Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1915 — Page 2

THE DARKEST HOUR

By GARRARD HARRIS.

(Copyright.) Ab the boy turned the decrepit mule at the furrow end he saw a man on horseback gallop over the crest of the hill and head down the road, coming toward him. News from the front was scarce at the Cove. “ ' The boy calculated that if he did not plow too deep old Betsey could make it to the roadside end of the furrow about the time the horseman arrived. The boy looked admiringly at the man. who reined in his horse and eyed. the sturdy youngster standing on next the bottom rail of the fence in order to see over the top. The stranger wore a weather-beaten Confederate uniform, and on his sleeve was the insignia of a captain. “Howdy, sonny?” he said, guiding his mount to the shade of a flowering locust tree in the fence corner. "Pretty fair, thank ee cap’n.” The boy was proud of his ability to dieHnguish the rank of the officer. "Where's your folks?” "Ma's up yander at the house. Rest of ’era’s in the army.” “How many?” “Pa an’ Tom —they went the first year of the war; then Will next year, an’ Joe last year. Joe warn’t but seventeen when he went” The youngster spoke proudly. “But we ain’t never hearn tell of a one of ’em since they left.” he added with a catch in hit voice. "It’s most killin’ ma—she worries so.” “Oh, I reckon they’re all right Folks don’t have time to do much letter writin’ in the army. How old are you, and what’s your name?" “I’m fifteen, goin’ on sixteen, an’ my name’s Henry Wilson." "Come on and go up to the house with me. I want to talk to your ma and get a drink of water.” Henry loosened the traces from the plow, and left old Bet to browse. He proudly led the way up the weedchoked lane to the log house nestling in the shade of a giant white oak. From within came the whine and buzz of a spinning wheel. -

Against the light of the open door in the rear was silhouetted the face of the boy’s mother, as she wound the yarn back and forth. She did not hear them enter until the captain and Henry stood before her. A glance at the uniform of the soldier caused her to drop the skein of yarn and clutch her throat in terror. It was a moment or two before she could break the silence. “Any—any word of pa an’ the boys?” she faltered, dreading the answer, whatever it might be. “No, mam —no news of ’em. Maybe the old sayin’ of 'no news is good news’ win do you?” “That’s the turrible thing about this here war. Folks goes to the front. The army just keeps on a-swallerin’ ’em up, an’ you don't know if they’re in Virginny, or a sufferin' torment in some hospital or in prison.” There was an awkward silence, and the soldier cleared his throat nervously. “What have you all been livin’ oh?*’ he asked.

“Well, durin* the winter we been mighty near in the fix the mule was in, but since spring has come there’s poke salad an* dandelion salad. Only we have to eat it cooked with salt an’ water; we ain’t had no meat for two months. Then the huckleberries an’ wild strawberries —an’ Henry found a bee tree, an* we had some honey. He traps a few rabbits an’ squirrels, an* a pattridge or two once in a while. We eked along on the dab of meal we had, but it’s about out** Again a brooding, nervous silence came over the group. The woman gazed far across the hills with unseeing eyes. The boy dug with his toe at a button which had lodged in one of the cracks in the floor. “As I was sayin’, ma’am, the Yankees has been givin’ us fits." The Woman looked inquiringly at him. “An*—an* President Jefferson Davis has issued a call for all boys over fifteen an* all men not over sixty-five.” An awful silence fell upon them, and horror opened her eyes until they stared mutely. A dry, choking sob, half groan, escaped her lips. "You —you ain’t a-goin* to take my boy—are you, mister?" she almost whispered- “Why—why, he ain’t nothin’ but a baby—my baby child.” She buried her face in her hands and sobbed shiveringly. The soldier gazed out across the foothills, radiant in their April greenery. Here and

there gleamed an ivory speck where a dogwood tree blossomed, and the redbud hushes made faint blotches of purple color on the hillsides. _ —I ain’t got no discretion, mam. The time has come when we got to rob the cradle an’ the grave, too, as ■the sayin' is, if we expect to keep on lightin'.'’ . “Why should we 'keep on fightin* ’?” she cried raucously. “What air we fightin' for? Why don’t them rich folks what owns niggers do the fightin*? We ain’t got any niggers, an’ don’t want none. What air my husband an* my boys up there killin' folks, an’ maybe gittin’ killed fer? ‘States’ rights, ’ they say! Ain’t we womenfoljfcs. an’ .we pore folks got some right*? They don’t never think of "Well, mum that there States* rights psestlrm is politic* an’ I ain't so pow-

♦rful clear on it myself. But one thing we do know, them Yankee armies is cornin’ down here an* burn our houses, an* take what little we got left, an’ mistreat our womenfolk, if we don’t stop ’em. An’ we got to have men to shoot guns to stop ’em with.” The captain spoke earnestly. “Let ’em come! We ain’t got nothin* for ’em to take. The Confedrit government has beat ’em to our corncribs an’ stock pens. Let ’em come!" “Ma, I’m goin’!” the voice cut in, clear and decisive. The woman dropped her head in her hands, and tears crept between her fingers and plashed silently on the floor. The captain shuffled his feet awkwardly. The boy gazed out of the door, but he was seeing the clash and reel of battalions on the fields of Virginia. Ha seemed taller, and a new dignity sat upon his brow. Presently the officer spoke. “I reckon we’d better be goin*, mam, if we expect to make it to the settlement by dark.” The woman wiped the tears from her eyes. Resignation had placed its seal upon her. “Go get old Betsy, son, and put the saddle on her. I’ll go as far as the settlemint, an’ maybe find someone to stay with there. I can’t stay here.” Swiftly the woman packed a bundle of homespun clothes for the boy, and another for herselfc She placed them out on the porch, and pulled the door to, and fastened it In silence they mounted, the captain taking Henry up behind him. They filed down the weed-grown lane into the big red road, and climbed to the crest of the hill, where the woman paused for a last look at the little cabin. At the foot of the hill, on the other side, the captain met an unkempt tatterdemalion. with long hair and tangled beard, half-bare feet, and wearing flapping remnants of a Confederate uniform. “Where you been, comrade?” inquired the captain, reining up. He might be a deserter. The western sun shone directly In the man’s eyes, which were weak and sore, and he winced with pain as he pulled the brim of the greasy wool hat low to shade them.

“I been in a Yankee prison ship. That’s whar I been. They turned us loose five days ago, an’ loaded a freight train ’lth we-uns, an’ shipped us fer as Knoxville. I been walkin’ two days.” The old mule could not travel as fast as the captain’s horse, and the boy’s mother had not caught up with the captain and his recruit. “Where you goin’?” Inquired the captain authoritatively. “Why didn’t you report back to the front for duty? You c’n tote a gun yet.”--“Didn’t report, because I don’t have ter, that’s why.” “Well, I’ll just conscript you. You oughter be ashamed of yerself. You oughter be back there flghtin’.” “Aw, you go to thunder!” advised the animated scarecrow with spirit. “I done fit all I’m agwineter fight, an’ you ner no other durn man is goin’ ter conscript me!” “I’d like to know why I Won’t!” snarled the captain, deftly drawing his revolver and cocking it, all with the same motion. The boy slid to the ground and picked up a stone with which to assist in enforcing the captain’s orders. “You won’t, because Ginerul Robert Lee surrendered six days ago, an’ the war’s over, an’ I’m goin’ home. That’s why!” The mule limped up in time for the woman to hear the hews. • - “Oh, my dear God, I thank thee that my boy is spared to me a little while!” she cried in exaltation, her arms lifted to high heaven. The man in the road lifted the flapping - hatbrim, and peered at her through watery, burning eyes. “Sallie! Don’t you know me, gal? I’ve come back, Sallie. I’ve come back to you!" With a leap from the mule, the woman had him folded to her withered bosom, and crooned her happiness with the joy that greets one as risen from the dead. J*

The Friendly Oyater.

Science is always defending the maligned oyster. It has been proved that more, nourishment per dollar’s worth may be extracted from.the oyster than almost any other food. Dr. Julius Nelson, the biologist, says: “Oysters come nearer in composition to cow’s milk than do most other meats, as all the four kinds of nutrients needed are present in good degree. Oysters have a larger excess of the flesh-building substance relative to the other constituents than milk, so we ‘balance the ration’ by addition of starchy food and fats When eating oysters, thus securing a good meal at a cost that compares favorably with that when other meats are chosen. “Oysters have some special points of advantage, among which are the following: .. “The sea salts that they contain are useful in regulating and stimulating nutritional processes.X "They are the tenderfest of meats and easily digested and suitable even fdr persons of sedentary habits. “In addition to being easily safeguarded against accidental contamination, there is no oyster parasite known that will live in the human system."

In Style.

Willis—Where have you been? Gillis—ln the hospital, getting densored. Willie —Censored? Gillis—Yes. I had several import? ant parts cut ourt. Puoit,

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

PITTSBURGH GETS GLEN WARNER AS COACH

Glen S. Warner, famous coach of the Carlisle Indian football team, and previous to that head coach at Cornell university, has been elected coach of the University of Pittsburgh football team. It is stated that Warner has a three-year-contract with the university to direct the football forces. The name “Warner” is known to every follower of intercollegiate football and the owner of that name is regarded as one of the brainiest football directors that game has ever produced. Warner has the knack of teaching football to 'recruits that perhaps no other coach in the country possesses, this being brought out prominently by his work at Carlisle, where he was compelled to develop a football team capable of meeting the best-trained teams in the country, out of a squad of Indians, the majority of whom had never seen a football until they went to the government school. It was he who first saw the possibilities of an “open game” and developed that style of game for the Indian team until it was the terror of all the big colleges of the laud. Warner’s success with this style of play caused other coachesof many big universities to follow after him.

OFFICIAL NATIONAL LEAGUE SCHEDULE, 1915 - r -■■■ . ’ .. ■; 7 - , .AT AT AT AT AT - AT ’ A AT AT It » ' . BOSTON BROOKLYN NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA PITTSBURGH CINCINNATI CHICAGO ST. LOUIS —————————— ————————— —— ————————— ■ —— — — ——— —, May 18 4 6 April 27 28 29 30 April 22 23 24 26 June 9 10 11 12 June 5 8 7 8 June 13 14 15 16 June 17 18 19 20 805T0N..!...... All July 5 5 6 7 27 June 25 26 28 29 June 30 July 1 2 8 Aug. 2 3 4 July 28 29 30 81 Aug. 5 6 7 Aug. 8 9 10 11 ] *' AU Sept. 8 9 Sept. 6 6 7 Aug. 13 14 16 Sept. 10 23 24 26 Sept. 19 20 21 Sept 11 12 13 14 Sept. 16 17 18 *• 4 _ 1 . 2 , - i April 17 19 19 20 21 I April 14 15 16 April 27 28 29 30 June 4 5 7 8 June 9 10 11 12 June 17 18 19 20 June 18 14 15 16 , June 22 23 24 May 29 81 81 June 25 26 28 29 July 28 29 30 81 Aug. 1 2 8 4 Aug. 8 9 10 11 Aug. 5 6 7 BROOKLYN Sept. 2 8 4 the Real Aug. 17 Oct 4 6 7 Sept. 20 21 22 Sept. 23 26 26 Sept 16 17 18 Sept. 11 12 13 14 > . 1 Sept. 29 30 Oct.l 2 ; ? ’ May 6 7 8 10 „ April 22 23 24 26 May 18 4 6 June 17 18 19 June 18 14 16 16 June 6 6 7 8 June 9 1011 13 NSW YORK lune 1 3 8 June 80 July 1 2 8 > . t ' July 6 5 6 7 . July 27 Aug. 5 6 7 July 28 29 30 31 Aug. 1 2 8 4 Oct. 4 6 6 7 Aug. 18 14 16 u,ve Sept. 8 9 10 Aug. 9 10 11 12 Sept 11 12 18 14 Sept. 19 20 21 Sept. 23 26 26 yi ; ; . Sept. 16 17 18 April 14 16 16 * May 6 7 8 10 April 17 19 20 21 r June 14 16 16 21 June 17 18 19 20 June 9 10 11 12 June 5 6 7 8 PHILADELPHIA. Sept 29 30 Oct 1 2 Sept. 8 6 7 28 Sept. 1 2 3 4 Sporting Sept u u M 15 Aug. 8 9 10 Sept. 23 25 26 Sept 19 20 21 ij , Sept. 16 18 “ May 15 17 18 19 May 26 26 27 28 May 20 21 22 24 May 11 12 18 14 ’ April 14 15 16 17 April 18 19 20 21 April 25 26 27 11 t „ July 18 14 15 18 July 17 19 20 21 July 22 23 24 26 July 8910 12 _ May 910 May 2 8 Tune 27 28 29 30 PITTSBURGH Aug. 21 23 24 Aug. 28 30 81 Aug. 25 26 27 Aug. 18 19 20 Newg June 22 23 July 1 2 3 4 Sept. 30 Oct. 1 3 - ’ _ Aug. 16 16 Oct. 3 Sept 6 May 25 26 27 May 15 17 18 19 May 11 12 18 14 May 20 21 22 24 April 22 23 24 May 4 5 6 7 8 April 29 80 May 1 3 _ ■ July 17 19 20 21 July 13 14 15 16 July 8 9 10 12 July 22 23 24 June 24 25 26 Printed Iul ? 6 5 6 May 31 31 CINCINNATI...;.. Aug. 28 80 81 Aug. 21 23 24 Aug. 18 19 20 Aug. 17 25 26 27 Aug. 13 14 Printed Sept 27 28 29 June 1 2 8 : ‘Q HF . ; Sept. 1 , Sept 6 6 7 Sept. 9 10 May 20 21 22 24 May 11 12 13 14 May 15 17 18 19 May 25 26 27 April 30 May 1 April 25 28 27 28 April 22 23 24 July 22 23 24 26 July 8 9 10 12 July 13 14 15 16 July 17 19 20 21 May 10 81 31 May 29 . Thana 12 18 14 11 CHICAGO.. . Aug. 26 26 27 Aug. 18 19 20 Aug. 28 30 31 Aug. 21 21 23 24 June 1 2 July 7 Tune 27 28 29 30 inineze Sept. 6 6 7 8 ’ Aug. 17 Sept 8 4 Oct 12 * — ■ ’ . May 11 12 18 14 May 20 21 22 24 May 26 26 27 28 May 15 17 18 19 May 456 7 8 April 18 19 20 21 April 14 15 16 I? IT, L0U15.....*..... July 8 9 10 12 July 22 23 24 26 July 17 19 20 21 July 13 14 15 16 May 29 July 1 2 8 4 May 9 80 Columns .Aug. 18 19 20 Aug. 26 26 27 Aug. 21 23 24 Aug. 28 30 81 July 5 5 6 Sept. 3 4 I June 28 24 25 26 voiumna I . - , , Sept- 1 * ' Oct • * 1 "■

Glen Warner, Famous Football Coach.

COACH AS REGULAR BUSINESS

Bill Edwards, Former Princeton Guard, Gives His Views on* Future System —Favors One Man. A football coach should make coaching a regular business, according to Big Bill Edwards, former Princeton guard. Edwards, in stating his views on 'the future coaching system at Princeton, said recently: “I believe absolutely in the one man system. Football has become a regular business. One man must stand at the head. There never should be considered at any time any man but a Princeton football man for the position. Princeton has numerous men who can handle this job successfully, but when such a man is chosen he must make football his regular business and give his entire time to this work. Such a man must be well paid and this man, I believe, should have entire selection of the coaches under him”

Kelly to Manage Toronto.

Joe Kelly will manage the Toronto team in the International league in 1915 despite reports to the contrary.

BASEBALL

Honus Wagner la going to teach baseball at the University of 'Pittsburgh. •• • . Does that twenty-one-player limit for the National league clubs bar an owner from buying a kennel of bird dogs for trading purposes? • • • Another managerial possibility is Germany Schaefer as leader of the Peoria club of the Three-I league. Clarence Rowland had this club last year . • e The last time that Sherry Magee played in Boston, he was hissed by the left field bleachers. Now they are giving him the glad hand and ths Royal Rooter root •• • % The New York Sun says that it was Wild Bill Donovan who cajoled Caldwell back to the Highlanders. More probably it was the lucrative terms of that |9,000 contract. It was Robert’s speed as much as his batting ability that attracted McGraw. The fleet Phil holds the base circling record, and McGraw was always keen on speed, speed, and then more speed. • * • And one need not pause to wonder that the only chirps over the proposed slice in umpire salaries, major and minor, comes from the unhappy arbiters themselves. There never was a closed season on the unips.

HORSE RACING

The idea of giving records to the first *four horses in heats is gaining in strength. • • • Half-mile track managers scent a very prosperous year. More circuits are being announced. Margaret Fairish, 2:06%, is to return to the turf this year as a member of the Murphy stable. She has been out of the game for two years. • ♦ • One bf the early closing events proposed at Cleveland is for horses which never have won a heat in faster than 2:13%, the intent being to bar the Peter Scotts, Linda Wronas and similar speed marvels.

TENNIS

Louisville plans an interclub tennis league with eight members. It does look as if the Newport desire for another All-Comers is doomed. The big resort seems to have fewer friends on the big tennis committee than a German boxer at an Irish athletic club. • • • The Philadelphia tennis clubs failed materially to oppose the removal of the All-Comers from Newport to Gotham. Indeed, their test vote shows them slightly in favor of the Gotham movement. Another blow for the old grounds.

PUGILISM

New Jersey sports have entered a bill in their legislature to open up boxing again, under a commission. • • • Charlie White is downhearted because he didn’t get to fight Freddie Welsh; but Willie Beecher cannot understand why.. • • • As a rule, an umpire is glad to escape the task of rendering a decision when off duty. Bill Brennan, however, is a glutton for punishment. He has taken up giving decisions in boxing bouts now.

MISCELLANEOUS

Boston may stage an indoor sportsmen’s show in the Mechanics’ building next April. '. * * * De Palma has already entered for the Indianapolis 500-mile motor race. Ralph is signing lip some months ahead. * • • Eighty students are trying for positions on Michigan’s rifle club, which will represent the school in the nar tional collegiate shoot * * • Alfred Grenda, who, with Goullet holds the six-day bike championship, U recovering from an operation for appendicitis in New York. • ♦ • New Yorkers are planning to charter the steamer Finland, which carried the Olympic athletes, and sail through the canal for the Frisco games next summer. • • * Twenty-five point winners of- last season’s eastern intercollegiates will not be found in the ranks this year. Michigan is hardest hit. with the loss of her crack sprinters. • • •' H. S. Bullock continues to maintain his place as the leading shot of the New Rochelle (N. Y.) Yacht club, as he has been winning the majority of the events in the weekly shoots. * • • For the first time in twenty-one years the annual final match for the English cop, the feature event ofeo» cer in Great Britain, will not be played i* Crystal palace, London, on April 24 next This big structure is being used for military purposes.

THE EMBARGO ON WHEAT

The United States Wheat Production Admits of 100 Million Bushels for Export The talk in the press some little time back of placing an embargo on wheat, brought forcibly to the minds of the people of the United States a condition that may at some time In the near future face them. 100 million bushels of an export «f Wheat means a splendid revenue to the country as well as to the farmer, and If this were assured year after year, there would be reason for considerable congratulation. But last year’s magnificent and abundant crop, which was estimated at 891 million bushels, cannot be expected every year. With a home consumption of 775 million bushels, and a production In many years of little more than this, the fact Is apparent that at an early date the United States will have to import wheat. It will be then that the people of the United States will be looking to other markets for a supply. And It is then that the value of Western Canada lands will be viewed with considerable favor. The great area of wheat lands in Canada will then be called upon to provide the greatest portion of the old world’s supply, and also, in the opinion of the writer, that of the United States as well. At present there are only about 12 million acres of these lands producing wheat. There are five times that many acres that can be brought under successful cultivation. Apart altogether from the value of these lands as wheat producers there Is an Increased value to them from the fact that the soli is especially adapted to the growing of many other kinds of grain as well as all manner of cultivated grasses, while the native grasses are a wonderful asset in themselves. The climate is especially favorable to raising of live stock, such as horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. All these bring into the limelight the adaptability of the soil, the climate and all other necessary conditions, to the carrying on of dairy farming, in a most profitable way. There is no question that high prices for all that the farmer can grow or raise will continue for some years, and this is the great opportune time to take advantage of what Western Canada offers. Lands may be had as a free grant These are mostly loways at the present time, but sooner or later will be well served by railways that are projected into these districts. Land may also be secured by purchase at reasonable price, and on easy terms from holders of same. In many cases farms partly improved may be rented. A Winnipeg paper said recently: "Canada wants American Immigrants. They make good Canadian citizens.” And then speaking of the erroneous Impression that has gained some publicity in a portion of the United States press, says: "l£ cannot be too forcibly impressed upon the American mind that in coming to Canada they place themselves under the freest democracy the world knows. No citizen of this country, whether native or naturalized, can be compelled to military service. The only compulsion Is the compulsion of conscience and patriotic duty. That is the motive that has prompted thousands of Canadians to offer their lives. They are fighting as free men." —Advertisement.

GOOD FOR NATION’S HEALTH

Beneficial Results From Early Entry of Spring Vegetables Into the Markets of the Country. One of the marvels of modern life is the yearly date when spring fruits and vegetables appear in the markets. Some years ago they almost always went north in a wilted condition. With modern facilities these products of southern latitudes appear in northern towns in marvelously fresh condition. For the great majority of people pre. maturely early food products are an impossible luxury. But the growing wealth of the county is signified by the number of people who today feel that they can afford to buy these early garden products. For people of means it is a healthful way of spending money, which otherwise might go Into highly seasoned cooking and stimulants. .i Also the cost of these early products has not increased as much as one would expect. They are raised in so much larger quantities that compettpion keeps prices somewhere within reason. Regular markets hhve been established and transportation costs are greatly reduced through volume of traffic.-r-South Bend News-Times.

That Cured Him.

You should have seen the way Woffles moaned over his petty ailments. He was one of those chaps who were always bewailing their ill state of health, when all that is really the matter with them is the need of a little lecturing. “Oh, my chest, doctor!” he walled to his physician one evening. “My lungs feel so compressed. Some people ten me to inhale sulphur .fumes. Others recommend a seaside holiday. What would you* advise me to do?” “Try fresh air," said the doctor shortly. “Five dollars, please.’’ /