Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1901 — Page 2

Two words that belong to America. Two words that mean as much to-day as they did in 1776, whan the people threw off the bands that bound them and became free. There isn’t a man or woman er a child in all this great country who should not bo proud of America. Wo are a nation of all people of the earth, and for a wise purpose Providence has blessed America beyond our wildest dreams. On the Fourth of July, 1901, the flag that is a guarantee of Freedom and Liberty floats over countless school houses where education is free. It floats over countless churches where the rich and poor may worship Ood according to the dictates of their consciences, without let or hindrance. It floats over the homes of prosperous mechanics, farmers, laborers—homes that contain more comforts, more luxuries, more happy families than can be found in any other country on the globe. Old Glory floats over a happy, patriotic, united, sympathetic people, whose ears are quick to detect the cry of the suffering, whose hearts beat warm for the afflicted. Its folds envelop noble women who are the equals of men, and men who honor all women as they honor their mothers. It flutters to the winds of heaven and gives notice to kings and queens and emperors that a mighty nation has been founded on truth and honor and the equality of all men, and that its course has been up and up and is still upward until no human brain can conceive a limit to the glorious destiny of this great republic. It is good to be an American. It is a glorous privilege to live where the sun shines on a liberty-loving, contented people. We have taxes—and the ability to pay them. We have strikes, but wise men and wise counsels are every year bringing employe and employer nearer together. Wo havo trusts and great brains that will suggest and carry out measures that ijill make of the corporations servants, not masters. We have poverty, but our poor are better situated than the poor of Europe. Pessimists have said that our form of government could not last. They said it a hundred years ago, and to-day it is greater and grander than ever. Be thankful! Be glad that you have played a part in guiding this laud to the glorious position it occupies; that you and your children are a part of a government of the people and for the people. Praise God in His infinite kindness that the blessings are so many and that you have lived to enjoy them, and on this Fourth of July, 1901, the one hundred and twentyfifth anniversary of the nation's birth, sing with a chorus of 76,000,000 people: "My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet Land of Liberty.”

THE CANNON-CRACKER. IT was a Chinese cracker, All clad In glowing red, I.iW trembling in a wood en box, Beside our Tommy's bed. "To morrow," sighed the At XJfr* W<.i cracker, lf> “Unless I swiftly fly Iff? Long ere the shining sun B* ’ll JB* Is up, ti ? A JI. I shall most surely .die!" Out of the box he clambered, With many a glance of dread (Where Tommy, dreaming of the Fourth, Lay tossing on his bed. The cracker, trembling greatly. Then hied him to a wood. And sought a dark and lonely dell, Where drops of moisture stood On flowers and grass. He chuckled, “Thia Is the place for me,” And eat down on a cold, damp stone, Beside a mossy tree. The woodland creatures gathered, And gaxed with startled eyes. And llatened to his tale of woe With murmurs of surprise. Said the selfish, boastful crackers “You see, I used my wits. Mr brothers In that fatal box * Will all be blown to bits; “While I. because I reasoned. And dared to act-" Per BANG! 1 I 'A terrible explosion Throughout the woodland rang. Jt was a frisky firefly Toyed with that dangling cue; And Into countless pieces The cannon-cracker flew! »Mary Marshall Parks, In St. Nicholas.

AUNT HULDAH’S 4TH.

<T> UNT HULDAH GREEN was lu /A\ a great bustle, and the humble household about her felt its influence in a way that was decidedly irritating and uncomfortable. > For about a week before the Fourth of July she bad been making "great preparations.” It was a rare occasion when Huldah “went gadding,” a red-letter day when she aeglected her home duties for a whole twenty-four hours at a time. Yet Just that she was planning to do now, and Uncle Remus shook his head dolefully as he hobbled over beyond the ’taler patch, and oat down opposite his scapegrace nephew, Bam, who was mending a whitewash brush. “ 'Pears to me dat ole ooman gits perker and more foolish eb'ry day," remarked Remus. “ 'Pears to me she must guess we’e back in de fifties, plantation lands with jist nothin’ on our minds but larks." “It's along of de Foth, uncle— de Foth es July." grinned Bam. "Tells yo now, chile ain't gvlao to go totin' down

LIBERTY FREDOM

to no passon's jubilee, if he am a relative. Yo heah me!” “Yaas, yo’se goin’, yo good for nothin’, lazy, lubberin' nigger. Hus yo lost all respeck for yoself, and the proprieties nnd yo patriotism? Shame on yo, Mistah Remus Green! to allow dat boy to discuss de motives and intenshuns of yo helpmeet in dat cole-blooded Way. It’s scnnd'lous! Yo won't go? Young man, yo be ready bright and airly to-morrow mornin' to drive dis heah ancient couple ober to Pine Grove, and yo be prepared to act de gemman, or dar’ll be some hot times hyarabouts for your lazy self, yo heah me!” Aunt Huldah had taken the enemy unawares. Sam made off, grumbling. Remus knew it was wisest to say nothing. Huldah was a cyclone of resolve when she got started. He was getting too old to do much junketing, but he couldn't help becoming somewhat interested as bis better half made him hustle around the cabin and barn, helping her in her preparations for the eventful morrow. These wore decidedly elaborate. Aunt Huldah claimed to l>e “no ornery, lowdown brack trash!" She boasted a proud line of dusky relatives. Was it not her own cousin, Parson Augustus Brownell, who was to deliver the oration of the day over at the great colored picnic at the grove? And was it not meet that her little household should appear in style, and do honor properly to the day that was doing honor to her relative, wh< was the leader and ruling shepherd of the Pocasset circuit branch of the African M. E. Church? Well, she guessed so! Uncle Remus burned his fingers turning baking tins, and got rated for failing to stir cake frosting briskly enough, nnd was done tired out when dusk came, and Aunt Huldah kept still bobbing around, packing the grand lunch, trimming up the old wagon outside with flags and green boughs and pieces of bunting."Dat lazy Bam wants to get back wid dat mewl,” she announced. "He's to be curried and rested. And i want his mane braided, and little red, white and blue ribbons tied in. Spec some of de Browns ’ll just turn yaller wid envy when dey see us on de road. We's de genuine cullud quality, doan' forgit dat, Mistah Remus Green, to-morrow, and keep up yo dignity."

"Well, well. Aunty! What seems to be the trouble hefe?" Fourth of July morning was at hand —bright, clear, bracing—yet to poor old Aunt Huldah the sun seemed blotted oat, the skies weeping tear# of ihk. A booted, spurred pedestrian, superbly mounted, turned into the yard of the little cabin about 8 o’clock, started ter the pomp.

With a purled smile he challenged tM lay-out before him. Grim as a statue, her faded silk dress smoothed out primly, her bejeweled and beflowered bonnet not a hair’s breadth out of kilter, her lace-gloved hands folded in her lap, upon the high seat of the wagon, staring straight ahead, was Aunt Huldah. “Mornin’, Bah,” she returned tartly. “If yo’ll eccuse me, sah, I’se celebratin’." A rueful kind of a celebration it seemed, for, although all the glories of bunting surrounded her, although full baskets of generous provisions lay at her feet, Aunt Huldah’s face was set in a stern mold that suggested a funeral rather than a lark. Uncle Remus made frantic efforts to attract their visitor’s attention. Finally he got him to one side. “I knows yo, sah. Young Mistah Austin, I knows yo fine old family. I knows yo’s gemman enough to spar Huldah de humiliation of any furder remarks, sah. She's boilin’ now—soon she’ll be bustin'. I|’s shocking, sah, but dar's no mewl.” “No mule?” “Dat’s it, sah- Oh! dat rascal, Sam. He steals out of de house airly dis mawnin' and makes off across country to see his young lady, and won’t be home till no one knows when’. De Browns went by and sneered, and de Hoopers went by and yah-yahed, and Huldah’s cousin, de reverend Mistah Augustus Brownell, ’ll / deliber de Foth of July oration, and she won't be dar to heah, because dar’s no mewl.” Young Austin smiled amusedly. Then he looked thoughtful, glanced at his watch, at his horse, at the heartbroken but Trojan-faced figure in the old cart, and then acted on a generous impulse. "Remus,” he spoke, “have you got another harness?” “Paht of one, sah, but plenty of rope.” “Rope will do.” “Yo don’t mean, sah ” “To hitch up and drive you over to Pine Grove —just that.” Huzza! Down the pike rattled the old vehicle. Was there ever such a pace! Past the gaping Browns; past the staring Hoopers—a whirling blur of color, a blooded steed to the fore, “a gemman of de quality” in the seat, and bld Remus holding on for dear life behind! It was the sunniest day in Aunt Huldah’s life. A shaft broke as .they turned the curve at the grove, a wheel went whirling off as they halted, but what did that matter? She sat among the ruins like a queen. Mule or no mule, she had arrived on time! The honor of being driven in state to the celebration added to all the laurels of relationship, and when in his address the reverend Augustus innocently and incidentally alluded to “some coming in chariots,” proud old Aunt Huldah darted a triumphant look at “those low-dpwn Browns,” and felt that life was worth living, and that its crowning glory had come to her on that great and glorious Fourth of July.

The Flag in Decoration.

Writing of “Civic Festivals and Processions,” in the Century, Charles R. Lamb says on the subject of the flag in decoration: “The Stars and Stripes, though not the most successful piece of decoration, can still be so treated as successfully to combine with any scheme; but to do this it should be massed over doorways or stands, or, if used separately, qhould be hung repetitively from the windows along the entire line of parade, preferably on one of the upper stories, so as to give a continuous line of red, white and blue from house to house. “The American flag is not Impossible of successful treatment; we have already begun to imitate the French manner of raying small flags in an upright position from a common base, and repeating these groups at intervals; but the tricolor bunting is one of the most difficult to use satisfactorily, because the equal proportion of red to blue is not a fortunate colorcombination. It would therefore be advisable that the committee in charge should select those symbolic colors which would be appropriate, and use them in such quantity as would give a definite color-scheme to the entire line. The suggestion made by the National Society of Mural Painters that the naval colors, blue and white, re-enforced with gold and natural green foliage, should be used in the Dewey reception parade was probably the first recognition given of the necessity of other colors than the patriotic red, white and blue.”

Firecracker Philosophy.

A few individuals Would have all Fourth of July explosions, big and little, prohibited. Anything that goes "bang" is to them a horror. All who enjoy explosive sounds are to them barbarians. A sudden concussion upon the tympanum of the ear sends these people into miniature fits. But the enjoyment of sudden noises produced by ourselves or others with tho object of pleasing is based on reason and science. All our pleasure in this life is due to sensations. We may conceive of enjoying music, poetry or painting without the souad of an instrument, the seeing or hearing of rhyme and rhythm, Wr the play of color on the optic nerve. Yet all such enjoyment ends in abstraction without a renewal of the sensation or another to tuke its place. An explosion is a sensation. We live for sensations. Some of us would rather half kill ourselves with violent sensations than be without any sensations. Just once a year we yield to the firecracker and rocket sensation. It tiekies our ear drums and thrills our expectant nerves. We enjoy it. We are glad of the excuse of patriotic fervor to get this yearly tickling.—St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Sure Death.

Mrs. Cobwigger—l’m afraid something has happened Freddie. 1 haven't seen anything of him since morning. Cobwigger—Nonsense! He’s only having a good time with his firecrackers. Mrs. Cobwigger—No, he isn't. I would not let him have such things. I bought him one of those harmless toy pistols. Cobwigger—Run, woman, and get me my hat. I guess he’s down at the morgue before this.—New York World.

An Early Start.

Hopkins—You country people start into town early on the Fourth of July! Perkine—Well, we have to—to head efl our city relatives coming out *» eee us.— Golden Days. Truth needs no color, beauty, no penclL—Shakaveare.

HOLD THEM BY THE EYE.

Public Speaker* Have a Way of Talking at One Person in the Crowd. “I have noticed a rather singular thing about public speakers,” said a gentleman who had attended one of the big meetings in New Orleans, “and I have had occasion to observe the peculiarity several times in my life. In some instances the observation has been attended with some embarrass ment. Several days ago I attended a meeting in this city. I was seated well up to the front, and in fact within a few yards of where the speakers stood. One of the speakers apparently delivered his whole address to me. If he paid a particle of attention to any other person in the hall I could not notice it He spoke with great animation, and he kept his eye on me. He literally bombarded me with his thundering philippics, and whenever he shrieked his way up the 'scale to a point he would hurl it down with vehemence, pointed his Huger at me in derision, yelled at me, made faces at me, and stared at me In the most fiendish way imaginable. It was a trifle embarrassing, but I managed to stand it because I had observed the same peculiarity in public speakers before. I have never heard a public speaker say as much, but I believe they always pick out some object, probably some person, aud during the greater portion of tile time they are speaking their attention will be turned to this object, ami It probably aids them in the matter of mental concentration. It probably shuts out the side views which tend to break the evenness and continuity of the speech. This probably is why some of the early orators back in the days of Cicero and Demosthenes are credited with having addressed their remarks to stumps and other inanimate objects. By focusing and riveting the eye on an unchanged able object the mind concentrates more quickly and the speaker is able to pursue his subject with greater coherence. But my own experience in these matters brings back an Incident at one of Sam Jones’ big meetings eight or ten years ago, when he had reached the high tide of his evangelical reputation. A young friend of mine took a young lady around to bear Sam Jones, and the church was jammed to the door, as was usual then at meetings held by the evangelist. They sat pretty close up to the pulpit. Sam Jones had on his war paint, aud he picked out my friend apparently. ‘You flop-eared hound,’ he said, shaking his finger at my friend; ‘you rednnosed whelp! you blear-eyed sot—you drag yourself around in the gutters of infamy and wallow around in rum-shops, and then,’ he continued, leaning over the pulpit toward my my friend, ‘you have the nerve to call on one of the sweetest and purest little women in town and come sneaking into this church with her.’ My friend’s face was the color of red flannel, and the young lady was as mad as a hornet She had never heard Sam Jones before, and she not only believed the evangelist was talking to my friend, but she believed all that he said. My friend told me afterward that the young lady frequently referred to it during their friendly spats, and yet it was nothing more than another illustration of the peculiarity displayed by public speakers; but it shows, too, that the matter of playing in the role of the stump for Demosthenes is not the most pleasing thing in the world.”—New Orleans Times-Democrat.

The Hint Courteous.

The author of “Life and Sport on the Pacific Slope says that In assemblages where a little patience and good humor teifiper what is disagreeable, the people of the Pacific slope are at their best. Once, at a performance of some play, several youths were guying the principal character, to tlie annoyance of everybody else. Suddenly a gentleman said to them, very politely: * That lady on the stage Is making so much noise that we cannot hear what you are saying. But I hope we shall have the pleasure of listening to your criticisms later, when the act is over.” Silence followed the remark. At times something more forcible Is needed. A certain lady bad, one day. been rudely treated by a minor railway official. She was very Indignant, and' quite at a loss for words; but she had a saving sense of humor, and turned to a stranger at her elbow. “Sir," said she. “will you tell this man what I think of him ?’’ The stranger, without betraying the least excitement, said in a melancholy drawl* "Str, this lady thinks you are an understrapper, clothed with a little brief authority, whose only qualification for the position you occupy is your extraordinary Impudence." x

Hymns Up to Date.

An old gentleman of 82, whose occasionally cynical speeches are always tinged with good humor, was asked his opinion of modem church music. “It’s all very flue," he said dryly, “and I like to hear it; but there's one thing I’ve noticed. It may be just chance, but I’ve noticed it a good.many times“When I wne a boy people went to two services a day and sometimes three, nnd they sat on hard seats with straight backs, nnd sang with all their hearts, ‘My God, the spring of all my joys.’ "Now the congregation lean comfortably back in softly cushioned pews and listen to the choir singing, ‘Art thou weary, art thou languid?’ I may be mistaken, but it comes home to me every now and then that hymnology is changing to suit the times." If a man is treated well at home, he would rather oat at home, and sleep at home, and loaf at home, than anywhere •***• /

WOMEN

INCREASE OF UNMANLY MEN. H.S another dreadful catastrophe about to befall the human family? The last few years have given us the unwomanly woman—at least, so it Is proclaimed on the housetops. Will the next few years give us the unmanly man? He is making his approach quite as insidiously as did the unworn anly woman. Before we know It, he will have arrived, just as she did. Ages ago, it is said, a clever queen Invented trousers as a modest and sensible garment for her sex. Man saw their comfort, threw aside his togalike draperies, and appropriated those of the opposite sex. Behold the first unmanly man! Later, a woman of our own country invented bloqmers. Shortly after somebody invented the bicycle. Man cast an envious eye at the bloomer, then quietly grabbed it, called it “knickers,” and to-day in the costume of Mrs. Amelia Bloomer’s devising for the benefit of her own sex he parades the streets in what he calls “bicycle togs.” Surely it is a sad picture of unmanllness! , But once started on this alluring path, like the unwomanly woman, be knows not where to stop. Woman had a simple, unpretentious little garment called the shirtwaist. Last summer man regarded it with gloomy, envious eyes, and made so bold as to sneak a few, for which act he was vociferously applauded by his fellow-men. This summer he has captured the garment bodily, and the shirtwaist man will be far more familiar than the short-hair-ed, linen-collared woman. Alas, the unmanly man is growing apace! But it is not only in the matter of clothes that the unmanly man has proven bis title. Woman’s fields of labor he has Invaded, and is surely wresting them from her grasp. .In the good old days it was supposed to be woman’s special domain to make the garments wherewith her sisters were clothed. But now man has appropriated the needle, and the man dressmaker flourishes in the laud and is growing in numbers. The mysteries of a woman’s spring hat were, it is thought, only capable of being comprehended by the feminine mind. But man has likewise invaded this feminine domain, and the man milliner vies with the man dressmaker in trying to get your trade. The unmanly man is here quite as sure as is the unwomanly woman. It has been proven conclusively time and time again by the masculine critics of the unwomanly woman that it all depends upon these things. We therefore may look for the unmanly man to wax in numbers until he overruns the land for multitude.

To Breed Thoroughbred*. Few men On the turf were better known than the late James B. Ferguson, who served for years as starter at

the great meetings of the country. Before h 1 s death he had built up a fine estate in the blue grass, called “ K ingston,” where some of the most famous horses ever known on the turf

MRS. FERGUSON.

first saw the light. Since the death of her husband his widow has taken up bls work and has declared that she will do her best to keep “Kingston” up to its old standard. She Intends not only to raise thoroughbreds, but also to race them under her own name. Mrs. Ferguson was the favorite niece of the famous Price McGrath, of McGrathiana. and whqn she enters her horses she will revive the green and orange sash which he made famous., "Kingston” is now the home of some of the best known of thoroughbreds. The stables contain ninety box stalls, and almost all of them are filled. How Lona: Should the Baby Sleep. A table showing the amount of time a healthy, well-brought up baby spends each day In sleeping was brought out recently by an authority. It is as follows: For the first three weeks, 17 to 19 hours. At one month, 17 to 18 hours. At two months, 16 to 17 hours. At three months, 15 to 16 hours. At nine months, to hours. At twelve months, 13 to 14 hours. After this the child should sleep as long as possible—not less than eleven or twelve hours at night, and retain the custom of a midday sleep for at least three more years. All children require a great deal of sleep to make up for the wear and tear of the day. Until they have done growing a regular ten-hour night should be the rule. Gifts for Girl Gradnitn. Friends of the girl graduate should be careful to find out just what gift would be most welcome on her graduation day. Among gifts of jewelry the little gold wntch, with its chain, will always stand in high favor. Cuff links of uncut opals would be sure to please most girls. A belt clasp or buckle of the new rose gold would make an appropriate gift. Tire always useful stick pin Is popular with all women. The articles of jewelry that would please tbs girl graduates are endless. Another lrt»e of appropriate gifts is to be found in pretty accessories for

the bedroom. For instanoe, a bureau set of ivory with monogram in silver. An outfit tor a desk would also make an excellent graduation present Books with pretty, dainty bindings are just the thing. There are pictures innumerable which would please the average girl. If she is musical a banjo, guitar or mandolin would probably be very welcome. Under the bead of useful presents would come an umbrella, parasol, handkerchiefs or a new dress.

The needs of the woman who can make her own dress, but who isn't up to giving it a sufficiently elaborate finishing touch, are taken into consideration. Say, one has a dress of heavy linen. Well, here’js a sailor collar with elongated fronts. For variety’s sake it has a clever design done in white pique applique, and is just the touch that many a one will find her dress in need of. As a finish for a rather too plain tucked blouse, or any bodice, one who cannot afford a fine bolero and cannot like a cheap one, may make one for herself. Skill is the only requirement. Tucked net or batiste or grass linen will be found effective. And as for shape, this bolero ranges from a full-fledged jacket down to a mere band at the bust line. In the latter instance it is often Van Dyked at the top and the bottom. This design is sometimes more becoming the top is higher, ia low neck effect, with a round, turn-over, lace collar. In any case pointed or scalloped, will be an addition around the edge.

She Will Recover. Miss Maude Wright is a Vassar girl who took long walks to reduce her weight. Result, appendicitis and an

operation. Bqt she is recov erin g. Miss Wright has a horror! o f corpulency, and, fearing that she was getting too stout, she exercised violently In the gymnasium and walked from ten to twenty miles daily.

She would never post- maud x wbioht. pone her walks on account of the weather. She did not seem to lose much flesh, but gained none, and was apparently in excellent health, when attacked by appendicitis, which, the physicians at first declared, waa brought on by violent physical elections. Danger in Btockinga. In a recent number of the Lancet, Dr. F. W. Tunnicliffe reports two cases of dermatitis of the legs. After a careful study the physician concluded that the dye used in coloring the stockings worn by the sufferers was the cause of the poisoning. The black stockings were therefore submitted to Mr. O. Rosenheim, F. S. C., for chemical analysis. The chemist found arsenic in both specimens, which bad undoubtedly been introduced as sodium arsenate, which is extensively used aka fixing agent for mordants in dyeing processes. The poison had possibly been taken up by the system, aided by the actloK of perspiration. Foxes for We tding Cake. Wedding-cake boxes are in any design which the bride is pleased to order, if she gives the Instructions long enough In advance. At present, however, there is a tasteful preference for severe shapes, with dependence upon the best materials for distinction. Heavy “white water color" papers are the proper sort for the covering of boxes on the tops or sides of which the monograms, usually of both bride and bridegroom, are blended In felief, either in white or in gold and silver. Ribbons for tying the boxes' are of moire, taffeta or satin. To Clean Lac'. Fill a bottle with cold' water; draw a stocking tightly over ft, securing both ends firmly. Place the lace smoothly over the stocking and tack closely. Put the bottle in a kettle of cold water containing a few shaving of soap, and place over the fire to boll. Rinse in several waters and then drain and dry. When dry remove and place smoothly in a large book and press with weights. Very nice lace can be made to look like new by this process. Fruit Jelly. When combining fruit and gelatine In a fruit jelly, the pieces of fruit should be dipped in a little melted gelatine and pressed lightly against the side of mould before the jelly Is turned in. The fruit may be arranged in the mould, liquid Jelly poured between each layer and the fruit pushed down with a silver fork as the'Jelly lieglns to harden. Keep the reserve Jelly from hardening by setting in a dish of warm water. As each layer “sets,” add more fruit and more Jelly.