railing of the box, and made his way down through the benches to the ringside. Maria Loreta looked after him in horror.

Benson reached the little passageway at the bottom, snatched a cloak from a capeador, and jumped into the arena. Benito 1 looked at him-a moment, then charged upon him. There was a dead silence In the crowd. Maria Loreta felt that she was about to faint or die. She shut her eyes. A great shout opened them. There was Bern son flaunting the scarlet cloak in the very nose of Benito: He jumped aside —ran this way and that—not with the skill of the artist, but with a certain desperate agility-for which he could cot account.

Here was a sensation, and Puebla rose —an American bull fighter—the mine owner of San Pablo—the man who every one knew was in love with Maria Loreta. Then all Puebla, looking on, knew why he was so dexterous. It was nothing else than love — the little bfg thihg that makes everything what it is not—and all Puebla, looking on, gave a mighty shout Then Benson made his bow —first to Marla Loreta in the box of her father, the mayor of Puebla, and then to the people themselves —to those In the sun as well as to those in the shade. Then he vaulted the railing and made his way back to his place, Benito looking after him Id a sort of wonder. The girl greeted him without a smile. “Why did you do it? You might have been killed!" “For you—to prove that I love you!” “You need not —have done it. I knew —it —and —we —shall live —wherever—you—please! ” Then Maria Loreta fainted.

Quite a Difference.

“Americans spend large sums every! year on outdoor sports.” “Tbat’e true. Still, outdoor sports* are cheaper, as a rule, than IndoOfj sports.” “Yes?”' “You can buy A good tennis racket for six dollars, but a little game of, poker is apt to cost you $60.” '

• . ’•> ■ ' “ ~ THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

MAKE PERFECT JELLY

cbabappl.es can not be too HIGHLY PRAISED. Excellent When Eaten as Jam or Berved With Roast Mutton or Game—Approved Method of Its Preparation. Crabapples make a most delicious jelly which has only to be tasted once to be proclaimed thoroughly delectable. The wild apples should be gathered while firm and fresh> but not quite ripe enough to fall from the treedP Each one should be wiped with a damp cloth to cleanse it. They should then be weighed and put in a big preserving pan with one pint of water to every pound and a half of fruit. Let them boil till quite tender, then strain through a colander, using a flat wooden spoon to pulp them through. When the liquid is extracted measure it and to each pint allow three-quarters of a pound of sugar. Cook juice and sugar together, boiling for 20 minutes. Remove the scum and pour the jelly intp small pots. It is very nice eaten by itself as jam, but can be used for garnishing, as it is of a pretty red color. It is also excellent with roast mutton or game Jtetj makes a capital subiiitute for red currant jelly.

Crabapples in sirup is a very pretty dessert dish, and although the apples take some time to prepare they are worth doing, especially as they keep some time when bottled. The sirup must be made with two parts sugar to one of water, the ingredients being brought to the boil and allowed to cook gently till a fairly strong thread can be made by dipping the fingers in the sirup and pulling a little. When the sirup is ready drop in the crabapples and bring gently to the boil; remove the pan -from the fire, skim off the scum, lift out the fruit, put into an earthenware pan and cover with the sirup. Let the fruit soak for 24 hours. Now drain off the sirup, add a little more sugar and water and repeat the process. Do this at Intervals of 24 hours till the sirup turns to a pink Jelly and' the crabapples are saturated to the core with sugar. They must be handled very carefully so as not to break the skins. The crabapples can be jused at once or bottled and used as required. »

Cranberry jelly is almost indispensable with venison and lends piquancy to mutton, too. The cranberries should be well washed and the darkcolored berries picked out, as these spoil the color of the jelly. The following is a popular recipe: Boil a pint of water and a pound and a half of berries together for ten minutes, then rub through a colander. Return to the preserving pan, add three-quarters of a pound of sugar and boil for five minutes; pot down. Elderberry Chutney. ~

When elderberries are ripe enough to gather a very delectable chutney can be made as follows: Ingredients—One pound of elderberries, three ounces of raisins, half a pint of vinegar, a teaspoonful of salt, six cloves, a little cayenne and mace (just a dust of each), one onion, two ounces of sugar and one-quarter of an ounce of ground ginger. Method —Run the berries through a sieve, then pound together the onion and the rest of the ingredients, having stoned the raisins first. Put all together in an enameled saucepan and boil for eight minutes. Take the pan off fire, put the lid on and leave till the contents are cold. When cold store in jars and tie down with parchment.

Canned Salad for Winter Use.

and cut in dice carrots and beets. Leave small pearl onions whole. Cut celery in strips. Cook carrots, onions and celery in salted water until tender, cook the beets separately until tender. Place in layers in jars, fill with the water cooked in, seal well. This makes an attractive garnish for fish, chops and steles in the winter, also an excellent combination salad mixed with a little French dressing. It is ready at a minute’s notice, therefore nice for emergencies.

Pass two pounds lean beef through meat chopper, add one tablespoonful finely chopped parsley, one teaspoonful salt, one teaspoonful onion juice, one-quarter teaspoonful . mace, onequarter teaspoonful pepper, one egg well beaten and one-third cup soft bread crumbs soaked in cold water and wrung dry. Mix thoroughly and shape Into a roll. Place on pieces of salt pork in a baking pan, bake about thirty minutes In hot oven, basting often.

Worth Knowing.

When broiling steak, brush witli olive oil. It will keep in the juice. Always flour your pie tins instead of greasing them. You won't have soft pies, says the Janesville Qazette. Soup quickly goes sour in the warm days, but it will keep sweet if a pinch of carbonate of soda is added to every quart.

Makes Glassware Shine.

To keep clear and clean the glass decanter and carafe as well as the water pitcher there is nothing so effeotive as lemon juice. Cut up the rinds left after making lemonade, add warm water and place -In decanter. After a few hours rinse thoroughly.

Beef Roll.

HINTS FOR PRESERVE CLOSET

Pickled Peaches Should by All Mean# Be Among the Condiment# Stored —Brandled Cherries. . Pickled peaches are a dinner condiment of unparalleled excellence. Many people prefer pickled fruit to the sweeter jellies and preserves and the good, housekeeper always puts up. pickled dainties as well as preserves, jellies and jams for her well-stocked winter fruit closet. Here is, a tried and true recipe for pickled peaches: To seven pounds of selected peaches allow half as many pounds of granulated sugar, one quart of vinegar, two ounces each of stick cinnamon and cloves. Dissolve the sugar In the hot vinegar, add the spices and boil for six minutes; add the peaches and boil slowly until the peaches have become soft enough to be pierced easily by a fork. Turn out the fruit and boil the sirup down to one-half. Now put in the peaches agaiir'snd let the whole just come to a boil. Pour into a deep crock and cover when cold. A Virginian housekeeper recommends this recipe for brandled cherries: Cover large, ' oxheart cherries which have been stoned with some excellent brandy and let stand for 48 hours. Add;to the mixture sugar in a proportion of pound for pound. Do ,not cook, but seal in glass jars and set away in a cool, dry place. These cherries are delicious for garnishing whipped cream and frozen desserts. They may also be served In homemixed cocktails.

AN OYSTER STEW RECIPE

Expert Recommends This as-an Uiv usually Appetizing Way of Serving the Bivalves. Fannie Merritt Farmer, cookery editor of the Woman’s Home Companion, presents a number of “Recipes for October” in that publication.' Among them is her recipe for Boston oyster stew, which follows: “Put one quart 6f oysters In a colander and pour over three-fourths cupful of cold water. Carefully pick over oysters, remove tough muscles from half of them, and slightly chop remaining half with removed tough muscles. Add chopped oysters to water drained through colander, heat to the boiling point, and let simmer three minutes. Strain through a double thickness of cheesecloth, add reserved sols part of oyster, and cook until oysters are plump. Remove oysters with a skimmer and put iu a tureen with one-fourth cupful of blitter, one-half tablesponful of salt, and one-eighth teaspoonful of pepper. Add oyster liquor, strained a second time, and one quart of scalded milk. Always remember to scald milk in a double boiler, which overcomes the danger of scorching. Serve with oyßter crackers.”

Sponge Cake, Orange Filling.

Mix well together three egg yolks, three-fourths of’a cupful of sugar, the grated rind of one lemon, one cupful of sifted flour and one teaspoonful of baking powder. When well beaten together add a little salt and the whites of the three eggs beaten stiff. Bake for 15 minutes in Washington pie tins. For the filling beat together the juice of one orange, with a little of the grated rind, one egg, one cupful of sugar and two tablespoonfuls of warmed butter, and cook in a double boiler until it thickens. Spread between the layers of cake.

More Uses for Salt.

A pinch of salt thrown on eggs will make them beat lightly in about half the- time usually required. When broiling steaX4>ver a coal fire sprinkle a little salt on the burning coals and the flame will not blaze up and scorch the steak. If you are broiling meat in a gas oven and it catches fire, quickly turn the gas off and'throw a handful Of salt on the blazing meat. You do not heed to use any water. The salt will put out the fire and you can then scrape off the salt from the meat. ■**

Beanpot Roast.

One and one-half pounds of clear stew meat, cut Into two-inch bits. Put Into bean pot and cover. Set In oven two hours and bake slowly. Do not add anything but one-half teaspoonful salt. It will be rich, with lots of nice gravy, if cooked slowly. Nice served with potatoes and hot slaw. 'Sometimes when nearly done take- out of the oven and put into" a good-sized shallow dißh, put a thick.-layer of mashed potatoes on evenly all over. Set back in oven to brown slowly.

Boston Brown Hash.

Chop any remains of steaks, roasts or stews very fide. Grease a deep pie dish. Put a layer of mashed potatoes (old ones, left over, will answer) in the bottom of the dish, then a layer of meat, then a layer of stale bread crumbs; sprinkle with salt and pepper, a few bits of butter; moisten with a half cupful of beef gravy, then put another layer of potatoes. Dip a knife into milk and smooth the top. Bake In a moderate oven until brown. Serve hot „

Southern Stew.

Peel and boll half dozen onions 15 minutes, drain and slice thin* Now have two pounds df'veal sliced nice and thin.- Lay veal in stewpan, season with littlq salt and pepper. Cover the veal with the onions, then lay small pieces of butter rolled in flonr. Finish with powdered nutmeg and grated rind of lemon; let simmer SJowly.

Mecca of Buddhist World

LONG before the clean, green shores of Rangoon become visible to the navigator on the. Irrawaddy, there appears above the > highest point of the horizon a shaft of gold set in a coronet of gems that throws a rainbow shimmer across the splendid blue of the Asiatic sky. As you draw near the fine old city the jeweled diadem slowly rises and takes definite outline, and presently you behold the great golden dome of the Sway Dragon pagoda, which is. the “Glory o t Burma" and the Mecca of the Buddhist world.

From every viewpoint -the radiant temple dominates the city, imposing and glorious—one of the finest sights of the world in its barbaric splendor of color and form. It is the oldest shrine in Burma, the one most frequently visited of all places of worship east of India, and it contains actual relics oi, Gautama Buddha which have so, centuries attracted pilgrims from every part ol Asia, even from the remote corners of almost inaccessible Tibet At first you, being an Occidental traveler, to the towering architectural triufnphs of the West, wonder idly at the compelling attractiveness of the ancient edifice that incites so much speculative reflection; then you gradually become aware of a distinctively personal interest’ in the golden monitor that greets you so invitingly you turn in your wanderings about the beautiful old town. Finally it takes possession of your fancy, more than any other thing that yoir have traveled so very far to see; more than the old torts the ancient shrines, the lovely gardens and the brilliant, light-humored native life—more than anything in all picturesque Burma. Stone Dragons Guard Approach. The principal, approach to the temple city—for it is ,literally a city of shrines clustered abodt the central pagoda—is guarded by two enormous blue stone dragons behind which rise stairs *in long series, covered with elaborately carved teakwood roofs sup-

ported at regular Intervals by great stone pillars. Thq stone steps have been worn very uneven by the countless feet that have gone up and down for more than seven hundred worshipful years. Seats are ranged along the spacious landings for the comfort of the old and decrepit worshipers who find the long climb difficult, and above these seats are numerous very old but finely preserved carvings and frescoes of fanciful design and beautiful workmanship. As you toll upward you meet and pass men and women of all races, some ot whom are so remote from you in speech and customs and .habits of thought that it would be. difficult, if not impossible, to find the key of a common understanding between you, Only one word can unlock the deep antipodean silence and place you for an instant on' a plane of comprehension with those strange primitive, beings whose existence holds nothing that can bridge the vast gulf that separates civilization and medievalism, and that word, “Buddha,” which brings light to every Buddhist face. You hesitate to speak experimentally because it has mysteriously become sacred to you in that vast assebably of worshipers to whom it means all they know of holitfess and meroy and hope. So yod pass on in awed silence, watching the human stream with an interest intensified by the strangeness .of the place and by the evidences of the common spiritual need that drew the heterogeneous throng from the far endß of the universe. That curious horde la well worth watching. There are old, old men tot tering feeblyjrom step to step, equally pld women of many races; handsome young girls with blithe morning faces; Ijttle radiant children in humming bird attire; stolid, harsh-featured Mongolians from Western Cl ina, Tibetans In

coarse, ungainly and far from clean attire; squat and homely men and worn-' en from further Cambodia and Slam; pale, refined looking Hindus in snowy garments and enormous spotless turbans —all -tent upon a single purpose. Sell Flowers to Gild Great Dome. At close intervals along the wellnigh interminable steps are fragrant little booths containing all the opulent flowers of the country, incense_ sticks and tiny packets of gold leaf, presided over by bright looking Burmese girls who offer their wares with charming modesty. Yon need not buy if you feel disinclined, but the chances are that* you will gladly invest a few cents in a thin packet of gold leaf which will be used, later on, to overlay some tiny weather flaw in the great golden dome of the pagoda which is never permitted to suffer impairment #6r lack of attention (for your little purchase Bn intended for a - votive offering). It takes a great deal of gold to keep the dome in perfect repair, for It is 1,350 feet in circumference and 370 feet high, and. it Is covered from base to summit with pure gold leaf. The jeweled diadem that crowns this marvelous’temple is valued at $250,000, and was a gift of the common people of Burma; and the gold leaf reserve ftind in the temple treasury was contributed by pilgrim worshipers, many of whom are so wretchedly poor all their live’s that they have never known the luxury of a full meal, yet their poverty pinched hands are rarely empty within the temple precincts. At length you find yourself at the base of thg central pagoda, surrounded by a multiplicity of small shrines exquisite in detail, but fantastic in conception, yet with a sort of appealing grotesqueness that causes your heart to beat faster, as if it brought you to the verge of an understanding of the strange spiritual fervor which it represents. In a vast court open to the brilliant Asiatic sunshine those confusingly numerous shrines display a great variety of Buddhas, some reelin'

GOLD COATED PAGODA

ing luxuriously among jeweled lotus flowers, some bowed in profound meditation, but all of them serene and peaceful in feature in spite of th ir profusion of paint and gilding. Among the offerings piled about the shrines are many old and worthless objects such as paper umbrellas, fans, toys, faded flowers and brass trinkets, but there are also some pretty trifles of personal adornment. At the feet of a smiling seated Buddha ®fscoil of blue black "hair covered with the dust of a long pilgrimage, perhaps, bestowed by a very poor young girl who had nothing else to give. Within the larger shrines many devotees kneel in prayer at all hours of the day, each with a flower clasped against his bowed forehead. The very young girls pray together in a beautiful pavilion hung with banners And silk draperies and many bright things symbolical of buoyant girlhood. There is even a gay little American flag, hung there by some facetious tourist, probably, and accepted in a better spirit by the votaries who never turn anyone away, of whatever creed or race.

Naval Officers Well Paid.

An English writer compares the pay of American naval officers with that of similar officers abroad. An American, admiral draws, he says, $15,000 a year,; while about $9,000 is allotted to the ( same rank in Great Britain, and $4,500. in Germany; and all other grades of. officers are paid equally well in proportion.

“This hotel is under a new management.” “Why. 1 still see the old proprietor around." “Yes, but he got married last week.” —Louiuille Courier-Journal. '■9 . i' '

New Management.