Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1920 — Page 2

Mother and the Solomon Islands

By H. LOUIS RAYBOLD

<©. ISM. by MeClur* N.w«p*p«r Syadicat*.) “Yes. we atm to go the first week in May,” said Mother Burgess, smoother her starched white apron with wrinkled hands. Christine, home for the Christmas holidays, regarded her mother with consternation. “I don’t believe it, mother.” she declared. “Of course, all my life I have heard father say that when we children were grown up he was going to sea again, but I never thought it would actually happen.* “Yes,” continued her mother, “he’s going to take his money out of the bank this week and buy the Mary Lee that’s down by the dock of Nicholson's boat yard.” “But the Solomon Islands!” groaned Christine. “Why does he insist on going there?" “Well, mostly,” answered her mother, “because it'S about the only place he's never been.” Moved by a sudden impulse, the girl rose from her chair, went over to her mother and placed two strong young arms on the other’s thin shoulders. “Tell me the truth, mother.” she demanded fiercely. “Do you really want to go, or are you doing it just to please dad?” ‘ For an instant her mother looked at her with eyes that were defiantly steadfast; then, beneath the girl’s determined .gace, her own glance wavered and felt

“Christine." she said, “I dread the thought of it. I know Hl be seasick, and rm scared to death of the savages, and I don’t want to leave my home and my white Wyandottes, and the quilt I'm making for the county fair and ” - “I understand," said Christine, soothingly. ‘‘Won't you let me explain to father?” “Don’t you say a word to him, not a word!" insisted her mother. “Why, I should be so ashamed to have him know I was afraid. Ever since he had to give up going when you children were born, he planned to take this trip, and it would simply break his heart to give it up. Promise!” Christine did so reluctantly. Not until bedtime, in the quiet of the loweaved room which had been hers since childhood, did she turn from contemplation of her mother’s problem to consideration of her own. She had agreed, when she returned to the city, to say “yes” or “no" to the middleaged principal of the school where she taught—and she didn't think she wanted to say “yes.” But, on the other hand, neither did she want to watch the years creep by, each one a little gayer, bringing with them no home of which she could be mistress, no little children to wash and dress, and, very, very occasionally, •cold. After all, wasn't a pleasant, cultured, elderly husband better than one room in a boarding house, meals out?

During the next few days Christine managed several chats with her father. And if at times it did seem that he overemphasized the desirabilities of the voyage and minimized its drawbacks, Christine at first accepted it all as merely the enthusiasm of a man who sees about to be accomplished a project anticipated for many long years. True, she noticed a very decided shadow cross the rugged face when her mother asked what he proposed to do with the experimental stand of alfalfa tn the field next to the wood lot. Also, when she remarked casually that for the first time in twenty years the county fair prize for the best thoroughbred heifer would go to somebody else than Captain Eric Burgess. "Have you bought the Mary Lee yet, dad?” she asked one morning. "No—l haven’t,” said her father. "But I don’t think there’s any great hurry.” “Mr. Nicholson owns it?” asked Christine.

"Yes,” replied the captain. Christine remembered Mr. Nicholson very well —a kindly bld man. And she remembered his son, too —a tall, slim, young fellow with attractive eyes who had graduated one class ahead of her from the high school. That afternoon Christine wandered down by the river to look at the Mary Lee. There she was, her gray bulk moored out beyond the rise and fall of the tide, her gaunt masts silhouetted against the somber winter sky. ■ Christine shuddered, picturing her rheumatic father and her frail old mother careening over the billowing Pacific, bound for tropic isles and coral-reefed lagoons. Such wanderings were for the young and strong. ‘And yet she could not imagine her father voluntarily turning back, once he had put hte band to the plow. Only, fate could alter hte plans—and she decided to play fate. Picking her way Over tarry hawsers and empty casks, she found her way to.the dingy office with its door letNicholson & Son. Not without At her entrance arose a tall young gray eyes. Christine, taken aback, could only «pected to see your

hand. “Why, it's Christine Burgess!" he exclaimed. After a moment of recalling mutual acquaintances, “I have come on a peculiar errand," confessed Christine. “No doubt you know about the trip ■my father is planning.” Be aodded his head gravely, not thinking it necessary to add that every person within a radius of thirty miles knew of Captain Eric's -contemplated voyage. “I know my father has not bought the Mary Lee yet. And—oh, isn’t there anybody else you know that wants to buy it?” she asked desperately. “Why. yes,” said the man thoughtfully. "There is a party who might consider IL He has' talked about buying it, but, like yopr father, I imagine, thinks the market is not very active and that there is no great hurry.” “Oh, If only you could sell it to him first!" cried Christine, "I hardly dare suggest iL but for mother’s sake —and for his, too, I would be glad to do anything to prevent their plans!” “I understand," said Barry Nicholson, sympathetically. “And I’ll tell you what I can do. I’ll call up this man and tell him there's another bidder for the boat. That will hurry up his decision. If he decides in favor, you can tell your father it is sold. How about my coming up tonight and giving yon the results?" he asked eagerly. Pretty, brown-eyed girls with lilting voices did not happen in his office very often. _ — And Christine, after saying that she would expect him, walked home, wondering why, all of a sudden,' saying “yes" to pleasant but elderly principals seemed so out of the question. Next day Christine was able to seek her father. "You’ve heard about the Mary Lee, dad?" she began tentatively. “No." said her father, concealed behind tha paneik n "===a; “It’s sold!" said Christine. “Sold!" cried her father, laying down his sheet and eyeing his guilty daughter over the top of his spectacles. “sold?”

“Yes,” nodded Christine. “Will—will it make any difference about your trip?” — Her father wrinkled his brow. I suppose," he said slowly, “I could look around for another boat.” Christine’s heart sank. But—“No, no!" her father was thundering, pounding his fist on the table. “If I can’t have the Mary Lee I won't go at all. She was the only boat in these parts for such a trip. But,” he lowered his voice, “your poor mother. Tm sorry for her. It will break her heart” A week later Barry persuaded Christine that, knowing each other as they had for years, they were foolish to waste any more time in becoming engaged. And, oddly enough, Christine agreed with him absolutely. And as a prospective member of the family, she confided to him a secret she had had locked In her heart. “Barry, dear,” she whispered, “I don’t think that I would ever have dared block father’s plans if I hadn’t had a feeling that he was aching for an excuse to get out of it all. Things that you plan when you’re young and energetic may lose their charm when you get old. Anyway, he would never have given in himself. He’s full of stubborn pride, if he Is a perfectly dear parent. But between us we gave him just the proper shred of an excuse !”

And when they went to share their happiness they found the old people sitting contentedly on opposite sides of the red-cloth table—the captain plotting his annual garden with the help of several of last year’s seed catalogues, his wife placidly piecing her quilt. , After the news had been told Caph Eric looked across the table. “Mother,” he said, “it looks as if the last of our children was being taken off our hands. Now when we want to go to the Solomons, there’ll be nothing to keep us home. For were going some day, mother and I,” he assured the young couple. “Mother just eats adventure, don't you, mother?” And mother nodded gayly.

Clarus.

Claras is one of the comparatively new metals, or alloys, an amalgam of aluminum. It -is made commercially in Birmingham, England. One claim for it is that it is 60 per cent stronger than aluminum, while its weight is but one-third that of brass. It will take a high polish, equal to that which may be obtained with silver. It has the merit of keeping its luster, even when exposed to the most trying atmospheric conditions. Unlike many metals it is not brittle when cast and tn that form it can be bent cold and. moreover, the castings are sound and free from blowholes. This alloy is said to be Suitable for motorcars, electric railroad and airplane trimmings.

How She Heard.

Mrs. Flatbush —I am certainly very glad to meet you. I have heard so much about you. Mrs Bensonhurst —Oh. indeed! Then you are the woman who has been stealing my servants from me!

The New Competition.

"Competition is the life of trade.” *1 suppose so,” replied the wearylooking woman. “You ought to have seen the competition L got into today for a chance to buy what I wanted at the bargain counter.” .

Sweet Thing.

Mrs. Flatbush —How many lumps of sugar shall I put in your coffee this Mr. Flatbush—Oh. have your own

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

THERE are party dresses and party dresses; some of them of taffeta silk, some of georgette crepe and many of sheer white materials, for little maids from six to twelve. Crisp taffeta is always pretty and it helps out when angles are sharp or colors more becoming than white. Everyone can wear georgette and nearly everyone looks well in voile or net, especially when they veil a favorite color in a silk slip. The party frock pictured here happens to be of white net, but it would be just as dainty In voile or georgette. There Is not much to say of it that is not told by a glance rt the picture, it is so simply designed. That is the greatest of virtues in this season’s styles, however, and is a good beginning for any frock. There are rows of beautifully precise tucks above the hem in the skirt and the bodice is merely a frivolous and glorified smock with pointed skirt and short sleeves. Little frills of net at the neck and sleeves and on the bottom.

Millinery Proclaims Spring

IN millinery shops winter is a thing of the past; early spring millinery Is blooming in them, emulating certain flowers that peep up through the snow in northern climes. In the. South spring has already arrived. But even, when It is far off women like to anticipate its coming with hats that make cheerful promises. Certain materials are adapted to these early spring—or more accurately between seasons hats. Brilliant surfaces in fabrics and straws that look sturdy—whether they are or not, ribbons and fabrics and new productions that we are making the acquaintance of. One of these appears in the dignified hat for a matron which appears at the top of the group. The shape is a black braid, called “lisere,” with a collar of wide black satin ribbon folded irregularly about its crown. Above this are two fluted bands, or frills, of a material called cellophane. It is black and brilliant in this hat, like jeL but one finds it on spring mllHbery in colors and both transparent and opaque. Flowers and fruits are made of it Cellophane looks more like the strips of film used for making moving pictures than like a fabric and ft is probably a very similar composition. It has been used in many ways or spring hats, both in the construction of them and for making trim-. mings. Rtbhon and narrow braid used together make the pretty hat at the left, trimmvd with two blossoms with stem

Gay Party Dresses

of the smock make a happy ending for this brief story. A narrow ribbon girdle with ends might replace the plain belt, if any little girl should express a longing for an old favorite of this kind. There are some pretty party dresses in which under bodices and sleeves of net are revealed by slips of crepe-de-chine that have only suspenders of the silk over the shoulders. These have narrow belts of the silk and the net depends upon tucks and puffs for adornment. Sleeves are elbow length or a little shorter. On crepe-de-chine and georgette frocks we are almost sure to find smocking and we shall not look far without running across the finest white and colored organdies in the most alluring of gay dresses. One of the prettiest ways in which organdy was ever used appears this season in dresses of gay fine cottons, in pink, blue or yellow, having the short bodice veiled with organdy, organdy girdle and sash with wide-bow, and a narrow border of it at the bottom of the skirt

and leaf, crocheted of wool yarn. There is no end of yarn on spring millinery, used in embroidered effects, other needle work and in yarn flowers or fruits. Net or crepe georgette find themselves associated with sipper straw in many a beautiful hat for early spring. The small, round straws have a very high luster and designers reveal exhaustless ingenuity In using them. In the hat at the right of the group above a round-cornered sailor of georgette has a band made of squares of sipper straw and a pattern of it applied to the brim. Sipper straw made a successful entry in the millinery drama two seasons ago. The difficulty of working it up makes the hats long in price, but that has not prevented them from growing in popularity... The last hat in the group is one of many pretty and very practical hats made of Batavia cloth, which, with hair doth, is a strong factor in the new styles. It has embroidered foliage outlined with raffia braid—and raffia is another item' which must be reckoned with f<» r spring. Handwork, above all dominates the new styles so that wool yarn, raffia, sipper straw and silk appear in embroideries in crocheted flowers end in the body of h«tR.

America’s Assets: People, Institutions, as Well as Physical Resources.

By SECRETARY FRANKLIN K. LANE

mineral resources and of our industries. We are in every way a young people, and we look at things with youthful daring and with youthful selfishness, too. No one has said that we are lacking in self-appreciation. We are emotional, sentimental, romantic, idealistic, and these things go for the making of standards which affect us in everything we do. Our sense of humor and our common sense save us from extremes and keep these up-in-the-air tendencies within the limitations of practicability. With this kind of a nature, a daring, aggressive, mastering nature, tempered by standards of fair play, plus a good conceit of ourselves and. analmost inordinate ambition to excel, individually and collectively, there is not much danger of our becoming stagnant or settling down complacently or cynically into a flat-footed life. We shall not do things in the twentieth century in the same way we did them in the nineteenth, but we shall have the same purpose which is to give to every man his chance. We will not permit ourselves as a people to be rounded up into a mass and rolled into a jelly cake, so to say but as individuals we shall feel a responsibility to meet the challenges which physical and social conditions give.——— — J

United States Senate Slave to Hoary Tradition, Custom and Precedent.

By SENATOR DAVIS ELKINS

Mv experience and observations as a member of the United States senate have convinced me that the rules of that body should be changed to conform with our modern methods of doing business expeditiously. Ihe senate is hampered in prompt and efficient action quickly responsive to the wishes of the American people by antiquated methods. It is a slave to hoary traditions, custom and precedent. _ —. The senate wastes time, doesn’t function efficiently, is almost always behind in registering public sentiment, and is unbusinesslike and entirely out of step with modern methods, all because it has tied itself helplessly with a set of rules which are out of date and because it blindly worships outworn, inefficient and impractical customs, precedents and practices. I think that the senate should come to and wake upj and get itself on a modem business foundation. ‘lt needs to be made over so as to function efficiently and promptly respond to the will of the people, whose servant it is. The place to make that beginning is on its aged and moss-covered, rules.

Fifteen Years May Be Added to the Average American Term of Life.

By DR. W. J. MAYO

Fifteen years has been added to the average length of human life in the United States of America since the Civil war. In the work of the medical profession lies the best hope for the future. With our present knowledge and under present conditions fifteen years more might be added to the life of man in this country within the next twenty years. It is certain that ten years will be added at the most productive age from the standpoint of industry and will greatly aid in maintaining our position as the most productive nation. \ When I was a boy it was difficult for a man of 40 to find a new job, and for a man of 80 it was practically impossible. Today the older men are great assets to the country. In the prolongation of their lives their skill and experience in their particular work counts for much. They are less inflammable; they have family ties and responsibilities; they have something to lose; so that they are less under the influence of the violent agitator. If, as a nation, we advance the time of production for each person ten years we can well afford to shorten hours of work and improve living conditions. We shall be able to compete with those countries in which long hours and poor living conditions shorten human life and eventually decrease production and increase social unrest

Some Reasons Why a Chilean Visitor Says He Is Ardent Yankophile.

Because when a person falls down nobody laughs. — The shopkeepers can leave their deliveries on the doorstep. People keep in line at ticket offices and have respect for each other’s place in the line. Everybody takes a bath. The people know how to walk in the streets, always passing to the right and they do not stop to talk. There is only “first class” on railroad trains and special cars for smokers. • ’ Drunkards in that country are an extinct species. ♦ The name doesn’t make the man, but the man the name. It is a sign of ill-breeding not to respect the opinions pf others. (There are tOO religions in that country.) \ Youths of 18 are in the universities, and not m the stock nrnsvm os’ saloons. ” ■ Democracy co-exists with the government

The basis for confidence in the future of America, lies in its past and its present; in its past, because we can see what has been done; in its present, because we know what we have that can be the basis of future development. Our assets ate our people, our institutions, our physical resources. That is to say, we have greater resources than the mere continent itself. The breed of men that, we have, their attitude toward life and each other is more important even than the number of our acres and the greatness of our

.American College of Surgeons.

ARTICLE IN ULTIMAS NOTICIAS

in New York Times.

of West Virginia.