Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 166, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1919 — Page 2

Beauty and Beethoven

By R. RAY BAKER

Copyri«ht,’i«lK by th * McClure N.w«paper Syndicate.) There was nothing Angora or otherwise stylish about Beethoven. He came of a family of 'ordinary striped gray and black cuts, but lie was far from being an ordinary cat. At least such was the opinion of .Velma Blake, who occupied two romps on the third floor back in the .lordan flats, and who adopted the feline wanderer and christened him. Velma was employed as head of the music department in the Emporium five and ten-cent establishment. She was a pretty busy girl and also she was a pretty, busy girl. With or without the comma the phrase flts. She had little time to spend in the care of pets, but when a stray cat knocks at one’s door and one happens to be particularly fond of that species of animal, what can one do but offer a home! She took him in and fed him, and as he proceeded to make himself comfortable and refused to leave the vicinity of her rooms when she set him out in the hall, she was forced to the conclusion that she was elected to be the creature’s mandatory. Velma's, roommate didn't care for cats. "Why didn’t you get a dog 1 ?” she' demanded, but she managed to reconcile herself, in time, to the addition to the little family. Beethoven proved to be a mysterious being. He would vanish for two or three days at a time, and then suddenly reappear and remain at home for a period of equal length, making his arrival known by the usual wailing serenade. Velma got used to these comings and goings, for there was a certain amount of regularity about them, and soon she was able to forecast almost with certainty the day and hour the wanderer would return from his sojourn. At the front of the apartment house, in the basement, lived Ned Sayre, a bachelor young man. He shared the rooms with an acquaintance, but his life was rather lonely, for the two had little in common, although they got along well enough together. Like Velma. Ned was a cat fancier, and like her he had taken possession of one that paid hint a visit on two or three occasions when his living-room window was open. The roommate voiced some objections, but these were overruled, the Beauty; as the cat was christened, soon occupied a welcome place in the household, if two rooms and a bath may be called such. Like Beethoven. Beauty went away oh strange missions which he never explained or even tried to explain. Ned's duty as clerk in a haberdashery kept him away from home most of the day, and it is next to impossible to follow a cat in the dark, so Beauty's whereabouts during these periodical absences remained a secret. Ned was of a timid nature; that is, he was timid when g member of the other sex was in proximity. However, he had struck up an acquaintance with Velma Blake and had got to the stage where he could relapse into a day dream when crocking the busiest corner of the busiest street. He mustered sufficient courage once a week to take Velma to a theater or some other kind of entertainment, but had never been in her apartment, that being against the rules of the house. Consequently he was never introduced to her Beethoven. Such trivial subjects as - cats are not often discussed between young men and young women who are keeping company. There are more Important matters, such as musici bon-bons, automobiles. vaudeville and clothes; so why should a couple of stray pets get Into the conversation? It would be a queer way to carry on a love affair. would it not? Can you imagine a couple holding hands and at the same time a heated argument concerning the merits of their respective So. in spite of the fact that both Velma and Ned were very fond of their pets, the subject never entered their talk. Two things puzzled Ned, and the more he thought about them the more puzzled he became. One was the peculiar and repeated disappearance • of Beauty and the other was how tp win Velma for his lifelong partner. Rather a strange combination of worries for a young man, but Ned could not understand the girl any more than he could the cat. Similar mysteries concerned Velma. One was the strange absences of Beethoven, -and the other was how. to win Ned for the head of her family. If one of them had been able to look into the other’s mind there would have been no trouble about solving one of the puzzles, and of course that Was the more important one of the two. Just when it seemed that Ned and Velma were beginning to understand each other something happened that made them both miserable. Ned had arranged to take Velma to a theatrical performance, but she sent him a note saying she would be busy that evening and could not see him. It made him downcast for a while, but he recovered from the attack of the blues and invited his roomjnate to the show in Velma’s stead. On the 'way to the theater they met Velma with a young man. Ned formed the same conclusion that almost any other fellow would* have formed in similar circumstances.

He det ided that he had been "thrown over;” and, having a proud, sensitive nature, be resolved to stay away from Velma. —— He did. not know’ that the head of ihe music sales dej»artinent of the entire nation-wide chain of emporium Mores was in the city that evening to take an inventory of the two local establishments and that Velma and this official were simply on their way from one of the stores to the other when Ned saw them. When Velma said she would be busy that night she meant it in a literal sense, and'she was not entertaining some other young man, notwithstanding apiwaian<es. 1 Velma felt as bad about it as Ned, but she likewise possessed a considerable amount of pride; and, knowing she was in the right. although realiz- • ing the circumstantial evidence was against her, she would not permit herself to take the first step toward a reconciliation. One . evening, shortly after the “busy" one. while she was trying to read and failing because of thoughts that intruded, she suddenly came to a realization that Beethoven had disappeared. He had been in the room only a moment previous and must have slipped out when Velma went to the ice box at the eud of the hall. Here was a chance to give her mind diversion and at the same time perhaps fathom the mystery of the missing cat. She stepped to the door and looked out. , 1 Yes, far down the hall was Beethoven, just starting down the stairs. She followed him to the second and then to the first'floor, and finally into the back part of the basement, which was used -as a storeroom and Which contained. the furnace. From a distance she saw the cat crawl through a window of the basement, ahd she hurried upstairs and darted outside. Beethoven was walking close to the building, peering into various windows that came in his way. She saw him stop before one near the front of the house; and as she watched a hand came out of the aperture and seized the cat, drawing him inside. Without stopping to consider whose room Beethoven had entered, Velma hurried to the window and stood looking down at Ned holding the cat in his arms. "What are you doing with my cat?” she demanded, in what was intended to be stern tones. "Your ent?” Ned inquired, trying to be somewhat cold. "What do you mean? This is my cat.” "He’s mine and his name is Beethoven !" she snapped. • Each looked defiance at the other for a moment, then smiles took the place of scowls on both the f«ces. "We both seem to own him,” Velma said, demurely, kicking a pebble with her small boot "What can we do to settle It?” A desperate thought entered Ned’s mind. Here was a chance to find out his fate and all the uncertainty he had been laboring under for months. Fearing he would be lost if he hesitated, he gave voice to the big idea without waiting for a chance to change his mind. Standing there framed by the basement window, a cat crawling over his shoulder, looking up eagerly somewhat timorously at a girl outside who was kicking a pebble around foolishly to hide her confusion, he said: "There's only one way 1 know. Let’s form a permanent partnership of ourselves. and that will make all three of us happy. At least, I am in hopes that it will.” She gave the pebble a furious kick that sent it spinning away. “It sure will,” was her reply.

TRIBUTE TO ESKIMO SKILL

Explorer Confesses Admiration at Manner in Which the Native Igloo Is Constructed. In his “Four Years in the White North,” Donald B. MacMillan writes the following appreciative passage, with its tribute to craftsmanship and orderliness: •it is a pleasure to see an Eskimo cut and handle snow. One cannot but admire the skill and dexterity with which he cuts on the surface, creaks it out with his toe, lays it up on the wall, bevels the edges, and thumps it into place with his hand. I wonder if there are any mother people in the world who attempt to build an arch or dome without support? Starting from the ground in a spiral from right to left, the blocks mount higher and higher, ever assuming a more horizontal position, until the last two or tjiree appear to hang in the air, the last block locking the whole structure. “Entering a newly constructed igloo seems like a vision of fairyland, the light filtering through the snow a beautiful ethereal blue; everything—the bed, the two side platforms, the wall—absolutely spotless.”

Inquisitive Bird.

Some birds are awfully curious and want to know what is going on. So if they see a human being in their neighborhood they will come close to investigate and perhaps to, scold, and one of these birds is the Kentucky warbler, says the Forestry association, Washington. This bird has a preference for woods which are low and damp and ordinarily keep well within the depths of tangled thickets. Tbe warbler, which ranges throughout tha eastern Unified States, spends its winter in northern South America.

Tongue-Tied.

Clara —Did you ever see a woman who was tongue-tied? Clarence —No, but I’ve seen lots of them who ought to be !- —Answers. f

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER* IND.

Dress Accessories

Pnrasols for a season or so contented themselves with plain coverings, and attended to their duty with much singleness of purpose. But now- that we may think of something else besides duty, they are unfurled under this summer’s sun touched up with pretty embellishments as in time gone by. They take their cue from hats to be worn with them, and pass it on to bags, so that there are twopiece and three-piece sets td match. Considering the chic of these matched sets it is very well worth while to choose hats and bags and parasols with reference to one another, Instead of quite independently. Usually it is the art of the milliner that inspires the decoration of parasol or bag that brings these feminine belongings Into the class of the hat worn with them. An example this appears in the dressy hat of black chantilly lace trimmed with ribbon and flowers and .the lace-draped parasol shown at the left of the picture above. Here the parasol is covered with the same silk as that which makes the foundation of the hat, bordered with the same ribbon as that in the band about the hat and finally veiled with the same fine black lace. There is a deep fall of lace about the edge of the parasol repeating the narrow, curtain of lace about the edge of the hat brim.

At the Seashore

There is variety enough in beach attire to furnish, besides the standard end conservative beach and swimming suits, many novelties. Certain smart shops assure their patrons that they have models that are exclusive and unique—which goes to show that women garb themselves for beach and bathing with ever-increasing care. This season’s beach clothes are attractive, and the outstanding features in them are modesty and graceful designing. The beach cape In addition to the suits, has made Itself worthy of special mention. Nothing is better than the worsteds, in which many designs have been carried out. In addition there are fiber and mercerized suits and finally taffetas and satins to be considered along with accessories, the caps, shoes, sandals and hose that make up the bathing outfit. For the girl who swims considerably and needs a strong, practical suit, the hair line stripes in pure worsted offer attractive models. They are made in two-color combinations, the long overbody bordered with plain worsted In the color of the stripe, and the trunks of the striped material. In nearly all worsted suits two colors are used or a color and white to give character. Two of the new satin suits are shown in the picturq, with an tion in bloomers inviting attention in the model at the left. This suit Is made of black satin embroidered in green wool. The bloomers are fashioned much like riding breeches and the overgarment is merely the ever-pres-tat stuoCk with a girdle of green yam

In the center of the picture a threepiece set reveals the effectiveness of tile new heavy silk weaves when used in accessories for street dress. A plain and checked silk make up the hat, bag and parasol, whose story is fully told by the photograph. Finally a plain silk parasol gets Into line with one of the summer outstanding style features by means of figures worked about It in white wool. Decoration of this kind appears on hats, bags.. frocks and wraps in endless designs and colors. It is an easy way in which td bring yesteryear's parasol up to date.

Gay Handbags.

Particular attention has been paid to. handbags this season by the manufacturers. Frames of gold, silver, colored celluloid and shell are used. A bag of black satin has embroidered on its sides a colorful design in wooden beads. Another of dark blue faille Is made gay with oriental embroidery.

Popular Straws.

Lisere and milan straws are very popular for hats but the latter straw is difficult to obtain. Ribbons, ostrich fancies, flowers of straw, velvet or silk and various kinds of feathers, ara used as trimmings. As to colors it would seem that any of those found in the rainbow are popular.

braided and ending in tassels. Satin sandals and a smart satin cap suggest that this is more of a beach- outfit than swimming suit. The cape is reversible. The sulf at the right Is not meant to meet any very strenuous demands, but to look pretty while it lasts. It Is made of purple satin, trimmed with folds of .orchid satin and a turban of the orchid satin caps it off. These colors are apt to be unstable between sun and water, but the same model in black or navy blue with white bands will last out a season.

Rainbow Ribbon Hat.

A delightfully unique hat for summer wear is the rainbow ribbob one. It is made by sewing row upon row of one-inch-wide grosgrain ribbon upon a buckram mushroorp shape. Start with a* delicate pink at the central point of the crown and go round twice and then put in two.rows of a champagne color. After the champagne use two rows of a pinkish tan. Thereafter follow two rows of the pink, and this colpr is followed by. a pinkish lavender color for the next two rows. After completing this cycle just simply start all over again with the champagne ribbon. Panels of embroidery, more often placed on the side of a frock rather than, at the front or back, are In evidence on elaborate dresses.

HOME TOWN HELPS

BUILD WITH IDEA OF BEAUTY House Should Never Be Planned Solely Along Lines of Economy and Practical Utility. An earnest plea for more beauty in building is submitted by a writer in the magazine Touchstone, who says in part: “Building a home should be approached with reverence as well as joyous enthusiasm. There is no adventure in life more fraught with romance than the creating of a home. We are apt to turn to the past for precedent in architectural styles, whereas we should concern ourselves chiefly with the honest expression of our needs and surroundings. “Love of beauty was almost a religion with the Greeks., To build an ugly thing was a misdemeanor punishable with ostracism. Our country would be a much more delightful and much more agreeable place to live in if our home builders were guided by wise architects who took as much thought for beauty as they do for economy and profit. Every home is an investment, and a beautiful home returns far more interest on the money expended than does an ugly one. “Would it not be well for us, now that we are facing an era of home building such as the world has seldom known, to pause a little and approach our task with greater carefulness? We should remember that we are building for the future as well as for present delight and that our descendants may turn to our work with respect, as we look into the past and bow before the genius of the ancient master builders.”

TRELLIS EASY TO CONSTRUCT

Twisted Wires Support Sweet-Pea Plants in a Most Satisfactory Manner. A very satisfactory sweet-pea trellis can be made by stretching wires on a frame of two-inch hard wood or one-inch pipe, the length of the frame being the same as the length of the

rows. The wires should be placed loosely about the frame, as shown, then tightened by twisting them with a spike. A trellis of this kind can be used for several years, and if desired can be removed at the end of each season. —Popular Mechanics Magazine.

Red Raspberries on Town Lot.

Just a small patch of a good variety of red raspberry will afford fresh fruit for the table for many weeks. Some of the new varieties are ever-bearing. Perhaps one of the best is the Erskine Park. In setting out the plants first manure and spade the bed as for a garden. If the plants are trained to a wire trellis they can be set two feet apart. Six or eight plants will be sufficient for an average family and ought to produce at least a pint a day from ea<ti plant. By having so few plants, they can be watered and well cared for. Hand weeding about the plant is always the best way to cultivate raspberries. — Thrift Magizine.

Do You Think It Paid?

St. Joseph, Mo., employed a fulltime expert garden instructor last year who organized the pupils of the elementary school into garden clubs. About 3,000 pupils reported that they were doing garden work before the schools closed in June, says Their superintendent. Of this number 2,394 entered their names for membership in the United States school garden army. The school children gardened 32 acres’ without help and helped their parents work an area of 394 acres. Although the season was very unfavorable, a conservative estimate of the food produced by the pupils would be $15,000 at market prices.

Keep the City Clean.

With springtime usually comes a “clean up” campaign, and a. movement in that direction is general in cities and towns throughout the United States. Appeal is made to civic pride, and people are urged to make their localities better place? in which to live. This is good and desirable. But why not keep cleaning up all the year round? If things are not thrown into the streets, particularly bits of waste paper, they will not have to be picked up. Receptacles for refuse, if placed in back yards, and used, will help much in maintaining a condition of neatness. The cleanly habit can easily be ao <uired- . „

SCRAPS of HUMOR

Clever. Johnson and Timson were discussing Jackson. “He’s an ideal clerk.” “Is he?” “Knows more about the business than the boss.” “Yes?” “And without letting the boss suspect it, too.” —London Answers. Through a Glass Easily. The Optician—You need spectacles, sir. You are farsighted. Just sit down and we’ll — The Prospect—Hold on, here. The man across the street said I was nearsighted, so I came over here. The Optician—Exactly. You are farsighted in passing him up and coming to me. Absolutely Veracious. “Mayme says she’s twenty-five. Do you believe that?” “Of course I do, for to my certain knowledge she was that ten years ago.” The Reason. "Why did Maud want to go into the garden, ma?” “Maybe it was because she thought she would find Sweet William there.” The Difference. “I’m glad I’m not Mrs. Brown’s husband. He’s always in a pickle.” “I wish I were Mrs. Robinson’s husband. He looks so well preserved.” Accounted for. "Why do they always speak of vessels as in the feminine gender?” “Maybe one reason is that they’re generally trimming their sails.”

HE EXPLAINS. “Doctor, why don’t you cure more people with your advice?” “Because a lot of them don’t followdt, my friend.” Finishing Advice. The nurse to the baby, crooning, so. Softly sings, “By-low, by-low.” While the baby’s business pa doth cry, “That's right, buy low, but, son, sell high.” The Reason of It “Your friend has a very peculiar gait.” “It ought to be a very natural one, for he’s always on the fence." Homeopathic Treatment “Why do you keep blowing that awful horn in your apartment and deafen the other tenants?” “Just to keep the baby quiet.” Doubly True. Manager—What is your complaint about our telephone service, sir?” Subscriber —It won’t answer, sir; It won’t answer. Self-Approving. “Our friend contradicts himself!” “Yes. He likes to do all the talking so well that he handles both sides of the argument.” The Modern Question. "We don’t ask who is the head of the family any more.” “No?” “No. That’s old stuff. Now we ask who is the driver of the family car?” % Quite So. "Isn’t Mrs. Quizzy a decided brunette?” “Is she? Well, when she opens her mouth in that house, what she says goes!” Not the Best. She—l wouldn’t marry the best man living. ♦ == He—Well, that gives me a little hope anyway. The Scholarly Cut; “You did not speak to him?”, “No,” replied the scholarly girL “When I passed him I gave blip the geological survey.” “The geological survey I” . “Yes. What Is commonly known aa the stony stare.” —Lehigh Burr. Always With Him. “Come out with us tonight, old chap, and we’li give you a howling time of it” - “Thanks, boys, but the baby attends to that” * _ 5 .., ■