Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1918 — Page 3

Time Here to Ignore Croakers and Go Ahead With the War Work

Fourth—The Red Cross is above suspicion and does not obtain either money or knitted goods under false pretenses. . . Fifth—Ail taxes which have been levied are justified by extraordinary and unprecedented conditions. Sixth—This is not a rich man’s war; it was not precipitated by any Wall street influence; it is not concerned over private investments; it is not & grand benefit for munition makers. Seventh—Fair promises have no value when they are made by A criminal who finds himself backed into a comer. " Eighth—The men in o.ur training camps and aboard transports and stationed somewhere in France are being safeguarded as American soldiers were never before looked after, as regards Wholesome food, proper sanitation, prevention of disease and moral guidance. Why enumerate further? In every community you will find a contrary-minded sediment of the human race—people who keep themselves somewhat in evidence by noisily denying facts which are self-evident to all of their neighbors who happen to be in the full enjoyment of sanity. They Tare somewhat like frogs, i. e., they make an awful noise in proportion to their number. The time has come to ignore them; If we cannot lock them up for safekeeping, at least we can shut them cut from our daily program and go ahead with the important work laid out for us.

Nation Imperiled by Its Low Standard of Physical Efficiency

By REPRESENTATIVE HORATIO C. CLAYPOOL of Ohio

My mind has been deeply impressed for a long time "by the necessity for some governmental action designed to encourage and establish the practice of physical culture among the citizenship of this country. The appalling condition, disclosed by the recent physical examinations of the young men of our nation before the exemption boards has sent a thrill of alarm and a sense of profound concern into the heart of every thinking and loyal citizen. The question naturally arises within the mind of every serious man, What practical thing can be done to decrease the percentage of physical deficients and raise the standard of physical efficiency among the men of our nation ? There is overwhelming evidence that the people of this nation are living in profound ignorance of the vital and imperative necessity of training their bodies with the same care and thoroughness as they do their minds. “Cram the mind, though the body be crippled,” has been the abiding practice of our people so long that when the hour of great necessity arises, when the moment of peril is upon us, and the things that are more priceless to us than our lives are in jeopardy and the cry of a ruthless enemy is heard at our gates, and the nation turns with confidence to the surging millions of its citizens for defenders, an amazing host is found nervous, timid, uncertain, doubtful, hesitant, and with waning and depleted vitality. Well might we hang our heads in shame at the exhibition, and doubly so, Because in all the wonderful achievements of this peerless nation it has neglected the apparent and imperative duty of training its citizenship in the necessity of physical culture. It is easy for a healthy man to be courageous, hopeful, optimistic and enthusiastic, and it is easy for a sick man to be a coward. If the resplendent glory of this nation is to remain unsullied, it will be because of the devotion, courage, masterfulness, resourcefulness and physical vigor of its citizens.

Little Acts of Sacrifice That Make Patriotism Really Effective

The little act of patriotism! We are constantly coming across one of them. Hearing some woman say, as I did this morning, while crowded into an office elevator: ’ - w > “You see, I have only two free hours each evening. ISnTiV’tdo bad, for of course I can’t do very much in that time. I knit one evening and make bandages the next—but only two hours—” Or it may be another sort of sacrifice, such as this by a young girl: “I counted up and found that I averaged fifty-five cents a week on candy. And I just decided that I wouldn’t eat a single piece this year—or for the duration of the war, as they put it And I talked with all of my best friends, and we’ve signed a pledge to put our candy money aJJ together—it amounts to seventeen dollars and a few cents each week—think of that!—into comfort kits for the soldiers, or wool for sweaters. Of course', it’s silly even to speak of giving up such a little thing as candy in a time like this, but we are all girls without very much spending money, and we’ve been perfectly delighted to see what getting-together accomplishes. Seventeen dollars a week buys quite a lot!” The other day I lunched with a friend of mine who is a secretary in a downtown office. As we gained the street I turned toward the restaurant we habitually frequented, but she pulled me back. “No, I don’t go there any more,” she said; <f Why not? There isn’t another so convenient, nor with better food —and then they make us feel so at home there.” “Yes, but they aren’t complying with Hoover’s requests as to meat and wheat* and I won’t go to any restaurant that dqesn’t We’ll have to go another block and get into a crowd, but it can’t be helped.”

By GEORGE ADE

It was all right six months ago to spare an hour a in trying to convince someone with a vacant eye and a dark mind that we were really justified in accepting the insolent challenge thrown at us by Germany. You are to be forgiven if, even three months ago, you spent valuable,time trying to convince a sluggish minority that— First—-Government bonds are a safe investment. Second —Pro-German propaganda is to be the head. Third—"-The allies are to be trusted.

By HILDEGARDE HAWTHORNE

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN.. RENSSELAER. IND.

ASIATIC EPIGRAMS

It is hard to chase two hares. Stagnant water becomes putrid. ■MH* We do not cook rice by babbling; A fog cannpt be dispelled by a fan. Be the pig white or black, it is still a pig. Who masters his tongue saves his head. Live contented and you will be a king. Cheats never starve in an avaricious country. <■■■•• < The eyes are of little use if the mind be blind. .. The stag and the tiger do not stroll together. A pleasant voice brings a snake out of its hole. ’ The breath of the gnat will not put out the sun. Knowledge Is not acquired in a feather bed. A man's conversation is the mirror of his heart One rushing between two camels is kicked by both. We heal the wounds of a knife, but not of the tongue. It is not as safe opening the mouth as keeping it shut To acquire a pound of learning requires ten of common sense. Condemn no one. Regard him who is above thee as thy father; him who is thy equal as thy brother, and him who is below thee as thy son. —Asia Magazine.

ISN'T IT WONDERFUL?

That the leaves of next spring are already formed in the brown buds on the trees? That mice, the most hunted of all animals, are still the most numerous of four-footed creatures? That migrating birds, traveling thousands of miles, can find their way back to their old nesting places? That fan atom of a bird like the Kinglet can survive the coldest weather if it can find plenty of food? z That there are living trees in America that probably were nearly 2,000 years old when Chrlsf was born?

THINGS WORTH KNOWING

A California natural history club Is conducting a campaign of education intended to save the lives of harmless snakes, which war upon destructive rodents. Thirteen freight steamers of the Japan Steamship company hitherto sailing to London by the way of Cape Town are sent through the Panama canal. The' new route besides being safer is one week quicker. The two largest match factories In Sweden have combined under the name Svenskataendstlckfabrlker, with a capital of $10,720,000 and a reserve of an equah amount. This is said to be the largest combination in the world for producing matches. A bill has in the Philippine legislature proposing to give an annual subsidy for three years of 6 per cent of the total capital invested in the business, to any person, association or corporation that will organize and establish a paper factory in the Philippine islands. The past year’s whitefish collection at the Put-in-Bay (O.) station of the United States bureau of fisheries was the largest in several years, yielding a total of approximately 500,000,000 eggs. The station was filled to its capacity and many eggs were shipped to Detroit, Duluth and Pennsylvania and New York state hatcheries.

SOME POSTSCRIPTS

The babasu nut of Brazil is 60 per cent oil gnd one will burn half an hour if a match be touched to it-X Termed a book umbrella, a folding glass box has been invented to permit men to write out of doors when it rains. A company has been formed in Portugal vto develop the hydroelectric power'of the northern part of that country. A bent 10,000,000 acres of Astrakhan are covered with shifting sands, which are spreading at a rate of 100,000 aerfes- a year. To tack shades on rollers evenly and without hemming, a machine resembling a hand stapling machine has been invented.

TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS AND WAR

Drawings Give Leaders a Comprehensive View of the Important Geographic Relations. It has been said that many of the battles of the Civil war would never have been fqpght had there been topographic maps, for those in command could have studied a map of the country about them' and they would never have subjected their men to such marches as were made and then have expected their men'to fight, states a student of military engineering. But topography in its general sense and as it is shown today on the maps of the geological survey was little known in tiie sixties. The engineer corps of the army was highly efficient, even at that time, but the topographic engineer did not appear in the American army until August 6, 1861, when an act of congress authorized the enlistment of one company of topographic engineers. This company was afterward merged luto the corps of engineers. Today within the wide boundaries of our country, which embraces more than 3,000,000 square miles, there are a hundred million people. They live oh farms, in villages and in towns and cities. Their dwelling places may be separated by broad rivers and rugged mountains, but the use of the topographic map is gradually knitting them systematically together, and at any time that this widespread population may be required to move in concerted fiction for a common cause the topographic map will give the leaders a comprehensive view of the geographic relations, so that the problem of moving can be solved more quickly and- with better judgment The topographic map, it is pointed out by experts of the survey, like the telephone and the typewriter, has become a necessity, and we wonder now how we have ever done without it.

The “man in the street” may have thought little of the value of the work of the topographic engineer, and to him and others who have not considered the Importance of that work some 11Thstrations of Its value might be interesting. A well-known author, soldier and topographic engineer found the topographic maps of the survey indispensable in every branch of his work. By studying a country before going Into it he became so familiar with the details of many Interesting features of which the natives had never heard that his stories acquired a realism that could, not have been infused into them had he dwelt in the country a lifetime. Again, 15 cepts spent by a reclamation engineer in connection with a private engineering project saved his company $3,000 and established a project which would never have seemed possible had not the three topographic maps he purchased, given him a comprehensive view of several hundred square miles of country, where the drainage problems are most intricate and delicate. Many such examples are cited by officials of the survey.

Need Parcel Post Facilities.

One of thq most urgent necessities in behalf of the American export trade with Paraguay is the establishment of a large parcel post system with this country, writes Consul Henry H. Balch, Asuncion. As there are very few large distributing houses in Paraguay practically all the important mercantile establishments import their goods direct from the foreign markets, and as many of the orders ere small or for goods that do not occupy much space the parcel post is extensively used by the average Paraguayan Importer? A good percentage of the large trade that Germany, England, and France had with this country at the beginning of jthe war was developed through the parcel post system that those countries maintain' with Paraguay. Merchants frequently state that they would turn much of their trade to the United States which has hitherto gone to Europe if there were a parcel post convenience. In fact, parcel post orders from the United States are rather frequently received by Asuncion merchants through third parties located in Buenos Aires.

Holland’s Foreign Trade.

The "In- en Uitvoer” publishes the following analysis of Dutch foreign trade during the first half of 1917: The value of the leading articles Imported into Holland from Germany, or rather, of those articles which are included in .the .official figures of the central bureau of statistics (“Maandstatistiek van den In- en Uitvoer en van het Entrepotverkeer”), in the first quarter of the year was 25,365,107 florins (about $10,400,000 at exchange of $0.41), and, in the second quarter, 45,284,606 florins (about $18,567,000), a total of 70,649,713 florins in the first six months of 1917. The value of the chief articles exported to Germany.was 49,247,575 florins (about $20,191,500) in the first quarter and 52,841.202 florins (about $21,665,000) in the second, or 102,088,777 florins for the half year. Thus, in the first quarter Holland sent almost twice as much to Germany as it received, but in the second quarter the import trade with Germany almost balanced the export trade.

Record Year for Kingston.

Consul Felix 8. 8. Johnson of Kingston, Ontario,'reports that on the basis of business already done thp declared exports from that Canadian district to the United States during the past calendar year will approximate $5,000,000 In value, as contrasted with $2,434,649 in 1916 and $1,288,281 in 1915. In 1910 Kingston had an export trade with die United States of less thaa $300,000.

ACTIVITIES OF WOMEN

► The average height of the J women of France is five feet , » and one-inch. < The medical''women of this , I country have organized to help J 1 the Red Cross. The naturalization of about ] 43,000 of voting age who < will be one of the first results ] of the suffrage victory in New < York. ] Although she is past ninety- J five years of age, Mrs. Mary < Getty of Indiana, Pa., is still , acting as knitting instructor for < the Indiana chapter of the Red ] Cross. ’ Miss Virginia Hylan, daugh- ] ter of the mayor-elect of New < York, has been made president | of the Young Women’s Demo- < cratic league in that city. ]

STRAY NOTES

The exiled czar of Russia is a great whist player. He formerly used more than 1,200 packs of cards a year at $7 a pack. Clarence Willard of St. Louis, now at Camp Funston, received by parcel post a letter from his friends which was 300 feet long. Howard Quimby of Armore, N. Y., caught several perch in the Kensico reservoir and found in the stomach of one two pearls, for which a New York jeweler offered $l4O. ■■l * A parliamentary committee has found that the production of all of London’s electric power in a few central stations would save 6,000,000 tons of coal a yeas- and greatly lessen the smoke evil.

Judge Charles W. Coleman of Goshen, N. Y., who was twenty-qne and who has been In continuous service for for-ty-six years resigned recently. Geological survey statistics show that 75,167,672 gross tons of Iron ore were mined in the United States last year, the greatest amount on record, an increase of more than 19,000,000 tons frotp the previous year. The biggest air-raid dug-out in England has just been opened to the public for use during air raids. It will accommodate 20,000 persons. The dugout is really an unfinished railway tunnel, 100 feet underground, on which work was discontinued at the beginning of the war. It is electric lighted and seats have been provided for 2,000 persons.

BRIEFLY TOLD

A man of one idea isn’t so bad if the idea Is good. Gossip and phonographs repeat everything they hear. A smile that can be bought for a dime is soon swallowed. Anyway, the man who loses isn’t accused of playing unfairly. Many a broadcloth man owes it to marriage with a calico woman. —• v.l ■ A sure cure for insomnia is to have someone knock at the door and tell you to get up. Every woman is born with a master mind—or, in other words, with a mind no man can master. ' A girl’s jealousy tickles a man’s vanity during courtship, but after marriage—well, that’s different. A second-hand automobile is sometimes better than a new one. Everything breakable about it may be broken. The ayerage girl is apt to think that the samples of mankind that come under her observation are , not what they are advertised to be. —Chicago News.

HERE AND THERE

A brass; band composed entirely of young women is one of the boasts of Ogden, Utahb * The Diesel oil engine, which is working successfully in water craft of almost all tonnages, is to be thoroughly tested on European railroads. The thermos bottle principle has been applied by a Wisconsin Inventor to a lunch pail that keeps food hot in one section and cold in another. A ball that rolls around inside a new spark plug for automobiles is intended by the inventor M the device to prevent accumulation of carbon. For removing superfluous hairs an inventor has patented a coiled spring, with rings at the ends as handles, that iasald to grip them better than tweezers. The United States has paid Canary island growers during 1917 for onion seeds alone $137,000, the largest amount both in money and crop ever passing between the two places for one kind of seed.

THEFT IS CHECKED

Insurance Embargoes on South American Shipments. ■ s Pilfering Formerly Wee Credited to the Canal Zone but Hae Been Reduced to Minimum. Pilfering Is still a great problem In the case of merchandise shipped to ports on the west coast of South America. At several ports the extent of the evil has been greatly lessened as a result of “Insurance embargoes on goods destined for those ports or in response to constant complaint on the part of the consignees, according to Commerce Reports. In Mollendo pilfering, so far as Bolivian goods are concerned, has been reduced to small proportions in consequence of an agreement between the Peruvian and Bolivian governments which provides for the prompter dispatch of merchandise for Bolivian destination. Nevertheless, the problem of pilfering remains a serious one st practically every port on the west coast Formerly it was the fashion to say that much of the pilfering took place In the Panama Canal Zone, and there was probably some basts for the statement in the days when traffic through the canal was stopped by the slides in Gaillard cut and freight was badly congested at Colon and Balboa. It is probably true, however, that even In those times much of the loss attributed to pilfering was due to unusual handling or exposure. Since traffic through the canal has been resumed on a normal basis the loss from pilfering in the Canal Zone has been reduced to an almost negligible point. Goods trans-shipped to Colon and Balboa are stored in pier sheds immediately upon discharge. The sheds are large, well built, fireproof, and can be easily guarded and protected. Both in the discharge from ship to pier and in the reloading from pier to ship the Panama Railroad company exercises strict supervision over all operations, since it has charge of all port facilities and does most of the stevedoring. To protect itself against claims for loss the railroad company long since instituted an elaborate checking system. Checkers not only take account of the number and weight of cases and packages loaded or unloaded on the piers but also note the condition of the containers as they pass over the piers and put aside for careful inspection cases that appear to be underweight or to have been tampered with. In niany instances pilfering can be detected by a difference in the recorded weight and the weight on arrival in Panama, though pilferers are clever enough, a» a rule, to substitute articles of the same weight for those they have abstracted. Moreover, a number of watchmen and detectives are employed by the Panama Railroad company. Some of the detectives work as dock laborers. The watchmen cannot be in all parts of the pier sheds, and in a far corner of a shed or a hold the stevedores may handle a case-with such roughness aa to cause it to break open, enabling its oentehts to be easily carried Off. Detectives can exert an effective restraining influence in such cases. It is clear, then, that the precautions against pilfering in the Panama Canal Zone are extensive and effective and; that the source of the pilfering must be •ought, for elsewhere.

Salaries Are Increased.

Owing to the great advance in the cost of living, the local government has increased the salaries of all its employees who were paid under 1,800 escudos ($1,945) per annum. The increases in some cases amounted, to 45 per cent, writes Coiisul John F. Jewell, Lourenco Marques, Portuguese East Africa. The resultant excess of expenditure over the budget estimate for salaries is in round figures $313,200. As the budget could not bear any additional expenditure without a deficit that would embarrass at present and in future hinder the development and the progress of the province of Mozambique, to meet this new expense item the government has increased the fees for licenses for bars, canteens, kiosks, etc., the telegraph and telephone rates, and the export tax on sugar and has established a “military” tax. Increased revenue is expected from these measures as follows: Export tax on sugar, $216,000; telegraph and telephone rates, $27,000; other taxes and fees, $46,600.

Bermuda Potato Crop.

It is estimated that the Triumph or fall crop of potatoes which will be reaped in Bermuda will be 82,500 bushels, according to Vice Consul Stillman W. Ellis, Hamilton. This is less by 8,000 bushels than the fall crop of 1916, In spite of the fact that more acreage was planted to potatoes the past year. The reason given for this by the director of agriculture Is that “the earlier plantings have been affected by unfavorable seasons and will not produce a normal crop. The fields planted later give promise of good yields.”

Utilize Burning Mine’s Blast.

At Zwickau, in Saxony, a fire is still •burning, or was burning when war was declared, which began in the fifteenth century. This also is a burning coalmine, and as long ago as 1837 that German thoroughness which the world is learning so sadly to understand put even a burning mine to use, by Conveying the hot air through pipes to conservatories of vast extent and product tiveness.