Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1905 — Page 5

The God In the Hurdy Gurdy

By CASPAR JOHNSON

It was a narrow alley, running between the back yards. It was intended for the convenience of the butcher's boy and the grocer’s boy and the ash man. Distinctively It was not intended for men of Pasquale Venetti’s stamp. Indeed, a sign at either end announced this in no uncertain terms. "Beggars, Peddlers arid Street Musicians Keep Out," it read. But to Pasquale Venettl warning signs in English had no terrors from the simple fact that written English was beyond his ken. Therefore as he came trundling the ancient hurdy gurdy np the street he looked into the alley, saw ‘lts possibilities—the ease with which coins could be tossed from the back windows—and, forsaking the asphalt pavements, where, to use bls own expression, he could "no getta de biz," he turned into the alley and, unlimbering his musical battery, sent up the quavering strains of “Lindy, Lindy, Yo* Is Ma Ladylove.” It is a hard, cold world. Pasquale ground away patiently, and whenever a face appeared at any of the windows he smiled expansively, removed his battered bat and bowed profoundly and even essayed a joyful shuffling of his feet while he turned the crank. But, despite all these blandishments, to say nothing of the appeal made by a choice assortment of selections, ranging from the classic to ragtime, no coins wrapped In white paper came jingling to his feet. To be sure, one fat cook came out to the back gate and after he had played half through the hurdy gurdy’s assortment gave him a penny, and an old gentleman bad raised an upper window and, with a thundered “Get out of this!’* had flung him a dime. But 11 cents from such a promising alley! Pasquale resented bls ill treatment and moved farther up the alley. No better success attended him here. He whistled, he danced, be sang. He smiled his best and bowed his lowest. He tried the Intermezzo and “Ma Filipino Man” with an equal lack of success. He had his labor for his pains. He moved to the far end of the alley, with a view to quitting It. He made

SUDDENLY AT HIS FEET WAS A YELLOW COIN.

one final stand, however, before the back of an Imposing bouse. With a sinking heart be sent up the Jerky bars of a march from a popular light opera. The bouse, like all the others, was unresponsive. Then be shifted to ragtime. He decided to play through bis repertory anyway. If it failed, be would go back to the asphalt pavements and try his luck somewhere downtown before a restaurant or a promising saloon. Now, It happened that in the big, dim back parlor of the Imposing bouse sat two young people, and a single glance showed that they were not happy. The man sat very stiff and straight In bls chair and bit bls lips. The girl was seated on a low divan. Her face was flushed and her eyes glowed angrily. "It is far too much to forgive this time,** she was saying. "I have forgiven and forgiven—eternally forgiven —and now I am tired,” The man replied coldly. "Perhaps you are right,” be said in a strained voice. "And the sooner It’s over the better, now,” said the girl, choking. The man started up. Whatever remonstrance be was about to make be stifled. "Very well,” be said curtly. The girl pulled a ring from her finger and laid It on the table beside the man. He took it without a word and put It In bls pocket. "I might say”— be began slowly. "All you could say would make no difference,” she said wearily. The man rose and strode to the window. Pasquale was grinding away assiduously. At the sight of the man In the window he smirked and bowed and shuffled his feet. The man smiled bitterly. "Lucky, happy devil!” be muttered. Then be turned to the girl and drew himself up stiffly. "I may as well say goodby,” said ue. She made no reply. “Goodby,”. he said again. “Goodby,” she returned evenly.

The man hesitated a moment; then he strode to the door. In the alley Pasquale had come to the last piece in his repertory. It was a poor imitation of portions of Schubert’s “Serenade.” Just as the man reached the door the jingling notes floated in from the alley. The man paused. A look of pain came into his face. Those jerky notes brought memories with them—memories of a big, dark music room with two little spots of red in the gloom where the candles burned on the piano; of a girl beneath the candles—a girl with white neck and gleaming shoulders, playing the serenade very softly; of a few breathless words whispered over her shoulder; of a pair of luminous eyes which flashed an answer that set bls heart pounding madly. ♦ • ♦ And now a hurdy gurdy playing that sacred serenade in the alley—and this. It was heinous sacrilege. —— —— “Lord, I can’t stand that,’> he muttered, and turned to the girl a face drawn and white. “Goodby,” he said as If the words choked him. But the girl’s face had whitened also. Bhe took a step forward. “Robert,” she said with wide, frightened eyes. • •••••• In the alley Pasquale ground away hopelessly. Suddenly a window was raised and a coin dropped at his feet. It was a shining, yellow coin. Pasquale Venettl gasped, turned it over in his palm, and then whooped. In a burst of gratitude he began the repertory all over again, and such was his elation that be essayed to heighten the effect by singing in a , high, squeaky voice. The orgy was soon over, however, for a patrolman came down the alley and seized the exuberant musician. The thought of the yellow coin in his pocket enabled Pasquale to bear this ordeal with equanimity. “Alla right, alia right”’ he protested mildly as he was hustled past the warning signs and dumped unceremoniously on the asphalt pavement.

The Ruling Passion.

The ruling passion Is often very strong in death. A senator from Tennessee discovered this some years ago. Among his constituents was a certain man who came to him regularly twice a year for the purpose of obtaining a pass to Baltimore. The man and his family had served the senator when he was first making bls way up the ladder of politics, and as a result of this he always obliged him, and had, moreover, a soft place in his heart for the man. He obtained for him a position in one of the departments at Washington; but this did not seem to be enough, for regularly at the end of each six months he applied for his ticket to Baltimore. One day he sickened and was reported to be dying. The senator, very much grieved, immediately called upon him. “Joe,” he said, leaning over and speaking very softly, “is there anything I can do for you?” The sick man looked up with a flash of recognition, and instantly replied in a whisper: “Yes, senator; please get me a pass to Baltimore.”—Harper’s Weekly.

Shipshape on Land.

One of the quaintest charitable Institutions in the world is the Royal Alfred Home For Aged Seamen, which houses 100 English mariners In the outskirts of London. It is supported entirely by voluntary contribution. The main idea has been to make the place as homelike as possible, and to this end an effort has been made to preserve in large measure the environment to which the inmates are accustomed. The dormitories are cut up into tiny cabins, as on shipboard, and in place of the familiar iron cots these veterans of the sea turn in at night in bunks and stow their clothes and other belongings precisely as they would on board ship. Day and night the hours and half hours are struck on a ship’s bell in the main ball, and even in the mess room the atmosphere of the sea is retained as an aid to appetite. The house governor is himself an old sea captain of forty years* experience In commanding men, and his rule la entirely along nautical lines. - A Neat Catch. If sixteen hungry men sit down to dine of a single red herring, what time does that Indicate? The answer is, A quarter to 4. Anatomy In Rhyme. How many bones in the human face? Fourteen, when they are all in place. How many bones tn the cranium? Eight, unless you've mislaid some. How many bones in the ear are foundt Three In each, to catch the sound. How many bones are In the spine? Twenty-four, like a clustering vine. How many bones In the cheat are found? Twenty-four ribs to the sternum bound. How many bones In the shoulder bind? Two in each—one before, one behind. How many bones are In the arm? The top has one; two in the forearm. How many bones are In the wrist? Eight, if none of them is missed. How many bones in the palm of the hand? Five In the palm, pray, understand. How many bones in the fingers ten? Twelve bones plus two and repeat again. How many bones are In the hip? One in each, where the femurs slip. With sacrum and coccyx. too, to brace And keep the pelvis all In place. How many benes are In the thigh? One in each, and deep they lie. How many bones arc In the knee? One, the patella, plain to see. How many bones are In the shin? Two in each, and well bound In. How many bones In the ankle strong? Seven tn each, but none la long. How many bones in the ball of the foot? Five in each, as the palms were put. How many bones In the toes all told? Just twenty-eight, like the fingers hold. There’s a bone at the root of the tongue to add And sesamoids eight to what you have. Now, adding them all, ’tie plainly seen That the total number Is 214, And in the mouth we clearly view Teeth, upper and under, thirty-two. —Teacher.

WHY BOWMAN IS DEAD

Hagerstown Has a Very Startling Explanation of the Banker's . Suicide. BANK IN A RECEIVER’S HANDS Farmersand Children Were Numerous as Depositors—End of Horse Racing. Richmond, Ind., July 7. J. A. Spekenbier has been appointed receiver of the Commercial bank, of Hagerstown, Ind., on application of President Mason. The liabilities exceed SIOO,000, while the assets are given as much less than that amount. The cashier, John Bowman, committed suicide last Monday, and this action led to the present receivership. Following the suicide an investigation was made, the affairs of the bank having been almost exclusively in Bowman’s hands. According to a statement given out before the application for the receiver only $1,900 In cash was found, although the assets are believed to be nearly $75,000. Time-Look Refused to Work. Last Saturday the time lock of the bank refused to work, and it was given out that Cashier Bowman had been compelled to borrow money for the day’s business because be could not open the safe. He got S7OO in all, S2OO coming from Ed Porter and $l5O from Will Porter. The time lock refused to work once before, and the public dismissed the incident as of no great importance. When Cashier Bowman shot himself, Monday, a few persons became suspicious, but President Mason said that as far as he knew the affairs of the bank were in good condition. Farmers and Small Boys the Losers. There is much excitement at Hagerstown. Business is practically at a standstill, as a real money famine exists. Practically everybody in town had deposits in the bank. Small boys by the scores emptied their little safes and deposited their earnings. Some farmers, old men who had sold their farms to come to town to live, placed their lifetime savings in the bank, and are where they started years ago. Widows and orphans, pensioners and rich men. all patronized the bank and trusted John Bowman. Everybody Trusted John Bowman. There is little criticism of President Mason. He is believed to be innocent of wrong-doing. He trusted John Bowman as everybody else did. It is now thought that Bowman was a “plunger” from the time neighboring towns began to establish banks which took business away from the Commercial of Hagerstown. CLOSE CALL FOR A BROWNING Ducking a Man Who Cannot Swim Prove* a Very Perilous Game for Some Reverend Brother. Clarkshill, Ind., July 7. While bathing in the Cayner gravel pit pond Rev. H. H. Kuhn, pastor of the Christian church; Rev. W. B. Warriner, of the M. E. church; Dr. Henry M. Mugg, and Jesse E. Kesler, of this place, narrowly escaped drowning. The pit is used as a swimming pool. Several persons have been drowned there. Kesler wag the only person who could not swim, and his friends undertook to teach him. Securing a fence rail they started with him across the pond, and, upon reaching the center, they ducked him. but he failed to reappear on the surface. Rev. Warriner dived several times, hopeful of rescuing Kesler, until he also disappeared beneath the surface. Dr. Mugg thereupon swam to the bank and secured another rail, with which he finally succeeded In bringing Kesler to the shore, while Kuhn rescued Warriner. Both men were urwonscious, but soon recovered their senses, Sparrow* la a Whistle Tube. Alexandria, Ind., July 7. —The attempt, for the first time in four years, to blow the screecher whistle at the electric light station, as a welcome to the Fourth, produced a distressing combination of sounds. A family of English sparrows had pre-empted the big eight-inch whistle for a home and had partly filled the tube with nests. When a two-inch stream of hot steam at eighty pounds pressure was turned on there was hasty exodus of halfscalded birds. L. J. Hackney Promoted* Indlanapolic, July 7. —L. J. Hackney, formerly chief justice of the Indiana supreme court, who has been acting general counsel of the Big Four railroad since the resignation from that office of John T. Dye, has been appointed general attorney of the company. The office of general attorney—the new title given to the legal head of the company—has been moved to Cincinnati. No More Horse Racing. Indianapolis, July 7. Secretary Holt, of the Indianapolis Racing association, has announced that the bar ness meeting which was to have been, held here the week of Aug. 8, has been abandoned because of the attitude of the authorities relative to bookmaking. •tabs His Son-I a-Law. Terre Haute, Ind., July 7. James Bacon stabbed his son-in-law, Alevine Koeh, at his home near this city, and the report Is that Koch is fatally hurt. Koch took his father-in-law home, and after reaching there they quarreled.

THE IDEAL -/ - • BIG PANTS SALE Will be continued through the month of July, or until the present stock of Pants is sold out. Also Suits for Hen, Boys and Children will be sold at greatly reduced prices to make room for Fall Stock. j IO PER CENT. OFF | On all Shirts, Overalls, Etc., including the Racine Make. Never mind so-called sacrifice and removal sales; you can get more and better goods for your dollars at Jr THE IDEAL Than anywhere else on earth. f Rensselaer, Indiana. $

ADDITIONAL LOCALS.

Get in on that Piano contest of The Democrat’s. Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Snyder spent the fourth with relatives in Logansport. Good woolen Pants at the Ideal from SI.OO to $2 00. They are easily worth double the money. Do not forget to attend the Wildberg Clothing Sale. Remember that wool goods of all kinds will be higher than for years the coming season and it is money in your pocket to buy all you can at once. In the 4th of July races at Lafayette, Billy Smith, the Rensselaer horse, took first money in the 2:23 trat. Max, Ault. Padgett’s horse, took fourth money in the 2:25 trot. Louise, Wm. Smith’s horse, took third money in the 2:25 trot and lost in the 2:23 trot. Delos Thompson’s horse, Ester Van, won no money. It is reported that the fellows who are alleged to have run the “booze wagon” at Fair Oaks the 4th are boasting that they bought up the prosecuting attorney and his deputy. It is up to these officers to disprove the charge by going after the guilty paities. There has never been a celebration of the 4th of July at Fair Oaks in our memory but what intoxicating liquors is alleged to have been sold in utter disregard of the law and the officers who are elected to punish such offences. It is time the business was made both unpopular and unprofitable. Anson Chupp, who for the past eight years has clerked in the grocery department of the Chicago Bargain Store, will move to' Edinburgh, Johnson county in a few weeks, where be has bought a notion and grocery store. Edinburg is 30 miles southeast of Indianapolis, aud has a population of about 2,500 people, and has both steam and electric railroads. By his strict attention to business, economy and good habits, Anson has saved up considerable money for a voung man and has won the confidence and esteem of the people of Rensselaer and the farmers upon whom he has waited for several years. The Democrat unites with the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Chupp in wishing them lots of success in their new venture.

LEONARD-BERNARD.

Rev. Ralph Leonard of Eau Claire, Wis., and Miss Jennie Bernard of this city were united in marriage Thursday at 8 a. m , at the home of the bride’s aunt, Mrs. Hettie Reynolds, on South Weston street, in the presence of a few intimate friends and relatives of the contracting parties, Rev. A. G. Work, now of South Chicago, officiating. The young couple left on the 9:55 a. m., train for Chicago. Rev. Leonard is a minister in the Methodist church now located in Eau Claire The young couple met in Chicago some time ago where Miss Bernard was attending a school of music.

THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION.

Foliowing is an abstract of the opinion of the supreme court -n the Newton county court house matter: 20652. State ex. rel. Benjamin F. Davit et al, vs. Board of Commissioners et a). Newton C. C. Reversed. Montgomery, J. (1) Under Section 32 of the county reform act, a county council can only appropriate money or authorise the Board of Commissioners to borrow money and issue bonds by adopting an “ordinance” authorising such action, and stating the purpose for which the bonds are to be issued. The mere adoption of a motion that the request in a requisition made by the Board of Commissioners be granted, followed in the auditor’s record by an order for the issue of bonds and an appropriation of the sum for which they are to be issued, is void and confers no authority whatever. (2) A board of commissioners may bo enjoined fat the suit of taxpayers from entering into a oontret for the payment of money not legally appropriated. (3) In an injunction suit, where the evidence consists wholly of public records,! this court is authorised by acts, 1908, page 341, to pass on the evidence and direct what final judgment may be rendered.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS.

\/june 30, to Mr. and Mrs. Bud Lewis of Barkley tp., a son. July 6, to Mr. and Mrs. Zack Stanley, in town, a daughter. jWJuly 2, to Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Wood, south of town, a daughter.

$1,200 Worth Of Feed Just Received.

One car Small Grain Wheat, $1.25 per 100 pounds. One mixed car, Bran, Shorts and Middlings, $1 to $1.20 per 100 pounds. One car Hominy meal—2s tons extra quality Meal —$1.15 per 100; per ton $22. A. L. Branch, Prop.

One-fourth to one-half off on shoes at Murray’s£Removal Sale. Advertise in The Democrat

CONTRIBUTED.

A lady wants to say a few words to the grocery merchants, and really it is a delicate subject to handle. You know it is now time that our grocery men set their vegetables outside on the pavement, and you know that there are so many tall dogs in town and it operates as though they drank from the Saratoga Medical Spring. Now, Mr. Editor, you must know what I want to say and if you will help me out you will do the public a great favor. What we want is the vegetables on boxes, or in other words, “above high water mark.” For the good of the women and mankind, the grocers will please attend to it. Those wire screens they use over barrels and baskets are not “water tight.” This is a delicate matter, but you know when a lady goes shopping for cabbage and beets she doesn’t like to get peas also. Please put it in shape so as to offend nobody.

THE “GALORIOUS” FOURTH

Probably from $5,000 to SB,OOO was taken out of Rensselaer and vicinity Tuesday that ought to have been kept at home, and it would have been kept here bad Rensselaer celebrated, as it should have done. Our people celebrated at various places. Parr, Fair Oaks, Water Valley, Cedar Lake, Demotte, Dunn’s Bridge, Remington and Mt. Ayr. Good pleasant times are reported at all these places. Parr is said to have had a larger crowd and a better celebration this year than her neighbor Fair Oaks. It seems that the latter place can never celebrate without “booze,” and it is reported that a booze wagon out in the brush near the grounds took most of the crowd from the celebration grounds proper, leaving the legitimate stand proprietors little to do. Owing to the sad death of bis nephew, E. P. Honan was obliged to cancel his speaking date at Parr and Rev. Clarke spoke in his stead. The day was rather cool and windy and in some places rain interfered oomewhabwith the festivities.

For sale. miles west, S3O. J. M. Helmick & Son. (Aug. 12.) Wheatfield, Ind. Millet seed for sale at Coen & Brady’s elevator.