Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 191, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1916 — Page 3

Preparedness!"

By Hector Raynie Burleigh

(Copyright. 1916. by W. G. Chapman.) “Preparedness Is the keynote of the hour,” read Miss Letitia Parker in the weekly newspaper of the little village in which she lived.

She scarcely understood the full meaning and specific application of the word, for hers was a placid life avoiding war’s alarms. She never forgot that word thereafter, however, for directly below It was a four-line local item that made the color rise to her cheek and her breath come quick. It ran:

“Our former townsman, Abel Drake, is sojourning with some relatives down Gosport way. Five years is a long time. Drop around and get a good friendly handshake, Neighbor Drake!”

“He —has —come —back!” breathed Miss Parker tumultuously, and her hand grasped tlie paper with a nervous twitching of the fingers, and her eyes took to their depths a yearning, fluttering faraway expression. For it was indeed five years since Abel Drake had gone away, and all that time he had been enshrined in her heart of hearts as the model, the idol of her sentimental dreamings. He was twenty-two then, she two years younger. Now she was twentyfive, but time had not dissolved the velvet softness of her cheek nor the gentle luster of her eyes. She had grown a trifle prim with the dawning of womanhood, but her heart was still young. She had always liked Abel, despite his quiet retiring way. A stray expression of a friend of Abel, coming to her ears second-hand, had cast the die that fixed her life’s hope and aspiration. “I’m going away to wrestle

Below It Was a Four-Line Local Item.

with fortune,” Abel was reported to have said. “If I make a go of It I am coming back to ask the woman I most admire and respect to be my ■Wife, and that is Letitia Parker.” And upon this frail soul food Letitia had existed during the long patient years. At the first she had hoped Mr. Drake would write her from his new place of sojourn in the West, but he had not done so. Then she had folded her hands and sighed, telling herself that it was “better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Just now all the old romance was revived. The newspaper announcement stirred her magically, mightily. Of course, sooner or later he would come to Wayne to see his old friends. He might not have succeeded in his plans for getting on in the world. He might be only making a flying visit. He might have forgotten all about her. Still, hope burned brightly in her longing heart. “Anyway,” whispered Letitia to herself, “I shall—‘prepare.’ " She flushed a trifle as she said It, her self-con-sciousness causing a sensitiveness that made her shrink from anybody guessing the motives that lay under her secret f)lans. Then the neighbors began to talk. They all knew that Miss Parker had a comparatively small income and that her surplus was sparse and incidental. The old house was given a new coat of paint, the interior was neatly but cheaply redecorated. Some chairs and a hammock adorned the porch. A cozy lover-suggesting rustic seat was set under a shady tree in the garden. “She must have more coming in than we thought,” gossiped a neighbor, “to go to all that expense.” They little knew the hard paring and scraping the frugal Letitia exercised to carry out her project of “preparedness.” Miss Parker blushed again when she finished some soft downy pillows for the hammock. She was not planning for her own com- " Cort Sjje was “preparing” for “visitors,” and if through her mentality

there ran a vision of a stalwart, mun ly young fellow lolling in the hammock, her good, kind soul was at fault, not vanity nor the base maneuvering of a really designing woman. How her innocent, tender heart fluttered as the postman handed her a letter postmarked “Gosport.” That was the town where Abel Drake was visiting his folk. She opened it with trembling fingers, she perused it with longing eyes. “Oh, he is coming!” she breathed. “Will he remember the old days?” Abel had written a brief respectful note. He was coming to Wayne on business, he said, and would be glad to meet her again. Her reply was formal, but it put her in a flutter all day long. Then her days of days! She had donned her new gown with all the pretty ornaments she possessed. She might well feel a thrill of pride as she glanced at the mirror. A regally beautiful woman showed. Letitia was not vain, but she could not but realize the fact.

She feigned to be trimming the rose bushes lining the fence when she saw her expected visitor coming down the street. Her breath came quick. Ah! he had stopped to greet an old frieqfl. Then a neighbor, a woman standing at her gate, detained him so long that Letitia fairly stamped her foot in vexation. And then —he came, and his bronzed, handsome face filled her vision and she was happy. From the first she detected a certain constraint in his manner and marveled at it. He was distinctly formal and insisted that he could stop for only a moment. Her heart sank as he told her that he was going to return to the West. Then —sadly, she fancied, quite sadly—he bade her good-by and was gone. It was all so hasty, so different to what she had anticipated, she sat down on the rustic bench —alas! so lonesome-looking now. The tears came. Her proud woman’s heart sought to stem the overpowering torrent of dispair vainly. “I loved him so—oh, I loved him so,” she sobbed forth, “and he is gone forever !”

“Oh, Miss Parker, please mamma wants to borrow three eggs, if you’ve got them. We’re going to have company for supper, and she didn’t ex-, pect it, and she’ll send them back tomorrow, and please don’t cry. Are you sick, Miss Parker?” It was quite natural that the little prattler, when she returned home, should tell of the kind lady she had found in tears. Her neighbor, Mrs. Earle, at once divined the reason. Abel Drake got a new viewpoint of things in general. His hostess corrected some false Impressions he had received. “I fancied from what I heard in the town and the general air of prosperity about the place, that Miss ..Parker had got far out of my sphere of limited means,” and then from what she told, him he learned the truth. Letitia, seated'on the porch an hour later, started as a firm hasty footfall crunched on the gravel path. “I could not go away without seeing you once more,” spoke Abel, seriously, steadily, “after coming so far only to say to you what has been in my heart ever since I left here five years ago.” And then he told of his hard work to acquire a few thousand dollars — seeming to him pitifully small when compared with the apparent wealth of the woman he loved. And then the truth came out —she was poor, and glad of it, for he was rich—oh, Infinitely rich in love! and Abel Drake did not lehve for the West.

Diamonds Lost in the Snow.

A New York merchant and his wife, returning home in the elevated at three o’clock in the morning, simultaneously discovered that the lady’s diamond pendant was gone. It was in midwinter and a new fall of snow lay on the ground. Together they hurried back to Forty-second street station and coming to the street retraced their steps over the four blocks they had walked an hour before. On the fourth block they discovered —again almost simultaneously—the lost bauble. , • My stenographer asks permission to add the following: Walking down Pacific street in Brooklyn, alongside the railroad cut there, against a pretty strong wind, a dollar bill was blown up the. gravel, toward her. She picked it up. 'A few feet further along a second dollar bill rolled up to her, and a few steps beyond came a third. It was not an ill wind that time. —New York Times.

Mule's Pleasant Habit.

The habits of the mule are discussed in the decision of Justice Clay of Kentucky in Consolidated Coal company vs. Pratt, in which the court said: “The kicking propensity of the mule is a matter of common knowledge and has been the subject of comment from the earliest time. It is almost as universally recognized as the fact that a duck will swim or a cat will scratch. However, a duck cannot indulge his propensity without water, and ordinarily a cat will not scratch unless irritated or attacked. But the mule requires no particular setting for the exercise of his high prerogative. He is liable to kick at any time, and no one can plead ignorance of this tendency.”

Ingenious Suggestion.

“Bobby,” said the small boy’s mother, “if you continue to be so disobedient I shall have to punish you. What shall I do with you?” After some thought Bob replied: “You might take me to the zoo next Sunday and let the animals scare me."

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

SEARCHING REFUGEES FROM JUAREZ

A scene bn the United States side of the International bridge at El Paso ■bowing United States soldiers searching Mexican refugees who tied Mexico for protection under the Stars and Stripes. One of the soldiers is seen with a revolver he has taken from one of the refugees.

BELGIUM NOW HAS SPLENDID ARMY

Remarkable Piece of Work in Reorganization Accomplished Since October, 1914. TRIBUTE TO ZEAL OF KING Belgian Army More Numerous and Better Equipped Than It Was at Outbreak of the War—Difficulties Surmounted.

Paris. —It is hard indeed to recognize in the well-equipped and trained Belgian army of today the disheveled, war-weary troops who, at the end of a painful retreat and lacking almost every military necessity but courage, turned desperately to bay and helped to make history at the battle of the Yser. The reorganization accomplished since October, 1914, is a remarkable testimony to the energy Inspired by the example of King Albert and the zeal with which, often in very difficult circumstances, his officers have fulfilled their task. L The result of their efforts is that M. de BroquevfTle was able to declare recently that the Belgian army is more numerous and better equipped today than It was at the outbreak of war.

Start at the Beginning. When, in October, 1914, Antwerp was evacuated, the Belgian recruits who had joined and, being still without arms or equipment, had been employed in digging trenches round the city, were sent back to the neighborhood of Furnes. Driven thence by the approach of the Germans, they retired, under the command of Lieutenant General de Selliers de Moranville, to Dunkirk. Hence, in the face of innumerable difficulties, of which not the least was the lack of shipping, they were conveyed to Normandy where the whole work of preparing them for the front had to be

CHINESE “HELLO GIRL”

Mrs. Ning Fook, sweet-voiced Chinese “Hello Girl” who attends the* switchboard in the offices of a rtaam•hlp company in Ban Francisco.

undertaken from the beginning. The men had to be lodged, clothed, armed and equipped far from their own invaded country. The French government rose to the occasion. An extensive camp and a number of large buildings in various parts of Normandy—barracks, convents and unemployed factories —were put at the disposal of the Belgians. Clothing was hard to find, and here again, for part of it, recourse was had to the French, although they themselves had barely enough for their own needs. A clothing depot was formed at Rouen, which obtained cloth from Elbeuf. Factories which had been closed for want of labor were reopened for the manufacture of equipment.

• Hospital Centers Created. Similarly at Rouen, and this time with the assistance of the British Red Cross, a hospital center was created, including a large portable hospital, situated above the town in a particularly healthy position, a section for mechanical treatment and a section for the manufacture of artificial limbs. Another hospital center, equally well equipped, was founded in the district of Rennes. Attached to these hospitalorganizations are convalescent homes. From the purely military point of view, the arrangements made by the general inspection of the Belgian army are wonderfully complete. There are centers for infantry training, an artillery school and depot, a machine-gun school, a bombing school and a school at which men coming from the convalescent homes are taught by “old soldiers” the latest “tricks of the trade” before returning to the trenches. Recruiting offices have been started in all French towns where assemblages of Belgian refugees are to be found, as also military establishments at all places through which the troops pass. Most important of all, a school, known as the “Centre d’ Instruction des Sous-lieutenants auxiliaires instructeurs,” has been opened, at which a great number of picked noncommissioned officers and spldiers are taught the command of platoons, thus insuring a steady supply of well-trained officers.

WILLS HIS ESTATE TO CITY

Pioneer Resident Leaves $12,000 to Sacramento to Reduce the Tax Rate. Sacramento, Cal. —According to the terms of the will of the late Philip Miller, who died recently, the city of Sacramento will secure more than $12,000 to decrease the taxes. The estate is valued at $22,000. The will says: “The residue of the estate shall be paid into the general fund of the city of Sacramento, and shall not be made use of for any specific purpose, but shall be simply so used that it will to some extent decrease the taxes which the people would otherwise be compelled to pay.” There are several other beneficiaries under the will. Miller, who was unmarried, was a pioneer resident of the city.

Man Posed as a Woman.

Wheeling, W. Va.—When “Sarah” Hamilton, eight-six years old, colored, died in the Ohio county home recently it was found that “she” was a man. “She" had been in the home several years and no suspicion was ever entertained as to her sex. Before entering the county home the pseudo woman had worked as a domestic, for a prominent family for GO years.

His Sleep Was Fatal.

Camden, N. J. —Harry Walls, thirtyfive, a farmer as Beverly, was Killed by a fall from his truck while driving produce to the Philadelphia markeL It is supposed he fell asleep and was jolted off. The horses, having made the trip many times, came without a driver through this city and stopped in line at the ferry to Philadelphia.

Will Open Coffin Daily.

Ix)S Angeles.—Every day for two months the caretaker of Forest Lawn cemetery will open the coffin containing the body of William ,C. Kipp, retired Los Angeles capitalist. This ceremony will take place in accordance with the Will of Mr. Kipp, who was haunted by the fear of premature ; burial. <

SURRENDERS TO HUNGER; NOT FOE

Prussian Guard Maintains Iti Reputation for Bravery. OVILLERS A RUBBISH HEAP British Capture of Town Result of Bitterest Fight in Battle of Somme —Dogged and Desperate Defense.

By PHILIP GIBBS.

With the British Army in the Field. —ln all the recent fighting the struggle for Ovillers stands out separately as a siege in which both attack and defense were of the most dogged and desperate kind. The surrender of the remnants of its garrison ends an episode which will not be forgotten in history. These -men were of the Third Prussian Guards, and the tribute paid to their bravery by our commander in chief is re-echoed by the officers and men who fought against them. It is a tribute to our own troops also, who, by no less courage, broke down the stubborn resistance and captured the garrison.

Town Now Rubbish Heap. Many different battalions had • share in the fighting. All had suffered and then gave way to new met) who knew not the nature of this bush ness, but set grimly to work to carry on the slow process of digging out the enemy from' his last strongholds. It was almost literally the work of digging out The town of Ovillers does not exist. It was annihilated by bombardments and made a rubbish heap of bricks and dust But after that, when our men were separated from the enemy by only a yard or two or by only a barricade or two, the artillery on both sides ceased the fire upon Ovillers,. lest the gunners should kill their own men. They barraged Intensely round about. Our shells fell incessantly to the nortit and east, so that the beleaguered garrison should not get supplies or re-enforcement; we made a wall of death about them. But though now no shells burst over the ground where many dead lay strewn, there was artillery of a lighter kind, not Jess deadly. It was the artillery of machine guns and bombs. The Prussian guards made full use of the valued cellars and ruined houses. They made a series of small keeps, which were defended almost entirely by machine gun fire. Between the attacks of our bombing parties they went below ground into dark vaults, where it was safe

enough from trench mortar and hand grenades, leaving a sentry or two on the lookout for any Infantry assault As soon as we advanced the machine guns set to work and played theh hose of bullets across the ground which our men had to cover. Guard Finally Gives Up. One by one, by getting around about them, by working zigzag ways through cellars and ruins, by sudden rushes oi bombing parties led by young officen of daring spirit, we knocked out these machine gun emplacements and the gunners who served them, untllyesterday there was only a last remnant of the garrison left in Ovillers. These men of the Third Prussian Guard long had been in a hopeless position. They were starving because all supplies were cut off by our neverending barrage; they had no water supply, so suffered all the tortures of great thirst. They were living In a charnal house strewn with the dead bodies of their comrades and with wounded men delirious from lack of drink. Human nature could make no longer resistance, and at last the officers raised the signal of surrender and came over with nearly 140 men, wh« held their hands up. The fighting had been savage. At close grips, In broken earthworks and deep cellars, there had been no sentiment and British soldiers and Germans had flung themselves upqn each other with bombs and any kind of weapons, but now, when all was ended. the last of the German garrison was received with the honors of wai and none of our soldiers deny them the respect due to great courage.

Hen Hatches Woodpecker.

Federalsburg, Ind.—lt is unusual sot a hen to hatch out a woodpecker, but an Instance Is reported by Ira Cordrey, a farmer living near here. The hen had been missing for some time. When fojmd she was mothering eleven baby chicks and one tiny woodpecker, which appeared perfectly happy to let ths hen scratch worms for IL and the -hen is paying just as much attention tc the little woodpecker as It is to het brood of chicks. The woodpecker’s appearance Is explained on the supposition that a woodpecker laid the egg in the hen’s nest while the hen was ofl looking for food.

Compromise Ends 20-Year Litigation.

Asheville. N. C.—After litigation covering a period of 20 years and involving court proceedings in several states, the Gilbert Hopkins case, to determine title to timber lands la North Carolina and Tennessee valued at $1,500,000, has just been settled by a compromise decree entered in fe<| eral court at Asheville, N. Q.

Home Town Helps

PLAN YOUR HOUSE WISELY

Your Own Interests and the Interests of the City Alike Demand Care in Building. One factor often overlooked in fixing the value of a house is the mistakes in Judgment that often occur la planning and locating it “You have often heard the remark, “There stands a $5,000 house on a $3,000 street.” Meaning that while the house pointed out cost $5,000 to build, the other houses on the street average only $3,000. Such mistakes in Judgment in building would be less frequent if two ideas were kept in mind by more people when building. Real estate men have found that, as a general rule, a ratio of about three to one should exist between the value of a single family dwelling and the value of the land it occupies. Also, houses should be. made to harmonize with, other buildings in the block. Keep these two facts in mind when buying. , Then —fine houses are sometimes built near undesirable surroundings, such as noisy factories, livery stables and the like—which are sure to lessen the value of the house. Under mistakes in planning comes the “freak” house, built to suit some man’s personal whim. Such a house may be very costly and yet not at all salable. The cost of unusual or unduly ornate fixtures and decorations is generally disregarded in fixing the value of a building. These things must all be considered in fixing the value of a house—in connection with the cost to replace, depreciation and obsolescence, if any.

WORK ON BUSINESS BASIS

City Parks Association of Philadelphia, Might Well Be Copied in Other Communities. The City Parks association has for a good many years now performed a most useful function for Philadelphia. It has managed to combine and concentrate the efforts of a large number of civic organizations upon a certain definite line of endeavor. This was originally, as its name Indicates, the creation of a comprehensive park system —the- enlargement of existing breathing spaces, the creation of new ones and the linking of all into a well-ordered system. While this great work is still in the making, the association has expanded its functions and it has done yeoman service in keeping alive high Ideals of city planning, teaching the people of Philadelphia the Importance of the larger vision in dealing with problems of urban beautification and pointing out far ahead of their actual realization the great works which must be carried through if Philadelphia is to continue to be a city of homes, alive to the progress of the times, a beautiful as well as a comfortable place to live and work in.

Milwaukee's Trees.

One of the charms of Milwaukee, a charm not so distinctive as it should be, is the shade trees along the streets. Greater care should be taken of these trees. They should be protected against vandals and against destructive inserts. They should receive other care that many of them do not get Instead of being permitted to grow in a helter-skelter way, for Instance, they should be pruned. The elm tree, naturally a thing of rare beauty, is not pleasing to the eye when ragged branches reach almost to the ground. The trees that adorn our streets are r boon to the community. They give the city a touch of nature that nothing else can give. The comrfitralty which benefits so greatly from their presence should take care of them. Nobody can do this except experts, men who know the different kinds of trees and their habits. Milwaukee has been suffering for years, and is suffering more than ever today, from lack of scientific management of shade trees. Milwaukee needs a city forester.— Milwaukee JournaL

Unwise City Administrations.

Any city administration whose acts are prompted by petty jealousies and whose officials, either elected or appointed, refrain from performing the duties they owe the people because of those jealousies, ought to be Impeached. Honest, efficient service cannot be rendered the people when their public servants have such a narrow vision that they fail to appreciate the value of public opinion, and therefore commit those acts which prove that such narrowness of vision really exists. The public servants who accomplish public good are men of broad vision, whose first alm is real public sendee, and not self-advertising and personal glorification. Jealousy can allow murderers to escape; permit Incompetents to remain In office; create Inefficiency In official labors, and bring about a chaotic condition so apparent} to the people that they cannot fail tor see It Some cities are today suffering from just such causes.—South Tribune. ' iC ‘ ' '