Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 294, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1918 — Page 3

If I Had Known-

By MAY BELLEVILLE BROWN

(Copyright, 1918, by McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) . “Why don’t you ask Carol Thurston to join ytnjr Merrymakers?" Aunt Luretta Fox asked Marianna Marks. “She’s as young as a lot of your members, and she’s never been In anything but the Ladies’ Aid and the Patriotic Sisters.” “No, indeed,” replied Marianna, with a toss of her auburn head. “She’ll have to stay with the •■Ladles’ Aid or else, organise a League of Old Maids. She was horn one anyway.” “Stuff and nonsense!” exploded Aunt Luretta. “Carol never had a chance. Her mother made her Into an old woman before she was through with her teething ring. We older women can’t help her, bift she might catch the habit of being young from you.” “The Merrymakers wasn’t organized i to do missionary work!” sniffed 'Marianna. as she flounced away. OaroT felt a bit wistful when word of the Merrymakers reached- her. It was the first organization In Siloam - Center which aimed to combine pleasure with profit and work. But she was very busy just then, as the Ladles’ Aid was arranging a living calendar, and the Patriotic Sisters struggling to put a bust of Lincoln on the public library; “Ton are so much younger than the' rest of us was the stock phrase which urged her on to effort In these sdcleties. Carol was thirty-two. True, that should not be considered old, but she had been the child of age. and whatever her tnasterfnl mother had thought or read or been, Carol shared with her. The only appreciable difference made in her life by the death of her mother was that all of Mrs. Thurston’s old friends felt free to levy upon the daughter’s time. “The Merrymakers gave a progressive dinner last night.” Aunt Luretta was making a morning call upon Carol. “You know —started with soup, that was at Fanny Bonner’s, and had one •thing at each house until they wound tip with ice cream and cake at Marianna’s.” • Carol, a pretty picture in her pale blue chambray,, as she sat peeling peaches on her shady back porch, flushed a bit “They seemed tb be having a good time when they passed here.” she replied, ■addiiig, to turn the subject, “We "have only five dollars more to raise for our Lincoln bust. Aunt Luretta." “Is that so?” Aunt Luretta asked absently. "They say that Marianna has her eye Edward Lindsay, the new lawyer, and that he has his eye on the nomination for congress from this district I fancy that Marlanfia would admife running In and out of the White House and meeting all the wayup folks down at Washington.” “Marianna Is real good-looking.” vouchsafed Carol, half indifferently dropping a peach in the blue bowl beside her. “Mph! It you like red hair and as bossy a way as ever was!” sniffed Aunt Luretta. “One thing, she’s got enough brass to tell the president and all of congress how this government -ought to be run. But I am forgetting my errand. Old Mr. Banks is worrying about the Harvest Home entertainment. You know, it’s his tenth year as superintendent, and he’s about out of ideas, besides being so old, so he wants help with the Sunday school. Marianna wou’tletythe Merrymakers take It up—loo poky! she says. So the Ladles’ Aid just hfid tjh promise to help, * and when we talked 4t)over we decided, since we were all Iso busy and you being so much younger than the rest 6t us —* . 1

Carol dropped the peach she was peeling and groaned. x “Aunt Luretta!” she rebelled. “The next time a Ladles’ Aid or a Patriotic Sister says that to me, just to get me to do what she doesn’t want to do herself, Hl—Hl have my front teeth pulled and take to crutches and bandagesj I might as well, for all the ‘being younger* has ever brought me, except hard Work." • “Why. Carol I” stammered Aunt Luretta. “I didn’t—why, nobody thought —■you always—” “Yes? admitted Carol, dully, as she resumed her work. “I always have and I suppose I always will. I didn’t mean to fly off—only the monotony of things gets on my nerves. I will be at the church—when did you say?— Thursday evening? Tell Mr. Banks to expect me.” Thursday evening was sultry with a fine choking dust suspended tn the air. It was the last parched effort of summer to assert its reign, and Carol walked with lagging steps, remembering the hammock under her shady arbor,* but the Ladles’ Aid had promised Mr. ’ Banks her help. She knew that it would mean many hot evenings drill- - ing restless children and decorating the church. An automobile passed her with Edward Lindsay at the wheel. It shot ahead to the church door and stopped to let out a pas&nger, and Aunt Luretta had told her'that he was to take Marianna Marks out to Crystal Spring that evening. There was every probability that Edward Lindsay, however often he might meet Carol Thurston, would never take time to look at her with the seeing eye, but fate took a hand, with nne of those happenings which wreck the Deryea of a driver and which hapA ' A - . --A AAA

pen so often that the tale to almost too hackneyed to repeat. Little Joy Nelson, who lived next door to Carol and who worshiped in her shadow. espied her in front.of the church, and darted across the street, crying, “Miss Carol! Mis* Carol 1 Bliss Cared!” Just as the engine clashed and the wheels moved, the child rushed in front of the car, halting, for a paralyzing moment, in the teeth of danger. Lindsay reversed, with a sickening sense that the act was futile. Then a slender figure stooped within his vision, and dragged the little body free of the wheel, which stopped the next second. Just where the child had ■halted. ’ <. r Then white and panting. Lindsay faced a blue dimity angel of deliverance, herself breathing a little hurriedly, as she stood with her arm about the frightened child. “I ean never thank you enough !” he stammered. ; “But you took a risk — the car might have struck you, too, miss—” Carol looked gravely up into his face —it was a likable face, with cleancut features, steady gray eyes, and dark -hair, graying a bit at the.edges. “I am Carol Thurston,” she replied simply. “Joy is my -little neighbor and I would take a greater risk than that for her, any time."

“I am Edward Lindsay," he informed her. “Won’t you let me take you both to your destination?’ “We are here already,” smiled Carol. “I am to help Mr. Banks prepare for our annual harvest home, and Joy is one of the Sunday school pupils." ' EdwarsLLindsay lingered. The drive to Crystal Spring, in Marianna Marks’ bracing company, did not allure. Just, pow, as he looked at the quiet young woman before him. with her smooth blond braids- wound about her head, and her blue eyes both grave and smiling, he felt a sudden desire to help Mr. Bank*. “I used to be pretty good-at that sort of thing,” he suggested. “College theatricals, you know, and then I taught school for three or four years. I would be glad to. help Mr. Banks sometime — if you—if he needs me. I shall ask him' tomorrow.” And when Siloam Center gathered for the harvest. home, to exclaim over the decorations and applaud the performers, no one knew the moving force back of It all; Carol, her hair loosened, her cheeks flushed, as shte hurried about'behind the scenes, soothing nervous,children, encouraging, promoting, adjusting costumes; and Lindsay, bracing small boys weak from stage fright, and quieting mischievous ones. That is, no one knew it ifntil Mr. Banks made his annual speech, just before the last chorus. No one had ever listened to it, but tonight as he closed his acknowledgments, attention was breathless.

“In my years of service, I may say that this has been our most satisfactory entertainment, and I consider It due entirely to my assistants. Miss Carol Thurston and Mr. Edward Lindsay." Siloam Center was pricked as by an electric needle by the Innocent linking of these two name*. “They have not missed one evening since the rehearsals began," droned the speaker, “and they have furnished many ideas, which they carried out in training. Also, they planned and arranged the decorations, which have so beautified our auditorium, giving freely of both time andjlnbor” , That was as far as any of the Merrymakers. at least, heard the speech. “And Mr. Banks asked us .to help him first !" gasped Fanny Bonner. - “If I had known—” Marianna Marks’ usually crisp voice trailed off flabbily. Out in the deserted classroom, unknowing of the sensation which had been created in the auditorium, Carol was gasping. “If I had known!” “If I had known," lafcghed Edward Lindsay, 'Softly and fondly, as he held 'W hands, “that this old town held such a perfect woman—such a blessed wife as you will be-7-” k “If I had known,” Jubilated Aunt Luretta to Carol, later, “I couldn’t have planned It better myself!”

Then It Seemed Plainer.

While Walting for a train home from the city one night Jones grew restless, and looked about for .something interesting. His eyes fell upon a slot machine. and he promptly inserted a penny. “I have often wondered,” he remarked aloud, In the manner of all truly thoughtful men, “where the profits on these machines—” Here he grasped the , handle with a firm and masterful grip. “Where the profit on these affairs —“ So saying he shook the machine. “I have often wondered,” he Continued,' giving it another vigorous shake, “where the profit— Hang the thing!” Then one of the porters came up and told him that the machine was out of order, and Jones realized at last where part of the profit came from ! - r

Bull Bulletin.

Henry Clews, the New* York banker, tells a good story on a broker friend who was advised by bls physician to spend a .few weeks in the West. , For-some time the broker had been affected by a nagging fever, which the doctor thought would disappear under the influence of a.dry climate. The physician, desiring to keep in touch with his patient, suggested that the latter should telegraph him a dally record of his temperature, taken morning and evening. To this the broker agreed, and at the end of the first dny in the West, he sent the following telegram: “Temperature bully. Opened W, closed 1011”

TH* BVBMUm RKPTOLieAN. BftgfSMHLACT. IMP.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Now that peace is at hand, the women of the American Red Cross chapters are asking themselves; “What can we do,next?” War work has revealed to the members of our chapters two things—a world of work to be done in the aid of humanity and the obligation jto service. In the face of these revelations and in the knowledge of the efficiency of organization of the Red Cross, we will not be willing to become inactive. In- answer to the question which stands at the head' of this article the American Red Cross will provide specific activities for the chapters immediately. In the meantime the war council has this to say: The moment has now come to prepare for peace. Actual peace may come at any moment; it may be deferred for some time; until peace is really tfiere, there can be no relaxation tn any Red Cross effort incident to active hostilities. But even with peace let no one suppose that the work of the Red ; Cross is finished. Millions of American boys are still under arms; thousands of them are sick and wounded. Owing to a shortage in shipping,, it may take a year or more to bring our boys home from France, hut whatever the time, our protecting arms must be about them and their families over the whole period which must elapse before the normal life of peace can be resumed. Our soldiers and sailors are enlisted until the commander in chief tells them there is no more work for them to do in the war. Let every Red Cross member and worker, both men and women, show our soldiers and sailors

If, because these are war-times, or for other reasons, the bride makes up her mind to have only a simple wedding, her first step to that end will be . the ordering of a simple wedding gown. Especially if her wedding ceremony is to take place within the walls home, instead of in the church, must she consider what will harmonize best with the home as a background. Long trains and veils and elaborate wedding gowns need spacious surroundings. Where these are lacking the simpler gown leaves the best memories of a pretty wedding. The bride can forego stateliness with a good grace when she recalls all the shimmering and airy fabrics that may be chosen to make a wedding gown of whatever degree of formality. There are those misty materials like fine voile, net, organdie, georgette, and lace all to be made over an underdress of silk or satin, for these are the torms in which the wedding gown is expressed, whatever its style. And then there is the veil, always of maltoes or lace, which may be draped in so many ways that every bride may depend upon it to add to her charm. The simplest of wedding gowns is pictured on the youthful bride who chose it, in the Illustration above. It is df white net, faced about the bottom of the skirt with a wide band of white crepe georgette. Three other nands of georgette are placed about the skirt, all on the finder ride. An underslip of very soft, white satin gleams through the net. There is a draped bodice and sleeves that are elbow length of georgette. Long sleeves, partly covering the hand, are wrinkled over the forearm and disappear under the crepe drapery at the top. A chemisette of

When the Wedding Is Simple

that to care for their health, wealth and happiness, we are enlisted for no less a period than they are. The cessation of war will reveal a picture of misery such as the world has never seen before, especially in the many countries which cannot help themselves. The American people will expect the Red Cross to continue to act as their agent in repairing broken spirits and broken bodies. Peace terms and peace conditions will determine how we can best minister to the vast broken areas which have been harrowed by war, and for this great act

of mercy the heart tmd spirit of the American people must continue to be mobilized through the Americanr Red Cross. On behalf of the war council we accordingly ask each member of our splendid body of workers throughout the land to bear in mind the solemn obligation which rests around each one to carry on. We cannot abate one instant our efforts or in our spirit. There will be- an abundance of work to do and specific advices will be given, but even at the moment of peace, let no Red Cross worker-writer.

The Popular Beaver Hat.

Beaver is the fabric of the moment to millinery; it is both good looking and serviceable. Further, beaver Is, a perfect boon to the home milliner. It may be bought in strips of various widths and lengths, and a section of beaver draped about any wire or lightweight hat fram and fastened as lightly as possible, makes an altogether charming bit of headgear. The soft, fluffy-looking material is mighty becoming.

net has a round neck that is entirely plain. moire ribbon'makes the long.'sash that is wrapped twice about the waist and looped over at th* front below the waist line. Orange blossoms appear in a little cluster at the waist and in still smaller sprays where the veil is knotted at each side. Instead of a bouquet, the yoighful bride carries a white prayer book having markers of narrow white moire ribbon with loops and' knots that hold small sprays of orange blossoms. This, and the arrangement of the veil are little Innovations that add a new interest to the always interesting wedding dress. It almost goes without saying that the slippers are of plain white satin and the stockings of silk.

Morning Jacket.

Dotted swiss is as charming fol morning jackets as for the more elaborate rest robe. Its crispness is a joy and! it responds beautifully to careful laundering. An excellent way of making a sensible and comfortable morning jacket is to proceed exactly a* one would for a shirtwaist and fit the upper part just as carefully. Cut off any extra length at the waist line, add a stralght-around belt as wide as is desired, gather the bottom of the shirtwaist part to this belt and along the other edge of the belt sew a frill of material. The sleeves- may be a* elaborate or as simple as one wishes, and there may be added a deep collar in the back, cut away to a point to front to be quite comfortable.

WORDS OF WISE MEN

He who believe* In nobody know* that he himself is not to be trusted. Some men are like rusty needles; the best way to clean and brighten them 1* with work. A'gentleman is one whose courtesy Is such that It commands courtesy In other people. ——» ■ Between the great things that we cannot do and the small things we MU not do the danger is that we shall do nothing, Every person has two educations — one which he receives from others, and one more important, which he gives himself. We should choose our friends thoughtfully, wisely, prayerfully, but when we have pledged our lives we should be faithful whatever the coit may be. Each of us is bound to make the little circle in which he lives better and happier; each of us is bound to see that out of that small circle the widest good may flow. "

The virtue of hopefulness, the invincible resolve to gaze at the bright side of things is a splendid asset in the life of nations or of individuals. There is no royal road to reconstruction. The way is along the plain path of duties dally done without covetousness or greed, and that, with a better understanding of moral values, will lead to.a truer conception of life. We complacently fancy ourselves moral victors along many line* where there really has been no strong temptation to combat With generations of clear brains, temperate habits and cool, clean blood behind us, we have never had personal battle with many vices against which others must wage fierce struggle.'—Chicago Evening Post

WORLD’S PROGRESS

Portable electric machinery ha* been invented to screen coal and load it in wagons. The inventor of a pulley with depressions in its surface contends that belts will not slip when it is used. Pennsylvania’s mineral resources yielded an output valued at nearly two billion dollars last year. A motion camera has been Invented for taking portraits which are separated and mounted in book form, the appearance of motion being imparted ah the pages of the book are turned rapidly.

STATISTICAL MOTES

United States has 60,000 retailers of confectionery. Britain before the war had 100,000 retail dealers in candy. Germany’s war debt will exceed fifty billions of marks, without any Indemnities. Cleveland is said to have wasted 2,000,000 tons of coal in 1917 by indifferent methods of use. American Presbyterians plan to raise in the next five years $75,000,000 for reconstruction and social service. . '

MRS. SOLOMON, JR.

Know thou that it be far better to marry for money than to be-married for it My daughter, here be wisdom to few 'words ! Trust no widow, not even yourself if ever you become one. It is ever to be desired that your neighbor speak well, of you, yet to her heart does woman know conventionality to be a joy-snatcher. A child, my daughter, giveth chase to the honey bee and getteth his punishment speedily whereupon he doth keep away from bees in future, but silly woman pursueth man ever and forever.

NOT YET DISCOVERED

One man who knew all about fanning. A turkey that did not hide hes eggs. A living or sleeping room that does not need ventilation. A set of teeth that never" need examining. A boy who didn’t want to go to swimming a month before his mother said be cou Id. A lamb that was not liable to have worms or maggots during its first year in wooL A rail fence that did not need attention frequently during the summer season. ' ■■ A farmer who can succeed without studying books or papers on agriculture. • A farmer who got rich while contributing largely to th* hotel-keeperii bank aecount

AN AWAKENING

By JULIA A. ROBINSON.

(copyright, 19i», Uy McClure Aewepeper Syndicate.) • -i * Sally came down to breakfast at 11 o’clock. That was her usual time. She was fond of lying abed mornings—wMW did it matter? Why rise early? There was nothing to do before night; Just sitting around, going down town shopping, or to the .park. Sally yawned. “The coffee’s cold,” she complained. "I’m sorry, miss,” answered Jane. "I tried to keep it hot. Is the omelet all right?” “I don’t care for omelet, take it away,” fretted the girl. “Pm not hungry.” She pushed back her plate, rose and went into the drawing room, where her mother, In an easy chair, perused the latest novel, and her sister gazed aimlessly into the street. “I thought you were never coming,” fretted Maude, turning to her sister. “Well, I’m here, butT wish I’d stayed abed. It’s stupid sitting round waiting for something to happen.” "I’ve been up half an hour,” Maude boosted. “What’s on for tonight?” “It’s the dance at Kate Osborne’*, a great affair, but I’m getting bored with parties.” “Oh, I remember. I shall wear my pink gauze. There! I forgot to order slippers. Mamma, will yon phone for my slippers?” Her mother did not look up from her story, but answered absently: “Don’t bother me. What a chatter you make I Do be quiet.” Sally had but recently graduated from a fashionable boarding school. Maude had finished a year before. “We’ll order the car and take a ride to the park,” suggested Mande. “I can’t stay here; It's dull." “I shall stay where I am,” declared Sally from the comfort of her cushions; “you can go If you wish." “You’re always selfish!” retorted Maude. “You know papa won’t let me go alone." Hazel- Gordon was president of the young people’s Red Cross club. She had organized a circle of girls, and , they were working enthusiasticallyknitting, sewing, folding surgical dressings, taking work home, doing their utmost for the soldiers at war. To them life meant helping others. Life was earnest; they had a purpose. “Can’t we get some new members?” asked Hazel. They were gathered in her cozy parlor, sewing, their voice* buzzing. < “There’s Maude and Sally’Stimson; if we could only get them,” suggested Ida Black; “but I wouldn’t dare ask them.” “They wouldn't come,” asserted May White. “Why not?” asked Hazel, her eye* flashing. “They’ve got too much money," said May. - “They wouldn’t think they could work,” added Nina Baker. “If ’twa* a party they’d come.” “But, for the soldiers!” flashed Hazel. “We need them, and they need us, if that is the way they' fetel. Fni going to ask them to join.” “You won’t get them,” predicted Agnes Snow. "They’d feel above us, and they never work.” “It’s time they did,” asserted Hazel. “We’ll see.” Hazel did get them. She called at the Stimson mansion, walked lightly up the marble steps and rang the bell, and her heart did not falter. In glowing words she explained her mission. “We’re working for the soldiers,” she enthused, “doing the little that we can to help, and we need yon. Will you join ns? We’d so love to have yon with us!” “Why, I never sewed in my life,” confessed Sally. “I don’t know how, and I can’t knit” ’Til teach you,” smiled Hazel; “you’ll find it quite easy, and we have good times, too.” Sally became Interested. It was a new idea to be needed. “It’ll be something to do —I for one will join. What do you say, Maude?” Maude, though the elder, was led by her stronger sister,' and agreed to go for the “fun of the thing.” These girls had never thought before there was need for their help in the world. Great was the astonishment at the club when Hazel appeared with the new members, and they gave them a hearty welcome. Sally soon learned ahd worked till her unaccustomed fingers ached. When the afternoon was over she was tired, but her heart glowed with a satisfaction she had never felt before. She was good and kind; all that was needed was »the right influence to bring her out. “Isn’t it glorious, Maude?” Sally exclaimed. “I felt as though Td really been good for something. I never knew I could do so mueh.” “I pricked my fingers,” laughed Sally; “but well soon learn. Those girls must havC thought us greenhorns.” SaUy and Maude went every day to work for the soldiers. They even gave tip'dances and the theaters that they might have uaore time for work; besides, something bigger had come Into their lives and thoaghtsL Even the mother noticed the difference in her daughters. “You’re knitting all the time, Just like my grandmother,” she said. “Isn’t It better than doing nothing, mamma?” asked the sensible Sally. “T never was so happy to my life! Tm always going to work for somebody else, and not live a selfish life any longer.”