Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1916 — Page 2

CHANGE OF OWNERS

By GEORGE MUNSON.

Lily Bruce was forty, and nobody thought anything of her except the plumber. The boarders all chaffed her. You know the boarding-house way. Lily was the waitress, and she had been with old Miss 'Jones for twenty yean. We guessed Miss Jones took her at first because ,she was cheap, and kept her because she never asked for an advance or an increase. Lily bad no relatives and never went out. She was forty, had a decided squint, a red, freckled face, and carroty hair. Alao, she was slow-witted and couldn’t see a joke. So she naturally became the butt of the small-town boarding establishment. The plumber, who was the only person interested in Lily, was a little, dried-up man of fifty. The plumbing was always out of gear, but old Mrs. Jones stuck to Sanders for economy. It was a poor sort of economy, to take the services of an inefficient man because he was cheap, but if Miss Jones had had more sense she might not have been keeping a cheap boarding house. Might have got married, maybe. But Miss Jones was a little, with-ered-up old maid, with no thought beyond the immediate profit. “What will happen to Lily if Miss . Jones dies?" was the question that began to be. asked, when it was clear that Miss Jones was failing. “She*lT have to marry the plumber." “You mean the plumber will have to marry her." “Maybe she has some savings." “Well, maybe not. Twelve dollars a month won’t go far, even for Lily.” Every Saturday night, for at least a dozen years, Sanders had called on my in the kitchen. Sometimes one of the boarders would seize some pretext to go in and watch what they were doing, but he never saw anything interesting. Lily would sit at one side of the fire and the plumber

“The Old Boarders Can Stay at the Old Rates.”

at the other, and they wpuld talk about the weather. The winter was a hard one, and It was quite evident that Miss Jones was failing. Shp was losing her memory, too, and got to sending in the bills twice. There were one or two lows before Miss Jones realized what was the matter. Then she seemed to give in all at once. “My land!” she said to Mils Harris, the stenographer, who had boarded with her for eleven years, “what’s going to become of me?" “Lily will have to take care of you,” said Rogers, the broker’s clerk, unfeelingly; and everybody snickered. “How’d you like to run the show, Lily?” asked somebody else of the waitress, as she came in with the joint ~"Well enough,” said Lily, raising her dull eyes. “Now. you go along with you and don’t talk to the guests!" exclaimed Miss Jones, bouncing in. She had always treated Lily like a dog. She treated her no better now, when she was failing, and the food was getting worse and worse, and people were threatening to leave. We used to hear her scolding in the kitchen, and once or twice Lily would come in with her eyes red as if she had been crying. In January Miss Jones took to her bed. She told us that if she didn’t get better in a few days she was going to try to sell the place, and asked us to be patient. We were as patient as was possible, but Miss Jones got worse, and finally the news came that Lily was to leave on the Saturday, and we might go as soon as we chose. Then somebody got wind of the fact that a speculator was going to buy the place—had bought it, and was going to raise the prices. You know how a little thing like that gets on one’s nerves. Some were going at once, and some were going to wait and see. Saturday came, and Lily, crying, said good-by to Miss Jones, received our taunts and tips with equal indifference, and went out of the door. A ftw minutes later there came a ring. Lily was back. Rogers opened the door to her. She came back with a determined sort of look on her -face and went straight toward Miss Jones’ room, while we snickered. “I guess she’s going to her for some money,” we said. Then a cry came from Miss Jones’

room, and before anybody could go to see whether Lily had been using her fists on her the little, withered old .woman came toward us. She was in tears, and walking beside her, with her arm about her waist, was Lily, seemingly transformed. She still had the carroty hair and the tendency toward a squint, but there was a sort of —well, action —upon her face, and we were all too much surprised to speak. “Lily has bought''me out,” announced Miss Jones. “She's the party that was going to take the house over, and I didn’t know.” It was -quite true. From waitress Lily had suddenly emerged into thp proprietress. She had paid Miss Jones two thousand dollafo for the furniture, fixtures, good-will, and everything, and was already in charge. Twelve dollars a month isn’t much, but ten dollars saved means a hundred and twenty a year, and in twenty years—well, you can see for yourself. And. Lily, without a thought beyond the boarding house, had saved herself out of service into ownership.

“What are you going to do?” asked somebody. And he called her “Miss Bruce.” That was a sign of the times. “You aren’t going to raise the price on us?” We were all scared to death that Lily would bundle the us outside, neck and crop, in return for our teasing. But Lily wasn’t that kind of girl. “The old boarders can stay at the old rates," she said. “At least till summer. Then we’ll see.” It was a sort of tragi-comedy, Lily laying down the law to us there, and we listened respectfully. And to cap the climax who should appear upon the scene but Sanders, the plumber, at that very moment.' He was dressed in his Sunday best, and he stood there, shifting his feet nervously, and somehow the incongruity of the whole scene infected us, and we burst into hysterical laughter. All of us, from Miss Harris down to the youngest counter-jumper, Just sat back in our chairs and howled. And we looked from Lily to the plumber, and we howled louder and louder. All the while Lily kept a perfectly straight face, and the only thing that happened was that the plumber ranged himself between Lily and Miss Jones and looked at us In a half-timid and half-determined way. When we had sobbed ourselves into silence Lily said very quietly: “By summer time we’ll know —Mr. Sanders and I —how things are going.” And the look on her face explained everything. Sanders and she were married, and going to run the house together. He had proved true- and they had waited years for this to happen. But somehow the look on each face checked us from laughing again. (Copyright, 1916, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) ’ .

NOT WHAT HE LOOKED FOR

Spirit’s Visit to the Scene of Hie Earthly Pilgrimage Afforded Him Little Comfort. I died last week, and owing to my transgressions it was decreed that I should become one of the subjects of his Satanic majesty. I had been in his demesne but six days when I received a twenty-four hour leave of absence to visit the earth. It was given me by Lucifer himself. In spirit form, with all things visible to me, yet invisible to all things, save spirits, I again found myself in the sunlight of the world. I floated In at .the oflice where I had been employed. Another man sat in my chair. The manager was speaking to him. “If Jones hadn’t died,” he was saying, “I would have been obliged to discharge him. He was getting very inefficient!” I departed hurriedly, and headed for the club. “There, at least,” I thought, “they would miss me.” Smith and Brown were playing poker as usual. I had always played with them.' “Jones used to get on my nerves terribly when he played with us!” remarked Smith. “There was something* irritating about that fellow!” Brown agreed with him. Away I went again. “To my wife.” I murmured. “Ah, to my wife!” She was standing in the parlor looking very lovely in her mourning. Jimson, a man I had always detested, was standing close beside her. “You must go now,” she whispered. “Some day, perhaps —” She did not finish. There seemed no need. I sped away through space. A brother spirit drew near. He was traveling in the oposite direction. “Used up your twenty-four hours?” he called out. “No,” I answered, “I’ve only been on earth twenty minutes!” “You seem to be in a terrible hurry to get somewhere,” he shouted. “Where are you going so fast?”' “Back home,” I replied—William Sanford, in Judge.

Indians Keen Bargainers.

Most people consider the American aborigines to have been easy victims of the sharper-witted whites in matters of buying and selling. A book about “The Original John Jacob Astor,” however, declares that “the Indian was a great bargainer,” and says that Astor needed all his resources to -get the- better-of the Indians in an exchange of commodities. He is said to have been the first fur dealer to become really proficient in the languages of the Mohawk, Seneca and Oneida tribes, and this ability to talk to she Indians in their own tpngue gave him great prestige among them.

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THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

HARDEST PITCHER TO MAKE HIT AGAINST

Grover Alexander not only led the Major league this year as the hardest pitcher to score against, but was the hardest to make a hit against. The great Phil chucker held, opponents to a batting average of .176.. When it is taken into consideration that a good hitter is, expected to bat at least .250, the tightness of Alec’s work is easily realized. Only one batter in about every six that faced Grover plinked his goods for a safe drive. The real leading pitcher in the American league was Walter Johnson, and he was rated the king of hurlers until Alec had his big year. Johnson

SOME OF GREAT SHORTSTOPS

Bancroft of Philadelphia Nationals Makes Fans Forget Maranville and Other Players. So wonderful has been the showing of Dave Bancroft, both as a fielder and as a batsman, that he is now rated as one of the best in the country. Dave is making fans forget Maranville and others. Some of the greatest shortstops the game ever knew

Dave Bancroft.

have played with the Phillips. Bob Allen was classy 25 years ago, and one year he made a record for chances accepted by a shortstop which was not broken until 1914, when Maranville made a new mark. Then along came Monte Cross, who didn’t have to doff his cap to any shortstop when he was a Quaker. Mike Doolan was the third on the list, and now comes Bancroft.

FRED TENNEY ACTS QUICKLY

Decision of Former Giant to Get Into Newark International Club Was Sudden One. Fred Tenney’s decision to buy into the Newark ball club was a sudden one, according to a New York story. Fred had gone to New York to attend the anniversary reunion. He dropped into the Waldorf and met old friends. “Well, what’s doing?” he inquired of one of them, “and how are all the old boys?” “Well,” someone remarked, “the International league is being reorganized. The Newark club looks like a good buy. I understand Jim Price is trying to get it.” “Price?” said Tenney, reflectively. “Do I know him? Wasn’t he a sporting editor or writer when I was here with the Giants?” “Yes,” came the answer, “he was.” “Show him to me,” said Tenney. “I’d like to see him.” Jim Price was sitting down at one end of Peacock Alley and Fred went down to talk to him. A day later came the announcement *that the two' had Joined forces and bought the Newark franchise.

passed Through Many Wars.

Bob Emslie, the veteran upmire, who will start his thirty-first year in harness this season, has been through all of the baseball wars,, from the Union-Association conflict to the late Federal league affair. l ■

Three Famous Big League Pitchers.

was hit for .214 average. One batter in less than each five was able to hit the Washington smoke artist. Joe Wood held opponents to a smaller number of -runs than Johnson and ranks at the top of the American league, but was in a much smaller number of games, so the title of leading pitcher belongs to Johnson. Wood was touched for .216 average by opposing batters. There is no doubt that Johnson has more speed than Alexander, but the figures also show that Johnson, who was said to be slipping last season, just because he got a few more beatings than usual, is strong.

BASEBALL STORIES

Tom Downey, who once was with the Phillies, has announced his retirement from baseball. * * • * Stallings is out with a prediction that the Braves will win the National league pennant this year. • • * Jimmy O’Neill of Minooka has- been sold by the Boston Americans to the Buffalo club of the International league. • * * This is Roy Hartzell’s sixth year South with the New Yorks. “And it’s going to be my best, too,’’ said the veteran. * • • Bill Luyster, the former Hartford pitcher, will be field captain of the Lawrence club, under Jesse Burkett, this season. * * * Nick Altrock will this year, as heretofore, have practical charge of developing the recruit pitching material of the Nationals. , • * * Joe Riggert will chase flies in center field for Mike Kelley’s St. Paul team in the American Association, again this season. • • • Freddy Thomas, the New Orleans recruit, is said to have the edge on the other third base candidates for the Cleveland team. E. A. Duffy, last year’s premier hurler of the Youngstown club, will wear a Grand Rapids uniform in the Central league \his season. • * * Ralph Capron, who, it is recalled, had a brief trial with the Phillies several seasons ago, has retired permanently from the diamond. * * • Jimmy Burke, one of Hughey Jennings’ many assistants, is endeavoring to make Grover Loudermilk resort to curve balls this summer. * • * Marty Berghammer, t£e Pittsburgh Fed, who is to play with the St. Paul team next year, is a classy infielder, according to Joe Tinker. • * * The release by Salt Lake of the veteran pitcher, Jack Killilay, probably means he is through. He was let go to make room for Tom Hughes. • * •

One of the innovations of the new Eastern league provides for admission free —except grand stand —for ladies on all days except Saturdays and holidays. • * • John Bates, who played in the Richmond outfield last year after his release by the Federals of Baltimore, will be with the Baltimore Orioles this year. • • • Harry Damrau, the Harlem third baseman, whom Connie Mack released recently to Raleigh of the North Carolina league? will very likely get a trial wlthßiehfflond. ~ t * • Bobby Veach regards J. Weldon Wyckoff as one of the six 1 greatest pitchers he ever faced. Wyckoff wants to make ,150 other batsmen think the same thing this year. -. V <O-

THREE BALLS IN PLAY

Each Infielder Has Pill and Chases a Base Runner. One of Most Humorous Situations Ever Witnessed on Baseball Field —Umpire Finally Straightened Things Out. The foUowing humorous story of the baseball field is related by Bill Speas, outfielder of the Portland team of the Pacific Coast league, and probably is one of the most humorous things witnessed on a baseball field. Incidentally, story has been told and retold by \prominent players in the two major leagues. “You might not believe this,” says Speas, "but I’ve got several clippings to prove it. It happened In 1906 in the Pennsylvania and Ohio league. I was playing with Mansfield, and Doc Bailey, the old-time Columbus pitcher was doing the pitching for us. Our Opponents had us beaten, about 40 to 0 when one of them hit a ball and slammed it down the right field foul line. The umpire threw in another ball, and he knocked it foul again. Then he hit one at me in left, and after breaking my neck to keep it from rolling into the next state, I got it and threw it in to the plate, only it hit the grandstand instead. “Well, in the meantime, the fielders had recovered the foul balls and the shortstop had one running a man down between second and third, and the second baseman had the other trying to catch a man between first and second. The catcher was chasing the ball I threw in. It looked like a fire in a Chinese laundry the way everybody was running around. I was almost sick from laughing out there in left field. “The umpire eventually ruled the foul balls out of play and held that the ball I threw at the grandstand was the right one. But that does not change the fact that there were three balls in play all at one time.”

WORTH OF BASEBALL PLAYER

Secretary Foster of New York Giants Says $25,000 Is Too Much to Pay for Any Man. Is any baseball player worth to any club an outlay of $25,000 for one season? This interesting question arose recently at the headquarters of the Giants in the Fifth avenue building during a discussion of what it would cost to secure the services of Home-

Secretary John B. Foster.

Run Baker, who was recently purchased by the Yankees for a sum not made public. Secretary John B. Foster of the New York club, whose opinion can be taken as representing that of his own club and club owners in general, says that not only Frank Baker would not be worth the money, but that even Ty Cobb, the acknowledged biggest drawing card of the American league; Walter Johnson, the star pitcher of that organization; Grover Cleveland Alexander and our own Christy Mathewson would not be paying investments at an expense of $25,000 per season individually.

League Star Is Passed.

Another former major league star who made the mistake of casting his lot with the Feds went down the line when the Chicago" Cubs released Pitcher Ad Brennan to the St. Paul Club of the American association. Brennan was one of the first players of any note to enlist with the outlaw movement.

Tom Martin Retires.

Tommy Martin, who has beenconnected with the Buffalo international league club for years as secretary, has retired and will be succeeded by James Austin. Martin may possibly accept an official position with the Boston Braves, as he and George Stallingß are close associates. /

HOME TOWN HELPS

LOOK TO THE VACANT LOT A Little Cleaning Up of the Bpace Now Will Result in Profit in the Future. Owners of unimproved property in this city who wish to sell it should take heed of a suggestion that comes from Minneapolis, where the matter has been under practical consideration. This is that any lot of ground offered for sale has a better chance of finding a market if it is kept in attractive order than if neglected and allowed to present an unkempt, unattractive appearance. Of course, as a mere building Bite, it makes no difference to a prospective purchaser whether a lot is neatly tufted or is a veritable dump laden with trash. Building operations are not deterred by refuse. But there is something psychological in -the appeal of a wellkept vacant lot that gives it a “pulling power" over a trash-covered, weedgrown, unsightly place. The cumulative effect of well-tended vacant properties reaching to a standard of orderliness throughout the city is unmistakable. Every real estate owner with property of this character to sell is interested in attracting the attention of buyers from outside. Such buyers are more surely drawn to a city that presents no unlovely aspects than to one that is peppered with eyesores. The cost of keeping a vacant lot in order is slight and it should be reckoned by the owner as part of the overhead charge, along with the Interest. It has been suggested that this cost may be added to the price of the property when it is sold. However it is borne, whether by the owner or the ultimate purchaser, it is a good investment. It makes for quicker sales and meanwhile for a more attractive oity, which in itßelf is an asset shared by every owner of property. This is the season to consider this question. Already the preparations Tor park work are under way. The ground in the public reservations is being raked, trash is being hauled away, and in a few weeks the city will be blossoming. Every owner of a vacant lot should consider his bit of ground as part of the city’s park system and put it in order Just as carefully aB the tree-grown spaces under the care of the government are groomed for the season. The householders are expected to keep their front parkings and lawns up to a certain standard of neatness, and surely those who own land on which there are no improvements should be under the same obligation. Washington Star.

Tom Martin Retires.

Begin now to think of that little garden in the back yard, everybody who has a back yard. Such a modest enterprise has much to do to restore the harmony of life. If you don’t get a radish, a tomato, a bean or a mess of peas, you will get something greater — pure air, sunshine, exercise and companionship with nature, which are a richer crop than all the truck in the garden. It is a great thing to watch things grow. They make a man grow, too; »dd health and strength to every part of his body; give him a clean conscience; make him love his wife and enjoy her victuals. Tending a little garden makes a good citizen out of a man; gives him better thoughts; makes him kindlier to hiß neighbors, and gives a gentler accent to his voice; And then. If he should raise anything in the garden, how happy he is to gather it and take it into the kitchen and lay it on the table, saying to his wife: “These are some of our own raising; ain’t they fine?” That’s life —grander than going to church in an automobile.— Ohio State Journal.

Value of Flower Shows.

Preparations are already under way for flower shows, and it is pertinent to ask, “What is the permanent value to those who attend?” Mere attractions will not permanently endure with any considerable measure of success. They must educate as well. In order to interest you must instruct. All love best what they know most about. The more one is instructed in horticulture the greater will be his appreciation of plants dhd flowers. Every exhibit should be a bureau of information regarding fundamental knowledge. Every attendant should be a mine of information regarding details. A feast for the eyes will not alone attract the best attendance, but a feast of the mind as well surely will.

Decoration of the Home.

It is not "a matter of taste” when we accept for our home’s decoration those forms of beauty which we do not sympathetically-understand; it is a matter of intellectual laziness. We take what is smart for the moment without a question of its fitness and adaptability for our individual needs, and in so doing we lose that greater delight, which is the soul of art and which is our only thorough sincere study and search of the decorative fundamentals upon which the artists and lovers of the beautiruTuave built. —House and Garden. - - *. . •