Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1902 — Page 6

ROMONA UP TO DATE

rjp HE fru’j .season waa at its height 'JL ® ver . v Ginnery was running at full blast, the shipping sheds were loading and shipping carloads by the hundred every day, the drying grounds looked like acres of varicolored patchwork with their trays of dark and light fruit, and the orcliardists were scouring the highways and hedges for “hands" to keep up with tiie demand. The packing house at Rancho Pico swarmed with a motley crew gathered from the four corners of the earth, in the effort to handle the crop without a waste, for a few days of sudden and Intense heat had ripened everything in double quick time. A crew of Japs, working in the prune orchard, were hauling loads of dusky purple fruit to the west room to be dipped, spread, dried and graded by a lot of brawny Swedes. In the cutting room, a wiry little Dago was sweating and swearing over a band of low browed Digger Indians, as he weighed out the fruit to them, and sent the filled trays to the bleachers. At the main entrance stood a train of fruit wagons, waiting for ilielr respective loads of peaches for cannery and shipment, while from the vineyard came “goose-necks” with their freight of grapes to be pressed Into raisins. Everything was going swimmingly. Above the rich brogue of the team aters,' the sputtcriugs of the .Taps, the guttural grunts of the Indians, and muttered cussings in every current itongue, arose the commanding voice of young Smithers, the manager. With a “fl-ft” to the Chinamen in the loading ahed, a "get a move ou” to a gang of young boys at the packing tables, a threatening gesture toward the Diggers. lie kept everybody ou a rush (while his watchful eye covered every detail, from the bookkeeper in the office to the mule in the "goose-neck.” “We’re going to get through all right, Tamaki,” lie said to the Jap boss, who combined the properties of Intelligence office, general foreman and sub lessee, hi his own shifty person. “Men ver’ scarce, though,” he answered, as he turned to steady a load ♦f trays that were being switched on o the track. “Yes, but we re full handed for once,” with n glance over his congress of nadoiis. Then Tamaki, seeing the iron hot, came nearer. "Ver’ sorry,” he said, !n confidential tones, “but I Just came down to tell you boys think have to iiave little more money. So much bard (work, aud hot weather.” “But they’re getting a dollar and a half a day," said Smitliers, “a ruinous rate for such a lot of ” He remembered Just in time that this was not an occasion for crossing swords. “Yes. I know,” the little brown man answered. Imperturbably; “but boys aay they quit, no get dollar sixty-five." Sinithcws looked at the little grinning Bhylock, and thought how easy it ■would be to throttle him on the spot, but lie also thought of the sixty Japs picking fruit and the necessity of getting It harvested at once, so he kept his hands In his pockets, saying as coolly as he could: ‘‘Very sorry, too, but boys get no more money from me.” “I ’frald boys quit,” taunted Tamaki;! “fine crop, too. Too bad lose ’em.” Then Smitliers, knowing the scarcity of white men as laborers, and remembering bow lucky he had thought him•elf to get this band of Japs when other growers were losing tons of fruit because labor was so scarce, choked down bis wrath, aud said: “I’ll tell you what I’ll do, Tanipkl; I’ll give one sixty-five the rest of tills xveek, If you'll see that they work hard and earn It,” hoping to get out of the woods by then. Aud Tamaki, seeing the “boys” liad never thought of objecting to tlielr rtgDiar one dollar a day, pocketed the prospect of his extra sixty five cents per capita with a chuckle. Two days later a rush order came in from the East for a heavy shipment of fresh fruit. Every department that could be cut dowu without too great a sacrifice was curtailed, aud every available hand on the place was turned to picking peaches. In the midst of It all, Tamaki appeared In the ofliee with a downcast countenance. “Ver' sorry, Mr. Smitliers," he began; “ver’ rush, 1 know, but boys think have to quit.” “What's the matter now?” Smitliers called from behind his desk. “Boys think too bard work. They think like to go to hop fields, get more mono y.” Smithcrs. In the midst of a column, did not look up. “I think maybe stay little while for one seventy-live," lie added, dubiously. “Not a cent more, d'ye hear!” Smith «n roared, ns soon as he had reached bis total. T lie cool-headed man of a few weeks before was now the luiggard, heavy-eyed victim of overwork, orerjrofry, and the Intolerable heat, "ialll fhr shewd Tumnkl looked after bis retreating figure, lie wondered how much farther lie might dare to toy with bis endurance. “Ia Mr. Huilthera lu?” a clear, high voice rang above the gruffer sounds. And before the overwrought Smitliers bad time to smooth out his forehead or l temper, the voice gurgled, rushing up 4o him: “Oh, Mr. Bmithers, I've been trying all morning to get you ou the telephone. I bdpe you are feeling very

good-natured aud neighborly this morning, for I want to ask a little favor of you.” Smithers looked up blankly, but without noticing his woe begone abearance the Voice rattled on: “I’d like about five hundred trays from you if you can spare them, and your sprinkliug enrt, our roads are getting so frightfully dusty, and a dozen or two cutting knives, you always have such quantities ou hand, and Why, what In the world has happened? You look as If you had reached the last notch of endurance!” “Something near it, I think,” answered Smithers, with a sallow smile. "That damn Tama—l beg your pardon, Miss Smythe— that ” “Oh, not at all!” she Interrupted, taking in a good, long breath, "and if you could send over some pickers!” adjusting a turquoise stud in her blue shirtwaist, "we’d be so much obliged. We are getting along famously, don’t you know, I think it’s such fun to run a ranch. Do you have any trouble in getting men?" “The scarcity of men is not so bad as ” "Oh, yes, of course,” the high, clear tones remarked, “isn’t it a perfect shame?, But do you know I was about to forget my main object in coming over, such a tragic thing has happened. My dear little Dandy, you know he has always been used to the lias gotten something in liis foot; do you suppose you could loan me a horse for a few days?” Smithers made some sort of a dumb sign the lady was pleased to take for an assent. "Oh, thank yon so much,” she gush ed, “you know eve find the neighbors around here simply dear in doing little things for us, and it is such a lark to be a business woman, don't you know!” And, gathering up her skirts, she picked her way daintily among the dripping boxes and over the sticky floor. When the sound of her wheels was out of ear-shot, Smithers opened his eyes. “Well, this certainly is the last notch,” ho muttered. “These infernal women from the city, with their measly little twenty-acre patch, have disrupted the whole system of piecework by raising wages whenever there’s a pinch, and liave borrowed every unattached article on every ranch within ten miles, and—but this Is my chance,” he finished, with a wicked glint in bis eye, “ revenge Is sweet.’ ” "Tamaki,” he called, "Miss Sybil Smythe at the next ranch wants some more pickers. lam through with your men aud I think you will just suit her.” It was because he saw his revenge, swift and sure, upon his two pet annoyances, that he was able to preserve his outward calm, and, with soothed feelings, turned his energies to solving the labor problem minus his Jap crew. But as the hop fields had begun to draw from the ranks of the workingmen, the highways and hedges were almost depleted. One crop of poaches actually did go to waste for the lack of cutters, but as he saw the ground literally covered with twenty-dollar pieces, he said to himself: “It would have been a greater loss to handle <t at the rate I was paying Tamaki;” then, with a chuckle: “I wonder how Miss Smythe is making it?” In a few days, when that young lady returned to borrow a few more trifles in the nature of a ton of hay, a set of harness, and a garden hose, she said: “So immensely good of you to seud us Damntamakl. Ills crew is simply elegant. "Oh, yes, we have to pay them two dollars a day, but we haven’t lost a peach,” with an inquiring glance toward tiie Muir crop, yellowing on the ground. Nevertheless, Smitliers held on gVlmly. Tamaki’s crew would break her up, he argued, she would not come back next year, and the consequent saving of Ills trays, harness, horses, hay. wagons, and every detachable Implement would more than compensate for tiie loss of that one variety. “How are you getting along, Tamaki?” Smithers-asked the litle “Jap boss” one morning, us he saw him scorching in to town. “Oh, ver’ good; Miss Smythe ver’ fine lady. I think boys make good deal money this year, maybe,” with a meaning grin. "Yes, I think boys do pretty well,” Smhitliers agreed, with a sudden fear lest Miss Smythe might drop in upon him to borrow the money to pay them. There were others who complained of the demoralizing effect of these women who ran their little ranch for the lark, and many ranchers found trouble In getting help when It was known Miss Smythe was paying two dollars a day, but "Let It go” Smithers always said to them. "This year will freeze them out, for at the end of the season they’ll have to sell their ranch In order to pay their Japs.” At the close of the harvesting season Miss Smythe and her friend wound up their country life experience with n house party of friends from the city. This, of course, necessitated the borrowing of tents, hammocks and chairs from Smithers, until be was forced to accept their Invitation to be one of their number, having nothing left In his own domain either to sit or lie upon. “And do you know,” Miss Smythe confided to him, as they talked of her departure, “this has been such as aw-

fully Jolly outing, I'd really like to coma up here to live.” “But haven’t you found It a rather expensive experiment?” Smithers gasped. “Expensive?” Miss Smythe echoed In surprise. “Yes, expensive,” Smitliers repeated. “If I may ask the question, haven’t you found the price of labor overbalances tiie profit on the crop?” Miss Smythe threw back her head aiul laughed. Her mouth was very pretty when she laughed, he noticed, “Poor Damntamaki!” she exclaimed, “you can’t think what a little idiot he is, for all he thinks he Is so shrewd.” And saying that, she laughed again. Smithers laughed, too—at his own expense, and waited for her to go on. “His men did splendid work for us,” she explained, “because he was getting so much money, and I kept telling him lie could not do so well if we turned him off. And what do you suppose he charged 11s for picking our crop?’ ’ Smithers discreetly refrained from guessing. "Niue hundred and four dollars,” she told him, and again she went off In a gale of laughter. “Is tHat the Joke?” Smithers asked, wishing he could regard his own disbursements with the same levity. “Oh, no,” she gurgled. “The joke is that I put iu a little bill of nearly three hundred dollars for lost time, breakage of boxes, warping of trays, and damage to machinery from the leaves and dirt sent in In the prune boxes.” "Did he pay it?” Smitliers inquired. ■•nf course he did. I had drawn up a contract providing for protection against unnecessary loss, which I made him sign. Then there was a tire-tiff he Jap camp, which damaged the trees and Implements to some extent.” "W'hat did he do about that?” the man asked, curiously. "Paid it, of course,” she answered, gayly. “Then is it possible you did not come out behind, after all?” Smithers asked, in amazement. “Why, we did better than any of you,” she answered, “for while those Japs stayed, they worked like beavers, and got through in almost half tiie time, which made our harvesting cost less than yours, or anybody’s. The actual cost of our labor was about 85 cents a day.” “Well, I’m glad this is the laht of those gol blamed wimmen folks," sighed one of the iflured old codgers, as lie saw the train pull out a few days later. "But It's not," said Smitliers, joyfully. “What! Tlie.v’s not cornin’ back next year, lie they?” lie snapped. “One of them is.” Smithers answered, proudly. “Sybil is coming back to run my ranch for me.”—San Francisco Argonaut.

BLUE ROSE GROWN AT LAST.

Floricultural Freak Long Dreamed Of la at Last a Reality. The announcement was made a few days ago in a London paper that a perfect blue rose had been received from America at Ivew Gardens. There was nothing in the short notice, aside from the mention that the rose was considered a botanical curiosity, to indicate that the flower, a perfect blue, marks an epoch In rose culture. Among the faddists in the growing of tiie rose it lias been for ages the sought for color. Not that there would be any particularly large money reward, but there seems to be some allurement in the hope that their name may go down iu botanical history trailing after a Latin prefix as the grower of "a perfect blue.” The cultivation of the blue rose has long been considered an Impossibility. “A seeker after blue roses” is an old phrase signifying the unattainable. But such wonderful things have been done with the rose in the way of cultivation, enlargement, beauty and fragrance t hat it is not surprising that ambitious rose eulturists should strive for this high goal. One head gardener, in speaking of the matter, said that it did not surprise him that the blue rose had been grown at last. There have, according to him, always been some few enthusiasts working to that end. Probably their patience had at last been rewarded. "For you must understand,” he continued, "that the perfection of such a rose means much—the work of a lifetime. Even the attempted cultivation of such a monstrosity presupposes a premiership in the ranks of botanists. It Involves an age of personal experience and a knowledge of the continued experiences of others along the same line. “Years and years of Individual experiment are required," Sqyg the New York Times, “all the while keeping minute records of the hablls of the plant In its different stages, its varying color, at times in the seventh heaven of eestney over some slight Indication of advancement toward the goal, only to lie east Into the nethermost depths of despond by the contrariness of tiie next cross.

Pigmy Camels of Persia.

The western part of Persia is inhabited by n species of camel which Is tiie pigmy of its kind. These camels are snow white, and are ou that account almost worshipped by the people. The Slmli presented the municipality of Berlin with two of these little wonders. The larger Is 27 Inches high nnd weighs 01 lbs. The other is 4 inches less, but tiie weight Is not given.

Flour for China.

Two modem flouring mlL'a, with American machinery, have recently been constructed at Harbiu, Manchuria.

LOCATION OF BRITAIN’S NEWEST ACQUISITION.

Portuguese East Africa, which Great Britain is reported to have purchased under an agreement entered into ten years ago by Great Britain, Germany and Portugal, has an area of 301,000 square mile* and a population of 3,120,000. Its ports are Delagoa Bay, which ha* a railroad connection with the Transvaal, and whose possession is Britain’s principal object in buying the territory; and Beira, from whieh there is a railroad line into Rhodesia, 222 miles in length, and which may go to Germany with the northern part of the territory. The possession of Delagoa Bay gives Great Britain a port for the Transvaal and a naval base on « the west coast. Commercially the territory has great promise, particularly in mining. Thousands of gold claims have been staked out by Britishers under concessions from Portugal, and their development awaits only improved transportation facilities. Rubber, ores, wax anil ivory are the principal exports. Imports have in late years amounted to $7,500,000, and exports to SBOO,OOO annually. Portugal Las reeeived from the territory in revenue $5,000,000 annually, of which three-fifths has been expended in its administration.

STONE MAY END STRIKE.

Pennsylvania Governor Decide* to Call the Legislature. Gov. Stone of Pennsylvania announced Thursday that the coal strike shall be ended. He declared that he would call the Legislature to enact a compulsory arbitration law. He said: “A law that would settle labor dispute* between employer and employe must of necessity be a compulsory arbitration law and the law must be final and conclusive. This law must be drafted for the protection of society and must not be drawn in the interest of employer or of employe. “Experience teaches thait strikes endanger Life and property. Whenever life and property are in jeopardy society is menaced. Therefore, legislation should be considered and drawn for the protection of life and property as a public regulation, benefiting the public and protecting •odoty. “In a general strike like the present one tn the anthracite coal regions the general public suffers, and, in fact, the whole country suffers, as well as the employer and employe. “The participants must yield individual rights for the benefit of society and the public demand that strike disputes shall be settled promptly and effectively. The

GOVERNOR STONE.

right of the public, the right of society Is greater than the right of the participants on both sides in any strike. "We must recognize strikes as they have been, are and will continue to be, and we must deal with them for the public good. I believe that a law should be drawn that would settle disputes Between employer and employe speedily and effectively -without strikes, but whether legislators and parties interested would agree with me is another thing.”

BROOKLYN HITS ROCK.

Strike* Uncharted Obstruction During Shu in Warfare. The United States cruiser Brooklyn, the flagship of Rear Admiral Coghian, struck a hidden rock in Buzzard’s bay and sustained eerious damage. The vessel is of larger aize than most boats which enter those waters without a local pilot, but the officers state that the rock upon which the vessel struck is uncharted. The Brooklyn, together with three other vessels, the Olympia, Puritan and Mayflower, made an attack on Fort Rodman In the pursuance of the plans of the naval maneuvers, but was repulsed. The defenses of the eastern approach to New Bedford replied to the stacking squadron with a hot tire, and after a couple of hours the vessels drew off to rejoin the main squadron. As they crossed Buzzard's bay and when they were just opposite Dumpling lighthouse the Brooklyn, which was steaming slowly, stopped dead, listed to starboard and began to settlo. The discipline on tho cruiser was perfect. Scarcely had the shock been realized when the sailor* and marines sprang to “stations," the orders for the closing of the compartment were given and followed out and the hatches closed without a hitch or a moment’s delay. No signs of perturbation were to be seen. The cruiser held on tha rock but a few seconds, when she began to slide off. It was found that she was not making much water and by the use of pumps was enabled to steam to an anchorage. ITie Lokal Anzeiger, of Berlin, say* an evidence of the growing Americanization of the world is shown In a plan to establish a postgraduate medical school at Frankfort after an American model. A private person has contributed $500,000 for tiie establishment of this school. Henryk Slermlradtfkl, famous Polish pianist, Is Acad.

CZARINA OF RUSSIA, WHO IS NOW REPORTED SERIOUSLY ILL

CZARINA OF RUSSIA.

The Czarina of Russia, who is reported to be seriously, though not dangerously, ill, is 30 years old and the mother of four children, all of them daughters. She was formerly the Princess Alexandra Alix, daughter of Ludwig IV., Grand Duke of Hesse, and she was married to the Czar in November, 1894, a few weeks after the death of bis father, the late Alexander 111. On her removal to Russia the German princess assumed the name of Alexandra Feodorovna. It is said that she has had a remarkable influence on the life and policy of the young emperor, and it is said also that the gravity of her sition has had a very saddening influence on her disposition.

OVER 200,000 MILES OF RAIL.

Constant Growth of the United States' Railway Mileage. The railway mileage of the United States has passed the 200,000 mile mark. The figures at the close of 1901 were approximately 199,525 miles, and the construction for the first six months of 1902 brings the total up to 201,839 miles, fht track laid during the first half of this year on 155 lines aggregating 2,314 miles. This is nearly 500 miles in excess of the new mileage for the first six months of 1901, when 1,817 miles were built. Ths total for the twelve months last year was 5,222 miles, and if the same ratio Is maintained this year it will readily bs seen that the construction for 1902 will easily exceed 6,030 miles. Tracklaying thus far this year has been distributed throughout forty-one States and Territories, the following States reporting no new mileage, although lines are under construction in all of these with the exception of two or three New England States: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Wyoming, Nevada and Idaho. lexas shows the largest new mileage with 236 mile*. Oklahoma and the Indian Territory are tied for second place, with 211 miles each, and New Mexico la fourth with 190 miles.. Other States showing 100 miles or over are: Arkansas, 136 miles; Georgia, 125; Louisiana, 102, and Illinois, 1()0, Florida being near the 100 mile mark with 97 to her credit.

All Aronnd the Globe.

Mrs. Frances Russell, a demented negress, attempted suicide by jumping Into tho Kaw river in Kansas City, Ivan. Fiahermen araw the woman and by using their boat hooka managed to drag her to shore. George Fondexter, colored, a coal miner working in mine No. 10 of the Central Coal and Coke Company, at Vevier, Mo., was killed in the mine by a large cave-in of rock and slate. He was 45 years of age, was married and resided in that dty. . It is predicted by President J. J. HilJ of tho Northern Securities Company that the three roads whose securities are controlled by his company, the Burlington, Great Northern and Northern Pacific, will have gross earnings of $150,000,000 this year. George Clark, who acted ns trainer for the football teams at Kansas University in 'O4, '95, '9O, has been engaged to act in that capacity ngain the coming season. Nellie nnd Bertha Fralinger and Peter Degar wope drowned at Bridgeton, N. J. The party were crabbing nod the two young women fell overboard. Dogar jumped after them and fell three sank. A fire brigade composed of boys of tha institution held a fire in check until tha regular firemen arrived at tho Catholic protectory in Westchester, N. Y. Tho fir# was soon under control and the lom w m kapg gown to about SIO,OOO.

Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville By. H. * %. Rensselaer Time-Table, South Bound.: * No. 31—Fast Mail 4:49 a. m. No. s—Louisville Mail, (daily) 10:55 a. m. No.33—lndianapolis Mail, (daily).. 2:02 p. tn. No. 39—Milk accoram., (daily) 6:15 p. m’ No. 3—Louisville Express, (daily).. II :25 p.m‘ •No. 45—Local freight 2:40 p.m. North Bound. No. 4—Mail, (daily) 4:30 a.m. No. 40—Milk acoomm., (daily) 7:31a.m. No.32—Fast Mail, (daily) 9:55 a. m. •No.3o—Cin.to Chicago Ves. Mail.. 6:32 p.m. tNo. 38—Ciu. to Chicago 2:57 p.m. No. 6—Mail and Express, (daily)... 3:30 p.m. •No. 46—Local freight 9:55 a. m. No. 74—Freight.(daily) 9:09 p. m. •Daily except Sunday. {Sunday only. No. 74 carries passengers between Monon and Lowell. Hammond has been made a regular stop for No. 30. No. 32 and 33 now stop at Cedar Lake. Frank J. Kbkd, G. P. A., W. H. McDoel, President and Gen. M’g’r, Chas. H. Rockwell, Traffic M’g'r, csiotao. W. H. Beau, Agent, Rensselaer.

Edward P. Honan, ATTORNEY AT LAW. Law, Abstracts, Real Estate, Loans. Will practice in all the courts. Office over dig’s Fair. RENSSELAER, INDIANA. Hanley & Hunt, low, Abstracts, loons anti Root [state. RENSSELAER, IND. Office up-stairs in Leopold block, first stair* west of VauKensselaer street. Wm. B. Austin, Lawyer and Investment Broker Attorney For The L. N. A. AC. Ry, and Rensselaer W. L A P. Co. over Chicago Bargain Store. Rensselaer, Indiana. U. M. Baughman. G. A. William* Baughman & Williams, ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW. Law, Notary work. Loans. Real Estate and Insurance. Special attention given to collections of all kinds. Office over "Racket Store.” ’Phone 339. Rensselaer, - Indiana. Moses Leopold, ATTORNEY AT LAW AND INSURANCE, Office over Ellis & Murray’s Rensselaer, - - Indiana. J. F. Irwin S. C. Irwin Irwin & Irwin, Real Estate, Abstracts. Collections, Harm Loans and Fire lasurane*. Office in Odd Fellows' Block. RENSSELAER, INDIANA. SHANK rOLTK. c. a. SVITLKN. MANNY N. KUNNIN Foltz, Spitler & Kurrie, (Successors to Thompson A Bro.) ATTORNEYS AT LAW. Law, Real Estate. Insurance Absracts and Loans. Only set of Abstract Books in the County. RENSSELAER, IND. Ira W. Yeoman, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW. Remington, ■<. Indiana. Law. Real Estate. Collections, Insurance and Farm Loans. Office upstairs in Durand Block. H. O. Harris. E. T. Harris. J. C. Harris. President. Vice-Pres. Cashier. Rensselaer Bank. Deposits received on call. Interest Bearing Certificates of Deposit issued on time, Exchange Bought and Sold on principal citiea, Notes Discounted at current rates, Farm Loans made at 6 per cent.’ We Solicit a Share of Your Business. Drs. I. B. & I. M. Washburn, Physicians & Surgeons. Dr. I. B.Wushburn will give special attention to Diseases of the Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat and Chronic Discuses. He also tests- eves for gluts e*. Orrics Tilifmoni No. 41. RiliDtNCi Pmoni No. 17. Rensselaer, - - Indiana. E. C. English, Physician & Surgeon. Office overlmcs' Millinery store. Rensselaer. Ornei Phoni.l77. Rhioihci Phonii 111 H. L. Brown, DENTIST. Office over Larsh’s drug store. AMIJNTIM. Crown, Bar and Bridge \ Work. Teeth Without npr I /4b Plates. Without Pain. .. J. W. HORTON .. I* TEAM IN NINSSKLAEK. Teeth carefully stopped with gold and other ■llings. Consultation free. Nitrous Oxide Bas administered dnlly. Charges within the reach of all. osviea oyposits count houss. Read The Democrat for new*.