Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 279, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1917 — BACK HOME IN INDIANA [ARTICLE]

BACK HOME IN INDIANA

LESLIE CLARK ARRIVES FROM MISSISSIPPI TO FACE WINTER’S FURY. a .. < Leslie Clark, southern prospector and at odd times a member of The Republican staff, arrived in Rensselaer Monday evening bedecked in summer liv.-ry and wearing a look of despair, said look of despair being the result of his having to face the icy blasts of winter, after having lolled around foi six weeks under the tropical suns of central Mississippi, “where the birds sing all night long, and the alligators make love to the bees,” and myriads of black-eyed susan greet the eye everywhere, where the negroes do the work while the whites repose in the lap of ease and luxury, where the molasses and honey flow freely, while the plantation owner sits back and surveys his broad fields of cotton. Such has been the experience of the prodigal son who has just returned to be rudely awakened from his dreams by the frigid weather of the Hoosier state, and appraised of the* fact that he must again take up the irksome tasks that accompany the publication of a newspaper. Mr. Clark reports the Jasper county colony in Mississippi as being well pleased with their new homes and getting along nicely. “Nehi” Robinson, former linotype operator at The Republican office can now guide a plow as well as he formerly guided the destinines of a ravenous linotype. With his sleeves rolled up, “Nehi” is plowing, planting, harrowing and discing with skill that would make a more experienced farmer envious, as he beams from beneath his first southern purchase—a widebrimmed straw hat. Mr. Clark states that it is warm in Mississippi at the present time and that the present cold snap extends for below the Masom and Dixie line and that at Memphis, Tenn., the snow was six inches in depth. In Kentucky there was zero weather and 'snow was deeper than it is here. It is the most severe weather the south has experienced in several years. All trains are runing far behind schedule time. Dr. Washburn, who left Rensselaer for Louisiana this week, reached Louisville in a blizzard just in time to catch his train. Mr. Clark arrived at the same depot from the south.

It is still very cold. Saturday night it was 7 below zero, Sunday night it was 10 below. We have not had any word from the government thermometer today as to how cold it was last night. The thermometer at the Montgomery news stand registered 12 below this morning at six o’This has been a very severe cold snap. It has taken a great amount of fuel. Plumbers have been very busy repairing bursted pipes. The expansion tank at the home of John Eger froze up and caused the furnace to break a section. The fire at the Swartzell home was caused by the water tank freezing. Many automobiles have been put out of use and all kinds of live stock have suffered greatly. The weather man has promised to have it a little warmer tomorrow and it is greatly desired that he make good on this promise. It is reported that Alfred Thompson, who has been in France since last June employed as an ambulance driver has arrived in the United States and is expected home soon. However, these reports are not authentic and we cannot state for certain as to whether Mr. Thompson is back in the States.