Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1918 — Page 2

ANOTHER NEW REPUBLIC

The recently created republic of Finland, where bloody, civil warfare has raged, lies in the same latitude as Greenland and Alaska. It is not small in size, for Finland is about as large as the whole of France. The Finlanders themselves speak of their land as Suoinen-mua, or Sound. It is a region of lakes and granite rocks, much of it desolate and water-logged, where winter reigns supreme for from seven to nine months in the year. At least one-ninth of the surface is covered with lakes and the greater part of the rest is forest. Less than one acre in thirty is arable, but a somewhat larger amount is suited for grazing. We think of Greenland as a frozen and desolate land, fit only for the abode of the hardy Eskimos writes Nevln O. Winter in the Christian Herald. And yet in Finland, in a severe northern climate, has grown up a hardy and virile race. Perhaps it was because only the sturdiest could survive under such conditions, for isolation bred self-reliance and industry was necessary to existence. At any rate the fact remains that the Finns have developed a civilization that is unique and of Interest. It is not surprising, to one familiar with the Finns and their history, to know that a republic has been proclaimed. No people are more truly democratic. Under the autocratic rule of the czars, Finland maintained her democratic institutions, and it was the only part of Russia where the traveler was free to move about without having a demand made almost daily for his passport. The Russian calendar, which is thirteen days behind our own, was ignored, and in every way the public and social customs differed from those of the Russians. The Finns have always objected to being classed as Russians. Of Mongolian' descent, they were among the earliest of the Oriental races to cross the Urals and descend upon the fertile plains of Russia. They were gradually driven to the Inhospitable North by successive waves of immigration. They are first cousins to the Magyars of Hungary and distant cousins of the Turk. Like the Celts of Ireland, the Finns were never able to, establish an Independent state capable of resisting the external pressure of Teuton, Slav and Turk. In the twelfth century they were brought under the sway of the roving Vikings, who organized a crusade to convert the heathen I inns. Annexed by Russia. Since then the country has been buffeted about between Sweden and Russia. Peter the Great conquered a part of it, but the entire country was not annexed until one hundred and ten ybars ago. Then it was really a union and not an unconditional surrender. The Czar took the title of Grand Duke of Finland, and as such he continued to rule until the abdication of Nicholas 11. The fundamental laws of the country were officially recognized and confirmed by each succeeding autocrat, although in recent years there had been much encroachment on the rights of the independent Finns in the attempt at Russification. For this reason there has been great unrest for more than two decades. Until JB9B Finland had not been required to furnish soldiers for the Imperial Russian army. In that year the czar Informed the Dik (Congress) that the military service must be made to conform to that of the rest of the empire. Finnish susceptibilities were aroused, as this seemed but the opening wedge for the destruction of all their liberties. The people entered upon a campaign of passive resistance. Every man, woman and child dressed in mourning on the Sunday succeeding the manifesto. Bells were tolled FIT the churches, and places of amusement were closed. Many thousands emigrated to the United States. Long Bummer Day*. Durlpg she long winters daylight laats only three or four hours. On the shortest days it is even less. Then It l* Indeed, as most people think, a lahd of snow and Ice. For three months it is so hot that the wealthy residents seek summer resorts for Mmfort. Daring that time It is practically one long day. Not a star is to be seen, and the appearence of time of autumn frosts has arrived.

The market Square of Heisingfors.

During my visit, evening twilight had scarcely disappeared before the morning twilight chased the gloom of night away. One could read out of doors until after eleven o’clock. These long days, with scarcely any night, force vegetation to grow at a hothouse pace. Land and water have no time to cool. Summer comes in this strange land with a sudden burst of flowers, sunlight antj birds. Finland Is a land of pine and firclad hills, for only a comparatively small portion seems to be cleared. The most of the country is fairly level, so that It has not the grandeur of the Scandinavian kingdom. In the cleared portions stand neat little wooden cottages, which are usually kept freshly painted, red being the favorite color. Surface drain ditches .are made in the cultivated fields every few rods, and all seems most carefully tilled. Helsingfors, the capital of Finland, is one of the interesting towns of Europe. Water seems to surround it on every side. It dates back to 1550, when it was founded by the Swedish king Gustavus Vasa, and the liberties of'a town were immediately conferred upon the little hamlet as a special favor. From the water side it is protected by the great fortress of Sveaborg. which is called the “Gibraltar, of the Baltic,” and of which one occasionally reads in the news dispatches. The highest point In Helsingfors is crowned by a great and imposing Lutheran church, and the majority of the Finns are adherents of this faith. Scenes In Helsingfors. Through the center of Helsingfors runs a great boulevard, known as the Esplanade-Gatan, and this is the center of life in summer? The schools close for these months and everybody enjoys one long holiday so far as possible. One day seems almost to melt into another. The young women one sees in Helsingfors are of the blueeyed, flaxen-baired type, for the Swedish type seems to prevail here. Young girls, almost to the end of their ’teens, wear their hair in two flaxen braids that hang down the back. They have the same social freedom as their sisters on this side of the Atlantic. The market of Helsingfors is an excellent place to study the Finns and their characteristics. From all oveh the surrounding country the peasants drive into the towns with their produce, and sell it direct to the townfolk. A small farmer may have killed a sheep or pig. and may be observed driving a keen bargain for the best cuts. Another has a few tiny kegs of butter covered with a layer of grass to keep it cool. Under old cotton umbrellas sit the market women with highly colored waists and black or white handkerchiefs tied their heads. In a small basin are the boats of the fishermen just in from their catch. The housewives or maids pass from one stall or boat to another, inspecting their wares. A little after noon the fishermen and market merchants, who have come by sea, set sail, the cotton umbrellas come down, the wagons roll away, and the entire market disappears as by magic.

Communal Cooking Is Urged.

How long shall we have to wait before communal cooking becomes common in every class of society? the London Chronicle asks. The need of some system of catering on these lines constitutes the felt want of the moment In residential neighborhoods in every town, in every village throughout the length and breadth of the land there is an opening for supply. kitchen® worked on really practical business lines, where well cooked food of the plain and wholesome variety could be bought at reasonable prices—all ready to serve or merely requiring to be heated up. Not only would such a system materially help to solve the servant difficulty, but’it would insure an enormous saving in coal, in labor, in tiqre and money l -to &»y nothing of lessening the waste of food that is so flagrant a scandal in hundreds of homes today, while at the same time it would set free numbers of woman war workers.

When Money Talks.

“All the salespeople in Paris seemed to understand Mr*. Cumrox. She must speak French fluently” “No, not fluently. Affluently.”

THE EVENING j REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER. INP.

THE LITHE HOUSE

By JACK LAWTON.

(Copyright. I*l*. Western Newspaper Union.) Richard Ellis viewed from the hill'the miles he would have to walk in order to dine at his boarding place in the village below. When his tvork of road construction should be In progress he would have to consider some means of transition; the present state of the land made this difficult. Like a white square on the hillside stood a cottage; he remembered having passed it on his upward way. What a strange, detached Home it must be, far from neighboring habitation. Perhaps it might be possible to procure a light luncheon there. The door, when he reached the house, stood open, disclosing to the farthest corner one wide room. It was a remarkable room for an humble country cottage. While the floor was scrubbed guiltless of varnish, the walls were lined with shelves of books. A pictorial calendar, with a verse for each day, drew his attention; curiously, the verses were printed in German. Upon the window seat, among Its artistic cushions, were scattered various maps and drawings. Then between two bookcases opened what lie had fancied to be an outer door, and,a girl appeared from the interior. A glorious creature she was, small, yet with an unmistakable air of dignity. “I am a civil engiheer —Richard Ellis.” he explained; “we are going to put through a road. My boarding place in the village seemed too far away at dinner time, and I hoped to get a glass of milk and some bread at a farmhouse, but,” he smiled engagingly. “I find this Is decidedly not a farmhouse.” The girl gravely considered. “Still.” she said, “we may be able to provide you with a cup of coffee.” She moved indifferently toward the prepared table. “Make yourself at home," she invited.

In strange diffidence, the usually confident engineer obeyed. When, with her regal air, the girl had prepared his coffee, she went out into the porch. It was all pleasantly mysterious. Ellis enjoyed the perfect salad, and wondered who the deuce his queenly hostess might be. The matter of remuneration troubled him; he could Imagine her scorn at the suggestion of payment. Yet he felt like an interloper calmly partaking of her food. The girl promptly relieved him on this score. “I asked you to stay,” she said, as he appeared upon the porch, “in order to gain information about the new road. Please explain to me concisely, just how and where it is going.” The engineer stared in astonishment. Her question had the sound of * command. ■ “It is not customary —’’ he began hesitatingly, and for the first time the girl laughed. “No?” she questioned, as steadily she faced him. “Then, Mr. Ellis, engineer,” she challenged, “stop In again, say tomorrow, and you shall see your wonderful plans, as they are not now, but as they will be when completed.” “I do not understand you,” Ellis repeated slowly. With' strange reluctance he turned to depart. The girl pointed to the village below. “Down there,” she said, mockingly, “they will tell you all about me.” It was impossible to concentrate upon the duty of the afternoon because of her haunting personality. “Who lives there?” he asked of Sammie. assheiate engineer, s “The lady of mystery,” Sammie answered. “Why, haven’t you heard? She comes galloping into town on a black horse,- with a great dog in tow. They have It figured hut here that she’s in the emplSy of the German government, mapping out the country and all that. Look out-for the black eyes. Dickie, or she’ll have you hypnotized.” To Richard’s memory came quickly the girl’s boasted knowledge of his work, her own avpwnl that she had entertained him in order to gain information . “T came.” he greeted, “to have you fulfill your promise concerning lpy outline of work.” In her own pretty, serious way, the girl bow T ed. and placed in ills hands the completed blueprint map of the road. “But, how?” he asked perplexedly. Again the girl laughed, and dropping her manner of reserve, seated herself on the step at his side. “What am I now," she asked naively, “a defaulter in hiding, a German spy, or just disappointed In love? Thev have had me all three at the vil- * 1 ldge.” Ellis gazed tensely into the black eyes. “What are you?" he asked. “That is what I wanted to know myself:" “I shall only disappoint you.” the girl replied. “It is so simple. My is Lewis Kain. chief engineer. When I learned that he must be away from home long. I begged to come with him and keep house. He sent on our man to fix up this shack, and then was called away the very night of our arrival. There was no reason why I should not wait In this peaceful spot, his return. My dog Is a fine bodyguard. I helped father with these maps and two are great chums. That’s all,” she ended, and abruptly. “Then I shall see yon again!” cried Richard Ellis, liis voice ringing with a hidden Joy. No one could have called the girl’s eyes somber as she flashed him s smilfk “Father, will need you here often," she said.

SOME LACES FOR SPRING

Afternoon Dresses and Lingerie Frocks to Be Worn. , ■ ■■■ ■ 1 1,111 T ' 'T . . . _ * American Loom. Product* Are Now Taking the Place of Weave* That Were Formerly Imported. C , —i i—. Lace afternoon dresses and lingerie frocks are to be worn this spring, according to some indications. At an exhibition held recently some of the most attractive gowns made from or in combination with American-made laces were shown. The adaptability of the American manufacturer was here very clearly demonstrated, for the laces included most of the best known varieties — cluny, venlse, net and filet. As to the gowns, they could honestly be called successful. One especially attractive model had a one-sided draped waist which showed the lace Linder and over the chiffon which was used for. the gown. Lingerie dresses are in flesh colored and pale tinted fabrics, and tinted as well as white laces are used with them —also little insects of embroidery for summer wear are the voiles and tinted voiles, with soutache braiding in patterns which are conventional in design for the most part, no matter how much ground they may cover. For trotter .frocks and street wear in general, are frocks of silk jersey, some of which show a clever use of flat braid, applied closely in rows. Dark blue, taupe, and black are the usual colors, and the braiding usually matches rather than contrasts with the dress. Button-up-the-back dresses, wide braided girdles and models with high collars are new or old features of this season's gowns, Just as you choose to look at It. Pongee was used for a spring suit, which was embellished with braiding and further boasted of a dotted foulard vest, with the conventional points jn the front. The braiding ran up ahd down both sides of the front and around on the skirt part of the coat. In spite of all this decoration the colors matched exactly except for the white spot 6 on the vest, and the simple lines helped to give the desired air of simplicity. Midnight blue satin was the material chosen fori a three-piece suit which was cut with a short bobbed-off Eton jacket and wide sleeves cut off at the wrists. The crepe was used again for the top .of the dress, which was straight up and dow T n and collarless. Cuffs and collar on the jacket were of peacock blue, and worn with this costume was a hat covered with peacock feathers.

SHAPELY COAT OF VELOURS

There are several admirable features to be considered In the coat pictured here, but of all, it deserves praise for its shapeliness. It is a good style for almost any figure, and has adopted the season’s style features to its own advantage. It is of wool velours with a box plait at the back raised above the waistline and has a partial belt made of two straps of the material. Straps appear also on the sleeves and across the sides at the bottom of the coat.

OPEN NECKS WILL REAPPEAR

Warmer Weather Certain to Bring More Comfortable Apparel Into Use, According to Writer. Many of the eton street dresses are most attractive. They can be worn over blouses Or over sleeveless guimpes or with the skeleton waistcoats referred to above. These waistcoats are being made of satin and figured silks and of rich and beautiful materials to give a touch of color to the favorite dark blue costumes*. For every-day use, however, the simple white blouse of washable satin or of organdie or of handkerchief lawn Is well liked, and a great many of these blouses are made with the round collars that once we knew as Peter Pan. although there is something of a tefidency toward the revival of the high stock, and with the coming of the warmer weather we shall see open necks m generous numbers: • We will, do a great deal for fashion and we will do still more for the needs of the "country, observes a fashion writer, but it is a proven fact that women who have grown accustomed to the comfort of the rolling collars are exceedingly slow to accept to any great extent a fashion which calls for swathed throats, for open necks have conserved health as well as comfort.

and that fact must be taken Into consideration. Undoubtedly, stocks with jabots will be worn to a great extent upon the street during the early season and there will be a good many of the high neck blouses worn under the eton coats, but just as soon as the temperature rises to any considerable extent, the open necks will reappear.

SAILOR WITH SHIRRED BRIM

: S>.l . . Spring hats are usually tqe most charming and the most simple. This sailor with a black satin crown and the white shirred brim make an irresistible combination. The white satin buttons on the side of the crown are the only trimmings, and. they are sufficient, for the hat could not be daintier.

WAISTLINE AND NEW GOWNS

Stout Woman Need Not Dispair for There Are Methods by Which Figure May Be Transformed. A waistline is aw essential detail of the newest gowns, notes a fashion writer In the New York Herald. The line may be straight, very much so, especially at the -back, but the girdle, or belt, must be present In one form or another. The effect of the straight line is accomplished by the entire elimination of gathers and fullness, but the gown which hangs straight from the shoulders, beltless, has rather gone out. This is particularly observable in the gowns of voiles and chiffons designed for afternoon wear. Here draped skirts are seen, it is true, but managed in such a manner that the wearer’s slenderness is accentuated rather than obscured. Possibly without exception this idea of draping is in the thinner of materials; certainly nothing heavier than satin and usually of material thin enough to show an underskirt closely fitting the figure. Whatever the skirt may be above, at the hem it is always closer, making more apparent the desired slimness. Even the stout woman need not despair, for many and varied are the methods by which her figure may be transformed and made to appear almost as much of a sylph as her more slender sister.

Frivolous Hats.

With her costumes in dark colors, the Parisienne is wearing a hat of some frivolous shade, and a soft rose is first in favdh These hats are made of velvet; the material is shirred on the brim, sometimes with long silk stitches which show plainly. The crowns are unusually high and the trimming of the simplest. They are worn so far down on the head that they completely cover the eyebrows. We must learn to recognize each feminine acquaintance by her nose. That is all the mode permits us to see. Hats down and collars up Is the order, and the effect Is almost as concealing ns that of a gas mask.

Heavy Satin.

perhaps you have been n bit worried when you have rend that before long we may he asked to refrain from buying woolen coats and frocks. Don’t worry. One of the things promised for spring is a very heavy doublefaced satin. It Is to be used largely for coats and Is made In such combinations as dark green and drab, claret and black and blue and black. It makes one quite resigned to the fact that wool Is scarce and that It is a patriotic thing as soon as the weather moderates to forego Its use as much as possible.

Plaited Collars.

The latest effect In platted collars of fine muslin show deep hemstitched frills falling from a high, close neckband and fastened in front with little narrow, close ties of the hemstitched muslin, rounded on the ends: The accompanying cuffs have no plaiting, bus merely bands, like the ties, to be drawn around the frock sleeves at the wrist and tied in crisp little bows.

Black Is in Evidence.

Have yon noticed how much black appends in the accessories of our dress nowadays? Many of the newest handkerchiefs are printed with black designs x»n a colored ground or a black and colored design on a white ground. Then, too. we see black ribbons in, some of the elaborate lingerie, and sometimes black lace In boudoir gar ments of colored georgette or chiffon

The Substitute

By REV. L.W. GOSNELL

AtewUnt Dm*. Moody Bibl® Institute. Chicago

TEXT—The Bon of Man cam® not to b® ministered unto but to minister, and to eiv® his Ilf® a ransom for many.—Matthew 20:28. A “ransom” Is a price paid to secure freedom for a slave or to set a

sacrifice, for the Lamb must be without blemish or spot. But even though he had lived his perfect life, there would have been no salvation for sinners had he not gone to the cross. In the strong words of Bishop Moule, “His life had to do with Ills being all-worthy. But it did not, in whole or in part, constitute the sacrifice.” The Apostle Peter sums up the matter thus: “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious word of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” His life was given “for" us, that is, “Instead of” us, for so the word may be translated. The Idea of substitution cannot be removed from this expression. ’An Illustration of the thought is found in Exodus 30:12: “When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every mm a ransom for his soul unto the Lord.” The half-shekel given by each man was “atonement money,” “to make atonement for their souls” as the succeeding verses make clear. The people were considered not as doomed but as ransomed by the atonement money paid instead of their death. Just so, Christ’s death takes the place of ours. The reality and solemnity of the substitution of Christ for sinners is set forth in Galations 3:13: “Christ hath redeemed us from the course of the law, having become a curse for us.” The old revival hymn well expresses the amazing and glorious fact:

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, In my place condemned he stood; Sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah! The death of Christ cannot be understood save as the death of the sinbearer. This alone explains the agony and bloody sweat of Gethsemane and the plea, “Father, if willing, remove this cup from me.” Christ would not be worthy bf the respect paid even to Soldiers who have gone without flinching to death, or to martyrs who have sung at the stake, if his death were no different from theirs. But if we understand that he was entering into the shadow of the cross upon which he would bear the sins of the world, we can understand his shrinking horror of it all. As to what Christ suffered on the cross tve must speak with reverent reserve. But his Qry, “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” must not be emptied of its awful content. Bishop Mouie points out that Christ could not suffer that personal remorse for sin which must be one awful element of the future woe of sinners; yet his cry on the cross “at least favors the belief that the all-blessed Sufferer willed to bear, and the Father to ordain, the personal experience of desertion such as enters into the final doom.” The bishop wisely adds, ‘"The reverent disciple will avoid all detailed speculation in such a matter.” But well may we sing: None of the ransomed ever knew How deep were the waters crossed. Or how dark was the night the Lora went through. To find the sheep that was lost. What a price has been paid for our redemption! Surely we could ask for no more; God himself could ask for no more and Satan is silenced in view of the work done on the cross. Christ’s cry, “It is finished,” answers all the questions which could be asked in heaven, earth or helL We need only fall down and thankfully accept the deliverance bought by his precious blood. A Christian girl lay dying. With * much effort she moved one hand to the other and, after feeling the palm for a moment, whispered, “No nail; his hand was pierced with the nail.” With even more effort she raised her hand to her brow and, after feeling it, said, “No thorns; his brow was crowned with thorns,” Finally, her hand stole to her . side, and with triumph she cried, “No spear; his side vas pierced bjr ttie spear.”

Answer to Prayers.

With childlike confidence we await, undisturbed, our Father’s answer to our prayers, knowing he will give us that which with fuller knowledge we ■? should ourselves seek. —Bishop West* cott, .

person free from liabilities or charges. Jesus Christ* proclaims himself the ransom for dinners. The text makes clear that it was not merely by living his life but by giving It, In death, that Christ redeemed us. Many, become confused at this point. Of course, Christ’s perfect life was essential to his worthiness as a