Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1916 — Page 2

PA JUDD SEES LIFE

By H. M. EGBERT.

"Now, I've heard enough of that talk. Jpg Judd!” exclaimed Lucinda Judd, Pushing back her spectacles and confronting her husband angrily across {the table. "You ought to be ashamed ito think of such things." , “Maybe 1 ought,” admitted Mr. Judd. ["But I was only soliloquizing, ma.” "You can ventriloquize all you want, jpa. But this has got to stop. Wanting jto see life at sixty. Indeed! Ain’t 1 life jenough for your* • "Yes, my dear, you are. But what I (meant is thiß. We married when we nr ere only children, and then the (babies came so fast, and it wasn’t until last year that our youngest left us. and somehow I feel 1 wish I’d had my fling. Not a bad fling, you know, ma, but lust cutting a sort of caper.” “Such as how?” demanded his wife ominously. 'Vi .y, I’d like t’ run into New York and i 'Vt the shows and put up at a hotel. and —” “And some hussy’d get you, sure as tate, pa.” “Nobody’s ever in my eyes but you, yin,” answered pa diplomatically. “No, my dear, but then there’s Adam Green, who writes me every New jVear.Fine big grocery store he has in Harlem, and I haven’t seen him for twenty years. And Cy Harris. And I—let 1 —let me see —Jim Brathwaite, who’s

"Your Friend’s Gone, Sir.”

bead of the packing department of Ebenezer ‘Jeffrey’s china store.” “And you want to leave me here?” demanded Mrs. Judd. my dear, after I’ve explored the city a bit, maybe I’ll write you to come on. We ought to have a little trip for once. But we can’t both go there, knowing nothing of city ways. 'Why, it wouldn’t be safe for a settled woman like you until I learned the ropes.” “There! That’s enough, pa. You shan’t go. How can I face my niece, Lizzie Spears, and you not here, and tell her you’ve gone off on a spree alone?’’ “Lizzie? Tou ain’t going to Llzaie’s?" “No, but Lizzie’s coming here on a visit. Read that? ” She pushed a letter across the table. “Wonder if she favors her ma or her par Pretty girl, her ma writes me, and she’s been run down from overwork and is going to spend a month with us to recover. I’m going over to Watertown to fetch her next week.’’ “Let me go, ma.” « “You’ll stay here,’’ answered his wife firmly. Stay he did, while his wife departed on the three days of her little holiday. Pa Judd was under instructions to have the house as neat as a pin for their coming. But on that morning he received a letter frhm his wife, inclosing a hundred-dollar bill. He gasped as it fluttered out. His wife was the family banker, but —what was she sending him a hundred dollars for? The letter informed him that she had had such a good time she had changed her mind and thought he ought to have his little holiday. “But you’ll have to-get off tomorrow before noon/' the letter ran, ‘ because I’ve tol<l Lizzie you're away, and it wouldn’t look decent for you to go after she comes.” ;

Pa Judd needed no second invitation. A few hours later saw him firmly established in New York, in an inexpensive hotel, which seemed to him, nevertheless, the height of magnifl.sence. He spent a happy evening wandering up and down Broadway, looking into the moving picture shows and •taring in wonder, and with rather a guilty conscience, at the specimens of feminine beauty on the famous thoroughfare. . hj When be got back to the hotel he felt that he was seeing life at last. Next day he meant to look up his Blit the next morning he found a lady at his table, one of the' most ravishing young women whom he bad wver seen. She was dressed in the height of fashion, and she showed a marked inclination to be friendly to pa. Before the meal was over they vara chatting like old friends, and he •ad told her the story of his life five

* In this story, whose later versions varied from the earlier ones, Ma Judd always appeared as the angel by the hearth, for pa was sincerely fond of his wife; bqt pa gradually grew from a misunderstood youth, condemned to a life of servitude upon a farm, to a modest hero who had deliberately forsworn the wicked world.. ..„_C—t At lunch the lady was there again. Now it was her turn to confide td pa., She told him that she was a stenographer on a vacation and offered to show him some of the sights of the city. Pa flushed. He did not know whether this was quite proper, but he did not want to confess his Ignorance. "! guess a bright young lady like you don’t want to fuss round with an old feller like me,” he said. “I adorq men of fifty,” answered the yqung woman. Pa, who knew that sixty lay a little, but yet irrecoverably behind him, flushed with pleasure. They took a car downtown to the aquarium. “This is where the Four Hundred promenade on Sunday mornings,” said the young lady. "You don’t say!” ejaculated pa, staring at the sea lion. Afterward they Baw t<e Brooklyn bridge and went up the Woolworth building. At every step Pa Judd’s enthusiasm grew. “You’re a wonder!” he said in amazement. “And to think you live here and all this comes natural to you. I should like my wife to meetyou.” “I guess she migtn’t feel that way,” said the young lady, laughing. "What do you say to a little supper, Mr. Judd?”

This, pa felt sure, was wrong. In fact, he had often read of sirens who lured visitors into restaurants and there ran up bills for incredible sums —two dollars, or even more! Besides, he knew Ma Judd would never have sanctioned this. He resolved not to say one word about the events of that day to her. Yet he meekly accepted the young lady’s suggestion and soon after he found himself seated at a table facing her and wondering at his situation. This was seeing life with a vengeance. "How much money have you, Mr. Judd?” she asked abruptly, as the meal drew to an end. Slowly and reluctantly Pa Judd produced his hundred dollar bill. Then he fished out eight seventy-five more. “Why, you’re a nfllltonaire!” -said the young lady. ‘Til take this bill for a hundred and the waiter.” "Stop! ” muttered Pa* Judd. The young lady looked at him scornfully. "What do you mean?” she asked. "Do you think I am going to steal It?” j , : “No, but—but I thought I’d pay,” faltered pa. - - “My dear boy,” said the young lady —asd pa blushed with pleasure — “don’t you know it is always the woman who pays?” Pa, who had dimly heard words to that effect, suffered the young lady to take his hundred dollar bill and watched her pass quickly through the crowded room. Minutes passed. More minutes passed. The waiter was looking at pa. He thrust the bill under his nose. Pa glanced at it. It was for four dollars and twenty cents. “Your friend’s gone, sir,” said the waiter, as pa looked up beseechingly into his face. Pa staggered out of the restaurant. Early the next morning, having lo» cated Adam Green, and, after a lengthy cpnversation concerning earlier days having succeeded in convincing him ol his identity. Pa Judd touched Adam for fifteen dollars, much to Adam’s disgust, paid his hotel bill, and took the homeward train. . —~* He reached the little town with 90 cents in his pocket. The place had never looked so fresh and wholesome. Behind him lay the great city, with its abominations. Pa was cured — absolutely cured of his desire for adventure.' And his brains were awhirl with stories for home consumption.

Lucinda had told him nothing about any change, but he had taken it for granted that she would expect at least $75. He had not succeeded in harmonizing the various excuses over which he was meditating when he found that his legs had stopped in front of the house door. And there was Lucinda, fresh as a daisy, waiting to greet him. “Well, you didn’t stay long, pa.” she said. “Are you glad to. be home again ?” “You bet,” answered pa fervently. “Well, Lizzie's here,” said his wife. “Lizzie! Here’s your uncle home. Come and kiss,your Uncle Judd.” Before pa realized it a buxom young woman was in his arms, imprinting a kiss on either cheek. Pa stared and gulped. It was the young lady of the hotel —also of the restaurant! Lucinda having vanished, pa looked at his niece with a mixture of emotions depicted on his face. Lizzie smiled. And pa felt something slipped into his hand. He ldokqd down at his hun-dred-dollar bill. He looked up into Lizzie’s still smiling face. “It’s a plagt?” he asked, mouthing the words In his humiliation. “Yes," nodded his niece, trying hard not to laugh. “But she doesn’t know. She was anxious about you, uncle, and I had to go to New York, so I —l tracked you from the station^—She thinks ■•• he thinks 1 never got to a word with you.” “You’re a good gel, Lizzie,” said pa, with gratitude. “Say, though, would you ml&d kissing your uncle again 1 I’m mighty grateful that you didn’t do it yesterday.” (Copyright, mg, by W. G. Chapman.) American quail are migrating across the border to Canada.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER. IND.

FAITH NOT LOST AFTER 40 YEARS OF LITIGAION

Oldest Homesteader in United States Now Expects to Get Title to LandVICTIM OF LAW’S DELAYS History of Case Is Remarkable Record of Procrastination on Part of Blind Goddess—Documents Lost to Sight for Many Years. Sioux Falls, S D.—Secure in his faith in Uncle Sam and with hope renewed that the 160 acres of land upon which he has lived for 43 years will finally bd given him, Daniel Farnum probably the oldest homesteader in the United States, is waiting patiently for what he believes Jls his right to a clear title to the quarter section. And he has not mpny more years left to him to wait, for Farnum is now within a few months of four score and ten. The land, worth only a few dollars an

Daniel Farnum.

acre at the most when he first came to the Northwest in the old territorial days, is now valued on a conservative estimate at $30,000. Much less than that amount would be a fortune to the old man whose needs are small, for he has been poor all his life and for that reason has remained a bachelor. But the “faith of Farnum’’ is likely to become a proverb in the Northwest. Farnum who steps less lively year by year and who is troubled with rheumatism that makes traveling difficult came to Sioux Falls and timidly sought the office of Assistant United States District Attorney E. W. Fiske in the Federal building. “Be you Mr. Fiske?” was the homely phrase with which Farnum greeted the man upon whom he now bases his final appeal for what he believes to be a square deal in a matter which has dragged along for years among dust-covered piles of old manuscripts, court records and musty books piled away among forgotten pigeonholes in a dozen offices of the federal government from those of the old territorial courts to the modern buildings at the nation’s capital. Digs Up Musty Records. Assistant District Attorney Fiske became interested in the situation

whleh the old pioneer outlined and immediately set to work to dig out all of the old records In the case. Farnum, timid and lonesome here, and without the money to remain over night in the city, was reassurqd that the case would be thoroughly investigated in an effort to substantiate his claims. The matter is now before Judge James D. Elliott of the United States court for tlie district of South Dakota in theßrStstepstakenbyMr.Piakeln setting the wheels 6f Justice to grinding again for the Investigation of an alleged fraudulent entry by another man that deprived Farnum of homestead rights more than 40 years ago. The history Of the case Is one of remarkable loitering and procrastination on the part of the blindfolded goddess whose scales jilted neither up

,nor down during all of thut length of time. Digging among the old words of the territorial days in the store room of the —federal district clerk otcourts here, Attorney E. W. Fiske unearthed the documents needed to bring the matter to the attention of the de partment of Justice and into the courts again. They had been Jumbled among thousands of other ancient papers during the turmoil that grew out of the transfer of mingled court records at the time of the admittance of South Dakota to the Union. For years the original complaint and other papers connected with Farnum’s claims had been lost to sight; whether among those records left at Yankton at the time of the record transfers, or at Bismark, N. D.. or at the federal of flees here was not definitely known and had seemed impossible, even after prolonged search, of ever learning. In Constant Possession. It Is now to be shown that the action. after the long search for the overlooked documents which, after all. were in the files of the clerk here, has been pending throughout the 40 years and that, despite the seeming title in the hands of others, Farnum has been in possession of the 160 acres of land during that time. The land which Farnum claims is his own and a homestead by the promise of the United States is situated near Centerville, S. D., in what is described as the northwest 25, township 97, range 52. After his settlement ori the quarter in 1873, Farnum built a little-home and since then has lived there continuously.

On December 18. 1873, Nathan R. Fletcher filed a pre-emption, alleging that he had settled there December 1 of that year, and made final proof on September 5, 1874. He received a patent from the government in 1875. On May 29, 1876, a contest of the title was filed by Farnum who had then ten witnesses to the declaration that Fletcher had never lived nor built a home on the land and alleging that the patent was obtained by fraud. All of this information, according to the documentary evidence found in ancient files, was brought out at a hearing before the registrar in September, 1876, and caused that government official then to recommend that the proceedings granting the patent be set aside and declared void on the ground that the patent had been obtained fraudulently. The commissioner of the general land office asked that the suit be brought. Farnum had , formerly made an entry on the same land which had been thrown out, but was then reinstated, although, until the patent to Fletcher had been cancelled, the department could not issue one to Farnum.

Buyer Loses Suit. The suit, in the case was. instituted in December, 1879, but the United States marshal at that time was unable to find Fletcher who, it is be-lieved,-had left the state, after having sold the land to Hannah Jones. Service in the complaint was finally -obtained by publication. Fletcher defaulted by not appearing, but Hannah Jones, through attorneys, demurred to the complaint, but, in 1884, was overruled, five years after the action was begun. Nothing further was done between the years 1884 and 1896. Meanwhile the territory of the Dakotas had become two states. and all suits then pending were, by the enabling act. turned over to the courts in whose jurisdiction they fell. The old files were at Yankton, and a controversy arose between the state and the federal courts at to which should have certain records. The clerk of courts for this district finally obtained a few of the old files and records after the state was admitted, while others remained at Yankton and more wenUtb the offices of the clerks of the courts at Bismark, N. D., and Pierre, S. D. The case in which the whole of Farnum’s life has centered should have

Farnum’s Modest Little Home.

appeared then on the calendar of the United States court for trial, but through the resultant jumble Of the early records. It was lost from sight. In 1896, Hugh J. Campbell, formerly United States district attorney, brought suit for the record holder of the land who had obtained it of Fletcher to quiet title. There is nothing In the Turner county records to show that anyone else but Fletcher title to the land up to that time, when suit was brought, and the question arose as to how they could presume that Farnum wap interested unless there was real dohbt that he had a prior claim to the quarter section. It iadaimed that anyone acquiring title to tb« land from Fletcher’s patent, which is questioned, would be certain :

of Farnum's possession and actual residence on the property for a lung term of years. , t Faith la Steadfast. c From that time to this Farnum's faith had remained steadfastly in the belief that the United States government finally would fulfill the promise made to him, and during the Intervening years of patient waiting he has written to every United States senator ever sent to Washington from South Dakota to aid him. All have taken the njatter up with the land department and the United States attorney general in each administration to make inquiry Into the truth and to learn whetherbr not the patent given Fletcher was wrongfully awarded because of fraud. Each time they have been balked because of the disappearance of the records in the case and the tangle in which it had become involved during nearly half a century of delay. Assistant United States District Attorney Fiske has at last found the necessary documents - and has promised to get to the bottom of the matter. Farnum’s faith may yet be justified. -'

FALLS WITH ZEPPELIN

To be dashed to earth in a Zeppelin balloon wreck, in which she had a most miraculous escape from death, is the unique and unfortunate experience undergone by Gertrude- Hale, a prominent New York concert singer. Miss Hale, who is a descendant of the Nathan Hale family, famous in* American history, happened to be in Bremen, Germany, on a concert tour Just before the war-broke out. She was Invited by German army officers to make a trip in the Zeppelin “Malkussen,” an honor rarely granted to a woman. As will be recalled the ill-fated Malkussen on the tragic occasion caught fire, and plunging to earth from a great height, struck and demolished a house, killing one of Miss Hale’s party and Injuring several guests and officers. Miss Hale suffered internal injuries, but has fully recovered.

MORE NURSES FOR SIBERIA

Doctor Devine of Columbia Will Head Red Crow Party If It Goes to Camps. Washington.—A movement Is under headway to send another party of Red Cross nurses for service in prison camps in Russia and Siberia. Details of the arrangement have not been worked out and depend on the result of negotiations between the United States and Germany and Russia. If the party is finally kifthorized and sent over it will be headed by Dr. Edward T. Devine of Columbia university, the social worker, who speni the day in Washington conferring with Red Cross officials in regard to plans for the further aid of thousands who are confined in Russian prison camps. There are thirty five American Red Cross workers distributed among various camps In Russia and Siberia, and there is great need, according to recent appeals, for further help. Doctor Devine returned to Tfew' York, having given his approval to the plan of sending another party and agreeing to take charge of it if It is sent.

LOADS OF LETTERS FOR GIRL

She Applies for a Husband, but the Missives Do Not Find Her. Seaford, rural mail wagon driven by Frank Wheatley from the local post office Is heavy laden with undelivered mail, and for many miles around this section of the peninsula persons are trying to find Miss Ethel R. Sweeney, a young woman to whom the mail is addressed. Recently Miss Sweeney wrote to Mayor Prince of Wilmington, beseeching him to find a husband for a "lonely country girl " and gave her address as Concord, Del Concord is situated about three miles east of here, and the notoriety given the place by the young woman has caused bid residents tb treat strangers coolly. nt iattars are arriving hare tor the "lonely girl." and, although a thorough search has been made for her, as yet all efforts hare failed.

WOULD SEE JESUS

Christian Desire Is to Know Him Well in an Intimate and Friendly Way. This is our desire. Like certain Greeks of old, we are longing to look into his face, to hear his voice, to feel the sense of nearness to him, to catch the music of bis words as he speaks, to know him in a more intimate and friendly way. Shaking ourselves free from the attractions and distractions of this worldly atmosphere in which we live, letting the heart be at its best and speak out what is truest within, we feel that there is a very deep and real longing to see Jesus. Is it not for this that we are waiting in our churches night after night these opening weeks of the new year? Not merely to look upon his risible presence. That sort of a vision would be \ wonderful. How often does the devout heart think about the beatific vision'and long for the hour of it. We have thought many times about the privilege of that hour when we shall see no longer through a glass darkly but face to face, when we shall know even as also we are known. Some good friends of ours have just recently ended their pilgrimage, have passed through the river and up into the Celestial City, have gone from this realm of promise and anticipation to that realm of realization. - And they have seen him. Happy, blessed, fortunate people—they have seen him face to face. The King there in His Beauty, without a veil, is seen: It were a well-spent Journey th<x \ seven deaths lay between. } The Lamb with His fair army doth on Mount Zion stand, And glory, glory dwelleth In Immanuel s land. We wait for that vision, and the expectation of it constitutes one of the mightiest motives to faithfulness and holiness. Is it not written, “Everyone that hath this hppe set on him pnriflet.h himself even as he is pure." But we would see Jesus jußt now. We would see him in our churches looking with his searching eyes into the hearts of pastors and people, and cleansing the temples, as he did of old time. We would see him in each one of our special meetings. What is the use of our frequent coming together unless we do see him? We want to know him better. Is that not the real desire in every waiting Christian heart? It ought to be. It is so easy to use frequently and familiarly the thingß by means of which Jesus reveals himself, and yet to be quite unacquainted with him. We remember how be asked that/

searching and humiliating question to a friend of his —“Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip?” Have we been reading the Bible, and preaching the gospel, and attending religious meetings, and observing the sacraments, and yet after a year of such religious devotion are we no better acquainted with Jesus than before? Oh, we need to see him so as to know him better. We would see him at his character lstlc work. What our churches need Is to clear the way and let him have a chance to work. It Is to put away our unbelief so that he can do his mighty works among us. It Is to Invite him to come in and deal directly with those who have not responded to his command, “Follow thou me.” How persuasively he can utter the gospel invitation when his presence becomes very real In a meeting. How mighty is the touch of his hand to transform life. Our need these opening weeks of the year is not to see some great evangelist or church leader. It is not to perfect some new forms of ecclesiastical search out our own souls. But first of all, and above all. It is to see Jesus. —United Presbyterian.

IN PERFECT, ORDERLY BEAUTY

Proper Life Is the Life Ordained by God, and Disorder js Rebellion Against Him. Disorder is rebellion against God. "Let all things be done decently and in order” applies to more than the confusion through tongues** wltfci which the apostle was dealing when he pleaded for order. The life that lacks order and neatness is not "decent” in the Bight of God. “When we live the victorious life,” writes a business man, “thoroughness, order and neatness come along Incidentally almost. Because the God who indwells a God oforderandsymmetry, as Is evidenced In the graceful shaping of the snow crystals or in the delicate scallop of the carnation’s fringe, as exquisite as the lace around the throat of Mary Queen of Scots.” Victory cleans up our desk and our bureau drawers, our person and our finger nails, as well as our heart and spirit. It makes persons attractive to look at and desirable to live with; it makes rooms'ag well as hearts worthy of the presence Of ChrisL - r ~

The Parents’ Mission.

All that parents should do before and after the annunciation follows readily, clearly and unmistakably—to be pure and true in word and deed: to be filled and penetrated with the worth and dignity of man; to look upon themselves as the keepers and guardians of a gift of God; to inform and destiny of man, as well as concerning the sr*ys and means of their fulfillment/—FroeheL '