Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1917 — HAPPENINGS in the CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HAPPENINGS in the CITIES

Some Queer Doings of New York City Magistrates NEW YORK.—A general investigation of the status and practices of New York city magistrates is likely to result from one case of alleged oppressed brought officially to the notice of the bar association the other day. The magistrate abruptly stopped the hear-

jng"of~a' case ahd ordered the complaining witness brought before him on the following day on a contempt charge because he was chewing-gum in court. * When, on the following day, the witness appeared to answer to the contempt charge, his lawyer, asserting his right to make an explanation for his client, was ordered removed from the courtroom by a bailiff. A second lawyer, who volunteered to speak for

ths man charged with contempt, suffered a similar fate. The magistrate then fined, the confused and astonished witness $5 for contempt and dismissed the case in which he was the complainant, after trying it himself without counsel, and deciding that there was not evidence sufficient to. justify him in sending it to a higher court. On the same day a policeman appeared before the magistrate to answer to a charge of disorderly conduct. He had been arrested by another policeman, at the magistrate’s order, because he refused to stop the traffic on Fifth avenue and let the magistrate pass on his .way to court. The policeman humbly apologized. He said that he didn’t know he was speaking to the magistrate when he refused to stop the traffic. Also he rather naively explained that he felt he was justified in refusing because he wasn’t on duty at that street crossing and a regular traffic policeman was. He said that he naturally hesitated to Interfere with the regular traffic man when called upon to do so by an Individual who appeared to be a mere private citizen. Upon receiving his explanation and apology, the magistrate permitted him to go under a suspended sentence. New York city magistrates receive salaries of $7,000 a year each, and are elected for terms of from seven to ten years. Essentially, their jurisdictlon Is so slight that the operation of their courts is of but petty importance. Any really important issue never comes before them. Even in the smaller cases, the magistrate merely has the authority to conduct a prellipinary hearing. Except in a contempt case, he cannot make a decision which is not subject to appeal. Yet these petty officers take themselves with great seriousness. There was a good deal of astonishment and amusement when the magistrates held a meeting some years ago, and decided to wear robes on the bench. But they have worn them ever since.

Does Dr. Flint’s Ghost Play Billiards in His Club? NEW YORK. — Does the ghost of Dr. Austin Flint, who was an alienist of national reputation, play billiards at night in the sober clubrooms of the Century association in West Forty-third street? Carefully avoiding any

speculation as to how Overcrowded it would make billiard rooms if all ghosts of lovers of the sport should return ta-them, the facts are these: The Century association’s negro servitors (termed servants in less learned places) are so positive that Doctor Flint’s disembodied spirit visits the billiard Toom there that they are afraid to set it to rights in the late evening or early moaning hour unless a clerk goes with them. Two of these negro servitors went

Into the billiard room early one morning. It was lonely there. Even the electric lamps appeared to burn with an eerie light. One of the servitors heard a slight click in the private cue rack. Glancing at it, he was surprised to see that the niche in which Doctor Flint had kept his favorite cue was opened, the lock swung ajar. Then the other thought he saw a movement of the._fihnir that had been~"ffie _ ramdus“aTreiusFsTtrvdfiter Then the first servitor felt a tug at his arm, or what he is sure now was a tug. Right after that both men started to spread the cloth over the billiard table on which Doctor Flint was wont to display his prowess with cue and Ivory, when woof! Up went the cloth in the air. for all the world as if the hand of a rather quick-tempered man had snatched it. That ends the case for the affirmative so far as the question that is to be answered is concerned. Those servants are sure that Doctor Flint’s ghost visits the billiard room.

“Perfect Man” Has Been Discovered in Milwaukee <IHAVA UK EE.And' no w •enmes -the man2’ Much has been heard Ivl of the “perfect thirty-six” as regards the fair sex, but it -remained for Milwaukee to produce the first specimen of perfect trtnnhood an a stundnrtb

of perfection for othersof MS' sex, Alfred R. Liedtke, twenty years old, ISO Keefe avenue, is the possessor of the-physique perfect. His claims to physical perfection.are not made by himself, for he is rather backward about things of so personal a nature. But C. S. Minter, physical director for the Y. M. C. A., is authority for the declaration , that the masculine “perfect thirty-six” is personified by the Keefe avenue youth, These are the measurements of

the masculine “Venus:” Height, 5 feet 10 inches; weight, 170 pounds; chest, normal. 34; expanded, 38 inches; thigh, 22 Inches; calf. 15 inches; biceps, 13% inches; forearm, .12 inches; neck. 16 inches, and waist, 31 inches. Leap year has become only a memory, but, nevertheless, it is to be feared that young Liedtke, the “perfect,” may find an unusual increase in his morning mall, following this revelation. In order to becqme a “perfect man.” Liedtke offers a few suggestions to those who would follow him in ,the path of physical perfection. This is what he advises: ' Take plenty of outdoor exercise. Go to bed early, get eight hours’ sleep' and rise early. Indulge in gymnasium exercises, such as jumping the rope, punching the bag, shadow boxing and handball. .■ Swimming, in season, develops muscles that otherwise are never called into play.

Portland Young Men Over 45 Form Efficiency Club PORTLAND, ORE.—Are you “a young man over forty-five?” If you are, i you are eligible to join Portland’s newest club, the Forty-Five Efficiency club which is organized for keeps. There are 70 charter members. It 14

expected that there will be 300 on the rolls. Dr. William Osler, by the way, has been mode an honorary member. There is really no foolishness about the new club. Although it is the baby in the big family of Portland clubs, it shows wonderful vigor- and promises to outdo many of its bigger brothers when it gets its growth, for it la to be filled with young blood, and youth, a everybody knows, recognizes no obstacles that can’t be overcome. The underlying object of the club

is to create a sentiment that will give an equal Chance for the man of fofty«five with men kM Oftefl . been.,, declared-thia is -the ageofthe young man. Members of the club have felt this is an unjust and arbitrary .ruling, that age isreally not marked by figures on ; ja df»l t but that are vigorous 1n health, with purpose'strong and abilities unimpaired, are fully as capable and even jnore so than many younger in actual years. f