Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 249, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1918 — Page 3

Sabotage and the Dog

By ISOBEL FIELD

. Of TttoVfgfUmf

Hag it occurred to anyone that the numerous tirades against dogs that have been appearing in the newspapers all over the country in the shape Of “letters from the people” may be of alien enemy origin J Why should the same arguments against man's best friend appear in New York dailies at the same time they are coming out in the newspapers of California, Texas, Oregon and elsewhere? What ’ attracted my attention was finding the identical letter in my home town paper (Morning Press, Santa Barbara, Cal.) that I had read in the New York Globe. It was signed by different initials but the wording and arguments were the same. “Dogs eat sheep. We need mutton. Therefore, all flogs should be exterminated.” All over the West last summer there were unusually destructive forest fires; crops {were destroyed, cattle poisoned, and a mysterious horse disease appeared in many localities. Though the evidence has not been made public, it is common knowledge that these depredations were the work of enemy aliens. The work was done with a system that suggested German efficiency, and was no doubt paid for by German money. That being so, the elimination of watch dogs would be of immense importance, and the only conclusion is that the whole propaganda is the work of our enemies. They would influence us to kill our own dogs for the convenience of German agents, who, without these guardians, would have a freer hand in sabotage. . . ; ; No Trouble In Scotland. The argument that dogs cannot be kept in a sheep-growing country is refuted by Scotland, where there are more dogs to the square mile than any country In the world. One cannot “draw near” a Scottish hom£ without

Precedence

By RALPH HENRY BARBOUR

of The Vigilante*

It was quite the grandest affair held in Berlin since the signing, of the treaty of peace that had brought the great war to an end, and everybody that \ras anybody was there. Invitations, Indeed, had been almost frantically sought for a month, for it had early become known that the host, his excellency Grossmorden Schmidt, had obtained, at an enormous expense, a quantity of genuine blutwurst, which was to form the piece de resistance of the magnificent banquet of real fobd that was to crown the occasion. After years of substitutes the prospect of once again tasting viands guiltless of sawdust, acorns, clay, bone dust and the unsatisfying, if clever, triumphs of synthetic chemistry, had thrown Berlin’s new aristocracy into a state of Joyous excitement scarcely approached in fervor since the now-long-alnce - and - to - be-remembered-always sinking of the Lusitania. So great was the press about the entrance of Herr Schmidt’s magnificent residence that fully an hour before the time specified in the much-sought invitations it became necessary to request extra policewomen to restore order and to, sometimes forcibly, dispossess the fortunate guests of the baskets they* had brought with them. Saves the Blutwurst. An attempt to break into the kitchen and make away with the precious blutwurst was foiled early in the evening by Herrin Schmidt herself, whose cries of alarm brought prompt assistance from Herr Muhlstein, his excellency's secretary, and a number of the servants. Several captures were effected, but as the marauders proved to be well-known members of society no arresjts were made. The ball with which the gayeties opened was a great success, the grand march being led.by Herrin Grossmorden Schmidt and Privy Councillor von Verletzung. All went well, indeed, until It came time to throw open the doors of the hall in ,v, which the banquet, closely guarded by a force of policewomen disguised as guests, was spread. Thereupon a most embarrassing question arose. Following the host and hostess, in what order should the members of the new aristocracy be admitted r Herr Muhlstein, in despair, sought his patron, “I had it all so completely arranged,” he explained. “Herr Slnnlich and his. lady first, followed by Herr Windig and—” “Slnnlich!” expostulated the host. “But he is -a mere upstart—a nobody 1 What claim has he to precedence??’ “You forget that It was Herr Sinnllch who personally poisoned the wells in the enemy country during our glorious retreat in the ? third year of the war, excellency. Official reports credit him with nearly seven hundred deaths. To be sure —” “Gott, what Is that, I ask you? A mere poisoner! Was it not Oberate Klvischig who himself heroically put to the sword in one day forty-eight Belgian women and nearly twice all •

oearlug “the watchdog's n«>ue-*t nark. In many families each member has his; owii dog and bo -child's life Is considered livable without one. But the l)e»t evidence pf all is the shepherd himself, who would be lost without the- help and companionship of his dogs. & Be on Watch for Enemies. Scotland is a great sheep-growing country, yet it loves the dog; gives him his due lb life and reveres him in death. At the castle In Edinburgh there Is a little plot of ground where the dogs of the Scottish soldiers are buried; it Is a charming spot, and on many little tombstone! there are tender tributes to departed friends. In front of St Giles cathedral in the same noble City there is a monument with a little Skye terrier, and upon it, carved in stone, an inscription to “Robbie,” who refused to leave the church-yard where his master was buried and died upon his grave. We want more dogs in America —not fewer. They would be of great service guarding ammunition plants; In helping soldiers on guard at aqueducts and bridges In ferreting out suspicious characters, the forest rangers all over the West would find them invaluable in densely Wooded country. Farmers, shepherds, cattlemen and ranchers need them; and the sneaking incendiaries, poisoners and devastators would find their work much harder If there were more watchdogs on guard. We must not part with our dogs. One has only to read what dogs have done and are doing In this war to realize the extent to. which they can be trained. It is said that the Red Cross dogs can detect life in a wounded soldier lying out in No Man’s Land when the doctors themselves are in doubt They carry messages through shot and shell; they bring up food and water to the first line trenches, and many a brave man owes his life to the intelligence and fidelity of a dog. In future when we read any of these “letters from the people” advocating the destruction of the dogs—lt would be well to find out the names and addresses of the writers and send them to the secret service department to be investigated. We have many scores to settle against the Germans, and not the least of them is their Insidious, treacherous propaganda against the best friend God has given to man.

many children? Bah! You are a fool!” “But, excellency,” faltered the unhappy secretary, “in point of numbers—” Numbers Matter Little. “Numbers are not all. If they were, have we not with us the worldfamous hero who sank the Lusitania? Himmell Numbers! What is? And this Windig you talk of! Another nonentity, I tell you! Why, if you had your way you would give precedence to every poisoner and ravisher here. Use, I beg of you, Herr Muhlstein, your brain! To all who gloriously aided the fatherland to maintain her reputation for cruelty and beastliness much honor is due, but we must use discretion, ny good fellow. The more so as the new German aristocracy Is still .in a chaotic and formative stage. Mistakes made tonight might be difficult to later correct. ,We ifiust be careful. Precedence must be awarded to one of truly great and unquestionable merit, and for that reason it is that I speak of Oberste Flelschlg who —” But at that instant the question was conclusively/decided by the advent of a tardy guest. “Admiral von Schmutzig!” announced the head footman impressively. With a grunt of delight the host hurried forward with outstretched hands to welcome the distinguished guest, leaving Herr Muhlstein to sigh with a vast relief. For now the problem of precedence was providentially solved. What, indeed, were mere murderers of women and mutilators of babies, poisoners and violators, in the august presence of one who had sunk three hospital ships? After that the affair went merry as a wedding bell and a pleasant time was had by all.

SPEED UP

By SARA EARL,

» - of the Vigilantes. It’s all very well to dally When the world has a leisure hour. But the man who can speed When his country has need Is the man with the balance of power. The laws of our land are many, Quick action they often restrain. But the loss of one day Means some one must pay, While our dear onea are dying in vain— BRAVE MARTYRS OF FATAL DELAY. , Then speed up your action, Wise rulers, From bandage to ultimate coat. For the man with a will Who can speed up a. bill Is the man who la doing the most. If some one has offered assistance No matter If poem or gun. Don’t leave it to fate Nor stop to debate. But Speed Up! and extinguish the Hun— . BEFORE IT’S FOREVER TOO LATE.

Will Not Fall Again.

“We shall all return to Eden,” says a western minister. Yes, and if we may add the observation, we men will know a lot more about snakes and things. Yon don’t get ns to fall for those things again, hot if Eve is the most persuasive creature on earth. —Buffalo News.

Wait Too Long to shape Course.

Most men make the voyage at life as if they carried sealed Orders which they were not to open till they were fairly in mid-ocean.—Lowell.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER, fNP.

Lachesis

By R. RAY BAKER

(Sgyright. i»i« bv the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) Things happen just by accident. Sometimes. But does the accident happey by accident? Not while Laehesis Is holding down that destiny job on Mount Olympus. Laehesis, you know, is one of the three Moerae who’meddle in the affairs of mortals from the time they are born until they pass into other realms. Three Moerae, or Fates, have a room all to themselves In the big office building of the gods, and they run things with a high hand. One would think that, In these days of progress, Clotho would get something to take the place of that old spinning wheel on which she spins the thread of life, and that Atropos could find an instrument less unwieldy th«n that long pair of dull shears she he» been using to cut the thread when She decides it’s long enough. ‘However, they seem to have got along so far withont modem Improvements and they ought to know their business by this time. Anyhow, this story concerns Laehesis, who works without instruments. She simply stands near the spinning whegl and dabs weal and woe on that thread and twists it ahout her fingers and ties knots in it, to suit her own pleasure. It has been said that Clotho and Laehesis and Atropos are-old and ugly. Of course, as mortals reckon, these fat.es are old; but years don’t count on Olympus. And as to ugliness —well, I’m willing to, allow that Atropos has a hideous face, and it’s possible Clotho is not beautiful, because her back must be lame and her eyes fitted and her forehead wrinkled from bending over the spinning wheel; but Laehesis —there’s no reason why she should be ugly, because her Job famishes lots of -variety. Moreover, she’s one of the heroines in this stoi?r, so she has just got to be beautiful. The hero- is Jack Watson, a mere mortal who defied Laehesis. She had decided, soon after Clotho began to spin the thread, that be should be married before he became twenty-eight years old, and she had picked for his bride a girl named Esthejr Richards. They were bom in the same little town in Ohio and had one of those “school kid” romances; and then, when Jack was only eleven and Esther eight, it ended. > Jack ihoved with his parents to CoInmbus, where they resided three years. Jack and Esther wrote occasionally, as children sometimes carry on a correspondence, but they were too young to understand about affinities and such things, and gradually they forgot about egch other. When Jack was fifteen his mother died and he moved with his father to New York. The boy obtained a job as office boy with a broker and held it two years. Then he was promoted, and about that time pneumonia claimed Mr. Watson.

When Esther was ten she went with her parents to Vancouver, British Columbia, and there they remained until she was twenty-two. - Lachesis stood in the workroom of &e*Moerae one day, holding Jack Watson’s thread of life in one hand and Esther Richards’ in the other. “My, how far apart they have drifted,” she murmured. “This will never do. I have decided differently.” Jack was leaning back in his swivel chair with his feet on his desk, in his own real estate office in Melbourne, Australia. Was he thinking about Esther? Decidedly not. His mind was full of business, of how to travel, still farther on the path of - prosperity, which he already had found. Esther was reclining on a lounge tn her home in Vancouver, reading a Red Cross magazine. Did Jack hold any place in her thoughts? No, not even a small corner. They .had forgotten about each other, as I have said. That evening Jack went to the Melbourne Business club for dinner with three other prosperous young business men, all of them married. When the meal was finished the conversation turned to matrimony. “How comes it you never got married, Jac*?” asked George Clifford- as he passed cigars. "You’re old enough and have enough coin to make some girl comfortable and happy.” Jack laughed as he lighted the weed. “Not me,” he said as he puffed placidly. “I'll never get married. I’m going to be a hermit. Do you know, fellows, it’s a fact that I’ve never been Interested a bit in the fair sex? I’m all’for business. Tm sincerely opposed to marriage—for myself, ati least” Clifford, who was five years older, looked over the rims of his glasses with a slight grimace and Inquired: “Don’t you believe in love? Don’t you believe that every one was made -for some one?” , Another laugh, this time louder and longer, from Jack. “I should say not!” he retorted. “There’s no such thing as love. Marriage is a matter of business. When a fellow hasn’t enough sense to save his money, he needs a woman to help him; and if hC gets the right kind he’s all right, and if he doesn’t he’s all wrong. I tell you I*m not interested in girls and HI die a bachelor, as sure as the sun rises and sets.” Lachesis frowned. Such defiance! She *as puzzled, hut she wds very re-

n» !i'« . . w > i l . \ ... • y~' ’ • sourceful. For days at a time slk would stand and hold those twe threads, one In each hand. But when she attempted to bring them together her arms would stiffen. Sir months before it was time for him to celebrate his twenty-eighth anniversary something put Into Jacls head the Idea of touring the Staten. Aa he had accumulated a comfortable pile of the metal so much desired on this globe, and as he had taken in a partner who was capable of conducting the business alone, there was no reason why he should not carry the Idea into effect. It was on the outskirts of Chicago that the accident occurred. TJie train hit a broken rail or something and the parlor car left the track. Only one person was severely injured, and that was Ja<*k Watson, whose arm was broken. He was taken to a Chicago hospital, where the arm was set His condition, physically and financially, warranted a nurse being assigned to special duty on the case. ! , - This was the first opportunity be had had to study woman at close range, and It proved decidedly interesting. The nurse was in constant attendance during the day and ready to answer *his call at any time during the night She was continually putting thermometers Into his mouth and taking them out again, feeling his pulse, feeding him Ice cream and other delb cades, and smiling. And she had a pretty face, always shining with good cheer, and a lot of other nice ways about her. “That’s funny,” Jack told himself frequently. “I never knew a woman could be so useful In this busy world.” And he got. to wishing that his arm wouldn’t be ta any hurry about getting mended, and his mind began thinking strange thoughts; that is, strange for him. Of course, yoti know the nurse was Esther Richards. But he did not. A lot of changes take place In a person between the ages of eight and twentyfive; apd there was no more reason why he should associate this Miss Richards with the one of his school days In Ohio than that she should recognize her childhood sweetheart In this Mr. Watson who was her patient Had Jack been less reticent about himself their former acquaintanceship would have leaked out In the “small talk” that usually develops between a nurse and a convalescing patient; but as he was one who took things for granted and never displayed curiosity, especially concerning the affairs of women, he had not even ask'ed the customary “Where Is yonr home?” Naturally her professional reserve, acquired during nearly three years of training, precluded the possibility of her taking the initiative In such personal matters; so the fact that they had not been schoolmates and “puppylove” sweethearts remained nnrevealed.

He fought against the peculiar feeling that was creeping over him, but it was a losing fight. He gave, up the struggle and confessed, first to himself and later to her, that he was in love with her. He told her all about it on the day he was to leave the hospital. “Do you believe in lover* she inquired, as she stood beside the bed and retained that professional demeanor sufficiently to keep him from seizing her hand. “These days, people are beginning to have the idea mat marriage is only a business contract.” Jack laughed and forgot all about Melbourne and real estate, business club dinners and hermits’ lives. “Love!” he echoed. “Surely, I believe In love. Every one was made for some one, and I was made for you. I’ve felt that ever since I first saw you standing by this bed and counting my heart beats. Haven’t you felt the same way?” She forgot about “being professional” and her hand found its way into his. “Perhaps,” she confessed. “That’s what we always read in books; and there may be something tc it Really, I feel as if IJiad known you always.” Lachesis smiled a smile of triumph. She drew the two threads together and held them side by side in one hand. With the other hand she reached Into the hbppineSs box and dabbed some of the contents on the threads. Then she carefully and methodically knotted them together. You can’t defy Lachesis and get away with It.

British Honduras.

British Honduras Is in the tropics, but its climate Is only sub-trojficaL The maximum shade temperature Is 98 degrees Fahrenheit, while the minimum Is 50 degrees. Cholera, yellow fever and. other tropical diseases occur from time to time, but on the whole the country is not unhealthy in comparison with the West Indies or the Central American countries. The dry season lasts from the middle of February to the middle of May. Rain occurs at intervals daring the other months, and almost continuously during October, November and December. The annual rainfall averages about 81% inches, hut rises to some parts of the country to 150 Inches or more. Easterly sea winds prevail daring the greater part of the year.

The Humming Birds.

The smallest and most brilliant in color of all the feathered creations are the humming birds, and of the 400 species none is to be found elsewhere than in this western hemisphere. It is noticed that humming birds once numerous in summer in Indiana have greatly diminished In number. An explanation is given that many thousands have been sacrificed In the mil littery trade. .

PENCIL THRUSTS

Patience la the most essential Ingredient of genius. Count the day completely lost If you have not laughed. To the gentleman every woman Is a lady by right of her sex. , A woman with a three-inch tongue can make a giant feel like a midget. All the world’s a stage and all the supers imagine that they are stars. We believe that opportunity raps more than once, but we don’t believe that it camps on a man’s doorstep. The man who thinks a good deal of his wife should not attempt to conceal his thoughts when he is alone with her. . •*V' ' 'V-' VC J •' mmm Many a man’s failure Is due to his having wasted his time In envying the success of his neighbor's strenuous efforts. Yes, Luke, nine wives out of a possible ten can see where they made a mistake by not marrying the other fellow. - ■ .' ' f The individual who sits next to a fat man In a crowded, street car knows what it Is to have greatness thrust upon him. If a man has plenty of change in Ms pockets when he goes to bed Ms wife may hot have occasion to ask Mm for pin money.

POINTED PARAGRAPHS

Theories cause more worry than facts. A flirt is a girl who is afraid she will be left at the post. There is no end of trouble in a family that has two heads. The more women see of men the more they see to admire in mirrors. All women follow the fas Mons, but some are a long distance behind. A soft answer may turn away wrath, but it isn’t always best to call a man soft. * The trouble with many a young man is that be spends his fortune before he gets it Many a timid man gives another credit tot Ms own Ideas because he isn’t quite sure of their merit —Chicago Daily News.

STATISTICAL NOTES

The Mormon church in Utah « has turned over po the govern- j ment its wheat reserve of 250,000 « bushels, collected from tithes. * Frank H. Buhl, the millionaire * steel magnate, who died recent- t ly, left $2,000,000. to war sufferers in northern France and Bel- « gium. « - X Thirty thousand women and t, girls of Austria have been driven « by hunger to join the labor bat- < talions working near the Austrian front. * i * Every company of American < soldiers abroad is allowed to < adopt- one war orphan. The to- * tal cost to each soldier is 25 i cents a month.

AVERSIONS OF THE GREAT

Hannibal did not use tobacco* in any form. Goliath absolutely declined to don B. V. D.'s. Genghis Khan preferred the steps to the elevator. Moses had an unconquerable aversion to motorcycles.. Doctor Johnson would not put his foot in an automobile. Old Colonel Eve positively refused to wear corset-covers. Peter the Hermit never spent a cent for phonograph records. Gustavos Adolphus would not patronize the parcel post. \ Nero couldn’t he persuaded to bay an electric fan.—Columbia State.

SPLINTERS

A profiteer is without honor even.to his own land. The fellow with the shallow mind Ur not the one who has the thinks. Politics is an instrument which produces discord when played. It Is always out of harmony with the other party. • >■ - What mystifies most people is where these lazy, overfed restaurant files get the pep to be so disgustingly playful at times.

A FEW LITTLE SMILES

A Mean Remark. “We pride ourselves on being a progressive community," said the resident of s deed town. “In what respect?” asked the curious stranger. - • J||| “Our streets are always kept clean.” “But what- does it profit a town to have clean streets, if they are not in uaer * Studious Character. “There goes Professor Diggs. H«’* a very learned man.” “He looks the part." “Yes. I dare say the professor could find his way around In aneient Babylon, If the city still existed, more easily than he can rigM here In tMs town, where he has lived thirty or forty years.” ‘ ym-fi The Real Thing. Younger Sister —What is stoicism? Elder Sister —Stoicism is tl)e ability to congratulate the fiancee of Jhe man you wanted to marry without showing any disappointment. M - ,->■ fulfill The Reason. She —Why are you all so down on poor Reginald because he waxes Ms mustache? ; * He —Because a waxed mustache ia a .cereous matter. Perfectly Nice Trees. “Those. are pretty looking trees over there. Are they deciduous?” “Indeed, they’re not. They’re the healthiest sort we’ve got on the place.” t Might Batfsfy Her. Foreman —That machine.can do tbs work of a dozen men.* / Visitor—Gee whiz! My wife ought ' to have married it. ■ IT WAB NEWB TO HIM.

Barber —Have your whiskers dyed, sir? „ Victim—ls they have I didn’t know it. But perhaps you talked them to death. - -■ ■■ Otherwise Engaged. Though opportunity may knock And greet you with a bow profound. If you do naught but watch the clock You'll miss him when he come* around. She Explains. “Madam, while I make that as bona fide offer, you are the first customer who has-ever smoked one of my cigarettes and returned the rest. So I have called in- person for an explanation.” “Well, you see, I thought I’d learn to smoke cigarettes, but I don’t believe I can ever manage it.” Sweet Innocence. Author—l have books in my library that can be found in no other library in the world. Girl—Of course, your own works are all there. * Always Belong Elsewhere. “There’s one good thing about spoiled children.” \ “What’s that?”, “One never has them in-one’s own 1 house.”— Boston Transcript. Absent-Minded. Wifgy (Just back from visit)—Did you have many callers while I was away? Hub —Every time I tried to bluff —er —I mean no, my dear, not many. Incompatibility. “So you think a true musician never makes a good motorist.’’ “That’s my opinion,” replied Mr, Cbugglns. “No man who puts music above other considerations could be content with the kind of a tone produced by any automobile horn now on the market." No Other Reason. “Pm going to Zlzzville tomorrow.” “It’s a dull place. Why on earth da you want to go there?" : / “I’ve got a pass.”