Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 302, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1917 — Page 3

A New Start

By Evelyn Sanborn Mayo

(Copyright, 1»17. Western Newspaper Union.) ‘Tve turned honest, ma’am, and you’ve given me a big boost on the way to a decent life by fitting me out so finely.” “I trust so, I believe so,” responded Mrs. Morley. “You have a good face and I should feel very sad if I thought you would think of selling those clothes for drink.” “I’m through with the red stuff, ma’am, believe me. I’ll be only too glad to feel dressed like a real man, as I once was. I’ll do myself proud and straight as a die, to show that I appreciate your kindness.” With the words, Ben Dorkins went on his way, carrying a neat parcel under his arm. It contained a suit of clothes, a hat, shoes, in fact, a complete outfit. Ben had come to the little Morley home about noon, asking for food, a down-at-the-heel tramp. He had offered to work for a meal and had done so, tidying up the back yard and carrying some ashes to the alley, behind the house. Mrs. Morley gave Ben Dorkins not only a good meal, but half a dollar. Then, noticing his uncouth attire, a sudden impulse swayed her generous spirit. “Walt,” she said, “I just thought of a suit of clothes my husband discarded only two days ago. He is just about your size. Would you like them? They are not much worn, but my husband has a new suit of the same goods.” “Oh, ma’am! that’s tod much to think of giving an old ragbag like me,” but as Mrs. Morley after a brief absence reappeared with the outfit entire, Ben’s eyes Reamed with pleasure. “You can step into the next.room, if you like, and put them on,” suggested Mrs. Morley, but Ben shook his head vigorously. “Not I,” he dissented strenuously. “I’m bound back for the city and work, which those fine rags will help me get. I’ll stop at your barber shop here and get a shave and a hair cut. Then it’s me for that pretty river running outside of the village. If you’ll put in a piece of soap, please, I’ll make my first bath for a month a famous one.” “Hl do that,” assented Mrs. Morley, "and there’s some collars and a couple of neckties. Be good, won’t you, now?” she finished persuasively. “I’ll respect my word, ma’am. You’ve set me on my pegs right and I’ll keep right,” pledged Ben Dorkins. He went on his way rejoicing. He got the shave and haircut, he reached a secluded part of the river course outside of the town, where he was free bo disport in the water unseen by othundisturbed? “I feel new all over!” jubilated he, as he drew himself erect with pride and satisfaction and kicked his discarded rags into the river. “Now for a flfteen-mlle tramp and something better than carrying in coal or begging my grub.” The renovation inspired Ben with distinctly new and worthy aspirations. He more than once glanced down at the trim-fitting suit. He began to practice the erect and manly swing, abandoned intp careless sloughing when he fell from the good-breeding manners of former days. It was after dark when Ben reached Faneville, half the compass of his trip citywards. He had fifteen cents left of the half dollar Mrs. Morley had given him and he Invented ten of it in a cup of coffee and some rolls. Then he went down the street, entered a hotel and sat down in an arm chair in its lobby. It was a truly agreeable situation to have the entree to respectability once more, for no lynx-eyed porter or officious desk clerk . resented his presence. The suit was conspicuous, but tasteful, not loud,' but it had a certain Independent identity. It had originally cost over forty dollars, so its present wearer passed muster as to personal 'appearance. Cofhcidence or fate, Hal Morley had left that very hotel as Ben entered it. Morley had come to Faneville for his bank at his home town, where he was employed. His mission was to meet a wealthy old invalid against whom thebank had a disputed claim of nearly ten thousand dollars. Morley had seen Mr. John Archer about the middle of the afternoon and had gone over the business he had been commissioned to transact. Mr. Archer was in charge of a male nurse and after he and Morley had agreed upon a compromise, directed him to cpme to the hotel at eight o’clock that evening, when he would adjust the matter finally. At about half-past seven Morley entered the hotel, saw that he was too early and decided to take a brief stroll to put in the time. Ben Dorkins, luxuriating in the capacious arm chair, had been seated less than.five minutes when a young man came down* the stairs, seenlfed to recognize him at a glance and handed him a manilla envelope. “Mr. Archer has had one of his bad spells,” said the newcomer. “He told me to hand you this and have the bank send back the notes. I can’t delay, sir. Mr. Archer may be taken worse at any* moment,” and away sped

the speaker, leaving Ben in a half stupifled condition. “Here’s a queer go,” soliloquized Ben. “Oh, my!” He had removed the band securing the envelope. He stared and thrilled as he noted Its contents —bank notes. One of them, he noticed, was of one thousand dollars’ denomination. For a flashing Instant Ben realized that he had been taken for some one else and entrusted with a small fortune, and a wild temptation crossed his mind. Then, his lips compressed, his chest stood out and he went up to the clerk’s desk. “Is there a Mr. Archer here?” he asked. “I must see him at once.” „ “Not to be disturbed —he is ill. Hl send for his secretary, if you like.” “Do so, please,” replied Ben and he fumbled nervously with one of the hotel cards on a tray, and unconsciously slipped it into his pocket as the same young man who had given the envelope to him appeared. The latter looked startled and frightened as Ben told his story. “I mistook you on account of the clothes,” stammered Mr. Archer’s secretary. “Thank you greatly, sir,” and Ben left the hotel in a sort of vague and dissatisfied mood. He had traversed about three squares and had turned into a dark side street, when three men who had followed him since he left the hotel sprang upon him. Ben was knocked senseless. He came back to consciousness to find himself lying on a couch ih the smoking room of the hotel. He caught the words: “We brought him here because all we found on him was one of the hotel cards,” and, staring about him, Ben noticed a man wearing a suit that was a prototype of his own —Hal Morley. “He’s the man I gave the envelope to, and who returned it,” spoke Mr. Archer’s secretary.“I hope he is not hurt seriously,” spoke Morley, in a solicitous tone. “Why, there is only one solution to this ’mystery. Someone must have been watching out for me to get that money and followed and attacked him, ifeklng him for myself.” The mystery was wholly solved when Ben learned the Identity of Hal Morley. “Blessed little woman!” exclaimed Hal. “But for her generous gift of that suit the bank might have been eight thousand dollars short.” So Ben had to go back with him, and the bank made opulent returns to humble, honest Ben for his bruised head, and when he resumed his journey to the city—riding in a first-class railway coach with the best of them—Nina Morley’s pensioner was more fully equipped than ever for his new start in life.

Porterhouse Steak.

The name porterhouse steak originated from a public eating establishment. In the old stagecoach days there was a New York tavern kept by a man named Porter. This place was famous on account of the quality of steaks served to its guests. On one occasion the innkeeper, to satisfy the demand of a certain traveler, produced a piece of sirloin and served'it to his guest—his supply of regular steaks being exhausted. When cooked and served, the traveler found it remarkably good eating, and in a short time its fame spread and it was named for the tavern and its proprietor, “Porterhouse” steak. Prior to that time, this cut, which comes from between the sirloin and the tenderloin, had been used only for roasting.

The Dividing Line.

Hardly an impression, opinion, or action is possible to us that is not influenced and directed by fixed conditions within ourselves —habits. We should all strive to get the habit of making the most of our every-day tasks, and it would soon become second nature to do everything so well that In the end we would be sure to win prominence through it. The dividing line between efficiency and inefficiency is largely right here, and none of these habits too small to be worth attention. It seems that we cannot escape being controlled by them, but we have free choice between the habits that are good and helpful and habits that are bad and harmful. —Exchange.

Both Die for Love.

A sad sequel followed a thwarted love affair at Tarumi, Japan. A young man suffered from heart trouble, and went to a home to undergo treatment. Here he met, fell In love with, and became engaged to a girl, but without the knowledge of either his or her parents. When the young people’s relations were discovered by the parents, both families strongly opposed the proposed marriage, and made every effort to prevent .further meetings. The attitude of the parents so upset the young people that the girl became ill and died. On learning of this the young man became deeply depressed, and finally left his home and committed suicide . 0

Original Anyhow.

Macaulay said of Horace Walpole: “His mind was a bundle of inconsistent whims and affectations; his features were covered by masks within masks. When the outer disguise of obvious affectation was removed you were still as far as ever from seeing the real man.” Thackeray observed of the letters: “Fiddles sing all through them; wax lights, fine dresses, jfine jokes, fine plate, finer equipages glitter and sparkle there.* But there is muclf In the great correspondent of Strawberry Hill besides whim and gimcrackery, as a few sentences chosen almost at random from his letters will show. His views are distinctly his own.

’ THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER. IND.

COLON, THE PICTURESQUE

EVERYONE has heard of Colon, the Atlantic terminal of the Panama canal, and df Cristobal, the American colony located in the Canal Zone; but how many of you know that they are twin towns located on the Island of Manzanillo and named for Columbus? In the Spanish language Christopher is “Cristobal” and Columbus would be “Colon” —so Cristobal Colon really is “Christopher Columbus.” Approaching Colon harbor you notice two long lines projecting out into Limon bay; these ar® the east and west breakwaters, built of massive cement blocks and piles driven down many feet into the water. They protect the harbor from the heavy storms and “northers” that sweep along the coast, writes Alice Sims Macqueen in the Los Angeles Times. Passing between the breakwaters the New Washington hotel on Colon beach, owned and built by the United States government, first attracts your

attention, then your boat comes to a stop and a government health officer comes aboard to inspect the passengers before they land. After this examination you slowly pull up to an enormous concrete pier, one of five, and you are In Cristobal, Canal Zone, where Uncle Sam’s workers on the Atlantic side of the canal chiefly reside. There are around 2,000 Americans living in Cristobal and a number of families residing in Colon, which city has a population of approximately' 20,000. Before you land, however, the massive steel girders of the new Cristobal coaling plant attract your attention. This is where ships are supplied with coal before continuing their journey through the canal or northward*. On the dock the customs officer inspects your baggage. This ordeal being over you try to decide which of the dilapidated looking coaches with thelr ! underfed, weary horses will be most apt to carry you safely to the hotel. There being no choice you take the first. Jingle, jangle! loudly peals a bell. No, it is not the fire department, but your driver warning the crowd that he is coming, while your poor old steed does his best at a run. Along Roosevelt Avenue. Out past the new Terminal building of the Panama Railroad company you drive into a street lined with wonderful coconut palm trees. This is “Palm” or “Roosevelt” avenue, and before the big docks and office buildings were erected in Cristobal it was the cftoice residence section of the town, commanding an uninterrupted view out over the changeable waters of the Caribbean sea, north toward homeland. The big deserted-looking building at your left is the offices of the HamburgAmerican Steamship line, little used since the European war; next is the United Fruit company’s building, while last of all is the American fire station, with its big white horses peering out of their stalls as you pass. All this looks quite homelike, save the palms, but wait until you cross the railroad track Into Colon, where you see the big commissary that furnishes Americans with everything from shoes to Christmas turkey and then it is just Colon, smelly, quaint, native Colon, with her hundred different races and numberless types, her sweltering streets and alluring Hindoo and Chinese shops.

You turn a corner and a line of stately royal palms gives you a dignified greeting. This Is Slifer park, where the native Panamanians and others gather several times a week to listen to the band and gossip. For no Spanish city is complete without a “Parque Central” and a band, no matter how poor nor how small both the city and the band may be. At the end of the park is the Washington hotel. It is of Spanish architecttire, with wide verandas lodging out to sea. There is a garden on ail sides, where palms, lovely red hibiscus and roses grow in abundance. A sea wall runs along the frqnt of the hotel grounds and a lovelier walk cannot This wall brings you to /the outdoor swimming pool connected with the hotel. It is fed with ocean water and here for five

Front Street, Colon.

ceqts you are privileged to take a “dip” any time between 6 a. m. and 10 p. m. The water is always warm, and It is just as pleasant on Christmas day as Fourth of July. At one side of the pool is Battery Morgan and at the other two concrete bath houses. On Colon Beach. Just outside of the hotel grounds is picturesque Christ church, erected in 1865 by contributions from the Panama railroad and missionary societies. For a short time the Colombians used it as a barracks and arsenal, but it has since been used as a place of worship, the members being mainly West Indian negroes—British subjects, laborers on the canal work. A few seats are reserved for white Episcopalians and visitors. A walk along the ocean on Colon beach is the next point of interest. Here you see big gray houses, facing seaward and flanked by rows of tall coconut trees. In these houses employees of the Panama canal reside. In most cases there are four families to a house, which is built somewhat on the style of an apartment house. At the end of the street stands the recently completed government hospital, where Americans are cared for at a minimum charge if they are government employees. Pass this building and you come face to face with a sign telling you to “keep out” bf the quarantine reservation. Down back of the hospital the three tall radio or wireless stations loom skyward.

Now let us take a coach and drive up Bolivar street This street runs parallel with Front street, with a romantically named alley (Bottle alley) running between. In the early days Front street was filled with saloons (there are many even now) and all the bottles were dumped out back of the buildings. Front street was then the first and last street in Colon, because the land had not yet been filled in for building and it was just a swamp. The strange looking people are Jamaicans, Martinlquos, Barbandians and almost every other kind of of folks, including Panamanians. Most of the children do not wear clothing until they are five or six years old. It all depends on the mother’s ambition. Where the Officials Hold Forth. The large building to your left Is the “administration” building of the Panamanian government, where the governor of Colon, the alcalde and other officials hold forth. In the basement you will find the post office, but do not make the mistake of addressing: a letter to any of the American families living in Colon to this office, as they all receive their mall in CristobalJ A mammoth fire swept much of this] section of the city a little more than a year ago, and the new concrete shops along the way mark this place. The ramshackle frame buildings are tenement houses, and the occupants pay from $7 to sl2 per month for a single room. Thd overhanging balconies look as though they would tumble on the heads of the passer-by, but they have been clinging there for some time and we will hope for the best Back of Bolivar street is Broadway, the widest street in the city, as Its name would Indicate. Here you find more tenement houses and on the side streets catch glimpses of the cottages of the better class of Panamanians and a few Americans who are in private business in Colon and therefore not entitled to government quarters. On Broadway also are two theaters, usually used for moving pictures, but provided with stamp large enough to accommodate a smffl company of players. Further up toward the end. of the street is the government corral, where horses and mules used in the work at Cristobal are kept At the end of Broadway you come to Mt Hope road, which leads out past the which furnishes elec-*, trie current for governinent work and! homes, te the cemetery at. Mt Hope. Now I had not the slightest intention of bringing you out to the cemetery and leaving you there, but it is a pretty spot sb full of flowers and won-' derful tropical trees and plants, that one forgets it is a burying ground. ‘

Gowns Suggest Operatic Roles

New York.—A musician made the statement the other day that if women follow the fashions of this autumn, they will look as though they were taking leading roles in wellknown operas. Aida, Anneris, Natoma, Lakme, Melisande and Thais are the operatic

Here is a Puritan frock In black velvet with under-blouse and panel In skirt of white broadcloth. - It is made without sleeves and held by a belt that slopes downward at the back. The white mouseline collar has a bright blue velvet cravat

characters on which the French designers have based their work for this season. Natoma Is suggested by the distinctly Indian clothing that has come from the great houses abroad and copied and launched In all the ho,uses here. Lakme is suggested by the Oriental clothing with its ancient coloring, Its dangling beads and its glistening tissues. Thais Is suggested in the draping of the figure by folds of soft material, such as crepe and satin, the drapery winding about the body and revealing every curve and line without confining the muscles. Alda has her prototypes today in the savage, primitive clothes, the brilliant blue and green necklaces, the barbaric armbands above the elbow and the uneven, fringed hem of the skirt. In Egyptian Finery. Amneris is seen in the ballroom and at the dinner table In all the splendor of her Egyptian finery, her heavy, banded head, the large waistline and the sinuous drapery about the hips, to say nothing of the addition of a gorgeous peacock-feather fan. It was a startling suggestion, this one made by a man concerning the modern woman dressed for an opera role, and the critic of clothes saw in it a truth that was both amazing and interesting.

Glancing over the moving films of clothes that are passing the eye today, one feels, in the light of this new fact, as though one might be in the salons of Marie Muelle of Paris, the greatest theatrical costumer in the world. Through her rooms flash all the singers of the world. Her knowl- ~ edge of operatic costumery, ’ her superb handling of colors, her ingenuity in carrying out the best artistic suggestions to be found in the great museums and picture galleries of France, are well known to all those who live in the musical world. Muell’s clothes represent the ages of the world; they are colorful and superb symbols of very powerful race that has passed over the planet But what has the story of Muell’s rooms to do with modern clothes? you ask. The answer is that you could find the Inspiration for every gown you wear today in those salons, if you looked with an eye trained to detail and accurate observation. Modern clothes, which means the clothes for this winter, are said to be simple. We all know they are'not Inexpensive. And yet, even with their simplicity, there are so many barbaric and exotic suggestions that they give a good deal of delight to anyone who studies clothes from the point of view of color and personality, rather than from price and serviceability. When, for Instance, have we had a season so full of fringes as now? When have we had a winter in which six floating panels of silk were weighted down with Indian beads to half conceal a pair of Oriental

trousers that looked as though they were elongated envelope chemises, or what the young girl irreverently calls her “teddy bears?” When have we ever worn the hat made famous in our Indian countries of America, with its peaked crown, soft brim and colored cords? ’ Since when have we worn clothes made out of a single width of material that is ’’caught at one shoulder draped across the back, wound around the hips, caught again above the knee, and left to fall on the floor In folds that cling to the ankles? This is Thailand the Tanagraa. Since when have conservative women gone about in the evening with a gold band on one ankle and a broad gold band on the upper arm? And when have women walked the streets in the morning and afternoon with Indian and Chinese chains dangling from their necks? How long S has it been since an assemblage of women at the theater gave one a vivid impression of a jungle full of tropical birds flashing their long tails and wings in the air —a suggestion which is given by the myriad of great fans made of peacock tails, of red, purple, green and black ostrich feathers, of Chinese sandalwood, of Egyptian fronds, of colored aigrettes? Mind you, every one of these fashions is in evidence wherever one goes among well-dressed women, and yet, we assert that the season Is dedicated to simplicity. It is, in a fashion, but we must learn to place simplicity on a pedestaj that it has rarely occupied. Mlles of Fringe Used. It would be Interesting to find out how many miles of fringes have been used for the winter clothes. To go into detail a bit: evening gowns are made of panels or straight widths of transparent material which have fringes of gold beads or metal at the hem; widely flowing sleeves for afternoon and evening frocks the same kind of fringe at their lower edges of another kind made of jet beads or silken floss. Wide girdles have deep, metallic fringe for eight inches across the front and back, or they concentrate the fringe over each hip and let it fall to the knees in irregular strands. A woolen frock or a cloth coat suit will have a girdle of velvet or Indian beads that drops slightly in front and is finished with a flat pouch of gay embroidery from which long, silken tassels and fringes drop. On the hats that the milliners turn out, the crown band is finished with fringe at its lower edge, or, reserving Its simplicity until it gets to the side of the hat, it breaks out Into a waterfall of fringes that reach to the outer edge of the brim. Feathers are arranged to look like fringes. Monkey fur and skunk are slashed and combed and brushed until they form fringes, and |he peltry is applied to evening or afternoon gowns of chiffon and georgette crepe. Street suits made of khaki-colored velours have Immense, high collars of the days of the Revolution, and these are slashed at the edges with a pair

This hat fer evening wear la of deep purple velvet, with long, pale yellow plume falling over brim at back.

of sharp scissors, to fall into deep fringe over the shoulders. The girdle Is subjected to? the same treatment, and the sleeves hang in fringes about the hand below a tiny band that holds them in at the wrist If you are an economical woman and want to provide the trimming for your clothes In your own sewing room, just get a' pair of sharp’scissors and amuse yourself as children do on wet days In the nursery, by clipping pieces of fabric into fringe. The children may do it for you in a spirit of sport, and the task will keep them quiet for the afternoon while you prepare the rest of the gown as a setting for these yards of fringe. (Copyright. ISI7. by the McClure Newspa*

Big Hat Shapes.

Hats are striking made up In big shapes in metal brocade, trimmed with fur.