Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 150, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1917 — Page 3

Fluctuations of Fanny

By George Haskell

(Copyright. 1917, by W. G. Chapman.) “Say, sis, which of those two fellows do you mean to take?” Fanny Ranger looked at her big brother with a quizzical smile. “ ‘Take?’ ” she echoed with emphasis. “Don’t you think I’d better w’ait till one of them asks me to take him?” “Oh well, you know as long as you keep the poor guys playing seesaw, one up in the air one minute, and the other one the next, how is either one to know where he fe at?” “It’s some sport !’ T laughed the girl. “I haven’t had so much fun since I went to the Lenten sewing circle.” “Oh well, if it’s only a source of amusement to you, I suppose the two chaps will come out of it somehow, alive and kicking,” answered Gus. “Oh, but you know I do really like—” “Which one?” asked Gus impatiently. “Both.” The girl threw back her-head and laughed merrily while her elder brother frowned at her in stern disapproval. “Now, see here, Fan; a man is liable to know a lot more about other men than a girl ever can. This thing will have to come to a showdown. If you really care for either of these boys, you’d better settle it in your own mind before you lose the one you do want.” Fanny’s brows drew together in a perplexed frown Ip her endeavor to strike something like a mental balance Intelligible to her brother. “You see,” she said, “I like Robert Sale pretty well, but I don’t think he really cares as much for me as Bert.” “I suppose that’s because Bert flatters and humors you the most.” “Gus Ranger! You mean thing!” “No, Fan, listen! You’re an awfully spoilt girl! You couldn’t help it, I

“What Did I Tell You?” she Asked Triumphantly.

suppose, with three brothers and two doting parents. There’s nothing really bad or reprehensible about you—” “Thank you,” she broke in with exaggerated meekness. “But you’ve got the habit of thinking everyone must dance to your tune. Bert Farrar gives in and humors you, something as a cat plays with a mouse, !but it won’t go on forever. After you’re married-he’ll drop that. A man with any backbone won’t go on forever, jumping through a hoop, and effacing himself to suit a girl’s whims. If ;you’ve got that in your head there’s bound to be trouble. Bob Sale can see your foolishness, but he won’t cater to it. He thinks there’s enough good in you to balance It up, and he thinks you’d come to the big test with flying colors.” "Guilty —with extenuating circumstances. That’s some laying out,” she pouted. “But go on. Your sizing up of the candidates interests me. A man is liable to know more than a girl ever can.” The last with pointed sarcasm. - Gus ignored the irony and went on: "As to justness success Bert seems rather the keenest and most enterprising, .but Bob forges ahead steadily, and may win out in the end,” “I. think,” she rejoined, "Bert is bound to be a rich man. He’ll get ahead of Bob in the race.” “Don’t you be too sure of that.” “Well, you’ll see I” she said. — “I guess I know now which fellow is ahead,” he laughed, standing up and stretching himself as he started for the door. \ Fanny gave an enigmatical laugh as her brother toojt himself off. her face grew serious. She had to ad-, mit to herself that Gus had drawn up a pretty clear estimate of the situation, also she was confronted with the . problem as to Which one she should let go. When she was away from them both, It seemed always that it was Robert Sale whom she wanted most to

see. But when Bert Farrar came he charmed and fascinated her, his presence was a delight, and she wondered how she could ever think of anyone else. With Robert Sale she knew she talked more and better, in fact she surprised herself a bit, but sometimes he combatted her opinions, and they had, what she called “scraps.” She gave a sigh, shook her head a trifle hopelessly, and decided to let matters take their course. “It’s a little too important,” she said to herself,' “to flip up a penny—so I guess I’ll leave it in the hands of Providence.”■ — The two young men unoer discussion were both good, wholesome specimens of American manhood, but somehow as Gus Ranger had intimated, Sale had the deeper, finer nature of the two. But ffiost girls of nineteen scarcely ever go far enough in character analysis, especially in the man who attracts them, to estimate‘fairly the traits which are to wear well in the trying years of the matrimonial partnership. Robert Sale loved her devotedly, but he had not the trick of pleasing which Bert Farrar possessed, and a certain sincerity of character would not allow him to pretend to anything he was not. So as time went on it became rather apparent that Farrar was ahead in ‘therunning. “Gus!” exclaimed Fanny a few weeks after this, “what do you think?” She rushed into the room, sparkling and rosy from her walk. Gus lowered his newspaper and looked Inquiringly over the edge of It. “Bert has got a splendid petition, secretary in the municipal works office ! Isn’t that fine?” “Yes, pretty good salary,” responded her brother. “What did I tell you?” she asked triumphantly. “I never said he wouldn’t get on, did I?” was the gruff reply. That evening Farrar glowing with delight at his success came to see Fanny. He was more entertaining and attractive than ever, and the girl only waited for him to speak the words she longed to hear. He spoke of the things he mean’t to do.

“At last,” he said, “I dare to speak, I can ask —” At that moment she was called to the telephone, and her brother seeming to consider it his duty to gu in and entertain her guest, and to remain till he went, the sentence remained unfinished, but he begged for an appointment the next evening, and went away— The next day Sale telephoned, asking if he might call. Fanny set the time for him an hour before Bert’s engagement. She felt that now he must understand, he must come no more. The interview was constrained, and unpleasant. Fanny found it hard to explain. But he was beginning to understand, when Gus, with his usual untactful habit of “buttin in" entered. Noticing the faces of the two, he burst out, “Now what’s up?” “I think,” said Sale, trying to steady his voice, “your sister is trying to break it as gently as possible—my dismissal.” “No wonder, you impossible Don Quixote! Look here, sis; what do you think he’s done?" “Now! Now please!” protested Sale. “Shut up! She’s going to know the whole depth of your folly. Do you know, sis, this idiot was named first for that municipal office, and he asked them to put in Farrar instead? Can you beat it?” ~ “Now listen,” explained Sale, “Farrar lost his position over two weeks ago. He has a mother and sister to support. I haven’t anyone but myself, and I can always manage.” He turned quickly to go. But Fanny laid a detaining hand on his arm. “Robert!” she said. “Don’t go away I Don’t ever go away from me—if you care —” Gus really had the tact at that moment to discreetly fade, away.

Economy Is Political.

In Its broadest sense economy is political. That does not mean that it’s entirely a matter of politics. It means that It concerns the whole people. It has to do with production, distribution and consumption. It alms at the increase of wealth, the supplying of human wants aUB the regulating of the service of our fiellow men. To become proficient you must learn to observe the facts and act as experience dictates. You must expect to be puzzled frequently. Yes, you will even mqet with reverses. But in the end the sum of your benefits will overbalance your losses if you are a real economist. The one who by good judgment and industry makes the best use of what he has is the one that will forge ahead. Others win follow in the order of al-, legiance to these principles.—Grit.

Origin of the Oath.

The' method of swearing by the Bible came into use with the establishment of courts of law in Christian countries. It was the ordinary method of swearing when Canada was settled by Europeans. Oaths were common before the Christian era. Hebrews are often sworn on the Pentateuch, keeping on their hats and their 'oath ends with the words, “So help me, Jehovah.” A Mohammedan swears by the Koran.

Also, They Do It.

“Every once in a while,” confessed the able scribe of the Petunia Palladium and Faithful Guardian of the Home and Fireside, “some disgruntled subscriber comes up with the avowed intention of whipping the editor and—” He smiled the wry grin of a cornered Cougar. — "—most of them do 't 1” —Judge.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND*

PITCHERS HAVE SET NEW NO-HIT RECORD

PARTICIPANTS IN REMARKABLE PITCHING FEATS.

The four no-hlt games hurled by major league pitchers during the first month of the 1917 season have established a new record in this department of professional baseball and created an unusual amount of interest ampng close followers of the game. The records shows that on April 14 Cicotte of the Chicago Americans, shut out the St Louis Browns without a hit. On April 24 Mogridge of the New York Americans performed a similar feat against the Boston Red Sox. Toney of the Cincinnati Nationals added his name to the list at the expense of the Chicago Cubs on May 2. On Sunday, May 6, Bob Broom of the St. Louis Americans, held the Chicago White Sox hitless for a full nine innings. In addition Vaughn of the

PRAISE FOR TILLIE WALKER

Manager Jack Barry Expects Outfielder to Have Great Season— — Overcomes Handicap. — Jack Barry expects to see Tillie Walker have a great season, and he advances a very logical argument to support his belief. Last spring Walker worked under the handicap of being a stranger who was filling the place of a Boston idol. Tris Speaker, and he knew that his work would be compared, perhaps quite unfavorably, with

Tillie Walker.

that of the game’s greatest outfielder, a great slugger. Now Walker does not have to' think about Speaker. He is solid with the Boston fans and realizes it, so he should play a much better game.

CAST-OFFS ARE MAKING GOOD

Lefty Russell and Bruno Haas, Discarded by Athletics, Playing Well for Newark. - Two cast-off Athletic pitchers are making good as regular, players for the Newark International league club. They are Lefty Russell, who is covering first base, and 'Bruno Haas, who is playing in the outfield. Both men have won the fans with their mighty hitting. Haas and Russell weren’t with the Athletics very long, but they are distinctly remembered by Philadelphians. Russell came there in 1910 from Baltimore for money and players amountingl to SIO,OOO. He never made good because of illness contracted during the previous winter and went to the minors, where he has since played good ball. Bruno Haas joined the Athletics in 1915, and on June 23 of that season made a world’s record by issuing 16 bases on balls to New York batsmen. Both Russell and Haas saw they would never make pitchers, so adapted themselves to other positions, where they are having better fortune.

Chicago Nationals pitched hitless ball for nine innings against Cincinnati, and Toney on May 2, when the latter made his record, and it was not until the tenth period that Kopf broke the big Cub twirler’s string with a single. The major league annals for the past 17 years show that the greatest number of no-hit games pitched in any one season was in 1908 when there were four in the American and two in the National league. In 1900, 1905 and 1916 four such feats were recorded. With virtually four months of schedule play ahead it would appear as though the 1917 corps of twlrlers had an unusual opportunity to establish new figures In this direction since three more no-hit games will surpass the total made in 1908.

BASEBALL STORIES

Joe Cantillon’s Minneapolis team will not be hurt by conscription. * ♦ ♦ Alexander the Great has gone back —gone back to pitching shutout games. • * ♦ Many ballplayers who were twentyeight last season are telling their correct ages this year. Heinie Zimmerman is hoarding disputes with umps so they will last throughout the war. * * * “I’m not claiming a pennant this year.”—Connie Mack. Which we would call violet-like modesty. * * * Stanley Coveleskie, the star righthander of the Clevelanders, is doing some fine work in the pitching line. * * • Some manager’s idea of a good, all around fighter is one who is all around the ring when he faces his opponent. * ♦ • Honus Wagner says the man who said he quit baseball because of a salary cut is a liar. It’s concise, anyway. • • • At last reports Eddie Collins did not have his batting average as much above .200 as he used to keep it above .800. * * * The Red Sox certainly improved their time while on the western tour. The champions won 15 out of 20 games. * * * With the exception of the German and Austrian ambassadors, the Washington lineup isn’t changed much this season. • • k The Pirates have been perking up a bit of late. Jimmy Callahan has got his men together better than he had expected at this early date. • * • Baseball players do their best scrimmaging en route to the dining room and play their best kicking game when the umpire calls them out stealing second. • ♦ • They hint that Cruise is lazy, the “hook worm,” as the 1 players phrase it. But he totes enough dynamite in his bat to offset this Southern physical drawl. * • • Fred Toney was afraid he would have, to lay off for an operation, but the doctor pronounced his ailment as something very much milder than appendicitis. * * * Tim Hendryx of the Yankees Is a promising youngster. He is slamming the ball to every corner of the lot and is up among the c« lebrities in the slugging world. '• • ♦ - - - ~—•- p z l Ray the Indians’ shortstop, is again playing wonderfully this year. He has not performed as well for two seasons and he seems to be better than ever. The “bean bill” controversy will help to make the fight for the leadership tn the two big leagues a lot more interesting It the managers order the pitchers to use it and then draw fines.

LAVAN MAKES PLANS

Browns’ Shortstop Win Hang Out Shingle as Physician. Able to Care for Injured Person With Gentleness That Would Amaze His Baseball Friends—Wife Also Versatile.. Johnny Lavan, the Browns’ fast young shortstop, does not loaf in the winter season. Lavan realizes that there will come a day wjhen he can no longer skip nimbly about the infield as he does today and he plans to be prepared for such a time. When he feels that he is no longer useful in the big leagues he will not die a lingering basebail death in the bushes. He will hang out a shingle and be a popular M. D. Johnny is a graduate of the University of Michigan and there he got his medical degree. As soon as the baseball season comes to a close he puts aside his glove and gets busy with the pills. He is able to care for an injured patient with a gentleness that would amaze his baseball friends. He is said to be as expert in handling physical injuries as he is in handling hot grounders and the many who have

Johnny Lavan.

seen him at the latter will agree that he must, be a desirable doctor. All dressed up in his professional garb and in care of an injured patient Lavan doesn’t greatly resemble the speedy shortstep who cuts off runs instead of legs and arms, in the summer. Lavan’s wife is a graduate nurse and when the time comes they plan to give all their attention to the doctoring business instead of only part of it, as at present. Mrs. Lavan is as versatile as her husband and in addition to being a trained nurse she is a capable critic of her husband’s work through the summer.

WOULD SHATTER BALL TEAMS

Estimated That 110 Major League Player* Are Subject to Service Under Selective Draft. Something like 110 major league baseball players are subject to army service under the selective draft, this being the estimate of an official. The players liable to service are about equally divided between the two leagues. It is the custom of baseball players to keep their age down to about thirty, even when they are known to be considerably older, but even at that there are a good many youngsters playing on the big teams who are between twenty-one and thirty. There seems to be a bare chance that the ball teams will not be disrupted this season. Of the players who could be taken, probably 50 or 60 would be exempt for one reason or another. The remaining total would be insignificant compared with the size of the army to be raised and officials declare many congressmen are in favor of letting the big league finish their present campaign without breaking up .the teams. The congressmen, it is said, hold the nation needs its great pastime now more than in peace times, if only as a safety valve for the outlet of suppressed emotion. Whether such an opinion will carry any weight with army officials is quite another matter. Magnates are hoping for the best, but no attempt will be made to Influence any athlete who believes his country needs him more than does his baseball team.

808 EMSLIE IS A PENSIONER

Veteran Arbiter Given Position a* Chief of Umpire* and Assistant —to the President. The veteran Bob Emslle is a pensioner at last. His new position with the National league will be that of chief of umpires and general assistant to President Tener tn handling the umpires and the disputes that come up over their rulings. Emslie has been umpire for nearly 30 years and deserves all the good things the National league can do for him. -

HOME TOWN HELPS

BAD HABIT OF UNTIDINESS Cities Spend Much Money on Parks and Then Tolerate Junkheaps and Refuse-Piled Alleys. The other day we walked by a particularly attractive suburban residence. The house was good and the broad lawn showed both taste and care. Like a pretty little girl In a becoming Sunday school dress, with her hair curled, the premises made you think pleasantly that somebody’s affeetlon was centered upon it. It was so attractive that we turned Into the cross street in order to walk along that side of the grounds. A garage stood at the corner of the grounds abutting on an alley; and fairly tn the> mouth of the alley, unavoidably catching the eye of whoever passed down the cross street, lay a heap of junk and offal, evidently thrown out from the garage and the house. The alley itself looked as though It might lead to a pigsty. That is strictly typical. The alley, of course, did not belong to the householder, and he did not care a rap how it looked; so, with one ha nd* he offered the passer-by s a rose, while with the, other he hit him in the eye with an old tin can. We do litter up the landscape abominably. It is a national habit that ought to be broken. Cities and towns should not only have ordinances forbidding unnecessary litter, but enforce them. Anywhere you will find a city spending SIOO,OOO or $1,000,000 to make a beautiful park, and then tolerating all sorts of needless ugliness. - Any woman -will tell you there Is no use in wearing a fine dress along with a hat that has been fished out of a garbage can; for the 'dress simply emphasizes the hat. The more we spend on parks and front yards the less tolerable Junkheaps and refusepiled alleys become. What cities and towns are upon reasonable sightliness?—Saturday Evening Post.

STUCCO IS IN FOUR CLASSES

It May Be Used to Overcoat Old 1 Frame, Brick or Stone Structure* or to Cover New Buildings. Stucco is used in "four general classes of construction. First, the overcoating of old frame structures; second, application to new structures by the use of wooden or ste4l framework with wooden or metal lath; third, its application to old brick or stone structures; fourth, its application to concrete block buildings. The first and second classes of work require little description. In the third -class thd* mortar joints of the brick or stone work are raked out to a depth of about one inch, to form a key for the new stucco. The surface of the brick or stone is thoroughly cleaned and wet before applying the stucco, which, should be forced into the joints to* their full depth. The fourth class is the application of stucco to Portland cement concreteblock building. This is a very attractive and satisfactory method of construction. The concrete block, when Intended to be covered with stucco, may be made with plain faces "and no special attention is required to secure a smooth surface.

Public Fruit Trees.

Fruit trees in place of shade tree* in our parks, is the suggestion of a reader. “Would not apple, pear, cherry or other fruit trees make a finer display in the spring,” he asks, “than the shade trees commonly used, besides furnishing fruit later in the season?” “Formerly,” he adds, “there were plenty of apples on the market; now only a few are to be had. These are so high In price that only the rich taan can afford them; similar condition* exist in regard to other fruit.” The suggestion is worthy-of consideration, and has been carried out In Germany* we believe, although if we hark back to boyhood days, the memory of the zest with which we enjoyed pilfered fruit may suggest practical difficulties in the way of the plan for America.— Los Angeles Times.

Traffic Problems Adjusted.

An efficient traffic department can save the Individual shipper hundreds, possibly thousands, of dollars each year. The traffic department of the present day-chamber of commerce acts as eyes and ears for every shipper. The maze of regulations,- tariffs and service conditions on railroads is so intricate that one man cannot keep up with aJI the changes. It is costly for every business bouse to maintain a traffic division of its own. So all of them can go in co-operatively and get all the service their business demand* at an insignificant cost

Street Tree Roots Near Surface.

Nearly- all street tree roots are found within two feet of the surface. Seldom are conditions favorable for deeper delving. Soils should be prepared so that roots mny penetrate to any depth, but conditions must be inviting. Air must freely penetrate beyond the root gone, and there dynamite and wash sand down Into, the rent and cracked soil that it not again close up solid.