Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 157, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1917 — Page 2

Dempster Seeks His Fortune

By Hi Aken

(Copyright, Ul7, by W. O. Chapman.) Lee Dempster was reading one particular part of the morning paper very carefully. The column demanding his concentrated attention was headed, “Male Help Wanted.” Positions demanding experienced chocolate dippers, upholsterers, and drygoods salesmen did not seem to appeal to him. He lacked the “experience,” and bluffing at a trade would not work. He paused with something akin to a sigh, and looked up at the bare trees. There did not seem to be much comfort or inspiration in the prospect, for a dusty, wind-swept, city park in February with mercury near the freezing point is not the most comfortable place in which to meditate. But the cheap hotel for men in which Lee Dempster had spent the night did not encourage it’s guests in lingering inside its wails even fifteen minutes after a certain hour in the morning, so Dempster, a decidedly good-looking young chap in good clothes, read his morning paper on a park bench. A cloud of dust which almost blinded him brought him once more to the perusal of the “Want” column. “I’ve got to find something I” he said to himself, and he went on with the search. He stopped, and read an “ad” over the second time, a whimsical smile drew his face, he tore off a bit of the paper, and stood up. Mr. A. Harmon wanted a valet who was “intelligent and reliable.” Well he could lay claim to both requirements. As to the “experience,” he might have to slightly prevaricate, but the case was desperate ; and in half an hour he found himself in the presence of A. Harmon. The luxurious bachelor apartment betokened wealth, "and” the ■-owneri’ - *’ wholesome-looking man in his early thirties, received him with the usual

The Smile Died on His Face.

Inquiries: Had he had any experience? Could he furnish references,' etc.? The applicant replied that he had had some experience, but as to references—no, he had none. Mr. Harmon looked at him doubtfully. Then something in the young man’s straight gaze, and speech prompted him to give him a trial. Lee Dempster gave his employer his name; he reasoned that no one would know him in this strange city. That evening Harmon told Dempster he was dining out. “Club or house, sir?” asked the new valet. “House. And box party afterward. Shall I tell you what to lay out?” “No, sir. I know,” answered Dempster. And he dressed his gentleman, and turned him out absolutely correct, without one word of instruction. This rather mystified Harmon, for his valet's educated speech and manner had led him to think that this was probably his first experience in that position, and that he should have to tell him every step of the way. As the days went on, Dempster became more of a companion than a servant to Harmon. He asked no questions, but he felt convinced that if he knew, there certainly might be some Interesting disclosures as to the change in his valet’s position in life. But Dempster was efficient and trustworthy, and he was content to let things go on as they were. Harmon was just starting to dress for the evening when the telephone called him. There were some answers of surprise, regret and sympathy, and he hung up the receiver with an exclamation not intended for the person at the other end. “This is a pretty mess! At the last minute, too! If Weaver was going to get the grippe why didn’t he start in a few hours before, and' not put It off till the last minute?” “We are all apt to procrastinate In such matters,” observed Dempster solemnly. In spite of his annoyance Harmon burst out laughins. “You see,” he said, “I had promised Jko contribute, as my Share of the pro-

gram, a fellow who recites and tells funny stories, and now to fall down in this way makes me look like thirty cents. Say, Dempster, can you do any stunts?” t “Well, I have recited a bit,” said Dempster modestly. “Will you come with me tonight? No one need know you are my valet. Put on anything of mine you want, and I’ll introduce you as a well-known entertainer.” Dempster agreed to oblige his employer. It was a club “smoker,” and he recited, and told some good stories. It was not so much his diction as it was his telling gestures, and his mobile, expressive face that seemed for the time being to transform him into the character he was portraying that took the audience by storm. They kept on asking for more, till he was obliged to refuse further encores. The next day Dempster rather reluctantly told Harmon that one of the guests, the head of a large motion picture concern, had asked him to pose for them. He had been offered a sum per day equal to what he was then getting for a week’s work. “For nearly two months, I’ve tried to get a chance at the movie studios. I’ve stood around those places till I was nearly frozen, and starved. Why at this office, where the head has offered me work, I hung around for a week, only to be turned dqwn.” Harmon saw how eager the man was to go, and could not say anything to keep him back, but offered to let him remain for awhile to do any little service he could in his spare time. Dempster was grateful for this, and accepted the offer.

Dempster often came home so exhausted after dives from rocks into rivers, gallops on fiery steeds, and falls from automobiles that he was not of much value as a valet, and told his employer he would better let him go. But Hannon had become really attached to the young man, and would not hear of it. When the picture was finished, he was discharged with the promise that he would be notified if needed. He had given entire satisfaction; but this did not count when he tried to find work elsewhere. He resumed his duties as valet, and was again asked to entertain a company. This time there were ladles present. As he was bowing his acknowledgment of the applause, the smile died on his face, and he turned away, and refused to respond to the encore. He had seen the face of a girl among the guests, a face that suddenly drove everything else from his mind. She made her way to him. “O Lee! Lee! Why did you do it? I was wrong too! I want you!” He answered in broken words of joy and contrition. “I’ve been a fool,” he said. “But how can I go back? Father —” “He wants you too, Lee! He told me so.”

The next day Dempster explained to Harmon. He had been crazy to act before the screen. He hated the business in his father’s bank. He had had a quarrel with the girl he loved, and she had sent him away. Then when he had wanted to go into the movies, there had been an awful scene with dad, and he left home to do what he pleased. He had had all he wanted of screen acting, and was going back home to the bank, and to marry Fanny. Harmon asked if he could be “best man,” and Dempster warmly accepted. Harmon fairly gasped when Dempster handed him his address. “What!” he exclaimed. “John Dempster’s son! How in hades did you learn to be such a nifty valet?” “I had a mighty good one of my own,” said Dempster.

SAY GOOD-BY BUT NEVER GO

Ukulele Boys From Hawaii Refuse to Depart Although They Are Always Singing About It. Here (in New York’s tearooms), during the past few months, one was reasonably sure of finding a delegation from the Hawaiian colony, consisting of stout persons attired as shirtwaist boys, all armed with the national weapon of their race, the ukulele, and all wearing about their throats necklets of colored paper; this last I take it being a precaution designed" to save them from being mistaken for Pullmanporters, an outing, Irvin S. Cobb writes in the Saturday Evening Post. These persons sing. Frequently they also play; but always they sing. I have never even been to those fair islands whence they come, but I gather from my local observations of visiting natives that their land is principally populated by a race who spend their time telling you good-by and then never going* They do not practice what they preach. In mournful numbers, hour after houA they bid you a lingering musical good-by and then turn right round and disappoint everybody by continuing to stay there. To them parting is such sweet sorrow, ‘>they refuse to part. But they are willing to sing about it, world without end. I should admire to meet a Hawaiian minstrel some time who told you he was going and then made good, but Tm afraid I never shall; it would be contrary to his nature and his training. . ■—y-v.' c

Neglected Opportunity.

“This traveler says he has visited the site of the Garden of Eden.” “Wonderful!” exclaimed Mrs. Frisbet. “And what does the Garden of Eden look like now?” “Oh, it’s rather desolate.” “I shouldn’t wonder. After the place acquired a bad reputation I don’t suppose any estate rpeh cared to d» velop it” i ’'

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER. IND.

ONE CHANCE IN THREE OF BEING CALLED TO ARMY

How National Army Will Be Raised Under Universal Service System. > HEADY TO START THE WORK Rules for Exemption Boards Will Be Ironclad and Every woesibility of Misunderstanding Eliminated —First Call Probably Will Be for 750,000 Men. Washington.—Of nearly 9,500,000 men of military age who have been registered in accordance with the selective draft law, those who are physically qualified and- are not exempted will have one chance in three of being called to the colors this year.

This is the estimate that has been made by the military authorities in Washington. _ ; The first phase of the great task of raising an army under the universal service system has been More than 10,000,000 men have actually been enrolled and, taking into consideration the number of men of registration age who are now serving either in the army or navy or National Guard, the estimates made by the census bureau upon the basis of population have been attained. All of the men subject to the law have responded to the call. Wait for Army Regulations. The second phase of the problem of raising a national army will begin as soon as the president has approved the exemption regulations which have been drafted by a special board under the direction of the provost marshal general. In many respects it is the more complicated, and difficult portion of the task. Approximately 4,800 boards —one for every 30,000 of the population of the country—are to be appointed to pass upon the exemptions, to decide who shall be subject to the call of military duty and who shall not. Boards of appeal for every federal judicial district must also be designated by the president. When this has been accomplished the instructions to theprimary boards, which are to act in the capacity of courts of first instance in passing upon exemptions are to be issued. Maj. Gen. Enoch I. Crowder and his assistants —among them some of the most distinguished lawyers of the country — have virtually completed the preliminary draft which is now before the president and the secretary of war. As soon as it is approved and the word is given the huge machine will be set in motion grinding out the first increment of 500,000 men for the new national army.

No Comment in Advance. For fear of confusing the 9,500,000 men .who will be subject to the call. General Crowder has been"'unusually careful not to discuss for publication the system that has been tentatively devised. He himself has a very clear idea, he said, of what is to be done, but before the Instructions are to be sent out every possibility of misunderstanding is to be weighed and every chance for complication is to be eliminated. The rules are to be ironclad and as specific as human ingenuity can make them, so that there will be no possibility of charges of discrimination and favoritism in the selection of the men who are to take up arms with the first 500,000.

Military authorities estimate that the first draft will be for considerably more than that number; In addition to the national army, the regular army and the National Guard will probably be brought up to war strength. There also must be reserve training camps, which may be’drawn upon to fill vacancies in the active ranks. It Is not Improbable, therefore, that the number to be selected will be nearer 750,000 than 500,000. —Placing the number of men registered at 10,000.000, it is estimated that 5,000,000 will be exempted for general reasons; of the remaining 5,000,000, 2,500,000 will be rejected for physical

NO REGISTRATION CARD, TWO NEGROES BEATEN

Kansas City, Mo.—Uncle Samuel has a misguided but willing conscription aid in William Macdel lan, twenty-two, a structural steel worker. Shortly before midnight" MacClellan halted a pair of negroes. “See this,” he queried, shoving one of the little blue registration certificates under their noses. “Got one?” “No,” one of the negroes replied, “and what’s more, we ain’t goin’ to wear one of them things.” Whereupon the structural steel worker proceeded to demonstrate the superiority of trained muscle and shortly afterwards marched the negroes up in front of the sergeant’s desk at the police headquarters. It was a fateful match for the trio. All three were charged with disturbing the peace. $ . “Thht’s all right, sergeant.” said Uncle Sam’s co-worker, "just put ’em in a cell with me.” MacClellan’s request was not granted. »

disability, according to the standards now prevailing for recruits. There will remain, therefore, subject to call for duty at any time 2,500,000 men, who will be ready at any time to begin their military training. If 750,000 are to be called, the man who has registered and is physically fit and cannot claim has a. little better than one chance in three to go into active service. General Exemptions. It is probable that a certain proportion of those who have registered will be exempted in classes —foreign sub-

“TO WHAT END, 0 GOD?”

Not since the flood itself has humanity faced the woe that hangs like a pall over the earth today. The mothers of all nations are asking, with

streaming eyes and breaking hearts, as they send their sons into the welter of world-war; “To what end, O God?” So must the mother of him who died on the cross have questioned, in the bitterness of her soul, as she looked upward past the dying Christ, to the darkening skies of Calvary. And as Mary knew, even in her suffering, that back of that darkness shone the greatest light humanity has ever known, so the mothers of today know that back of their supreme sacrifice shines the glory and joy of world-freedom. -

POST FOR MAN HE DERIDED

Lloyd George Picks Old-Time Political Foe Because He is Best Man for Job. 4 London. Premier Lloyd George picks his subordinates in curious ways. On account of the food scarcity and the need for increased production, the premier was hard put to think of a suitable man to fill the post of president of the board of agriculture. A political colleague, overhearing Mr. Lloyd George speak of his difficulty, said to him. “I know the very man you want for agriculture.” “Who is that?”'asked Mr. Lloyd George. “Prothero, of course,” was the ply“Prothero, Prothero,” exclaimed Mr. Lloyd George. “Let’s see, isn’t that the man I had a controversy with — the man I once called the duke of Bedford’s butler, or something of that sort? Why, that’s the very man I want.” —•• Roland E. Prothero was an oldtime political foe of the premier’s, but that made no difference so long as he was an efficient man for the post.

GERMANS GET BOGUS PAPERS

Fury of British Drive Made Impossible to Continue Publication of -s' the Genuine. London.-7-War papers issued by German arm lbs at the front are bringing high prices. The fury of the British drive has made it impossible to continue their publication and scarcity of numbers issued has resulted in as high as 300 marks (S6O) Being offered for a single copy. Printers throughout the empire are working on counterfeit reproductions, many of which are so near the originals that it is impossible to tell them Although warnings have been given not to buy the bogus copies, thousands are being sold as originals throughout the country. “ ti '"

His Story Won Jewels.

Marysville, Cal—Three cans of jewelry found recently In the crevice of a rock in the hills near Wheatland by a trapper were claimed by A. A. Renting of Southside, Omaha, in a letter to the sheriff. Renting said he was making a trip from Sacramento to his home in 1895 and that he had the jewels with him. Fearing he would/be robbed, he said, he hid them in the hillside, and. was never able to return to retrieve them.

jects, those who are obviously physically unfit, and in general persons employed in the public service, mariners, workmen in arsenals, armories and at the navy yards. The regulations will designate specifically how these general exemptions are to be made. Those who do not fall within these general Classes must appear before the exemption board within their district and set forth their claims. The mere fact, for example, that a man is married and has children will be no bar to his selection for service. He must demonstrate that he contributes to the support of his family. The village idler whose wife takes in washing will probably have difficulty in convincing the board that he should not go into.

The call will be made by the president for a certain number of men sufficiently large to make it certain that the necessary number for actual service will b£ obtained after eliminations for one cause or another. The board which is now devising the scheme by which the men may be chosen has experimented with various devices for drawing by lot. It is probable that this phase of the draft will be made a public ceremony, which will be carried out at the capitals of the states or in some other public place. If the registrant has run the exemption gantlet he will present himself before the military authorities for physical examination. If rejected, he will be dismissed, but a record of his case will be kept. If accepted, he will be sent to one of the sixteen cantonments where he will undergo training to fit him for the rigors of war or held in readiness to enter one of the training camps which will be drawn upon to fill gaps in the ranks. A Tremendous Task.

Army officials do not minimize the difficulty of the intricate task ahead of them. The president is wrestling with the problem of selecting the exemption boards, so that there will be no basis for changes of favoritism or political preference. The normal board probably will be the same as that which conducted the registration, but there will probably be many exceptions to the general rule. An effort is being made to obtain men only of the highest character for the appellate boards. General Crowder and his assistants are very careful not to disclose even the most general features of the system upon which they have virtually agreed. They-fear that if it were explained now changes that might be made before its final approval by the president would lead to confusion. For that reason the word is not to be given until every detail has been pondered carefully, and when it is given there is to be no retracing of steps.

NOT ONE SLACKER THERE

Father and Five Sons of New Jersey Are All in Army in War With Germany. Verona, N. J. —No one would accuse Thomas Elston of this place and his family of eight of being a group of slackers. The father, who is now an American citizen, was born in Devonshire, England, and served six years in the artillery branch of the British army. Too old for active service in the land of his adoption, he has joined the Verona Home battalion. The family consists of five boys and three girls. The girls are all married and rearing families. The boys are following in the footsteps of their father. Francis; the eldest son, served two years with the British army In South Africa during the Boer war, while Frederick, the next son, also served In the Boer war and is now somewhere in Salenlki with the Royal Engineer corps. William, the third sdn, was anout tb enlist at the beginning of the war, but was prevented from doing so by a broken leg. The father has not heard from him for months and believes he Is now at the front with the British forces. The fourth son, George, enlisted In the aerial corps and is now at the western front in France. Gilbert Is the only son whose home Is with his father here. When troops were ordered to the Mexican border he enlisted in Company K, Fifth New Jersey infantry, and served until mustered out. Upon the recent call of the president he again responded and is now with Company K in New Jersey.

PRICELESS BOOK IS FOUND

“Letters, of Vespucci” Stolen From Florence Some Years Ago, Is Recovered in Mail. London. —A Rome dispatch reports: “Some years ago there was stolen from Florence an old book of priceless value of which only one copy Is in existence. It was entitled “The letters of Amerigo Vespucci,” and in it the celebrated Florence explorer recounted the journeys and discoveries which he made shortly after Columbus. “The book belonged to Marquis Capponi, but, despite prolonged inquiries by the police, no trace of it could be found. Now the police, while Inspecting postal packages addressed to .foreign countries on the Italian-Swiss frontier, have discovered a parcel containing the precious work. The package was addressed to a German bookseller who fled to Switzerland after ths outbreak of war,"

HOME TOWN HELPS

TREES HAVE ECONOMIC VALUE Every One That Is Planted Adds to Wealth of Community as Well as to Its Beauty. *•“ - ■■■■“• The most striking living landscape feature is a tree, therefore wherever a tree grows the land is more or less habitable. No matter what kind of v a tree it is, if of large size, it proclaims that the land it adorns is not a desert. Tre# have been objects of love and veneration since the dawn ,of history, and as their attractions and uses are many and varied, he who plants a tree plants wealth to the capital of all. Trees beautify homes, parks, streets and even as orchards their beauty is not the least of their several specific• values. They cool the parched earth and heated atmosphere in summer and protect from biting cold and stormy wind in winter, says the Los Angeles Times. They purify the air we breathe and prevent winds from contaminating It by arresting storms of dust and other injurious matter. They add very materially to the value of all property even aside from the esthetic considerations; thbir pure economic value is not questioned. There are not, therefore, any reasons for not planting trees and so many reasons why we should, that it is to place them wherever' and whenever the opportunity presents. It is indeed easy to get rid of,, them if improperly placed. Therefore be ever planting a tree, for it grows all the time, even while the planter sleeps, and is adding to the wealth of all on earth and all to come.

PERFECT LAWN NEEDS WORK

One Who Expects to Get the Best Results Must Expect to Expend Much but Not Difficult Labor. To have a perfect lawn requires much but not difficult labor. As a rule the land conditions to be met may be divided into two classes: First, where there is a sufficient depth of good loam, but where the grass has gradually been allow’ed to die out, and, second, where the lawnmaker has a poor gravelly soil, seemingly without greensward possibilities of any kind quite regardless of what may be done to it. The treatment in the first case cited is sufficiently simple, It will not even be necessary to spade up the ground and re-seed, for just as good results are produced by a simpler method and in much shorter time. Take a sharp iron rake with good sharp teeth, and, after digging out the weeds, scratch deep into the soil, breaking it up as finely as possible. After doing this sow the best grass seed obtainable, using a grass seeder, of which, there are several kinds on the market. The wheelbarrow seeder where the space to be seeded is a new lawn, for example, will prove a labor-saver. Where the space to be re-seeded is small, a broadcast seed sower will do excellent work; it is carried by a strap about the shoulder, and will sow not only grass, but all kinds of grain.

Bringing Country to City.

Denmark has solved the problem of gardens for city dwellers in a particularly efficient manner, according to the American-Scandinavian Review. An article entitled “Bringing the Country to the City” tells how 40,000 garden plots have been added to the productive area of Denmark through the utilization of vacant lots and waste lands in or near cities. The land bought or leased by a company, which does all the preliminary work of building roads and fences, laying water pipes, installing a sewerage system, and preparing the soil for cultivation. It is divided up into small gardens, which are rented at a price of $2 to $4 for the summer. Many families raise enough vegetables for their own use and sell a considerable amount besides. Others prefer to build a little arbor and plant a flower garden, which becomes their refuge from the grime of the city.

Decoration of Schools Urged.

Importance of proper environment in education was emphasized by Rev. Dr. John Van Schaick, Jr., in a brief address before the League for the Decoration of public Schools at its annual meeting at Washington. Dr. Van Schaick declared that proper artistic environment makes not only an esthetic but a moral appeal. * He intimated that the time would come when more public funds could be used .for the decoration of school buildings. He commended the work that is being done by the league, and pointed out that it was private Initiative which first awakened public sentiment to the need of kindergartens, hospitals and other Institutions now supported by public funds, but first started through individual effort.

Back-yard Fences in Boston.

George Gibb's, special r investigator for the Boston city planning board, wants wooden back-yard fences abolished in that city. .He believes quch fences are a nuisance in crowded districts and an eyesore elsewhere, and should beyeplaced by metal fences of an ornajnental type. For high-class residence districts Mr. Gibbs favors brick dr concrete walls for dividing lines between back yards.