Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1901 — Page 2

STUB AND THE DIAMOND LOCKET

r>f)OW, you’ll notls,” said Stub, ]m| “dat fellers In books an’ storles allers has er chanst ter do aainpen great, dat makes ’em great, an’ gits der names in der poipers. But do Me git dat chanst? Not on yer life!" Stub sliced a splinter of wood off the edge of the empty crate he was sitting on, and began to whittle it with a very rusty knife. The boys were sitting In the alley, waiting for their “extry.” The day was hot and stifling, there was no air stirring, and “der gang” were feeling very tired. Papers did not sell fast on hot days nor stormy days, and it was hard work to earn enough even to afford the extra penny for a swim In the dingy bathhouse down near the rolling mill. “It makes yer sick tryiu’ ter act on der square an’ be honest, sometimes,” said Jimmy Hobbs, wiping his dirty face with a still dirtier and very ragged shirt sleeve.

Stub picked up his knife again and went back to Ills whittling, with a sober face. The world seemed all wrong, somehow. Other boys had good clothes and good homes and plenty to eat and long vacations at lakes and in the mountains in the summer. He had never had good clot lies in his life. He never remembered having all he wanted to eat except at the Christmas and Thanksgiving “feeds” given to the newsboys yearly. All he knew of the lakes was what lie could see from the crowded docks, and he knew nothing of the mountains except from picture papers. It did not seem right. Yet he had always tried to “keep square." He would not pick pockets. He had a very dim and hazy recollection of a sweet mot her-face that he hugged close to his heart under the

“WHO TAUGHT YOU WHAT WAS ‘ACTING SQUARE’?”

ragged little shirt, and somehow that mother face seemed to come to him more clearly when anything tempted him that was not just “square.” “Extry!” yelled Jimmy suddenly. And Stub started up with the rest of the boys as the gong sounded down the alley. The next moment he was in line, struggling and yelling with the rest, while the men shoved bundles of papers out to them and they paid for their little brass checks at the window. Then be was on the street with the cry that the men had given out: “Extry! All about de big railway ax’deut! Extry!” Along the running board of an electric car he darted to the smokers’ seats. They were always the most hopeful. An elderly gentleman boarded the car at the same time and motioned Stub. He stood on the running board as Stub gave him the paper and took the coin. Then the boy dropped to the ground. As he did so something rolled at his feet—something bright and glittering. Stub sk >ped and picked it up, and It proved to be a plain gold locket, with one spot of vivid light in the center. And Stub gasped as lie realized that he held tn his hand what was, to him, a small fortune. For the spot of vivid, dazzling light was a diamond of considerable size. Stub, tightly grasping his valuable find In his hand, darted through the throng of wagons and carriages to the

sidewalk. There he stood staring after the car. “It was der ol’ gents,” he muttered to himself. “I seen It swing from der chain uv ills ticker. It mus’ | tiv caught in,d« r seat as lie got in der car. An'- ah —he looks a rich tin. He kin buy anudder lots more. An' an’ —me—l ain’t had a square meal dis Bummer.” The papers were under his arm, forgotten. The locket was clenched In his fist. And down the crowded street he could see the car that bore the elderly gentleman, slowly making its way. He watched it dully. Then he muttered to himself again. “It—it goes round der loop. It—goes round der loop.”

Far down the street he saw It at last turn a corner and disappear. Then he turned and looked up the street at his left. In a few minutes the car would pass that corner h block above. “He kin—buy more—” he muttered the words again, -utlll watching that corner. Then suddenly the crowded street blurred for a moment and he saw that sweet mother-face that sometimes seemed so dim when he tried hardest to remember it. It was so clear ■ow —so clear! Stub swallowed a lump In his throat, then with one spring he cleared the gutter, dodged an express van. bumped against a stately policeman, swung around a clanging automobile aud footed it as fast as he could up the crowded sidewalk. In and out the crowd es business men aud shopping women he darted like an eel, then swung to the curb as he neared the corner. Beyond him was the car, already crossing the street. Betting his teeth. Stub again cleared the gutter with a bound nad flew up the track. The motor and trailer wore boundlag ahead, but an Italian, with his fruit .art got In the way. It was a moment’s l sum. and Stub did his l»est. Panting sad gasping, he reached the trailer, tangbt tbs rail and sprang to tbs

step. Then he saw the elderly gentleman, quietly reading the paper Stub had sold him. Stopping at his elbow, Stub reached out a grimy little fist between the gold eye glassed and the paper, and opened his fingers. “Please, sir, yer dropped it. An’— an’ I jest ketched der car.” The elderly gentleman stared at the locket, picked it up from the grimy hand, and then Stub quietly dropped to the ground as the conductor pushed him to one side. Making his way to the sldew’alk, Stub stood still for a moment. “I didn’t git even er dime,” he said, blankly, to a wooden Indian that stood In front of a cigar store. “Not even er dime." He shifted his papers to the other arm, pushed his ragged cap back from his wet forehead, wiped his face on his arm, then opened his mouth. “Extry! All ’bout der big rail ” A hand came down on Stub's shoulder, and he looked up straight into the gold-rlmmed glasses of the elderly gentleman.

“I want to talk to you a minute, young man,” said Stub’s customer. “I suppose you eat ice cream and—such things? Come in here. It is rather noisy on the sidewalk for conversation.” A little frightened and a little delighted, Stub walked along toward a confectioner’s near by, the firm hand still on bls shoulder. Soon he was sitting at a small round table with a big glass of ice cream soda in front of him. Stub set to with a will, and the twinkling eyes of the old gentleman studied his face sharply through the gold-rlmmed glasses till the cream had disappeared. “And now,” he said quietly, “tell me all about finding that locket.” And Stub told him. The old gentleman listened attentively. “Why didn’t you keep the locket?" he asked. “Why—lt—lt wouldn’t ha' been actin* square,” stammered Stub. “Oh! And who taught you what was ‘acting square?’” queried the old gentleman. “Me mudder,” replied Stub, in a low voice.

“And where does she live?” “She—she’s dead,” said Stub. “Ah! And what is your name?” asked the old gentleman. “Stub—er—l mean, me right name Is Disbro—Stanley Dlsbro,” said Stub, reaching down for bls ragged little cap. But when he sat up again the cap dropped from his fingers. He looked at the old gentleman—who had grasped the edge of the table with both hands and was staring at him—with terror. For the old gentleman's face was white and his mouth was working strangely. The next moment be had taken the locket from bls pocket and bad opened it with shaking fingers and thrust It across the table toward Stub. I And Stub?—Stub looked down with wondering eyes and saw, framed in the delicate gold, the fair, sw’eet motherface that he had cherished so long in his boy memory. And on the other side of the table the old gentleman was sitting with his head bowed in his hands. And Stub, awed and still, knew that he was crying. And afterward Stub learned all about ,It bow the old gentleman's daughter ■ had married against his wishes and he had disowned her. And then Stub told ! Ids part—of his father's death, and his

young mother’s struggle with poverty till she followed her husband to the shadow land. And of her teachings to “act square,” that he could not forget, even though he went hungry. And two weeks after Stub was living in a snug cottage on the lake shore, far from the city heat and noise. And there were bathing and boating and games in the sand, and three square meals a day, with lunches between, and a donkey and cart, all his own, and a happy old gentleman whom he called affectionately “gran dad.” And last, but not least, there was a houseful of noisy and delighted guests, who once had been known in newspaper alley as "der gang.”—Chicago HecordHerald.

Humming Birds in This Country.

While the eastern part of the United States can lay claim to only one representative of the humming bird family, the western part is more richly favored.* In all, seventeen species have found their way Into the limits of the United States. However, ten of these really belong to the Mexican group, appearing only accidentally on this ttfde of our southern border. This leaves only seven which really belong to this country, and we cannot even claim a monopoly of them, for most of them are migrants, breeding within our limits, but going further south In winter. Indeed, only one of them, called the Anna humming bird, ventures to spend the winter in the warm valleys of California. All the rest move down Into Mexico to find a winter home. One of these Western species Is an extensive traveler. It is called the rufous-backed hummer. In summer It has been found in Alaska as far north as the Olst degree of north latitude. As this little migrant spends the winter in Mexico, it must accomplish a journey of considerably more than 2,000 miles from its most northern to its most southern report.—New York Evening Post. Some people pay too much attention to the talk of the Insane. •tors teeth hardly ever look natural.

ANTS ACT AS STRATEGISTS.

Colonies vs the Ineecta Transact Bnalneaa with Military Precision. From a military standpoint the methods employed by ants to provide food for an ant colony are almost perfect. Their foraging parties are faultless, both in fanning and execution, and are almost uniformly successful. A resident of this city who visited South (Africa gives this description of a foray of an army of ants. The army, which he estimates to have numbered about 15,000 ants, started from Its home in the mud walls of a hut and marched in the direction of a small mound of fresh earth but a lew yards distant, says the New York Herald. The head of the column halted on reaching the foot of the mound and waited for the rest of the force to arrive at the place of operation, which evidently was to be the mound of fresh earth. When the.remainder had arrived and hailed so that the entire army was assembled a number of ants detached themselves from the main body and began to ascend to the top of the mound, while the others began moving so as to encircle the base of the mound. Soon a number from the detachment which had ascended the mound, evidently the attacking party, entered the loose earth and speedily, returned, each bearing a cricket or a young grasshopper, dead, which he deposited upon the ground, and then returned for a fresh load. Those who had remained on the outside of the mound took up the crickets and grasshoppers as they were brought out and bore them down to the base of the hill, returning for a fresh load. Soon the contents of the mound seemed to be exhausted and then the whole force returned home, each carrying his burden of food for the ityHere, then, was the regular foray, planned and executed with military precision, the country surveyed, the depot of provisions known accurately before the march was made and at the mound prudential division of labor and care taken that none of the victims should escape.

TO RECORD LIGHTNING’S FLASH

Novel Instrument at St. Ignatius College, Clevelan 1. Weather prophets are likely to benefit by an invention of Father Odenbach of St. Ignatius College in Cleveland. He has perfected an Instrument which will record flashes of lightning long before any can be seen, and with the clouds from where they proceed far below the horizon. The machine which he has set up in the tower of the college building is sqmewhat complicated, and Is worked on the principle of the Marconi system. The electric waves, coming from a great distance, or from near by, are collected and brought through a series of delicate appliances to a recorder, which notes each impression with a distinct click like that of a telegraph instrument. The tower of the college is roofed with copper, which forms an excellent conductor for the electric rays. Connected with this copperroofed tywer Is the lightning-rod, also made of copper In the form of a cable, one thread of this cable being connected with the receiving and recording instruments. The first real test of the system came a few days ago. Hours before the storm visited Cleveland, when the sky was perfectly clear and absolutely no sign was given of an approaching storm, the instrument was busy clicking off its record of flashes from distant clouds. During the approach, duration and recession of the thunderstorm the record continued accurate and unbroken, and the records continued lohg after the flashes had become too indistinct to be visible. It is thought that the instrument will become Invaluable In meteorology, as by it local storms will be noted with certainty, and observers will be able to foretell thunderstorms and squalls, local disturbances which It Is Impossible now to foretell with any degree of accuracy.- -New York Tost.

What He Was Looking For.

A tramp applied for food at the house of a suburban agriculturist recently, and while he was eating the rations that hud been furnished at his solicitation, he was asked: "Why do you not go to work?’’ "I have looked long for a place that would suit me.” he replied, “but have never found it.” "Is there not plenty of work at fanning?" asked the Interrogator. "Oh, yes,” said the tramp, “plenty of It; but, you see, sir, 1 want to lind a vineyard where a man who get's in at the eleventh hour is the first to come out and (o draw a full day’s wages. In the olden times they dealt fairly by a man. That is the New Testament treatment and that is what I am looking for.” At the close of his meal he started again In pursuit of that coveted agricultural opportunity.

Marriage and longevity.

Marriage, according to Dr. Schwartz, of Berlin, Is the most important factor in longevity. Of every 200 persons who reach the age of 40 years 125 are married and 76 unmarried. At 00 years the proportions are 48 to 22; at 70 years, 27 to 11, and at 00 years, oto 3. Fifty centenarians had all been married. The doctor asserts that the rate of mortality for husbands and wives between the ages of 30 and 45 Is 18 per cent., while that for unmarried persons is 28 per cent. Women rush frantically to a wedding, but when they return home they say; “O, well; It was just like all the others." White stockings are fashionable, but they should be clean.

HISTORIC DIAMONDS.

Art of Poll •bin g »ia«nond« Unlcnowa Upto the Fourteenth Century. Pliny said that tn gems might be perceived all the majesty of nature united in small space. Epitome's of all that is most perfect, these flowers of the rock add to splendor of form and color the quality that most Impresses the Imagination of finite man, durability, while In virtue of their rarity they become most truly precious—attributes all possessed in sovereign degree by the diamond, the Greek adamas, the itable,” the marvelous stone which nothing in nature, so the ancients believed, could Impress; w’hlch placed on an anvil and struck with a hammer, as Martial and Lucretius record (an erroneous test, responsible for the loss of many fine stones), shivered the Iron without being affected by the blow. Plato described this gem as a kind of kernel formed in gold, condensed from the purest and noblest part of the metal, and prized more for its medical and psychical virtues rather than for its beauty; in fact, up to the fourteenth century the art of polishing the diamond with its own dust had not been discovered. His theories were sustained as late as the beginning of the fifteenth century by the alchemist Cardan, who believed that precious stones were engendered by juices distilled from gold, silver and iron in the cavities of the rocks, and who asserted solemnly that these masterpieces of nature, these quintescences of the precious metals, not only live, but also suffer Illness, old age and death. This conviction that even the Impenetrable crystal of the diamond Incloses its atom of the universal spirit, together

with all the vague mystical notions concerning the influence of gems, the waning and rejuvenescence of the pearl, the opal, the turquoise, in accordance with the fortunes of their human owners, the prescriptions of the ancient pharmacopeia which administered powders of topaz or of hyacinth for the cure of hypochondria or sleeplessness; the superstitions of astrological mineralogy, which assigned a stone to each month and to each sign of the zodiac; Theophrastus’ division of gems Into male and female, and the theories of Dloscorldes, of Avicenna, of Albertus Magnus and of St. Thomas Aquinas—all these may be traced back to their origin in that magnificent treasury of jewels, that dwelling place of mystery and witticism. India, whose philosophers held the cardinal principle the souls of the erring might be Imprisoned In the rock and serve out an Incarnation In a gem.—Lippincott’s Magazine.

ALARMING THE YOUNG MAN.

How the Yount Woman 1 ! Mother Cinchel the Case Early. It was the second time that the hero of the story had accompanied the young lady home. She asked him if he would not come Ib. He said he would. She was hardly gone before her mother came in, smiled sweetly, and, dropping down beside the young man, said: “I always did say that If a poor but respectable young man fell in love with our Sarah, he should have my consent.” The young man started with alarm. “She has acknowledged to me that she loves you," continued the mother, “and whatever Is for her happiness is for mine.” “I—l haven’t ” stammered the young man. “Oh, never mind; make no apology. I know you haven't much money, but, of course, you’ll live in my house.” “I had no idea of ’’ he began. “I know you hadn’t, but it's all right,” continued Sarah’s mamma, reassuringly. “With your wages and what the boarders will bring in we shall get along as comfortably as possible.” The young man’s eyes stood out like hatpegs, and he rose up and tried to say something. “Never mind about thanks,” she cried; “I don’t believe in long courtships. The 20th of May is my birthday, and it would be nice for you to be married on that day.” “But—but—but ” he gasped. “There, there! I don’t expect any reply,” she laughed. “I’ll try and be a model mother-in-law. I believe I’m good-tempered and kind-hearted, though I did once follow a young man a couple of hundred miles with a broomstick for agreeing to marry my daughter and then backing out of the engagement.” She patted him on the head and sailed out. And now the young man wants advice. He wants to know whether he had better get in the way of a locomotive or jump off the nearest bridge.— Tit-Bits.

Politeness as a Fine Art.

A Vienna correspondent writes that there is a law In Austria which makes It a very serious offense to Insult a public official, or even to offend his dignity In any way. Public officials include all railway employes from traffic director to porter, policemen, tramway drivers and conductors and municipal street cleaners. Recently an electric tramcar ran into an omnibus and overturned It. One of the omnibus passengers, Frau Sldonlc Dankh, wife of a well-known doctor In Vienna, was badly eut and received a severe shock to her nerves, which prostrated her for weeks. After the collision, In her alarm and pain, she cried, referring to the driver of the electric car: "The wretched fellow! Why couldn't he stop sooner?’’ For this expression she was summoned and sentenced to a fine of £1 13a 8d "for Insulting * public official,” Tha women are wearing a whlta glove now that looks exactly like tha gloves men wear when they act as palb bearers.

WOMEN

WOMEN AND BUSINESS WOMEN might as well be frank with themselves on one point—they cannot make the success In business that their husbands, fathers and brothers do. There is only one Hetty Green, and she can hardly be ranked with the Carnegies, Rockefellers and Morgans of the great world of affairs. It is all very well to allude to the superior physical strength that enables men to undertake tasks which women are constitutionally Incapable of fulfilling. But the truth seems to be that women are not fitted for success along the same lines that men are, and it is a waste of time for them to aspire In that direction. There is a constantly growing agitation which aims to impress women with the necessity of being Independent and self-supporting. Of course there is, unfortunately, always a large number of women who have to earn their bread. But they should be pitied, rather than held up for the admiration and imitation of the remainder of the sex. An Impression seems to be abroad that girls should not remain under the protection of the family roof any longer than their brothers; that they are under the masculine necessity of getting out and seeking their fortunes in the great world, at about the same age. One feminine characteristic which stands in the way of women’s success in business is her Inability to judge things in an impartial and Impersonal sort of way. This is one of the things that a man letrns at the very outset of his career. But the average working woman considers every man she meets in the course of the office routine from the point of his possible like or dislike for herself. And, moreover, the little courtesies which men pay to women—yes, even to business women—are too often construed as evidences of personal liking. It seems almost beyond the range of women’s intellect to conceive of a state of things in which her business associates are absolutely neutral with regard to her personality; neither like nor dislike her, but regard her simply as one of the necessary sea tures of the establishment.

There lb, also, another point which is wqrth while mentioning in this connection. Woman has her distinct field, as has often been said, and that field is the home. But did it ever occur to a woman how much training she requires before she is competent to administer a household? If she devotes herself diligently to the acquisition of what she ought to know in order to manage even a very simple home, she has little time left to engage in the occupations which ought to be left to men. Think of the large number of young girls who know how to do stenography, typewriting, keep books and preside at the cash register! Then think how few’ there are who have any knowledge of the nutritive values of the different cuts of beef, or how to repair a man's wardrobe or drive a nail, or—to come down to something which implies a still greater deficiency—to keep an account of the daily domestic expenditures? When women know these things it is time enough for her, unless driven by stern necessity, to think of going into business.—New Orleans Picayune. Friend of Birds. Point Pleasant, N. J., has, through the efforts of Miss Caroline Murphy, become a paradise for game of all

sorts. Miss Murphy determined to have the State game laws enforced, and she has succeeded. The result Is astonishing. Wild birds are seen on the streets of the town. Their songs and screechings are heard

Miss MURPE

everywhere. Q\iail wander into the front and back yArds of the houses. Rabbits gambol a Knut the roadways, and scarcely think it worth while to hop into the hedgerows its vehicles pass by. Miss Murphy began ber tight last year. She was indignant at the way pot hunters slaughtered game in season and out, aud the manner in which the dogs of the county were allowed to chase and kill at all times. She enlist dd the game wardens In her warfare, *nd soon a number of pot hunters aud Jog owners had been arrested and fined. the final result being as desertbed.

Practice This Before Your Mirror. The mirror is a woman's best friend, one whesw she does not consult onetenth part ks often as she should. If die used th» full privileges of friendship. there would be no crooked plaits »t the back of skirts, no separation between skirts and waists. I am quite sure that if the average woman could see exactly how she looks when holding up her dress skirt she would refuse to leave the house until she had discovered some more graceful fashion of keeping her draperies from the dirt of the street. A little practice with that unflattering friend, the mirror, to assist her efforts would do wonders for a woman. When Buying a Hat. Never, never buy a hat merely because it Is becoming When tried on whtle seated in the pattern-room. Many times a hat that is becoming to one when seated transforms a woman into a dowdy the moment she stands up. A large, picturesque bat is frequently very pretty on a stout woman of medium height while she Is sitting down.

The iboment she stands up the hat seems to increase her width, while !♦ detracts several inches from her apparent height A woman must insist upon seeing the effect of a hat when standing, and at some distance from the mirror, before deciding upon its becomingness: It takes moral courage to take a firm stand with the ordinary saleswoman who has absolute faith in her own judgment, but it will pay in the erid. The wide flat toques of panne velvet, lace and tulle which she shows you and which are almost as picturesque as the old-time Gainsboroughs, make prtty carriage hats, but are suitable only to women possessing height when intended for ordinary street wear. Stiff trimmings, bows, quills, bunches of flowers and wings are smart on the plateaux now in vogue, but are trying to the generality of women.

The Co'larless Gown. The new fashion of wearing gowns without collars and finished by flat trimming or down drooping ruffle of lace is delightfully comfortable, but has its disadvantages. The high collars, so long worn, have destroyed the contour of many a throat originally round and white. Consequently the women who have not pretty throats are earnestly seeking for them, especially as they know that by next winter there will be no escape from the fashion that will then be fully established. In the first place, the woman who wants to adopt the collarless gown “on occasions” must realize the necessity for going into training Immediately. Let there be no dallying with the temptation to continue the stiff, high collar for ordinary wear. The linen collars must be got rid of, absolutely, and the only high neckwear admitted to the wardrobe shall be either the unstarched pique or duck stock, or the finely wired transparent collar, not really tight. A plan adopted by a young woman who averred that her throat was “a sight!” yet wished to give it the fullest benefit of freedom, was to have all her bodices and shirt waists neatly bound and edged with upstanding narrow lace. This has the advantage of being a tasteful and dainty finish in Itself, yet allowing her to don a ribbon or stock at a moment’s notice.

Origin of Pin Money. “Pin money" now means an allowance of money for a woman’s own personal expenditure, but originally It meant literally the actual sum spent on pins. It is almost impossible to think of any stage in the history of womankind when the pin was not one of the mainstays of her existence, but until about the end of the seventeenth century an article, more resembling a wooden skewer than anything else, was all that could be obtained. After that time {he modern pin was invented, but the maker was allowed to sell them openly only on Jan. 1 and 2, so that court ladles and fashionable dames alike were obliged to buy a large store on those days. So extremely important was this yearly purchase that, apparently. a special sum of money was obtained from all indulgent husbands for it; and at a later time, when the pins became cheap and common, womankind gradually crime to spend their allowance for other purposes. Rich AnU>or««. Mrs. Gertrude Potter Daniels, daughter of a Chicago millionaire, lias written books that were much talked about.

The last, “The Warners," lias created more talk than anything Mrs. Daniels had p r e v 1 o u s ly written. The reason ascribed for the alleged attempt to suppress the sale of "The Warners" ia that "It attacks

MRS. DANIFI.S.

capital bitterly." Society Is aghast at the socialistic tone of the book and its author's evident familiarity with the seamy side of life. ,

"these Coving Gils." “Oh, yes,* said the brunette, “It was very sweet of Marie to give me that blue gauze scarf. She knows I look a fright in blue, but the scarf is lovely and Just the thing she wants to wear, over ber yellow hair. I’m not going to leave It around where she can borrow* it. though. I'll keep it safely until her birthday, next month, when I ahull have it dyed scarlet for her.” Bnby’e Hair. To insure good hair, an Infant's bead should be kept well vasellned for the first six months, and protected In sleeping by a loosely fitted cap of the thinnest, finest exteure. This serves also to keep the ears close to the head. The ugly, outstanding ears would never be seen If infants wore caps at night as they used fb