Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1911 — For the Children [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

For the Children

The Balalaika, a Queer Russian Music Maker.

Perhaps some of the young folks have seen a Russian balalaika, but that is unlikely. It only recently came to this country, and it was brought here by an orchestra that has played at the czar’s court- The balalaika has a triangular body and a long, slender neck and is played, like a guitar, by picking the strings. It is related to both the zither and the mandolin, and its,music is a sort of combination ,of the two. The instrument is made in different sizes that range from the small and shrill Instrument down to the big double bass. While classic music may be produced with the balalaika. It is most - commonly used in rendering the simpler melodies of tbe folk songs of tbe Russian peasants.

Anecdote of Washington. In the fall of 1775 General Washington and his staff visited Chelsea; near Boston, to study the land thereabouts. They stopped for rest and refreshments at the home of Mr. John Dexter. The house sat back fifteen rods from the street and had many stately elms growing in a regular park in front. When Washington and his suit alighted the horses were hitched to the trees while their riders partook of the luncheon inside. When the party came out to remount their horses one of the men accidentally knocked a stone from a wall which ran from the house to the street outside the row of trees. Washington remarked to him that he had better replace the stone. The officer. having remounted, replied, “No; I will leave that for somebody else to do.” Washington then went quietly and replaced the stone himself, saying as be did so. “I always make it my vole when visiting a place to leave things in as good order as I find them.”

Etiquette of Washington. It being necessary to advise or reprehend any one, consider whether it ought to be done in public or private, presently or at some other time, also in what terms to do it. In reproving any one do it with no sign of choler. bnt with sweetness and mildness. •J 'Mock not nor jest at anything of importance. > Break no jests that are sharp and biting. r Laugh not at your own wit. Wherein you reprove another be unblamable yourself, for example is more impressive than‘precept. Use no vituperative language against any one. Avoid all blasphemy. Be not hasty to believe disparaging reports against any one. Avoid all gossip and scandal.

The Kaiser 1 * Toy Warship. When the emperor of Germany was a boy he had a toy which afforded him and his brother great pleasure. It was a full rigged three masted warship, fifty-five feet long, which drew four feet of water and bad a capacity of thirty tons. The Royal Louise, as the little frigate was called, named after the Prussian Queen Louise, was given to the present emperor’s great-grand-father, Frederick William 111., by William IV., king of England, who had it built on the Thames river at Woolwich, England, in 1832 and towed by steamer to Hamburg. Then it was taken to Potsdam, where it has been ever since. The emperor and his brother Henry used to have a fine time on this tiny man-of-war and gained on It their first taste of life on the wave. The ship is an heirloom in the imperial family of Germany.

Conundrums.

What is the keynote, to good manners? B natural. What vessel is it that no woman objects to embark in? Courtship. Why is an old coat like iron? Because 4t is a specimen of hardware. What is the difference between an old lady of ninety and a miss of nineteen? One is hairless and cappy; the other is careless and happy. Which table has no legs to stand upon? The multiplication table. . Why Is the root of the tongue like a dejected man? Because it is down in the mouth. What is that which we often return, bnt never borrow? Thanks. X, YandZ. X, T and 2 are the funniest latter*! What they an stand for I surely don't know. Bo we wtU put them an three to together. Letting then stand for a stiff little row. -m Nicholas.

Seems Reasonable. “To settle a dispute,” said the caller, “I wish you would tell me what madder is.” “Madder,” answered the information editor, “is a pigment the artists use when they wish to produce what is culled a riot of color.”—Chicago Rec-ord-Herald. Unhappy Title. Teas- Mad at him? Why, he wrote a lovely poem to her. , Jess—Yes, but she never read it. When she saw fee title of it she tore the whole thing up in a fit of anger. You see, he called it “Lines on Mabel's Face,”—Catholic Standard and Times. At West Point. The Pretty Visitor—And who’is that handsome officer? • The Oav Cadet—That IS the fencing master. The P. V.—Oh, yes. He's the one who instructs you in picket duty, what? —Cleveland Leader. Cheerful. "You look happy.” “I am, but my calling makes me so.” “What is this fine calling?” “Hunting up lost tempers." Enjoys the Ruction. "Why are you such a knocker?” “Why?” “Yes.” “I like to hear the clatter.” Has to Live by Them.

“Say. Billy?” " / “Whatr “What makes yon do it?” “Do whatr “Aw. give the candy talk to them girls r “ ’Cause they live on onr street.” Not Bharp Enough. “He cut such a ridiculous figure.” I “I don’t see how be could.” “Why?” “He hi so dull.”