Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 159, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1918 — Page 2

The Case of Bert Carter, Slacker

By BARBARA KERR

(Copyright, 1918, by the McClure Newepa- * per Syndicate.) "So you’re after our wild man from Borneo, are you? Well, here he comes. EQ! Kid, get a move on you; here’s a friend of yours from Hays, Kansas.” Sheriff Beardsley felt the good-hu-mored sarcasm in the boss* tone. He had swaggered a Mt; how did he know what sort of fellows ran the Mine Prop camp on the Narrow Guage? He had got off at Mineral Hot Springs and come overland with a guide and two donkeys—maybe ’twas three. Bert, quickened his pace, came forward frankly and held out his hand. "From Hays, did you say, Jim? Well, Pm sure glad to see some one from Hwys How’s everybody? What did you say your name is?” "Sheriff Beardsley,” grinning rather sheepishly Into the boy’s honest blue eyes, “rm up here after a slacker. Know anything about him?” “Search me 1” replied Bert Innocently, at which the men laughed. Beardsley explained to Bert, who made no comment except that they’d counted on getting out "some extra the trip would interfere. But his camp comrades were outspoken in their disgust: "Why, anyone can see with half an eye that the kid’s not more than twenty,” declared the Boss, who was too fond of Bert to take it calmly. “It’s simply a cooked up mess by some of those foreigners; they’re combing the country for men to make up their quota.” The sheriff found himself nodding—then hastily: “Well, I was sent up here to get him, boys; so I’ll have to take him along.” After two years in the mountains, with only a day off occasionally at Salida, or Moffet, for supplies, Bert was Interested in everything except his forthcoming trial. , “Of course, if it’s up to me, I’ll go. I’ve had some experience; killed more snakes than any other man in camp. If Tm busy and one gets away, I just take a walk till I find one in his place. Why? Because they frighten women.” The sheriff, on arriving at Hays, reccommended bail for Bert till trial day; tn the meantime he loitered about the village. His father and mother had gone to South America a year ago on business; he had not been to Hays for five years, as he went from school to ■ the mountains for his health. You’d agree that he found it; six feet in his stockings; bronzed as an Indian, with an Innocent, direct gaze that was a bit disconcerting till you knew him. So when the board called “Case of Bert Carter, slacker,” he arose to his feet, marched up front and looked them squarely in the eyes. The three men looked at him with honest admiration, but Mary Marvin, the secretary, wanted Bert to feel that she disapproved of him. She was the prettiest girl in the village, the stanchest patriot, and always ready to punish slackers that came her way. Bert could not help feeling her attitude. At first he was mildly curious as to what peeved the pretty lady, but the more he looked at her the sting of it got under his skin. He wanted to ask her outright what was wrong with him.

He told the board that he believed he would be twenty-one the third of June, 1918, but in the absence of family records, would swear to nothing. He was interested to know on what they based their accusation that he was a slacker. u To the board this seemed fair enough, but the way he said slacker made Mary want to jump to her feet and scream: “Just as you might say bread-and-sugar, mother I” Since the board had brought him to Hays at behest of gossips, they must bring in his accusers. Mrs. Ted Livingwood swore that he was the same age a# her Rachael; Rachael was “twenty-three last June. “Ra’ll be obliged to her mother,” snickered some one; twenty-three was getting on toward old-maidhood, here. Mrs. Ben Hopper swore that he was the same age as Tommy; twenty-one In May; she knew, for the boys had many a time celebrated their .birthdays by swimming in Big Creek. Bert smiled, then chuckled behind his hand —boys’ birthdays were like Easter, movable feasts, when swimming was the celebration. ; Things were hopelessly tangled—birthdays of town’s contemporary children were told, as was time of establishing line fences, buying of livestock, tearing down of old landmarks —but no corroborating testimony. Mary was in a white heat: “How can he sit there like a lump on a log and the whole town wrangling about his age?” she whispered. The board was crazy with the futility of it, when the old editor of the Free ' Press walked In with a newspaper file and asked to be sworn; opening it he read: “Born, yesterday to John and Mary Carter, a fine boy. Congratulations, John." To the board: “The date is June fourth, 1897; the boy will be twenty-one June third, 1918.” Without comment, he walked out Without further ado the board adjourned, congratulated Bert, and closed the incident, but the secretary’s angry eyes held Bert Without apparent volition he walked up to her and asked if she wished to speak to him. “Yes, I dor exclaimed Mary, vehemently. “How could ypu sit there

that way? Why didn’t you get up and say you’d go, anyway?” “Why, Miss Marvin, | thought a trial was a trial. It would be queer for a man to say: ‘Oh, stop It, I’ll confess Tm guilty,’ just to stop the fuss, wouldn’t it?” “Well, yes,” Mary admitted,' “but you needn't let it come to that. Why do you suppose the Lord gave you all that strength if not to defend your country?” “Oh, why,” stammered Bert, ‘Til go if you want me to.” But Mary had walked away, her head in the air. Bert was puzzled. He had heard little discussion of the war. To him it was a matter of age. He’d go when called. What v was the matter with the girl? He’d go ask her. Mary hesitated, then held out her hand. “I—mother says I was rude to you today. Forgive me and I’ll tell you how I feel about it.” So Bert received his first lesson in patriotism from the lips of a pretty girl, too much in earnest to remember that she was pretty; that Bert was handsome —or anything else except that she wanted him to be a soldier. Presently Mrs. Marvin came in and Bert spent the happiest evening of his life. When he arose to go he asked and obtained permission to come again. Returning to the Windsor, he saw a light In the Frqp Press office and went up to thank the editor for his kindness. He disclaimed any credit, saying that he was a friend of his family; intimated that Bert was glad not to go to war. “Why, no, Mr. Pressman, I don’t care much either way. Thought I’d go when called; but I’ve made up my mind to enlist. I’m not a coward.” But the editor dismissed him with a curt nod, to Bert’S chagrin. His lessons in patriotism progressed till the town wondsred if Bert would stay in Hays or Mary go to the mountains. Bert was sure that life without Mary was not worth living. But Mary tearfully but firmly refused him, dearly as she knew she loved him; she could not marry a man younger than herself —she was past twenty. Bert did not tell her he had enlisted, but said good-by and took the first train back to camp. A dreary journey, but more than one indifferent chap who talked to Bert had his views changed about his duty to his country. His camp fellows met him eagerly, glad that he was back; they had missed him; had some mail for him, too. It was a belated letter from his mother, telling him of sickness, discouragements and inability to get mail, but the paragraph that held his attention read: “You are now of draft age, my dearest son, because after you were hurt and missed school, I gave you the birthday of the baby that died, so you’ll not seem so behind in school work. No one knows this, dearest, but mother and you. Do as your heart bids you.” e “Heart’s all right, mbther dear,”ll6 whispered, kissing the letter. Then to the camp: “Well, fellows, I came back to tell you the news. Pm engaged to the prettiest girl in Ellis county, and have enlisted in Uncle Sam’s army—in Colorado—didn’t want to stand in the way of any Hays patriots—so better be good to Bertie while you’ve got a chance.” Of course, the announcement of his engagement was a bit hasty, but Mary corroborated it when told the particulars.

SOMETHING NEW IN COLLARS

Sort of Second Cousin to the One Made of Celluloid Has Recently Been Introduced. The separate starched collar was Invented about ninety-two years ago by the wife of a blacksmith living at Troy, N. Y., Who made one for her husband. Since then it has grown in popularity until there is probably nohas not worn a starched collar at some time or other. Now Its popularity is on the decline again, partly on the score of comfort and partly as a result of the war. The crux of the matter does not lie with the collar itself, though that is made from material which is useful for bandages. It’s the starch that Is to be saved —valuable foodstuff that ought not to be wasted on collars, says Popular Science Monthly. A permanently stiffened collar is being introduced which is not celluloid, but is a regular fabric collar treated with a kind of varnish that makes it possible to clean it under the tap or with a damp cloth. Automobillsts should be among those who appreciate this new fabric, for, in spite of road dust, It is always possible to ‘•feel clean” in a clean collar. A collar of this kind will last from two weeks to a month. > <-

Chinese Omens.

The Chinese people never associate dreams with lobster salad. Their artist represents dreams pictorially by means of spiral or curl, as of vapor, proceeding from the dreamer’s head and broadening out until large enough to receive the figures which enter into and compose the dream. They believe that gorillas and bears are omens of sons, and serpents and snakes of daughters. (The ladles have Grandma Eve to thank for that.) If you dream of a dwarf, things will not go well; your enterprise will stick half-way and you will be a laughing stock to all; if of sweet perfume, you will meet women and girls; of bamboos, you will become a recluse; of combs, there will be a separation; of willows, you will shortly travel, and if you dream of a broken bed some Ul will befall your wife s

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

CAN WIN THE WAN ONLY BY FIGHTING

Germany’s Nor Allies’ Food Shortage Is Considered. ZONES OF WAR PREPARATION First Step Is Actual Military Mobilization; Second, Establishing War Industries; Third, increase In Human Energy. By JAMES H. COLLINS. (From the Committee on Public Information, Washington, D. C.) A traveler recently out of Germany told of an experience in a German city of 17,000 population. This city had left, for treatment of civilians, one physician and one surgeon, all other medical men having been drawn into the army. “How do you manage to attend all the sick?” asked the traveler of the physician. "I simplify by paying no attention to people over fifty-five years of age,” was the doctor’s answer. Which is to say, that Germans past this age, being of ho military use to the state, and of probably the least economic use, are automatically set aside, and in sickness, take their own chances of recovery or death. This story was told to Dr. Alonzo Taylor of the United States food administration and department of agriculture. Doctor Taylor was attached to the United States embassy at Berlin during most of 1916, and under Ambassador Gerard had neutral inspections of German prison camps in charge. Herbert Hoover has said that Doctor Taylor’s scientific knowledge of dietetics, and his practical grasp of war food problems, is wider than that of any other person he knows, and behind this technical knowledge is a thorough acquaintance with the German state and the German people, as well as the food problem of the central powers and the allied nations. Last autumn Doctor Taylor was a member of the American commission sent abroad to further our co-operation in the war, and deal particularly with the problem of food. The point of the story above Is the different interpretations that may be put upon it. Regarded simply as another Interesting insight into the deprivation which is now believed to prevail in Germany, it would be taken by the average American newspaper reader as one more indication that Germany is desperately pressed for every necessity of life and that this internal SltUatlcm must soon cause her to “crack.”

But Doctor Taylor looks at it in an entirely different way. Fifty-Five the Dead Line. “That story simply Indicates how far the Germans are willing to go to win,” he says. “If It is necessary to abandon all that part of the German population above fifty-five years of age, they Intend to do it. They are willing to take other measures as coldly practical as that to pull through. So far as hunger, suffering, death, and toll are concerned, these cannot safely be regarded as factors In Germany’s defeat. She has pulled through before, and will pull through again. The only way to defeat Germany, In my opinion, is by a straight military decision on the western front" . / Since the second year of the war, accounts of German food shortage have been staple reading in the American and English newspapers. These have been based upon German rationing regulations, articles in the German press dealing with food shortage, information brought out of Germany by travelers, and other data. The subject is one that has been carefully studied by trustworthy Investigators in great detail. Much of the information obtained has undoubtedly been sound, yet Doctor Taylor regards most published accounts of German hunger as mischievous, if not as deliberate enemy propaganda. Largely through his Investigations the United States food administration has adopted the policy of discountenancing reports of German hunger. “The Germans are unquestionably on very short rations,” he adds, “but I know the German mind, the German state, the German press. The obedience of the German mind to the German state and the latter’s control of the German press are so complete that even admitting German food shortage to be as grave as reports indicate, all published information on this subject coming out of Germany is still artfully colored for military ends. That must never be lost sight of. Germany will unquestionably have a hard pinch in food this summer, but, she is going to pull through again so far as food is concerned, and all plans based upon that as a factor in the military situation rest on an unsound basis. The Germans are suffering. No matter —in the winning of this war we cannot afford to give any tin ught whatever to their suffering from hunger—their submarines give none to the sufferings of our allies. —— Must Win by Fighting. When we ourselves entered the war a year ago, German food shortage was accepted as one of the apparent factors which would help us win. Twelve months' experience has brought an awakening to the American people. We now know that allied countries are hard pressed for food. We have In our own country the reflex of the

allies’ food zaeds. Bve*ks last fall la Italy, and the past winter In Russia, make it clearer than ever that this war is to be won by fighting alone' (military, economic and. Industrial), and that consideration of the German food situation and other factors than the military one is short-sighted, dangerous, and may lay the basis .for prolongation of the war. One nation from the first has given no consideration whatever to German hunger as a war factor. That nation is France. The clear, scientific French mind has studied and accurately tabulated real military factors of Germany’s strength, such as man power; but German-made propaganda based on food shortage .has gained no circulation or credence in the French press or among the French people. France has lived side by side with the Boche, fought him In the past, and borne the brunt of his invasion in this war. He has been able at times to overcome her by military strength, but he has never overcome her by propaganda. "In another way France stands alone as a warring nation,” says Doctor Taylor—«the immediateness and completeness of her mobilization for war from the first days of August, 1914.” To make this clear, he divides war preparations into three zones. The first zone is that of actual military mobilization, and operations involving the raising of armies, the dispatch of fleets, and the making of war paraphernalia. The second zone Is one entered by a nation when it begins to divert its civilian industries to war industries, a transformation that is absolutely necessary in modern war, and which can only end when every Industry has been reshaped to military purposes. The third zone is entered when a nation, having seen the necessity for militarization of industries, and met it, recognizes that even this is not sufficient, but that every man, woman and child outside the fightiqg force muse put forth from 25 to 50 per cent more effort and energy than in peace times. The mechanic must produce that much more work, either by intelligent speeding up or longer hours; the farmer must plant that much more, th? merchant must eliminate luxury articles in his stock and serve his customers with fewer clerks, and all classes of the population must save for war purposes, not merely money but materials, food, effort, recreation. France Knew What to Do. It took England over a year to enter the second zone and a year more to enter the third. Italy required as long to enter the second zone. Russia only succeeded In partially entering the second zone —and that shortcoming, together with neglect of food management, probably did as much as German propaganda to undermine her military establishment. But France, who knew the Boche and had lived for more than a generation never losing sight for a day of the fact that ultimately- she would have to resist him again, entered all three zones of war preparation on the day that Germany invaded. Her armies marched to the front. Her factories, railroads, and farms were instantly turned over to war purposes. Her women took their men’s places to carry on the work of producing military supplies, food, and other war necessities. Luxury and pleasure disappeared, to be replaced by industry, and industry itself was Increased by concentrated effort. The United States has occupied efficiently the first zone of war preparation, and competent observers from abroad, who have seen other nations like our own mobilize, say that we are ’’making satisfactory progress in entering the second zone, where industries must be diverted from peace to war needs. We have not yet entered the third zone, and from the viewpoint of a long war, to be won by straight military decision, involving the orderly carrying out of a program of vast magnitude, it is perhaps well that we have not yet pressed on into this third zone of increased industry. For obviously, until the second zone has been entered and put in order to some extent, the increased activity required by a nation that has entered the final zone of war preparation might cause confusion and wasted effort.

Speed Up to Win. Wars are fought, won, and paid for out of increased production, coupled with savings. During the past year the American people have set a new record in their subscription to government loans. As a nation, however, we are still more or less under the impression that money saving alone suffices. That is not enough. A mail who in normal times would be justified in buying three hats each year will in wartimes probably have to get along with two. The hat maker will manufacture the three hats just the same, but one of them will be sent to South America In exchange for rubber with which to make army truck tires, or nitrate to make high explosives. The whole basis of foreign trade Is rearranged to give other countries things which we can make that are unobtainable from the countries with which they formerly traded, so that we may import in return raw materials vitally necessary for war. The demands of the army and navy for weapons, clothing, food, and every sort of supplies, coupled with destruction and shortage of wool, cotton, metals, chemicals, and other raw materials, necessitate a careful rearrangement of personal and individual consumption and a speeding up of production. England has been most efficient in working these transformations. And today all her production, < 'strlbutlon, and consumption are absolutely on tha war basis. \ x ;

Tripping the Light Fantastic Is Called “Hugging Set to Music”

that they are worse than the saloon, but they, damage the spiritual life of the church more. Ido not condemn the theater as an institution. It has noble people in it, like Maude Adams, the late Joe Jefferson, David Warfield and others, but it is run for the purpose of amusement and not for instruction. When it presents a story of a harlot, why that story is told to entertain the people in the audience, not to elevate their souls. It is not-to point out the pitfalls for the unwary feet. As for drinking, that gang is not satisfied with damaging our men and debauching our boys, but the dirty, stinking whisky business is damning and debauching our women. A few years ago you couldn’t find a decent woman drinking or smoking—now go around to our hotels! It is estimated that there are some five hundred thousand falle:i women in this country. Of that number 375,000 attribute their fall 4a a result of the dance.

Contentment May Be Attained by True Simplicity and Devotion

Why is it few people can act on truths put forth by great thinkers; for example, that the unselfish are happier than the selfish ? In discussing the progress of fellowship in industry, people constantly speak to me as if granting benefits to labor were a. “sacrifice.” So, as we are constituted, I suppose it is. Why is it not rather a privilege ? Do we not know in our hearts that simplicity and devotion give a contentment no accumulation of material things can rival ? Is it not mere lack’ of. courage that keeps us from trying in our own lives just a little of the New Testament? Indeed, is there anything more tragic than to die without ever having given the great spiritual truths a chance in practice ? I have been looking carefully into the early stages of co-operation in a small manufacturing plant. The plan started about a year ago. All questions concerning factory employment go first to a committee in which most of the members are factory employees. The head of the concern has differed with the committee but once,, and then he was right, as when he stated his view the committee voluntarily reversed its previous decision by something like ten to one. This concern last year paid exactly the, same dividends on wages that it paid on capital. The president of the company intends to carry the plan further, as far as control goes, as rapidly as the education of the employees makes it possible. He has no desire to pile up such a fortune that neither he nor his descendants for generations will know the necessity of doing their share in order to live. He is without fear and without indolence. I know him and I know also many of the other type of capitalists, who cling to all the power and all the profits. '

Community Must Awaken to Importance of Controlling Feeble-Mindedness

By GEORGE A. HASTINGS.

Feeble-mindedness is sapping the vital forces of the. nation and is a very real danger to democracy. As. a cure for the evil community control through identification, registration, instruction, supervision and segregation is urged. A complete census of the feeble-minded in this country has never been taken, but it is estimated that there is one feeble-minded person to every 250 of the population, or approximately 400,000 in all. About > 12,000 men have been rejected from the new on account of nervous and mental disorders, and one-third of these were rejected on account of feeble-mindedness. The community must awaken to the importance of controlling feeblemindedness, or the increasing burden of crime, inefficiency, disease, immorality and poverty resulting from it will stagger coming generations. The effect of the prevalence of feeble-mindedness on the effective man power of the nation; in the light of the National army figures, can scarcely be called negligible.

Public’s Service to Crippled Man Is to Find Him Proper Employment

In the past'the attitude of the public has been a greater handicap to the cripple than his physical disability. People have assumed him to be helpless. Too often than otherwise they have persuaded him to become so. As a certain writer said recently: “For the disabled soldier there has been ‘hero worship,’ for the civilian cripple there has been a futile kind of sympathy, which, in some instances at least, does the cripple more harm than good.” -■ S'Alt that most cripples need, I believe, is the kind of job they are fitted for and perhaps a little training in preparation for it* I have been told there are hundreds of seriously crippled men now holding down job* of importance. - ■ y 4 I think, therefore, the public’s service to the crippled man ia to find for him a godd job. In fact, as idleness is a calamity, society should demand of the cripple that he get back into the work of the world. Int the majority of instances you would find him only too ready to do so.

By BILLY SUNDAY

Dances are simply hugging set to music. Cards are the tools of the gamblers—the only thing more crooked is horseracing. Not all theater plays are immoral, but the few exceptions only prove the danger of most of them. • If the dance is only a matter of exercise and grace and makes no appeal to the passions, try to have the ’ men dance together, and the women dance together. I It would kill the dance in two weeks. | Card playing and dancing are greater enemies to the spiritual life of the church than the saloon. Not

By NORMAN HAPGOOD

, State Charities Aid Association of New York

By ALBERT WOODRICKER.

in Leslie’s

« Chicago