Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1902 — Page 2

At the End of the Road

CfjO HEY a’n’t to know a thing about jF It unless they mistrust It's to be areal surprise,” said Lou Harlow, poising herself, like one about to take flight, in the doorway of Mrs. Green’s kitchen. "You must come, Mis' Green. *T will do you good to get out. You’re too much shut up. Sarell will miss you if you don’t come. She’ll want to see her near neighbors, if nobody else Is there. Get 'Rastus to bring you down." Mrs. Green set the teapot farther back on the stove and murmured an indefinite “M’m.” The milk-house door opened with a rattle of pails. Lou’s eyes turned slightly in that direction as she talked on persistently. “Brother Ed was going to stop yesterday and invite you, but he had to go another way, so I stopped In now. It's rather late to be giving invitations, I know; but It's all been planned In such a burry that we are out and out flustered. I thought, too, that I might stir you up to coming better than Ed could. It does seem too bad not to have a lot of folks at a tin wedding surprise party. Everybody's to bring something besides refreshments, you know. I’ve the cutest little oatmeal cooker that I got at the 5-cent store in the city, and I shall take. that. Well, I won't hinder you any longer from your supper. Goodby. Now do come If you can. Goodby.” The kitchen door timed its closing with mathematical accuracy to the Issuing of a young man from the milkhouse. Through the window Mrs. Green saw Lou's Innocently surprised start and cordial bow, but the bit of talk that followed was inaudible to her. She felt certain, however, that it was about the surprise party. “If those Harlows a’n't managin’!" was her mental comment. “But It’ll take more'n a pretty puttin’ on to make Lou one mite engagin' to ’Rastus, I guess.” 'Rastus came In presently, and, after washing at the sink, sat down to supper. He was thin and not over tall, with a vivid boyish complexion and a chin like his mother’s, marked by a decision that almost severe coldness of gray blue eyes accentuated. It was only when ’Rastus smiled that one knew how winning his face could be. “Lou Harlow stopjted in to ask us to a tin weddln' surprise at her brother Will’s. Probably she mentioned it to you,” said Mrs. Green, ns she poured the tea. "I shall have to carry somethin' tn the shape ot tin. I wonder if the dipper 1 got of that peddler last week won’t do. I took it for rags. They do pay so little for rags now, I declare it’s hardly worth savin’ ’em. If it hadn't been for them old overalls of yours I shouldn’t made out enough to get this dipper." “Likely they won’t have more'n seven dippers," said ’Rastus, helping himself to a second dish of apple sauce. / Mrs. Green looked disturbed. “Well, dippers Is handy. Every housekeeper needs two, and they use up quick. Dippers nowadays ain’t what dippers used to be. There’s hardly one to be got but lias a weakness in the solderin't. I don’t know what's more provokin’ than to have a dipperful of water come splashln’ on to the floor and leave nothin’ but a handle in your fingers." The quick, bright smile flashed over ’Bantus’ face. “Better carry a pan or something of that kind." His mother took the suggestion as profoundly serious. “I haven't one I could spare. Can’t we stop for the Blake girls, 'Rastus? They like to get out, and It’s rather far for 'em to walk now they’re failin’. I declare It goes to my heart to see poor Miss Betsey so meeeliln’ lately. She doesn’t seem to know whether her things Is on straight or not Last Sunday ’twas all 1 could do to keep my mind on the sermon for wantin’ to straighten her false front. 'Twas twisted so the partin’ was over one eye. And It’s real pathetic to see Miss Harriet hoverin’ about her sister and fussin’ to make her comfortable, when all the time Miss Harriet's the oldest. Miss Betsey ain't but 68. 1 shouldn’t wonder if 'twould chick ’em up consld’able to go to the surprise party this evenin’.” "Well, you can take ’em; I’ll walk. Twould be too crowding in the buggy for us nil, and I don’t want to get out the business wagon. There's a spoke Boose.” Mrs. Green looked narrowly at him; the repose of his face indicated nothing. “But, 'Rastus, I can't hitch old Nell. You know how she acts the minute we get out- a caperin’ and pullin’.” “I'll be on hand to look out for you.” ’Baatus pushed away bls chair, and the door closed after him. ’Rastus was not long in finishing the choree. When he bud harnessed old Nell to the Concord buggy and hitched her to a post by the back door be came to to shave. Mrs. Green was sitting by the kitchen window, dressed tn her best gown—a black alpaca, with fashionably large sleeves. It bad just been ■mde over, and the size of the sleeves wna supposed to offset the scantness of the skirt. At any rate, as she told the neighbor dressmaker, “there wasn’t any more pieces, and 'twas better the scrimpin' should come in the skirt, for sm’i skirt didn't show In one's coffin, sued if she was to die sudden before styles changed, why, the waist would 4to nicely for her to be laid out in.” A moon In its second quarter was gbowlug above the eastern borfnon as

'Rastus walked across the lots after helping bls mother off. Beyond, at the end of the lane, was another house, oldfashioned and yellow-painted. There lived Mr. and Mrs. English, two childless, middle-aged people. They were coming up from their house now. As he waited by the fence In the shadow of a lilac bush he could see them distinctly In the clear moonlight,—two somewhat bent figures, stepping irregularly. Between them walked another figure, with ywthful poises of head and shoulders, Abd his heart gave a queer little jump at the sound of a girl's laugh. “If I haven’t stove my thumb into this cake,” Mrs. English was saying. “Never mind, ma. Turn it ’totber side to when you hand it in, and nobody'll notice,” suggested her husband. The musical girl laugh sounded again. “Let me carry it, Aunt Martha.” With a thrill of satisfaction 'Rastus saw the nakpin-covered plate change hands. The slim, quick-stepping figure was ahead of the others now. As she reached the gate be seized the coveted opportunity, and moved forward, awkwardly snatching off his hat. “Good evening, Miss Holland. Let me open the gate for you.” Never did gate latch so long refuse to lift; and when she had passed through was it not to pause and turn back with a pretty “Oh, dear!" How he blessed the rose branch that caught her skirt, and so held her for his re«leasing. “Thank you,” she said demurely, looking at him with the moonlight in her eyes. Old Nell came up at a brisk trot, but his mother was alone, sitting very erect and bolding the reins far apart. “The Blake girls couldn't come. Miss Betsey had a bad turn last night, and Miss Harriet didn’t want to leave her. So you see you could have rode down well enough. I know you've spoiled your new shoes a-trottin’ through the wet grass ’cross lots." “Well, you won’t have to ride home alone,” said 'Rastus, happily, as he helped her out. What were new shoes in comparison with that Interchange of glance from a girl’s eyes. “I don’t believe the Harlows were very much surprised after all, mother. When I got here every window was lighted. We’re early, too.” One by one. In twos and threes, and merry family loads, the guests arrived; and there was talk and laugh and interchange of kisses among the women; an awkward standing aloof or scraps of neighborly chaff among the men, until the elder masculine element drifted to the kitchen, the younger to the long hall, and the sitting-room circle was strictly feminine. Lou Harlow, bustling about among the guests was more busily hostess like than Mrs. Harlow, herself. “Sarell never mistrusted until the last minute," she was telling every one. “When we suggested her fixing more’n usual for the evening, she said she just knew something was up.” “Yes, It was a real—surprise until then," corroborated Sarell Harlow, her usually quiet face very animated. “I didn’t suppose any one would remember that Will and I had been married ten years to-day. It's real pleasant to have one’s friends so remembering.” Mrs. Green, taking inventory of the tin things on the table, smiled bqnlgnly upon the speaker. She had found but one dipper among the pile, and naturally felt the prestige of being the only person who bad given an undup’Jcatcd article. Mrs. Dodgson, the local merchant’s wife, began talking at her elbow. “How nice Lou Harlow looks tonight. That lace at her throat is very becoming. 1 hear something about her and your 'Rastus. How’s that?" Mrs. Green drew herself up stiffly. “Folks can hear a good deal/’ she said. “ 'Rastus looks rather young to think of marrying. And Lou—why, she’s—let me see.” Mrs. Dodgson screwed her face Into arithmetical puckers. “She’s three years older’n 'Rastus! I remember she was bdrn the same year as my Ameret.” “Oh, well, it’s the fashion nowadays for men to marry older’n themselves,” Mrs. Green answered, with a blandness born of remembrance that Mrs. Dodgson’s own son bad wedded a woman ten years bls senior—a widow with an overgrown daughter just entering her teens—and that the affair was very displeasing to bls people. But her neighbor's friendly Inquisitiveness set her into a new train of thought. What if Lou Harlow had been the one whom 'Rastus had fancied? Before her rose a vision of heavy bread, cake smelling of saleratus, careless housekeeping—which she knew to be the rule at the Harlow homestead; she thought of what It would be to live day after day with Lou's giggling laugh, her persistent chatter and goodnatured officiousness! Looking across the room at one who but a few hours ago she bad characterized as “that flitterin' little Holland girl," she noted with a stirring of pride akin to what she felt in 'Rastus the trimness of the black-gowned figure, the quiet manner, the delicate contour of a face whose prettiness did not conceal decision and capability. 'Rastus was talking with her now, bls attitude marked by that new dignity which his mother had noticed of late. Something In the turn of bls head reminded her of his father when he had come courting out Pemlgewasset way, where she lived as a girl. When came a homeward mpvement

among the guests, Mrs, Green paused, talking in the open door on her way out Her quick eyes had recognized two young figures at the gate, and she turned her back upon tbem, barring the progress of Mr, and Mrs. English. “I have enjoyed it all so much; haven’t you, Mis’ English? I do think a surprise tin weddln’ the best way of rememberin’ the anniversary—it don’t make so much work for the folks of the house. Seems to me it's a pretty long while since you and your husband have been up to take tea with me. Now, why can’t you be a mite more neighborly and come soon? Say Wednesday. Nothin’ to hinder. Well, I’m real glad. And you are to bring your niece. Not havin’ any girl of my own I like to see a bright face like hers 'round once in a while. 1 guess ’Rastus must have got the horse unhitched by this time. Good-night.” ’Rastus was patting Nell’s nose as he stood by her when his mother came out. Retta Holland was still at the gate, waiting for her aunt and uncle, and Mrs. Green smiled at her as she passed. Mother and son drove along the btfsh fringed lane a plodding gait; for old Nell seemed in an indolent mood, and ’Rastus loth to urge her on. The moonlight lay white and beautiful over everything. “I’ve asked Mr. and Mrs. English, to tea next Wednesday,” said Mrs. Green. She cleared her throat at the eager interest on ’Rastus’ face, and added what she knew would establish perfect understanding between herself and him. "And I’ve asked the niece, too." “Have you? In ’Rastus’ voice was a thrill of such gladness as comes when one is 23 and in love for the first time. “Have you?" How much the boy looked like his father in spite of having her eyes and chin! Mrs. Green felt a sudden allembracing motherliness that let the girl of his love into the depths of her heart But she only said, in a matter-of-fact way: “I should think ’twould be real lonesome for the Englishes bein' as their house is where there a’n’t never any passin’. I should hate to live so far from folks. I wouldn’t for anything.” ’Rastus turned and looked back toward the old yellow house. To him it seemed that under some circumstances he could live his whole life at the end of the road.—lndependent

Assorted Voices.

It Is a well-known fact that voices differ greatly according to nationality and geographical position. Thus, in Russia, one hears mate voices which are absolutely unique in the lowness of their compass. The Italians, on the other hand, are notable for their fine tenor voices. Some Asiatic nations, according to Engel, sing in shrill notes by straining the voice to its highest pitch; others delight in a kind of vibrato or tremolando. Some sing habitually in an undertone, others in a nasal tone. Lichtenstein, in describing the singing of a Hottentot congregation in South Africa, observes that among all the singers, consisting of about a hundred Hottentots of both sexes, there was not one man with a bass or baritone voice; all the men had tenor voices. The Chinese voices seem to bear some resemblance to the weak character of the people. A military man who had three years' service In the country declares that he never once heard a Chinaman sing from his chest —Gentleman’s Magazine.

Another Burns Relic.

There has come to light in one of the auction rooms an interesting relic of Robert Burns. It Is an ordinary businesslike tumbler, Inclosed in an oak case lined with velvet and secured by a Brahmin k?y. The tumbler has engraved on it the following Inscription: “This glass once the property of Robert Burns, was presented by the poet's widow to James Robinson, Esq., and given by his widow to her son in-law, Maj. James Glencalrn Burns, 1840.” 4 The James Robinson to whom Jean Armour gave the relic was a Sunderland gentleman who became, by marriage, connected with the Burns faml'y. Ths box Is made from one of the piles of Old London Bridge, with some llghtei places of oak, relics of the Royal George.—Scotsman.

Moses Was a Gentleman.

The Christian Register reports that the question, “What was the general character of Moses?” drew from on« child in a Sunday school the reply: “A gentleman.” Not understanding, the inspector asked why. “Please, sir, when the daughters of Jethro went to the well to draw water the shepherds were in the way, but Moses helped them and said to the shepherds, ’Ladies first, please.’ ”

Shopping for Prospective Wives.

Among the peculiar customs of Mexico Is one which makes it particularly Incumbent upon engaged young men to go shopping for their sweethearts before the ceremony takes place which unites them as one. Young men go up to the City of Mexico from interior towns and lay in a stock of finery for their prospective wives in the most natural and matter-of-fact way.

First American Geography.

The first geography printed in this country was compiled by Jedediah Moss, and published In 1789, for the us® of schools. The attempts at maps In this publication were extremely crude, and gave a very Imperfect idea of the outlines of the countries they were supposed to represent. It is said that only twenty-five or thirty copies of this work are now In existence.

The Earth's Land Surface.

Three-fourths of the earth’s land surface cannot be cultivated, owing to mountain ranges, swamps and barren ground.

SCIENCE HAS A DIVINING ROD THAT SHAMES “WITCH HAZEL.”

Science has armed herself with a divining rod which cannot be open to the suspicion which has ever attached to the pronged twig of witchhazel. A simple apparatus has been devised for the locating of ores and mineral-bear-ing rock and earth. The new device pretty nearly eliminates the element of chance in mining operations. The principle Involved is that a vein of ore is a better conductor of electricity than the earth around It Two steel rods are connected with each other, with an electric battery, and with a delicate instrument which measures the resistance of the circuit The rods are driven into the ground, and a light current is sent through the connecting wire. The current, to complete its circuit, must travel through the earth from the end of one rod to the effd of the other. The resistance of the earth is noted, and the rods are moved to any positions. This is repeated until

THE ELECTRIC DIVINING ROD.

a marked reduction of resistance is noted. Then the operators know that one or both of the steel rods are over or nearly over a body of mineral. By repeated shifting, the location of the mineral Is narrowed down until the rein of ore can be mapped out with absolute accuracy. Minerals have been located at a depth of 500 feet, and the operators of the device say that, so far as they know, there need be no limit to the depth at which they can work.

QUEER STORIES

A stream with peculiar properties flows near Tucson, Ariz. Wood and vegetables and other soft substances thrown into it become petrified. It is customary for visitors to leave potatoes in it for a few weeks enclosed in wire receptacles and find them turned to stone. The women of Finland of the lower classes perform arduous labor that in other countries is usually assigned to males. They wheel handcarts and barrows of various descriptions containing heavy burdens. They also sweep the streets, act as boatmen and even assist In loading ships. Birds are made to take their own pictures by the ingenious apparatus of O. G. Pike, an English photographer. A bait of fat is placed on an electrical wire which Is so connected with a camera that when the bait Is removed the camera shutter is released, giving an instantaneous exposure of the sensitive plate. The average weight of engines on German State railways Is 42.67 tons, while those in use on private roads average 37.68 tons. During the year 1899 446 engines were purchased by the State railways and 56 by private companies. In the year 1898 $550,000 was spent for the purchase of new and the repair of old engines on private lines. There is considerable amusement in some of the census tables, aud jokes are going the rounds over the fact that Chicago has more hogs than New York, but that New York leads In the matter of goats. Pennsylvania beats all other States in the number of mules, which fact Is mentioned in relation to its factional politics. There is a large number of professional “bee hunters" in the West and Southwest of Texas. Small caves and dark recesses formed by shelving rock abound along the waterways of the Texan rivers. T»ey are the natural hives of the wild bees, and take the place of the hollow tree trunks of the forest regions of the northern country. These caves are used year after year by the bees, and in many instances they have been found to be literally filled with honey.

President McKinley and Hermann

Madame Adelaide Hermann, the widow of the famous prestldlgltateur, relates the following amusing incident, which occurred at the last meeting of President McKinley and Prof. Hermann, between whom a' strong friendship existed: When he was last in Columbus, Ohio, Prof. Hermann called on Maj. McKinley, who was then governor. As he started to go Prof. Hermann said: “Major, I may not see you soon again, and 1 have never given you anything by which you may remember me. Let me make you a present of this.** Taking his hand he placed a fine diamond ring on one of bls Angers. Maj. McKinley thanked him and admired the ornament. Shortly after Hermann left, a friend who was present said: “Oh, by the way, Governor, will you let me see that ring?” Tbe Governor held up his hand, but was astonished to And tbe ornament gone. There was no need to ask questions about tbe mystety. Hermann had left as a memento, instead of the ring, the memory of a very clever trick of which tbe Major.was*the victim.

POLITICS OF THE DAY

Senators Refuse to Bear. The House has passed without a dissenting vote the joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to ? provide for the election of United States Senators by the direct vote of the people. While it is improbable that the Senate will follow the House's action. Senators who oppose such an amendment to the constitution cannot fail to appreciate the fact that they are-setting up their individual wishes against the almost unanimous sentiment of the people in favor of a change in the method of choosing Senators. The election of Senators by a direct vote may be delayed, but It is steadily gaining ground and will carry sooner or later.—Philadelphia North American. A Menacing Oligarchy. The oligarchy tn the United States Senate is dangerous. That Messrs. Aldrich, Allison and Platt and probably two more Senators can thwart the will of the people, can bid defiance to the President, can absolutely control the House of Representatives, is recognized by all who live in Washington and know the facts about Congress. That these men should have this pow’er is more than unpleasant to contemplate. No one of them is free from the suspicion of l>eing influenced, upon various occasions, by self-interest. No one of them, unless it may be Allison, could ever have been elected President of the United States by popular vote.—Minneapolis Times. Salaries of Officials. Propositions to raise Washington salaries will generally be regarded with suspicion. The explanation that the officials are sacrificing large private interests to accept a low salary from the government has been stretched to the limit. The fact is that comparatively few men can earn >5,000 a year in the law or in any other profession. Almost any town could entertain comfortably a convention of those earning more than this amount. With a few conspicuous exceptions the officeholders in Washington are paid liberally. The country sees no occasion for the flood of bills to Increase salaries.— Kansas City Star. A Bond of Sympathy. Germany and the United States are "down” with the same complaint. Both have trust-breeding tariffs and both have producers who will sell dear at home and cheap abroad. The British consumer buys German iron or German sugar on much better terms than the German consumer does. The German consumer very naturally is becoming indignant. He does not see why he should be robbed in order to benefit either the producers at home or the consumers of the Dingley sort. lie wants Indirect robbery taxation stopped. This is a point to which the American people are coming.—Terre Haute Gazette.

The Only Course Left. The idea of forbidding any amendments to the war tax reduction bill except those emanating from the ways and means committee was so remarkable and so lacking in legality through depriving the House of Representatives of any voice in the matter that the contemptuous action of the opposition in making tbe passage of the bill unanimous was the only course left open. The bill will now go to the Senate, where it will receive full and free discussion. Thus we have the anomalous spectacle of one house being prohibited from legislation while the other revels in unrestricted license.—Pittsburg Dispatch. What the Trusts Have Learned. The trust, is in its infancy, but the managers of trusts have already learned that the very life of all such organizations depends upon their good behavior. A concern that deals with the general public must be as shrewd and as politic as any man seeking office. It must make its goods popular if it would sell them, and in order to make them popular tbe goods must be both good and cheap—the best article for the money to be had. There is the key to the trust problem.—Richmond Times. Good Outlook for Democrats. Not for many years has there been a time when the Democratic party in Illinois could so easily score victory for its principles and candidates. Democracy’s leaders in the State must be prompt to recognize and improve so golden an opportunity. There will he no excuse for failure to do this wheb the situation is so menacing to Illinois Republicanism that even Illinois Republicans themselves are prophesying Democratic victory.—St. Louis Republic. The Beauties of Protection. If protection is such a wonderfully good thing why don’t the Republican leaders in Congress Jump at the chance to discuss it and spread their argument before the people? Carnegie accumulated several hundred millions while the people were being taxed to protect him. The steel trust Is selling steel rails in Europe for Sl7 and charging Americans >2B for the same rails. They can do that because their Infant Industry is protected.—Toledo Bee. Bad Faith Toward the Territories. Tbe Republicans In their last platform declared that territories should

be admitted as States at soon as they; came up to a reasonable standard. Ok--lahoma, New Mexico and Arizona are now pleading for statehood and have much better qualifications and prospects than several of the States we have already. But It is feared that they will -- go Democratic and this Is enough to kill their chances with a Republican Congress.—Atlanta Journal A Truce to Hypocrisy. The United States government should certainly not be ashamed to make open announcement of its Philippine policy. A reluctance to do this in itself amounts to a confession of belief in the wrongfulness of the policy. If, knowing that we are determined to deal with the people of the Philippines on a basis of utter disregard of their rights, we yet delude them with vague and misleading promises of ultimate national independence we shall be guilty of a peculiarly contemptible sort of cowardice—the cowardice of the strong robbing the weak in the guise of a benefactor.—St. Louis Republic. No Thought of Pledged Faith. One set ot Republican leaders cry out: “Don’t reduce the duties on Cuban sugar and tobacco lest you open the perilous tariff question!” Another set of leaders vehemently declare: "We must do the right thing in Cuba or we shall run the risk of a certain break in the tariff wall." Both of the contending factions are Intent upon saving the sacred tariff, and while they bicker time flies and nothing is done one way or the other. In the meantime the pledged faith of the government stands unredeemed and its plain duty neglected.—Philadelphia Record. Sign of a Bad Cause. Speaker Henderson was indiscreet enough to inform a constituency by letter that: "Y'ou have accepted the lies sent out by the press which is being manipulated in the interests of free trade with Cuba.” The Speaker is in a bad way with a bad cause when he is obliged to accuse the press of the country of lying in order to bolster up his position. Such charges are invariably the last resort of a cheap politician. We have never known an intelligent, well-balanced man to make them.—Detroit Free Press. Want No Donbtful Title, This government does not. of course, want to buy into a colossal lawsuit. It does not want to take the chances even of inviting litigation by reason of its tempting wallet. If the Panama company has a clear title to the property it is offering that fact will add to the strength of its position in the negotiations. But If there is a doubt about the matter In the minds of eminent French lawyers we should know It, and know it as soon as It can be communicated to us.—Washington Star. Too Much Jobbery in It. If the river and harbor bill could be kept clear of jobbery the $60,000,000 to which the committee is trying to confine its expenditure would probably be quite sufficient. The trouble Is that this bill has become a favorite means of Congressional log-rolling, and the really meritorious enterprises provided for in it are made to help along too many schemes for downright plunder of the treasury.—Philadelphia Ledger. Two Mode* of Pacification. Governor Taft favors a declaration by the United States of Intention to hold the Philippines indefinitely, his belief being, presumably, that a settled policy would more quickly bring peace to the islands. But would not peace sooner be restored by a declaration that we intended to give the Filipinos Independence as soon as they are fitted for it?—lndianapolis News. The Philippine Problem.

While Mr. Taft is convinced of the utter unfitness of the Philippines for statehood, now or in the distant future, he is in much doubt as to the best policy to be pursued toward them. The best policy is to govern them in accordance with the constitution of the United States or to let them govern themselves.—Philadelphia Record. The Endless Chain Grab. Only a little' while ago we grabbed Porto Rico to protect our coasts. And now we are grabbing the Danish West Indies for the purpose of protecting Porto Rico. By and by we shall be looking around for an Island or a continent as a strategical base In protecting the Danish West Indies—Johnstown, Pa., Democrat. The Administration la Consistent. The decision of the Federal administration to furnish no more money for the light in the statue of liberty enlightening the world in New York harbor has a certain propriety It would not have had a few years ago. We are not enlightening the world In liberty as much as we were.—lndianapolis Sentinel. A Libel on Abraham Lincoln. Secretary Long is rather ridiculous in pretending to believe that Abraham Lincoln, If living to-day would approve the Philippine folly. Mr. Lincoln distinctly declaved that no man is good enough to govern another man without that other man’s consent.-St. Louie Post-Dispatch.