Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 278, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1916 — Page 2

Unde Truefitt

By GEORGE MUNSON

v wwc. . . in» m i»u »»»»,it* (Copyright. 1916. by W. G. Chapman.) The scandal rang all through the Tillage. Although there was no reason why it should bo a scandal, except that nobody had ever expected such a thing of Cousin Letty. Cousin Letty was married —married at thirty-eight to heaven knew whom ! v To explain the sensation which this event created in town it is necessary to go back a little. Cousin Letty was a Bradley. The Bradleys, the Forsters, the Truefltts and the Slows had ruled the town for generations. Unde Eph Truefitt was the heaJLO± the clans. He was sixty-nine and had been a widower for fifteen years. He -had not got along well with his wife. She had died after three years of married life, and it was said that it had been a marriage of propinquity. In other words, they had met, known each other, and some unaccountable whim impelled Uncle Truefitt to ask her to marry him. As she was not of the clan, no more need be said about her. After his renewed bachelorhood. Uncle Truefitt developed a streak of eccentricity. He was strongly against matrimony, except in the case of certain people. That is to say, he tolerated the married Bradleys, Forsters, Truefltts and Slows, but it was understood that Uncle Truefitt’s widowerhood had altered the aspect of the universe. There was to be no more mar-

Everybody Came to Reason With Letty.

rying on pain of being cut out of Uncle Truefitt’s will. As Uncle Truefitt was worth a cool hundred thousand, it will be seen that the younger generation was literally up against it. Cousin Letty Bradley was a poor member of the family. She was a stenographer for Stone, the hardware merchant. The other Bradleys looked down on her, and the Slows, Forsters and Truefitts despised her utterly. All the same, it was supposed that she would come in for a share of Uncle Truefitt’s money. The old man seemed a little taken with her, perhaps be—cause she never ran to him with tittle tattle about the family. This is how the scandal arose. Dating Uncle Truefitt’s absence in town upon business Letty asked for three days’ holiday, a thing, as Matty Truefitt caustically remarked, she would never have dared to do if there had been anyone to inquire into the family’s actions. To go away for three days without obtaining Uncle Truefitt’s permission was something-un-heard of. Even James Slow, who would some day become head of the clan, never took any momentous step without consulting Uncle Truefitt. Letty came back smiling, and Cousin Anne Bradley, who boarded her, wondered. Some extraordinary transformation had taken place in Letty. When she was doing up Cousin Anne’s room, a thing which Cousin Anne graciously permitted, she was heard to be singing. Cousin Anne watched her narrowly throughout the day and L detected her making curious gestures with her fingers when she thought she was not observed. Cousin Anne had followed her surreptitiously into her bedroom and suddenly pulled her hand from behind her back. Letty was wearing a wedding ring. At first, as Cousin Anne said, she was-minded to put the girl out of .the house. But after all, if she was married her offense was pot great enough to justify her in losing her paying boarder. She taxed Letty, w’ho began to cry. “Who is the man?” she demanded. Letty wouldn’t tell. She positively refused to tell, saying that her husband had made her promise that the announcement should come from him. And Cousin Anne, persisting, found to her amazement that some wicked spirit had got into Letty. Letty actually ordered her out of the room. Cousin Anne resolved to be much less kind to Letty in future. She told the whole family the next morning, going from one house t<< another. Everybody came to reason with

Letty. Matty Truefitt tried, and Jane Slow, and Kate Forster. By reasoning they meant asking questions, but they got nothing out of Letty. “We’ll have to wait till Uncle Truefltt comes back,” said MattyJ “It’ll mean eight thousand more to split among us if Uncle Truefitt cuts her out of the will,” observed James Slow, rubbing his hands together. “James,” said his wife, “don’t be vulgar. It's the deceiving of Uncle Truefitt that Is so ungrateful,” They waited, while Letty, supremely unconscious of the blow that was about to fall, went about with, singing lips and a heart that was lifted up above the common things of life, or, rather, transfigured them. Uncle Truefitt came back nearly a week later. He was met at the station by all his relatives. He was struck at once by the singular expression of their faces. “What Is it?” he demanded gruffly. . Jane Slow, who had been deputed to break the news, answered. “I’ll tell you when you get home, Uncle Truefitt. Prepare yourself for a great shock." “What Is It? Somebody lost money?* he asked. “No. Uncle Truefitt. It Is ingratitude on the part of one you loved and trusted.” “Hum! I guess I don’t want no preparing for that!” sneered Uncle Truefitt, pursing his lips as he stepped into his carriage. When they were all assembled In the parlor Jane Slow spoke up. “Cousin Letty has taken advantaga of your absence to deceive you,” she said. “She has got married!” “Eh?” shouted Uncle. Truefitt. “Married? Without my leave?” “To a scamp, Uncle Truefitt. She is ashamed to let his name be known. That proves what sort of man he is.” “How do you know he’s a scamp?” demanded Uncle Truefitt. _ “Because she’s ashamed of. him. Uncle Truefitt, we think you ought to cast her out of your life, after her repayment of all your kindness to her.” “All think that?” asked Uncle Truefitt. James Slow bowed his head. “I think,” he said, “that the young woman who has set her face against your wishes has forfeited all right to your consideration.” "Or that of hny of us,” added Kate Forster. - - “’Phone for her,” said Uncle Truefitt. “Eh?” remarked James Slow. “I said ’’phone for her.’ We’ll thrash this thing right out now,” said Uncle Truefitt. Letty was telephoned for and duly appeared, while her accusers, in sullen pride, withdrew to the other side of the room and ostentatiously disregarded her. “Come here, James,” said Uncle Truefitt. “What have you got against Letty?” shocking disregard for your expressed wishes, uncle." “Come here, Letty," said Uncle Truefitt. “Is it true you’re married?” “It is,” said Letty brazenly. “Tell ’em who it is, Letty,” said Uncle Truefitt. "You, Alfred,” said Letty, smiling. Uncle Truefitt pointed toward the door. “Get out, all of you,” he said bluntly— And they went. And that was the second scandal in town.

FINLAND’S TRADE IN WOOD

Pine Trees Constitute a Means of Livelihood to the People of That Country. The pine trees of Finland are the gold mines of the country, and really Tts trade. Pines and silver birches flourish on all sides. Everything or anything can apparently be made of birch bark in Finland; shoes, baskets, large and small, salt bottles, flower vases, even an entire suit of clothing is hanging up in Helsingfors museum, manufactured of the silver birch. The lakes of Finland, of which there Ure five or six thousand, cover about one-sixth of the country, but these lakes, rivers and waterways all take their share in the wood trade. In the autumn the trees are felled and left for the first fall of snow, when they are dragged two or three, one behind the other. By this means the trees are conveyed to the nearest waterway, where they are stamped with the owner’s mark and rolled upon the ice of lake or river to await the natural transport of spring. On they voyage, these soldiers of the forest, for hundreds of miles to the coast, till finally, arriving at such an enormous wood export station as Kotka, they meet their doom. On the completion of the floating season, the stock of logs at Kotka often amounts to a million. On arrival at their destination they are separated and distributed according to the marks of their respective owners. Large floating houses await their arrival. The steam sawmills are waiting for them, the trees as they go in have half-a-dozen saws run into them at once, and out come boards and planks of various thicknesses and width, the best of which are sent to England.

Modest Attitude.

“I assume," said the slightly cynical person, “that you tiling it's up to you to save the country.” “No, sir/’ replied Senator Sorghum; “I take it jjor granted that this strong and resourceful nation will always save itself. All I ask is to continue flourishing around among my constituents and taking the-credit.”

THE FVEVTKG REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER, IND.

COACH TOST HAS LARGE STAFF OF AIDS

JOHNNY MAULBETSCH, MICHIGAN’S BRILLIANT HALF.

The biggest staff of coaches that ever ftfiTned a Michigan eleven are helping Fielding H. Yost develop a team with a none too promising squad this year. Prentiss P. Douglas and Miller Pontius are acting as assistant coaches to the varsity. Of the 20 men whom Yost named as desirable as a nucleus for the eleven this fall but ten are eligible. The squad possesses a powerful line from tackle to tackle, with Weiman one of the best freshman ends ever, seen here. Though strong on paper, the Wolverine back field Is not strong physically, as Johnny Maulbetsch, the brilliant half, is below form and Cedric <X Smith, fullback, is susceptible to injury.

REAL GOLFING HEIGHTS

It took Chick Evans long years to satisfy a craving ambition in golf, but he has now reached a height to which he never even aspired. It may be for years and it may be never before another player will stand forth as the proud holder of both the open championship and the amateur championship in the same season. He has now written his name in golfing history in an indelible way and has earned a place with Harold Hilton, Francis Ouimet, Jerome D. Travers and Walter J. Travis. The was popular. Chick Evans has a charming personality and congratulations so widely offered were well deserved. —New York World.

POP WARNER AS STRATEGIST

Had Printed Number of Stories Roasting Work of Cornell Players— Wrote Yarns Himself. Joe Birmingham, former manager of the Cleveland ball club, was a football player at Cornell when Pop Warner was coach there, and tells something of the strategy of the man who made

Coach Glen Warner.

the Carlisle Indians famous and gave Pittsburgh university an undefeated eleven this year. An Ithaca newspaper printed a number of articles roasting the Cornell team. The players became so sore they went out and hustled for all they were worth. Then it was learned Warner had written the stories. He got the results he wanted, too.

FAMOUS SKIN-GLOVE BATTLE

Jack McAuliffe and.Jem Carney Fought 74 Rounds to Draw—Now Being Shown on Movie Films. Jack McAuliffe has made several flying trips to England during the last few years. He has never landed on the British isle without “digging” up his old antagonist, Jem Carney, who gave him the hardest battle of his ring career, at Revere J3each, just outside of Boston, Mass., on November 16, 1887. This famous fight lasted 74 rounds and ended in a draw. The last time McAuliffe was in England he had Carney and himself rehearse the old mill in front of a “movie” camera, of which he is now showing the reel with his monologue in various theaters throughout the country, with considerable success. The imaginary battle is quite interesting, but ft is a pity that we cannot view the real skin-glove combat of 29 years ago.

SPORTING WORLD

Ichiya Kumagae, the Japanese lawn tennis player, intends returning next year. • • * Jim Thorpe, the Indian, is to be given another chance by the New York Giants. - It is a mistake to speak of the golfing season. Golf has all seasons for its own. It’s a bum football team that can’t get its name in the sporting page these days by walloping the freshmen. H * * * George Sisler is every bit as good a ball player as Benjamin Kauff, but he’s wise enough to keep mum about it. * • ♦ Shortstop Rawlings of the Toledo club of the American association, has been drafted by the Boston Nationals. * — w ■. The rules of football this year, we presume, will not permit the use of those new British “tanks” for gaining a few yards. * * ♦ Benny Kauff isn't having near as much fun comparing his batting average with Ty Cobb’s as he thought he was going to. * * * Looks as if Howard Ehmke, the Syracuse twirler, will stick with the Detroit Tigers. He has all the earmarks of a big-time heaver. * * * There soon will be a lot of college athletes explaining by mail to the home folks just why they didn’t make the varsity football team. « ♦ • . __ It looks as if Earl Blackburn, the catcher who was w’ith the Reds three years ago, had returned to the big league to stay awhile. *• ♦ ' The Interstate Three-Cushion Billiard league will,-it is understood, consist of 15 billiard rooms in 13 prominent cities this winter. The Cincinnati Reds have announced the purchase of infielder Kopf and outfielder Twombley from the Baltimore International league club. Pitcher Dick Niehaus of Covington has been recalled by the Cardinals from St. Paul, where he has been going at a great clip this year. V * * • Big Ed Walsh of the Chicago White Sox has signed Marty Larners of Little Chute, Wis., a man who has won all. of his 19 games this season. * * * The turnstiles at Shibe park have now ceased to turn, but Connie Mack won’t have to spend much on ’em for repairs incident to wear’and tear. -v.-V * * *- The Pittsburgh club of the defunct Federal league owes $173,044. Which shows that the high cost of living has nothing on the high cost of pastiming. • ♦ * Richard F. (“Dick”) Kinsella, scout for the New York Americans, announced recently that he has retired from baseball and wilt devote his time to business interests in Springfield, 111. * * 1 * Before Fred Fulton mingles with Jess Willard, he had better acquire a little more coin. It is the duty of every man to leave his family well provided for. Jo • • The Bloomington club Management announced with the close of the season In the I. L I. league that not only will it be in the league again next year, but also that Howard Darringer will be retained as manager.

ATHLETICS IN FAVOR

Not Harmful to Young Men Is Opinion of Many Experts. Authorities Practically Unanimous In Asserting Question la to Be Answered in Negative If Properly Safeguarded. “Are track athletics harmful to young men?” Is a query that has been answered by such notables as Dr. John W. Bowler, professor and director of the gymnasium at Dartmouth college; Dr. .George L. Meylan, professor of physical education at Columbia university; Dr. D. A. Sargent, president of the Sargent School for Physical Education ; Dr. Albert H. Sharpe, athletic coach at Cornell; Dr. C. Ward Crampton, director of Physical training in the New York city schools; Dr. William G. Anderson, director of Yale university, and others. These authorities are practically Unanimous in asserting that the question is to be answered in the negative, if athletics are carried on with proper safeguards. Doctor Anderson of Yale has prepared a table of statistics on the Ilves of Yale athletes covering a period of 50 years which shows that the Yale athlete does not die young, nor is heart disease the leading cause of the greatest number of deaths, and that the percentage is not higher than that expected among non-athletes from similar causes, and that a comparison based on the statistics of Insurance companies is favorable to the athlete. Doctor Anderson says, however, that although the average athlete is not short lived, there is no adequate prooi that he owes his longevity to athletics. r Sharpe’s Opinion. Doctor Sharpe, better known as Al Sharpe, the famous football coach, who brought about an.-improvement-

Dr. Al Sharpe.

in the Cornell eleven last season, Is emphatically outspoken in favor of track athletics. He not only says they are not harmful, but he asserts that they are decidedly beneficial. He gives several Instances of th% favorable results in serious sickness of a strong heart action developed by members of the Cornell track team, under the care of John Moakley, a veteran trainer and skilled handler of athletes. The only rational claim that can be advanced against collegiate athletics, according to Doctor Sharpe, is that the environment of a college athlete, after his graduation, does not generally afford him an opportunity to carry on his usual physical activities and no other form is substituted. Dr. C. Ward Crampton says that athletics conducted in a manner that satisfies the competitive spirit of the participants and their competent supervision are distinctly beneficial in serving the ends of physical education. Little Danger. Doctor Lambert of the University of Virginia says there is as little danger in modern athletics, conducted under proper supervision, as there is in going to church or digging potatoes. On the contrary, he thinks that feebleminded boys often build up their constitutions through athletics. Individual excess is the main objection to be considered against track athletics, according to Doctor Sargent of the Sergent school. This excess occurs in two ways—from overexertion on the part of an athlete judged fit to take part in competitive tests of skill, strength and endurance, and from participation in such events by youths not able to stand the strain incidental to competition and rivalry. When an intelligent administrative supervision is put in force the danger from competitive athletics is reduced to a minimum.

HOME TOWN HELPS

BEAUTIFY YOUR HOME PLACE It Doesn’t Cost Much But Adds a Great Deal to Value of Property— Some Shade-Tree Advice. Beautifying the home place is one of the pleasures ami duties of every home lover. Homes that do not reflect In some way the better natures of their owners are not what they should be. Home Is the place where we spend the most Important part of our Ilves. Homes that are not comforting to the tired home-maker have lost all their charm' and usefulness. Homes should be made beautiful to the eyes as well as comforting to the body and nerves. If you will look about you the homes that are the best In appearance are homes that harbor gentle people. Homes that are allowed to run to ruin are owned by people who are careless and often shiftless In their personal habits. It Is not hard to beautify your home. It does not require a lot of money or valuable labor. “I remember seeing a little dooryard in St. Louis once in which a few seeds had been planted,” says a writer In Farmers’ Guide. “Possibly the place was not more than ten feet square, but there was such an abundance of flowers and grass on that little dooryard that it gladdened thousands of passers-by every day. That little place was tended by a crippled girl. And it reflected more than anything else the spirit of generosity and gentleness which was her predominating characteristic. Money alone will never make a home beautlfuL” —— Many farmers plant fruit trees about the house, but shade treks w’ould be better for the front yard. A shade tree to be satisfactory must be tall, thick and cover a large space. Unless it Is pruned high the grass will not grow well under It. The most satisfactory fruit tree is almost opposite this in general characteristics. It must be headed low in order to have the fruit within reach at harvest time. If it grows tall and thick there will be very little fruit and it will be of poor quality. An open top or crown is necessary for the production of good fruit, and with this condition the shade Is not good.

HOW TO PLACE BAY WINDOW

This Dwelling Ornament .Must Be Put Properly or It Will Mar Looks of Your Residence. Bay windows may add greatly to the attractiveness of a house, or they may greatly mar it. They should be judiciously used and'carefully proportioned. An attractively detailed bay becomes an important feature in the exterior design; therefore the interior aspect should not be the sole consideration. Too '"Often are otherwise welldesigned houses marred by bays so placed as to have a detached appearance. A bay, to be right, must seem to have, grown to the side of the house. Single-story bays are more easily handled than are those of two stories, and may be either square or threesided. If extending to the sill line only, they require no foundation, which is qul te an item in the expense. and for "small houses they are extremely attractive. The two-story bay requires skillful handling; otherwise it becomes an appendage most inharmonious. It should correspond to the exterior finish of the houses. A successful treatment for bays of this description is to extend the main roof out over the bay. A clever architect can often accomplish a pleasing interior treatment by grouping windows at the corner of a room, thus giving to the room the effect of a bay, yet interfering in no way with the exterior design.

Are You a Croaker?

A croaker sat on the grumbler’s bench and croaked that the town was dead and ne’er did once he lift his hand to push his town ahead. He cursed and swore with all his might—• such a town he ne’er did see—the times were dull, the stores were bum, as bum as bum could be. And so he sat from early morn, each bright and happy day, and croaked and croaked with all his might till the summer passed away. And then one night while the wind blew cold, when the winter time had come, he croaked his last and closed his eyes upon his earthly home. But when he reached the other shore —the city bright and fair, it was no good, ’twas dull and dead, he ne’er would enter there! And since there was no other place, to the croaker’s fate he went, unmourned by man. unwept, unsung—none cared a bloomin’ cent. —Anon.

Fire Hydrants Protected.

An ordinance passed by the authorities of San Bernardino, Cal., specifies that nb vehicle shall be allowed to stand within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. That innocent persons may not disregard the restriction unwittingly, the fire chief has had both the hydrant and the adjoining curb painted red. On this red strip indicating the forbidden area appear the words, "Keejj Away” in large white letters.