Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 193, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1919 — STORIES of AMERICAN CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORIES of AMERICAN CITIES

May Wear Suspenders and Still Be a Christian ___ * COLUMBUS, O.—A man may wear suspenders and still be a Christian. And no one has the right to blacklist him for it. either. This Solomonic decision has just been rendered by Judge E. B. Kinkead of this city in a case which

arose in Holmes county involving the beliefs and practices of the Amish Mennonites. Judge Kinkead |s unbiased as to religion, and he is without prejudice, too, in the matter of suspenders. Ip the winter time Judge Kinkepd wears suspenders, in the summer a belt. Eli Ginerich is an Amish Mennonite farmer of Holmes county- He is fifty-two, but looks seventy. He believes in wearing suspenders. It isnO

one’s business, he says, how a man holds up his trousers, so long as he holds them up. He is also opposed to “meidening,” or blacklisting, by the church. Ginerich persisted in wearing suspenders. He also discarded the little peajacket which true Amish Mennonites are supposed to wear. It is possible, too, that he rode in a buggy with a dashboard and a whip socket. He defied the church rules against suspenders and the church punished him by “meidehlng” him. - t Life becoming unbearable in the Miller church, to which he belonged, he transferred his membership to the Bunker Hill church, and in this church the men may hold their trousers up as they please, and even own automobiles. In the old Miller church neighborhood Ginerich had become ostracized. He was unable to obtain help on his farm. The cider mills refused to handle his He was even denied the privilege of attending his daughter’s wedding and could not attend the feast that followed. He became estranged from his child. Then Ginerich went to court to establish his rights in the eyes of his fellowmen. He brought suit against seven bishops and elders of the Amish Church. Judge Kinkead, who went to Millersburg, heard the case with the aid of Interpreters and granted Ginerich the injunction he asked for, but denied him damages. - .

Cheyenne Girl Is Model for Frontier Day Poster CHEYENNE, WYO.—Those fortunate eastern tourists who saw “Frontier Days” performances were loud in expression of admiration of the official poster, and thereby hangs a tale of which the easterners probably never heard.

Controversy between the East and the West on the question, “Who will pose for Cheyenne’s Frontier Days’ poster?” was spirited. The decision went to the West, and it was a typical western girl, Helen Bonham of Cheyenne, who was selected for the model of the poster. By the selection of Miss Bonham supporters of the movement to obtain a western girl model obtained just the young lady wanted —one who at one time held the world’s title as champion woman

broncho buster, a participant in scores of ■western “round-ups,” “stampedes, and pioneer-day riding and roping contests, both in the western United States and western Canada, where she was prominent in frontier exhibitions in Calgary, Alberta. Furthermore, Miss Bonham halls right from Cheyenne, the home of this particular frontier days’ fete. So hot had become the dispute over the model question that Mrs. Jack Elliott, a star rider of Cheyenne, resolved on something spectacular. Dashing up Capitol avenue on a black horse, across the sidewalks, and up the steep steps of the state capitol, she carried a message to Governor Carey. The document was a request from a committee of Wyoming girls, addressed to Frontier day officials through the governor, asking that the model for “Miss Wyoming” be selected only from among the young women of the state. It was signed by Miss Laura,Ramsay, secretary of the Y. W. C. A..

Why the Preacher Shot the Blue Jay in Church SAUNDERSVILLE, GA—Agitated over the wrong done their pastor, Rev. W. A. Wray, In published reports of the shooting of a blue jay during church services on Jyne 8, members of the Baptist church here have issued an

official communique in which the facts are set forth. Here is the official statement signed by the chairman of the board of deacons and the church clerk: “Before, and afteF, the Sabbath school hour every'-, conceivable effort was made to put the bird out of the building, but the ceiling being so high above the tops of the windows it was Impossible. As the squawking of the bird so interrupted the work of the Sabbath school, it was thought best to

remove it before the preaching hour. During the intermission a small gun was sent for, which shoots a cartridge about the size of one’s little finger, loaded with mustard shot. This gun was placed in an anteroom that it might be used as a last resort. “The bird continued to squawk as the pastor endeavored to read the Scripture. It was then fully realized that the service must either be dismissed or the bird shot. The pastor then stated if the bird continued to shriek he would have to shoot him, though he hated to do so. This was before the sermon. The minister did not go to his home after the gun, but opened the door of the anteroom, secured the gun, shot the bird, which was in the dome of the church. “On the following Sunday, June 15, the church in conference, by a unanimous rising vote, signified that the action of the pastor in the entire proceedlngs whs correct, and essential for the good of the cause.”

How They Get Rid of Automobiles in a Big City HICAGO. —An ad Inserted in a morning paper conveyed the information that Mrs. A. W. Johnston of the Shercombe hotel at 4035 Sheridan road desired to get rid of her sky blue roadster. A man who gave the name of McDonald

met her in the hotel lobby. He was accompanied by his country cousin, who said he was in the market for a car. The trio stepped into the “bus’ and up and down Sheridan road they whisked for more than an hour. “Soars like a baby carriage with wings,” mused the prospective customer. Riding on the smooth boulevard satisfied the “country cousin,” but he was doubtful as to its ability to “make”

the country roads. Mrs. Johnson was averse to driving 25 miles to find a country road, so they decided to motor up some of the bumpy thoroughfares in North Edgewater. This test also was satisfactory. “What’ll you say to a cash deposit of $600?” said McDonald. So it was agreed. They would drive to the Great Northern hotel, whers McDonald had left the key for his safety deposit vault. Then he would give When they reached Monroe street on the way to the hotel, the country cousin suddenly remembered that he owed his wife a phone call, so he stepped out of the machine. Nothing out of the ordinary, thought Mra. Johnston. ‘ Soon they were In front of the hotel. McDonald brough Mrs. Johnston tote the waiting room and whispered that “he'd be back in a couple of seconds.” She waited for five minutes. Then she decided to go out and have a la* look at her car. « She was five minutes too late; it was gone.