Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 307, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1914 — Page 3

lonely Midway Island

LIFE at a cable relay station on the westward course of empire Is loneliness sublime. There one watches day and night the swing back and forth of the siphon recorder of the Morse code, which brings to the cable hut the news of the world, its policies, its pulse of commerce, and every dot which comes in from the Orient must be relayed for its next leap to the waiting Occident, and every western dash must be sped onward as an eastern dash that the world may go ahead. That is Midway, a station on the Commercial Pacific ‘cable. Few have ever heard of this remote outpost. ,! ’ Out'at Midway is a vedette of civilization, two dozen men and women. The sun glare is over them; they all go goggled lest their eyes be burned in their sockets. Even variety has gone from their lives in idle lonely exile; there is neither variableness nor shadow of turning. Also the wind is not fitful; all day long for months on end it blows from just The same corner of the horizon and the sand which whirled In yesterday’s blast will dance the same endless whirl today and again tomorrow. The rains will come on their appointed days? just so many gallons will pelt down as this day a year ago and the clouds

CABLE STATION ON MIDWAY ISLAND

•Will roll aside with strict observance of the calendar. Life is monotony; monotony stereotyped. Four times in the year comes a break. Once every ninety days the supply schooner comes from Honolulu, with mail from home, papers and fresh food; once in so often a new operator comes to take his trick at sending; once in so often comes the chance for weariness to get back to land where things happen and rules have exceptions. Here in picture and tn text is Midway, outpost of empire, relay station of news, wind-blasted sunburnt home of three and twenty pioneers. But there is no lack of those who would pioneer in the midst of the sea. At the executive offices of the cable company they wfH tell you that they have more applications for a Midway billet than they can fill. There is a flver year contract into which the operators on this distant post enter, but if the solitude proves too much for anyone on the island there are so many op the waiting list that relief is always granted. Part of Great Bird Preserve. ‘ Way back in 1867 the tiny group, then known as Brooks’ islands from their supposed discoverer, was annexed by the U. 8. S. Lackawanna because the Pacific Mail company thought it wanted it for a coaling station. The islands lie some fifteen hundred miles northwest of Honolulu and between them and the Hawaiian group is a string of uninhabited Islets that, together with Midway, have been set aside as a national seabird preserve patroled by a revenue cutter to keep off the poachers. Of the Midway group, Brooks Island is a roughly pear shaped lagoon atoll entirely surrounded by a barrier reef of coral, with two passages sufficients ly wide to permit vessels of considerable draft to enter the lagoon. The atoll is about two and a half miles long and varies in width from half a mile to two and a half miles, the greatest breadth being toward the southwest. The passages through the reef lie on the west and northwest sides. The lagoon is fully a mile and a half wide at its widest and completely surrounds what little land there is; • It is thickly sown with patches of coral, which In many large masses reaches close to the surface, but boat channels may be found by careful steering and there is no danger, since the .water is always still. The land Is found at the east side of the lagoon, two islands each little more than a mile long. Middle Brooks, or Eastern Island, rises to a height of about fifteen feet, coral sand thinly

covered with grass and low bushes. Lower Brooks, Sand island, about a quarter of a mite west, rises to the comparatively imposing height of fifty-five feet; but what it makes (ip in altitude it loses in vegetation, its covering of grass being much thinner. It is a. mile and a half long, threequarters of a mite wide.v. Glaring Coral Sand. The corate, on which the islets are based, of w£pse disintegration they are in fact composed, are principally meandrlnas and -madrepores, as shown by the specimens still growing in the lagoon as well as by therlragmeats in the dry soil which have not yet been reduced by the weather. The sand, which is the product of- the leaching of the dead coral by the rain, is a clear white, very glaring in’the bright sun and remarkably trying to the eyes. In the center and eastern part of the Sand island the disintegrating coral has been compacted by the rains into a stiff lime crust about a third of an inch thick and forming a glistening surface which requires considerable force to break. Oh the immediate shores of the island the sand is about eighteen inches deep before the fragments of coral begin to appear of any size; the higher levels are apparently

entirely aolian, mere dune drift of sand swept by the wind from the beaches; at any rate digging to such depth as. was possible in the loose and readily sliding material failed to disclose anything but sand. Water is nowhere visible, in fact there can be said to be no supply of fresh water at all. Pits along the beach will yield water at a depth of about four feet and this is potable, As is so commonly the case in the Line islands nearer the equator, this wafer is sea water, filtered and sweetened by percolation through the coral sand. One such pit will be found serviceable in general for about a months a brief life for a well, but matter of no great moment, since another pit may be dug to a fresh supply within a few feet Plenty of Birds and Fish. If the land la of little worth, the sea and the air bear an inordinate share of the burden of food for man. Small as the islets are, the number of birds passes all reckoning; one may mention a million merely as a convenient unit of measure.

The albatross grudges mankind the room to walk about in, the booby is as absurd and foolish and altogether well named on Midway as wherever found, the Sandwich tern is under foot and an excellent table bird, the bos'nbird and the frigate are found at certain seasons on their nests, and the plover and the curlew are in sufficient quantity to find their way to the bill of fare. lagoon is abundance of fish, cod, sea perch, the always toothsome mullet, mackerel and the gaudy coryphenas, so brilliant in their varied coloring that to put them into the pan seems almost to desecrate the rainbow by cooking it. The trepang, or beche-de-mer, may be had with no more exertion than that of picking its dark ugliness -from the clear bottoms of the tide pools, and those who have had oriental table experience recognize that it may be made Into the most savory of soups. A delicious cockle is somewhat sparsely found and many univalve mollusks afford a plentiful supply of palatable foods. In the crevices of the sea reefs which skirt the lagoon lie hidden many large crustaceans. These are rarely seen, for their habit is secretive; but a pot baited overnight with •somewhat high fragments of fish is usually found well filled in the morning and the size of the crustaceans runs rather higher than our best lobsters. They lack the strong claws gs the lobster; they are more of the squilla type, but the meat is very fins eating and abundantly wholesome.

THE EVENING IND.

Just before a battle on the French lines, showing a detail of men laboriously moving one of the great field -pieces into place. „ C

LIFE OF SPY 1S BRIEF AND FULL OF EXCITEMENT

Notebook of Official in France Discloses Stories of Many Daring Feats. SHORT SHRIFT WHEN CAUGHT Take Most Desperate Chances and Usually Die With, Back to Wall—is Taken In Zone of Battle They Are fried on the Spot. London. —These notes were written by a man engaged by the allies in an official capacity, whose duties continually called him from Paris to the firing lines of the Belgian, English and French, and who thus has unusual opportunities of talking with the soldiers and frequently seeing the battle: The general and his staff have established their headquarters in a village a few hundred yards from the Belgian frontier. From the north comes the roar of heavy German artillery brought up during the night, from the west the duller sound of the big guns of British warships maneuvering four miles from the coast and doing good work. I have slept two hours in a deserted farmhouse in company with three wounded British soldiers and a whining dog, evidently left behind by his master in his flight

A shuffling of feet in the roadway and shouted orders awaken me. A squad of French soldiers led by a lieutenant Is gathered at the door, around two civilians, hands tied behind their backs. Spies! Caught on top of a haystack within a hundred feet of the geneTal’s headquarters. They had been in the neighborhood for a week, it seems, getting food no one knows where. They refused to speak. They had field glasses and note books, with the numbers of French and British regiments. The names of generals and numbers of batteries were found buried in the hay. On both men, sewn In the linings of their caps, were passes through the enemy's lines signed by one of General von Kluck’s alde-de-camps. Their case is settled in advance Interrogated, they neither make denials nor confessions. Simply refuse to speak. Caught at eight o'dqpk, they are tried at 8:30, a broken table serving as judge's bench for a colonel and three captains called hurriedly from staff headquarters. f B|x Shots End Their Lives. A few questions to which no answers are forthcoming, a glance at the notebooks and passes found on the prisoners and. it is over. Back of the farmhouse are a poultry yard and decrepit stable. Against the stable wall, eyes bandaged, hands tied, kneeling, the two Germans are pladed, the six soldiers ten paces away. The lieutenant’s Sword Is raised, six shots mingle Jnto one. The law of war is carried out It is nine o’clock. Such Incidents form a part of every day conversations in the camps and trenches on the firing line. If a spy is caught within the zone of battle he is tried on the spot, the trial consisting of an examination of the papers and documents found on the suspect, the hearing of witnesses and of the prisoner’s defense. If no papers or documents are found and the witnesses are not sufficiently affirmative the suspect Is released or sent to Paris for further examination, according to the views of the commanding officer. If a suspected spy Is caught outside the battle sone, say in Paris, a lawyer is designated to defend him, and in nine cases out of ten the spy is found guilty, and, unless he Is French, In which case he is a traitor and dies. Is only sentenced to hard labor or imprisoned in a fortress. Serves for Country. A French counter-spying system with headquarters in Parts has done good work In sending to a quieter and, we hope, better world, several hun-

MOVING HEAVY FRENCH GUN INTO ACTION

dred too well informed Germans. Unlike that of Germany’s, the French organization is recruited among volunteers, all civilians. None are paid in any way and no other incentivft_but to serve France is offered them. In this way the government has secured from all walks of life a good number of men, and even women, fond of excitement, who are after neither gain nor honor, but who would not stoop to such work in time of peace. Up to date a dozen or so of these unarmed soldiers have disappeared, some prisoners, most have ended their lives, eyes bandaged, against a farmhouse wall, 12 German bullets in their bodies. When they started out it was with the understanding that the French government could not recognize them in case of trouble. Those that have died took a chance and lost Th) “flyer” is worth while, for a week at counter-spying will often furnish more excitement than a month in the trenches. The stories of spy chasing are now innumerable in French and British army circles. Here are a few of the most daring attempts made by the Germans since the beginning of the war: S is a large town, 55 miles northeast of Paris, The houses are low, the church steeple alone being visible at any distance. The German artillery bombarded 8 for three days, the church and its steeple alone, much to the surprise of the inhabitants, remaining untouched. The third night of the bombardment a French sentry saw a light from one of the small windows high up in the steeple. The guard was called, and three men sent into the tower, which had seemed to bear a charmed life. There a man was found. For three days his lantern had served the Germans, who trained their guns a few points to the right and left, of the light, certain their shells would strike the town. The spy was janitor of the courthouse; had been for four years, and confessed he was a German, having been sent to B— to report regularly to the military authorities in Berlin, Spy Poses as Priest. Two sentries guard a railway bridge near A . It is ten o’clock at night. The village is a mile away. All day trains loaded with British and French troops have passed over the bridge. A priest approaches the sentries, going to the next village, he says, to give

GIFTS FOR WAR ORPHANS

This picture shows the U. 8. 8. Jason as it left New> York carrying 10,000,000 Christmas gifts contributed by the boys and girls of America and their elders for the orphans and refugees In the war sone.

the communion to a dying farmer. Disregarding orders the sentries, good Catholics, allow the priest to pass. He disappears on the other side of the bridge. Suddenly one of the sentries sees a flicker of light along the ground 50 yards away. A rush to the spot and the good priest is discovered stooping at the base of one of the bridge arches. The stick of dynamite on the ground and blackened fuse in his hand leave no doubt as to his Intentions. The sentries did not wait for a court-martial, but executed the “priest” on the spot Papers found on him proved him to be a captain in a Hessian Hussars regiment.

In a trench near the Belgian border, a few days ago. A jovial old chap, a farmer,’comes along with a basketful of pears.- The shooting has stopped for an hour or so, both sides needing a rest after 12 hours of uninterrupted fighting. A number of farmers tn the region having refused to abandon their homes, no one questions the farmer's presence among the troops, and his basket is soon emptied. As they are given away the farmer Is thanked all around and is just leaving when he Is grabbed by the throat suddenly by one of the troopers, who half chokes his victim before shouting, "He's a German. He was my boss in Paris.” And so it was. For 12 years Joseph Hablg had been chief accountant in a big Parisian wall paper factory. He was German, every one knew ft, but he was a good accountant. Under him worked half a dozen young Frenchmen. Two days before the declaration of war his consul had warned him to leave Paris —and he had. His knowledge of French had been used by his officers when he joined the German army, and he returned. This time he stayed. The last Is the best. In Paris last month, at the war department offices, officers hurry in and out, orderlies pass like the wind, generals and their staffs discuss the campaign In the hallways, a young artillery officer, lieutenant of the general staff, according to the insignia on his collar, walks up and down idly smoking. A captain passes by, asks for a light for his cigar, and remarks, "Nice weather, lieutenant” No answer. The cap-' tain, surprised, repeats his remark. The lieutenant turns away. Angered the superior officer goes after him. The other runs toward a door. . It’s all over in a jiffy. Friend Lieutenant brought Into a private office, answers questions with an over-the-Rhine accent, which Is a trade mark. He. is a lieutenant all right, but in the Eleventh Bavarian regiment He has made the French war office his headquarters for over a week. Some of the Paris papers got hold of the story, which was, of course, cut out by the censor.

GOATS AS SPY SIGNAL

Shepherd Who Aided Gormans WWh His Flock Sentenced to Death for Treason. Chalons-Sur-Marne.—A Frenchman, Alfred Durot by name, has been sentenced to death by court-martial for treasod. During the battle which raged around Reims the French artillery operating near the village of Puiseulx was subjected to a terrific bombardment by the Germans, no matter how' often they changed their position. A careful watch was kept, and it was discovered that a mile in front of the French batteries a shepherd was feeding his flock, among which, were five snow-white, goats. The shepherd was arrested, and inquiries showed that during the German occupation of Puiseulx he was the only Inhabitant who had not been molested, and that he had been given the white goats whose presence was to signal the position of the French guns. Durot, at his trial, admitted his guilt.

High Price for Matches.

London.—Matches are so scarce at the front that an officer of the Second Sherwood Foresters paid >2.50 for a single one.

Show German Spirit.

Berlin.—A shopkeeper at Breslau baa an advertisement in his window promising to pay 30,000 marks to thq German soldier who first lands In Sam land. .

NOVEL SALAD WRINKLE

tomatoes and cucumbers ark POACHED WHOLE. Makes the Latter Essler of Digestion, and Does Away With the Fear of Germs— Proper Method of Serving. Poaching whole tomatoes and cucumbers before serving them as* a salad is one of the latest culinary wrinkles. The idea appeals especially to persons suffering from an inborn fear of germs as well as those who cannot easily digest raw vegetables. The poaching process effectually settles the germ question and it is claimed renders these two favorite' salad Vegetables more digestible than in their raw state. If the water is boiling when the vegetables are put in they may be removed at the end of seven minutes. They are then ready to be drained and chilled, the skin of the tomato being at once pulled off. Tomatoes are immersed in the boiling water without being cut, but cucumbers should be thinly pared. A bay leaf, a sliced onion and a little vinegar are often added to the water in which these vegetables are poached, resulting in a delicate addition to their natural flavor. The tomato gives little evidence that it has been poached, but in the case of the cucumber, while the flavor is not changed, tile texture of the pulp is slightly different. A poached cucumber should not be served In thin slices, as is the custom with the uncooked vegetable, as it lacks the crispness which is one of its chief charms. It may, however, be sliced, provided the slices are not detached and the cucumber left in its original shape and laid on a bed of chopped ice. If the cucumber is pared with a fluted knife this method of serving it can be made decidedly attractive, as the appearance does not indicate that it has been sliced, while the fact that it has been facilitates serving. French dressing should be passed with cucumber so served. Poached cucumbers are desirable to use as cups in which to put sauce or small portions of vegetables served as a garnish for fish. When to be used for this purpose cut in thick slices, sufficient to serve as the height of the cup. Remove the inner seed portion and fill the cavity with whatever sauce or vegetable is desired. Arrange around the fish as a border, serving one cucumber cup to each portion. Stewed celery is delicious served in cucumber cups, and so are tiny lima beans. When the filling is a hot vegetable the cucumber cups should be reheated for serving, but for holding sauce they should be chilled. Poached tomatoes and encumbers served together, the tomatoes in slices and the cucumbers In cubes, make a delicious salad, even without the addition of either lettuce or romaine, ths use of which would introduce an uncooked material into the salad.

To Launder Fine Lingerie.

When laundering lingerie wash carefully in the usual way; rinse thoroughly, but omit starch; when "bone dry" dip in and out several times in a basin of borax water, in the proportion of one large tablespoonful to one quart of hot water, stirring until dissolved. Squeeze (not wring) out as much moisture as possible, roll it smoothly in a Turkish towel for an hour; the article is easier tw iron, looks cleaner and keeps fresh longer than when starch js used. This Is particularly satisfactory for infonts* clothing. Borax makes Irish lace “just right” /

Safe Bleacher.

Peroxide of hydrogen is the best bleaching agency known, for It gives a pure white with positively no chance of hurting the fabric in any way. ft may be used for silk, woolen, linen or cotton. Use as follows: One teaspoonful of peroxide of hydrogen to half a tub of cold water. Allow the articles to soak over night, and after rinsing wash as usual and you will be agreeably surprised at the result This is almost the same method that the mills use in bleaching their goods from natural color to white before finishing.

Peeling Tomatoes.

A way of peeling tomatoes which la not generally known perhaps is to rub them with the back of the knifes thoroughly, being particular to rub the «»> tire surface, but not hard enough to break the skin. Then peel in the usual way. It is quickly done and leaves the tomato In better shape to slice, and in this way they are much firmer than if boiling water is poured over them.

To Make Curtains Fireproof.

As light muslin curtains often catch fire, it is a good plan to put an ounce of alum into the last water in which they are rinsed. Thin will make them almost fireproof, or If they do catch, they will not blase up enough to Ignite the woodwork.

“Happy Eliza."

* Chop one dozen figs, six apples sliced but not peeled and add one pound granulated sugar. Add two quarts of water and boil rapidly for 15 minutes. Strain and cool. Serve over crushed ice, with a slice of orange on top.

Scratched Marks on Silver.

Silver that has become scratched can be made quite smooth again rubbing it well with a piece of chamols leather that has been rolled into a tight bag and dipped in sweet 0&